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A book review of Gulzar's Caged: Memories Have Names, an autobiography in verse. Translated by Sathya Saran.

Urdu poets are famed for harnessing the beauty of this language to express pathos. Here are poems by some of the best shayars.

Amir Khusrau is an Urdu poet who uses paradox to great effect. He writes on the universal theme of love.

Ameer Minai's an Urdu poet who uses hyperbole to great effect in these short, poignant lines.

Firaq Gorakhpuri is an Urdu poet par excellance. He cleverly conveys longing for the beloved in this poem.

Wali Mohammed Wali is an Urdu poet. Like others who write in this language, he uses its beauty with wordplay to awe the reader.

Umair Najmi, an Urdu poet, writes poignant lines. Here's one of his poems, and another in an image.

Tehzeeb Hafi is a contemporary Urdu poet. Here is one of his compositions. He is also active on Instagram.

Naresh Kumar Shad, an Urdu poet, has an enviable turn of phrase. Here's a sher by him.

Rahat Indori is a modern Urdu poet who is famed for his pithy couplets. Here is some of his Indian poetry.

Amad Nadeem Qasmi is an Urdu poet. In this poem - Kaun Kehta Hai Ki Maut Aayega... the rhymes are breathtaking.

10 Urdu poets, as part of my theme for the A2Z Blogging Challenge 2025. Read poems by Ghalib, Faiz, and other greats.

Professor Anand (Vice Provost for Advances in Education at Harvard, Henry R. Byers Professor of Business Administration) talked about how...

Living and Dying in a Foreign Tongue The language that was at home in the ear and seeped into our blood with the thread of grandma’s...

Before You Came Before you came, things were as they should be: the sky was the dead-end of sight, the road was just a road, wine merely...

Sitaron se Age/Beyond the Stars beyond the stars are even more worlds there are still even more tests of passion these expanses are not...

Nature’s fountainhead Say you bury me alive. I will become a green grass-field and lie outspread, a fertile land. You may set me on fire;...

Because I Cannot Sleep Because I cannot sleep, I make music at night. I am troubled by the one, whose face has the color of spring...

GANDHI JI Gandhi ji would preach— Non-violence and walk around with a stick in his hands. THE BUILDING There is no worker, but in the...

Patta Patta, Buta Buta Haal Hamara Jaane Patta patta, boota boota, haal hamaaraa jaane hai Every leaf and every shrub here knows of my...