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Urdu Service

by Afsheen Afzal

Urdu Service will feature classical and modern humorous prose, poetry, biographies, character sketches, travelogues, anecdotes from the history and cultural heritage of the subcontinent, and various types of music, especially Urdu ghazals and Bollywood songs relevant to the subject matter. It will also honor the creative artists of cinema and literature from the past and present.

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Episodes

  1. Iftikhar Arif

    Iftikhar Arif is one of the most respected voices in contemporary Urdu literature. A celebrated poet, scholar, and intellectual, his work blends classical tradition with modern thought, reflecting deep cultural insight and moral clarity. Formerly the Chairman of the Pakistan Academy of Letters…

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  2. Yeah na thi humari kismet- Mirza Ghalib

    In this episode of Urdu Service, we delve into the timeless poetry of the legendary Mirza Ghalib. We explore one of his most iconic ghazals, "Yeh Na Thi Hamari Qismat," a masterpiece that captures the essence of unrequited love, destiny, and human longing.

  3. Na Junnoon Raha Na pari rahi- Siraj Aurangabadi

    Siraj Aurangabadi (1712–1763) was a profound mystic and a foundational figure in classical Urdu poetry. Often associated with the "Aurangabad school," he served as a vital bridge between the ancient Deccani style and the modern Urdu ghazal.

  4. Mery Humdum Mery Dost

    Faiz Ahmed Faiz to a dear friend!

  5. Zindaan Ki Aik Shaam - Faiza Ahmed Faiz

    In this poem, the renowned Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz describes an evening in incarceration, challenging the darker fascist forces. He emphasizes that while they may be able to silence human voices, they cannot prevent the moonlight from reaching the prisoners as they spread their legs in the jail...

  6. Mohabat ki aik Nazm- Amjad Islam Amjad

    Amjad Islam Amjad (4 August 1944 – 10 February 2019) was one of Pakistan’s most popular and beloved Urdu poets. His poetry captures love, loss, and quiet longing with remarkable simplicity and emotional depth. In this recitation, we listen to one of his enduring poem.

  7. Majaaz مجاز

    Majaaz, a key figure in early 20th-century Urdu poetry, is known for blending romanticism with social consciousness. His work addresses themes of love, longing, and existential anguish, resonating with readers and establishing him as a beloved poet. Using simple yet evocative language, Majaaz's...

  8. Eid. عید

    While we celebrate this happy occasion, let's look at some other aspects of this experience.

  9. Mohabbat

    Let's talk about love and its myriad faces.

  10. بے سبب اداسی Bey Sabab Udasi

    Winter blues- autumn, poetry, ghazals, coffee, reading books by the fireside-missing someone dearly to share all the sensuous details of this profoundly nostalgic season.

  11. Father's Day

    Let us celebrate the fathers and father figures in our lives.

  12. Nida Fazli

    Nida Fazli, who lived from 1938 to 2016, was a prolific writer, poet, songwriter, dialogue writer, and journalist in both Urdu and Hindi. He contributed a unique tone and style to Urdu poetry that was previously overlooked by the literary elites. His poetry introduced a new poetic idiom to Urdu...

  13. Mother's Day

    Is it possible for words to truly capture the essence of motherhood? What are your thoughts?

  14. Raja Mehdi Ali Khan Part 2

    Let's continue celebrating the unique artistic talents of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and his ability to find humor in drab life situations.

  15. Raja Mehdi Ali Khan

    Raja Mehdi Ali Khan was an Urdu poet, translator, journalist, prose writer, and lyricist. Film lyrics came easy to him; he could write the songs on demand in as little as ten minutes, which often proved immensely popular. Raja Mehdi Ali khan brought the linguistic finesse of the Urdu ghazal to…

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  16. Meena Kumari Pakeezah

    Pakeezah: Meena Kumari's swan song, which took fifteen years to complete, was applauded for cinematographic larger-than-life film sets, music, poetry, dance, and costumes.

  17. مینا کماری Meena Kumari

    Meena Kumari, Hindi cinema's "great tragedienne,' tried her hand at Urdu Poetry. Tanha Chand (Lonely Moon), a collection of Meena Kumari's poems, was compiled by famous lyricist Gulzar and published after her death in 1972. I write, I recite – an album consisting of Meena Kumari's verses under…

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  18. Spring is in the air! Love is in the air!

    Let's celebrate love, life, spring, and happiness!

  19. Amin Sayani - Radio Ceylon

    This episode remembers the magical voice of Amin Sayani that brought back many memories of yesteryears of Bollywood music broadcasted from Radio Ceylon and Binaca Geet Mala.

  20. مرزا غالب کی کہانی! Mirza Ghalib

    December is the birth month of Mirza Ghalib. This episode celebrates his life through his life account and poetry.

  21. Awargi Main Hadd Sey Guzar Jana Chahiye

    Let's get acquainted with a prominent Urdu poet of our times- Hassan Abbas Raza

  22. The First musical of Urdu Literature- Indar Sabha

    Let me take you decades back when Amanat Lucknavi wrote the first stage drama of Urdu literature in 1853. It had 830 couplets and eight characters that appeared on the stage. Today we call such dramas musicals.

  23. Jagjit Singh

    Let's listen to the lifelong journey of the famous ghazal singer of our times~ Jagjit Singh.

  24. داستانِ قوالی!

    The story of Qawwali, which is a popular genre of music and poetry in indian-subcontinent, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan.

  25. Basant Bahar

    Spring is in the air!

  26. The Story of Lahore

    In this episode, I am retelling the story of the historical city of Lahore, from the 11th Century to date. Known as ''The Diamond of The Punjab" in the olden days, it is now called " The Heart of Pakistan."

  27. Childhood Memories of a Father/ Bachpan aur aik walid ki Yadain

    I am reminiscing about my childhood. The short, gloomy winter days brought out all these emotions in me, and I let them out. Let's celebrate our fathers and father figures in our life, who contributed to making us who we are today as human beings.

  28. Melody Queen Noor Jahan's superb Urdu ghazal singing

    Not all singers can sing ghazals well. Let's listen to the immortal ghazals sung by Madam Noor Jahan!

  29. War songs of Madam Noor Jahan 1965 Indo-Pak War

    War Songs of Madam Noor Jahan 1965, an important milestone for her singing career, when she did not shy away from offering her services for the army soldiers, with her singing talent, to boost their morale. At the same time, they were fighting in the trenches to guard the borders of their beloved...

  30. Melody Queen Noor Jahan

    A tribute to the legendary singer on her 20th death anniversary. She belongs to all the lovers of music, irrespective of their nationality.

  31. Orlov Diamond & Dary-e-Noor

    Let me tell you the story of other two famous diamonds who belong to India.

  32. Koh-e-Noor

    Today, I am telling you the story of a world-famous diamond, Koh-e-Noor (the mountain of light). How it changed hands, and how it changed the fates of its owners for good or bad. Let's find out!

  33. Nadir Shah ki Diary

    Some lighthearted talk from historical and cultural perspective on kinds of marriages, social norms, how Covid-19 has impacted our lives and it's benefits of working from home.

  34. Chai- Chai

    The history of tea drinking in the world!

  35. Red Scinde Dawk

    Asia's first postal stamp, issued in Sindh in 1852.

  36. American Elections 2020

    Elections in the air!

  37. Karachi ki Barsat

    New business ideas, Karachi ki barish, school admissions, some poetry and songs!

  38. Hamara Badshah!

    A light talk about the changing traditions of our daily lives!

  39. Urdu Ki Akhari Kitab

    A casual talk about Ibn-e-Insha, Covid -19, and other light topics/poetry.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Urdu Service will feature classical and modern humorous prose, poetry, biographies, character sketches, travelogues, anecdotes from the history and cultural heritage of the subcontinent, and various types of music, especially Urdu ghazals and Bollywood songs relevant to the subject matter. It will also honor the creative artists of cinema and literature from the past and present.

HOSTED BY

Afsheen Afzal

CATEGORIES

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Urdu Service have?

Urdu Service currently has 41 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Urdu Service about?

Urdu Service will feature classical and modern humorous prose, poetry, biographies, character sketches, travelogues, anecdotes from the history and cultural heritage of the subcontinent, and various types of music, especially Urdu ghazals and Bollywood songs relevant to the subject matter. It will...

How often does Urdu Service release new episodes?

Urdu Service has 41 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Urdu Service?

You can listen to Urdu Service on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Urdu Service?

Urdu Service is created and hosted by Afsheen Afzal.
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