The shoe

This Shahtoon cartoon was published by the News Pakistan on

Mumbai and My Twitter

I have been twittering a lot on the Mumbai terrorism issue. Here is the link
http://twitter.com/azeemax

Obama mania

Here is a nice sand dune created in India to commemorate Obama's win:
 

Marrakech pictures 2008

Visited fabled city of Marrakech in August 2008 for 6 days. The city takes you back on a journey to the lands and times of Arabian Nights with its mazes, amazing costumes, elaborate haggling, interesting food cooked in tagines etc... Here are the pics.

Wave of blasts hit Indian capital

Five suspected bomb blasts have been reported within minutes of each other in markets in India's capital, Delhi.

read more | digg story

Bhulle Shah and Rumi on universalism

Here are the translations that I lifted from two different websites.. Both of these pieces of poetry seem very similar in ideas and it is fascinating for me.. Was wondering if anyone has done an analysis comparing their work.....

The Kafi of Bhulle Shah (1680-1757, Punjabi Sufi poet)

Bulla Ki Jaana Maen Kaun Says Bulla,
who knows who I am!
I am not in the mosque of the believer,
Nor in false rites.
I am not in the pure or the impure.
Neither Moses nor Pharaoh.
Says Bulla, who knows who I am!

I am not in the vedas or holy books,
Not in drug or wine.
Not in the drunkards wasted intoxication,
Not in wakefulness or sleep.
Says Bulla, who knows who I am!

I am not in sorrow nor in joy,
Neither in clean nor unclean.
I am not water, I am not earth,
I am not fire, I am not air.
Says Bulla, who knows who I am!

I am not from Arabia or Lahore,
Nor from India or Nagaur.
Neither a hindu or muslim from Peshawar,
Nor do I live in Nadaun.
Says Bulla, who knows who I am!
I cannot be unearthed in the mysteries of religion.

I was not born of Adam and Eve.
I am not the name I assume.
I am not in stillness, not in movement.
Finally, I only know myself.
I cannot know any other.
Who could be wiser than I?
Bulla asks, who then, stands here?
Says Bulla, who knows who I am!

Now the Rumi poem (1207-1273, Persian Poet and Sufi):

What can I do, Submitters to God? I do not know myself.

I am neither Christian nor Jew, neither Zoroastrian nor Muslim,

I am not from east or west, not from land or sea,

not from the shafts of nature nor from the spheres of the firmament,

not of the earth, not of water, not of air, not of fire.

I am not from the highest heaven, not from this world,

not from existence, not from being.

I am not from India, not from China, not from Bulgar, not from Saqsin,

not from the realm of the two Iraqs, not from the land of Khurasan

I am not from the world, not from beyond,

not from heaven and not from hell.

I am not from Adam, not from Eve, not from paradise and not from Ridwan.

My place is placeless, my trace is traceless,

no body, no soul, I am from the soul of souls.

I have chased out duality, lived the two worlds as one.

One I seek, one I know, one I see, one I call.

He is the first, he is the last, he is the outer, he is the inner.

Beyond "He" and "He is" I know no other.

I am drunk from the cup of love, the two worlds have escaped me.

I have no concern but carouse and rapture.

If one day in my life I spend a moment without you

from that hour and that time I would repent my life.

If one day I am given a moment in solitude with you

I will trample the two worlds underfoot and dance forever.

O Sun of Tabriz (Shams Tabrizi), I am so tipsy here in this world,

I have no tale to tell but tipsiness and rapture

Zindagi say dartay ho? (Noon Meem Rashid)

Zindagi say dartay ho?
Zindagi to tum bhi ho, zindagi to hum bhi hain
Zindagi say dartay ho...
Aadmi say dartay ho?
Aadmi to tum bhi ho, aadmi to hum bhi hain
Aadmi zubaan bhi hay, aadmi bayaan bhi hay, us say tum nahi dartay...
Harf aur manay kay rishta-e-ahan say aadmi hay wabasta
Aadmi kay daman say zindagi hay wabasta, us say tum nahi dartay...
Ankahi say dartay ho?
Jo abhi nahi aayi us ghari say dartay ho, us ghari ki amad ki agahi say dartay ho?
Pahlay bhi to guzray hain dor na rasayi kay, bairiya khudayii kay
Phir bhi ye samajhtay ho haich arzumandi ya shab-e-zuban bandi hay rahay khuda wandi
Tum magar ye kya jano...
Lab agar nahi hiltay, hath jaag uthtay hain
Hath jaag uthtay hain rah ka nishan bankar
Noor ki zuban bankar
Hath bol uthtay hain subh ki aazan bankar
Roshni say dartay ho?
Roshni to tum bhi ho, roshni to hum bhi hain
Roshni say dartay ho...
Shahar ki faseelon par daiw ka jo saaya tha, paak hogaya akhir
Raat ka libada bhi chaak hogaya akhir
Khaak hogaya akhir...
Ashdahan main insaan say fard ki nawa ayii
Raat ki sadaa ayii
Rah-e-shauq main jesay rah ro ka khoon lapkay
Aadmi chalak uthay
Aadmi hansay dekho, shahar phir basay dekho
Tum abhi say dartay ho?
Haan abhi to tum bhi ho, haan abhi to hum bhi hain
Tum abhi say dartay ho...