Video: Fahimda Riaz Brings Down the House at Asia Society
By Jeff Tompkins A venerable literary tradition came to vivid life last weekend when Asia Society’s New York headquarters became the scene of amushaira, or Urdu-language poetry reading. In a program marked by regular audience interaction, Pakistani poets Noon Meem Danish, Fahmida Riaz, Shehla Naqvi, Ifti Nasim, Humaira Rehman, and Raies Warsi all read from their work in a lively milieu reminiscent of a Lower East Side poetry slam. Audience appreciation reached a peak when Fahmida Riaz, one of Pakistan’s most revered poets, recited a piece that triggered fits of laughter not only in the crowd but (as the video below demonstrates) among her fellow poets as well. Loosely translated as “Revolutionary Woman,” Riaz’s poem is from the perspective of an aging woman, a committed activist, who offers a wry account of the aging process before … Read entire article »
Filed under: poetry
Modern Poetry of Pakistan: An Introduction
By Waqas Khwaja Modern Poetry of Pakistan offers many offshoots of the classical tradition of Muslim poetry in India. Although Amir Khusrau (1253-1325), considered by some to be the first poet writing in a recognizable Urdu diction (Hindvi, as it was then called), wrote geet (songs), in addition to poems in many classical forms like the Mathnavi, ghazal, rubai, and riddles. Nazm, or an integrated rhymed poem on a single subject, did not become a regular part of … Read entire article »
Ajmal Khatak: Revolutionary Pushtun Poet
By Louis Dupree Click here to read remaining. … Read entire article »
Bulleh for our times
By Ali Abbas First published in Islamabad Dateline Mystifying is the turn of time, indeed. Refuted by clerics of his time, the same Bulleh Shah who was refused burial in his community graveyard is quoted by contemporary mullahs and holds worldwide reverence today. Same can be said for all mystic poets who lived to challenge the rigid interpretation of religion prevailing in their times. One wonders if he would have been charged for blasphemy and assassinated like Taseer or Bhatti if Bulleh were to say ‘whatever is in the heart’ in our society at present — mou’n aye baat na rehndi aye. … Read entire article »
For Naimat Ahmer
1995 Faisalabad -A Christian teacher Naimat Ahmer was falsely accused of blasphemy and killed by his student on the incitement of Muslim teachers who were jealous of his success. A poem by Iftikhar Nasim for Naimat Ahmer For Naimat Ahmer- A Eulogy 1995 Iftikhar Nasim I see your blood Oozing out of jugular I mourn my tribe’s Arrogant ignorance World is watching Trust me, my Naimat! My Prophet was gentle Forgave Hinda-the Cannibal Meccans throw rubbish on others Who can forgive them? … Read entire article »
Filed under: poetry
Barbarians at the Gate
By Saad Hafiz What are we waiting for, assembled in the forum? The barbarians are to arrive today. Why such inaction in the Senate? Why do the Senators sit and pass no laws? Because the barbarians are to arrive today. What laws can the Senators pass any more? When the barbarians come they will make the laws. Why did our emperor wake up so early, and sits at the greatest gate of the city, on the throne, solemn, wearing the crown? … Read entire article »
Filed under: poetry
Two Faiz celebrations in Lahore
Ammar Aziz has sent this exclusive piece for Pak Tea House on the recent centennial celebrations held for the great poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz. We are posting this without prejudice as debate on such important public concerns is vital. However, the views expressed here are not necessarily those of the PTH team. We would welcome rebuttals on this space. Admn Lahore’s Mall road was as crowded as always. Behind the modern age vehicles – coming violently from the both sides of the road- and amongst the old silent trees, I saw him, walking very slowly on a footpath. The old man was holding a little red flag. Those ragged dusty clothes, lengthy gray hair, wrinkled mystic face and small piece of scarlet; there … Read entire article »
Filed under: Activism, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Literature, Pakistan, poetry, Urdu
Iqbal- Dream of an Eagle
The days we have marked for celebrations, The rest in forgetfulness, we don’t explore The splendour of Universe as it bestowed The famous gift of language and rhythm … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pakistan, Philosophy, poetry, Politics
The Impact
As the mind embraces itself In those old avenues of music, As the old expressions alight The moments of separation … Read entire article »
Filed under: poetry
Poem:The Hungry Face
” This poem was written to highlight the plight of children, far removed from education and comforts of home and confined to dreaded routines of existence” – The Daughter of Pakistan, in search for bread and water…….the quest continues and so her questions…. As she rests her soul against the pole The blistered feet and in tattered clothes The only place, where she can breathe The open fields and the crowded streets In search for bread and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Children, Education, Labour, Pakistan, poetry, poverty, psychology, Rights
Routines of Conscience
Routines of Conscience Carries this man with himself different books In moments of reflection and ponder Through moments of protest and anguish In times of trance and its great elation The past in his hands and mind affixed, At times, the words float through the space At times, the words reside in heavy heart See him I at different places, in different zones In different disguises, from one to another The constant struggles, the constant battles As the situation demands, as the moments seize This old heart and soul, this old conscience See him often in conversations in diversity bounded in duty and honour and its desires For his country and for its people, occupied In moments of madness and despair As the cry for change drips into the molten passions Recites he poems, in travels through its distance Strange but common and simple are the goals often we talk … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pakistan, Philosophy, poetry, Politics
What lies in yesterday?
What lies in yesterday? Only the dust and its fumes Ignore and move on To paths new and not trodden What lies in yesterday? Only heartache and dreams Forget, and move on, To the oceans new and its trance What lies in yesterday? The old music and rhymes Of the old days and nights The desert and its moonlit skies What lies in yesterday? The old note books and poems Remember and move on With your past and what lies ahead What lies in yesterday? The old childhood and places The old dreams and birth of life Travel through it like an adventure What lies in yesterday? Only the dust and its fumes The old existence of mine The old mirrors and its reflections! Kashkin … Read entire article »
Filed under: poetry
Poem: The Dance of Solitude
The solitude and its silence Stands there, the grand empires Built from dreams of the past The old chaos of times From distant corners, Come they to examine To see, how this life, spent Through opium years to its magic Hear they not, the deafening soul The rapturous routines The old peaceful moments Built for the dreams of future From distant corners Come they to examine Their own past and the colours Through the years of violence Hear they not, the drowning heart The perpetual existence In time and its space In this grand … Read entire article »
Filed under: poetry
Poem: Walking With Wordsworth
The lands we have traversed Different and diverse, Strange and beautiful, in arrival The long walks and drama Lend me your ears, lend me your heart As the words cry out From the poet’s heart and its echoes I am not off from this land, Strange lands I have traversed But here I walk with you briefly Beside those rivers and landscape Where words, born and decimated The old hearts and moments of inspiration In your thoughts and rhymes Somewhere else, strange n fine And here, walk I with you … Read entire article »
Filed under: poetry
Three Poems By Iqbal IV: Dialogue Between God And Man
By Dr. Ali Hashmi Muhawaraa Maa Bain Khuda-o-Insan (Dialogue between God and Man): The third poem in this selection, ‘Muhawaraa maa bain Khuda-o-Insaan’ features one of Iqbal’s favorite styles, a dialogue or interplay between earthly and celestial figures. It also employs one of Iqbal’s favored poetical styles, the Socratic Method (or Socratic Debate), named after the Classical Greek philosopher Socrates, a form of inquiry and debate between individuals with opposing viewpoints based on asking and answering questions to stimulate rational thinking and to illuminate ideas. It is a dialectical method, often involving an oppositional discussion in which the defense of one point of view is pitted against the defense of another. One of the most famous examples of this genre is Iqbal’s lengthy poem ‘Shikwah’ or ‘Reproach’ in which Man(representing the Muslim … Read entire article »
Filed under: Partition, Philosophy, poetry
PTH biweekly Cartoon
Picture of the Week
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Sunrise at the Arabian Sea, Charna Island
24 Dec 2011
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