Gallivanting with Ghalib, Islamic Culture, NewAgeIslam.com

Islamic Culture

Gallivanting with Ghalib

By Saif Shahin

A new translation introduces the master of Urdu romantic poetry to 21st century readers

Many have tried to walk down this path before, but that hasn’t made it any easier to traverse. Poetry, after all, is what is lost in translation and Niazi is acutely aware of the illogicality of his undertaking. But he makes a bold attempt to sneak past the language barrier by beginning the book with a glossary of unusual words, historic characters and incidences, and peculiar idioms found in Ghalib’s poetry.

This helps him convey “the meaning of a thought and a scene created through the elements of language, of cultural, social and religious nuances, and of rare culture-specific idioms” to the 21st century reader. Sample this:

“Besides Qais, no one else entered in the field of action,

The desert was perhaps as narrow as a jealous eye.”

Without the knowledge that Qais was the real name of Majnun, the star-crossed lover of Laila in the Arabic story tradition, it will be difficult for a reader to grasp that ‘field of action’ here refers to being in love and the ‘desert’ to the despair of lost love. Men are also known to go crazy searching for a way out of deserts, just as Majnun went crazy in his love for Laila – another evocation that will easily be lost on an ignorant reader.

http://newageislam.com/gallivanting-with-ghalib/islamic-culture/d/2297

Pakistan: DEAD END ON WAR ON TERROR, War on Terror, NewAgeIslam.com

War on Terror

Pakistan: DEAD END ON WAR ON TERROR

By Najam Sethi

THE war against extremism and terrorism in the NWFP and FATA is taking a significant turn. Three new developments are noteworthy. First, the Pakistan Army has finally taken the battle to Bajaur in South Waziristan where insurgents, militants and terrorists of all shades are said to be holed out. Over 500 Taliban and Al- Qaeda terrorists are reported to have been killed in recent days while others are said to have fled from the area. A ceasefire announced by the terrorists has been rejected by the military authorities who are encouraging thousands of refugees who fled the fighting earlier to return to their homes now.

Second, Rehman Malik, the advisor to the Interior Ministry, who is the chief anti- terrorism coordinator between the Army and the civilian governments in Islamabad and Peshawar, has articulated a new way of looking at the issue. He says that that the old policy distinction made by the Musharraf regime between the Afghan Taliban, the Pakistan Taliban, and the foreign Al- Qaeda fighters, is largely misplaced. His argument is that there is an unholy nexus between all three elements and both strategic and tactical policy against them should reflect an understanding of this network.

http://newageislam.com/pakistan--dead-end-on-war-on-terror/war-on-terror/d/706

Beware, razakars back with a vengeance in Bangladesh, Islam,Terrorism and Jihad, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam,Terrorism and Jihad

Beware, razakars back with a vengeance in Bangladesh

By Shamsher Chowdhury

The silence is perceived to be deliberate; had it not been so these criminal elements should have been hauled up and brought to justice by now. When the nationwide students agitation marches originating from Dhaka University took place, the agencies of the power that be got into a blitzkrieg-like action, and hauled up and pinpointed the possible suspects and those guilty numbering a handful from amongst thousands of agitating public, students or otherwise, and even went to the extent of mass arrests from amongst thousands spread all over the country. What is making this government to go easy and indulge in masterly inaction in hauling up these marked criminals involved in acts that threaten the very foundation and sovereignty of our nation? The answer is best known to them.

http://newageislam.com/beware,-razakars-back-with-a-vengeance-in-bangladesh/islam,terrorism-and-jihad/d/254

We are victims too, Islam,Terrorism and Jihad, NewAgeISlam.com

Islam,Terrorism and Jihad

We are victims too

By Aijaz Zaka Syed

Khaleej Times, May 29 2008

This is what I tried to argue after the 7/7 London bombings. Even as one has repeatedly assailed the US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and widespread human rights abuses as part of the terror war, one has never shied away from taking on the extremists who claim to speak on behalf of Muslims and yet shed innocent blood.

In fact, I see these elements as greatest threat to Islam and Muslims because they kill in the name of our faith and distort its humane teachings. Which is why one has constantly pleaded with Muslim intellectuals and leaders to raise their voice against this lunatic fringe.

God knows we can't afford to lose this battle of hearts and minds. The Muslims really need to make some noise; making it clear to the world that this is not the Islam we know (no apologies to Bush).

That said, I find these expectations from Indian Muslims to prove they are not with the terrorists, every time there's an attack of this sort rather disconcerting. Why do we have to prove our innocence and loyalty to the land that has been our home for more than a thousand years every time there's an incident like this?

http://newageislam.com/we-are-victims-too/islam,terrorism-and-jihad/d/28