Stones and Bricks are locked up, Dogs are Free

I have been an unabashed fan of Sahir Ludhianvi, perhaps a part of me is so drawn to him because I had the chance to hear his booming voice and hear him read his Parchaiyaan, but I have not been completely ignorant of other Urdu poets too. People like Faiz, Josh and Iqbal have not been strangers to me.

It was in the midst of heart breaking pictures reaching us from Pakistan I remembered a few lines from Faiz’s poem. I thought I would Google and see if it I could get the complete poem but somehow did not get around to doing it. Then, came the pictures tyranny in Kuala Lumpur and the line from his poem kept repeating in my head.

Here is the first few lines, in Romanized Urdu and an attempted free verse translation of the same:

nisaar main teri galiyon ke aye watan, ke jahaan
chali hai rasm ke koi na sar utha ke chale
jo koi chaahane wala tawaaf ko nikle
nazar churaa ke chale, jism o jaan bachaa ke chale
hai ahl-e-dil ke liye ab ye nazm-e-bast-o-kushaad
ki sang o Khisht muqayyad hain aur sag azaad

Esteemed lanes and streets
Of my beloved country, where
It has become a tradition that
No one should walk with head held high
If some lovers do, perchance, for a pilgrimage
Then slink, not walk, with downcast eyes.

It is wrenching,
For those with beating hearts, to see
That stones and bricks are locked up and
Dogs are roaming free.

* *

Indeed, in my search I found the complete poem, at a couple of places and uncannily someone who had translated it too at this site. And used it in the same context as well.

The Readings

It was a great morning, warm as usual, but with some assurances from friends that taking the KKVE to Bangsar should be okay. I did turn out to be okay.

Meeting Sharon after a long gap was nice, and meeting Chet – who is as friendly and cuddly as the pandas she loves – was great too. Was impressed with her Neo and called to buy one for myself. If you want to know more about NEO and his other sister the erstwhile DANA go here.

Went to the Breakfast at MPH. It has been a long time since I attended a literary gathering of any sort and it was good. Sharon has blogged about it I need not go into the details.

Met Raman after a while too, wished I had more to have long leisurely chat with him.

Got to meet Shahril Nizam, have so enjoyed is art. Later someone told me Amir Muhammad was there too. Would have liked to shake his hand, liked his book too.

Would like to get hold of Shamala’s writing, sounded very interesting.

Here is to hoping I can make a return.

Eli, Eli

Bangladeshi cyclone-affected man Khalilur Rahman, who lost 11 members of his family including his wife and his other children, cries holding his only survived daughter while waiting to get relief goods in Fokirghat, on the southern coastal area of Bangladesh, 20 November 2007. Urgently-needed supplies of food, water and medicine were nearing people in remote areas of Bangladesh where a devastating cyclone has left millions homeless and thousands dead. With roads now cleared of hundreds of trees that had blocked aid convoys, officials said relief was finally starting to get through to the most inaccessible areas four days after the colossal storm hit. By Farjana Khan Goghuly/AFP/Getty Images. (from: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/ )

Tell me why any debate on hardcovers and trade paperbacks is important? Tell me why sending sending millions of ringgit into orbit a matter of pride? Tell me why bringing democracy to the middle east such a priority? Tell me why civilization is at its zenith?

No, tell me, really! I looked at this picture and forgot most of the answers.

Thumb Rules For Writers

William Safire's columns on Language have always been fun to read, his political columns though have often left me gritting my teeth. (Thank god, then, that he stopped them.)

Here is a piece that I collected from somewhere:

Thumb Rules For Writers

William Safire's rules for writers

Remember to never split an infinitive.

The passive voice should never be used.

Do not put statements in the negative form.

Verbs has to agree with their subjects.

Proofread carefully to see if you words out.

If you reread your work, you can find on rereading a great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.

A writer must not shift your point of view.

And don't start a sentence with a conjunction. (Remember, too, a preposition is a terrible word to end a sentence with.) Don't overuse exclamation marks!!

Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10 or more words, to their antecedents. Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.

If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.

Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.

Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.

Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.

Always pick on the correct idiom.

The adverb always follows the verb.

Last but not least, avoid cliches like the plague; seek viable alternatives.