How Bashir Badr Found Poetry in a ‘Zard Shaal’, a ‘Zafraani Pullover’ and Everyday Life

[00:00:00] Expedia and VisitScotland invite you to come experience the beauty that awaits in Scotland. The sweep of wild coastlines, quiet locks and untamed landscapes. Fresh cuisine that feels rooted in the land. Come experience the kind of stillness that stays with you long after you leave. Plan your Scottish escape today at Expedia.com slash VisitScotland.

[00:00:35] Ujaleh Apeni Yadon Kei Hemare Saat Rheheni Do Ujaleh Apeni Yadon Kei Hemare Saat Rheheni Do Na Jani Kiz Gali Me Zindagi Ki Shām Ho Jaiye. Bashir Badr Sahib Ka Shiar Hai Unkei Guzer Jainé Pera Javid Sahib Nne Bilkos Sahih Sohii Sohii Alphaz Mne Unhenghi Yad Kiya Hai Que Aaj Urdu Zaban Thuڑi Gharieb Ho Ghei Hai 28 Mai 2026 Go We Lost A True Giant Of Our Times

[00:01:01] Aaj ka episode thoda mختلف है. Aaj kisie ek word ki baat nahi karenghe, kisie ek theme ki baat nahi karenghe. Aaj hum Bashir Sahib ko yad karenghe. Aaj hum unki brand of poetry ki baat karenghe. Ke hemari joh generation hai aur ane wali kai generations ki liye etna zaroori kiyon hai Ke hum unki shairi se waagif ho jayen. Why it is absolutely vital for everyone who loves Urdu To remember Bashir Badr and what his poetry stood for. Toh shuru kertte hai.

[00:01:34] Aik taweel break ke baad the quint per aap sun raha hai. Urdu nama, meera naam hai Fabeha Sayyad. Urdu shairi kai baar bhoat intimidating lagti hai. Kai baar shairi feels hard on the surface because us mein kum istimal kia jane wale words hootate hai, kum istimal kia jane wale expressions hootate hai. Shairi semajneme in sabse bada diushwari hooti hai. Ab aisa kyun hai? Aisa is liye hai kiyonki bhai aise share exist karte hai.

[00:02:00] Aur exist isi liye karte hai kiyonki purane dour me joh shairi thi, usko bhoat zyada shahi darbaron aur nawaabo ki sarparasthi mili thi. Us zamanay mein high literature ki zaban farsi hua karte thi. Isi liye joh bade bade shairi thi, woh urdu mein bhoat bhari personized words or complex metaphors use kiya karte thi. Taakye unki shairi court worthy lak sake, darbar mei pashkarne layak lak sake.

[00:02:27] Lekin wakt badla, shahid darbar khatam ho gaya and that is exactly where Bashir sahab changed the game. Woh scholars ke liye nahi likhte thay, raje maharajo ke liye nahi likhte thay. He wrote for the ordinary human being using a very conversational, deeply articulate flow. Kyaunki jab tuk woh pida huay, tib tuk zamana kafi hud tak بدel gaya tha. Logo ki joh pereishaniyah thi, logo ke joh egos thi, woh alag shakl aur situation zi khaktiar kar chukhi thi.

[00:02:54] Toh ág podcast mein hum, Bashir Badr sahab ke zemeen se judi hoi shairi ki baat karenghe. Jho ám admi ke masail, unki roze marra ki kashma kash, usam admi ke daily life ki naps pe hath rakh kar, jho unho nishairi ki hai, uski hum baat karenge. Unka eek bhoat hi maşhur shiher hai. Koi hath bhi na milayega, jho galee milo ge tapaak se. Covid ke time pe bhoat istimal kia tha ye. Koi hath bhi na milayega, jho galee milo ge tapaak se.

[00:03:23] Ye naye mizaj ka shahir hai, zara fásle se mila karo. Kitna simple hai, lekin observation kitna sharp hai sime. He's talking about the coldness of modern cities and societies. The changing nature of human relationships. Galee milna relationships ka symbol hai. Woha kheer raha hai, Khi agar aap bhoat warmth se, bhoat tapaak se ekdam, phatak se kisi se galee milenge, Toh log shayid aap se hath milana bhi pacand nahi kareenge. Why? Kyiunki yye naye mizaj ka shahir hai.

[00:03:51] The modern world values distance. Toh zara fásle se mila kiijijay. Yahaan urban isolation par eek comment hai. He did not need complex metaphors to highlight urban isolation, Juhar koi experience kar raha hai.

[00:04:17] Yeh ek share pardkar, Juhu galee milo ge tapaak se, Yeh naye mizaj ka shahir hai. Zara fásle se mila kero. Abhi raah me kai mord hai, Koi ae ga, Koi jayega, Tumhye jis ne dill se bhula diya, Usse bholnene ki dua karo.

[00:04:47] Mujhe ishtihar si lagti hai, Yeh mohabbaton ki kahaniyan, Juh kaha nahi woha suna karo, Juh suna nahi woha kaha karo. Kabhye husn-e pardha nashin bhi ho zara aşikana libaas mein, Juh mein bun-sawar ke, Kehin chalun miri saath, Tum bhi chala karo. Nahi bhe hijab, Voh chand saa ke nazer ka koji azar na ho, Usse etni garmiye shok se,

[00:05:17] Bedi dier tuk na tkha karo. Yeh khizan ki zard si shal mein, Shawl. Yeh khizan ki zard si shawl mein, Juh odaas pade ke paas hai, Yeh tumhahar e ghar ki bahar hai, Usse ansoon se hara karo. Zard si shawl, Zafrani pullover, Yeh imagery joh hai, Yeh bashier badr ka trademark, Somaj lije.

[00:05:46] So this brings us to how we should read his work. Or yeh dhekna ki unki shairi, Unki apeni zindegi se kitnhi judi hui hai, Voh bhoat interesting hai. Bashir sahab ki joh poetry hai, Voh sirf imagination se nikal ke naihi aai hai. It came from very real lived experiences. 1987 mein merat ke joh riots thay, Uske dauran unka pura ghar jala diya gaya. Ghar hi nahi jala tha. Unki saal hoon ki joh handwritten manuscripts thii, Diaries thii,

[00:06:14] Puri zindegi ka joh adbhi sarmaaya tha, Joh ek shair ikhattah kerta rhetta hai, Joh uska asset hota hai, Itna ahim asasa hota hai, Everything turned to ash in a single night. Eek rath mein sab kuch mith gaya. He lost everything, Or unhye bhopal jah kar bilkul, Shuru se shuruat karnei padi. You know, he started from scratch. Lekin is haadzhe ke baad, Job aap unki shairi padehenge, Mothilabh is haadzhe ke baad, Jog kuch hunnho ne likha, Or job aap usse padehenge, Aap notice karenghe,

[00:06:43] Khi unke yaaha nafrat ya telkhi ka, Eek qatra bhi nahi hai. Unhau ne eek dignified resilience, Iktiar kiya. Eek baawaza, Or shanadar qasm ka sabr chuna. Yee joh shair abh mein aapko suna raha raha huu, Usi tragedy ke reflection hai. Likhte hai, Log toot jatay hai, Eek ghar banane mein, Tum taras nahi khaate, Bustiyaan jalane mein. Kisii ek par unggli nahi u'tha raha hi hai.

[00:07:10] He is creating a devastating image of human effort, Versus senseless destruction, Ego driven destruction. Log toot jatay hai, Eek ghar banane mein. Eek insaan puri tarhan toot jata hai, Apeni puri zindagi ki kamaay Apeni sare khab laga deta hai, Sirf ek ghar banane mein. Tum taras nahi khaate, Bustiyaan jalane mein. Or tumhye, Eek pal bhi, Nahhi lagta hai, Sab kush tabaah karne mein. Eek pal ke liye bhi, Koyi jhik ya rahe mhsus nai hota, Puri ki puri bustiyaan rakh karne mein.

[00:07:40] Iske anndar, Eek survivor ki, Ghehri wisdom hai. He survived this tragedy, right? Woh humay si kaatayin ki, Bina apni grace khoay, Itnay bade, Almost monumental grief say, Kaisi guzera jasakta hai. Har koji grief se guzertta hai, Kaj bar utna bada nahi hota hai, Kaj bar bhaat bada hota hai, Pahar jitna hota hai, Log bikhar jate hai, Log toot jate hai, Talh ho jate hai. Kuchh log insaan hi nahi rheitte hai, Insaniyat hiya khatam ho jate hai, Unkei anndar. To aise moments pe, When we feel weak,

[00:08:10] Grief ke hat ho, Anger ke hat ho, Us wakt ke liye, Buhut bhuht khobصورت reminder hai, Khi loog toot jate hai, Ghar banane mein, Tum taras nahi khathe, Bustiaan jalane mein. Aaghe likta hai, Or jam tootenghe, Is sharaap khahane mein, Mawsemo ke ánene mein, Mawsemo ke jane mein. Har dhđakte pththar ko, Log dill semajtate hai, Umre biet jathi hai, Dill ko dill banane mein. Fakta ke majburi, Ye bhi keha nahi saktai, Korn saanp rakhta hai, Uske áshiyane mein.

[00:08:40] Dousri koi ladki zindagi mein, Aayegi, Kitni dher lagti hai, Usko bhuul jane mein. Vada, Puri tone hi change kar dhe, Dousri koi ladki zindagi mein, Aayegi, Kitni dher lagti hai, Usko bhuul jane mein. Bashir sahab, Neshaari ke puranen, Joh ghise piti metaphors hai na, Unko thukra diya. Bohut asaan hai, Ye semajhne mein, Khi puranen, Joh ghisi piti bati hai, Unko repeating kera raha hai. He did not just write about traditional romance, He wrote about modern, Very urban realities. Jiasse aap ko abhi,

[00:09:10] Ben bata raha raha thi, Kye woha am insaan ki mujburiyaan likhte thai. Shehre ki ghutan kya hoti hai, Badalti hoi dunia ka joh, Bharipan hai, Woh kya hai, Or is sab ke bich, Ekaam insaan ki joh bebasi hai, Woh kya shak lehi akhtiyar kerti hai, Kya kya manifestations hote hai uske. This was his playground. Is zameen ke oopper, Woh pher shairi kehette thai. Eek share suni ho, And is k imagery ko phir aap Or achhe se s'majh sakti hai, Jab woha likhte hai, Kye, Zindagi tu nhe mujhe Qabr se kam dhi hai zameen,

[00:09:40] Zindagi tu nhe mujhe Qabr se kam dhi hai zameen, Pawn phehlاؤun To diwar mein sar lagtta hai. Yhe share pardkar Mujhe ek story yada gaya, Jho meinne sal ho fahle ki thi, Eek aisie family se me mili thi, Jho well off to bilkul bhi nahi thi, Chhota sa ghar tha, Yung kahein eek kamra tha, Jis mei pachy raiti thai, Do mia bievi thai, Kitchen aur bathroom,

[00:10:10] Ek tha, Pahle khana ban kar tiyar ho ta tha, Phir wohi jaga dhul kar, Pardha đal kar, Bathroom ka kam dhe ti thi, To eek dhin, Unkei haan dhupair ke waz, Jem mein gai interview karne ke lihe, So har koi so ra tha, Na play raha thai, Mäi ne interview, Bahar 4 paai per bat kar liya, So while everybody was sleeping inside, To menei toh khađe honne ki bhi jaga nahi thi, Vahha, Koi diwar se jipka hua tha, Kisinei berabar walay ke pairu ko takiya wana rakhha tha, Kisinei pair eegdem, Sikor ke diwar se, Take laga ke, Wohi so raa tha, Kyunki pair pailanen ki jaga nahi thi,

[00:10:41] Kisinei pair pailanen ki jaga nahi thi, Pardhkar mujhe eegdem se, Us ghar ki yad a gai, Kisindagi tu nhe mujhe, Qabr se kam dhi hai zemien, Paon pailaon, To diwar mein sar lagtta hai, Claustrofobia dhekhi aap in lines mein, Shair کہer raha hai, Kisindagi tu nhe mujhe to rhenne ki jaga dhi hai, Voh ek qabr se vhi chhoti hai, Qabr mein toh admi paila ke aram se leita wai, Lekin zindagi mein kya ho raha hai, Kisindagi pailaon toh diwar mein sar lagtta hai, If I stretch my legs,

[00:11:09] My head hits the wall, Or depth mein agar yeh, Aap share s'majna chaa rhei hai, Toh is share mein, Bashir Badr sahab ne, Doh bhoat bade e or opposite words ko, Aamne sámeni khaida ka dhia hai, Zindagi or qabr, Zindagi ka mtlab hota hai, Khula aseman, Unlimited possibilities, Azadhi, Or qabr kya hai, Confinement, Andhera, Eek bhoat hi tang jaga, Death, Jab woh kaitate hai,

[00:11:39] Khe zindagi tu nhe mujhe qabr se kam dhi hai, Zami, Toh woh صرف aapne kamere ke, Square footage ko, Ki shikayat nhi kare raha hai, Woh kaya raha hai, Khe áaj ke dor mein, Insan ki pori existence, Us ki pori zindagi hi sikud gai hai, It feels like a living death, Or phir átá hai, Is ghtan ka physical reaction, Pawn phehlاؤn, Toh diwar mein sar lagtata hai, Insan pawn kap phehlata hai, Jab woh relax kerna chahata hai, Sukoon dhundta hai, Ya khwaab dhekta hai koji, Lekin áaj ki modern life, Ais hi ho gai hai,

[00:12:08] Que aap jaisi thoda sa sukoon chahathe hai, Ya thoda bada khwaab dhekna شروع kerthi hai, Toh foreign kisi diwar sa, Aapka sar jake tag rata hai, Or phir koji aapko remind kara ta hai, Que jitni chadar hai, Utanay hi pher phehlane chahi hai, Hai na, Toh ye diwar hai, Physical diwar hai, Shayid nahi hai, Yeh áaj ke zamane ki emotional, Or existential pressures hai, Dekhi kitni aasani se aasan words me, Vashir vadr nye itunye bade dard ko,

[00:12:37] Itunye bade grief ko, Monumental grief ko, Aam alfaz me keh diya hai, Puri ghazal pardou, Thik hai, Likhte hai, Sar se patak, Voh gulaabun ka shajar lagtta hai, Bawazoo hoke bhi chhutte huay dhar lagtta hai, Main tere saat sitarou se guzar sakta hoon, Kitna aasan mohobet ka sifar lagtta hai,

[00:13:08] Mujh meh rehatta hai, Koi dushmane jani mera, Mujh meh rehatta hai, Koi dushmane jani mera, Khud se tanhaii meh, Miltte huay dhar lagtta hai, Hidden griefs, Hidden complexes, Hidden issues, Aaf ke anndar ke johan, Kajibar unhef face karne se dhar lagtta hai, Usi ki baat ho raya hai, But bhi rakhye hai, Namazein bhi adha hooti hai, Dil mera dhil nahi, Allah ka ghar lagtta hai, Zindagi tu ne muche Qabr se kum dhi hai zamein,

[00:13:36] Paon phehlاؤn to diwar meh sar lagtta hai, Dr. Bashir Badr sahab, Jinnhe padmushri se nawaza gaya tha, Unhoneyi apnei akheri sal, Severe dementia se leadtte hoi guzar hai, Eks aasa shakts, Jho čar zabani fluently bolta tha, Woha dhierhe dhierhe Apeni hii şairi bhol gaya, Apeni hii words bhol gaya,

[00:14:29] Aaj bhi timeless hai, Aap ke or hemare liye hai, And the other one, Unhoneyi kishe khupecuret legacy ko Mhsus karne ke liye, Unhoneyi eek bhoat iconic gharzel, Mhain aap ke sunao ngi, Woha unhki romantic, Or joh modern sensibilities hai, Unhka sabse bhehterien shahkar hai, Let's unpack this gharzel together, Share by share, Gharzel ka joh matla hai, Yarni pahla share hi, Eek bhoat hii pyaari human reality ko bayán kertha hai, Likhte hai ke dhua karo ke yi pauda sada hara hi lage,

[00:14:59] Udaasiyon me bhi chahra khila khila hi lage, Look at the image of the pauda, A small plant, Shair kaher raha hai ke dhua karo ye chhota sa joh pauda hai, Hemeisha hara bhara dikta raha, Hemare zindagy me chahe, Jitni bhi udasiyan hoon, Hemare chahre hameisha khila khila hi raha, He is talking about maintaining dignity, In front of the world, Udaasiyon me bhi chahra khila khila hi lage,

[00:15:28] Dunia ke sámeni apne dhukh ka tamashah na banana, Belkhe khud ko khud ke liye sambhal ke rakhna, He is just saying, Don't look like your problems, Okay? Note it sir, Aaghe lichtte hain, Woh saadgi na karay, Kuch bhi toh ada hi lage, Woh bholpun hai ke bhe ba ki bhi haya hi lage, Yaha mehbub ki tarif, Itnay am aur pyaray alfaz meh ki gai hai, Khe unki be baqi, Mhebub ki jy be baqi hai,

[00:15:58] Unka outspoken hoona, Unka bold hoona, Woh bhi shair ko unki haya lag raha, Yarni unki modesty lag raha hai, Yeh zafrani pullover, Usi ka hissah hai, Koyi joh dousra pahnei, Toh dousra hi lage, Zafrani pullover, Zafrani pullao hota hai, Yaha pe zafrani pullover ki baat kardhi hai, Yarni sweater ki baat kardhi hai, Bashir sahab, Yaha pe saffron color ki sweater ki baat karehi hai, Eek sweater par share lik raha hai, Traditional shairi meh,

[00:16:28] Hemesha raniyun ke joh jodhe hai, Reishmi kam khabaab ke libas hai, Kepdei aur dupatto ki baat hoti hai, Aankh ho mein joh kajal hai, Jhumke ki lachak hai, Uski baat hoti hai, Uski tajbih, Aek jhukti hoi, Tehni se dhi jati hai, Kamar ki tajbih, Tehni se dhi jati hai, Is tari ki similes or metaphors meh, Aorat ko biyan kiya jata hai, Actually, Ghazal ki joh definition hai, Aap ko kae bármen nenei bata ya hai, Text book meh, Yehi padhaja jata hai, Que, Ghazal ka mtlaab hai, Aorat ho se husn o isq ki baat hai, Kira na,

[00:16:56] Yahaan Bashir sahab nene kiya kiya hai, He brought a modern winter clothing item into the Ghazal, Woh kheh raya hai, Ke, Zafrani pullover unhhi ka hissah hai, Unhhi par jachta hai, Jho, In ko pasand aate hai, So if anyone else tries to wear it, They will look like an imposter, Woh joh garment hai, Jis ki baat kar hai, It belongs to their identity, It belongs to the lover, His or her identity, Yeh zafrani pullover, Usi ka hissah hai, Koi joh dousra pahne,

[00:17:25] Toh dousra hi lage, Nahi hai mere muqaddar mein roshni na sahih, Ye khid ki khol o zara, Subh ki hawa hi lage, Dekhe, 5 a.m. club toh ap ja ke, Popular hua hai, Vashir sahab developed this concept, Way before it became a modern self-care trend, Unhho ne baut pahle hi s'majh liya tha, Ke jab zindagi mein har taraf andeera ho, Anxiety ho, Depression ho, Ya dukh ho,

[00:17:54] Toh us phase se nikalne ka, Sabse pehla or basic step kya hai, Apeni kamre ki khidkiaan khol ye, Subha ki hawa khayye, He was probably one of the first, To spot that ultimate life hack, Ager aap apni life ke badalti huay halat ko, Change karna chate hai, Andhere se bahaar nikalna chate hai, Toh andhere se bahaar toh baut hi, Obviss tariqa hai bahaar nikalne ka, Woh hai, Rath se subha ka hoona, Aap rath mein hai, Aap subha mein chalte huay, Aajay ye, Open that window, Start waking up early,

[00:18:26] Phr likhte hai, Haseen toh aur hai, Lekin koi kahaan tujhsa, Jo dil jalaye, Bahaat phir bhi dil rubah hi laghe, There are many beautiful people in the world, But no one is quite like you, Simple hai, Aur aisa kyun hai, Kyunki jo dil jalaye, Bahaat, Yani ki tum, You trouble my heart so much, You cause so much pain, Phir bhi dil rubah hi laghe, But despite all that heartbreak, Despite all your battamizi, Z, You still look incredibly charming, And beloved to me, Bashir sahabh ya haan peh ye hi keh rhae hai,

[00:18:55] Que aisa koye agar aapke zindaghi mein hai, Aapke sari kamiyong ke baوجood, Aapke sath patient hai, Then they need to be protected, At all costs, Woh insaan, Sachmin naayab hai, So quit being mean to them, Ajeeb shaks hai, Naraaz ho ke hastah hai, Ajeeb shaks hai, Naraaz ho ke hastah hai, Main chaahata houn khafa ho, To woh khafa hi laghe, Shair kehate hai, Khe woh bho bhoh tajeeb insaan hai, Naraaz hounen ke baad bhi, Usko hasi aajathi hai,

[00:19:25] I just want them to look properly upset, When they are angry, I want that emotional honesty, Not a fake smile, To hide their resentment, Yaha peh kehne ka bas yeh mahtalab hai, Khe jinn ki woh baat ker rahi hai, Shayad woh, Unse nazdik hi or chaatai hai, Kyouki jis ke saath, Hum nazdik hoot hai, Uske saath, Hum wilkul open hoot hai, Honest hoot hai, Vulnerable hoot hai, Hame koji sharam nai hoot hai, Hame kuch chupane ki zharuotni hoot hai, Kuch fake karne ki zharuotni hoot hai, Phrir likte hai, Hazarun bhes mein phirte hai,

[00:19:54] Ram aur raheem, Koi zaruri nahi hai, Bhala bhala hi laghe, Fair point, Ram aur raheem, The divine, The goodness, Walk around us in thousands of disguises, Koi zaruri nahi hai, Khe bhala bhala hi laghe, It's not, And it's not necessary that someone who's doing good, Ya, Jho bhoat hi divine light lhe kar, Aapke saamne a rahi hai, Jho hamisha saintly lag rahi hai, Ache se kapdai pahen rahi hai, Ya, Ache ache dikh raha hai on the surface, Insaniyat kisibhi rup mein, Kisibhi aam atmi ke bhees mein, Aapke saamne aasakti hai,

[00:20:30] Ab ye sawal, Ke unhhi kyun saamajna zaruri hai, Why is it so important for the younger generation, And honestly everyone to remember Bashir Badr, Pura podcast sun lya hai, Kya abhhi sawal ka jawaab dhena, Padhega, Because Bashir Badr, Unh sabhi loogos ke liye, Urdu shari ka aek bridge hai, Jinhin lagtta hai, Kya zaban bhoat, Dore dharaski hai, Semaj me nahi aapayeegi, Unhho nai ye prove kar diya, Kya dil ke jazbad par command rakhne ke liye, Aapko ko koi bhari bharia pretentious vocabulary ki,

[00:21:00] Zirurat nahi hoti hai, Uske liye zaban ko, Sakil banane ki, Zirurat nahi hai, Agar aap Bashir Badr ko, Discover karna chahate hai, Pick up his collections like, Amad, Ya ujale aapni yadu ke, Ithminan se, Aaram se, Therer ther ke padiye ga, Ujale aapni yadu ke, Hemare saath rehene do, Na jane kis gali me, Zindagi ki sham ho jaye, Agle hafute milti hoon, Khuda hafiz,