A Real, Live City...

I'm no longer a student of the most beautiful university in the world, but - in fact - of one of the oldest on this side of the Atlantic. Want a hint? Think of Mr. Black-yet-White President, the Writer of India's Constitution, one of the Founders of The Country In Which Even Pennies Trust God and so on...

I'm moving in two weeks to a city - oh Lordy to a Real, Massive, Intense, People-Crammed and Cramming city.

Through the Looking Glass...

...albeit an 8-pointed star-shaped one

I wonder what they're thinking

Paimana Bideh - Bring me the Glass...

More wonderfulness from Coke Studio - this time from Zeb and Haniya. This one makes me want to wander around North-West Pakistan more than I wanted to a while ago...But alas! I have to go to grad school. North-West Pakistan will just have to wait for another year.




Lyrics + Translation: Awais Aftab

Part one, translated from Darri/Farsi:
Paimana bideh ki khumaar astam
(Bring me the glass so I may lose myself)
Man aashiq-e chashm-e mast-e-yarastam
(I am in love with my beloved’s intoxicating eyes)
Bideh, bideh, ki khumaar astam
(Bring (the glass), bring (the glass), so I may lose myself)

Part two, translated from Pushto:
Dilgeer garzama labela taana
(You have captured my heart and I wander aimlessly without you)
Khabar me waakhla, raasha jaanana
(My love come/return, and see the state I’m in)
Khabar me waakhla, raasha jaanana
(My love come/return, and see the state I’m in)
Tarso ba garzay te bela mana?
(How long will you wander without me?)

Music Love (part 2?)

OK. This is old - from last year's version of Coke Studio. I was away for a couple of weeks, and so I missed this year's Coke Studio episodes and am just catching up on them. Anyway, while I was listening to Shafqat and Josh do a great rendition of Mahi Ve (Shafqat should have sang more though), I was reminded of this absolutely brilliant episode from last year. I've always loved loved loved Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (mostly because I'm absolutely in love with the brilliance of Nusrat-saab), and Junoon was the first Pakistani band I ever encountered (not face-to-face of course) - so this episode was special.

Sigh. I want to sing like this. Riaz Nabz...riaz....lots and lots of riaz.

Remembering the Enclave

the car waits patiently outside the gates
it is time to go
yet I am lost, lost in the black light
that sparkles in the haze
all is silent while the mouth speaks
of what, I do not know
do not remember

the sound of silence in the background is imagined

the yellow fluffiness is inviting
yet I am scared
scared of the consequences that will come by touching the three letters
by touching the face of the faceless person
who remains in my mind.

Dwindling Agnosticism

Echoing adhaans in Sultanahmet

Complete peace in the Blue Mosque

Tears at Maulana's grave

An intense longing

ishrat-e-qatra hai darya mein fana'a ho jaana

Life in Slow Motion...

Life is so slow these days. Don't get me wrong; I'm not complaining. In fact, I've been enjoying my slow wanderings around the house and the city. Apparently, I no longer have my head in the clouds (or up in the white tower) these days either. While the hopeful academic in me is somewhat disappointed by that observation, I'm not that concerned about my brain being turned off for a while. It's been in fourth-gear for way too long.

The past few weeks have definitely been interesting. I'm continuously amazed at how much has changed in my life in just this short period of time since the end of exams. I knew that the end of this degree would be momentous; that it would be so life-changing - I had no idea. Now that I'm not worried about grades, working my @$$ off so that I can get into grad school (fingers crossed), going to work so I can pay my tuition and finishing all my extra-curricular projects by their deadlines, I have much more time to reflect on and to look at the changes happening in my life - and I'm fascinated by how, in the heat of the moment, one can lose (and gain) so much more than what one had anticipated losing (and gaining). It's as if the entire world has slowed down and is letting me watch it go by in slow-motion.

Being used to weeks that feel like days, I love it.

Next post will be less about me + feelings, and more about something interesting - outcome of the Indian elections perhaps...