Dr Aamir Butt has translated Sahir’s great poem into English | Mufamat
Mufamat: Compromise Nasheb-e-arz pe zarroñ ko mushta.il pā kar bulandiyoñ pe safed-o-siyāh mil hī ga.e jo yādgār the bāham satīza-kārī kī ba-faiz-e-vaqt vo dāman ke chaak…
The day I’m killed
Dr Az a fearless and sensitive soul – sent me this poem via email. Travel TicketsThe day I’m killed,my killer, rifling through my pockets,will…
Countless walls that divide the hearts – by Majeed Amjad
I had written about Majeed Amjad, a forgotten but outstanding Urdu poet of twentieth century. Today, a friend tagged me (on facebook) with another…
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…
Taj Mahal – a poem by Sahir Ludhianvi (reposted)
Today is Sahir Ludhianvi’s death anniversary. Am reposting this poem for the readers. Sahir Ludhianvi’s immortal poem Taj Mahal has always fascinated me. It…
A poem by Eunice de Souza
Through a Twitter discussion with Rohit Chopra (an Indian academic based in the US), Eunice deSouza re-emerged in my cluttered mind. DeSouza taught a…
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…
Love and the Law: An exerpt from Bulleh Shah (Required reading if you have studied the law)
By Sovmind Bulleh Shah (1680 – 1757) was a Punjabi Sufi poet, a humanist and philosopher from what is now considered Pakistan. As one…
Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.
By Jalal-Uddin Rumi Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form. Friends are enemies sometimes, and enemies friends. I was a tiny…
At this one point, all talk ends – Bulleh Shah
Bulleh Shah Pakar saaf dile diyaan khavaabaan nu. Gal aise ghar vich dhukkdi eh, ik nuqte vich gal mukdi eh. Hold tight…
The Beloved you’ve lost
…but you’ve chained me down stolen away my heart leaving yourself behind now i’ve lost my way my soul restless and head twisted all…
Confused and distraught — Rumi
Rumi interpreted by Coleman Barks derived from Arberry’s translation You bind me, and I tear away in a rage to open out into air,…
Beo Zafar – Pakistan’s ace-comediane
A short piece that I wrote on Beo, Pakistan’s ace-comediane whose talents are diverse and ever-blooming. Beo [Khala] as I have known her for…
Throw Away the Books – Bulleh Shah
Bulleh Shah (1680-1758) of Kasur in Central Punjab is an extraordinary voice that provided a mystical message beyond caste, institutionalized religion and ideologies of…
فہمیدہ ریاض – اردو ادب کی ایک بےباک آواذ
فہمیدہ ریاض ہمارے دور کی ایک عظیم ادبی شخصیت تھیں۔ وہ ایک شاعرہ اور مصنفہ تو تھیں ہی مگر اہم طور پر فہمیدہ ریاض…
Raza Rumi recites Fehmida Riaz’s ‘Tum Bilkul Hum Jaise Nikle’
I recited Fehmida Riaz’s ‘Tum Bilkul Ham Jaise Niklay’ – Watch the full video below tum bilkul ham jaise nikle ab tak kahan chhape…
Journey to change
In referencing N M Rashed, clay pots, paper boats, the river Ravi and the lost garment Saddri, Pakistani artist Sabah Husain creates a seamless…
‘Hum Bhatak bhi Gaye au Kia Hoga’
After a long time, I attempted to write a poem. Here it is – pretty raw and unpolished. Will translate it later for readers…
Meena Kumari, the poet
After my earlier article on the life of Meena Kumari, I explored the iconic actor’s prowess in an entirely different area of personal expression…
‘I know how men in exile feed on dreams’
To the accompaniment of songs, poetry and history, Raza Rumi spent a bittersweet evening with fellow exiles exploring the state of his banishment “Our…