Daak Weekly: Poetry and Politics, Celebrating the Creative Force, Bad Parenting & More
This week in Daak:
1. Faiz’s Poem, Mujhse Pehli Si Mohabbat
2. Ismat Chughtai’s Essay, The Lihaf Trial
3. Hakim Muhammad Yusuf Hasan’s Book, Do Shiza
4. The Lasting Impact of a Teacher
5. When Mohammed Rafi Met Muhammad Ali
1. Intersecting Politics with Poetry: Faiz’s Poem, Mujhse Pehli Si Mohabbat
If you thought this poem was about love, you’re not alone. Faiz’s most famous poem effortlessly moves from romantic imagery of the beloved to lamentations of the human condition, weaving in themes of social evils and inequity of wealth.
2. Humour and Defiance: Ismat Chughtai’s Essay, The Lihaf Trial
Chughtai’s documentation of her obscenity trial turns into a surprising celebration of love, friendship, beauty and the creative force within us, defying any attempts at curtailment.
3. A Secret Vigilance: Hakim Muhammad Yusuf Hasan’s Book, Do Shiza
This popular medical book on sexual science from the early 1900s prescribes a hyper-vigilance to protect children from “evil,” serving as the perfect guide for what NOT to do as parents.
4. The Lasting Impact of a Teacher
Read this heartwarming anecdote about the Nobel Prize winning scientist, Dr. Abdus Salam and his teacher.
5. When Mohammed Rafi Met Muhammad Ali
What happens when two icons meet? A legendary photograph and lots of fun!
