main Khayaal huuN kisii aur kaa,
main Khayaal huuN kisii aur kaa, mujhe sochataa koii aur hai sareaaiinaa meraa aks hai, paseaaiinaa koii aur hai main kisii ke dastetalab…
Two poems on justice – from Sri Lanka
Herat Hami A poem by Wimalaratne Kumaragame (a translation) Herat Hami who lived in Aliya Watunu Wawe*1 Even someone like me was more important…
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…
Only you, know my pains – Rabba Meray Haal Da Mehrem Tu
“O God, you are my state of being” is what this Kafi of Shah Hussain loosely means. It is about the internal and external…
Let us fall in love again
Rumi’s lilting chant.. Let us fall in love again and scatter gold dust all over the world. Let us become a new spring and…
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…
Songs of Lalon Fakir – The Bengali Mystic
Found these two poems by Lalon Fakir – the singing mystic of Bengal who echoes Bulleh Shah, Kabir and the tradition of Bhakti. A…
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…
Without clouds shedding tears
Without the eyes – two clouds – the lightning of the heart: The fire of God’s threat, how could it be allayed? How would…
“Living in today’s Pakistan” – an interview for WPKN
From Tidings Blog featuring my interview which was broadcast on WPKN radio last year. Yes I have been a little lazy in posting all…
Na Ganvao Navak-e-Neem Kash (your half drawn arrow)- Faiz
Junaid has sent another translation of Faiz rendered by a Toronto based poet – Anis Zuberi. This is a timeless ghazal, Na Ganvao Navak-e-Neem…
Bulleh Shah – I long for you, what can be done?
Contribution by Shahidain In this kafi, the Sufi poet Bulleh Shah reveals the unbearble pain of seperation from his Beloved. He can not give…
Rumi’s ants
From Rumi’s Mathnawi – Part VI: 2955-2962 The spirit is like an ant, and the body like a grain of wheat which the ant…
Manmohan Singh’s ignorance
Manmohan Singh whom I have always held in high regard, disappointed millions in South Asia with his distastefully ill-timed hard talk during his Independence…
Waiting for the Tomorrow’s Happy Dawn – Ali Sardar Jafri
The setting imperial sun
broke into two parts
On this very Border, yesterday…
Cover Story: Mahasin-i-Kalam-i-Ghalib by Abdur Rehman Bijnouri
A review I did for Dawn Such is the majesty of Urdu’s greatest poet Mirza Ghalib (1797-1869) that his works continue to be interpreted…
Enthralled only by love
whenever you meet someone deep drunk yet full of wisdom be aware and watch this person is enthralled only by love anytime you see…