The closed minds that deny a civilisation’s glories – where I was quoted
I was most pleased to read this piece by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown entitled The closed minds that deny a civilisation’s glories. I would like to…
When you dance
Sunlight’s interpretation of Rumi’s Quatrain 784: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When you dance the whole universe dances. What a wonder, I’ve looked and now I cannot look…
Ask us about the lion of God
This caravan is not bringing our baggage — it has none of the fire of our Friend. Though the trees have all turned green,…
How instability is garnered
My latest analysis published by The News We continue to bemoan the failure of democratic norms to take root in our governance culture. True,…
Why a Pakistani Ambassador is not acceptable to Saudi Arabia
Now this is truly funny – Saudis have rejected the credentials of our Ambassador designate on not-so-flimsy grounds Read here -The post at Cafe…
Sources of nourishment
The heart eats a particular food from every companion; the heart receives a particular nourishment from every single piece of knowledge. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Del ze…
Kaifi & I
Shabana Azmi reads from her mother Shaukat Kaifi’s memoirs at the Jaipur literary festival. The segment was introduced by Urvashi Butalia Presented by DNA…
Rakhshanda Jalil – Panchlight and other stories
My friend Rakhshanda Jalil is singlemindedly pursuing her interests and dreams. Her latest book of translation has attracted attention from critics as well as…
Prince Charles on “East and West: Parables of the Soul”
Prince Charles was recently in Konya, Turkey on a state visit that coincides with Rumi’s 800th birth anniversary. Commenting on the appeal of Rumi…
The body is manifest; Life’s spirit is hidden
When a dispute arises as to the ownership of the husk, the husk belongs to the one who possesses the kernel. The heavenly sphere…
Farewell Haqqani Saheb – forgive your peers and colleagues
A personal favourite, Irshad Ahmad Haqqani is dead. This is a huge loss to Urdu journalism as he was the last of sane voices…
A poem by Sarmad
A special friend sent this poem via Facebook. I have read it again and again..hope the readers like it too Along the road, you…
Delhi and Lahore – globalised fads and trends
This piece of mine appeared in the Hindustan Times yesterday. An accidental piece it was, written on the request of a friend during my…
Who is looking out?
Who sees inside from outside? Who finds hundreds of mysteries even where minds are deranged? See through his eyes what he sees. Who then…
No priests needed – search of a Pakistani identity
With a demographic revolution in the making, a depressed and cynical youth is a time bomb that we are living with. Things will have…
Should we bid farewell to democracy in Pakistan?
Published in The NEWS It is still not too late that PML-N and PPP and the regional parties sit together and agree on the…
URS TODAY-Hazrat Baha-ud-din Zakariya (RA) Multan
Iftikhar Chaudri’s excellent note on the great saint: Hazrat Baha-ud-din Zakariya(RA) was a Sufi of Suhrawardiyya order (tariqa). His full name was Al-Sheikh Al-Kabir…
Jaipur, Faiz and Ali Sethi
Ali Sethi recently attended the Jaipur literary festival and his extraordinary performance is now accessible to those who were not there. I should thank…
I have returned, like the new year (Rumi)
I am posting Sunlight translations of Rumi’s Ghazal (Ode) 1375, from “Diwan-e-Shamsi” (“The Collection of Shams”), rendered by Nader Khalili, and Prof. William Chittick:…
Farida Khanum Singing Raga Kamod – Manna for the Soul
I am cross-posting my dear friend Fawad’s excellent post from here. The links here are worth visiting and the music is fabulous for those who…