Abbas Tabish on Fear, His Mother and the Urdu Ghazal with Rehman Faris | Rekhta Rubaru

Abbas Tabish on Fear, His Mother and the Urdu Ghazal with Rehman Faris | Rekhta Rubaru . I told my mother once that I was afraid. And she hasn't slept since. In this Rubaru episode, host Rehman Faris sits down with Abbas Tabish, often called the Abroo-e-Ghazal of our era, for a deep conversation on a life devoted to the Urdu ghazal. Tabish shares how his father, though uneducated, encouraged him to read Tafsir Surah Yusuf, planting early seeds of romance and spiritual struggle. He talks about the recurring fear in his life, from childhood superstitions to the creative fear that triggers his best work, and how fear pushes a person to seek refuge, like a child clinging to a mother. That feeling sits at the heart of his most famous verse. He also recounts the workplace insult at a newspaper job that became the turning point of his life, pushing him toward higher education and a serious poetic career. The conversation covers his philosophy of craft too. The need to unlearn after 30 years of teaching the classics. The shajra, or lineage, of every verse, and how modern poets must connect with Mir and Sauda while finding their own voice. He gives a rare look at mushaira psychology, poetic ego, and why audience connection is a divine gift. He also praises Rekhta for digitising Urdu literature for the world. It ends with soul-stirring recitations, including "Ek Muddat Se Meri Maa Nahi Soi Tabish" and "Dasht Mein Pyaas Bujhate Hue Mar Jaate Hain." . Chapters: 00:00:00 Meet the Legend: Abbas Tabish 00:04:10 How Poverty and Toffees Inspired a Poet 00:08:45 The Tragedy That Started His Poetic Journey 00:11:15 Why Fear Makes You More Creative 00:16:35 Truth Behind "Meri Maa Nahi Soi" 00:21:40 The Life-Changing Moment at a Newspaper 00:26:55 Why Every Artist Must "Unlearn" Everything 00:31:47 Why Modern Love Poetry is Disappearing 00:43:01 Secret Encounters with Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi 00:48:10 The America Trip: A Brutal Reality Check 00:51:23 Rekhta and the Digital Future of Urdu 00:56:58 Exclusive Recitation: Abbas Tabish Ghazals . About Jashn-e-Rekhta Jashn-e-Rekhta is the world’s largest cultural festival celebrating the beauty, depth, and living spirit of the Urdu language. Held annually, it brings together poets, musicians, writers, thinkers, and artists from across the world to create a space of poetry, music, conversations, and storytelling. From soul-stirring mushairas and spellbinding musical evenings to intimate dialogues and immersive cultural experiences, the festival is where language turns into emotion and heritage finds a contemporary voice. More than a festival, Jashn-e-Rekhta is a movement that keeps Urdu alive, relevant, and deeply connected across generations. . #abbastabish #rubaru #rehmanfaris #urdupoetry #urdughazal #jashnerekhta #urdushayari . About Rekhta Foundation: Rekhta Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation committed to preserving, promoting, and celebrating the Urdu language and its rich literary and cultural legacy. Through digital archives, learning platforms, publications, festivals, and community initiatives, the Foundation works to make Urdu accessible and meaningful for audiences worldwide. By bridging classical traditions with modern platforms and voices, Rekhta Foundation ensures that the language continues to inspire, connect, and evolve with time. . IMPORTANT COPYRIGHT NOTICE © Rekhta Foundation. All rights reserved. Unauthorised downloading, clipping, re-uploading, or reuse of this content (audio/video/visuals) is strictly prohibited without written permission. . External Links: Website: https://rekhta.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jashnerekhtaofficial/ Rekhta Books: https://rekhtabooks.com/ Rekhta Learning: https://rekhtalearning.com/