“To myself: Conversations Through Time”, is the first episode of Season 3 of RawPods. This episode includes excerpts from a Mehfil we hosted in October 2022. The reciting poets include Laiba Khan, Muniba M, Nadir Feroz Khan (NFK), Rafey Zuberi, Shaheryar Mirza. In season 3 we will move toward more thematic creative expression, as has been our growing focus. RawPods Season 3 | Episode 1 Connect with us across our channels: Website: Rawanee.com Instagram:...

This episode is a recording of a Mehfil we hosted on 09th July 2023, which included participation of other Poetry Society stanzas (North Cumbria & Roundel) alongside that of Rawanee’s own members. Participants joined from across 4 countries & 7 cities. The prompt was “Darkness, Light or a combination of both…” RawPods Season 2 | Episode 6 Connect with us across our channels: Website: Rawanee.com   Instagram: @Rawanee.Creatives Facebook: @RawaneeCreatives Twitter:...

First published: Mar’22, republished: Oct’23; This episode is a special edition of poetry, "Voices for Humanity" put together under the sad backdrop of war, in March’22. As the world reels from news of the past week, we have put out a call for voices to express support for humanitarianism - to promote peace, and to promote equality.  The poems that we have received from members highlight the sadness and tragedy of war, and also of an inequitable attitude to war that some regions of the...

This episode is a response to recent events in the world - an attempt to speak to our collective kindness and humanity, to appeal for peace. Sequence: All poets are reciting their own work except in two poems: the fourth poem in the podcast has been penned by Faiz & recited by Riasath, and the final poem has been recited & penned by Daniele based on Ibn Insha’s poem. Other poets in this podcast include SS, NFK, MM RawPods Season 2 | Episode 9 Connect with us across our...

There is a wonderland far away Of legend or truth, who can say? For in this land: There’s children on streets And grown men cry Whilst teachers plead Of help from Echo, for she has her plaints But she rolls her eyes, “I ain’t no saint” And the Ladies, they strut dolled in paint For their revelry, little does taint CREDITS Podcast written, directed and conceptualized by: Muniba Mahmud Audio Editing & Concept Execution: Laiba Karim Khan Recitations (Accompanied by Oodles of...

Swiss-born Italian poet of Urdu, whose diversity goes around the globe, Daniele Speziale urf Raahi Itaalvi, is a polyglot with a track record of studying around 15 languages, as well as an aspiring poet, translator, and researcher. Daniele's Urdu and Hindi poems, written under the pen name of Rahi Italvi, are currently being published on Rekhta. He joins us for a beautiful conversation on what inspires him to learn & write in multiple languages, particularly in Urdu & to share...

In February 2022, Rawanee's members got together for another poetry recitation event as part of our "Mehfil with Rawanee" series. Our first session at the start of the year and at what we hope is the beginning of the end of the pandemic, was themed to "Beginnings"; called "Ibtida" in Urdu. Fittingly, we started the session with Iqbal's famous lines capturing his thoughts on "ibtida" and "inteha" (extent), and our members' recitations reflection an array of poetry reflecting on beginnings and...

"If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same" What is resilience, and what cultivates resilience? How does poetic expression contribute to acknowledging and strengthening resilience? In December 2021, Rawanee's community got together to share poetry and some prose, alongside some heartwarming and meaningful conversation on the subject. We heard a lot of original poetry and some classics, and were inspired by the words, talent and thoughts of our...

PAKISTAN: ZINDA HAI This is another special edition podcast put together by Rawanee’s members in light of current events. Earlier this month, many of us were saddened and disappointed at the turn of events in Pakistan, and wrote and recited poetry for the same*. RawPods are conversations that celebrate creative ideas and expression, and are hosted by Rawanee. *Please do note that whilst Rawanee remains committed to freedom of creative expression and thought and to providing a platform for the...

For Qudsia Akhtar, the higher self is worth pursuing. Her latest sequence of poems is rooted in the journey and the search for the many truths that may appear in various experiences such as the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and the myth of the Churail. The voices guide. The image of the lote tree often found in Islamic Sufi thought comes to represent the highest form of self-knowledge, which is also key to Iqbal’s Khudi, first outlined in his poetry/philosophy book ‘The Secrets of the Self’....

That 14th August should be a time to reflect is possibly the least controversial stance toward it. Here, we hear thoughts that should help us challenge & re examine our perceptions of identity, our attitude toward language and ideas This episode is the first part of a recording of an event we hosted in May 2023 in partnership with SOAS, University of London. It includes conversation on the decolonisation of thought & identity and speaks to the Pakistani context....

On Pakistan’s 75th Independence Day, Rawanee’s community shares authentic reflections & heart felt poetry on the country's challenging and continuing journey  CREDITS: Creative Planning, Hosting & Execution: Muniba Mahmud All Songs (except Dil Dil Pakistan, including “Dil se”, “Lab Pe Aati Hai”, “Mera Inaam Pakistan”, “Itnay Baray Jeewan”): Bareena Nadeem; Produced By Surtaal Music Academy Lahore, with a special thanks to Zia Sahab for direction & management “Indian Summer”...

Expressions of Love ❤️ - Izhar e Ishq  - اظہارِ عشق through poetry by Rawanee’s Creative Community. Contribution Credits — Poems Written & Recited by:  "Meray Udas Kamray Mein" by Osama Siddiq "Novelette" by Nadir Khan Feroz "The Lost Spark" by Rafey Zuberi “Sonnet" by Nadir Khan Feroz "Haan Shayad Wohi Ho Tum" by Munazza Ahmed "Forever Love" by Muniba Mahmud RawPods Season 2 | Episode 2 Connect with us across our channels: Website: Rawanee.com   Instagram: @Rawanee.Creatives Facebook:...

Sadia Abbas is a Professor at Rutgers University focused on Post Colonial studies and Literature, and is also a writer of fiction. Here, we speak to her about the influences on Literature and Art in modern times, and about her published and upcoming works of fiction. This episode is part of a series of podcast talks in partnership with the Pakistan Literature Festival London 2023, with participants of the event. Intro BG music: Elegy by Balmorhea https://youtu.be/IHztaOcpuQU Connect with...

This episode is part of a series of podcast talks in partnership with the Pakistan Literature Festival 2023, with participants of the event. This episode is a conversation with Syed Khawer Mirza, ahead of the upcoming book launch of a work he has edited: the biography of Iskander Mirza Background music: "Remembrance" by Balmorhea https://youtu.be/C-wu2VcYNCA RawPods Season 2 | Episode 5 Connect with us across our channels: Website: Rawanee.com   Instagram: @Rawanee.Creatives Facebook:...

Aks e Rawanee is an Urdu Poetry anthology produced by Rawanee in collaboration with the Stephen Spender Trust, UK. This podcast contains select recitations of poetry penned by some of the anthology’s contributing poets. To read the book online or to order a printed copy, please visit our website: Rawanee.com The Stephen Spender Trust is an initiative to celebrate multilingualism and literary translation. The book has been produced as a translation prompt for its annual Poetry Translation...

Preserving our literary heritage & encouraging innovation and new creative output. How should we be approaching this? As a platform that works toward promoting creative thought and expression, these questions have come to occupy us of late. Luckily, we had the opportunity to hear the informed views of Dr. Waqas Khwaja, whose brilliance and accomplishments have us awestruck. Guest speaker: Dr. Waqas Khwaja  is the Ellen Douglass Leyburn Professor of English at Agnes Scott College where...

Allama Iqbal’s concept of Khudi - we have heard of it, but what does this self actualisation really comprise?  A vast and profound subject to speak to, the speakers talk about the personal and social aspects of Khudi, and how Iqbal's ideas formed. As with any other mehfil befitting to the discourse on Iqbal, the conversation is enriched by poetry, philosophy and refreshingly reflective conversation. An episode that will be appreciated by those who love Iqbal's work and want to reflect more...

Allama Iqbal: What message did he have for the youth? What lessons did he derive from nature? What was his concept of tasawuf? In this episode, we talk about some of the key themes in Iqbal's poetry and the message they hold for us. Podcast guests: Ayaz Wasay, Rafey Zuberi and Dr Salma Siddiqui Sequence of conversation: Introduction: 00:00-02:46 Iqbal's message to the youth, Rafey Zuberi: 02:47-25:12 Iqbal's poetic depiction of nature, Salma Siddiqui: 25:13-37:44 Iqbal's concept of...

This episode contains poetry themed to “International Women’s Day” and to “Pakistan Day”. It includes poetry that contains reflections on these themes*, and some classic poetry by prolific Pakistani poets that have been recited by our members. RawPods are conversations that celebrate creative ideas and expression, and are hosted by Rawanee. *Please do note that whilst Rawanee remains committed to freedom of creative expression and thought and to providing a platform for the same, we remain an...

(Unedited episode, recorded in Feb’21) An episode based on a Mehfil, shared in its raw form. In February 2021, Rawanee's still-young community of poetry lovers got together for a second virtual event, in which we shared poetry and conversation over a cup of chai, as we built toward a story of reflection and of strength.  RawPods are conversations that celebrate creative ideas and expression, and are hosted by Rawanee. You can participate in our conversations by joining the Rawanee community...

RawPods by Rawanee focuses on creative thought and expression. Our segment focused on creative profiles has raw, light-hearted, meaningful conversations with diverse everyday creative profiles who inspire us with their hearts, heads, energy and ambition. We learn from their creative journey and get inspired by their creative thoughts and expression. Shaheryar Ali Mirza expresses his creativity through writing, advertising communication, branding and creative ideation in a corporate world....

In October 2020 when Rawanee was still a very new initiative, our team had a casual chat about the possibility of getting a few people together for a virtual poetry session, focused on "South Asian Poetry". We left a feeler out on Rawanee's social pages, got a heartwarming response and had a great time at the actual event. As we shared poetry and our thoughts on it, everyone present felt an amazing connection as we shared our love of poetry and of beautiful verses. As this was our first ever...

RawPods by Rawanee focuses on creative thought and expression. Our segment focused on creative profiles has raw, light-hearted, meaningful conversations with diverse everyday creative profiles who inspire us with their hearts, heads, energy and ambition.  We learn from their creative journey and get inspired by their creative thoughts and expression.   Ismail Noor expresses his creativity through photography of architectures & interiors, art documentation and events. We hope you enjoy...