Con on the cob: Con-spicuous. Con-scientious. Con-spiracy!

Somebody find this chap - Conscience - please. A few years ago Conscience did not allow someone to be PM and now stopped another from standing for President.

Conscience - is clearly bad for our demo-crazy. Hypo-crisy failing too! Hyper-crisy may be required - soon. But the hippo-potamus can continue to happily lounge wherever it has been lounging. No gerrymandering.

The POTUS cannot be so sure though.

Elections fast approaching: whether people will still believe in small change or ask for big change?! Only time will tell.

But one must keep their oven mitt handy.

Move over Hippocrates. Gilani is the new Socrates. Hippopotami have outlived Ptolemy.

As for the great Abraham Lincoln, I simply cannot believe he has accumulated so much bad karma. Pro forma. First Hollywood turned him into a Vampire Hunter and then Mushy (now without the bush-shirt) - claims to be Abraham Lincoln II !!

Umm, even though Bushy was Empire Hunter, there won't ever be any posthumous banter, I assure you.

Elsewhere, hopes have been rekindled about the rebirth of the Mayan Civilization. It's also called hedging one's bets vis-à-vis the Cycle. Tricycle may be required in future :)

So you see: haathi mere saathi. And Appu Raja: more Band Baaja.

The Elephant must be our national animal. Latent version. After all, the tiger is near extinction.

However, fishy diplomacy is epic fail. Jack and Jill may now have to be tasked with fetching water - in a giant pail.

In our neighbourhood, Syrious action is being contemplated. iRan. Syrianna. Nothing for holy republic of camelflaged banana!

Holy Cows easier to blame, holy Camels = 'consequences'. Com se com sa.

Libya. Egypt. Gone with the wind. Now: Lawrence of Arabia.

Cleopatra: Burqini Lasso.

Debhelopment is a global consh-piracy. First, demo-crazy to be sprinkled like, salt and pepper. Later the beoble gets to feel the radio and cassette mirchi.

Mali, Somalia, Uganda, Nigeria, Libya, Egypt and Yemen: Lush beard-farms and He-Men.

Earlier: Who is the Potter, pray, and who the Pot?

Now: Who are the Puppeteers, pray, and who the Puppets?

War on Terror: Immaculate Deception. In test tubes and petri dishes was their conception.

Five-sided polygon cohabitated with holy camel. Holy djinn (that also produced unlimited electricity) - made its grand entry. Outcome: bumper harvest - lots of sentry.

Proliferation of Rakta-beej: Reality is no tease. Who moved my cheese?!

Education = brainwashing. Faith = cannon balls. Knowledge = Solar eclipse.

Future generations = Lunar eclipse. Elsewhere: wine and dine, fish and chips.

It's all a game of Oilympics!

Oil is 'fair' in love and war. Racial supremacy. Very dicey!

Afghumistan destroyed. So what? Wasn't it a great victory for the people, I mean: for the five-sided polygon's deltoid?!

Cold War: Child Bear. War on Terror: King Kong.

Ding Dong Bell, Pussy in the Well.

Who Put her in? Little Tommy Thin.

Who pulled her out? Little Tommy Stout.

This Tommy is Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. Baa Baa Black Sheep. Couture: Wolf's hide.

Aid and Charity: Fiction. Ditty.

Fox trot. Foxy trot. On the dot!

Dinosaurs: Extinct. Book diplodocus: Very much in.

Best fish. Salmon Rusty. Rest: wannabes and honeybees. Others: Salmonella typhi and tie-coons.

New playing fields. Very simple! Hocus Pocus. Abracadabra.

No red, only Red Bull. Cold War, you fool!

Berlin Wall is falling down, falling down. Eureka. Perestroika!

Soviet land is crumbling down, crumbling down. Nobel. Glasnost!

Chinaman? Don't want kabab mein haddi. Boneless Chicken Manchurian better. Buy-Buy.

Chinese chequers. Russian roulette. Sine Theta. Cos Theta. Tan Theta. Pi.

Indian Bamboo. Deep mystery. Long history. Take-no-logy. Fungi.

India. Smiling Buddha. Myanmar. Laughing Buddha. Tastes delicious with oil. On the boil.

Thai Chicken Manchurian. Noodle Diplomacey.

Vietnam. Japan. Flash in the pan!

Korea South. Flashing teeth. Korea North. Flashing canines. Both are white teeth. So, same to same! Jellyfish.

Sufism. Bye-Bye. Destroy. Holy Camel's Rooh Afza: Great. Oh Boy!

Into South Asia: bring it on. After all, terror cannot retire. Simply re-hire.

Beauty and the Beast re-done: Job security + 72 virginal beauty. For each beast! Better than a heist. Hee-hee.

Arabian Knights. Dark Knights. Alif Laila. One long, dark, never ending night.

The Knights in shining armour. Cyclops.

Numero UNo: vulture in dove's feathers and tail. Hail their Holy Grail.

War on Terror is here to stay. While the sun shines, make hay.

And fish in troubled waters too. Woo-Hoo. Karate. Parkour. Kung fu.

Breakfast. Cold Turkey. Lunch. Egyptian Mummy.

Snacks. Bamiyan Buddha. Dinner. A la carte.

Munchies. Mali. Dilly Dally.

Get the drift?? Phew, what a relief!

Intelligence. Zombilance. Clarity of thought. Cobwebs. Webolutions. Making merry. Picking cherry.

Game, Set, Match. Tom and Jerry. Very gory? No worry.

Huff Puff. Hurry Bury. Dictionary. Say Sorry.

Con on the cob. *Sob! Sob!*

Photograph: Pic. courtesy: Link. [All in good humour, I assure you.]

"Paimana Bideh"... (Part-III)

Author's Note: If you want to read the 1st part of this post... and listen to this fabulous song, click HERE.

For the 2nd part, click HERE.

This is the concluding part. Let me begin this post with five fabulous songs. From the album "Ustad & The Divas". Ustad Sultan Khan with Chitra, Sunidhi Chauhan and Shreya Ghoshal. Music: Sandesh Shandilya. Lyrics: Irshad Kamil. The songs are amazing, to say the least. Really... "music is the food of love." Though I must admit... I have never doubted that *smiling*

You can download all the 10 songs from HERE. Following are the links to their videos.

1. Ustad & The Divas - 'Hainiya' - LINK. Alternate link: HERE.

2. Ustad & The Divas - 'More Piya' - LINK.

3. Ustad & The Divas - 'Billo' - LINK.

4. Ustad & The Divas - 'Haire Raatbhar' - Ustad Sultan Khan and Chitra (LINK).

5. Ustad & The Divas - 'Leja Leja Re' - Ustad Sultan Khan with Shreya Ghoshal (LINK).

Marvelous, romantic and refreshing songs... all. You are sure to enjoy them.

Here are a few more for you to savour.

1. 'Chandni si Raat' - Ustad Sultan Khan and Ustad Zakir Hussain - Video LINK. The Magic of Sarangi... music is truly divine. Wah Ustad Wah!

2. 'Shaam Dhale' - Chitra and Ustad Sultan Khan - Video LINK. It is a soothing song and brings back memories. (Its evening again/ time passes, it does not wait for anyone/ look another day has passed us by/ it is time to stop all the negativities/ and learn to live... and love...). So true yet so magical!

3. 'Maula Maula' - Ustad Sultan Khan. Features DJ Suketu - Video LINK.

Lets get back to Zeb and Haniya. Here is a little background info... on them. 'Zeb and Haniya' was conceived circa 2000-2003, during the girls' college days in the United States, where Zeb studied Economics and History of Art while Haniya studied Computer Science and Anthropology (at Smith College and Mount Holyoke College in the Pioneer Valley). 'Chup', their first song, came to life in sessions at an abandoned café in the basement of Zeb's dorm. After a tremendous response from the college community, Zeb and Haniya recorded a rough version of 'Chup' and another song titled 'Yaad' with Mekaal Hasan of Mekaal Hasan Band fame (website). Once again, the response was remarkable... and the songs were a hit.

Produced by Mekaal Hasan, 'Chup' also features some of the best talent that Pakistan has today: Gumby, Shallum, Kamran Zafar, Mohammad Ahsan Papu, Omran Shafique, Hamza Jafri, Sameer Ahmed and Sikandar Mufti; as well as Norwegian musician Hildegunn Øiseth. The album (also titled 'Chup') opens with the song 'Chup' and the vocals on this are a treat to listen to.

You can download all the 10 songs in this album - 'Chup' - a myriad of jazz, blues and rock with a pinch of folk and classical thrown in, courtesy this LINK. It contains 9 songs. The 10th song 'Ahaan' can be downloaded from HERE.

I've already given the links for 'Paimana Bideh' - by far one of the best songs on the album - in the 1st part of this post. Now, I'll give you a little background about the remaining 9 songs and the links to some of their videos as well. They are a must-watch! So, here you go:

1. 'Chup' is this sweet, folksy song that packs a jazzy punch because of the use of the trumpet, played by Hildegunn. It has very simple lyrics... yet the song is very endearing. [Video Link].

2. 'Chup' is followed by 'Rona Chhor Diya' which packs a far stronger punch - the girls sound infinitely more passionate, the music is fiery as is the chorus 'maine rona chhor diya' (tr: I've stopped crying). Take a note of the lyrics 'paani barsa / yeh dil tarsa / par jab beeta thoda arsa / maine rona chhor diya' (tr: it rained / my heart pined / but after a while / I stopped crying) and 'ab to bas mai hi khabar hoon / gardish main hoon / rahguzar hoon / toofaan hoon main / tera darr hoon' (tr: now, I'm the news / I'm revolving / I walk the path / I'm a force of nature / I am your fear) - 'Rona Chhor Diya' could very well become the darker, twisted Pakistani version of post-breakup anthems like, Destiny's Child's 'Survivor', Gloria Gaynor's 'I will survive' and Meredith Brooks' 'B**ch'. [Video link].

3. The next track 'Kabhi Na Kabhi' has darker undertones - it evokes images of old black and white films and would be perfect for a hindi film soundtrack. A poignant track, carried through by the vocals and the smooth and sultry trumpet provided by Øiseth. [Video link - performed live].

4. 'Kahaan' is fairly forgettable and it highlights the only issue I have with the album; that listening to it from start to finish makes it feel slightly monotonous. Whereas, if you listen to the songs individually they're all great listening. Perhaps the CD would make for a better hear if the track listing was done in a better way.

5. 'Chal Diye' has an absolutely beautiful guitar arrangement - kudos to Shallum, Kamran, Haniya and Mekaal, and the song's vocals have more of a classical flavour as opposed to the earlier tracks. A slow acoustic ballad that soothes the listener into the lyrics. [Video Link].

6. 'Ahaan' is another track to keep an ear out for - this alternative pop song will be a big hit if Zeb and Haniya opt to make a video for it. [Video Link - this is an amazing track with animation].

7. 'Seh Na Sakay' is another song with an old-world feel to it, like 'Kabhi Na Kabhi' which features early on in the album.

8. 'Aitebar' is an instant classic and here the vocals suddenly sound so much more grown up - even seductive. The song's been complemented by a fantastic video directed by Saqib Malik, who has showcased the concept fantastically through dance. The video, shot in a gorgeous haveli, shows a couple dancing to symbolize their relationship, until the girl closes the door (literally!) on it. The basic concept is a woman who's ended the relationship and she's symbolically closing the door of the house... where she spent time with her partner, husband, we don't know, that's been left open.

And as she goes through each room she relives a part of her relationship that coincides with what Zeb and Haniya are singing about, the emotion they're trying to express. So sometimes it's anger, sometimes it's hatefulness, nostalgia, freedom, some sort of tension...

Zeb and Haniya look gorgeous as they stand on the sidelines and sing this song in the video. The line 'raat thee teri to ab din hai mera' (tr: if the night was yours, the day is mine) jumps out - and the song finishes off with mélange of guitar and drums, proving how much better live drums sound on an album. [Video Link].

9. 'Ban Kay Touri Jogan' features Zeb on vocals and is probably the most fast-paced song on the album. Zeb holds her own in the face of lyrics that one would usually hear from classical music singers, and it is perhaps the most befitting end to this album. It starts slow but picks up a very fusion-like sound, showcasing the singer's tutelage of classical music.

'Zeb and Haniya' is the music I want to listen to on a holiday, weekend or on a Sunday morning/afternoon. Great vocals; not so mellow that I wander back into bed, but not so aggressive that I'm further traumatized... the first few hours I'm up after hearing them, that is. I'm sure you'll second my opinion/views. Their music draws on a number of different traditions - folk, the blues, jazz, rock, swing (!), ghazals, qawwali, Hindustani classical music, and Turkish and Lebanese music.

In their grandmother's house in Kohat in the North-West Frontier Province, recall Zeb and Haniya, there were always "lots of harmoniums and tablas lying around." Their uncles, "all big strapping Pathan men," sang "beautifully." And their grandmother too wrote and sang in three languages - Pashto, Urdu and Punjabi.

"We are not fighting our culture to make music. When Pathan families get together, there's lots of fun, lots of food, lots of meat, and lots of music. That has been fading away from our experience and other people's perception of Pathan culture. It is something we want to reclaim," said Zeb.

Their songs bring a spectrum of style, instrumentation and influence. Some tracks ring with the cheeriness of pop while others capture the evocative richness of Pashto and Farsi folk traditions. Their sound is not confined to one genre, and has been described as alternative, art folk, ethnic blues and World Music. Their influences are many, including pioneering pop and folk from Pakistan, 60s and 70s folk guitar-based music from the US and UK, classical South Asian music, classic jazz, delta blues.

The artists skim across decades, genres and borders to produce a truly innovative sound. Their songs seamlessly mix blues grooves and jazzy rhythms into complex melodies grounded in local traditions. Finally, we have a sound that touches the brilliant kaleidoscope of language, history, art and culture that is South-Asia... or rather this region. The band draws upon a diverse set of influences including Suzanne Vega, Turkish singer Barış Manço, and jazz and blues singers like Muddy Waters. They have been touted as the successors to the iconic Pakistani pop singer Nazia Hassan, a singer who achieved worldwide fame in the 1980s. Remember the song "Aap Jaisa Koi" from the Feroz Khan-Vinod Khanna-Zeenat Aman starrer (1980) hindi film Qurbani? Remember the voice behind the super-hit song "Boom Boom"... ?? Here is the video of yet another of her popular songs - "Disco Deewane". Sadly, Nazia passed away on August 13, 2000 in London due to lung cancer... at the age of 35.

In an outstanding display of chivalry, it was some of the top male musicians in the industry (in Pakistan) who held the door open for Zeb and Haniya: Mekaal Hasan, Shallum Xavier, Louis 'Gumby' Pinto, Omran Shafique, Hamza Jafri, Sameer Ahmed and Sikander Mufti (from Co-Ven), are just some of the musicians. Fulfilling the duty of brass instruments here is Hildegen Øiseth, an established Norwegian Jazz musician. His trumpets serenade the songs and their lyrics, and quite frankly if you remove his contribution to the album, it would sound incomplete and unfinished. These gents did everything from contributing music to help on production details on this album, and one wonders if there was a case of "too many cooks spoiling the broth" here. Thankfully, under the careful eye (and ear) of Mekaal Hasan, everything is in proportion.

Let me end this post with the great 13th-century Persian poet and sufi mystic Rumi. His poems elegantly and consistently touch our inner being and inspire us to go beyond our limitations towards the Divine. Enlightened souls such as Rumi belong to the entire world... as do all great genius', masterpieces and works of (true) art. When it comes to spiritual manifestations... elements such as nationalities, language, gender, time and space do not apply. Rumi was a global citizen, a lover of all of God's creation. A note for those who overlook his message and want to 'claim' Rumi as their own (country, nationality, language, etc) - they've missed the point completely. The sufi poet's message of love still reverberates years after his death (LINK).

You can read some of Rumi's 'Poems of Passion' (translated into English) - HERE.

1. Rumi's poetry: 'Say I Am You' (a Sufi poem) - LINK. I've been seeking the One for a while now, it's hard, but it's worth it. At moments I feel the Divine within every fiber of my being, taking me over completely. For the rest of my life I wish to know only Him, but I still have so much seeking to do.

2. Rumi's Poem, Iranian Music and Divine Dance - LINK. This video is on the theme of divine love, unity, oneness and the similarity of nations/faiths. God is separate from nothing and nothing is separate from God. We are all ONE. Nothing else matters. God loves everyone.

The music is from the album titled "Gift Of Love Vol.1". The Artist is Deepak Chopra. The track name is "Agony And Ecstasy Of Divine Discontent". The poem is by Rumi, recited by Madonna (not sure if she is the right person to recite it, though). The singer and the Music are Iranian.

Enjoy... and have a great weekend!

Note: Some info gathered, courtesy Wikipedia and instep.

There is some disappointment in seeing how Pakistani record labels market their bands. If one were to visit Zeb and Haniya's website, they get a much closer feel to the group's music than the one depicted on their album. The picture on the back of the album, for example, is a much more relaxed and truer image of the two women than the one on the front - juxtaposed in darkness and with big, bold, manly letters. Clearly the record label needs to let their bands be true to themselves. But a book can't be judged by its cover and a band (in this case) not by its album cover. Zeb and Haniya are all set to be heard out loud and clear, across the radio, on the telly and on your music players. They will be anything but 'chup' from now on...

K.S. Chitra is also known as the 'Nightingale of South India'. I think she is simply amazing!

Rumi's poetry: 'Say I Am You' (Sufi poem): The credits do appear at the end of this video, but it is by the composer, Eleni Karaindrou, and is the theme music called "Eternity and a Day" from the movie, Aggelopoulos.

Photograph:

The cover of the album "Ustad & The Divas". Quite appropriate for this post, right... ?!! Pic courtesy: link.

"Paimana Bideh"... (Part-II)

Author's Note: If you want to read the 1st part of this post... and listen to this fabulous song, click HERE.

'Paimana Bideh' is a gem of a track. Originally a Pasthun/Darri folk song, the girls (Zeb and Haniya) get everything right here. It's the kind of track you'd want to listen to after a long tiring day at work. With its almost lullaby-like vocals and careful use of the trumpet by Hildegunn Øiseth (an established Norwegian Jazz musician), this track is about yearning and love, and is the perfect number. Hildegunn's use of the horn... in this number, is fantastic. It draws to a whispery close all too soon! This traditional folk song is sung in Pashto and Dari and it brings home the charm of great world music: that it even strikes a chord with someone who does not understand the language.

Given the unfortunate signs of our times... I thought it would be appropriate if I began this post with a beautiful song rendered by Abrar-ul-Haq - "Tere Rang Rang".

You can view the video HERE. A lovely song indeed! The video is a must watch!

The complete lyrics of this fabulous song can be read: HERE. It is an Urdu-Sufi kalam. Download link: HERE.

Since we are talking about poetry... let me quote the great Mirza Ghalib (1797-1869): "Hazaron khwahishein aisi ke har khwahish pe dumm nikley." [Meaning: that I have a thousand wishes and the uncontrollable desire to fulfil each one of them]. Wonderful words, indeed.

For those of you who have listened to this song (Paimana Bideh) and fallen under its spell... let me just add that the original poetry (in Pashto/Dari language) is by the great Persian polymath, astronomer, poet and mystic Omar Khayyám (1048-1123/1131). Following is the complete lyrics with english translation. The new translation is based on the earlier translation. You can even find the urdu translation in that link.

Paimona bedah key khumar astam
Man ashiq e chasm e mast e yaar astam
(Bring me the chalice, so I may lose myself,
I'm in love with my Beloved's intoxicating Gaze).

Chashmat key bagh e khutan memanaat
Royat ba gulab haye chaman memanaat
(Your Eyes light up my secret garden
Your Face lights up every rose therein).

Gul roo ba kuneed waraq waraq boyee kaanee
Ba lalazar e be watan me yaraat
(Face like a flower, it give petals their fragrance
The land of my Beloved is placeless).

Man ashiq e chasm e mast e yaar astam
Bedeh bedeh kay khumar astam
Paimona bedah key khumar astam
(I'm in love with my Beloved's intoxicating Gaze,
Bring! Bring! So I may annihilate myself.
Bring me the chalice, so I may lose myself).

Az O madanet ager khaber me dashtaam
Pesh e qadamat kocha ragul me kashtaam
(If I hear of Your sacred arrival,
Under Your feet, I will spread a carpet of flowers).

Gul me kashtam gul e gulab me kashtam
Khak e qadamt padi dam e war dashtaam
(Spread flowers, Spread rose flowers,
I will sacrifice myself at the dust of Your feet).

Paimona bedah key khumar astam
Man ashiq e chasm e mast e yaar astam
(Bring me the chalice, so I may lose myself,
I'm in love with my Beloved's intoxicating Gaze).


Symbology of "Wine" and "Beloved's Intoxicated Gaze": In Sufi poetry and music... a much used symbol is "Wine" and "Beloved's Gaze".

The Sufis define their relationship with God through "Love" and thus their favorite name for God is "Beloved". No wonder some medieval European writers thought of the Sufis as the lost and hidden Esoteric Christians in disguise... since Christ's teachings and the Sufi doctine of love are so strikingly similar.

"Beloved's Intoxicating Gaze" is an imagery used to mean the special grace that falls upon the heart of the devotee that give rise to God realization or recognition of God and brings bliss of the soul's loving self-surrender.

For some its a surprise that despite intoxication or strong drink being prohibited in the Scripture, yet the imagery of wine is found in the works of many Sufis... even though they themselves never touched wine or any other intoxicating drink.

The great Sufi teacher Hazrat Inayat Khan (1882-1927) wrote: "What makes the soul of the poet dance? Music. What makes the painter paint beautiful pictures, the musician sing beautiful songs? It is the inspiration that beauty gives. Therefore the Sufi has called this beauty sāqī , the divine Giver who gives the wine of life to all.

In the imagery of the Sufi poets, this tavern is the world, and the sāqī (wine giver) is God. In whatever form the wine-giver comes and gives the wine, it is God who comes. In this way, by recognizing the sāqī , the wine-giver, in all forms, the Sufi worships God. He recognizes God in friend and foe as the wine-giver."

About losing oneself, about becoming annihilated by the intoxicating divine wine, the 13th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic Rumi said it beautifully, "Dissolve like sugar in water before the Beloved."

The mystic desires that which Omar Khayyám calls wine, the wine of Christ, after drinking which, no one will ever thirst. (:: Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan).

1. Omar Khayyám - In Praise of Wine - LINK.

2. Khayyám's poetry (with persian music and english translation) - Do not Reproach Lovers - LINK.

Khayyám I believe is saying... live your life to the fullest but be ready for death whenever it comes. Echos of it can be found in Alfred, Lord Tennyson's celebrated poem "Ulysses".

"Ulysses" is a dramatic monologue (since Ulysses is the only speaker throughout the poem) about an old man who loves to travel and remain active. He is unhappy and dissatisfied as a king and is speaking of his love for travel and dislike for redundancy. Ulysses would rather "Drink life to the lees" (lines 6-7). This means: he wants to get all he can... from life. Keeping this in mind, he gives the throne to his son, Telemachus (who would appreciate it more than him). Then he sails off to enjoy the final voyage of his life. Tennyson uses the theme of desire. "Ulysses'" entire speech is about wanting to travel rather than be idle (and be a king). Tennyson's poem is filled with connotative language. The poet writes about enjoying life to the fullest. Every moment of it. "From that eternal silence, something more". Ulysses also makes allusions to Achilles.

In "Ulysses" Tennyson explains his philosophy of life through the words of the lone speaker, the Greek hero, Ulysses. According to Tennyson, the purpose of life is to remain active. One should not waste time waiting for death. That would make life dull. He explains the brevity of life and urges the readers to devote themselves to action and make their life worth living.

In Urdu, a whole lot of ideas are expressed with the help of 'intoxication'... propping up suffering as a metaphor. It's not meant to be taken literally. Omar Khayyám used words like 'maikhana' to stand for 'the world as a whole' and 'paimana' to mean 'a glass brimming with life'.

"Awake! for Morning in the Bowl of Night

Has flung the Stone that puts the Stars to Flight:

And Lo! the Hunter of the East has caught

The Sultan's Turret in a Noose of Light."

-- Omar Khayyám, The Rubáiyát, Quatrain I

"Here with a Loaf of Bread beneath the Bough,
A Flask of Wine, a Book of Verse--and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness--
And Wilderness is Paradise enow."
-- Omar Khayyám, The Rubáiyát, Quatrain XI


The Persian poet, philosopher, mathematician and astronomer - Omar Khayyám - is probably the most famed of all Persian poets in the West, ever since Edward FitzGerald translated the Rubáiyát in Victorian 19th century. This profoundly influenced the West's perception (or misperception) of Persia in the turn of the century. In fact as unusual as it may seem, one of the original manuscripts of the Rubáiyát was carried aboard the RMS Titanic and was to disappear with the doomed liner under the sea... never to resurface again.

The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, (rendered into English Verse by Edward FitzGerald) can be viewed HERE. Alternative links: 1. HERE and 2. HERE.

A Persian ruba'i is a two line stanza with two parts (or hemistechs) per line, hence the word "Rubáiyát", (derived from the Arabic root word for 4), meaning "quatrains". The nature of a translation very much depends on what interpretation one places on Khayyám's philosophy. The fact that the Rubáiyát are a collection of quatrains - and may be selected and rearranged subjectively to support one interpretation or another - has led to widely differing versions.

"Yet Ah, that Spring should vanish with the Rose!

That Youth's sweet-scented manuscript should close!

The Nightingale that in the branches sang,

Ah whence, and whither flown again, who knows!"

-- Omar Khayyám, The Rubáiyát, Quatrain XCVI

"Ah Love! could you and I with Him conspire
To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire,
Would not we shatter it to bits--and then
Re-mold it nearer to the Heart's Desire!"
-- Omar Khayyám, The Rubáiyát, Quatrain XCIX

Here is a video... with haunting, heart-rending music. Quite akin to Khayyám's intensely passionate poetry. It is from the very depths of the eternal soul. Fatalistic, yes, but so beautifully stunning, in my opinion... with the whirling dervish and the divine music. The link is: HERE.

With them the Seed of Wisdom did I sow,

And with my own hand labour'd it to grow:

And this was all the Harvest that I reap'd--

"I came like Water, and like Wind I go."

-- Omar Khayyám, The Rubáiyát, Quatrain XXVIII

1. "The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám" (Part 1) by Richard Le Gallienne (reading): LINK 1

2. "The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám" (Part 2) by Richard Le Gallienne (reading): LINK 2

Magnifique! Verses about how one must accept the transience of all sublunary things.

None answer'd this; but after Silence spake

A Vessel of a more ungainly Make:

"They sneer at me for leaning all awry;

What? did the Hand then of the Potter shake?"

-- Omar Khayyám, The Rubáiyát, Quatrain LXIII

These lines are from the very first edition/publication (in 1859) of the "The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám" translated by Edward Fitzgerald - "The Potter's House" - LINK.

Of course, we too are made of clay. "All this of Pot and Potter - Tell me then, Who is the Potter, pray, and who the Pot?"

And strange to tell, among that Earthen Lot

Some could articulate, while others not:

And suddenly one more impatient cried--

"Who is the Potter, pray, and who the Pot?"

-- Omar Khayyám, The Rubáiyát, Quatrain LX

FitzGerald himself called this a "transmogrification" rather than a "translation" - he made up much of it. There were five editions - this is from the first.

Here is another LINK. These verses (from "The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám" by Edward FitzGerald) were cherry-picked from all the five editions, not in order. The pictures are mostly photographs of plates by Edmund Dulac.

Omar Khayyám is a true legend and his poems sound wonderful everywhere and in any language. To have these beautiful lines running through one's mind throughout the day/evening/night, is, in a word, heavenly. What the 'cowboys' and their cronies are doing to this great land/region (Persia: present-day Iran) we are all aware of. Not to be left behind, Hollywood also did its bit... with the Gerard Butler starrer "300".

Note: Some info gathered courtesy, Wikipedia.

The translation of Khayyám's Rubáiyát: Nicolas took the view that Khayyám himself clearly was a Sufi. Others have seen signs of mysticism, even atheism, or conversely devout and orthodox Islam. FitzGerald gave Khayyám's Rubáiyát a distinct fatalistic spin, although it has been claimed that he softened the impact of Khayyám's nihilism and his preoccupation with the mortality and transience of all things. Even such a question as to whether Khayyám was pro- or anti-alcohol gives rise to more discussion than might at first glance have seemed plausible. (I have already explained the symbolism involved vis-a-vis 'wine' and 'glass'... in this post).

More info on Hazrat Inayat Khan - the exemplar of Universal Sufism and founder of the Sufi Order International: HERE.

Photograph:

Illustration by Arthur Szyk for the 1940 edition of "The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám". Pic courtesy: Wikipedia.

"Paimana Bideh"... (Part-I)

"Paimana Bideh". Two words. What does it bring to your mind... ??? No? Alien words?? C'mon... think, and think some more. Still no clue... ??

If I say... they bring with them the strains of the rubab and a beautiful, enchanting song with lilting lyrics. Quite akin to that of our folk music from Kashmir. They bring with them... lyrics that are really touching and stunning. Will that interest you... ??? If it does... read on. If it does not... well, all I can say is... don't miss this song. It'll be your loss, if you do. Entirely.

The lyrics have an enchanting quality. The words are like strains of music that can be heard from a distance only if one keeps still. And when one does keep still one can hear it well enough. The song is in the Pushto/dari language. It is also probably inspired by a composition of the great Persian polymath, Omar Khayyám. A very melodious song, indeed. One that will transport you to a different space and a different time.

"Paimana" has persian lyrics. The song is rendered by Haniya Aslam, and her cousin Zeb (Zebunissa) Bangash - Pakistan's first all-female music band. A female duo who have evolved from two college kids experimenting with music as a hobby to artists who have created one of the most anticipated albums of 2007. Zeb and Haniya's (pronounced as "Zay-eb and Haa-nee-ya") early work; a song called "Chup!" (Hush!), brought them fast recognition and now the confidence to play a hand at their and our music industry. "Chup!" has since been re-done; this hugely catchy song, now with clever production, will probably be the biggest hit from this album.

Both are ethnic Bangash Pashtuns... from Kohat, North-West Frontier Province, a fact that did not register in India though it should have... because one of our most famous musicians is also a Bangash: the sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.

A part of the girls' appeal - is 'coz their music blends Western and Eastern influences seamlessly. "Paimana", a Pashtun ballad about love, rendered with a blues influence, perhaps best illustrates this. The music is soft with a lot of blues influence and some eclectic pop flavour. One of the most beautiful and romantic songs by the duo!

The song is so mesmerizing and intoxicating, it is so wonderful to listen to... when it is quiet all around. The words start to melt in your mind and blend with your blood. Very romantic poetry. Perfect for a quiet weekend! So... just lean back, close your eyes, think of that 'special someone'... and let this song enchant you. Completely! It is simply magical!

You can download this song from this link.

Here is an amazing video. It is a must watch! You can listen to this song (with the lyrics and translation) in the following link: HERE.

A 'live' performance... by the duo (at the Coke Studio sessions), can be watched:

HERE (with the strains of the rubab... in the background). The singer - Zeb - is apparently closer in accent to Kabuli Persian than Tehrani Persian.

Here is the link, where Zeb and Haniya explain the lyrics in hindi/english.

Zeb and Haniya's sound is urbane, very polished and orchestrated. Their writing is easy and comes from a comfort with the Hindustani language. There is also a unique Pushto and Darri (Afghani Farsi) experience to be had. The group's songs are mostly in Urdu. They had visited India recently... and performed and mesmerized all. So, a lot of us had the opportunity to listen to them... live.

Zeb and Haniya's brand of folksy music draws on that Pashtun heritage and can easily fit into the region's longstanding Sufic tradition. Their songs can be playful and sensual, addressing the themes of love and longing "to God through the conceit of a lover," says Bangash. Their music uses guitar, drums and trumpets, as well as more exotic stringed instruments like the sarod, to express "Western and Eastern melodies arranged for a global audience," according to Bangash. "The (Pashtun) people love to dance and have a good time," says Bangash. "The superimposition of extremist views has not been able to snuff out centuries of musical tradition. We've had Pashtuns come up to us and thank us for preserving our musical traditions," says Bangash. I just want to say... more power to you, girls!

Much to their surprise, the two have been widely accepted by Pakistan's male-dominated music industry - except by a few, of course. "Some of them think we're not serious enough and that 'this thing' is going to be abandoned after we get married," says Bangash. A few months ago, Zeb and Haniya were asked to perform at a private function in Lahore with exotic dancers. They refused. "We're not going to cheapen the music," says Bangash. Their family remains supportive despite the societal pressures. "People are so caught up in what is and isn't respectable that they forget to live," says Bangash. "You can't kill music; it's in every Pashtun's blood." And soon their album will be played on every Pakistani radio station. Hopefully.

There's a quote, "Music knows no boundaries, knows no races... it is possible for music to bring peace around the world." How do you answer those who would say this is being naive or is simply wishful thinking? I would say it's also naive to think otherwise. That is a strong statement and it's not going to bring peace ultimately... but it could start to crack down the barriers, which is a step toward peace. Music... is the cause for celebration in some of the most desolate places on earth - where disease, poverty, and conflict are commonplace. There is celebration in music and people forgot in that moment whatever things were bringing them down. I would even add that... through music we can gain enlightenment. I'm not a musician myself but in witnessing/listening to all sorts of music, I believe... it can be a tool for meditation. If you do get into the music and express yourself with your music, I think it can give you some enlightenment and a more pure understanding of everything. Are the harbingers of 'doom-and-gloom' listening... ???

Zeb is pitch perfect with refined nuances and inflexions to her singing. Haniya on the other hand, sings from the gut with a feel for the music, rather like Janis Joplin. Great voices both, but with two different uses and the girls obviously know that. Zeb has been singing since age eight and has been training as a vocalist since 1998 with acclaimed Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan (link - 'Ranjha Ranjha Kardi' and other songs). Her fellow musician and first cousin, Haniya, is a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter.

On being asked... how far back do they go together and how did the band form? "I think I met her when I was three months old," says Haniya seriously with a twinkle in her eyes. Actually our mothers are sisters, so we are first cousins. And we were born exactly a month and three weeks apart."

A wonderful, mesmerizing song... from a beautiful land. Of scenic beauty, beautiful people, green meadows, rolling hills... painted in lovely shades of ochre and beige in winter. A land synonymous with valour, with imposing rugged mountains ringing the horizon, clear streams, exquisite arts, crafts and architecture. The land where our forefathers wrote the "Rig Veda". A land where History is alive. A land where the hills were once alive with music, arts, crafts, dancing, and so much more.

If you want an example... of the cruel joke that the West in now playing on the people there, and on us (by default). Here it is: after destroying Afghanistan... for a few years now... the 'cowboys' and their cronies have been pounding the Swat valley. A place in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan... the charming Swat, a peaceful and fascinating tract in the lap of vegetative sky-high mountains, with eternal snow on their lofty crests, is an everlasting source of attraction for the visitors/tourists. The Swat River is mentioned in the Rig Veda 8.19.37 as the Suvastu river. The first historical mention of the valley goes back to a hymn of the Rigveda (Stein, 1929:viii). Swat has been inhabited for over two thousand years and was known in ancient times as the Udyana. Cut to recent times. Periodically... the 'respected' magazines, journals, newspapers, electronic media, etc... in the US and other prominent Western countries, carry reports... that 'so-and-so' has been sighted there.

This place is home to a large number of Shias (a sect of Islam), Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs. There is a place here... which is referred to as the "Ramji's throne". Through the centuries... indeed millenniums this place has existed. Archaeological treasures, including centuries-old Buddha statues - the Bamiyan Buddhas - (link) have been destroyed.

Now, the 'cowboys' (and their cronies) are pounding this and much else via the 'Drone'. The US Navy's Electronic Attack Squadron 134 is nicknamed the 'Garudas'. Isn't it ironical... ??? The name 'Gandhara' first occurs in the Rigveda which is usually identified with the region. 'Drone' attacking Kandahar (ancient Gandhara... Gandhari's birth place) and Shri Ramji's throne... ??? I ask you!

(More later...)

Note: Some info gathered courtesy: Wikipedia and zebandhaniya.com.

Alternative link... with the lyrics and translation of "Paimona" is: HERE.

A live performance by them is available on an excellent website called cokestudio.com.pk, though. This song is also spelt/referred to as 'Paimana Bitte'.

'Dari' comes from the word 'Darbari'... meaning 'Courtly'. It is short for Farsi-e-Dari... i.e., 'Courtly Persian'.

According to an Afghan musician... this song is played in a rhythm called Mogholi 7/8i, a typical Afghan rhythm. And to this song the rhythm should be a bit faster, you can listen to the original song and you will notice the tempo of the rhythm. Mogholi is one of the easiest 'taals' in Afghan music and all new players who learn to play the tabla, learn this 'taal' first. Another link (HERE).

Photograph:

A pic of the rubab/robab/rebab. Known as "the lion of instruments", it is one of the two national instruments of Afghanistan (together with the Zerbaghali - the single headed clay goblet drum [link]). Elsewhere it is known as the 'Kabuli rebab'. It is the ancestor of the north Indian sarod though - unlike the sarod - it is a fretted instrument. (Pic courtesy: Wikipedia).