Shayars
One of the most prominent Sufi poets in the Indian subcontinent, this person was educated at a traditional madrassah, Islamic school of learning. Their Punjabi kalam is renowned for its simplicity and accessbility. They are known for railing against religious orthodoxy, advocating universal love of God, and were part of one of the most important teacher-student dynamics in Sufi history
Who is Bulleh Shah?
The setting of a short story where the narrator aimlessly walks its streets before being corenered into an alleway. A distinct, more formal dialect of Urdu is associated with this city, stemming from the emphasis on tehzeeb and adab. One of the first Urdu novels, Umrao Jaan Ada, is set and was first published in this city. Home to "Adabistaan", the famous home of the Masud family.
What is Lucknow?
The two distinct types of love written about in Urdu poetry
What is Ishq-e-Haqiqi and Ishq-e-Mijazi?
Phir ye khel-tamāshā saarā kis ke liye aur kyuuñ sāhab
jab is ke anjām meñ chup hai jab is ke āġhāz meñ chup
What is Tu apni awaaz mein gum hai by Obiadullah Aleem?
Originally from Farsi. The word for "nomad / wanderer"
خانہ بدوش
(khaanabadosh)
This poet's first first publication was Mavra in 1940, and Hasan Kuzagar is often cited as one of his best works. He served in the Royal Indian Army during WW2 and lived in Iran for a time. An early member of the Halqa e Arbab e Zauq, he wrote modernist work and pioneered the azaad nazm in Urdu.
Who is Noon Meem Rashid?
This city was the capital of the Indo-greek Yavana kingdom in the 2nd century AD and a major center for Buddhist thought. Today its famous for its exports driven economy. Punching above its weight in terms of literary output, two of the greatest Urdu writers from the twentieth century were from here, one of whom's house is preserved as a museum today.
What is Sialkot?
Often mentioned in the last sher of a ghazal. The pen name of a poet
What is Takhallus?
Chehra hosh urrā detā hai
āñkheñ pāgal kar detī haiñ
What is Yaadein Pagal Kar Deti Hain by Noon Meem Danish?
Originally from Farsi. The word for "flight" or "pride"
پرواز
(parwaaz)
Inquilabi Aurat and Chaadar aur Chaar Diwari are two of her most famous poems and representative of her writing style. She was a prolific translator from Farsi(Rumi) and Sindhi (Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai and Shaik Ayaaz) into Urdu. Her works, mostly consisting of modern and postmodern shayari, explored female sexuality and other subjects that had been considered taboo for women writers. Under Zia Ul Haq's regime she left Pakistan for India, and would spend seven years there before returning. She passed away in 2018.
Who is Fahmida Riaz?
Portrayed in a wide variety of writing, from sanskrit Puranas to modern Urdu short stories and contemporary English novels. Many of Premchand's stories were set in this city, and Kabir also resided here for some time. To this day, a distinct form of Holi (called Masan Holi) is played here, where ashes are mixed into the color.
What is Varanasi / Benaras?
The repetition of the radeef in both the first and second line of the first sher of a ghazal
What is Matlah?
Bahut sochtā huuñ kabhī ye ma.ānī kī pākīza sub.hoñ kī pariyāñ
Rihā.ī kī ummīd meñ apne ġhavvās jādū-garoñ kī sadā.eñ suneñgī?
What is Samandar Ki Teh Mein by Noon Meem Rashid?
Originally from Hindi. The word for "virgin"
کنواری
(kunvaari)
The death of their mother and the occurence of paritition would be formative events in the life of this poet. A prolific writer with over 100 books of poetry, fiction, and essays spanning multiple languages, they are best known for an elegy they wrote on an 18th century Punjabi poet. They were involved in a famous love triangle, and had a close friendship with another female poet from across the border
Who is Amrita Pritam?
This city was founded in 1865 as a transit stop between two major cities of the British Raj. The newspaper "Saat Rang" was laucnhed from here in 1949. Munir Niazi and Majeed Amjad both lived and wrote in this city. Its located right next to the ruins of an ancient civilization, who's written script has yet to be decoded.
What is Sahiwaal?
Composed of arkaans, which are dummy words that help determine its composition. 19 main types of this exist in Urdu poetry, though there are others as well. An umbrella term for the structure over which the words of a misra’ (line) of a she’r (verse) are arranged.
What is beher?
agar kabhī merī yaad aa.e
gurez kartī havā kī lahroñ pe haath rakhnā
maiñ ḳhushbuoñ meñ tumheñ milūñgā
mujhe gulāboñ kī pattiyoñ meñ talāsh karnā
maiñ os-qatroñ ke ā.īnoñ meñ tumheñ milūñgā"
What is zara si baat by Amjad Islam Amjad?
Originally from Hindi. The word for "underworld" or "abyss"
پاتال
(pataal)
Recognized in the mainstream only posthumously, this poet is now recognized as a giant of modernist Urdu writing. Lived notably unassuming life in Sahiwal, his poetry was highly introspective, and he employed complex Urdu diction in his work. He lived alone for most of his life, and passed away in 1974.
Who is Majeed Amjad?
The birthplace of the poet Ifti Naseem and the revolutionary Bhagat Singh, this industrial city has a current name taken after Saudi royalty. It is one of the most popolous cities in Pakistan and known as the city of eight bazaars. This is the citys former colonial name, taken after a former lieutnenat governor in British India.
What is Lyallpur?
A type of Urdu nazm offered only at Muslim weddings, generally in praise of the groom or the couple, wishing them well in their married life. Mirza Ghalib and Bahadur Shah Zafar both composed this type of poetry.
What is sehra?
Phir jab main socūn kī aag se Apnī fanaa ke saare maraaḥil se jo guzra
Tīsrī aankh ko khola to ye dekha
Main ne apne aap ko janam diyaa hai
What is Narman by Ifti Naseem?
Originally from Arabic. The word for gendering or the signs of gender
تَذکِیر و تَانِیث
(tazkiir-o-taaniis)