Book Review: ‘Alfaaz ki Mehfil’ by Satya Prabhakar

Book Title: Alfaaz ki Mehfil: An Anthology of Urdu Poetry
Author: Satya Prabhakar
Publisher: Hachette India
Number of Pages: 288
ISBN: 978-9357319591
Date Published: Nov. 14, 2025
Price: INR 350

Book Review

“Alfaaz ki Mehfil: An Anthology of Urdu Poetry,” curated by Satya Prabhakar serves as a vibrant gateway into the rich tapestry of Urdu poetic tradition. Spanning over 300 years, the collection features more than 250 couplets (shers) and ghazals from over 100 legendary poets, including stalwarts like Mir Taqi Mir, Ghalib, Iqbal, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, and contemporary voices such as Rahat Indori and Aleena Itrat. Prabhakar’s meticulous selection, paired with accessible English translations and word explanations, democratizes Urdu poetry for novices while offering seasoned readers a fresh lens on timeless motifs like love, longing, resistance, and remembrance.

The anthology’s strength lies in its thematic organization across five sections, which elegantly traces the evolution of Urdu expression from elegiac melancholy to fiery social commentary. Prabhakar navigates the inherent challenges of translation—preserving the irfan (awareness) and jamaal (beauty) of the originals—by prioritizing rhythmic fidelity and emotional resonance over literalism. However, the curation occasionally favors familiarity over discovery; while it spotlights “lesser-known” poets effectively, some sections feel weighted toward canonical figures, potentially limiting the anthology’s disruptive potential in redefining the Urdu canon.

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Ultimately, “Alfaaz ki Mehfil” succeeds as both a literary mehfil (gathering) and a cultural bridge, inviting global readers into a garden where Urdu roses bloom alongside English fragrances. Its luminous prose and endorsements from Venkaiah Naidu to Pradeep Dwivedi underscore its role in reviving Urdu’s universal appeal amid modern indifference. For enthusiasts of lyrical depth, this paperback is a treasured piton for scaling the heights of shayari, though it beckons compilers to push further into underrepresented voices in future editions.

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