[vc_row full_width=”” parallax=”” parallax_image=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text css_animation=””]Dr. Sarwat Zahra inspires me at several levels: she is a dedicated, committed and experienced Emergency Room physician at a very busy hospital, and she stands between life and death trying to help very sick patients literally every day and night; she is a mother of two very beautiful and intelligent children who have great personalities to reflect Dr. Sarwat’ s availability and nurturing mothering; she is an accomplished poetess with two great poetry books to her credit, as she is equally known in India and Pakistan and abroad, not only in UAE but also in entire Middle East, Europe and now even in North America. I am totally puzzled to see how she balances all these three pillars of her life- work, home and literature. In my opinion, she is an ultimate role model for a modern woman who is accomplished at so many different levels and still strives for the best. Her style of poetry impresses me the most as she does not compromise her thoughts or ideas in the conforms of styles and forms. I find her most true and honest at her writing table. She is willing to write the bitter truth about life no matter how hard it sounds to the society and how disturbing it is for the status quo. She challenges every injustice in our society and demands equal right for herself as a human being without any concession for her gender. Her poetry sounds like a resistance asking for a change and does not sound like a political slogan asking just for attention. I am convinced that her poetry should reach out to others who cannot read or write Urdu. India is a prime example of a multilingual world we live in. Once translated or trans-created into English we cross the language barrier not only in the East but also reach out to our fellow human beings in the West. Language should not be a reason to restrict any idea, it should just be a tool for us to communicate.
(I am a psychiatrist, living, teaching and practicing psychiatry in Virginia, USA, for the last 22 years. I enjoy Indian classical music and reading and writing poetry. Having book (Becoming a psychotherapist) Recently, with friends, I have started a web-based group, called ‘Literary Forum of North America’ which has almost 280 members from nine different countries. The focus of the forum is to promote literature in Urdu as well as English, including translations
Dr Rizwan ali .Translator)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”” parallax=”” parallax_image=””][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1475943083005{background-color: #e0e0e0 !important;}”]
Eve’s daughter
I am Eve’s daughter, that’s my crime.
On top of that—poetry!—the greatest crime.
I am not a spectacle. I must speak my mind.
I can think, so I should be hanged!
My every word, every cry is a crime.
On top of that—poetry!—the greatest crime.
I’m a woman, so why should I have feelings?
Why be alive? I just meet a need.
This insight itself is a crime.
On top of that—poetry!—the greatest crime.
If my hem catches fire I must stay quiet.
Always, I bear injustice and must stay quiet.
If I open my mouth it’s a crime.
On top of that—poetry!—the greatest crime.
I must lock my feelings away in my heart’s prison.
How dare I insult you!
Even to utter your name is a crime,
On top of that—poetry!—the greatest crime.
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اور پھر شاعری تو کڑا جرم ہے
میں تماشا نہیں اپنا اظہار ہوں
سوچ سکتی ہوں سولائق دار ہوں
میرا ہر حرف ہر اک صدا جرم ہے
اور پھر شاعری تو کڑا جرم ہے
مجھ میں احساس کیوں ہو کہ عورت ہوں میں
زندگی کیوں لگوں ؟ بس ضرورت ہوں میں
یہ مری آگہی ہی مرا جرم ہے
اور پھر شاعری تو کڑا جرم ہے
میرا آنچل جلے اور میں رہوں !!
ظلم سہتی رہوں اور میں چپ رہوں
جانتی ہوں مرا بولنا جرم ہے
اور پھر شاعری تو کڑا جرم ہے
میرے جذبے رہیں دل کے زندان میں
میری گستاخیاں آپ کی شان میں !!
آپ کا ذکر بھی تو بڑا جرم ہے
اور پھر شاعری تو کڑا جرم ہے
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Image: Lin Tianmiao[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]