A Celebration of Urdu Poetry, Literature and Ideas
A cultural initiative of the Centre for Development Policy and Practice (CDPP), Bazm-e-Sukhan brings together poets, scholars, artists, readers, and enthusiasts to celebrate the richness of Urdu literature through conversations, readings, music, and public dialogue.
Established in 2018, Bazm-e-Sukhan is a cultural initiative jointly created by the Centre for Development Policy and Practice (CDPP), the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), and A-CODE. Based at Lamakaan in Hyderabad, it serves as an open platform dedicated to preserving, promoting, and reinterpreting the rich traditions of Urdu poetry and literature.
Through monthly gatherings, lectures, poetry recitations, musical performances, book discussions, and thematic conversations, Bazm-e-Sukhan creates a space where classical literary traditions engage with contemporary audiences. Alongside its physical events, the initiative has cultivated a global online community, connecting Urdu lovers across generations and geographies.
Literature is more than artistic expression, it is a repository of memory, language, identity, and public thought. Bazm-e-Sukhan seeks to preserve the literary heritage of Urdu while creating opportunities for contemporary conversations around poetry, history, culture, and society. By bringing together diverse voices, the initiative encourages dialogue across generations and communities.
Publications – Bazm 2025 Annual Report
Photographs
The Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) is a national non-profit working to bridge the digital divide by promoting digital literacy, inclusion, and access to technology. As a founding partner of Bazm-e-Sukhan, DEF supports the initiative's vision of making Urdu literature and cultural discourse accessible to wider and more diverse audiences.
A-CODE is a collaborative platform that brings together civil society organisations, artists, and practitioners to foster dialogue, creativity, and social transformation. Through its partnership with Bazm-e-Sukhan, A-CODE helps create meaningful cultural spaces where literature, ideas, and community engagement intersect.
Lamakaan is an independent cultural space in Hyderabad dedicated to literature, theatre, cinema, music, and public dialogue. Since 2018, it has been the home of Bazm-e-Sukhan, hosting its monthly literary gatherings and providing an open, inclusive venue where poets, scholars, artists, and audiences come together to celebrate Urdu's rich literary heritage.
With logos and short descriptions.
Bazm-e-Sukhan brings together Urdu lovers every month through two complementary forums—an online literary gathering and an in-person cultural evening.
Every Thursday, members from across India meet online over Zoom for an informal literary gathering. These sessions feature poetry recitations (mushaira), discussions on classical and contemporary Urdu literature, readings, and conversations that keep the spirit of the Bazm alive beyond geographical boundaries. Open, participatory, and community-driven, the Tuesday, 10 pm baithaks provide a regular space for learning, sharing, and celebrating Urdu.
Please find the Zoom link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83521036627?pwd=cmZZK0RvUmlhWlFrUFF1ZGVDczhjQT09On the second Wednesday of every month, Bazm-e-Sukhan convenes its flagship public programme at 6:30 pm at Lamakaan, Hyderabad. Each session explores a unique literary or cultural theme through lectures, poetry recitations, musical performances, book discussions, or conversations with distinguished scholars, writers, artists, and poets. These gatherings are open to the public and continue the tradition of making Urdu literature accessible, inclusive, and relevant for contemporary audiences.