What keeps people together? Some may say, 'its about staying close to each other at all times', but many poets will say otherwise.


If there is poetry on vasl (union) and sensual proximity, a considerable number of ashaar also advocate the need for faasla or 'distance'. Poets have written about faasla as the remedy to prevent the relationships from collapsing under the weight of excessive familiarity, contempt, and boredom.


In this episode of Urdunama, we explore the theme of ‘importance of distancing in relationships’ that brings one back to the oft-repeated quote from Khalil Gibran's The Prophet: 'Let there be spaces in your togetherness, and let the winds of the heavens dance between you [..] and stand together, yet not too near together: for the pillars of the temple stand apart...'


Tune in and pay close attention to poets who are telling us to focus at a 'faasla' or 'distance', because that's where one gets the maximum depth of intimacy. 




Guest: Nomaan Shauq
Host, Writer and Sound Designer: Fabeha Syed
Editor: Shelly Walia
Music: Big Bang Fuzz