Yun Hota To Kya Hota? translates simply to ‘What If?’

This exciting new show from Radio Azim Premji University explores the life and times of Mirza Asadullah Khan, one of the most influential writers in Urdu, known to us by his nom de plume — Ghalib.  

There are stories that Ghalib told, and there are stories told about Ghalib. 

Address your letter to “Ghalib, Delhi” and it will reach me, the great man is reputed to have said. Not a boast, because he was already a legend in his own lifetime. Yet, despite his accomplishment, he was in need of money. So the story goes that he applied for a job as a teacher of Persian. His conduct at the job interview, however, became the stuff of gossip in his time, and the stuff of legend in ours.

Hosting you through this absorbing series is Amit Basole, faculty in Economics at APU, whose pet passion for Urdu poetry found expression in a book, Thinking With Ghalib - Poetry For A New Generation, co-authored with Lahore-based writer Anjum Altaf.

Listen to this and more vignettes in this first episode of the series. 

Credits:

Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar

Acknowledgements:

Letters read by Zia Mohyeddin 

Song: Ghalib Ke Khutoot | Album: Ghalib Kay Khutoot Vol. 1 & 3 | Artist: Zia Mohyeddin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqGSK17-Y30

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Mjsv_8lp1g 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1KiFOWGaEQ 

Explore more:

YouTube | A Conversation with Anjum Altaf and Amit Basole, authors of Thinking With Ghalib - Poetry For a New Generation | Institute for South Asia Studies 

https://youtu.be/kepIWKB1Ma0 

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radio-azim-premji-univ/message

Host Amit Basole ponders the enigma of Ghalib the lover: How did Ghalib speak of love? Whom did Ghalib love? He transports you to the heart of the ghazal. 

Zia Mohyeddin, the British-Pakistani actor renowned for giving voice to the lyrical seduction of Ghalib’s poetry, died on February 13, 2023. Ghalib is a state of mind beyond the narrow confines of nation, religion and other notional boxes in which we find ourselves bracketed. This transcendence comes achingly to mind as we mourn the passing of Zia Saheb. This episode is a tribute to his memory. 

Credits:

Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi and Velu Shankar

Acknowledgements:

Zia Mohiuddin Videos | Rekhtarekhta.org

https://www.rekhta.org/Zia 

Domni 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_zWZpMLzZI 

6:04 to 6:44

YouTube | Composition of music by Swati Phadke and recited by Pubali Mattoo #GhazalGuruvaar #10 - Aane ka muntazar tere - Smt. Swati Phadke | Mah Laqa Bai Chanda https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyTc4MEUoQs 

YouTube | Taskeen ko Hum Na Royen - Mirza Ghalib 

Sung by Farid Ayaz & Abu Muhammad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c56THXY0MO8 

Dil Se Teri Nigah Jiggar Tak Utar Gayi | Rahat Fateh Ali Khan | Ghazal | Mirza Ghalib

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxM7NpF4Z5Y  

Discover more:

YouTube: Zia Mohyeddin recites Mirza Ghalib's poetry 'Azadi Ka Shukr Baja Laao, Gham Na Khao'

https://youtu.be/xsRy4dO7YeM  

YouTube: Ghalib aur Mein-Zia Mohyeddin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCEd1mtjBtM

YouTube: Ghalib aur Mein - Zia Mohyeddin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCEd1mtjBtM  

Imagery of Ghalib (1) - Ahmad Javaid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg5STy4WCjs

YouTube: Ghalib ki ma'ani aafreeni غالب کی معانی آفرینی - Ahmad Javaid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSiYuee2JAs

YouTube: Frances Pritchett: How to Read Ghalib

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnmzgG54KWA

YouTube: Ghalib-E-Khasta Ke Baghair | Shamsur Rahman Faruqi with Pavan K. Varma | Jashn-e-Rekhta

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAoyx34zz_s 

Amazon: When Sun Meets Moon: Gender, Eros, and Ecstasy in Urdu Poetry (Islamic Civilization and Muslim Networks)

When-Sun-Meets-Moon-Civilization

Ghalib on religion would have crashed Twitter. 

Much ink, and blood, have been spilt over religion and faith throughout human history. Yet, nothing stopped Mirza Ghalib from playfully exploring these realms, where even the boldest present-day poets tread with caution. Ghalib on Twitter would have been a powder keg but, in those arguably more patient and forgiving times, not only did his tongue-in-cheek challenge of the rituals and symbols of faith elicit a chuckle from his challengers, but their well-intended mischief never failed to provoke thought and reasoning.

In this episode, discover an aspect of Ghalib that equally shocks and charms.  

Credits:

Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi and Velu Shankar

Acknowledgements:

On Playing Chausar

Mirza Ghalib (1988) Complete TV Series 1/2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfNOXyPVjxk 

On Diwali:

Humanity of Mirza Ghalib - Diwali Day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAd1nXaQZk8 

On Ramzan fasting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_FvKTNN4A4

8:15 to 9:22 - To Munshi Nabi Bakhsh Haqeer- how hot it is in Delhi, keeping Rozas in the heat, 22 June 1853

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjHoc7pyBHc

 4:08 to 5:10 - more on Delhi heat and Roza written to an unmentioned recipient in June 1854