Urdu Poetry Session: A Poet at Night

With the winter solstice approaching, join us on Saturday 17th December as we explore a selection of Iqbal’s poetry inspired by the stillness of night.

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As for countless other poets, the night proves a source of endless wonderment for Iqbal, with nightfall stirring much soul-searching. Without the light and clamour of the day, the vastness of the starry heavens reveals itself, thereby giving him space to contemplate. The moon, in particular, holds the poet especially captivated and, in these poems, is cast as a steady companion for those listless hours after dusk. Unsurprisingly, he has left behind a vast canon of poetry in ode to those small, slumbering hours.

Known as Shair-e-Mushriq (the Poet of the East), Allama Iqbal's poetry, written mostly in Urdu and Persian, is regarded among the greatest of the modern era.

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The workshop will be conducted by Tasnim Firdaus, Director of Language & Literature Programmes at The Mehfil. Tasnim's academic interests include classical Urdu and Persian poetry and Persian in the Indus valley. Tasnim has worked as a lecturer of Urdu and Persian language and literature in Pakistan and has a teaching career spanning over 30 years.

The session will be held on Saturday 17th December from 2-4 pm. Venue: Maida Vale, London (W9). Tickets are available to purchase here. Knowledge of Urdu is required - material will be provided in Urdu and Romanised Urdu.

***Refreshments will be provided. Doors open at 1.45 pm, and the session will begin promptly at 2 pm***