DelhiPress group's cult magazine 'Manohar Kahaniyan' in Urdu a hit with readers

Cult magazine 'Manohar Kahaniyan' had launched its Urdu version last year.

Ever since, the magazine hit stands, it has been a hit with readers. The magazine is now running in its second year.

The Manohar Kahaniya Urdu has drawn eyeballs because of its editorial selection, quality as well as printing standards.

The DelhiPress Publication needs to be congratulated for the decision to bring out the magazine in Urdu too.

The magazine has stories, articles on social issues, crime stories, satirical pieces, women's section, news and many other columns.

Many pages are dedicated to fashion, lifestyle, doctor's advise and tidbits. As it is an Urdu magazine, there is focus on poetry too.

The current issue focused on Yas Yagana Changezi. His ghazals and a brief about his life have been included. In fact, the quality of illustrations, cartoons and graphics apart from neat design make it the top Urdu magazine in India.

There was definitely space for such a magazine in Urdu. Its Hindi version was known for its mass circulation in North India, for decades.


The Urdu magazine has also got popular in short time. If the publication continues with the venture, and there is slight more publicity, the circulation may take a jump.

After Sahra group's Bazm-e-Sahara ceased publication, there was a void in Urdu magazines' section.

The reason was that it was also a magazine that could be put along side any standard English magazine.

But Sahara management decided to close it. Earlier, Sunday Indian's Urdu version had also raised expectations.

Paresh Nath is the editor of the magazine. Each issue is priced at Rs 40. The annual subscription is Rs 480.

Manohar Kahaniya is published on standard magazine size. It runs into 100 pages. Do subscribe it.

Email: mk.urdu@delhipress.biz
Phone: 011-41401647

For more information, check DelhiPress website: www.delhipress.in

Akram Allahabadi's cult novel, Junction Bilara اکرم الہٰ بادی کی مشہور ناول جنکشن بلارا

اکرم الہآبادی صاحب  کی مشہور ناول جنکشن بلارا 

'Junction Bilara' was  late Akram Allahabadi sahab's famous novel penned nearly half-a-century ago.

It was a rage in the era. The story centred around the mysterious train that arrived on a particular day at Bilara town where fear ruled, and everyone got themselves shut at the moment. 

The signal would fall on its own, the train seem to come from nowhere, and then disappeared, leaving no trail. The railway walas had no idea about its track movement. 

There'd be no staff at the desolate railway station, but the sound of whistles and gongs reverberated and was heard across the town when the train arrived, and left Junction Bilara.

It was rumoured that it was the train of the dead--those who had died in a railway mishap years ago, operated it, a sort of ghost train.Whoever saw it, died. 

After the first detective sent to crack the case died, comes the heroes Inspector Madhulkar and his assistant Raazi. It was not at all a ghost story, but spy fiction. Like Ibn-e-Safi's 'Sholay' series, 'King Chang' or 'Bogha', Junction Bilara was also a cult novel.

Aajkal: Leading literary magazine in India, turns 72 آجکل اردو رسالہ

Aajkal or Ajkal is India's leading literary magazine in Urdu. It is printed by Publications Division of the Government of India, which also publishes a Hindi magazine by the same title.

Legendary Josh Malihabadi was once the editor of Ajkal. The magazine began publication before independence and renowned writers were always in its staff.

Now it has completed 72 years. It is big magazine, as far size is concerned. For anyone faintly interested in Urdu language and literature, this magazine is a must, in his home.

Right now, Hasan Zia is the senior edior while Nargis Sultana is the associate editor. It has a good circulation and is also available at the PIB [Press Information Bureau's] offices in different cities in India.


So you can walk into PIB office in your city and grab it. But the better idea is to get this magazine subscribed, so that you can get it at your home each month. Ajkal terms itself an international literary and cultural magazine.

This issue has articles on Fikr Taunsvi, Amir Khusro, Ejaz Husain, Nazir's poetry and the Bilgram town. There are special articles on Waris Alvi and Shabab Lalit, who passed away recently. An article by Shabab Lalit on Urdu's impact on literature in Himachal is part of the magazine.

In the prose section, there is more in the form of stories by Ratan Singh, Ghazala Ejaz Qamar and Nigar Azeem. Can there be a magazine in Urdu without poetry section? There are enough ghazals and nazms in the poetry section.

The names of the poets include Gulzar Dehlvi, Abid Kirhani, Sohan Rahi, Dr Naresh, Professor Iraq Raza Zaidi, M Qamruddin, Javed Akram, Raza Amrohvi, Sehba Wahid, Shakil Azmi, Akhtar Kazmi, Dr M Safwan Safvi, Akhtar Shahjehanpuri, Malikzada Javed.

Also, there is Jafar Sahni's poetic tribute to Miraji et al. Then, there are exhaustive reviews of recent books and publications. The editorial and the readers' letters are always interesting in Ajkal. So if you are interested in subscribing the magazine, the details are here:

For Ajkal [Urdu]

Send your demand draft, money order or postal order in the name of ADG, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on the address:

Business Manager (Circulation and Advertisement)
Journals' Unit, East Block 4, Level 7, RK Puram, New Delhi 66
Phone 01-26100207

[The cost of one issue is  just Rs 10. This is too low, because it is a government magazine. The annual subscription is Rs 100, Rs 180 for two years and Rs 250 for three years. From US, Europe and other countries, t hrough air mail Rs 730 per year, neighbouring countries Rs 530]

Candidates advertising campaign in Urdu during the general election in India: انتخابات میں اردو

جیسا کہ سب واقف ہیں

ہندوستاں  میں  عام انتخابات ہونے والے ہیں

لوک سبھا  کی 543 نشستوں کے لئے چناؤ ہونا ہے-باقی دو نشستوں پر  اینگلو انڈین قوم کے افراد کو  منتخب کیا جاتا ہے

بہرحال  مختلف پارٹیوں نے
 انتخابی تشہیر شروع کر دی ہے

ملک کے ان خطوں میں جہاں اردو  داں  کثیر  تعداد میں موجود ہیں وہاں

بینر اور پوسٹر اردو میں بھی  نظر آ رہے ہیں

 آچاریہ پرمود کرشنم  کانگریس کے ٹکٹ پر سمبھل  لوک سبھا حلقہ سے    چناؤ لڑ رہے ہیں-یہاں مسلم  اکثریت میں ہیں- مگر زور بسپا، سپا اور بی جے پی جیسی پارٹیوں کا ہے-اب یہ تو کاؤنٹنگ کے بعد ہی پتا چلیگا کہ آچاریہ جی فتح سے ہمکنار ہوتے ہیں یا نہیں-ڈیڑھ مہینے کی بات ہے انتظار کر لیجیے

Remembering 'Razia Sultan' movie and its Urdu poster: رضیہ سلطان فلم کی یادیں

تقریباً تین دہائیاں گزر چکی ہیں جب رضیہ سلطان فلم دیکھی تھی

اس فلم میں کئ خصوصیات تھیں- پہلی بات یہ کہ ہیما مالنی اور  دھرمیندر نے عمدہ اداکاری کا مظاہرہ  کیا تھا

دونوں اصل زندگی میں بھی ایک دوسرے کے عشق میں گرفتار تھے
اور پردہ سیمیں پر انہوں نے رضیہ اور یعقوت

کے کرداروں کو  بخوبی ادا کیا

جب میں نے یہ فلم دیکھی تھی، میں غالباً آٹھ نو پرس کا تھا- لیکن اس فلم کے کئ مناظر آج تک یاد ہیں

  فلم کے مکالمے خالص اردو میں تھے-جب فلم ہٹ نہیں ہوئ تو اکثر مبصرین نے کہا تھا کہ 'ثقیل زبان' کی وجہ سے 
 فلم
ناظرین کو اپنی طرف کھینچ نہین سکی

اس فلم کے کئ نغمے مشہور ہوے ء- کافی دنوں سے سوچ رہا ہوں کہ یہ فلم دوبارہ دیکھی جاۓ-'پاکیزہ' گزشتہ دنوں ہی دوبارہ  دیکھی- اب جلد ہی اس فلم کا بھی نمبر آئگا

 فی الحال آپ رضیہ سلطان 'مووی' کار اردو پوسٹر دیکھیں

Noor, Hilal, Butool: The famous children's magazines in Urdu from Rampur

Lot of Urdu lovers recall the Shama group's Khilauna magazine but they forget the services of Idara Al-Hasanat, especially, its famous magazine, 'Noor'.

Noor has been the most popular children's magazine in Urdu in India, for more than half-a-century. The magazine continues to be published from Rampur.

For a brief period, there was a slight decline in quality of pages and printing. But once again, Noor, is back to its old glory. The magazine goes all over India and has a decent circulation.

Noor has been published for the last 62 years, uninterruptedly. Maulana Abu Salim Mohammad Abdul Hai was the man who established this institution.

Currently, the Editor-in-chief is Abdul Malik Saleem while Murtaza Sahil Taslimi is the Honorary Editor.

Abdul Khaliq Naseem is the associate editor. While Noor caters to the needs of teenagers too, the same group's Hilal (pronunciation, Hilaal] caters to much younger children.

It also has stories, informative articles, cartoons and columns for kids. Further, there are two more magazines published by this group. They include 'Butool', which is for women and girls.

Subscription details

For NOOR

From March 2014, the price of Noor has been slightly increased to Rs 30. The special issue is priced at Rs 45.

The annual subscription is Rs 350 and if you want each issue, then your are advised to pay Rs 550 for getting the magazine by registered post.

Address for Communication & Sending Subscription Amount:

Monthly 'Noor'  (Bachchon ka Digest) 

Idara Al-Hasanat

Purani Khandsar, Rampur (UP) 

244901

[for subscribing other magazines, just replace the name Noor with Butool or Hilal etc. Address is same]

In case of BUTOOL, the subscription details:

One issue is priced at Rs 35. Special issue costs Rs 50. Annual subscription is Rs 400. Subscription amount through registered post is Rs 600.

HILAL

Each issue costs Rs 30 and the special issue is priced at Rs 45. Annual subscription is Rs 350. Subscription amount through registered post is Rs 550.

AL HASANAT

One issue costs Rs 25. Special issue Rs 35. Annual subscription is Rs 300. Subscription through registered post is Rs 500 per annum.

If all the four magazines are subscribed, then there is a discount of Rs 300. Instead of paying Rs 1400, you will get them for Rs 1,100 for the entire year.

I have learnt that the group also publishes a  Hindi magazine, Hadi, now.

EMAIL: If you need further assistance, you can contact the Al  Hasanat group at this address: idaraalhasanat@hotmail.com

Veteran Urdu poet Shabab Lalit passes away

Veteran Urdu poet Shabab Lalit passed away on February 7, 2014. He was 81.

For almost fifty years, the prolific writer who stayed in Shimla, consistently wrote poetry that was published in leading magazines across Indian and Pakistan.

His real name was Bhagwan Das, and wrote under the pen name 'Shabab Lalit'. He has left over a dozen poetry collections. Apart from Urdu, he also experimented in Pahari dialect.

Imran Azim, in his obituary in Alami Sahara magazine, mentions that Shabab Lalit was born in Khangarh in West Punjab on August 3, 1933.

After partition he came to India. Initially, he worked in newspaper, 'Vir Bharat', and later completed his graduation to get job in the education department of Punjab government. 

Later, he got job as publicity officer with the Himachal Pradesh government. Dr Shabab Lalit had post-graduation degree in History and Urdu, from Punjab, after independence. Though he got love from readers and accolades from all corners, he perhaps felt that he didn't get his due. 

Perhaps, the fact that Urdu--the lingua franca of the country was considered a 'Muslim language', compelled him to say the lines:

See this couplet:

Umr bhar ab is himaaqat par lahu ro'o Shabab

Ghair-Muslim ho ke tum Urdu par shaida kyuu.n hue?

After retirement, he remained associated with Urdu magazine, 'Jadid Fikr-o-Fan' published by Himachal Pradesh state government. Dr Shabab Lalit is survived by his wife and three sons. For Urdu world, his demise is a sad news. 

[The photograph shows special issue of Chahaar-Su magazine's special issue that focused on life and works of Dr Shabab Lalit. Credit: chaharsu.wordpress.com]

Kitabnuma: Standard literary Urdu magazine for over half-a-century

Kitabnuma is among the major literary magazines in Urdu. Devoted to 'Adab', this magazine has completed 54 years.

It is published by the Maktaba Jamia Limited. Currently, Khalid Mahmood is the chief editor. Like other literary magazines, it focuses on all forms of literature.

It was known for guest editorials also, till recently. Apart from ghazals, nazms and other genres of poetry, there are short stories, articles on litterateurs apart from informative articles.

There is also enough literary criticism and columns. Kitabnuma is known for its balanced approach. The magazine carries the line, 'ghair-janibdarana ravayat ka naqeeb'.

The latest issue has a special focus on the famous poet late Shad Arfi. There are many articles on the poet, who is known for his incisive sarcasm and satire.

The articles reveal a lot about the poet who had an inimitable style and whose couplets can be distinguished from other poets.

The magazine has 96 pages. The current issue costs Rs 18 per issue. The annual subscription is Rs 200. From foreign countries it is 32 dollars or 20 pounds. In face of any confusion, you can call 011-26987295 or shoot an email at monthlykitabnuma@gmail.com

So what are you waiting for? Do subscribe the magazine by sending the amount to this address:

Kitabnuma
Maktaba Jamia Limited
Jamia Nagar
New Delhi-110025

Science: The monthly Urdu magazine from Delhi

There aren't many magazines on science in Urdu. Mainstream publications don't focus on the subject.

Hardly any newspaper or periodical contains articles on science and technology. It is really a surprising and sad aspect.

'Science', the monthly magazine, fills this void. It is published from Delhi and this 'mahnama' has successfully completed 21 years.

It has carved a niche for itself in educated circles, institutions and even in madarsas. There are articles on a range of subjects.

Mohammad Aslam Parvaiz is the editor of the magazine that runs into 56 pages. He is the principal of the Zakir Husain Delhi College.

There is a neat selection of articles must be lauded. The subjects range from life sciences to astronomy, physics to earth sciences, chemistry to biology and other varied issues.

An issue of the magazine costs Rs 25. The annual subscription is Rs 250 through ordinary post and Rs 500 through registered post. For those living abroad, the amount is 100 riyal or 100 dirham, 30 dollars or 15 pounds [for Saudi Arabia, UAE, America and UK respectively].

Interestingly, there is a note that for outstation drafts/cheques, the commission fee of Rs 50 should be added.[Contact MA Parvaiz sahab at the email maparvaiz@gmail.com] The communication should be in favour of 'Urdu science monthly'. The address for sending your cheque/draft/money order is:

Urdu Science Monthly
153 (26), Zakir Nagar West
New Delhi
110025

Urdu magazine Biswin Sadi's latest issue hits the stands

Biswin Sadi is one of the oldest Urdu magazines in India. Once upon a time, late Ramrakha Mal alias 'Khushtar Girami' was its editor.

Under him, Biswin Sadi became popular across the country. Later on, Z Rahman Naiyyar took over the magazine.

However, after Naiyyar's death, there was period of 2-1/2 years, when the magazine ceased publication. But later on it was revived.

Shama Afroz Zaidi is the editor. She must get credit for bring out the magazine on the same standards. Now it is not a monthly but a biannual publication.

Two issues are published every year. But the magazine is more voluminous and there are hopes that the frequency of publication may increase in future.

The magazine is now in its 84th year, almost as old as Shair. For old-timers, its great to see the magazine on stands, even though it comes every six months. The look remains the same and there is hardly any difference in contents.

The current issue [January-June 2014]. It has 122 pages and is priced at Rs 60. The names of the writers who contribute may turn you nostalgic again. Litterateurs who were associated with this semi-literary magazine are visible once again.

Shabab Lalit, Syed Hubab Tirmizi, Kailash Mahir, Naz Bharti, Manazir Ashiq Harganvi, Hamdi Kashmiri, Preetpal Singh Naseem's names are among the poets whose ghazals have been published. There is an article on Shad Arfi by Prof. Muzaffar Hanafi though it has been printed in other magazins too.

Coming to prose section, the writers whose afsanas have been included here are Noor Shah, Masroor Jahan, Karamat Ghori, Anwar Nuzat, Anand Lahar etc. Then, there is the famous Teer-o-Nashtar column from the old files of Beeswin Sadi.

Raja Mehdi Ali Khan's nazm and Ismat Chughtai's afsana has been included from old files of the magazine. There is a 'khususi gosha' that focuses on Gulshan Khanna, the Britain-based writer, in this issue. Plus, the usual columns.

If you intend to subscribe the magazine, then send Rs 150 [in the name of 'Biswin Sadei Magazine'] on the address:

I-47, Rahmani Street, Muradi Road, 
Batla House, Jamia Nagar, 
New Delhi-110025

[For foreign countries, the subscribtion amount is different. Contact at this email biswinsadi@gmail.com]

India's iconic Urdu literary magazine 'Shair' is turning 85

For anyone having faint interest in Urdu literature, Shair*, [pronunciation 'Shaa'er' or 'Shaayer'] is a familiar name.

The magazine that was launched by legendary poet Seemab Akbarabadi, has completed 84 years and the glorious journey continues.

It is no less than a miracle for a literary journal to survive for so long, and yet retain its uniqueness and the hold over readers.

While the magazine is known for its content, it has given space to poets and writers of varied ideologies & literary movements.

The magazine is published from Mumbai. After Seemab Akbarabadi, his son Ejaz Siddiqui kept the magazine at par with the leading literary periodicals. 

Then, the next generation, took over. The services of the family towards Urdu world are truly matchless. Shair had begun publication from Agra in 1930.

It shifted to Mumbai. Over the years, it has become the most widely read literary journal across Urdu world. Especially, it has readership among Urdu speakers in Britain, America and other countries too.

Even non-literary magazines that have been running for more than eight decades, can be counted on fingers. Currently, Iftikhar Imam Siddiqui is the editor while Hamid Iqbal Siddiqui and Nazir Noman Siddiqui are the associate editors. 

Shair is also known for its special issues. The magazine is priced at just Rs 18. The annual subscription amount is Rs 200 within India. From Pakistan it is Rs 600, while from other countries the amount is 50 dollars.

It is a magazine which you should subscribe and support, if you are an Urdu lover. Here, is the postal address for sending the money, if you intend to subscribe the magazine:

The Shair Monthly

202-228, Dinanath building, PB Marg

Mumbai 400004

[*Shair i.e. the poet. This the official spelling in English printed on the back cover of the magazine]