<icon> 6 years ago this day, we lost a literary star on the firmament of #Urdu #Literature , #NisarAzizButt . Replugging my tribute-cum-obituary to her published in The Friday Times ... For Part 2: thefridaytimes.com/21-Feb-2020/re… Remembering Nisar Aziz Butt (1927-2020) thefridaytimes.com/14-Feb-2020/re…

<genius> Today marks the 48th death anniversary of #SufiGhulamMustafaTabssum , the great poet, & known master of #Persian , #Punjabi & #Urdu literature. My translation of his couplet below: 'In love we have seen many an agitation Beginning, and ending too, in humiliation.'

<today> Proud to be moderating a session on the #iconic #Urdu writer Jamila Hashmi in the afternoon today at the Karachi & Islamabad Literature Festivals . Our session will be from 12:15 PM to 1:15 PM at the Aquarius Hall of the Beach Luxury Hotel. All #Karachi friends welcome! Thanks Ayesha Siddiqa

<tomorrow> Looking forward to returning to the Department of #English , UniversityofKarachi after 6 years to deliver a talk on the 150th birthday of the great #American #Socialist writer Jack London. The venue is the Conference Room. At 11 am sharp. #Karachi friends very welcome!

<the master of Petersburg> #FyodorDostoyevsky , one of the greatest novelists in both #Russian & world #Literature died an early but natural death today, 145 years ago in Saint Petersburg. He was only 59. He once wrote: 'Only through suffering can we find ourselves.'

<replug> One of the greatest writers of all time #FyodorDostoyevsky died 145 years ago today. Replugging my literary tribute which I wrote on #Dostoevsky 's bicentenary in #November 2021 for Outlook India ... outlookindia.com/opinion/books-…

<tomorrow> Looking forward to doing my last public talk in #Karachi tomorrow at the city's #iconic TDF Ghar. I will be talking about my ongoing translations of Ishrat Afreen 's remarkable 'Jang Ki #diary ' in #Urdu . Tomorrow at 8 pm. Karachi friends do come by to say hello!

<that day> On #February11 1979, ordinary #Iranians became revolutionaries as they took to the streets to defend their Revolution. Viva to the revolutionaries & to the realization of their #DREAMS ! My essay on #Iran 's Revolution for The Wire here: thewire.in/world/iran-rev…

<#poet in a hurry> The acclaimed American writer #SylviaPlath , whose painfully honest poetry & prose gave voice to the author’s innermost emotions in ways that touched generations of readers, committed suicide 63 years ago today. Her work helped many understand mental illness.

<missed> 8 years ago today, we lost a shining beacon of #Feminism & resistance, our enduring rights & resistance icon, the #feminist par excellence #AsmaJahangir . How much we miss you, even more so in post-Naya Pakistan . We continue to learn from you You left us so soon....

<red salute> 42 years ago today, the Indian government brazenly hanged #MaqboolButt , the father of #Kashmir #Independence movement & the Kashmiri یاسین after a sham trial. Maqbool’s hanging by the Indian government lit a spark in Kashmir & ignited an armed uprising

<replug> Replugging my essay on the 47th anniversary of the #IranianRevolution today. It was published in The Friday Times on the #Iranian #Revolution 's 40th #anniversary back in 2019... Iran’s Revolution 40 Years On thefridaytimes.com/08-Mar-2019/ir…

<#History > On #Pakistan 's #NationalWomensDay today, let us recognize & celebrate the struggles & sacrifices of our brave women activists, writers, health workers, academics & #politicians ,in honour of the historic first #women 's march in Pakistan in 1983, 43 years ago today

<master> Master #Urdu #Poet #PanditBrijNarainChakbast died 100 years ago today.....RIP... My humble translation of #Chakbast 's most famous & oft-quoted verse highlighted below: (Life, When elements become ordered, that's all Death, But a moment when into chaos they fall)

<acknowledgement> Today is #Pakistan's #NationalWomensDay . Here I am sitting with the inimitable #Sindhi poet, writer, feminist & activist Attiya Dawood in #Karachi 2 days ago. A memorable evening! Thanks to dear abro khuda bux sahib for the amazing click!

<rebel> On great #Urdu #poet #FaizAhmadFaiz 's 115th birthday today, replugging my essay on his iconic poem 'Hum Dekhenge' for The Friday Times written when the #poem became a rage in #India during the anti-#CAA protests 4 years ago... Why Faiz Bothers Them thefridaytimes.com/10-Jan-2020/wh…

<architect> The 17th Karachi & Islamabad Literature Festivals featured an excellent panel on legendary Balochi & #Urdu resistance poet #AttaShad . Atta Shad ® died 29 years ago today. My translation: 'The virtuous expressed their great capability They drank at our expense & disgraced us openly.'

<the woman who said no> One of #Iran 's most brilliant #poets , #ForoughFarrokhzad , died 59 years ago today in a #CarAccident . She was just 32. A woman who symbolized #zanzendegiazadi right till the end! She wrote in the circles of the anti-Shah #Resistance .

<master> Today marks 14 years since the early death of #Shahryar , whose songs in the film 'Rekha singh ' endeared him to generations. My translation: 'It is only this cupbearer who serves drink with the eyes Thousands of taverns in the world though, just saying otherwise.'

<work> Moderating the panel on ace #Urdu writer Jamila Hashmi at the 17th Karachi & Islamabad Literature Festivals Lit Fest 2026 in #Karachi . My distinguished panelists Sameena Nazir, Dr Najeeba Arif , Arshad Waheed & adi Noor ul Huda Shah نورالھديٰ شاھ can be seen on stage. Ayesha Siddiqa was greatly missed.