About the Founder
hai kahan tamanna ka dusra qadam ya rab ham ne dasht-e-imkan ko ek naqsh-e-pa paaya
This couplet by Mirza Ghalib captures the journey of Sanjiv Saraf in all its essence. Sanjiv Saraf is an industrialist, entrepreneur, investor, author and patron of literary & cultural heritage. Recipient of the Sir Syed Excellence National Award, Sanjiv Saraf has dedicated himself to preserving and promoting the Urdu language in India and beyond by establishing Rekhta Foundation. What started as one man’s passion cultivated into a movement, a revolution to work extensively to preserve texts and propagate the language professionally.
An alumnus of the Scindia School (1975) and a graduate of IIT Kharagpur (1980), Sanjiv was involved in business and industry for over thirty years, during which he founded Polyplex Corporation Ltd., an Indian multinational, Manupatra, India’s leading legal database and other ventures in the green energy space.
Sanjiv has authored several books including
Nava-e-Sarosh
,
Love Longing Loss in Urdu Poetry
,
Bahar-e-Naghma 
,
Golden Verses Golden Voices 
,
Andaz-e-Bayan Aur
,
Wayward Verses
,
Shri Hanuman Chalisa
,
&
The Art of Expression
,
As Sanjiv Saraf has said many times, Urdu is the love of his youth, and like most love stories that start at a young age, his too remained unresolved for some time. But the calling was too strong for him to resist, and he set out on this journey. Such was his passion and adoration for Urdu that Saraf sought to learn the language at an age that most of us deem to be the point of retiring from worldly affairs. His love for Urdu had summoned all his senses, and he started on the journey that we now know as Rekhta Foundation. Saraf says that the love for Urdu has transcended the notion of passion into a calling. For the precedent that Saraf has set with his efforts for Urdu, Hindi and other language enthusiasts are expecting something for those languages too.
For his exemplary work for Urdu literature, Sanjiv Saraf has received several awards and honours, including the distinguished Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) degree from Maulana Azad National Urdu University Hyderabad in 2016, the Sir Syed Excellence National Award 2018 by Aligarh Muslim University for his contribution to the cause of preserving and promoting Urdu and the Madhav Award as an Old Boy of Eminence for the year 2020 by the Scindia School for his work through Rekhta Foundation.
Gallery
- Video Gallery
- Photo Gallery
Sanjiv Saraf & Huma Khalil with Faridoon Shahryar
Talk on Rekhta, future of Urdu, Technology, InspirationsKitaab Delhi with Sanjiv Saraf
The book launch of "Love, Longing, Loss"BBC Hindi with Sanjiv Saraf
Rekhta और Jashn-e-Rekhta को इतना बड़ा नाम बनाने वाले Sanjeev Saraf की पूरी कहानी (BBC Hindi)ABP Live with Sanjiv Saraf
Sanjiv Saraf Interview: सिनेमा में अभद्र भाषा के इस्तेमाल पर आप क्या कहते हैं? | JLF |Rekhta FounderJashn-e-Rekhta 2022
Sanjiv Saraf Jashn-e-Rekhta Mein Aap Sab Ka Khair-Maqdam Karte Huye...
Sir Syed Excellence Award
Aligarh Muslim University
Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) Degree
Maulana Azad National Urdu University
Mir Taqi Mir Award
AFMI-Silver Jubilee Convention on Education and Gala Award Program – New Delhi
Ezaz Baraye Farogh Zaban-e-Urdu Award
Urdu Academy, Delhi
Dishtinguished Alumnus Award-2022
IIT KharagpurBooks by Sanjiv Saraf
Books by Sanjiv Saraf
Nava-e-Sarosh – Voices from Beyond
Delhi’s long literary history comes alive in this curated collection of classical Urdu ghazals celebrating love, longing and desire. Nava-e-Sarosh brings together poets whose verses shaped the city’s poetic soul and cultural memory. Carefully selected and presented with rhymed English transcreations by Sanjiv Saraf, the book makes classical Urdu poetry accessible to new readers while preserving its musicality. Ideal for readers seeking to experience the emotional depth of classical ghazals and the rich poetic legacy of Delhi, this volume invites you to discover timeless expressions of love through voices from the past.
Books by Sanjiv Saraf
Love, Longing, Loss in Urdu Poetry
This book traces the many stages of love as imagined by the greatest voices of Urdu poetry, from desire and devotion to separation and heartbreak. Featuring poets such as Mir, Ghalib, Momin, Dagh, and Faiz, the collection presents a lyrical journey through emotions that continue to resonate across cultures. With elegant English transcreations, Love, Longing, Loss in Urdu Poetry captures the beauty, nuance, and emotional power of the original verses, allowing readers unfamiliar with Urdu to experience the intensity and tenderness that define one of the world’s richest poetic traditions.
Books by Sanjiv Saraf
Bahar-e-Naghma – Ghazals from Indian Films
For decades, Urdu ghazals have enriched Indian cinema with their melody and poetic depth. Bahar-e-Naghma brings together 100 iconic film ghazals written by celebrated poets such as Sahir Ludhianvi, Kaifi Azmi, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Shahryar, Javed Akhtar and others. Each ghazal appears in its original Urdu text, alongside rhymed English transcreations. QR codes link readers directly to memorable film renditions, creating a uniquely immersive experience. This book is both a tribute to Urdu poetry in popular culture and a gateway for new audiences to explore its lyrical heritage.
Books by Sanjiv Saraf
Golden Verses, Golden Voices – 101 Popular Ghazals
Ghazals have achieved worldwide popularity through the unforgettable voices of legendary singers such as Begum Akhtar, Farida Khanum, Abida Parveen, and Amanat Ali Khan. Golden Verses, Golden Voices presents 101 much-loved ghazals that have become part of musical and cultural memory. The book features the original Urdu text with beautifully crafted English rhymed transcreations, allowing readers to appreciate both meaning and melody. QR codes provide access to recorded performances, making this volume an engaging blend of poetry and music for readers, listeners and lovers of classical and semi-classical traditions.
Books by Sanjiv Saraf
Andaz-e-Bayan Aur – Mirza Ghalib’s 100 Selected Ghazals
Mirza Ghalib remains one of the most profound and influential poets of the Urdu tradition. Andaz-e-Bayan Aur presents one hundred of his finest ghazals, revealing his mastery of metaphor, philosophy, and emotional depth. Each ghazal is accompanied by elegant English translations that help readers engage with Ghalib’s layered meanings and timeless reflections on love, loss and existence. QR codes link to expressive recitations, bringing the poetry to life through voice and rhythm. This volume is an essential introduction to Ghalib’s enduring legacy for both new and experienced readers.
Books by Sanjiv Saraf
Wayward Verses – Unruly Urdu Poetry
Wayward Verses celebrates the rebellious and unconventional voices of Urdu poetry. The poets featured here challenge social norms, religious orthodoxy, and rigid moral codes through sharp wit, satire, and fearless expression. Themes of desire, identity, power, and personal freedom run through these bold verses, which question authority and mock hypocrisy. Curated by Sanjiv Saraf, the collection offers a wide-ranging view of this radical poetic tradition, with carefully crafted rhymed English translations. This book reveals a lesser-known but powerful side of Urdu literature defined by courage, humour, and intellectual independence.
Books by Sanjiv Saraf
Shri Hanuman Chalisa
Composed by Goswami Tulsidas in Avadhi, the Shri Hanuman Chalisa is among the most widely recited devotional works in the world. This beautifully produced edition presents the original text alongside rhymed English and Urdu translations, making the spiritual message accessible to a global audience. Each verse is complemented by attractive illustrations, and QR codes link to soulful musical renditions. Designed as both a devotional companion and a collectible volume, this book allows readers to experience the devotion, strength, and compassion associated with Lord Hanuman through text, art, and sound.
Books by Sanjiv Saraf
The Art of Expression – A Perfect Urdu Sher for Every Moment
The Art of Expression brings together carefully selected Urdu couplets that speak to life’s many moods and moments—love and loss, joy and reflection, celebration and quiet longing. Each sher captures a feeling or situation with clarity and emotional precision, making the collection deeply relatable and easy to share. Thoughtfully curated and beautifully presented, this book serves as a companion for readers who turn to poetry to express what words often fail to capture. More than a quotation collection, it is a treasury of verses that illuminate everyday experiences with timeless poetic grace.
Awards & Recognition
Rumi Award
Rumi Foundation(Jahan-e-Khusrau)
New Delhi
10-Mar-18
Farogh-e-Urdu Award
For Promotion of Urdu LanguageNai Duniya Weekly
New Delhi
13-Sep-13
Alamdar-e-Urdu
Bazm-e-UrduDubai
16-Aug-18
Urdu Sewi Samman
Madhya Pradesh Urdu AcademyBhopal
03-Feb-17
Ghalib Award
Baraye Majmooi Adabi KhidmatGhalib Institute
New Delhi
23-Dec-16
Mir Taqi Mir Award
American Federation of Muslim of Indian OriginNew York
2016
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