Published by Hachette, on Amazon.in and in bookstores across India.

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

duur se aaye thay, saaqi

1 / 1: Couplet

duur se aaye thay, saaqi sun ke maikhaane ko hum

bas taraste hi chale afsos

paimaane ko hum

we came from afar, o cupbearer,

hearing of your tavern

and, regretfully, we kept

thirsting for a single cup

Nazeer Akbarabadi (9)

duur (7)

distant, far away

saaqi (9)

wine-pourer, bartender

maikhaane (3)

taverns

taraste (2)

long for, thirst

afsos (1)

regret, sorrow

Theme: Heart, Mind, & Memory (65)

Featured Themes

Heart, Mind, & Memory (65)

Hopes, Aspirations, & Dreams (37)

Love, Passion, and Longing (112)

Life, Learning, & Living (126)

Miscellany (44)

Grit, Resilience, & Courage (53)

Home, Country, & Belonging (30)

Oppression, Rebellion, & Freedom (58)

Beauty, Charm, & Union (105)

Loneliness, Separation, & Grief (112)

Nature, World & Universe (49)

Quest, Journey, & Destination (53)

Creativity, Philosophy, & Enlightenment (38)

Friends, Family, & Community (132)

Religion, Reason, & Tradition (70)

Voice, Expression, & Language (73)

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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duur se aaye thay, saaqi

Featured Shaayars

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Featured Themes