Translator, Poet. Proud to be Half Parsi, half Shia. Teach English, Jamia Millia Islamia. Named after Rumi. Good to be a Sufi. Be inclusive. Published variously
Jun 16, 2021 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
I was returning from the Univ to my new residence, a km away. I saw an empty cycle rickshaw coming, I flagged it. As the rickshaw came near, I saw a young woman was the cycle rickshaw puller. I got in. She said, "Uncle, sit properly". And she began cycling. After a while, 1/
I saw she clenched the dupatta in her mouth as she cycled. She must be around 25, medium health. I asked, "Aapko mushkil nahin hoti". (Isn't it too difficult for you?) She said, "What to do? I have younger brothers and sisters." I said, "Yes." She said, "My Abbu is no longer 2/
May 26, 2021 • 16 tweets • 4 min read
#KublaKhan#Coleridge In my MA, as a student, a professor taught me in 1992 that Coleridge took opium and wrote the poem, Kubla Khan, under the influence of opium. In my class of 35 students, except Debangshu Kerr and I, no student loved the poem. 1/
While we took the jam-packed public transport bus from Jamia Millia Islamia University to AIIMS, to home, Debangshu and I would discuss Coleridge's Kubla Khan. We were not convinced it was opium induced poem. 2/
Mar 21, 2021 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
Years ago, we were going to Jamnagar, my mother, brother, maasi, I think my Dad. In an air-conditioned ambassador car. This was the summer break. Car developed a little snag, we got chach, rotla from a peasant nearby. We saw a temple somewhat far away. 1/
We decided to visit the temple. This was the Ghumli Temple. I must have been in my teens, this would be around 33-35 years ago. Enroute to Jamnagar. After a while, we said that the temple was too far away and we would get late if we proceeded. So, we went back to the car. 2/n
Oct 25, 2020 • 8 tweets • 3 min read
The mental health epidemic is such that we not have an acute shortage of psychiatrists. But there are "manipulative" ones possibly. A senior friend, a sugar patient, around 60, couldn't eat well for over two weeks, very anxious. Professor. Excellent stress manager. 1/n
He would barely eat half an apple and would vomit. Fearful due to some adverse professional issues. Though nothing related directly to him. He saw a pamphlet of some psychiatrist's clinic and desired to go there. I was with him. I found the set-up shady. Anyway, 2/n
Sep 24, 2020 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
What Worldliness in Love?
Roomy Naqvy
I spoke about vitiligo,
About loss of esteem.
You lured me into love
With Mohsin Bhopali’s ghazal,
In Munni Begum’s soulful rendition,
Chahat mein kya duniyadari.
(1/n) @tabish_khair@_sayema@jennybhatt
I came rushing to your love,
A friend cautioned me too,
But I came running,
Like the first rains that showers.
And then you suddenly withdrew,
Like the flower Lajwanti,
Getting bashful, shy,
Into your shell quietly.
(2/n) @ranjithoskote
Aug 14, 2020 • 6 tweets • 4 min read
Trilingual mushaira, Jashn e Azadi.
Jul 21, 2020 • 23 tweets • 5 min read
Thread about evaluating Indian Literature as Postcolonial. I would disagree,a bit strongly, with d premise that "Desi" literature can be best analyzed critically as PoCo. Its a critical lens that took birth in a certain metropolitan academy and has been shackled by it. 1/n
It may be true, somewhat, of Indian English fiction for it to manifest 'postcolonial' concerns. However, a reminder, Amitav Ghosh @GhoshAmitav had once pulled his novel out of the reckoning for the Commonwealth Fiction Prize saying he didn't believe in these categories. 2/n
