Bollywood songs turn us all into Grammy award-winning bathroom singers! But wait, do you know the meaning of every word you sing? Especially the ones in Urdu? On Urdunama, our host Fabeha Syed takes one word at a time and breaks it down for you.
Be it the protest poetry of Faiz, or Sameer's 90s nostalgia, we have it all. If you like Urdu and poetry, this podcast is for you!
Vaqaar: Urdu Poetry on Dignity, Grace, and Knowing Your Worth | Urdunama
This week, we turn to 'vaqaar', meaning dignity, grace, and knowing your own worth. Through the poetry of Qateel Shifai, Jaun Elia, and Bashir Badr, we explore the different ways this idea takes shape. From the dignity of the gaze, to the quietness or thoughtful silence we sometimes mistake for grace, to the humility of staying grounded without making ourselves smaller, each poet offers a different way of looking at what it means to carry oneself with 'vaqaar'.Along the way, we ask what dignity looks like beyond appearances, and whether the way we see others might tell us just as much about ourselves. A conversation about Urdu poetry, self-worth, and the small distinctions that make a word like 'vaqaar' so rich. So, tune in.
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17 Oct 2026
Bisaat: Knowing Your Place in the Game | Urdunama
From the chessboard of life to the conversation between a mountain and a squirrel, we explore bisaat, a word that speaks to capacity, capability, and our place in the world. But how do we measure our own abilities, and how often do we judge ourselves or others by the same standards?
As part of our ongoing exploration of khudi, or our sense of self, this episode looks at what bisaat reveals about our strengths, our limitations, and the space we occupy in relation to others. Through the poetry of Jaun Elia and Allama Iqbal, we unpack the many meanings of bisaat and ask whether we always recognise what we, and those around us, are truly capable of. Tune in.
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10 Oct 2026
What Is Mizaaj? Exploring Temperament, Personality and Khudi
What does mizaaj tell us about who we are? In this episode of Urdunama, we explore the Urdu word for temperament and disposition, and its connection to khudi, which is the idea of the idea of selfhood popularised by Allama Iqbal. Through the poetry of Jaun Elia, Habib Jalib and Daagh Dehlvi, we reflect on how our natural tendencies shape us, how life experiences can change the way we express ourselves, and whether we can learn to respond to hardship with greater resilience. Because understanding who we are begins with understanding our own mizaaj. Tune in.
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