Whatever shrine I go to

Another readable piece by Dr Sher Zaman Taizi This poem in ghazal form is very simple and direct. It starts with a direct address…

Mehdi Hasan: King of kings

Mehdi Hasan died today. There are no words to capture his influence on my generation and the ones before me. I am posting a…

Mehdi Hasan: A bridge over the troubled divide

My tribute to Mehdi Hasan published here He was the musical Midas who transcended borders with the same mastery that he transcended genres Mehdi…

Any Chance Meeting

In every gathering, in any chance meeting on the street, there is a shine, an elegance rising up. Today, I recognized that that jewel-like…

Tau kiya yeh tay haye… (Gulbahar Bano singing)

A piece of Urdu poetry that has remained with me through seasons, years and all the vicissitudes… This is an extraordinary ghazal (rhymed poem…

Faiz, a Peaceful Revolutionary

This is in continuation of the splendid translation series undertaken by Mr. Anis Zuberi and contributed by JZ for this blog. Earlier posts can…

Mir Dard – a ghazal’s translation

We have laid such wild misdeeds to our name. for this we came. the account is full. by the wrack of this storm, this…

“Man-Bitten” Ghalib: introducing himself

Ghalib’s immortal and complex poetry transcends time and sometimes even the boundaries of human thought. The translation of this ghazal was found in Mirza…

An Autumnal ghazal (haath mein hijr ki kitaab…)

Rastay manzilen sarab aur dil kitne be-rooh murda khoab aur dil lams ke haath kitne yakh – basta sard- muhri ke kitne baab aur…

A ghazal from Jahanuma

Jahanuma sent me this ghazal and I like its mood…. I will try and translate it later.. Naqshe khushboo ko fana kaise karen ab…