shayeri bhi ho mauseeqi bhi ho aur mahol bh.. “Syed Hasani”

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…

W.H. Auden’s poem – Partition

My friend IK has reminded me of W.H. Auden’s poem ‘Partition,’ published in 1966. These moving verses highlight the absurdity of the way the…

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…

Gulzar’s Mera Kuchh Samaan…

This poem composed by Gulzar was beautifully rendered by Asha Bhosle in the unforgettable film Ijazat. Someone forwarded me the text and I suddenly…

Kal bhi woh darte the

A few lines I wrote after Malala’s Nobel and some of the reactions of Pakistanis on social media (English translit. below) Kal bhi woh…

Iqbal Bano sings Nizami Ganjavi (Persian Sufi poet, 1141-1209)

Iqbal Bano sings Nizami Ganjavi-Mara ba ghamza… by razarumi1 Mara ba ghamza kusht o qaza ra bahana sakht Khud sooy e ma na deed…

‘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…

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…

Don’t talk about the journey (Rumi)

Come come come my endless desires come come come come my beloved come my sweetheart come come come don’t talk about the journey say…

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…

How long?

How long can i lament with this depressed heart and soul how long can i remain a sad autumn ever since my grief has…
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