Haidar Bakhsh Haidari
Author
Shafiq Naz
Editor
The Tale of the Parrot – Urdu
With Pronunciation and Glossary
Introduction to The Tale of the Parrot. This book is in Urdu
A timeless jewel of Indo-Persian storytelling, The Tale of the Parrot (Tutinama) is a dazzling collection of moral fables, courtly intrigues, and fantastical adventures—framed within the enchanting conceit of a talking parrot who tells a story each night to dissuade his mistress from folly. Rooted in Indian oral traditions and Persian literary refinement, these tales blend wit and wisdom, desire and restraint, all within a narrative structure that echoes the One Thousand and One Nights.
This Urdu edition is based on the celebrated Persian text and was translated in the early 19th century by Haider Bakhsh Haidari under the supervision of John Gilchrist. A pioneer of literary and linguistic scholarship in colonial India, Haidari’s rendering captures both the elegance of the Persian original and the resonance of spoken Urdu.
Two important features distinguish this edition. First, it includes a comprehensive Urdu glossary to assist readers in navigating the more archaic or literary expressions. Second—and most significantly—the full text is presented with complete diacritical markings (zer, zabar, pesh, tashdeed), restoring phonetic precision and aiding both correct pronunciation and deeper comprehension. In a time when printed Urdu often omits these vital signs, this edition marks a deliberate step toward linguistic clarity and the fuller accessibility of classical texts.
The Tale of the Parrot is not merely a collection of stories—it is a cultural bridge, a historical document, and a celebration of the expressive richness of Urdu in its most complete and sonorous form.
Bibliography
Publisher : Alhamra Publishing
Published : June 15, 2025
Language : Urdu
ISBN : 978-90-835-4067-2
Format : Hardback – Paperback
Pages : 244
Dimensions : 140 x 215 mm
