RawaPods: Creative Thought and Expression - Fikr-o-Kalaam (Poetry | Literature | Thought)
by Rawanee
RawaPods are conversations & poetry recitations to support Rawanee’s efforts in #CommunityCreativity and focus on literary and artistic preservation, and innovation.Rawanee aims to revive & nurture a love for thought, poetry, prose and all forms of storytelling. Our community’s voice is rooted, authentic and progressive. Connect with us: WEBSITE & EMAIL: Rawanee.com [email protected] SOCIAL:Instagram.com/Rawanee.creativesFacebook.com/Rawanee.creatives#Poetry #Literature #Thought #Art #Design #Storytelling #urdu #english
Episodes
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The Horrors Persist - But So Do We....
She was burned at the stake. She was cursed with backward feet. She spent a Saturday night sentencing poets on Zoom. Raven helped her. This is the full recording of Rawanee’s horror open mic, held on 24 October 2026. Our resident Mean-Witch (Moonbeam) and our horror storyteller, the Raven…
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Where Verse Meets the Mind - Rawanee's Northern Star since Mehfil 0 | Salma Siddiqui in Sohbat, Chashma e Rawaan
Episode 8 - صحبت — SohbatSalma Siddiqui Salma blends poetry, clinical psychology and academia into a life of wisdom and knowing. She blends western and eastern knowledge, works with a love of humanity, quotes verses for every moment and leaves us inspired and humbled. Rawanee’s northern star…
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Who I am at 01:00 AM - The Craft of Meter & Sufi Verse | Shaheryar Mirza in Sohbat, Chashma e Rawaan
Who I am at 01:00 AM - The Craft of Meter & Sufi Verse [Shaheryar Mirza - Sohbat - Chashma e Rawaan Ep 7, RawaPods] Episode 7 - Sohbat, Shaheryar Mirza When an award winning musician writes poetry, digs literature, finds faith and shapes his own narrative, Shaheryar Mirza’s creative process…
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Theatre, Taboos & Poetry - Creative Platforms & Freedom | nFk in Sohbat, Chashma e Rawaan
Episode 6 - Sohbat, nFk nFk builds creative platforms - the likes of Funtoosh, DWL, Lakeer. He brings humour (dad jokes included), rhyme scheme and creative liberty to Rawanee. He saves ship as the unofficially appointed advisor of no choice to the platform, and brings rhyme scheme to moments to...
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Poetry by the Sea & Lakes - Wit, Urdu Poetry & Memories | Rafey Zuberi in Sohbat, Chashma e Rawaan
Episode 5 - Sohbat, Rafey ZuberiA long career in marketing, a life of reinvention — Rafey spins poetry and photography, surrounded by forests and waterfalls. Long recognized as Rawanee’s founding Urdu voice, we speak to Rafey about his love of Urdu — growing up surrounded by a poetry loving…
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RUH: ROOT - POEMS & CONVERSATION [Episode 4 — Chashma-e-Rawaan, The Founding Streams - A RawaPods series by Rawanee]
Ruh - Episode 4: Chashma-e-Rawaan, The Founding Streams - A RawaPods series by Rawanee The soul beneath the voice. Unhurried. The room has been on a long journey. Voices from Rafey, Shaheryar, nFk, and Qudsia on writing and reading spiritual poetry. Opens with Ki Jana Main Kaun and closes with Tu...
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AAMAD: ARRIVAL - POEMS & CONVERSATION [Episode 3 — Chashma-e-Rawaan, The Founding Streams - A RawaPods series by Rawanee]
Aamad Episode 3: Chashma-e-Rawaan, The Founding Streams - A RawaPods series by RawaneeThe arrival. A three-minute visual piece drawing together Rawanee's journey — moments, milestones, founding poets, and platforms — set to Chal Bulleya and nFk's poetry, with reference to Chashma-e-Rawaan…
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SAFAR: ROOT - POEMS & CONVERSATION [Episode 2 — Chashma-e-Rawaan, The Founding Streams - A RawaPods series by Rawanee]
Safar Episode 2: Chashma-e-Rawaan, The Founding Streams - A RawaPods series by Rawanee The journey a voice takes across languages, migrations, and inheritances. Daniele, Qudsia, Laiba, Samar, Omer, Shaheryar, and nFk on the crossings — what lives in the diaspora that could not have existed in...
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BUNYAD: ROOT - POEMS & CONVERSATION [Episode 1 — Chashma-e-Rawaan, The Founding Streams - A RawaPods series by Rawanee]
Bunyad Episode 1: Chashma-e-Rawaan, The Founding Streams - A RawaPods series by Rawanee Foundations. Where a voice begins — in mother tongue, in inheritance, in the long work of preservation. Voices from Rafey, Hana, Qudsia, Salma, Sana, and nFk on writing, storytelling, education, and the...
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Poems of Illumination - Themed to Nur [Light]
In this episode, we share poetry themed to Nur, or Light. Recorded in Feb'26 at the start of Ramadan, our diverse community gets together in a Mehfil and speaks to the theme in new and interesting ways. Spiritual poems - reflections, longing, connection; socio-political poems - lamenting the loss...
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Salām wa Nūr - Peace & Illumination: A Ramadan Conversation
In this episode, we reflect on two central Qur’anic concepts: Salām (peace, wholeness) and Nūr (light, illumination). We reflect on these concepts not as abstractions, but as lived realities. Through divine attributes, linguistic roots, and selected scriptural references, we examine how these…
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Rivers of Resilience - Siraj ul Islam (Rohingya Refugee Poet)
Poetry & the Refugee Experience We continue Season 4 of RawPods with Rivers of Resilience - a special series centering those with lived experiences of migration, displacement, and those working alongside migrant and refugee communities. In this episode, we speak with Siraj ul Islam, a Rohingya…
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Rivers of Resilience: Camilla Reeve – Publisher & Poet for Justice and Human Rights
We continue Season 4 of RawPods with Rivers of Resilience, a special series exploring migrant lived experiences and those working tirelessly for advocacy, justice, and human rights. In this episode, we speak with Camilla Reeve who is a poet, writer, and founder of Palewell Press. Her work…
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Rivers of Resilience: Asma Rashed's Journey from Syria to Jordan
As conflict and war escalate in many parts of the world, the number of refugees continues to rise—and so do polarising views on migration. In response, we bring you Rivers of Resilience, a powerful new series exploring migrant lives, art, and advocacy as part of Season 4 of RawPods. In this...
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Spiritual Poetry: A Journey Through Urdu Sufi Traditions, & verses from Rumi - a Ramadan Special
Experience the rich tradition of Urdu Sufi poetry in this special episode as we bid goodbye to Ramadan and celebrate Eid. Featuring a journey through Urdu Sufi poetry and timeless works of renowned Urdu Sufi poets, presented by Rafey Zuberi and select verses from Rumi shared by other event guests...
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Spiritual Reflections: Mercy, Forgiveness, and Salvation - The Essence of Ramadan
In this special Ramadan episode of community reflection, we explore the profound themes of mercy, forgiveness, and salvation - both as Divine attributes and as human experiences. The reflections are guided by an understanding of Allah’s names that speak to these traits (as based on Al Ghazali’s...
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Echoes of the Seerah & other spiritual poetry
An event to celebrate the life and message of the best of creation and praise the Creator, hosted in September 2024. Includes recitations of classic and original poems in Arabic, English, Turkish & Urdu. Attended by a diverse community with origins in and currently located in multiple locations...
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Multilingual Poetry - Hammad and Nadir at Poetry Night, The Poetry Cafe
Hammad Rind and Nadir Feroz Khan represent Pakistan and Rawanee as they recite their multilingual work at Poetry Night, at the Poetry Cafe in Feb 2024. The recitations include poetry in languages spoken in Pakistan. Intro Music: Sohni Dharti instrumental by Leo Twins RawPods Season 3 | Episode 5...
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Munir Niazi & Other Preservation Poetry
“Poems from Munir Niazi, Siddiq Kalim and Adeen Taji as shared by their relatives” Spoken to & recited by Akbar Khan (Munir Niazi), Natasha Qureshi (Siddiq Kalim) & Mariam Magsi (Adeen Taji) RawPods Season 3 | Episode 4 Connect with us across our channels: Website: Rawanee.com Instagram:...
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Poems of Faith
“Spiritual and reflective poetry to celebrate Arafah Day & Eid ul Adha” Written & recited by Laiba Khan, Muniba Mahmud, Talhah Mohammed RawPods Season 3 | Episode 3
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Decolonisation of Identity & Thought - Dr Salman Sayyid & Dr Farah Nazir @ SOAS (Conversation)
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...
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Decolonization Poetry
“Poetry that speaks to decolonization” An extract from an event we held at SOAS, university of London in May 2023 - with poetry written and recited by Shaheryar Mirza and Qudsia Akhtar. RawPods Season 3 | Episode 2
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To myself: Conversations Through Time
“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…
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Darkness & Light - Collaborative event with other stanzas of Poetry Society (Poetry)
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...
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Voices for Humanity: Against War & Against Inequality (Poetry)
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...
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Appeal to Humanity
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...
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Seven Children of the Wonderland ~ Stories in Verse by Muniba Mahmud (Poetry)
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,...
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The Making of a Polyglot: Conversation with Daniele Speziale ~ Raahi Itaalvi
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…
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Celebrating Beginnings - Ibtida: Mehfil, Feb’22 (Poetry & Conversation)
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....
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Poetry of Resilience: Mehfil, Dec’21 (Poetry & Conversation)
"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...
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Pakistan Zinda Hai (Poetry)
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...
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Creative Authenticity & A Dialogical Identity with Qudsia Akhtar (Conversation & Poetry)
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…
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To 1947 & Beyond: Pakistan's Journey (Poetry, Songs, Narration)
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”,...
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Expressions of Love – Izhar e Ishq – اظہارِ عشق (Poetry)
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...
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Iskander Mirza’s Biography, with Syed Khawar Mehdi (Conversation) PLFL2023
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...
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Aks e Rawanee - Urdu Poetry Anthology (Poetry)
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:...
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Literary Preservation and Innovation with Professor Waqas Khwaja (Conversation)
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…
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Iqbal's concept of Khudi with Zafar Anjum & Rafey Zuberi (Conversation & Poetry)
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…
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Messages in Iqbal’s Poetry with Rafey Zuberi, Dr Salma Siddiqui, Ayaz Wasay (Poetry & Conversation)
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...
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Pakistan Day 2022 (Poetry)
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…
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Poetry and Conversation (Mehfil, Feb’21)
(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...
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Shaheryar Ali Mirza, on his creative expression (Conversation)
(Unedited episode, recorded in Jan’21) 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...
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South Asian Poetry over Chai - Mehfil, Oct’20 (Poetry & Conversation)
(Unedited episode, recorded in Oct’20) An episode based on a Mehfil, shared in its raw form. 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…
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About this show
RawaPods are conversations & poetry recitations to support Rawanee’s efforts in #CommunityCreativity and focus on literary and artistic preservation, and innovation.Rawanee aims to revive & nurture a love for thought, poetry, prose and all forms of storytelling. Our community’s voice is rooted, authentic and progressive. Connect with us: WEBSITE & EMAIL: Rawanee.com [email protected] SOCIAL:Instagram.com/Rawanee.creativesFacebook.com/Rawanee.creatives#Poetry #Literature #Thought #Art #Design #Storytelling #urdu #english
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