RawaPods: Creative Thought and Expression - Fikr-o-Kalaam (Poetry | Literature | Thought)

"If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same"

What is resilience, and what cultivates resilience? How does poetic expression contribute to acknowledging and strengthening resilience?

In December 2021, Rawanee's community got together to share poetry and some prose, alongside some heartwarming and meaningful conversation on the subject. We heard a lot of original poetry and some classics, and were inspired by the words, talent and thoughts of our community - words that lent strength and resilience to us. 

With a special thank you to Akbar Khan for the opening recitation.

RawPods are conversations that celebrate creative ideas and expression, and are hosted by Rawanee.

You can participate in our conversations by joining the Rawanee community at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1176103889397810

You can also follow us here: Instagram: @Rawanee.Creatives Twitter: /RawaneeCreative

PAKISTAN: ZINDA HAI

This is another special edition podcast put together by Rawanee’s members in light of current events. Earlier this month, many of us were saddened and disappointed at the turn of events in Pakistan, and wrote and recited poetry for the same*.

RawPods are conversations that celebrate creative ideas and expression, and are hosted by Rawanee.

*Please do note that whilst Rawanee remains committed to freedom of creative expression and thought and to providing a platform for the same, we remain an apolitical and secular setup: the views expressed here are our members’ and may not be representative of Rawanee’s stance as a platform.

Sequence of Poems:

PAKISTAN: “Zinda Hai”

- Opening Recitation Credits:

Akbar Khan (for quoting Fehmida Riaz), Rafey Zuberi (for reciting his own work)

-  “Maujooda Soorat e Haal Par Dou Band”

Written by: Asif Zafar, Recited by: Akbar Khan

-   “Hope Lives On”

Written and Recited by: Rafey Zuberi

-  “Adal ki Dukanain, Insaaf Ke Tarazoo”

Written and Recited by: Asif Zafar

-  “I Pakistani – Mein Pakistan Ka”

Written and Recited by: Nadir Khan Feroz

-  “Despair”, “Hope”, and “A Friday Prayer”

Written and Recited by: Muniba Mahmud

-  “Faiz Kehtay”

Written by: Fehmida Riaz, Recited by: Akbar Khan

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#pakistanday #pakistan

#rawanee #creativethinking #creativethought #creativeexpression #poetry #literature #urdupoetry #urduliterature #englishpoetry #englishliterature #southasianpoetry #southasianliterature #writingcommunity #poetrycommunity

#poetsofinstagram #writersofinstragram

For Qudsia Akhtar, the higher self is worth pursuing. Her latest sequence of poems is rooted in the journey and the search for the many truths that may appear in various experiences such as the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and the myth of the Churail.

The voices guide.

The image of the lote tree often found in Islamic Sufi thought comes to represent the highest form of self-knowledge, which is also key to Iqbal’s Khudi, first outlined in his poetry/philosophy book ‘The Secrets of the Self’.

The plurality of those ‘secrets’ suggests a multiplicity.

Akhtar considers how in the post-colonial age, our selves, spirituality, and sense of unity is fractured.

About the speaker

Qudsia Akhtar is in the third year of her Creative Writing Ph.D. at the University of Salford exploring British-Pakistani experience. Her poetry has appeared in the Acumen, Tower Poetry Anthology, The Ofi Press, Poetry Birmingham Literary Journal, and Wildness. Her work has been commissioned by the New Creatives scheme and commended in the Forward Book of Poetry 2023. Her debut collection of poems Khamoshi is out with Verve Poetry Press. She explores the concept of a dialogical self: exploring multiple selves, is intrigued by the concept of Iqbal’s sense of the higher self, and the journey of self-discovery.

The voice in her poems remains questioning, critical, and intimate. She has written poems about belonging, the injustices surrounding the female experience, the sorrow of the Partition, the loss and distorting of the 1857 Rebellion in India, and quite recently, a new section that explores the myth of the Churail and womanhood.

#identity #creativeauthenticity #creativerepresentation #breakingstereotypes #writingcommunity #poetrycommunity #creativecommunity

On Pakistan’s 75th Independence Day, Rawanee’s community shares authentic reflections & heart felt poetry on the country's challenging and continuing journey 

CREDITS:

Creative Planning, Hosting & Execution: Muniba Mahmud

All Songs (except Dil Dil Pakistan, including “Dil se”, “Lab Pe Aati Hai”, “Mera Inaam Pakistan”, “Itnay Baray Jeewan”): Bareena Nadeem; Produced By Surtaal Music Academy Lahore, with a special thanks to Zia Sahab for direction & management

“Indian Summer” (selected text from the work of Alex von Tunzelmann): Junaid Imtiaz

“Subh e Azadi” (Faiz), “Banam e Watan” (Mustafa Zaidi), and “Us”(written by himself): Rafey Zuberi

"O Lost City" (Recitation of a verse from a poem written by himself, Karachi): Nadir Khan Feroz

"Toofan se Kishti" (Recitation of a verse from the song): Yasmeen Abbas

"Meer e Karawan Hum Thay" (Recitation of a verse from Yeh Watan Tumhara Hai): Rubab Abbas

"I Stay" (poem written by herself): Laiba Karim Khan

"Dil Dil Pakistan": Joan Taha

Quotes from Iqbal & Jinnah, and key development indicators read-out: Muniba Mahmud

Set up & management of the fundraiser for Surtal Academy: Saba Hasan Shahzad (Team Rawanee)

Source of Statistics: Bloomberg, Trading Economics, Global Hunger Index, Macro Trends, World Population Review, International Labour Organization, UNICEF, World Economic Forum  

IF YOU ENJOY THE SONG RECITATION BY BAREERA FROM SURTAAL ACADEMY, PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION TO THE ACADEMY. The children who attend the academy are often those left out of any kind of schooling system due to non-affordability and access. Your gift can bring music to these talented kids. https://gofund.me/b29ccee0

Finally, if you enjoy the podcast, please engage with it on our podcast & social media channels, and share it with others who may appreciate it :)

 #pakistan75independenceday#pakistan #rawanee #creativethinking #creativethought #creativeexpression #poetry #literature #urdupoetry #urduliterature #englishpoetry #englishliterature #southasianpoetry #southasianliterature #writingcommunity #poetrycommunity #poetsofinstagram #writersofinstragram

Expressions of Love ❤️ - Izhar e Ishq  - اظہارِ عشق through poetry by Rawanee’s Creative Community.

Contribution Credits — Poems Written & Recited by: 

"Meray Udas Kamray Mein" by Osama Siddiq

"Novelette" by Nadir Khan Feroz

"The Lost Spark" by Rafey Zuberi

“Sonnet" by Nadir Khan Feroz

"Haan Shayad Wohi Ho Tum" by Munazza Ahmed

"Forever Love" by Muniba Mahmud

RawPods Season 2 | Episode 2

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#literature #poetry #pakistan  #rawanee #creativethinking #creativethought #creativeexpression #pakistanipoetry #pakistaniliterature #urdupoetry #urduliterature #englishpoetry #englishliterature #southasianpoetry #southasianliterature #writingcommunity #poetrycommunity #poetsofinstagram #writersofinstragram #lovepoetry #lovepoems #lovefebruary #expressionsoflove #poetrypodcast #performancepoetry #spokenwordpoetry #ishq #multilingual

Sadia Abbas is a Professor at Rutgers University focused on Post Colonial studies and Literature, and is also a writer of fiction. Here, we speak to her about the influences on Literature and Art in modern times, and about her published and upcoming works of fiction.

This episode is part of a series of podcast talks in partnership with the Pakistan Literature Festival London 2023, with participants of the event.

Intro BG music: Elegy by Balmorhea https://youtu.be/IHztaOcpuQU

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Website: Rawanee.com  

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#literature #poetry #pakistan  #rawanee #creativethinking #creativethought #creativeexpression #pakistanipoetry #pakistaniliterature #urdupoetry #urduliterature #englishpoetry #englishliterature #southasianpoetry #southasianliterature #writingcommunity #poetrycommunity #poetsofinstagram #writersofinstragram #poetrypodcast #performancepoetry #spokenwordpoetry #multilingual

This episode is part of a series of podcast talks in partnership with the Pakistan Literature Festival 2023, with participants of the event.

This episode is a conversation with Syed Khawer Mirza, ahead of the upcoming book launch of a work he has edited: the biography of Iskander Mirza

Background music: "Remembrance" by Balmorhea https://youtu.be/C-wu2VcYNCA

RawPods Season 2 | Episode 5

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#literature #poetry #pakistan  #rawanee #creativethinking #creativethought #creativeexpression #pakistanipoetry #pakistaniliterature #urdupoetry #urduliterature #englishpoetry #englishliterature #southasianpoetry #southasianliterature #writingcommunity #poetrycommunity #poetsofinstagram #writersofinstragram #poetrypodcast #performancepoetry #spokenwordpoetry #multilingual

Aks e Rawanee is an Urdu Poetry anthology produced by Rawanee in collaboration with the Stephen Spender Trust, UK.

This podcast contains select recitations of poetry penned by some of the anthology’s contributing poets. To read the book online or to order a printed copy, please visit our website: Rawanee.com

The Stephen Spender Trust is an initiative to celebrate multilingualism and literary translation. The book has been produced as a translation prompt for its annual Poetry Translation prize that runs annually every summer.

This anthology contains original poetry penned by our members, as well as poetry submitted for preservation by family members of the late poets.

Included this episode:

1. “Meray Udass Kamray Mein”, written & recited by Osama Sidiqi

2. “Orphan City / Yateem Shehar”, written & recited by Rafey Zuberi

3. “Us Simt Mujh Ko Yar Ne Jane Naheen Diya”, written by Munir Niazi, recited by Akbar Khan

4. “Muskara Raha Hoon Mein”, written by Nadir Feroz Khan, rendition by Hamid Yahya

RawPods Season 2 | Episode 4

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#literature #poetry #pakistan  #rawanee #creativethinking #creativethought #creativeexpression #pakistanipoetry #pakistaniliterature #urdupoetry #urduliterature #englishpoetry #englishliterature #southasianpoetry #southasianliterature #writingcommunity #poetrycommunity #poetsofinstagram #writersofinstragram #poetrypodcast #performancepoetry #spokenwordpoetry #multilingual

Preserving our literary heritage & encouraging innovation and new creative output. How should we be approaching this?

As a platform that works toward promoting creative thought and expression, these questions have come to occupy us of late.

Luckily, we had the opportunity to hear the informed views of Dr. Waqas Khwaja, whose brilliance and accomplishments have us awestruck.

Guest speaker: Dr. Waqas Khwaja 

is the Ellen Douglass Leyburn Professor of English at Agnes Scott College where he teaches courses in Postcolonial literature, 18th &  19th-century British literature, and Creative Writing. He obtained his Ph.D. from Emory University, specializing in Victorian fiction. He has published four collections of poetry and a literary travelogue. In addition to three edited anthologies of Pakistani literature, he has served on projects as an editor for translations and other literary projects. His poems and translations have appeared in US, South Asian, European, African, Middle Eastern, and Far Eastern publications, literary journals, and anthologies.

Moderator and Host: Muniba Mahmud - Team Rawanee

Connect with us across our channels:

Website: Rawanee.com  

Instagram: @Rawanee.Creatives

Facebook: @RawaneeCreatives

Twitter: /RawaneeCreative

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1176103889397810/

#literature #poetry #pakistan  #rawanee #creativethinking #creativethought #creativeexpression #pakistanipoetry #pakistaniliterature #urdupoetry #urduliterature #englishpoetry #englishliterature #southasianpoetry #southasianliterature #writingcommunity #poetrycommunity #poetsofinstagram #writersofinstragram #waqaskhwaja

Allama Iqbal’s concept of Khudi - we have heard of it, but what does this self actualisation really comprise? 

A vast and profound subject to speak to, the speakers talk about the personal and social aspects of Khudi, and how Iqbal's ideas formed. As with any other mehfil befitting to the discourse on Iqbal, the conversation is enriched by poetry, philosophy and refreshingly reflective conversation.

An episode that will be appreciated by those who love Iqbal's work and want to reflect more deeply on it, and also those who are new to it and want to develop a better understanding of it.

Guest Speaker: Zafar Anjum - Author, Film-Maker, Publisher;

Co - Speaker: Rafey Zuberi - a poetry and Iqbal enthusiast and prolific marketeer

Moderator: Muniba Mahmud - Team Rawanee

*Please note that whilst Rawanee remains committed to freedom of creative expression and thought and to providing a platform for the same, we remain an apolitical and secular setup: the views expressed here are our guests’ and may not be representative of Rawanee’s stance as a platform. Connect with us across our channels:

Website: Rawanee.com  

Instagram: @Rawanee.Creatives

Facebook: @RawaneeCreatives

Twitter: /RawaneeCreative

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1176103889397810/

#pakistanday #pakistan #rawanee #creativethinking #creativethought #creativeexpression #poetry #literature #urdupoetry #urduliterature #englishpoetry #englishliterature #southasianpoetry #southasianliterature #writingcommunity #poetrycommunity #poetsofinstagram #writersofinstragram #iqbal #allamaiqbal #poetoftheeast #zafaranjum