THOUSAND YEARNINGS : a book of Urdu poetry and prose /
translated and introduced by Ralph Russell ; edited and with a foreword by Marion Molteno.
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- New Delhi Speaking Tiger 2017/01/01
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For many people, Urdu is indelibly associated with a bygone era: the cultural renaissance of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in the face of colonial oppression, heady mushairas and romantic poetry. For others, it brings to mind the gritty prose of the Progressive Writers portraying the grim social realities of the mid-twentieth century.
In this luminous collection of Urdu poetry and prose, Ralph Russell expands our world of Urdu letters to include folk and oral narratives, besides prose and poetry. By situating each form historically, he gives us a refreshing perspective on the diverse literary cultures and histories of India.
Besides canonical short stories by the likes of Manto and Premchand, there is Ismat Chughtai’s little-known autobiographical essay about her relationship with her brother, the writer Azim Beg Chughtai. There are creation tales from the Quran, popular stories of Akbar and Birbal, along with the legendary exploits of Sikandar (Alexander the Great). Selections from the sublime poetry of Mir, Ghalib and others are supplemented by astute commentary and roman transcriptions of the original Urdu. Farhatullah Beg’s brilliantly imagined account of the ‘last Delhi mushaira’ captures a moment in time never seen again, with the horrors of 1857 just around the corner.
An accessible introduction for unfamiliar readers, and a pleasurable companion for those familiar with Urdu literature, this volume is a treasure trove of stories, poetry and history. Originally published as Hidden in the Lute (1995), this revised edition has been edited by Russell’s student and friend for several years, the novelist Marion Molteno.
Includes bibliographical references.
Contents Ralph Russell & Urdu Literature: Foreword by Marion Molteno Introduction
Short Stories and Sketches Prem Chand : A Wifes Complaint Ismat Chughtai : Tinays Granny Rashid Jahan : Behind the Veil Krishna Chander : Kalu Bhangi Saadat Hasan Manto : The Black Shalwar Shaukat Thanavi : Love and Prudence Ismat Chughtai : Hellbound
POPULAR LITERATURE
Outwitting the Powerful Akbar and Birbal Mullah Dopiaza Shaikh Chilli Tales of Famous Men The Creation of Adam and the Loss of Paradise Sikandar, Khizar and the Water of Life Khwaja Hasan Nizami : Guests are Pests
Love Poetry THE GHAZALS OF MIR AND GHALIB
Hasrat Mohani and Momin : Lovers Meetings Mir: The Ideal Ghazal Lover Ghalibs More Nuanced View of Love Mystic Love The Challenge to Orthodoxy The Humanist Values of the Ghazal God and Humankind The Poet in Society Ghalibs Personal Philosophy Images and Allusions Eleven Ghazals of Ghalib A Living Tradition
THE LIVES OF POETS
Muhammad Husain Azad : Nasikh: The Portrait of a Poet Abdul Halim Sharar : The King and the Singer Farhatullah Beg : A Memorable Delhi Mushaira Altaf Husain Hali : A Memoir of Ghalib ghalib : Letters The New Light Responding to Social Change Sayyid Ahmad Khan and the Aligrah Movement Akbar Ilahabadi : Satire in a Changing Society The Novel Rusva : Umrao Jan Ada Editors Notes Urdu Prounuciation Further Reading
Translated from Urdu.
9789386582799
Purchased H & C Stores,Ernakulam
2017329275
Urdu literature Urdu poetry Urdu prose literature Urdu literature -- 18th century -- Translations into English Urdu literature -- 19th century -- Translations into English--Translations into English.