Author of Seven Books: Nadia Umber Lodhi
The first book by the esteemed author Nadia Umber Lodhi was published in early March, compiling a collection of her written columns. The title of this book was taken from a line of Mirza Ghalib's couplet:
Shab-e-gham ka josh (The fury of the night of grief)
Zulmat kade mein mere shab-e-gham ka josh hai
Ek shama hai daleel-e-sahar, so khamosh hai
Aate hain ghaib se yeh mazameen khayal mein
Ghalib, sareer-e-khama nawa-e-saroosh hai
Translation of the couplet:
In my dwelling of darkness, the fury of the night of grief reigns supreme;
A single candle stands as proof of the dawn, yet it remains silent.
These thoughts come into my mind from the unseen;
O Ghalib, the scratching of the pen is the voice of an angel.
Her second book is a poetry collection titled Ta'aqub Mein Khwaab (Dreams in Pursuit):
Ta'aqub mein hain mere khwaab, Umber
Parao yeh kabhi karne na denge
Translation of the couplet:
My dreams are in pursuit of me, Umber;
They will never allow me to break journey.
Her third book appeared under the title Gumrah aur Doosri Kahaniyan (Astray and Other Stories), in which Nadia Umber Lodhi brought together her short stories and fiction. Meanwhile, her fourth book is a research work titled Mo'asir Urdu Sha'iraat (Contemporary Urdu Female Poets). The first part of this book includes the poetry of over seventy female poets arranged in alphabetical order; from the letters Alif to Daal, it covers all those poets who are widely known as well as those who have no presence on social media.
Her fifth book comes in the form of a novel titled Khakdaan (The Mortal Earth). Against the backdrop of migration, this novel portrays the culture, traditions, language, and customs of the Sandal Bar region of Indian Punjab and Pakistani Punjab, with its canvas stretching all the way to England.
Her sixth book was published under the title Dehli aur Agra ke Lodhi Salateen ki Tareekh (History of the Lodi Sultans of Delhi and Agra). It is an Urdu translation by Nadia Umber Lodhi of the original English thesis, The History of the Lodi Sultans of Delhi and Agra, written by Dr. Abdul Halim.
Her seventh book is Urdu ki Khawateen Novel Nigar (Female Urdu Novelists), which details the lives and works of female novelists from the 18th century to the contemporary era.
As a columnist, poet, storyteller, researcher, translator, novelist, and critic, Nadia Umber Lodhi's literary journey continues with diligence and brilliance. May Allah grant her further success and blessings. Her ten years of literary hard work stand before us in the form of these seven books.
Zara Haider
Karachi |