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Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Four books I read recently …


Brilliant Graphic Novel.
Something that many of my young friends should read
and also think of 'Growing Up in Pakistan',
as well as their future careers and their parental pressures.


Midhat was a friend of mine.
His (and Basarat's) daughter has written
a brilliant book.

TZH is a Pakistani Theoretical Physicist
and is a String Theorist.
I hope she comes to T2F for a 'Science ka Adda' session.

The book covers the most important ideas in Science
and, written as a Fact/Fiction piece,
it takes you through the passion of science.
Read it!!!


An inspiring book that addresses a lot of questions
that the young ask, given the way that the present day
forced Religious Instruction in Educational Institutes
plus the madness that current terrorists offer.

An Atheist Muslim
takes you through a Muslim/Atheist view.
The book is not likely to be available in Pakistan
but an Urdu translation is being considered.
It will also be available in an English Audiobook.

I wish people would read this and answer
some of his questions and queries.


AB, who's Fun Home was a bestseller graphic novel,
runs a series of cartoons that have to do with Dykes.
This is one such collection.
It is remarkably good and, unless you think you shouldn't
be reading this, I'd strongly recommend it.

On the other hand
I wouldn't advise young people to read this.
Not yet, anyway!

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Wednesday, May 17, 2017

An Urdu poet I love …

Zahoor Nazar's collection of Nazms
I bought this book in 1978
and have read it many many times.

Although he never became as famous
as I thought he would,
this collection is superb.

From his poetic Paysh Lafz,
a 7-page poem that starts with these lines
Maéñ shaaér hooñ

Maéñ nay jo mahsoos kiyaa haé jo daykha haé vohi kahaa haé

Chaahay voh dükh ho yaa sükh ho …
to his last nazm, Shahré Saba,
this collection provided me wth a lot of things to think about.
If you can still get a new edition, do get it.

Although I like many poems,
here is list of my real favourites.

(1)
His 5 poems of people's victories
that follow each other in style: 
Inqilaabé Cheen
Jagtay Jazeeray
Faith Suez
Inqilaabé Iraq
Maojé Sada

(2)
His 5 Martial Law poems:
Shabkhoon
Shabkhoon Kay Baad
Islaahaat
Ayk Eed
A'eené Nao

(3)
His brilliant poems
(about life, the universes, and everything?):
Sannaata
Mahaasabah
Aé Ghamé Sübhé Tarab
Maéñ Tera Kaon Hooñ
Vasvasah
Chiraagh Talay
Khamyaazah
Ayk Raat
Pathraao
Patja∂h Ki Ayk Shaam
Ayk Mülaaqaat
Tanhaai

(4)
And, finally,
my two absolute favourites:
Naee Gali
Taxi

Read him if you can find the book.
It'll be old, because it never got published again.


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