Sabika Abbas Naqvi - Every time my pen raises itself to write a verse, I hope it is in favour of the oppressed

This week, Shana is joined by the Indian Urdu poet and activist Sabika Abbas Naqvi. Sabika paints a picture of her home and neighbourhood in Lucknow, India, and her deep connection to both that is reflected in her work. She talks about reclaiming male-dominated poetry spaces as a woman, how her poetry is  a tool of resistance against oppression. 

Sabika recites her poem, Maadari Zabaane (Mother Tongues) in this episode. You can read the English translation of the poem here. 

Follow us on Instagram @herkajalwontsmudge and check out our website www.herkajalwontsmudge.com.

Follow Sabika (@boltiaurat) on Instagram.

CREDITS:

Host and Creative Director: Shana 

This is a Maed in India production

Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar

Junior Producer: Saakshi Samant, Quoyina Ghosh

Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni, Lakshman Parsuram, Nihar Temkar

Head of Visual Design: Minal Jadeja

Visual Designers: Akshat Agarwal, Shaumik Kanvinde