Zabaan-e-aam

guneet kaur

Of poetry, stories, sach aur khwaab ~ A literary podcast based in India that brings translated stories and poems every alternate Wednesday.

  1. 6 may

    May Day with Ashwani Kumar

    Zabaan-e-aam is back with a new episode. Our first in 2026. :) This year's May Day episode is by our young comrade Ashwani, who has shared his observations in the form of poetry. The poem looks at how the city invisibilizes labour. As we go about our busy lives, the workers and labourers who complete the circle of the economy get replaced and some of us hardly notice the difference. It is important to remember those who help us through our day and when they are away, their absence makes a difference. The recent Noida protests by the factory workers are a reminder that the basic need of an 8-hour workday and dignity of labour are still missing. The workers toil tirelessly in the factories and are humiliated by the managers even when they take a washroom break. If they are late, they are sent back. An increase from 11,000 to 13,000 hardly makes a difference in an economy where the cost of essentials has gone up so much. It is important for more voices to speak out for these workers and the workers across the country so that they get decent wages and are treated fairly, as humans. Ashwani is your comrade, who's exhausted striving through the same world as yours. they hold on to kindness as their tool for revolution, and work to inform narratives with evidence. If they are not processing their rage through poems or revelling in sadness, they can be found in the kitchen cooking. More of my thoughts can be found on @ashwanirdeshak on instagram. The Urdu poem I have shared is by Asrarul Haq Majaz ~ 'Mazduron ka Geet'. You can read it here on the Rekhta website: https://www.rekhta.org/nazms/mazduuron-kaa-giit-mehnat-se-ye-maanaa-chuur-hain-ham-asrarul-haq-majaz-nazms Please feel free to leave your comments. You can donate in INR and internationally also through Buy me a Coffee.   If you would like to support our podcast, please click on the links below: Buy Me a Coffee: ⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zabaaneaam⁠ Instamojo: ⁠ https://knotty1.myinstamojo.com/product/buy-me-a-coffee⁠ Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/zabaan_e_aam⁠⁠ Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast for exciting stories and poems. Comment andshare your feedback with us. Or write to us at zabaaneaam@gmail.com

    13 min
  2. May Day ~ Majaz aur Kaifi Azmi ke saath by Sahil Kazmi

    01/05/2025

    May Day ~ Majaz aur Kaifi Azmi ke saath by Sahil Kazmi

    Welcome to Season 3, Episode 1 of the Zabaan-e-aam podcast! Starting our new season on May Day! :) Thank you, Sahil, for sharing nazms from Majaz and Kaifi Azmi on this important day. Our Guest: Sahil Kazmi A little bit about him: Sahil recently completed his M.A. in Gender Studies from Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women's Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia. Currently, he is involved in Research work related to Gender and Politics. He is looking forward to join a PhD program this year. He is a member of the All India Students’ Association (AISA). His interests mostly lies in electoral politics, Urdu poetry & literature, cinema and Indian history and he spends most of his time juggling between these four worlds. Majaz is his favourite poet and he remembers almost all of his ghazals, nazms and qissas (about him) by-heart. Some couplets I shared on the podcast. Aaj Maii ka pehla din hai, aaj ka din mazdoor ka din. ~ Suroor Barabankwi tirii zamiin pe kartaa rahaa huu.n mazduurii hai suukhne ko pasiina mu.aavza hai kahaa.n ~ Asim Wasti pe.D ke niiche zaraa sii chhaa.nv jo us ko milii, so gayaa mazduur tan par boriyaa o.Dhe hu.e ~ Sharib Mauranwi farishte aa kar un ke jism par KHushbuu lagaate hai.n vo bachche rail ke Dibbo.n me.n jo jhaa.Duu lagaate hai.n ~ Munawwar Rana Most of these couplets are from the Rekhta app (https://rekhta.org) and some are from Rakhshanda Jalil's book Love in the Time of Hate (2024) If you would like to support ourpodcast, please click on the links below: Buy Me a Coffee: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zabaaneaam ⁠Instamojo: https://knotty1.myinstamojo.com/product/buy-me-a-coffee Follow us on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/zabaan_e_aam⁠ Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast for exciting stories andpoems. Comment and share your feedback with us. Or write to us at zabaaneaam@gmail.com

    21 min

Información

Of poetry, stories, sach aur khwaab ~ A literary podcast based in India that brings translated stories and poems every alternate Wednesday.