Baba Bulleh Shah’s gift
Dr Manzur Ejaz writing for the TFT According to myth, if perfectly sung by a master, the classical raga Malkauns can set a river…
Na mai Sussi
Na mai sussi Na mai sohni Na mai heer sayal phair we sajna dil kyouN mera Ja lagayaa teray naal sussi rayt thhalaaN wich…
A special message for Jahane Rumi
Sometimes I am most touched by such messages concerning my blog. I am posting this message not because I want to beat my own…
Recollections of Annemarie Schimmel
Rehana Hyder writing for the Friday Times My first recollection of Annemarie Schimmel was as a teenager in Delhi in 1969, in the year…
Impressions – White Mughals by William Dalrymple
My bright, young friend Imaduddin has written this excellent, terse review of the engaging book White Mughals. Yesterday when he emailed me this text, I…
Two poems by Ali Sardar Jafri
Two poems of Ali Sardar Jafri MY JOURNEY Such a day will arrive again [when] the lamps of the eyes will get extinguished; the…
Rediscovering Jinnah’s Politics: Pakistan and Democratic Nation-Building in South Asia
A special contribution by Dr. TT Sreekumar Jinnah’s image as an adamant fighter for a separate Muslim Homeland and hence as someone responsible for…
Tabish Khair on Cartoon Wars
I am growing fond of Tabish Khair’s poetry. Just read this remarkable poem: Cartoon Wars Let’s spell out this world. Generally speaking, we are…
Carpet cleaning methods
Discovered that there are multiple methods of carpet cleaning. I thought there was just a single way. Before engaging carpet cleaners, it is important…
The story of an ivory chair – Murshidabad’s gift to Hastings
Dr Amin Jaffer, the expert on Indian arts and furniture, currently working at Christie’s holds forth in a conversation below. The chair above is…
A Children’s Poem
– By W. P. Ruwani Wanniarrhchi (Grade 10) Is My Son Also Sleeping under the Mara Tree? My little son, I can wait Till…
Dear Che – A poem by K.G. Sankarapillai
A Poem by K.G. Sankarapillai Dear Che Dear Che, you came to our university campus in mid sixties with a comrade and a modernist…
Lu Xun and the birds – Sarvesvar Dayal Saxena
A Poem by Sarvesvar Dayal Saxena Lu Xun and the birds In my childhood I had seen Lu Xun roaming in the mango groves…
Four poems by Bulleh Shah (new translations)
Who I am I know not who I am, I am neither a believer going to the mosque Nor given to non-believing ways. Neither…
The sanctuary
Nizamuddin’s shrine and the dergah complex is a source of comfort. Each time I have been there, I have felt uncanny sense of comfort…
A poem of love and longing by Parveen Shakir
I rediscovered this exquisite poem by Parveen Shakir after years. This is an intense love poem of rare beauty. It is composite, taut and…
Khusrau, Meera, Kabir: The Fluid Self
An essay contributed by the celebrated singer, writer and spiritualist Vidya Rao I often ask myself the question why I choose, above all things,…
Real Naanak/Can prove dangerous to us
My friend Jasdeep Singh has shared his translation of a Punjabi poem Naanak by Jaswant Singh Zafar. I like the way poet brings out…
Unveiling the mysteries – Bulleh Shah
Bulleh Shah discloses that the Lord pervades in everyone. He is not only to be found in Mansur, but also his executioner, as also…