Quiz A collection of interesting questions related to Urdu poetry, prose and literary history. Play Rekhta Quiz and check your knowledge about Urdu!
Compilation of top 20 hand-picked Urdu shayari on the most sought-after subjects and poets
Rekhta's online crossword puzzle - the world's first Urdu online crossword for free. Developed in collaboration with Amuse Labs, these puzzles are specially designed to improve your knowledge of Urdu language, literature, and culture. Challenge yourself with new crosswords and engage in playful learning.
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ḳhabar mujh ko nahīñ maiñ jism huuñ yā koī saayā huuñ
zarā is kī vazāhat dhuup kī chādar pe likh denā
KHabar mujh ko nahin main jism hun ya koi saya hun
zara is ki wazahat dhup ki chadar pe likh dena
from the Ghazal "mujhe manzur kaghaz par nahin patthar pe likh dena" by Faza Ibn e Faizi
Quiz A collection of interesting questions related to Urdu poetry, prose and literary history. Play Rekhta Quiz and check your knowledge about Urdu!
The proverb ‘Haath Kangan ko Aarsi Kya’ is quite common, but do you know what an Aarsi is exactly? Well, it was a ring worn on the thumb by women of earlier times that had jewels surrounding a mirror in its center. Women used to keep a check on their makeup by looking into it. In Urdu poetry, Aarsi is a theme that’s been extensively explored:
Aaiina saamne na sahii aarsi to hai
Tum apne muskuraane kaa andaaz dekhnaa
Going back to the proverb ‘Haath Kangan ko Aarsi Kya’, it literally means that to check the Kangan (bangles) worn on the hand, there is no need to look into the mirror; for they are right in front of the eyes. Figuratively, the proverb is used to point out something so obvious that there is barely a need to put it out explicitly. Further, the proverb has also been extended into the following:
‘Haath Kangan ko Aarsi Kya, PaDhe likhe ko Farsi Kya’
Interestingly, there is also a ritual in marriages called "Arsi Mus’haf" in which the bride and groom are seated face to face with a dupatta is placed on their head and a mirror is placed in the middle. The two look at each other’s face, reciting a Surah of the Qur'an. Mus’haf refers to the Holy Qur'an itself.
To write the script of his famous TV serial Mahabharat, BR Chopra had first reached out to Rahi Masoom Raza, who initially refused. When this news published in the newspapers the next day, thousands of people wrote letters to BR Chopra probing why he insisted on getting the Mahabharata written by a Muslim. Chopra sent these letters to Rahi Sahib, who, after reading them, said that now he will write the Mahabharata, for he was the son of the Ganges. Rahi often said, “I have three mothers, one who gave birth to me, second, the river Ganges, and third my elementary school.”
Eventually, it was Rahi Masoom Raza who wrote the TV serial Mahabharat, and its script and dialogues became exceptionally popular among the masses. A case in point of its popularity was his house which was laden with letters written by audiences praising and blessing him for his work. Although he had a pile of letters around, he always kept a small bundle lying on the edge of his desk. These were the letters that slandered him. These letters were written by Hindus who expressed their anger about how Rahi, as a Muslim, dared to write for the Mahabharata, and also Muslims who were angry with him because he wrote a book ascribed to the Hindus. Rahi stated that this small bundle actually reminded him that there are so few bad people in the country and encouraged him to write more.
Wondering how much reverence did Iqbal had for his teachers? Well, in 1923, the British government decided to give him the title of "Sir", but he stated that he would only accept the title if his childhood teacher Ustad Maulvi Mir Hasan, from whom he received his primary education, would be conferred with the title of Shams-ul-Ulama. The British government asked him how such a big title could be given to Maulvi Mir Hassan, and if he had a known work or book credited to his name. Iqbal replied, ‘I, right in front of you, am his writing, incarnate.’
Consequently, the British government gave the title of Shams-ul-Ulama to Maulvi Mir Hassan.
Initially, when Iqbal was beginning to write poetry, he had received corrections (Islaah) from Mirza Dagh Dehlvi for a while. Though he had never met him in person, the two only corresponded through letters. After some time, Dagh wrote to Iqbal that there was no need for any more corrections in his poetry. When Dagh passed away, Iqbal wrote an elegy (Marsiya) in which every couplet was immersed in sheer love and reverence.
Ashk ke daane zamiin-e-sher mein botaa huu.n mai.n
Tuu bhi ro aye khaak-e-dilli ‘Daagh’ ko rotaa huu.n mai.n
In one of his poetry collections, titled 'Surili Bansuri' Aarzoo Lakhnavi did not use a single word from Persian and Arabic root. This collection of his, is famous among poetry enthusiasts. Like :
khilnā kahīñ chhupā bhī hai chāhat ke phuul kā
lī ghar meñ saañs aur galī tak mahak ga.ī
Jigar Moradabadi was one of the most prominent pre-modern poets who enjoyed stunning popularity and fan-following. He is known for his moody nature; spent his life migrating between Moradabad, Agra and then finally moved to Gonda, where he lived with famous poet Asghar Gondvi as a friend and benefactor. He also earned his reputation as an iconic mushaira poet who earned huge applause from the audience, and used to charge ₹500 for one Mehfil. Despite all this, his marital life was very fragmented and his wife was very upset with his frequent drinking and alcohol addiction. It is said that on the advice of Asghar Gondvi, he divorced his wife Naseem and she got married to Asghar Gondvi after that.
One of the prominent Pakistani women poets.
kabhī vo misl-e-gul mujhe misāl-e-ḳhār chāhiye
kabhī mizāj-e-mehrbāñ vafā-shi.ār chāhiye
kabhi wo misl-e-gul mujhe misal-e-KHar chahiye
kabhi mizaj-e-mehrban wafa-shiar chahiye
Essential collection of Iconic poets – a list that goes beyond the realm of fame and populism
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