Discuss Poetry in Bollywood: Ludhianvi's "Kabhi Kabhi" at The Foundry

Join us at The Foundry, Black Room (Shop 5), for a brown bag lunch (i.e., you are welcome to bring a packed lunch and non-alcoholic beverages), as we read and discuss the original nazm that inspired Sahir Ludhianvi's iconic 1976 Bollywood song 'Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein Khayal Aata Hai'. You can use the dropdown menu on Rekhta to switch from the romanized version to Hindi or Urdu. At the Meetup, Mariyam will provide printed versions with embedded glossary. If you have any issues accessing the poem, please DM Mariyam. The story behind the nazm is explained in this video.

Sahir Ludhianvi, born Abdul Hayee, (1921-1980), a leading light of the Progressive Writer's Movement and one of the most significant Urdu poets of the 20th century, was also one of the greatest Bollywood lyricists. He penned timeless classics such as Jane Woh Kaise Log The, Jane Kya Tune Kahi, and Sar Jo Tera Chakraye (all three from Pyaasa, 1957), Zindagi Bhar Nahin Bhoolegi Woh Barsaat Ki Raat (Barsaat Ki Raat, 1960), Abhi Na Jaao Chhod Kar and Main Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhaata Chala Gaya (Hum Dono, 1961), Jo Wada Kiya Woh Nibhana Padega (Taj Mahal, 1963), and Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shayar Hoon (Kabhi Kabhi 1976). The government of India issued a stamp in his honor in 2013.

About the location: The Foundry is a community event space in Cambridge, and we will be in the Black Room (Shop 5).

• The Black Room is wheelchair accessible.
• There is parking on the surrounding streets: Rogers Street, Bent Street, Third Street, Fifth Street, among others. There are two accessible parking spots on Rogers Street in front of the main entrance.
• The building is half a mile from the Kendall MIT stop, where you can catch the red line and 64, 68, 85, CT2, 64, 68, and 85 buses.
• The building is also half a mile from Lechmere, where you can catch the green line and 69, 80, 87, and 88 buses.

Brown bag lunch: The Foundry allows attendees to bring food to events. Since we are meeting at lunch time, you are welcome to bring a packed lunch, snacks, non alcoholic beverages, etc.

Who should attend: This Meetup will be conducted in Hindi, Urdu, Urdu-Hindi, Hinglish, and Urdlish. If you can have a basic literature discussion in any of those languages, without resorting to pure English (and with a little help as necessary), feel free to attend. Deep knowledge of Urdu/Hindi poetry isn't required--we will read and interpret the poem together--so the poetry-curious are especially welcome!

Meeting Format
11:30-11:40: Intros, greetings, settling in.
11:40-11:50: Mariyam will help place the poet in historical and cultural context. Attendees are encouraged to share what they know of the poet. We also welcome questions throughout the discussion!
11:50-12:00: Read through the poem.
12:00-12:45: We'll go over the literal meanings of the difficult words and cultural references in each sher (couplet), and then make our own personal meaning, sharing with the group if you want to. Meaning could be literary, intellectual, experiential, emotional, historical, cultural, etc. We hope each attendee will develop a personal relationship with the nazm.
12:45-1:15: Open conversation (either freeform chats about themes from the poem, or about other matters entirely).
1:15-1:30: Restore room, farewell.