The beggar of dreamsBy: Rakhshanda Jalil on August 22, 2018Poochho to paagal ka sapna, samjho to sansar (If you ask it is the dream of a madman, if you understand it is the world). Writing the foreword to Shahryar’s maiden collection of poetry, Ism-e-Aazam (1965), his teacher and someone who was to exercise a great influence on him over the years, Ale Ahmad Suroor had written: The first good quality I noticed in the ghazals and nazms by Shahryar is that … [Read more...] about The beggar of dreams
You are the only wayBy: Noor Jehan Ahmad on August 22, 2018You are the architect, Of this masterpiece, handed to you, The windshield of your fogged up car The remote to your machine, Eyes for the blind in you Why did it turn the other way around? Who are you waiting for to guide you? You are not stranded, on an island But, you’re the wind That carries you away, The feet and friction, Which doesn’t let you go astray, The … [Read more...] about You are the only way
Vulgarity and art in PakistanBy: Ammara Ahmad on August 22, 2018Anyone who has seen those hilarious Punjabi theater plays or has passed around the cinemas near Lakshmi Chowk in Lahore knows what vulgarity is. Or at least what it has evolved to be considered as. Vladimir Nabakov put it like this - nothing is more exhilarating than philistine vulgarity. Maybe this intellectual elitism is itself vulgar. Vulgarity is subjective. What might seem vulgar to one … [Read more...] about Vulgarity and art in Pakistan
Reconnecting South Asia through artBy: Ammara Ahmad on August 21, 2018Sonal Khullar, an art historian based in the US, discusses art, artists and culture in South Asia today. How did this trip to Lahore change your perception of Amrita Shergill? She is a really significant artist and in some ways has been overlooked in the art historical genealogy. So in the last twenty years, there have been a number of books and articles that celebrate the rise of modern … [Read more...] about Reconnecting South Asia through art
Being Christian in PakistanBy: Ahmad Faruqui on August 21, 2018In his novel, The Golden Legend, Nadeem Aslam has written a searing commentary on the state of Christians in Pakistan. According to Wiki, he was born in Gujranwala and moved with his father to the UK when he was 14. His father, a communist, fled Zia’s regime and settled in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. After studying biochemistry at the University of Manchester, Aslam switched to writing … [Read more...] about Being Christian in Pakistan
Irfan Khoosat, Tajdar Zaidi and Sarmad Khoosat give life to classic Urdu textsBy: Ammara Ahmad on August 20, 2018The performance room of Olomopolo had a houseful again and this time it was a joyous occasion. Olomopolo celebrated its fifth birthday at the Olo Junction in Muslim Town Lahore by organising a reading of literary texts in Urdu. In the center of the performance area were three sofas, complete with cushions. The side tables had lamps and water glasses. Behind the sofas were small candles that lit … [Read more...] about Irfan Khoosat, Tajdar Zaidi and Sarmad Khoosat give life to classic Urdu texts
The doorBy: Fazal Baloch on August 20, 2018“Pythagoras possessed great command over magic and incantation. There are numerous tales attributed to his disciples as well”. The scorpion was moving in a circle on the dice. “We can imagine a world without red, yellow and blue colours but a world without numbers is beyond our imagination. Numbers are an integral parts of our existence”. The scorpion lay dead on the dice. Most of its body … [Read more...] about The door
You killed my dreamsBy: Shakeel Phullan on August 20, 2018I do remember that special day That appeared so bright With a million expectations To construct a strong relationship We promised, to never turn back To not break the love That cloudy weather You accompanied me Held my right hand We discussed our desires For a brighter future, To live happily and peacefully Oh, I still remember your words Your promise to … [Read more...] about You killed my dreams
Walled City of Lahore — a land of fresco artBy: Tania Qureshi on August 19, 2018Are you familiar with the term ‘fresco’? Before I take you on to a tour of this land of fresco work, let me tell you a little about what fresco is. According to the dictionary and experts of the art the word fresco is derived from an Italian word affresco and Italian adjective fresco meaning "fresh", and may thus be contrasted with fresco-secco or secco mural painting techniques, which are applied … [Read more...] about Walled City of Lahore — a land of fresco art
‘Tasteer’ — variety of literary topics covered extensivelyBy: Dr. Amjad Parvez on August 19, 2018Tasteer, the regularly published literary journal attracts me due to its style being followed by most of the subsequent literary journals. It attracts me for the variety of literary topics covered extensively. Each issue far exceeds 500 pages. It is not an easy task to collect, compile, edit and present the contributions of seniors and juniors, fault-free in language and text. In my reviews of … [Read more...] about ‘Tasteer’ — variety of literary topics covered extensively
