Bøger af Raza Mir

Allama Muhammad Iqbal (1877-1938), also known as the 'Poet of the East', earned a doctorate in philosophy from the Ludwig-Maximillian University at Munich, and wrote his most evocative poems in Urdu, a language that was not his mother tongue. He counted Jawaharlal Nehru as one of his fans, and earned Mahatma Gandhi's respect as well. His funeral was attended by 70,000 people, which included colonialists and freedom fighters, socialist atheists and Islamic fundamentalists, Indian nationalists and Muslim Leaguers, reflecting his ability to defy categorization. The book is a relatively short volume that introduces Iqbal to the millennial generation. It is written in a relatively contemporary language, similar to Ghalib: A Thousand Desires. The bulk of the book will comprise a temporal and intellectual biography of Iqbal, while the rest will include a detailed discussion of one of Iqbal's poems, a translation of some of his well-known poems, and a sampling of some of his famous verses.It will not for the Iqbal-expert or the Urdu-expert, but for a relative newcomer.

3 May 1857. India stands on the brink of war. Everywhere in its cities,towns, and villages, rebels and revolutionaries are massing to overthrowthe ruthless and corrupt British East India Company which has taken overthe country and laid it to waste. In Delhi, the capital, even as the plot toget rid of the hated foreigners gathers intensity, the busy social life of thecity hums along. Nautch girls entertain clients, nawabs host mushairasor poetry soirees in which the finest poets of the realm congregate torecite their latest verse and intrigue, the wealthy roister in magnificenthavelis, and the drinking dens of the city continue to pack in customers.

Mirza Ghalib is perhaps the most widely chronicled Urdu poet in English. But few can pithily capture the essence of his life and work as enjoyably as Raza Mir can. In this lively, witty and illuminating account, Ghalib emerges from these pages as a man of his time but also one who looms large over history. Raza infuses his research with just the right amount of anecdote and trivia, evoking Ghalib as an outspoken genius, a game-changer who never shied away from aiming a witty barb (or three) at his rivals. Moreover, Ghalib also lived in a crucial age that saw the end of Mughal rule and the destruction of his beloved Delhi. Ghalib: A Thousand Desires also comprises a selection of the great poet''s most enduring poems and ghazals, accompanied by Raza''s insightful commentary that decodes underlying themes and meanings in these verses.

"Let a thousand verses bloom. Anthems of Resistance is about the iconoclastic tradition of poetry nurtured by Ali Sardar Jafri, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Javed Akhtar, Fehmida Riyaz and all those who have been part of the progressive writers'' movement in the Indian subcontinent. It documents the rise of the Progressive Writers'' Association, its period of ascendancy, its crucial role in the struggle for independence, and its unflagging spirit of resistance against injustice. In the process, the book highlights various aspects of the PWA''s aesthetics and politics such as its internationalist ethos, its romance with modernity, its engagement with feminism, its relationship to Hindi cinema and film lyrics, and the vision of a radically new world which its members articulated with passion. Part history, part literary analysis, part poetic translation, and part unabashed celebration of the PWA era, this book is truly a unique resource.This is a lucidly written account of a glorious chapter in the history of Indian literature. The powerful verses of the PWA poets are wonderfully translated and, along with the highly accessible transliteration, offer the general reader a rare opportunity to appreciate the writings that helped shape a nation. Anthems of Resistance is truly an inspiring and pleasurable read."- Professor Mushirul Hasan, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi"Such a gift from the Brothers Mir! Lyrical and thoughtful, this introduction to the vast swathe of progressive Urdu poetry belongs on all our shelves, and in all our hearts. It is a companion worthy of the poetry itself. A singular achievement."- Professor Vijay Prashad, Director of International Studies, Trinity College, Connecticut, US"Like the many poets they celebrate, the authors write with passion and conviction ... Their book makes for a joyous and exhilarating read."-Professor C.M. Naim, Professor Emeritus,University of Chicago