Owais Mughal

(1) ae mere hum-nasheeN by Munni Begum

When I listen to this ghazal, each and every word of it seems so true in Pakistan’s current socio-religio-political situation. The relevance of poetry in this ghazal is simply amazing. e.g. look at this couplet.

I wish I could find live video of this ghazal, but hopefully the most powerful poetry of this ghazal will make the audio suffice.

Owais Mughal

This photo of a Pakistani signboard is making circles lately. The business offer here is probably a good marketing idea but lack of board space made the marketeer go miser with the words. This has made the advertisement very funny. For our English readership, the board is advertising free make-up for one girl if a bride uses the make-up facilities of this Beauty Parlor.

For word by word translation, read below:

Owais Mughal

Khudaya dasey tanha na kei souk pe gham kei,
laka ze da yaar pe gham kei yum tanha!
Na ba ma ghundei shaheed wi pe jahan kei,
ne ba ta ghundei dilbar shi bal paida!

Lord, do not make anyone lonely in sorrow
like I am alone in grief for my beloved!
Never will there be on earth a martyr like me,
Nor a beloved like you be found!

Enemies of Pakistan are at it again. After blowing up girls schools in North West Pakistan, forcing traffic to drive on right hand side instead of left in Malakand, digging up the grave of a minority sect leader and hanging the already dead person in the public square in Swat, militants have now started blowing the resting place of those who are already dead.

Is there any limit to this insanity?

Pashto’s language’s famous poet Rehman Baba‘s mausoleum was severely damaged by militants in the early hours of March 5, 2009.