Zer Zabar Paesh is a platform for the study of Urdu poetic tradition by Faraz Ali. It aims to make this tradition accessible to people with a genuine interest in classical and contemporary Urdu verse and its vast apparatus—including approaches to deep reading, poetics, canon and history, criticism and scholarship, etc.
Faraz Ali is an award-winning experiential designer and performing artist practicing in physical, digital, and poetic realms.
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Reflection - Jo Teri Bazm Se Nikla by Mirza Ghalib
Episode 10
Saturday, May 18, 2024 • Duration 04:44
Episode 10.
Reflection: Jo Teri Bazm Se Nikla
Poet: Mirza Ghalib
by Faraz Ali
bū-e gul nālah-e dil dūd-e chirāġh-e maḥfil
jo tirī bazm se niklā so pareshāñ niklā
بوئے گل نالۂ دل دودِ چراغِ محفل
جو تری بزم سے نکلا سو پریشاں نکلا
A few important points to note in the shi’r to explore at your own leisure.
1. The usage of poetic device ‘Husn-i ta’alil’. See definition below.
2. Three evocative examples engaging sight, smell, and sound. These are some observations we all witness and experience.
3. Melodic quality. Read the shi’r out loud to explore yourself.
4. The effect of meaning creation ‘Ma’ani Afirini’ generated with the possible implications of pareshani
——
Husn-e Taʿlīl (elegance in assigning a cause) — 'taʿlīl means 'to establish a reason' or 'to express a reason. ḥusn-e taʿlīl is to give a fine and superior example of that action. If a reason is expressed for something such that even if it’s not real, it has in it some poetic richness and subtlety, and it has some affinity with reality and nature as well, then that is called ḥusn-e taʿlīl.
Zer Zabar Paesh is a platform for the study of Urdu poetic tradition by Faraz Ali. It aims to make this tradition accessible to people with a genuine interest in classical and contemporary Urdu verse and its vast apparatus—including approaches to deep reading, poetics, canon and history, criticism and scholarship, etc.
Faraz Ali is an award-winning experiential designer and performing artist practicing in physical, digital, and poetic realms.
You can engage with the project on instagram.
Instagram.com/zer_zabar_paesh
Or explore the mobile version of the official website to get access to curated content.
www.zerzabarpaesh.com
Recitation: Ram, Nazm by Muhammad Iqbal
Episode 9
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 • Duration 01:11
Episode 09.
Recitation: Ram, a nazm by Muhammad Iqbal
Poet: Muhammad Iqbal
Recitation by Faraz Ali
Labrez hai sharāb-e-haqīqat se jām-e-hind sab falsafī haiñ ḳhitta-e-maġhrib ke rām-e-hind
ye hindiyoñ kī fikr-e-falak-ras kā hai asar rif’at meñ āsmāñ se bhī ūñchā hai bām-e-hind
is des meiñ hue haiñ hazāroñ malak-sarisht
mashhūr jinke dam se hai duniyā meiñ nām-e-hind
hai rām ke vajūd pe hindostāñ ko nāz ahle-nazar samajhte haiñ is ko imām-e-hind
ejaaz is charāġh-e-hidāyat kā hai yahī raushan-tar-az-sahar hai zamāne meiñ shām-e-hind
talvār kā dhanī thā shujāat meiñ fard thā pākīzgī meiñ josh-e-mohabbat meiñ fard thā
#urdu
TRANSLATION:
The attempt below is for assistance only and does not intend to capture the poetic excellence.
The cup of Hind overflows with the wine of truth.
Philosophers of the Western world are its devotees.
The mysticism of her philosophers
makes Hind’s star soar above all constellations.
Thousands of angels have descended
to proclaim Hind’s name before the world.
And proud of his existence
the discerning eye sees in Ram, a prophet.
The glow from this lamp of wisdom
makes Hind’s evening more radiant
than the world’s daybreak.
Valorous, brave, a master swordsman!
In purity, in love, Ram, was unmatched
#urdu
Rām, the poem's subject, refers to the Lord Ramā, a Hindu deity and the protagonist of the Ramayana epic. He is a symbol of the triumph of truth over falsehood.
Please read up about him yourself and save us the struggle of misrepresentation.
For Iqbal, Hindustan is a land of sages, seers, scholars and intellectuals; he appreciates the Hindustani mind's search for eternality, knowledge and wisdom.
but
Rām is also a Persian word which means subdued, tamed, submissive — one who is submissive or obedient. And is often used in idiomatic constructions.
i.e here are a few examples:
1. rām-karnā: to win over, tame, make loyal
2. rām-honā or ho-jānā: To be subdued
3. Nafs ko rām kernā -
Lord Ramā and his story are often referenced in idiomatic expressions like:
* rām rām kerna: salute, greet, recite a holy name, seeking protection, to repent
* rām-kahānī sunana: telling a really long story
Celebrating the syncretic tradition, Iqbāl not only uses Lord Rām as the subject of the poem, he also employs the Persian usage in the second line of the first shi'r.
‘sab falsafī haiñ ḳhitta-e-maġhrib ke rām-e-hind’
What do you think the expression 'Rām-i Hind' implies here?
-
Now look at the expression in the fourth shi'r praising Rām as Imām-i Hind.
hai rām ke vajūd pe hindostāñ ko nāz
ahle-nazar samajhte haiñ is ko imām-e-hind
Urdu poetry is replete with references to Lord Ram and the episodes from The Ramayana. There are over 300 Ramayanas written in Urdu, many in Urdu verse known as manzum Ramayanas.
Reflection: Challenges of Reading Iqbal by Faraz Ali
Episode 8
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 • Duration 01:46
Episode 08.
Reflection: Challenges or Reading Iqbal
Poet: Muhammad Iqbal
by Faraz Ali
Zer Zabar Paesh is a platform for the study of Urdu poetic tradition by Faraz Ali. It aims to make this tradition accessible to people with a genuine interest in classical and contemporary Urdu verse and its vast apparatus—including approaches to deep reading, poetics, canon and history, criticism and scholarship, etc.
Faraz Ali is an award-winning experiential designer and performing artist practicing in physical, digital, and poetic realms.
You can engage with the project on instagram.
Instagram.com/zer_zabar_paesh
Or explore the mobile version of the official website to get access to curated content.
Excerpt: Dagh Dehlvi’s Story in Kai Chand They Sar-i Asman by Shamsur Rahman Faruqi
Episode 7
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 • Duration 02:46
Episode 07.
Excerpt: Dagh Dehlvi’s Story in ‘Kai Chand They Sar-i Asman’ by Shamsur Rahman Faruqi
Poet: Dagh Dehlvi
by Faraz Ali
Zer Zabar Paesh is a platform for the study of Urdu poetic tradition by Faraz Ali. It aims to make this tradition accessible to people with a genuine interest in classical and contemporary Urdu verse and its vast apparatus—including approaches to deep reading, poetics, canon and history, criticism and scholarship, etc.
Faraz Ali is an award-winning experiential designer and performing artist practicing in physical, digital, and poetic realms.
You can engage with the project on instagram.
Instagram.com/zer_zabar_paesh
Or explore the mobile version of the official website to get access to curated content.
www.zerzabarpaesh.com
Story: Haider Ali Aatish and a Young Poet of Lucknow
Episode 6
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 • Duration 03:50
Episode 06.
Story: Haider Ali Aatish in Lucknow
Poet: Haider Ali Aatish
by Faraz Ali
Bāt meiñ farq na āney dījiye
Jān jaati hai tau jāne dijiye
Ān meiñ farq na āney dijiye
Jān jati hai tau jāne dijiye
بات میں فرق نہ آنے دیجۓ
جان جاتی ہے تو جانے دیجۓ
آن میں فرق نہ آنے دیجۓ
جان جاتی ہے تو جانے دیجۓ
Zer Zabar Paesh is a platform for the study of Urdu poetic tradition by Faraz Ali. It aims to make this tradition accessible to people with a genuine interest in classical and contemporary Urdu verse and its vast apparatus—including approaches to deep reading, poetics, canon and history, criticism and scholarship, etc.
Faraz Ali is an award-winning experiential designer and performing artist practicing in physical, digital, and poetic realms.
You can engage with the project on instagram.
Instagram.com/zer_zabar_paesh
Or explore the mobile version of the official website to get access to curated content.
www.zerzabarpaesh.com
Reflection: Temperament of Mirza Ghalib
Episode 5
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 • Duration 04:00
Episode 05.
Reflection: Temperament of Mirza Ghalib
Poet: Mirza Ghalib
by Faraz Ali
zikr us parī-vash kā aur phir bayāñ apnā
ban gayā raqīb āḳhir thā jo rāz-dāñ apnā
ذکر اس پری وش کا اور پھر بیاں اپنا
بن گیا رقیب آخر تھا جو رازداں اپنا
Zer Zabar Paesh is a platform for the study of Urdu poetic tradition by Faraz Ali. It aims to make this tradition accessible to people with a genuine interest in classical and contemporary Urdu verse and its vast apparatus—including approaches to deep reading, poetics, canon and history, criticism and scholarship, etc.
Faraz Ali is an award-winning experiential designer and performing artist practicing in physical, digital, and poetic realms.
You can engage with the project on instagram.
Instagram.com/zer_zabar_paesh
Or explore the mobile version of the official website to get access to curated content.
www.zerzabarpaesh.com
Recitation: Daim Pada Hua, a ghazal by Mirza Ghalib
Episode 4
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 • Duration 01:29
Episode 04.
Ghazal: Daim Pada Hua
Poet: Mir Taqi Mir
Recitation by Faraz Ali
daa.im paḌā huā tire dar par nahīñ huuñ maiñ
ḳhaak aisī zindagī pe ki patthar nahīñ huuñ maiñ
kyuuñ gardish-e-mudām se ghabrā na jaa.e dil
insān huuñ piyāla o sāġhar nahīñ huuñ maiñ
yā-rab zamāna mujh ko miTātā hai kis liye
lauh-e-jahāñ pe harf-e-mukarrar nahīñ huuñ maiñ
had chāhiye sazā meñ uqūbat ke vāste
āḳhir gunāhgār huuñ kāfar nahīñ huuñ maiñ
kis vāste aziiz nahīñ jānte mujhe
la.al o zamurrad o zar o gauhar nahīñ huuñ maiñ
rakhte ho tum qadam mirī āñkhoñ se kyuuñ dareġh
rutbe meñ mahr-o-māh se kam-tar nahīñ huuñ maiñ
karte ho mujh ko man.a-e-qadam-bos kis liye
kyā āsmān ke bhī barābar nahīñ huuñ maiñ
'ġhālib' vazīfa-ḳhvār ho do shaah ko duā
vo din ga.e ki kahte the naukar nahīñ huuñ maiñ
دائم پڑا ہوا ترے در پر نہیں ہوں میں
خاک ایسی زندگی پہ کہ پتھر نہیں ہوں میں
کیوں گردش مدام سے گھبرا نہ جاے دل
انسان ہوں پیالہ و ساغر نہیں ہوں میں
یارب زمانہ مجھ کو مٹاتا ہے کس لیے
لوح جہاں پہ حرف مکرر نہیں ہوں میں
حد چاہیے سزا میں عقوبت کے واسطے
آخر گناہ گار ہوں کافر نہیں ہوں میں
کس واسطے عزیز نہیں جانتے مجھے
لعل و زمرد و زر و گوہر نہیں ہوں میں
رکھتے ہو تم قدم مری آنکھوں سے کیوں دریغ
رتبے میں مہر و ماہ سے کم تر نہیں ہوں میں
کرتے ہو مجھ کو منع قدم بوس کس لیے
کیا آسمان کے بھی برابر نہیں ہوں میں
غالبؔ وظیفہ خوار ہو دو شاہ کو دعا
وہ دن گئے کہ کہتے تھے نوکر نہیں ہوں میں
Zer Zabar Paesh is a platform for the study of Urdu poetic tradition by Faraz Ali. It aims to make this tradition accessible to people with a genuine interest in classical and contemporary Urdu verse and its vast apparatus—including approaches to deep reading, poetics, canon and history, criticism and scholarship, etc.
Faraz Ali is an award-winning experiential designer and performing artist practicing in physical, digital, and poetic realms.
You can engage with the project on instagram.
Instagram.com/zer_zabar_paesh
Or explore the mobile version of the official website to get access to curated content.
www.zerzabarpaesh.com
Reflection: Veil of Dust by Mir Taqi Mir
Episode 3
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 • Duration 04:06
Episode 03.
Reflection: Veil of Dust
Poet: Mir Taqi Mir
by Faraz Ali
مت سہل ہمیں جانو پھرتا ہے فلک برسوں
تب خاک کے پردے سے انسان نکلتے ہیں
mat sahl hameñ jaano phirtā hai falak barsoñ
tab ḳhaak ke parde se insān nikalte haiñ
Zer Zabar Paesh is a platform for the study of Urdu poetic tradition by Faraz Ali. It aims to make this tradition accessible to people with a genuine interest in classical and contemporary Urdu verse and its vast apparatus—including approaches to deep reading, poetics, canon and history, criticism and scholarship, etc.
Faraz Ali is an award-winning experiential designer and performing artist practicing in physical, digital, and poetic realms.
You can engage with the project on instagram.
Instagram.com/zer_zabar_paesh
Or explore the mobile version of the official website to get access to curated content.
www.zerzabarpaesh.com
Recitation: Kerta Nahi Kasur, a ghazal by Mir Taqi Mir
Episode 2
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 • Duration 01:01
A Ghazal by Mir Taqi Mir
Recitation by Faraz Ali
kartā nahīñ qusūr hamāre halāk meñ
yā-rab ye āsmān bhī mil jaa.e ḳhaak meñ
garmī nahīñ hai ham se vo ai rashk-e-āftāb
ab aa gayā hai farq bahut us tapāk meñ
is Dhang se hilā ki bajā dil nahīñ rahe
us gosh ke guhar se dam aa.e haiñ naak meñ
ab ke junūñ meñ fāsla shāyad na kuchh rahe
dāman ke chaak aur garebāñ ke chaak meñ
kahiye latāfat us tan-e-nāzuk kī 'mīr' kyā
shāyad ye lutf hogā kisū jān-e-pāk meñ
کرتا نہیں قصور ہمارے ہلاک میں
یا رب یہ آسمان بھی مل جائے خاک میں
گرمی نہیں ہے ہم سے وہ اے رشک آفتاب
اب آ گیا ہے فرق بہت اس تپاک میں
اس ڈھنگ سے ہلا کہ بجا دل نہیں رہے
اس گوش کے گہر سے دم آئے ہیں ناک میں
اب کے جنوں میں فاصلہ شاید نہ کچھ رہے
دامن کے چاک اور گریباں کے چاک میں
کہیے لطافت اس تن نازک کی میرؔ کیا
شاید یہ لطف ہوگا کسو جان پاک میں
Introduction to Zer Zabar Paesh
Season 1 · Episode 1
Saturday, April 6, 2024 • Duration 08:15
Zer Zabar Paesh is a platform for the study of Urdu poetic tradition by Faraz Ali. It aims to make this tradition accessible to people with a genuine interest in classical and contemporary Urdu verse and its vast apparatus—including approaches to deep reading, poetics, canon and history, criticism and scholarship, etc.
It is an attempt to bring “the tāq-i nisyān” طاقِ نِسْیاں (niche of forgetfulness) into relief and cultivate the faculty of imagination تخيّل(takhayyul).
This episode explains the five aspects of the project.
- Muntakhab vasāʾil
- Zer-i ghawr
- Farogh-i zawq
- ʿUlamāʾ-yi adab
- Lutf-i ishārāt
It is an attempt by Faraz Ali to bring “the tāq-i nisyān” طاقِ نِسْیاں (niche of forgetfulness) into relief and cultivate the faculty of imagination تخيّل(takhayyul).
Faraz Ali is an award-winning experiential designer and performing artist practicing in physical, digital, and poetic realms.
You can engage with the project on instagram.
Instagram.com/zer_zabar_paesh
Or explore the mobile version of the official website to get access to curated content.
www.zerzabarpaesh.com
