Why Ghalib Speaks to Me: A Talk by Prof Gopi Chand Narang

Why Ghalib Speaks to Me: A Talk by Gopi Chand Narang

Report by Santanu Ganguly, New Delhi: Urdu, the language of Delhi (Zaban-e- Dehli) had its origins in the Sultanate period of the 13th century and its magnificent flowering in the courts of the Mughals in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Known at different as Dehlavi, Hindavi, Rekhta, Hindi and finally Urdu it produced the cultural high point in Literature, Music and Poetry of the Mughal Empire including the cultured elites of Delhi, Hyderabad, Rampur, Bhopal and hundreds of cities in the Deccan and the Punjab.

Trade between the Arabs, Turks, Afghans, Persians and the local merchants speaking Punjabi, Khadi Boli, Sindhi and other local languages at the large sarai’s (inns) resulted in the birth of a new language, a fusion of the languages of Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. The Ghazal, the Qawali and the Masnavi became the language of music and poetry with the likes of Meer, Ghalib, Momin and Zauq but Urdu also became the language of rebellion against British rule and the demand for freedom and the creation of a just society with authors like Iqbal, Josh, Firaq and Manto.

Hindustani Awaaz, in collaboration with The Attic, presents a monthly series of monologues: Poetry, literature, short stories, plays, essays, nazms, ghazals. A series of eclectic speakers will present/sing/recite their favourite Urdu text and explain why the text ‘speaks’ to them the way it does. We hope this series will highlight a neglected aspect of the Delhi cultural scene.

Prof Gopi Chand Narang has had a long and illustrious career as a teacher of Urdu. He is a writer and critic of depth and gravitas, an engaging and eloquent speaker, a tireless organizer of seminars, symposiums and academic interventions, and an indefatigable champion of the cause of Urdu. Possibly, he has single-handedly done more for the cause of Urdu in India than many anjumans and associations.

Prof Narang is a former President of the Sahitya Akademi and a Professor Emeritus of Delhi University. He has published more than 64 books, including a scholarly and critical work on language, literature, poetics and cultural studies. Many of his books have been translated into different Indian languages.

He holds a lifelong belief in the innate ability of Urdu to build bridges, to forge interfaith harmony and emerge as the pre-eminent symbol of composite culture. Stalwart, scholar, spokesperson for Urdu, Prof Narang is also a symbol of the pluralism and secularism that was once the hallmark of Urdu tehzeeb.

Date & Time: Thursday, February 28, 2013; 6.30 pm

Venue: The Attic, 36 Regal Building, New Delhi 110001