English Literature

Diwali and Urdu in Indian Culture: A Festival of Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb

Diwali, the festival of lights, holds a special place in the heart of every Indian. This celebration transcends religious and cultural boundaries, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, good over evil. As the nation comes together to celebrate this joyous occasion, the spirit of unity and cultural amalgamation, often referred to as “Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb,” becomes particularly prominent. Urdu, with its rich literary tradition, has played a significant role in shaping the cultural fabric of India, and the festival of Diwali beautifully reflects this fusion. The poetic verses provided here…

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English Literature

Ismat Chughtai: Redefining Urdu Short Stories

Ismat Chughtai: a name that resonates with courage, innovation, and unapologetic self-expression. She was not just a writer; she was a voice, a rebel, and an indomitable spirit. In a society bound by conventions, Ismat Chughtai emerged as a pioneer of modern Urdu short stories, offering a fresh perspective that challenged the norms of her time. “I have always thought of myself first as a human being and then as a woman.” In these words, Chughtai reveals her unwavering commitment to humanity. She transcended the boundaries of gender and delved…

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Ghalib comic 2
Comics

Har ek baat pe kehte ho tum ki Tu kya hai- Mirza Ghalib’s absurd encounter

Ghalib is caught between some unusual and unpleasant conversations. Wherever he tries to share his opinion with anyone, he gets asked things that he find absurd. This peculiar scenario has been haunting him everywhere in his day to day life, even on social media. But rather deals with such ridicule with wisdom and manages to come up with a befitting reply. Soon after, he is wounded (physically and mentally) in a public lynching incident. He tried his best to put sense into the mob but to no avail. He feels…

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Mujhse pehli si mohabbat comic
Comics

Mujhse Pehli si Mohabbat mere Mehboob na maang- A tragic tale of two lovers

Not long ago, renowned Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz penned down a masterpiece titled Mujhse Pehli si Mohabbat, the nazm was later sung by Noor Jahan in her mesmerising voice. Faiz was so enthralled by Noor Jahan’s rendition of his Nazm that he gifted it to her. Faiz is the kind of poet who writes poetry from the depths of their heart, feeling every inch of every word and dipping it deep in the wells of sentiments. His poetry has the power of igniting strong emotions.  The line Mujhse pehli…

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Me Too
Comics

Chacha Ghalib in Delhi: A comic series

Imagine if Mirza Ghalib came back into this world today. How would he deal with the massively evolved and advanced “Dilli” of his own? How would he understand the millennial lingo? This comic series explores all this and more. We started with a special comic series on our social media platforms called “Chacha Ghalib in Delhi” that has been winning the hearts of people. Read through this post to get a glimpse of all his adventures. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for more updates on this. Illustration by…

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Curated

15 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

Valentine’s day is the day to spread love. It is the day to celebrate the special someone (or someones) in your life. So, what have you decided to gift this year to express your affection? Flowers, which are priced four times their usual price for this particular day or movie date, which happens once a month anyway? This year, try something different and express your love in style with romantic English, Hindi and Urdu poetry. Here we present 15 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas which are as unique and special as your relationship.…

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Saadat Hasan: The man behind Manto
Urdu Literature

Saadat Hasan: The Man behind Manto

Here Manto lies buried—and buried in his breast are all the secrets of the art of storytelling – Saadat Hasan Manto. This is the second part of our series on the life and works of Saadat Hasan Manto. You can read the first part here. Saadat Hasan Manto, the greatest short story writer of India and Pakistan, has always fascinated Urdu literature lovers. Some say his ability to depict the reality of society with ease was what captivated the reader, others believe it was the way he challenged and changed…

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Urdu Literature

The Magic Of Gulzar Poetry

Simplify the complexities of life Sampooran Singh Gulzar, popularly known as Gulzar, weaves magic with his words. To be true he doesn’t pen words, but feelings. Gulzar is known to the world as a writer, lyricist, and director. But he is a poet at heart. When you read Gulzar’s poems you will understand that Gulzar doesn’t use words in the etymological sense. He uses words like an artist uses colors in his paintings. His perspective on life is unusual. His imagination is astonishing. He has understood the complexities of human life…

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10 Rumi Quotes
Curated

Sufi Quotes Collection: Rumi

10 incredible Rumi Quotes that can transform your mind and heart The human species has gradually evolved into a technologically advanced society. Today, it is possible to connect with people globally and access any kind of information with a few simple clicks. Perhaps, a satisfactory knowledge of the world and its problems have been attained by man. But, if the scene shifts from the world as a whole to each individual, there is a different set of challenges we encounter. Humans inherently have a great sense of emotions in them as…

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Saadat Hasan Manto: Stories
Urdu Literature

Saadat Hasan Manto: A Portrait Through His Stories & Letters

This is the first part of our series on the life and works of Saadat Hasan Manto. Read the second part here. “For me, remembrance of things past has always been a waste of time, and what’s the point of tears? I don’t know. I’ve always been focused on today. Yesterday and tomorrow hold no interest for me. What had to happen, did, and what will happen, will” – Saadat Hasan Manto. Born in 1912 in the bread basket of British India, in the north-western state of Punjab, Saadat Hasan…

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Urdu Literature

Lihaaf By Ismat Chughtai : A Perspective

Lihaaf ( دیکھو) by Ismat Chughtai is one of the most controversial pieces in Urdu literary community. It caused enormous ripples in the community, which was once characterised (and still categorised) as one of the most conservative branches of South Asian literature. The agitation was so great that Chughtai was summoned to court with her friend Saadat Hasan Manto over their controversial pieces: Lihaaf and Buu, respectively. This article aims to provide a new, contemporary perspective on this famous work that was revolutionary for its time. About Ismat Chughtai Ismat Chughtai…

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Kaif Bhopali
Urdu Literature

Kaif Bhopali Poetry: An insight into the Indian Urdu poet

Kaif Bhopali was an Indian Urdu poet and lyricist. He penned lyrics for many Bollywood films including Pakeezah (1972) and Razia Sultan.  Kaif Bhopali’s style of poetry was very simple. In basic Urdu words, he could say meaningful deep things. A quick example of this style can be seen in his famous couplet: kaun aaega yahan koi na aaya hoga mera darwaza hawaon ne hilaya hoga Nawed Akhter, an independent Documentary Film-maker from Gurgaon, had the rare opportunity to spend some of his childhood days around Kaif Bhopali. Watch our exclusive conversation with where Nawed as…

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artykite | Gifts for booklovers
Curated

An Indian Literary Saga

India is a land that abounds in culture and we are a people that are awfully proud of Indian Literature. For a land that has been the object of desire of a number of kings and kingmakers, it does not come as a surprise that our culture at some point has been influenced by these foreign presences and has in ways absorbed their culture into itself. Oxford dictionary defines culture as, “the beliefs and attitudes about something that people in a particular group or organization share”. Thus by extending this…

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Urdu Literature

Baburnama: Journal of Mughal Emperor Babur

Written by Babur in Chagatai TurkishTranslated by Annette Susannah Beveridge Edited and introduced by Dilip Hiro Published by Penguin Books India Babur the conqueror, Babur the connoisseur, or Babur the raconteur; one is left wondering Pay no heed to those preconceived notions as Babur’s diary is not just a chronicle of a conqueror on a vanity ride. It’s a talking canvas that waxes eloquent on aesthetics, architecture, history, geography, and people, with war as its unwavering motif. Valour came naturally to Babur but what’s astonishing is that he had the…

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majrooh Sultanpuri
Curated

10 Popular songs written by Majrooh Sultanpuri

Majrooh Sultanpuri was a renowned Indian lyricist, songwriter and poet.  In the 50’s and 60’s he became a dominating figure in Indian cinema for his extraordinary lyrics and songwriting. His contribution in this industry is impeccable and unforgettable. Is there any Indian who hasn’t heard even a single song of Majrooh Sultanpuri in their life? Bet there isn’t! Here are some of  Majrooh Sultanpuri’s most popular Bollywood Songs:   1.Oh mere dil ke chain Film: Mere Jeevan Saathi   2. Chura liya hai tumne Film: Yaadon Ki Baraat (1973)   3. Tere mere…

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Manto and Ismat Chughtai
Urdu Literature

Saadat Hasan Manto and Ismat Chughtai: A Tale of Friendship

  Any celebration of friendship would become bootless without the mention of the unrivaled friendship between Saadat Hassan Manto and Ismat Chughtai.  Ismat was always encouraging of Manto’s work and Manto often teasingly took a jibe at Ismat as any friend would.  Their friendship demonstrates a unique diversion from the strong competition that is usually present between two contemporary writers. They strived together through the grave and unfortunate criticism attracted by their realistic short stories. Manto and Ismat’s relationship of friendship was so apparent that once a gentleman from Hyderabad wrote…

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Kabir dohe
Hindi Literature

TOP 10 KABIR DOHE

            Kabir, who was a poet and played main part in India’s Bhakti Movement, was not a believer of either Hinduism or Islam and questioned the existence of both. Kabir believed that true God is with the person who is on the path of righteousness, considered all creatures on earth as his own self and who is passively detached from the affairs of the world. Although his life revolved around this, his poetry is what we are here for. He has written some remarkable poetry…

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harry Potter
English Literature

20 years of Harry Potter: Why HP Books Still Rule Over the Movies?

Lost in translation: Why the Harry Potter books rule over the movies It gives a more personal touch to the story and it connects with the individual in a way that no visual representation can. Let’s ‘Wingardium Leviosa’ this moment. Yes, let’s suspend this moment in midair for just a while and look back on what a journey it’s been since we met the boy who lived under the staircase at Privet Drive. It’s been 20 years since but the memories are as good as new. For most of us…

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Arundhati Roy The Ministry of Utmost Happiness
English Literature

Arundhati Roy: A rebel’s song

Arundhati Roy- From The God of Small Things to The Ministry of Utmost Happiness Twenty years ago a book took the world by storm, a morally strenuous and imaginatively rich work that not only made a deep impact on its readers but also impressed the critics community. The book is none other than The God of Small Things, the brainchild of literary genius Arundhati Roy. Born to Mary Roy and Rajib Roy in Meghalaya in 1961, Arundhati Roy was a child of single parenthood. Her parents separated when she was two following which…

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Premchand
Hindi Literature

PREMCHAND: THE MIRROR OF INDIAN SOCIETY

  PREMCHAND: THE MIRROR OF INDIAN SOCIETY  Premchand, also known as “Upanyas Samrat”  was an Indian writer, famous for his Hindu-Urdu literature. He is the most popular and celebrated writer of India. Writing by the pen name of Premchand, his real name was Dhanpat Rai and he used to sign his books by his real name only. Munshi Premchand has written more than 300 stories and some notable novels that are considered best novels ever written in India and worldwide. Premchand lived an isolated life because of early death of…

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Jane Austen: The literary legend
English Literature

Jane Austen: The literary legend of her times

Jane Austen: The literary legend of her times Any reader worth his money has heard at one time or another of Jane Austen and if courageous enough has also gone ahead and read one or more of her works. ‘Why courageous?’ you ask? To call her works challenging to the mind would be the simplest way to put it. As a woman of 18th century London, Austen’s books mainly focus on the women of the British Empire at that time. She has six major novels to her name. Pride and…

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Most Controversial Novels of all times
Curated

Top 5 most controversial Novels of all times

  Top 5 most controversial Novels of all times Freedom of speech & expression with your thoughts are widely considered into mistaken belief now. Whether it is book or an article an author most be deeply knowing that where exactly is the feather in the cap. History remains the same but these 5 novels have created a stroke in the minds of the folks in nauseousness and perplexed manner. Read on to know our top 5 most controversial novels of all times.   The Catcher in the Rye by J.…

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