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This is such an amazing initiative! This is a great collection of Urdu poetry which has been made accessible to everybody.

— Aditi Rao Hydari, Actor

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3 Urdu ashaar / shayari (shers, couplets) by

Munni Bai Hijab

1860-1928,

Kolkata (West Bengal)

1 / 3: Munni Bai Hijab

kahunga daavar-e-mahshar kar diya jaaye

ki umr bhar usi kaafir ko

main ne pyaar kiya

i will ask the doomsday judge

to pronounce thus

i spent my whole life

loving that one infidel

Munni Bai Hijab (3)

mahshar (m) (1)

judgment day

umr (m) (15)

life

bhar (m) (10)

fill

kaafir (m) (5)

infidel, disbeliever

pyaar (m) (6)

love

Theme: Love, Passion, and Longing (112)

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2 / 3: Munni Bai Hijab

poochho na haal-e-zaar mera tum se kya kahuun

gum-karda raah-e-baagh huun

yaad aashiyaan naheen

inquire not of my desolate state

for what could i say?

i wander astray in the garden

with no memory of my home

Munni Bai Hijab (3)

haal (m) (17)

plight, condition

zaar (m) (1)

wretched, miserable

gum (m) (2)

lost

raah (m) (23)

street, path

baagh (m) (4)

garden

yaad (m) (35)

memory, remember

aashiyaan (f) (3)

home

Theme: Home, Country, & Belonging (30)

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3 / 3: Munni Bai Hijab

dil bahut bechain be-aaraam hai

kya mohabbat ka

yahi anjaam hai?

my heart is in turmoil

without peace

is this truly

the destined end of love?

Munni Bai Hijab (3)

dil (m) (106)

heart

bahut (20)

too much or many

restless

aaraam (m) (3)

rest

mohabbat (f) (41)

love

anjaam (m) (7)

result, end

Theme: Love, Passion, and Longing (112)

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Featured Themes

Loneliness, Separation, & Grief (113)

Creativity, Philosophy, & Enlightenment (38)

Beauty, Charm, & Union (107)

Life, Learning, & Living (126)

Miscellany (44)

Friends, Family, & Community (135)

Home, Country, & Belonging (30)

Religion, Reason, & Tradition (70)

Oppression, Rebellion, & Freedom (58)

Voice, Expression, & Language (76)

Love, Passion, and Longing (112)

Hopes, Aspirations, & Dreams (37)

Heart, Mind, & Memory (65)

Grit, Resilience, & Courage (56)

Nature, World & Universe (50)

Quest, Journey, & Destination (53)

Alfaaz Ki Mehfil is a curated space for timeless poetry celebrating words, emotions, and the enduring beauty of expression. From classic Urdu couplets to modern reflections, it brings together generations of poetic voices that speak of love, longing, hope, and the human soul.

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