EP 01: Urdu Poets Khaleel ur Rehman Azmi & Kamal Siddiqi: Huma & Sumaiya Share Memories of Their Fathers

Huma Khalil and Sumaiya Kamal Siddiqui are in conversation with broadcaster Pervaiz Alam. Both of them are first cousins, and daughters of eminent Urdu poets, Khaleel-Ur-Rehman Azmi and Kamal Ahmed Siddiqi, respectively. Another Urdu legend, Shahryar, is also their family. They share intimate details, memories and anecdotes associated with their fathers and Chacha, Shahryar.

Khaleel-Ur-Rehman Azmi:
Huma’s father, Khaleel-Ur-Rehman Azmi (1927 – 1978) of Aligarh fame is considered one of the founders of new nazm in Urdu. Scholar, Critic, Academic and poet, Azmi is widely respected for initiating a new trail in Urdu criticism with his books which are prescribed all over the world in various universities and colleges as a part of the Urdu syllabus. He is known to have taught Urdu to the legendary Urdu scholar, Prof Ralph Russel of SOAS, London.

Khalil-ur-Rehman Azmi’s books include Kaghzi Pairahan, Naya Ahad Nama, Nai Nazm Ka Safar, Fikr-o-Fan, Zawiay-e-Nigah, Mazameen-e-Nau, Muqaddama-e-Kalam-e-Aatish, Taraqqi Pasand Tahreek, Urdu Mein Taraqqi Pasand Adabi Tahreek and Zindagi Ai Zindagi.

Kamal Ahmed Siddiqui:
Sumaiya’s father Kamal Ahmed Siddiqi (1926- 2013) was a poet, broadcaster, writer, scholar and a painter who spent most of his working life at All India Radio in Srinagar, Kashmir as a programmer.

A Phd from JNU on Ghalib, Kamal Ahmed Siddiqui is known to have interviewed and recorded a large number of legendary Urdu poets of his time such as Jigar Moradabadi, Josh Malihabadi and Firaq Gorakhpuri for All India Radio and Doordarshan. He cherished his friendship with Urdu stalwarts such as Majaz, Mira Ji, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Ali Sardar Jafri, Ale Ahmad Suroor, Khaleel-Ur-Rehman Azmi, Ehtesham Hussain, Akhtarul Iman and Showkat Siddiqui.

He authored several books including Baadbaan, Jawahraat, Kohsar Gaate Hain, Intekhab, Bayaz e Ghalib: Tahqeeqi Jayaza, Urooz aur Ahang, Urooz Marooz, Kashmir Ek Manzarnama, Ghalib Ki Shanakht & Muqadma e Zaban e Urdu.

SHAHRYAR:
Akhlaq Mohammad Khan ‘Shahryar’ (1936 – 2012) was an academic, poet and lyricist who went on to receive the prestigious literary awards in India, Sahitya Akademi and Jnanpith, for his collection of poems, Khwab Ka Dar Band Hai.

He became a household name as a film lyricist for writing songs in films such as Gaman, Umrao Jaan and Anjuman. Shahryar published his first poetry collection ‘Ism-e-azam’ in 1965, followed by other collections ‘Satvan Dar’, ‘Hijr Ke Mausam’ and 'Khwab Ka Dar Band Hai'.

Urdu Bagh is a podcast series produced by Pervaiz Alam and Achala Sharma for Cine Ink, a hub of podcasts, based in London.