Reading Poetry to Read Ourselves: A celebration of Ghalib’s Poetry with Dr. Azra Raza

Dr. Azra Raza, renowned physician, scientist, and author, returns to South Asia Institute for a Poetry Mehfil on July 16th.  In addition to her numerous scientific accomplishments, she has committed to memory thousands of verses of poetry in Urdu, English, Punjabi, and Persian. A resident of Chicago for many years, she has conducted Urdu Mehfils since 1986, regularly featuring many great writers and poets. Her book, Ghalib: Epistemologies of Elegance, co-authored with fellow Ghalib aficionado, the late Sara Suleri, is an invaluable translation of Ghalib’s poetry for both the Urdu scholar as well as the novice.

At the upcoming Mehfil, Azra Raza will share a selection of Mirza Ghalib's powerful poetry. Along with her recitations, she translates and interprets the traditionally complex lyrics in her distinctive style that has endeared to her audiences all over the US and overseas.