Urdu- The Language of Poets

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A To Z Challenge

"Urdu. A language as diverse and inclusive as a language can be. Expressive, like none other. Its charm finds accord with those with a taste for deep, emotive expression generation after another across geographical borders."- aamozish.com

 I don't remember when exactly I started loving Urdu. May be it was always there, it just took a few years to realize and internalize it. Shayaris and ghazals have always stayed ever since I started watching television, reading newspapers and sneaking away my cousins’ personal diary for a read into their secrets. Days of SMS packs and forwarded messages were all about heartfelt couplets and touching Urdu shers. And the healthy affection towards this language kept on increasing through my growing up years.
When poetry started appealing to me I copied quotes, sayings, lyrics of songs in my personal journal. Year after year, my journals curated my love for words. Gulzar, the hindi songs, dialogues in certain movies made way straight into my heart. But the actual rendezvous with Urdu began when I was introduced to Pakistani mini dramaseries and telefilms sometime in college.
When you see the culture of a place, mostly you are in for a surprise, because either you have underestimated or misjudged the region or you have overestimated them. When I watched Pak drama, I hadn't fathomed the similarity we had in our sensibilities and the likeness in our prejudices. Stories from across the border found a very favorable place in me, through tales of women treated unfairly by the society, and atrocities by the prevalent patriarchy.
Zindegi Gulzar Hai. Humsafar. Dastan or Waqt ne kia ye Kya Haseen Sitam. Dil-e-Muztar. Behadd. Pyare Afzal. And many many more. Urdu became my beloved. Words could never have been so expressive, yet short, as Urdu enabled it to be.


Then just last year I read an ebook, through Blogchatter Ebook Carnival- 'Urdu - A Sufi Celebration of Life' by Runjhun Noopur.  I had seriously loved that book. Untranslatable words and their meanings, dedicated an article each, it was an unputdownable one.
And Rekhta. A colleague had introduced me to this festival of words last year. I didn't know this existed. It is an organisation that works towards promotion of Urdu literature, making the generations aware of the importance of Urdu poetry in Indian literature, and celebration of Urdu couplets, the language of poets through annual festival of Jashn-e-Rekhta. A paradise of sorts for people like me.

 And Aamozish - a website to learn the Urdu script. I have long been interested in Indian calligraphy and Urdu script had the most aesthetic appeal. Recently I discovered this website that teaches Urdu to newbies and beginners, totally free of cost. I don't know when I can learn this language, but discovering the site was exciting.



How's your relation with Urdu?
I am participating in the #AToZChallenge with #BlogchatterA2Z and I am sharing posts themed around Art for this entire month of April. Share and connect with me on social media.
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