‘Rafique Dost Laye’ (for Rafique friend) a poem by Zubair Ahmad

Teri kinj kahani kereye arreye
rut purani ker bethay aaN

Pooni pooni ker jo kateya
ohda taan na taneya
‘chaldeyaN vidaa na keeta’
‘kakh baal na baneray dharay’
kinj likhhiye raam kahani
sab sukhn zubani ker bethhay aaN

Ajab shaam nagr vich aayi
booha pichhla oh langhh aayi
jinhay dhhoi Dar di taaki
suman raat akhheiN vich paayi
eh raat akhheiN rakhh lainday
akhh dardaaN pani ker bethay aaN
rut purani ker bethay aaN
.

* ‘chaldeyaN vidaa na keeta’ Madholal Hussain de kaafi ‘aiNwain gaye vehaaye, koi dam yaad na kaatea’
* ‘kakhh baal na baneray dhareye’ Najm hosain Syed de nazm ‘kakhh baal ke banereyaaN te dhhareye jee’ toon
.

Fauzia Rafique laye eh nazm Zubair Ahmad ne 2005 ch likhhi. 2007 ch eh Lahore de risaalay ‘Pancham’ ch shahmukhi ch chappi.
..

تیری کنج کہا نی کرئیے اڑیئے

تیری کنج کہا نی کرئیے اڑیئے
رُت پرانی کر بیٹھے آں

پُونی پُونی کر جو کتیا
اوہدا تان نہ تنیا
ْ”چلدیاں وداع نہ کیتا”
“کُکھ بال نہ بنیرے دھرئے”
کنج لکھیے رام کہانی
سبھ سُخن زبانی کر بیٹھے آں

عجب شام نگر وچ آئی
بوہا پچھلا اوہ لنگھ آئی
جس ڈھوئی ڈر دی تاکی
سُپن رات اکھیں وچ پائی
ایہہ رات اکھیں رکھ لیندے
اکھ درداں پانی کر بیٹھے آں
رُت پرانی کر بیٹھے آں

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‘چلدیاں وداع نہ کیتا’٭ مادھو لال حُسین دی کافی ‘انیویں گئی وہاء ِ، کوئی دم یاد نہ کیتا۔’

‘ککھ بال نہ بنرتے دھریے’۔نجم حُسین سیدّ دی نظم’ ککھ بال کے بنیریاں تے دھریے جی’
..

..

ਰਫ਼ੀਕ ਦੋਸਤ ਲਈ

ਕਿੰਜ ਤੇਰੀ ਕਹਾਣੀ ਕਰੀਏ ਅੜੀਏ
ਰੁੱਤ ਪੁਰਾਣੀ ਕਰ ਬੈਠੇ ਆਂ

ਪੂਣੀ ਪੂਣੀ ਕਰ ਜੋ ਕਤਿਆ
ਉਹਦਾ ਤਾਨ ਨਾ ਤਣਿਆ
“ਚੱਲਦਿਆਂ ਵਿਦਾ ਨਾ ਕੀਤਾ”
“ਕੱਖ ਬਾਲ ਨਾ ਬਨੇਰੇ ਧਰੇ”
ਕਿੰਜ ਲਿਖੀਏ ਰਾਮ ਕਹਾਣੀ
ਸਭ ਸੁਖ਼ਨ ਜ਼ਬਾਨੀ ਕਰ ਬੇਠੇ ਆਂ
ਰੁੱਤ ਪੁਰਾਣੀ ਕਰ ਬੈਠੇ ਆਂ

ਅਜਬ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਨਗਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਈ
ਬੂਹਾ ਪਿਛਲਾ ਜੋ ਲੰਘ ਆਈ
ਉਸ ਢੋਈ ਡਰ ਦੀ ਤਾਕੀ
ਸੁਪਨ ਰਾਤ ਅੱਖੀਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਾਈ

ਏਹ ਰਾਤ ਅੱਖੀਂ ਰੱਖ ਲੈਂਦੇ
ਅੱਖ ਦਰਦਾਂ ਪਾਣੀ ਕਰ ਬੈਠੇ ਆਂ
ਰੁੱਤ ਪੁਰਾਣੀ ਕਰ ਬੈਠੇ ਆਂ

.

* ਏਹ ਸਤਰ ਸ਼ਾਹ ਹੁਸੈਨ ਦੀ ਕਾਫ਼ੀ ਤੋ ਏ
* ਏਹ ਸਤਰ ਨਜਮ ਹੁਸੈਨ ਸਯੱਦ ਦੀ ਨਜ਼ਮ “ਕੱਖ ਬਾਲ ਕੇ ਬਨੇਰਿਆਂ ’ਤੇ ਧਰੀਏ ਜੀ” ਤੋਂ ਏ।
..

Zubair Ahmad is a Lahore based author, poet, editor and cultural activist.
Visit his Facebook Page
http://www.facebook.com/zubair.ahmad.73
Contact Zubair at
kitab.trinjan@gmail.com
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On the sale of Amrita Pritam’s House امرتا پریتم دے گھر ویچے جان تے اک نظم

A Punjabi poem by Hasan Mujtaba

وارث شاھ ایتھے کیہہ کیہہ وکدا
وکدا وچ بزار۔

قبراں وکدیاں
قبراں وچوں بول وی وکدے
یار وی وکدا
اوہدے گل دا ہار وی وکدا
عشق دا ورقہ ورقہ وکدا
وکدے قول قرار۔
وارث شاہ ۔۔۔۔۔

ہٹیاں وکدیاں
جٹیاں وکدیاں
رنگ وی وکدا
جھنگ وی وکدا
ہیراں وکدیاں
رانجھے وکدے
وکدا تخت ہزار
وارث شاہ ایتھے۔۔۔۔

کھیڑے وکدے
گیڑے وکدے
ساہواں وکدیاں
رکھ رکھ تے
چھاواں وکدیاں
مجھاں وکدیاں
گاواں وکدیاں
وکدے سارے کھوہ
وارث شاہ ایتھے۔۔۔۔

توں لبھدی پھریں بازار کڑے
ایتھے کیہڑی شے جو وکدی نہیں؟
تیرے دل دا جانی وکدا
راوی دا سبھ پانی وکدا
اکھاں دے سبھ اتھرو وکدے
وارث شاہ ایتھے۔۔۔۔۔

ایتھے شکر دوپہری وکدی
شاماں وکدیاں نیں
دن وی وکدے
راتاں وکدیاں
ایتھے جگر! جگراتے وکدے
نندراں وکدیاں
سفنے وکدے
سفنیاں دے وچ
سجن وکدے
وارث شاہ ایتھے۔۔۔۔

ایتھے جنگل بیلے وکدے
منگل وکدے میلے وکدے
ایتھے چن چنا وی وکدے
سوہنی وکدی
ماہی تے مہیوال وی وکدا
ایتھے موجاں موجاں وکدیآں
بیلے وچھیاں لاشاں وکدیاں
فوجاں وکدیاں
وارث شاہ ایتھے۔۔۔۔

اوہدے گل دی گانی وکدی
ہر اک پیار نشانی وکدی
وارث شاہ ایتھے۔۔۔۔۔

گور پیا کوئی ہور وی وکدا
بکل دے وچ چور وی وکدا
ایتھے تخت لہور وی وکدا
کیہ جاناں میں کون کوئی وکدا
وارث شاہ ایتھے….

تو لکھ لکھ مارے وین
وارث شاہ
لکھاں روندیاں دھیاں وکدیاں
ایتھے جیوندیاں ماواں وکدیاں
نی مائے میں کنوں دساں
ایتھے مرگئياں ماواں وکدیاں
وارث شاہ

وارث شاہ میں تینوں آکھاں
ہائے وے میں وی مر گیاں
فیر میں مرگئی ہاں

صوفی! تو کیویں کہندا سی
پتر ہٹاں تے نہیں وکدے؟
پر ایتھے پال تے پالنے وکے
پنچھی تے فیر آہلنے وکے
ایتھے گھر گھروندے وکے
ایتھے بند تے بوہے وکے
ایتھے میرا کمرہ وکیا
کیہہ کیہہ وکیا نہیں
کناں سنیاں بول نہیں وکیا
اکھاں ویکھے ویکھ نہیں وکے
ہر اک دل دا منظر وکیا
اندر وکیا باہر وکیا
کیہہ کیھہ رنگ رتول نئیں وکیا
اوہدا برش کنواس وی وکیا۔

ہر اک رت دی لیکھا وکی
تیری پیار بھلیکھا وکی
تیری سبھ اڈیک وی وکی

اوہدے میرے ہاسے وکے
اوہدے میرے اتھرو وکے

اوہدا ہر اک چتر وکیا
میرا ہر اک اکھر وکیا
مٹی دا ہر ذرہ ذرہ
میرے گھر دی اٹ اٹ وکی
میری رات تے دن وی وکیا
میرا اج اجوکا وکیا
تے ایک میرا سورج وکیا

ایش ٹرے توں سانبھے ہوئے
سگرٹ دے اوہ ٹوٹے وکے
ساحر دی اوہ حوشبو وکی
اوہدی کو‏ئی رسید نہ منگی

اندر دا بس بانبھن وکیا
اوہدا پر پرچھاواں وکیا
تے میرا اکلاپا وکیا
ہر اک ملن والا وکیا
نالے وچھڑن والا وکیا

ہر اک نظم کہانی وکی
میری ناگ منی وی وکی
ویساکھی تے ہولی وکی
ماں وکی ماں بولی وکی

سارے پھل کھڑ ن وی وکے
رکھ وکے تے بوٹے وکے
وا دے سارے جھوٹے وکے
میریاں ساریاں ہوکا ں وکیاں
اہ کوئل دی کوکاں وکیاں
اور میرا ٹرنا وی وکیا
میری اج اخیر وی وکی
میرا ہر ایک ویس وی وکیا
دلی وکیا دیس وی وکیا
ہائے نی میں لوڑھے لُٹی
میرا وارث شاہ وی وکیا
وارث دا پنجاب کیہہ تکنا
تک اپنا پنجاب نی مائے
تک اپنا پنجاب۔

وارث شاہ ایتھے کیہہ کیہہ وکدا
وکدا وچ بزار

New York
July 12, 2011

Poem sent by Ijaz Syed
syedi@sbcglobal.net

Heritage havoc
By Nirupma Dutt
Punjabi’s grand dame of letters Amrita Pritam had willed that her house in the Capital should be preserved as a memorial to her and that her partner Imroz should live there. However, just five years after her death, it has been sold by her son to builders, who have lost no time in razing it to the ground. While writing an ode to the house that Amrita built, Nirupama Dutt recounts the insensitive attitude we, as a nation, have to our cultural heritage…

View Nirupma’s article at Tribune India
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‘All is near to those meditating’ by Madhulal Hussain

A Kafi Poem by
Shah Madhulal Hussain
Lahore 1539 – 1599

Kafi Poem 131
Swaying in ecstasy play on in the inner yard, all is near to those meditating
Rivers flow in this yard, thousands of millions of boats
Some are seen drowning, others have reached the shore
This yard has nine doors, the tenth is locked shut
No one needs to know, from where my lover comes and goes
This yard has a pretty curve, a hollow in the curve
I spread my bed in the hollow to love my lover at night!
A wild elephant in this yard, is struggling with the chain
Says Hussain the Beggar of His Beloved, (the elephant) is teasing the awake

Translated by Fauzia Rafique for her novel Skeena(Sanjh Publications, Lahore 2007. Libros Libertad & Uddari Books, Surrey 2011)

Kafi 131
Jhume jhum khaid lai munjh vehRay, japdeyaN nooN hur naiRay
Vehray de vich nadiyaN vagan, baiRay lakh hazar
kaiti iss vich Dubdi vekhi, kaiti langhi paar
iss vehRay de nauN darvazay, dusswaiN qulf chuRhai
tiss darvazay de mehram nahiN, jit shauh aaway jai
vehRay de vich aala soohay, aalay de vich taaqi
taaqi de vich sej vichaawaN, apnay pia sung raati
iss vehRay vich makna haathi, sangal naal khahaiRay
kahe Hussain Faqir SaeeN da, jagdeyaN kooN chehRay
(Punjabi poem in Roman)

‘Kitab Trinjan’ a poem by Zubair Ahmed

(To comemorate the end of Kitab Trinjan)

Lungh geyaN shamaN yaar deyaN
Yaad surahi bhhar bhhar rakhh lae
Din beetay khali paun bharae
Adh-bhulay nooN poora ker lae
Bunh bunh rakhh lae sawgundh gallaN de
Ghul ghul jo dhooN hoi
PauRiyoN leh gaye
Andar dub lae aas naroi
MuTheiN purtdi hawaeiN nup lae
MuR muR kai oh chaitay kerna
Jis na hona jo na hoi
Buss aj raat ruj vuss lae
Unt fana jo hoi

Author Zubair Ahmed made Kitab Trinjan possible through his dedication and volunteer work. View more here

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April 2008 – April 2009

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Punjabi MaaNboli and the Punjabis-1

Bhagat Singh Shaheed: ‘Nee mayaiN mera rung dae basanti chola’

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On

Bhagat Singh Shaheed Day

March 23/09

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Two Punjabi poems

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Bhagat Singh de NaaN 1
By Mudasar Punnu

Hussaino!

Rat. laal nee

Paalan rut mhaal nee

Jind haaloN behaal nee

Kufr dae ghhaeray

Haq dae gaeRay

Keh parwah jo

Sangi saaDae naal nee

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Bhagat Singh de NaaN 2
By Mudasar Punnu

KidhroN aye

Kidhar langh gaye

Yaar peyareyaN sangdi

Rut karni

Rab honi toN

Khair ishq de mangdi

Soohae saaway naal gulabi

Vich bzareiN bhatti chaaRhay

Basanti malmal cha’ naal

Ghar ja ke rangdi
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Mudasar Punnu

Swal Jannat da NahiN

Jannat, 38, was buried alive with Fatima, 45, for trying to stop the burials of three young women of village Mir Wah in Balochistan, July 2008.

Jannat da nahiN
swaal tera mera ae

Oh chawhndi
te saah kujh bachaa awndi
Koi aas hyati de viah awndi
Kaal koThri ch eidaN manaa awndi
PeyareyaN dae
ishareyaN te
koi din
hor
nach-nachaa awndi

Jannat vuDee se
vaDeRi ae

KewaiN apna aap bachaa awae ha
Saah ghuT ke hyati langhaa awae ha
Kaal koThri ch eidan mana awae ha
PeyareyaN dae
ishareyaN te
sathnaN
jewndiaN
dafna awae ha

Jannat de karni
kehndi ae
Vo!
Hyati dheeyaN dae
mul pujdi
naaN putraN dae
mul!
Ja hakoomat joR lae apni,
asseiN ve koi kaleyaN neesae,
punj lukayaaN,
lakhaaN vaikheiN!

- A Punjabi poem by Fauzia Rafiq

Related Content:
Swaal Jannat da NahiN, Shahmukhi
Mir Wah de Benaam Chhori Number One
Mir Wah de Fauzia
Fauzia of Mir Wah
Kikli 13 July
SahebaN’s Name
Love Life: The Story
Vaen (mourning)

Kikli 13 July

July 13, 2008: Paklistan vich ek jirgae dae hukm te punj zananiaN nooN maar maar ke zinda poor ditta geya te jehrae lokaN eh keeta ohnaN vich zananiaN dae peyo, bhra, chachae te ek minister dae sukae sun.

In honor of the five Baloch women buried alive on July 13 in Baba Kot

Anarkali aj zinda hoi
Nangi phhirae bzaraN
Zulm de laaT ch pinda lishkae
Shahwat dee akhh draaRaN

Akbar Rajae jewndi chhori
Lhore dae komal dil vich guDi
Ravi ro ro mukeya pani
Keha ishq te kehi kahani

DaiTaaN mainuN yaad nahiN rehndeyan
jo hoya, oh chaita ae
Meri agli nasal dae uThhdae siraaN nooN kupdae aye naiN
eh nikae moTae akbar asghar mullaN jirgae dadageer

Teen age vich gayak maneendi
punj gunaN de guthli
ZorawaraN dae durbaraN vich
apna huq jitawan paaroN jan bejani hoi

13 July
Anarkali tooN vul kyoN aaye
te
kithae tera dera

Jhok BalochaN dharti tuRfae
kukhheeN jewendiaN suTeyaN
pichhae na koi Akbar Raja
na durbar bagana

Peyo bhra
merae maaN-peyo ja
bun khaRae sarkaraN
pathar Babakot dae, jind-khhichwaiN hathiaraN

ef ai ar durj krawn
muqbrae banawn, lection jatawn
shayr chhapawan toN pehloN
bachRiyaN roohaN uD, huDaN toN paaraN

MaiN te badshahaN de ghulaam saaN
badshaahaiN ditti chunwa
eh kaun khhaRae poordae
merae apnae peyo bhra

Kikli kleer dee
Pug merae veer dee
KehRa tera abba nee
te kon tera bhra

MaiN jind se aap vari
koi yaar bachawan mari
Aithae vudh hyati nochdae
merae sujjan saak peyarae

Pug merae veer dee
Dopatta merae bhai da
Kinnae terae putar nee
te kinnae chaachae taa

Shahzaadae salim saarae, eh akbri dae maarae
qabraN swaniaN te aa muqbrae ussaran
Maarkae jo maran
vunjh GuruwaN nooN saaRan

Kikli kleer dee
Pug merae veer dee
Dopatta merae bhai da
Te fiTae munh jawai da

Kikli kleer de
Pug meri Heer de
Dopatta Shah BhaTai da
Te jugg meri Mai da

A punjabi poem by Fauzia Rafiq

Related Content:
Kikli 13 July Punjabi Sahmukhi
Swal Jannat da NahiN
Mir Wah de Benaam Chhori Number One
Mir Wah de Fauzia
Fauzia of Mir Wah
Kikli 13 July
Vaen (mourning)
SahebaN’s Name
Love Life: The Story

Baat ki Baat and Punjabi Books Coming up in September

BAAT KI BAAT is a new discussion forum on art that is being initiated in India by a group of painters, sculptures, musicians, dancers, writers and owners of art galleries. You are invited to be a part of it by visiting the website at www.baatkibaat.com.
The question to ponder over for the coming fifteen days: WHY HUSAIN NOT COMING BACK TO INDIA?

Punjabi Books Online intends to sell Punjabi books, music, art and crafts to people in Canada, United States, Europe and Australia. Please visit the developing website at www.punjabibooksonline.com, and see if you like it.

Also, a new Punjabi poem ‘Painda’ (Distance) by Hamraz Ahsan, in Roman at Punjabi Poems page.

‘Identity Card’ by Mahmoud Darwish in Punjabi

Mahmoud Darwish de Nazm
‘Identity Card’ Punjabi Vich

Photo by Amarjit Chandan

Likh deo!
MaiN Arab aaN
Te meray identity card da number punjah hazār ae
Meray ath baal naiN
Te nowaN ehnaN garmiaN baad aawae ga
Tussein nārāz howo gae?

Likh deo!
MaiN Arab aaN
Doojay sathi mazdooraN naal pathar dee kaan vich kum karnāN
Meray ath baal naiN
Main ohnaN laye kadh ke lianaN roti
Kuprray te kitābāN
pathraN vichoN…

MaiN tuhāday boohayiaN te khairaat nahiN je muNgda
Na hee maiN tuhādi dehleez te apnay aap nooN heen*a kernāN
Te tusseiN naraz howo gae?

Likh deo!
MaiN Arab aaN
Meray naaN agay koi khitāb nahiN je laggeyā
Sabr naal rehnaN ek enjehay mulk vich
Jithay loki karodhi naiN
MeriyaN jaRHaaN
GuDiyaN aithay vailay de jamman* toN pehlay
Sann-Sammat challan* toN pehlay
Birkh, Zaitun de rukhāN toN aggay
Te ghah uggan* toN pehlāy

Mera peyo… hull dae tabbaroN latha ae
Kissay maaldar maeloN nahiN
Te mera dada… vaahi beeji karda si
MaaldaraN vich jummeya, na wadda hoya!
Sikhlaway sijh da maan mainuN
paRhna sikhaun toN pehlay
Te mera ghar kissay pehredaar de jhuggi haar
ChhamkaaN te sotiyaN naal bunya ae
TusseiN meray haal-durjay toN raazi au?
Mera naaN bina surnaNwaiN!

Likh deo!
MaiN Arab aaN
TussaN meray waDeyaN de phulwari kho layee
Te jehRhi zameen te maiN hull chlāNdā saaN
Apnay baalaN naal
Te tussaN saDae laye kujh na chhudeya
pathraN bina…
Te ke sarkar eh ve lae laway gi
JiwaiN hun* kehNday naiN?!

Ais laye!
Likho pehlay vurqay dae shoroo vich:
MaiN lokaaN toN ghinn nahiN karda
Te naaN main hudaaN toN wudhnaN
Per jae main bhukhā hoya
Te haq dabaun walay da maas mera khaja hossee
Khabrdaar…
Khabrdaar…
Meri bhukh toN
Te meray karodh koloN!
.
Translated from English by Fauzia Rafiq
Edited by Amarjit Chandan
.

Identity Card
Mahmoud Darwish

Write down!
I am an Arab
And my identity card number is fifty thousand
I have eight children
And the ninth will come after a summer
Will you be angry?

Write down!
I am an Arab
Employed with fellow workers at a quarry
I have eight children
I get them bread
Garments and books
from the rocks …
I do not supplicate charity at your doors
Nor do I belittle myself at the footsteps of your chamber
So will you be angry?

Write down!
I am an Arab
I have a name without a title
Patient in a country
Where people are enraged
My roots
Were entrenched before the birth of time
And before the opening of the eras
Before the pines, and the olive trees
And before the grass grew

My father … descends from the family of the plow
Not from a privileged class
And my grandfather … was a farmer
Neither well-bred, nor well-born!
Teaches me the pride of the sun
Before teaching me how to read
And my house is like a watchman’s hut
Made of branches and cane
Are you satisfied with my status?
I have a name without a title!

Write down!
I am an Arab
You have stolen the orchards of my ancestors
And the land which I cultivated
Along with my children
And you left nothing for us
Except for these rocks …
So will the State take them
As it has been said?!

Therefore!
Write down on the top of the first page:
I do not hate people
Nor do I encroach
But if I become hungry
The usurper’s flesh will be my food
Beware …
Beware …
Of my hunger
And my anger!

English text sent by Hoori Noorani

Amarjit Chandan’s Poem being Carved in Stone in Oxfordshire

London-based Punjabi poet Amarjit Chandan’s poem with its English translation is being carved in stone to then be installed in a public square in a town near London. Artist Alec Peever, a master in Lettering and Sculpture, is carving it on a forty foot long stone.

To us, it constitutes an unusual honor for both the Poet and the Sculptor where we will have the pleasure of viewing an art work that is being created by combining two different creative domains by artists of diverse cultural experiences. What a treat!

Here is the poem in Roman script:
dur bahut dur kisey nachhtar [planet] uttey piá hai pathar geeta.
eh ankháN muNd ke takkná paiNdá,
jeoN chetey ávey sohná mukh sajjanaN dá

View the poem in original Gurumukhi Punujabi with its English translation:

.
Sculptor Alec Peever, who has been working on large scale sculptures and public art since 1976, has created this plan for the poem:

And…
This is how it will manifest itself:

.
Amarjit Chandan and Alec Peever outside Peever Studio in Oxfordshire where this inspiring work is now happening:

This playful person is Chandan’s grandson Aneel.
Photo by Sukant Chandan.
Read Amarjit Chandan’s Poetry
View Alec Peever’s Work

‘Indians in Britain’ by Amarjit Chandan
Stone Carving
South Asian Poetry

‘Sexual abuse of children by aid workers and UN peacekeepers’?

A children’s rights organization has released a research report pointing to cases of child sexual abuse by aid workers and UN peacekeepers in Ivory Coast, Southern Sudan and Haiti, and how most remain unreported.

Save the Children UK research titled ‘No One to Turn To’ (The under-reporting of child sexual exploitation and abuse by aid workers and peacekeepers, Tuesday 27 May 2008) suggests that the perpetrators can be found in ‘every type of humanitarian, peace and security organisation, at every grade of staff, and among both locally recruited and international staff’. The children interviewed report many types of abuse ‘including trading food for sex, rape, child prostitution, pornography, indecent sexual assault and trafficking of children for sex’.

Save the Children UK has made the following recommendations to the UN Task Force on protection from sexual exploitation and abuse. An effective local complaints mechanisms to be set up by the UN in countries where there is a significant international presence; The establishment of a new global watchdog to monitor and evaluate the efforts of international agencies regarding this issue; An increased investment in tackling the underlying causes of sexual abuse, for example support for legal reforms, public education and awareness raising, and the development of national child protection systems. (Source: www.alertnet.org)

This heart-clenching report involves the most vulnerable young persons growing up in some of the most threatening situations of war, hunger, poverty, homelessness and violence. We, as adults are sending them help that includes such aggregated threats as sexual abuse. It is as if what was happening with our young on the ground was not enough to pervert them away from life.

Though the research references three countries, the universality of its findings is implied. View it here in English and French.

It is hard to stay away from the thoughts of children in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Darfur, Tibet and other areas where populations are at war; in Sichuan province of China, and areas hit by earthquakes and other calamities; in short, in situations of acute vulnerability and need.

As well, we must remind ourselves of sexual, emotional and physical abuse suffered by children growing up in oppressive family and social structure in Pakistan, Iran and many countries under Muslim Laws; of children living in the so-called ‘Polygamy Compounds’, ‘Reservations’ and ‘Ghettoes’ within advanced democratic societies such as the United States and Canada.

And a word of caution perhaps, that the most sexual, physical and emotional abuse suffered by our children may not come from aid workers and UN peacekeepers but from individuals in our own families, communities, schools, religious institutions and other social and economic structures.

I support the recommendations of Save the Children UK to increase vigilance over our children worldwide, to create situation to afford more power and voice to our children within their countries, and to assure that we don’t send wolves to take care of lambs from our privileged overseas human rights positions.

Here is an unexpected Punjabi poem titled Dil ‘Heart’:
Dil
Fauzia Rafiq

Uthan behn, jagan sawn
Likhan likhan, paRhan paRhan
Rinnan pinnan, khawan pewan
Ishq muhabtaN
Duftar rozi, mail mulqataN
Eh sarae kam
main Thehr ke kraN gi
dil hali Thaleya nahiN

More on child sexual abuse

Honouring Poet Sadhu Binning

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Poet Sadhu Binning, Vancouver 2008

Profile at www.writersunion.ca

UBC Conference A seminar in honor of Sadhu Binning
………………………………………

I met Sadhu Binning in one of the earlier festivals of Desh Pardesh (1988-2001) in Toronto at the end of 1980s. Desh Pardesh was an inspiring coalition of cultural organizations and individuals spearheaded by the gay South Asians of Khush, and later, the members of South Asian Visual Arts Collective (SAVAC); its impact on South Asian cultural communities in Canada and US is deep and unmistakable.

Next, i saw Sadhu in Surrey in 2005 when Dr. Manjur Ejaz (www.wichaar.com) was visiting from Washington to comemorate Dr. Prem Prakash Singh. Yet after all this time, there was no feeling of discontinuity; and that in part, is the healing experience of coming across Sadhu Binning or his poems.

It is rare to meet a person who appears to be serenely unified in this disjointed world as he uses his soft but firm poetic voice in Punjabi Canadian literature.

It is difficult to find a Punjabi poet in the West who has expressed the pain and loss resulting from the experience of migration, and has then gone on to deliver the pleasant possibility of an evolved integration.

It is impossible to find a poetic voice that sustains its nuances when crossing the boundaries of one language while housed into the other.

This one poem says it all:

No More Watnu Dur

A Punjabi/English poem by Sadhu Binning

letters that I wrote

to my family

to my friends

in the last one century

were all written

from a foreign land

to the motherland

but the letter that I just wrote

about the news of my father’s death

is written

from my country to another country

I wrote:

My father left his home a long time ago

he lived with the dream of

one day returning to his fields

to spend the last of his days in peace

now along with his body

all his dreams are melted into this land

I have dropped his ashes

in icy river water

he has become part of this soil

From Binning’s Punjabi/English poetry collection ‘No More Watno Dur’ (No More Away From Home), published 1995 by TSAR Publications in Toronto.

Considering Binning’s contributions to the development of Punjabi language and literature in Canada, the University of British Columbia (UBC) has organized a two-day conference (April 26-27, Vancouver 2008) on Punjabi literature to honour Sadhu Binning. From the line-up, it seems like an exciting event; thanks to Anne Murphy, a fellow faculty member of Sadhu at the UBC.

Fauzia Rafiq

‘No More Watno Dur’ by Sadhu Binning