Mumtaz Shireen (1924-1973) was a pioneering Urdu critic and short story writer. Born in Hindupur and raised in Mysore, she migrated to Pakistan in 1947 and soon became a prominent voice against the autocratic tendencies of the Progressive Writers' Movement. In this reportage, written some time between 1958 and 1961, Shireen provides an account of the editor and musicologist Shahid Ahmed Dehlvi's series of lectures and workshops on Pakistan's musical heritage. Dehlvi toured Bangkok, where Shireen briefly resided, under a Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) arrangement, and was invited to address audiences as part of a broader cultural exchange between member states. While describing the contents of Dehlvi's presentations, Shireen elaborates on his unique expertise in both music and literary production, and how the two came together in his enduring contribution as an editor and essayist.Featured music:

Turab Ali Khan - Raag Hemant

Nasim Ahmed (d. ?) was a writer based in East Pakistan, who frequently contributed to Urdu and Bengali periodicals. The essay featured in this episode provides an overview of the culture of Bengali lullabies in the cities and villages of Pakistan's eastern wing. Published in 1963, the essay covers the various themes that feature in these lullabies, including the topography of the Bengal region, its flora and fauna, and the mother's prayers for the safety and success of her child. The conversation is punctuated by translations of various Bengali lullabies in non-standard Urdu, which is spoken by various communities in the region.

Mufti Muhammad Shafi (1897-1976) was a leading scholar and jurist of the Deoband school in Pakistan. In this episode, we revisit an essay from his Arabic treatise on the permissibility of music, translated by Muhammad Abdul Muiz. The essay examines from a Hanafi standpoint the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer's proverbial phrase about music being food for the soul.Featured recitation:Muzaffar Warsi - Wohi Khuda Hai