Amjad Islaam Amjad on Waris, Poetry and a Life in Words | Rekhta Rubaru

Amjad Islaam Amjad on Waris, Poetry and a Life in Words | Rekhta Rubaru . When Waris aired, the streets went quiet across Pakistan and India. This episode of Rekhta Rubaru brings host Rahman Faris together with the late Amjad Islam Amjad, one of the most translated and celebrated Urdu poets and playwrights of his time, for a conversation that spans his whole life. He looks back on his childhood in a family of artisans in Sialkot and Lahore, early mentors like his neighbour Aqa Bedar Bakht and his principal Master M.A. Aziz, and his love for Ibn-e-Safi's detective novels. He talks about the turning point, a chance meeting with Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, who asked to publish his poem in Fanoon and made him feel like a poet for the first time. He recalls how Waris became the first PTV drama to show the rural feudal system honestly, and how it emptied streets during every broadcast. He shares his view that philosophy should come after the poetry, not before it, and speaks warmly of his lifelong partnership with his wife through his early struggle years. There's also his bond with contemporaries like Parveen Shakir, Ahmed Faraz and Abbas Tabish, and his close friendships with Gulzar and Javed Akhtar in India. . Chapters: 00:00:00 Who is Amjad Islam Amjad? 00:04:52 From Sialkot Artisan to Literary Legend 00:07:45 The Moment He Quit Cricket for Poetry 00:16:40 How Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi Changed My Life 00:23:40 The Secret to Writing "Catchy" Poetry 00:30:50 Meeting My Students All Over the World 00:36:15 Waris: The Drama That Stopped Traffic 00:44:50 Why I Don't Write for TV Anymore 00:56:00 My Wife: The Silent Support Behind My Success 01:03:00 Why Rekhta is Vital for Urdu's Future 01:05:20 Must-Hear Recitations: Love and Politics . 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. . #amjadislamamjad #rekhta #urdupoetry #waris #urduadab #rahmanfaris #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/