Four books I read recently …

Brilliant Graphic Novel.

Something that many of my young friends should read

and also think of 'Growing Up in Pakistan',

as well as their future careers and their parental pressures.

Midhat was a friend of mine.

His (and Basarat's) daughter has written

a brilliant book.

TZH is a Pakistani Theoretical Physicist

and is a String Theorist.

I hope she comes to T2F for a 'Science ka Adda' session.

The book covers the most important ideas in Science

and, written as a Fact/Fiction piece,

it takes you through the passion of science.

Read it!!!

An inspiring book that addresses a lot of questions

that the young ask, given the way that the present day

forced Religious Instruction in Educational Institutes

plus the madness that current terrorists offer.

An Atheist Muslim

takes you through a Muslim/Atheist view.

The book is not likely to be available in Pakistan

but an Urdu translation is being considered.

It will also be available in an English Audiobook.

I wish people would read this and answer

some of his questions and queries.

AB, who's Fun Home was a bestseller graphic novel,

runs a series of cartoons that have to do with Dykes.

This is one such collection.

It is remarkably good and, unless you think you shouldn't

be reading this, I'd strongly recommend it.

On the other hand

I wouldn't advise young people to read this.

Not yet, anyway!

An Urdu poet I love …

Zahoor Nazar's collection of Nazms

I bought this book in 1978

and have read it many many times.

Although he never became as famous

as I thought he would,

this collection is superb.

From his poetic Paysh Lafz,

a 7-page poem that starts with these lines

Maéñ shaaér hooñ

Maéñ nay jo mahsoos kiyaa haé jo daykha haé vohi kahaa haé

Chaahay voh dükh ho yaa sükh ho …

to his last nazm, Shahré Saba,

this collection provided me wth a lot of things to think about.

If you can still get a new edition, do get it.

Although I like many poems,

here is list of my real favourites.

(1)

His 5 poems of people's victories

that follow each other in style: 

Inqilaabé Cheen

Jagtay Jazeeray

Faith Suez

Inqilaabé Iraq

Maojé Sada

(2)

His 5 Martial Law poems:

Shabkhoon

Shabkhoon Kay Baad

Islaahaat

Ayk Eed

A'eené Nao

(3)

His brilliant poems

(about life, the universes, and everything?):

Sannaata

Mahaasabah

Aé Ghamé Sübhé Tarab

Maéñ Tera Kaon Hooñ

Vasvasah

Chiraagh Talay

Khamyaazah

Ayk Raat

Pathraao

Patja∂h Ki Ayk Shaam

Ayk Mülaaqaat

Tanhaai

(4)

And, finally,

my two absolute favourites:

Naee Gali

Taxi

Read him if you can find the book.
It'll be old, because it never got published again.