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I am driving To the doctor’s clinicTo fix my broken armLocomotives broom the busy roadA man is walking down the streetIn sweltering heatIn his long black blazersSweating and smilingTalking to himselfOr perhaps an invisible friend —Will somebody stop and ask him:How are you doing today?Are you in pain? The streetlights have turned greenI move on —A…
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Illustration by Mir Suhail There is a need to revisit the issue of women’s rights not only in Iran but also in several other countries. Dr. Sadaf Munshi In her book Iran Awakening: One Woman’s Journey to Reclaim Her Life and Country (2007), Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian political activist, lawyer, a former judge and founder…
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Story of a Cross-Continental Collaboration during the Pandemic The spread of the coronavirus had a devastating impact on people around the world. While the damage done to various different sectors was enormous, the performing arts sector was especially hit with a strong blow. Countless cultural, academic and artistic events were cancelled globally. In the United…
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Book Review by Sadaf MunshiAuthor: C.P. SurendranPublisher: Niyogi BooksGenre: FictionYear: 2021 The book revolves around the story of Osip Balakrishnan, a young boy from Kerala’s Thrissur city, and many interconnected stories of people in Osip’s life. Narrated by the protagonist (in first person) and by the author (in third person), the book offers stories happening…
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Tonight, let me write!Let me write With the burning flames Of youthful passionUnder the silver balm Of the crescent moonAmidst the soothing fragrance Of the spring air — Tonight, let me write!Let me write Of the dark Dreadful sleepless nights,Of the days bygone And the paths forsaken,Of the one-way journeys To strange lands — Tonight, let me write!Let me writeOf the hopeful eyesAnd the…
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Ghulam Ahmad Mahjoor (1885-1952) was a revolutionary, progressive poet of modern Kashmir who used his native language, Kashmiri, as the primary mode of expression. Following the Partition in 1947, Mehjoor played a key role in opposing the Tribal invasions through his poetic compositions inspiring people to rise against the perpetrators in defending their land. Some…
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It was a deep connection Far-reaching yet undefined I wonder what prompted it There was no history No prior contact whatsoever Nothing visibly discernible Nor physically tangible either — It tested my resilience Defeated my sense of platitude Perseverance — I cringed And I crawled Like an earthly insect A bird with broken wings Or…
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An evening by the window That opens down my memory lane — The window and I And a piece of poetry — A cup of nun-chai in the chilling cold And the flights of my fantasy — An October afternoon in the Dal In a Shikara, and you by my side In complete harmony With…
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Breakfast and Bed A freshly made waffle Topped with whipped cream Blueberries and chocolate I see poetry on a plate — A cup of hot tea With a touch of cardamom And a streak of sunshine Peering through the kitchen blind There’s a rapturous warmth In this cold Sunday morning She sings melodies In a…
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Okus bokus teli van cokus*Šāl kič-kič vāngnoOnum batuk lodum dēgiVal ba naličas savāreyBramazāraz poyn čhokumṬekis ṭeka banyov kyah We would sit in a circle with our hands placed on the floor, palms down. The lead player would move their right hand clockwise pointing towards the focus with the index finger touching a hand against…
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by Sadaf Munshi
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