GHAZAL, the most popular genre of Urdu’s lyrical poetry, has not only survived attacks from critics but has in fact grown in popularity. Originating from Arabic ‘qaseeda’, or panegyric ode, ghazal ...

Mellifluous Mohammed Rafi once sang -‘Divaso judai na jay chhe ae jasey jaroor milan sudhi.’ Few know that these lyrics were penned by a Surti ghazalkaar- Abdul Gani Dahiwala. The Persian form of ...

Frances W. Pritchett, a well-known critic of Urdu and professor at Columbia University, writes: “To me ghazal’s reliance on its wonderful networks of images and conventions makes it very clear that ...

(A true ghazal is one that's understood by all / Don't make it cumbersome with recondite words / Oh, the creator of a ghazal, use such words/ Which can make connoisseurs say encore) The aforementioned ...

September 6, 2018. A historic day for queer Indians and their allies. The Supreme Court decriminalises homosexuality. My friends and I celebrate by getting a cake with Azadi piped on it in white icing ...