Onwards from Empress Market

The Islam of Urdu poetry

Terrorism and chauvinism are not exclusive to any one religion. And there is more than one Islam, just as there is more than one America. The Islam found in humanist Urdu poetry is very different from the Islam as practised by the Taliban and Osama bin Laden, says RALPH RUSSEL.

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Thanks Samina: I wish I could`ve met Agha Shahid Ali as well.

I just returned from Pakistan a couple of weeks back, and you will not believe not ONE shop carries his books. I don`t know if you are from Karachi or not, how familiar you are with the city, but I searched for his books from Tariq Road to Urdu Bazaar and found ZIP. I was so upset. Talk about lack of appreciation for a great poet.

And thanks to you Samina I also discovered Rattapallax (weird name for a mag.) I enjoyed it immensely.

Faisal, my apologies if this discussion bothers you, maybe we should take it to ``Speaker`s Corner.`` If you haven`t aleady, do read Agha Shahid Ali, he`s more than wonderful.

Regards,

Kiran

Thanks Samina: I wish I could`ve met Agha Shahid Ali as well.

I just returned from Pakistan a couple of weeks back, and you will not believe not ONE shop carries his books. I don`t know if you are from Karachi or not, how familiar you are with the city, but I searched for his books from Tariq Road to Urdu Bazaar and found ZIP. I was so upset. Talk about lack of appreciation for a great poet.

And thanks to you Samina I also discovered Rattapallax (weird name for a mag.) I enjoyed it immensely.

Faisal, my apologies if this discussion bothers you, maybe we should take it to ``Speaker`s Corner.`` If you haven`t aleady, do read Agha Shahid Ali, he`s more than wonderful.

Regards,

Kiran

Kiran,

Haven`t been able to check out this board (have email campaigning on my mind :) ), and just saw your post. Here`s what I wrote the other day:

If you mean the Agha Shahid Ali memorial, I did go, and it was wonderful. It was at NYU; the place was packed. There were 26 poets and writers- a poetry groupie`s dream. Each poet recounted a personal anecdote; apparently Ali was as witty, generous and loving as he was talented, and then read a poem by him. Amitav Ghosh and Meena Alexander read. Rafi Kathwari read some Faiz in Urdu-quite lovely-but the accents in Urdu were a little surprising to me. One poet had the grace to refer to this particular time of conflict that is so painful to many of us. It ended with a recording of Ali reciting one of his poems. My favorite anecdote was how Ali scolded the American poets for their pronunciations of the word ghazal (I quite enjoyed that, having made this point with my friends over and over).

But, what a lovely tribute. His brother also read quite movingly, a poem about Kashmir.

Some additional thoughts:

Ali had a renown sense of humor. His fav. song was the disco hit ``Thats the way (I like it) which he taught to his 3 year old goddaughter who still sings it. He sang it through the hospital hallways on the way to chemo.

Ghosh recalls that Ali pronounced Kashmir the American way. When Ghosh asked him why, he said ``Because I like to think about sweaters``

Theres a NYC based mag. called Rattapallax that has devoted an issue to him-its the recent one with Arab poets in it as well. Its got Ali`s last poems, plus pages of ghazal couplets that many poets wrote in tribute to him-its one very long, extraordinary ghazal. You might want to check the mag out-I think they`ve got a website.

He was a brilliant writer. I wish I had had the chance to ask him questions.

...sorry faisal..there is too much `meri-teri` going on in that board where this would have been more relevant...where those who tread where angles do not...those who have no self respect....taunt others with the same shortcomings...so despite your plea to use this board for `relevant` discussion...here it is!



GODHRA, GUJRAT

kul jo achanak
jal gaya hath m`ra
tou souchnay laga
janay kya guzri hogi oon per
aag ki aaghosh maiN


GODHRA, GUJRAT

Yesterday, accidentally
burned my hands
and thought
what were `they` thinking
in fire`s embrace?

_________________________________________________

and one more
_________________________________________________


SOME BUDDHA!

They speak now
of resurrecting
that Bamian Buddha.

And `they` speak here
wisely, foolishly
incessantly
over whose buddha *
is better

_________________________________________________
*buddha---old fellow
(inspired by that irascible vereeshji`s `our baltis are better than yours`)

Kiran,

Thanks. I also thought the other one was better. This was a little forced at times. As another friend commented, this is a functional poem... like light bulb when switched on lights up. I tried to work around the last sentence but gave up after a week.

Cheers,

Faisal

faisal:Mohammed Hifzul Kabir Qureshi affectionately known as Baba-e-Urdu of toronto edited and translated An Anthology of Modern Urdu Poetry published by the Urdu Society of Canada. Here is another Noon Meem Rashid poem.

TAARUF

A’jul in say mil
Kay yeh sadah dil
Na ehl-e-salat na ehl-e-sharab
Na ehl-e-dil na ehl-e-hisab
Na ehl-e-kitaab
Na ehl-e-kitaab aur na ehl-e-machine
Na ehl-e-khilaa aur na ehl-e-zameen
Fiq’t bay yaqeen
A’jul in say mut kur hijaab
A’jul in say mil!

BaRRho tum bhee aagay baRRho
A’jul say milo
BaRRho, nau tawangar gadao
Na kashkol-e-dareevza gardi chupao
TumhaiN zindagi say koi rab’t baaqi nahin
A’jul say hanso aur a’jal ko hansao!
BaRRho banda-gaan-e-zamana, baRRho banda-gaan-e- dar’m
A’jal, yeh sub insaaaN munfi haiN
Munfi zyadah haiN, insaaN kum haiN
Ho in per nigah-e-kar’m


INTRODUCTIONS

Death, meet them
These simple-hearted who
Neither pray or drink,
Who are not artful or worldly-wise,
Who have no learning
Of machines or books,
Of this world or another;
Merely faithless in all things.
Don’t be shy, Death;
Meet them.

Come ahead; you also, come ahead
To meet Death
Come, you new rich;
Don’t bother to hide your begging bowls;
There is not life in you now,
Laugh with Death; woo him, please him.
Come forward, slaves of Mammon, of Time
Death, these are negative men;
More than negative, less men.
Give them a sweet glance.

Faisal, this was good, but enjoyed ``Rowing Across...`` much more.

Samina, if you attend the Agha Shahid Ali readings, would you be kind enough to share something about the event. It would be wonderful. How I wish I was in NY tonight!

Thanks

Kiran

Faisal, this was good, but enjoyed ``Rowing Across...`` much more.

Samina, if you attend the Agha Shahid Ali readings, would you be kind enough to share something about the event. It would be wonderful. How I wish I was in NY tonight!

Thanks

Kiran

Temporal:

Thanks. Rashid has been an intellectual father to me since I was a teenager and I have tried to follow his traditions and interests in all my English poetry as well as all my Urdu compositions. It is heartwarming to see that someone has recognized this. The lament ``Mariam is gone`` is a parallel to Rashid’s fallible hero Hasan Koza Gar, when his creations (yeh kozay...) whisper ``Hasan Koza Gar ab Kahan hai.`` I took the tone of this sentence and changed the meter to fit my poem.

I loved the translation. Is this a full publication? I have been trying to translate Doi Ki Abna for six months now? I can use some help.

Samina:

Thanks for sharing this information with us.

All:

Please try to keep your replies pertinent to the article.

Thanks,

Faisal

NYC Poetry Tribute to Agha Shahid Ali; Arab Poetry and WTC memorial in NYC

Please join use for Rattapallax No. 7 Launch Reading hosted by Martin

Mitchell

March 30, 2002 at 2 pm--Mid-Manhattan Library, 455 Fifth Ave. at 40th St.,

NYC FREE

http://www.rattapallax.com

Some of the readers include Grace Schulman, Rachel Hadas, Karen Swenson,

Ron Price and other contributors from the issue.

Rattapallax 7 features A TRIBUTE TO AGHA SHAHID ALI which was edited by

Yerra Sugarman,

Christopher Merrill & M. L. Williams and features Robert Pinsky, Marie

Ponsot,Grace Schulman & Jean Valentine. Ghazal for Shahid (Missing You in

PalmSprings, 2001) featuring Kim Addonizio, Rafael Campo, Mark Doty, Carolyn

Kizer, Maxine Kumin, Elizabeth Macklin, J. D. McClatchy, Heather McHugh,

W. S. Merwin, Michael Palmer, William Wadsworth & others.

NEW ARAB POETRY edited by Khaled Mattawa & Marilyn Hacker featuring poetry

by Mahmoud Abu Hashhash, Muftah al-Amari, Fadhil Al-Azzawi, Muhammad

al-Dayrawi,

Maram al-Massri, Waleed al-Shaikh, Tahar Bekri, Andrée Chedid, Vénus

Khoury-Ghata,

Iman Mersal, Amjad Nasser, Fatima Qindil, Amina Saïd, Ghada Shafi, Habib

Tengour & Saadi Youssef

WTC RELIEF READING (audio) featuring Richard Price, Cornelius Eady, David

Lehman, Suheir Hammad, Giandomenico Picco, Lou Reed & others.

AUDIO FEATURES of Billy Collins & Glyn Maxwell.

POETRY by Rhina P. Espaillat, Eamon Grennan, Rachel Hadas, Colette Inez,

Marilyn Nelson, Pascal Petit, William Pitt Root, Charlie Smith, Karen

Swenson,Diane Thiel, Deborah Warren & many others.

Thanks,

Ram Devineni

Read this review/summary of one of indias female writers.

Arranged Marriage



By Chita Banerjee Divakaruni



Published in Paperback (1997)

By Black Swan (a division of Transworld Publishers)

ISBN 0 552 99669 6, 300 pages

Reviewed by Lopa Patel

Rating: (4 flames)

Click here to buy this book Today!



This is a brilliant collection of short stories sadly lumbered with the dire title of `Arranged Marriage`.

True, that all the stories follow the paths of Indian marriages. But, the title is inappropriate given the fact that the observations in each story are different. Each tale has a freshness and unique twist on the culture clash between East and West.

The first story, `The Bats`, is about the courage a woman has to find to leave her husband and return home in India with her child. The second story, called `Clothes` is about the unfulfilled promise of a marriage - the wedding clothes still remaining in the suitcase in which the bride had packed them.

The third tale is a new perspective on marriages of long-standing. The differences that can develop in such marriages when the couple live abroad cut off from family and culture. The fourth story is not about marriage but about ``living in sin``: a new vista that opens to young Indian immigrants when they go to study in America. Cut off from their family, contactable only by phone. This story explores the heartache and guilt of ``living in sin``.

The fifth story, `A Perfect Life`, is a spooky tale about a boy who just turns up on the doorstep of a thirty-something, single, Indian woman. She ``adopts`` him and weaves his existence into the fabric of her life. An act that immediately unravels as she sets about trying to adopt him legally. `A Perfect Life` is one of my favourite stories from this set as it explores the psyche behind why individuals want to become parents.

The sixth tale is entitled `The Maid Servant`s Story`. This in fact has very little to do with marriage. Its focus is more on morality and the responsibilities that educated and privileged women have in protecting less fortunate women, a maid in this case.

The seventh story is called `The Disappearance`. A married Indian women living in America simply vanishes one day. Her husband is left searching, under suspicion himself, until he discovers all her jewellery is missing too!

`Doors`, the eight tale in this compilation is about the burden of an extended family. Deepak and Preethi`s marriage and settlement in the USA is going well, until, Raj, Deepak`s cousin arrives to stay. For a year and a half!

`Ultrasound`, the ninth short story is a precursor to Bannerjee Divakaruni`s later novel, `Sister of My Heart`. The outline of the plot is all here. Ironically, the short story is a more tantalising appetizer to a main course that disappoints. Perhaps the novel should have remained a short story rather than be bloated with numerous other characters and ridiculous sup-plots. The essence of `Sister of My heart` is more poignantly noted in `Ultrasound`.

`Affair`, the tenth tale sums it all up in its title! It is about two couples, a partner in each having an ``affair`` with the other. The point of this story is that arranged marriages often lead to incompatible partners being matched together. Most couples try to make the best of it, until they meet their soul mate.

The last story, `Meeting Mrinal` is my favourite of all. It picks up acutely on everyone`s need to appear brighter, richer and more successful when meeting old friends after a period of many years. In Asha`s case, her husband has divorced her and she is not getting along too well with her teenage son, Dinesh. Facts that she naturally conceals in a much-anticipated meeting with her old friend Mrinal, a successful single lawyer. Reality could not be more different for either Asha or Mrinal.

The beauty of short stories is that you can read them often and quickly too. Only the essence of a tale needs to be explained - the narrative can start at any point in time and threads are left to the reader`s imagination. In such stories there is no need for a start of a finish.

This excellent collection is entertaining at all times.

Re Ahmed Saab # 9

``Empress of India Queen Victoria, Kaiser E Hind ruled for 63 years before 1857 to almost 1890. He was greatest Queen of world. He was Badshah of India, canada, Austalia, most black africa,Newziland, egypt, palestine. ``

Never knew he was a drag queen ;-)

#: 10

Prem

re: Star Buck # 7

What happened to Victoria?!p>

Prem

Thorah Kam Prem Karo Yaar !;-))

Police chased those love birds out of there !It had become very embarassing .

All big cities have too many lovers & no private place.I wonder how mumbai & delhi provides.

re: Star Buck # 7

What happened to Victoria?!

Lovers openly kiss and make hot omeletter there. Got too crowded?

YLH....Respected Sir

Empress of India Queen Victoria, Kaiser E Hind ruled for 63 years before 1857 to almost 1890. He was greatest Queen of world. He was Badshah of India, canada, Austalia, most black africa,Newziland, egypt, palestine. In her honor they made places all over world. There is big fall in some black countries call victoria falls.

So I expect there may be lot of places with all over world with her name.

You will be happy to know she had taken special Muslim guards from india and pakistan. I have seen pictures of these gards holding unbrella over head when writing letter. She was fat ugly looking queen and widow and never involved in hanky panky.But she was good drawing woman, she drew sketches of these her most faviorite muslim umbrella holders from India and pakistan area. Those days are gone all Royal family is rascle and useless.She also had good sex morality and tried indian Rajahs to have respectable style of living. But all Rulers of india Rajahs, nabab, sultans did not follow her example.

I always feel departure of British was great disadvantage to all third word countries. Still after 50 years all earlier black and brown colonies just bunch of backwards.You will be surprised to know Mr. Churchill served all royals from Queen victoria to present disfunctional mother Queen Elizabeth II. God save the queen.