What the heart is like – a poem by Miroslav Holub
Today, my friend Khalid Mir told me rather casually that he had been reading poems by Miroslav Holub. I had heard his name; and…
Sahir Ludhianvi’s poem composed on Ghalib’s centenary celebrations
Sahir Ludhianvi laments the way Urdu was treated by Indian nation-state as it became alien overnight. Ikees baras guzray aazadi-i-kaamil ko Tab ja…
Ghalib’s grave – treasury of meanings is under the ground
The inscription on Ghalib’s tomb-stone in Arabic and Persian followed by translation: a hai’yii ya qaiyuum rashk-e-‘Urfi va faKhr-e-Talib murd Asadullah Khan Ghalib murd…
Ode to Benaras – Ghalib’s grand vision
The cancer of communalism and bigotry in South Asia continues to haunt us. These days, the Muslims are once again a subject of intense,…
Chiragh-e-Dair (Light of the World) – Ghalib on Benaras
Mirza Ghalib spent a month in Benaras during his struggles for the restoration of pension. The city left a lasting impact on him. I…
Story of a Painting – Mehrgarh, Indus and Ghalib
Mehrgarh excavations continue despite all odds; and there is much more hidden under the rugged, topograhic layers of Baluchistan. Saw this figurine (on the…