Watch this:
And the second part:
It’s quite remarkable. A tangent to my own confusion and complaints, but fascinating and insightful nevertheless. My favourite couplet is this, the fulcrum of the poem:
Even then you grumble, we are false, untrue,
If you call us faithless, tell us what are you?
From a historical point of view, it’s probably amazing that the Allama was able to get away with writing that (I know he got flak; I’m surprised he wasn’t shot).
Having said all that, I’m a bit disappointed with it. The poem is equal parts complaint and plea, with the purpose of both being for God to (re-)reveal himself to his believers. The real questions are never posed, a shortcoming that’s probably natural: the world Allama lived in was steeped in faith, whereas our perspective is coloured by the atheistic rationalism the world is currently exploring.
That was beautiful, thank you for posting it. A. and I really enjoyed it. Any idea who read it out? I am quite sure it is Talat Hussain. We studied this in college, but couldn’t appreciate it as we can now.
That’s it ? no updates about what’s going on with you? no recent happenings ? just a couple of lines and that’s it? geez.. I might have to write a Shikwa of my own about you.
That was really amazing. Like I said, there’s so much I’ve missed out on…Even though I need the crutch of the english translation, all the enjoyment and meaning that I derive from this is in the Urdu words and the poetic devices used therein. So deprived, so deprived… Thanks for finding this. We should start a reading group… with people who can teach us the Urdu and the Farsi. We need it… how can we make it happen?
As for the content of Shikva - I actually quite liked it. The ‘questions’ you seem to be wanting in there are sort of beside the point, precisely b/c he is writing as a jilted insider/lover, rather than as a scientist or neutral adjudicator. He was not a stranger to the realm of rational enquiry or total Skepticism, but I believe he chose which side of the line to be on, always aware, as he mouths through the nightingale at the end, that perhaps the joy/colour in living is precisely the many faces of ourselves we conceal in our hearts. I say this w/out coming at the whole thing w. some preconceived respect for him (I’ve talked about my disappointment in other quatrains with you). I just think that this one is good.
Anyway, thanks! Would love a poetry workshop/discussion group.
Yeah, I agree with what you’re saying about the point of the poem. I like the idea of a reading/discussion group as well, and I think the Nairang Foundation would provide a good umbrella. More on FB.