Lucknow: Metaphor Lucknow Literature Festival hosted an evocative evening celebrating two distinct yet deeply resonant literary journeys—honouring the timeless genius of Mirza Ghalib and exploring modern narrative complexities through Milan Vohra’s writing.
In The Essential Ghalib session, literary critic, translator, and bilingual poet Anisur Rahman discussed the enduring relevance of Ghalib’s poetry with poet and performer Amitabh Singh Baghel. Prof Rahman, whose latest book The Essential Ghalib is a HarperCollins bestseller in Asian Literary category, explored the process of translating Ghalib’s Urdu Rekhta into English, highlighting the poet’s philosophical depth, wit, and timeless appeal.
Opening with the powerful verse,
“नाक़्श फ़रियादी है किस की शोख़ी-ए-तहरीर का
काग़ज़ी है पैरहन हर पैकर-ए-तस्वीर का”
Prof Rahman described it as a quest for identity and traced its roots to Iranian poetic traditions. Baghel drew fascinating parallels between Ghalib and 19th-century German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, noting their shared preoccupation with human desire, suffering, and the illusions of material life.
The session also included live readings of Ghalib’s couplets along with their translations, captivating the audience. Prof Rahman reflected on the Diwan-e-Ghalib, remarking, “Sher likha nahi kaha jata hai,” emphasizing the intricate interplay of expression and meaning in Ghalib’s work. The discussion concluded with insights into his upcoming book on Mir Taqi Mir, compiling all of Mir’s ghazals.
In a separate session, author and TEDx speaker Milan Vohra reflected on the evolution of her literary voice. Beginning with romantic narratives, she explained how her work matured to explore the shadows of love—heartbreak, moral ambiguity, and emotional absence. Vohra shared how fragmented moments, silences, and unspoken desires shaped her characters, emphasizing the interplay of geography and emotion as a silent but influential presence. Her stories aim not just to entertain but to resonate universally, capturing the moral and emotional complexity of contemporary life.
Together, these sessions highlighted the spectrum of literary exploration—from the timeless Urdu ghazals of Ghalib to contemporary narratives grappling with human vulnerability—offering festival audiences a profound, immersive experience in language, thought, and emotion.
