Dark Academia: STEM Edition

south asian dark academia

Damn!

by Akhil Katyal

“یوه ژبه هیڅ کله بس نده — One language is never enough.”

— Pashto Proverb 

british people be like i know a spot then colonise it

Dark Academia for Brown People

 Most people, when they think of dark academia is books (that’s the whole point) and ancient languages such as Latin or Ancient Greek. I’m here to tell you that you all are SLEEPING on brown culture. Love that is conveyed in the languages of Persian and Urdu (my native language) crosses borders. Sure, Shakespeare and Sappho wrote great pieces of literature but the stories and poems of Rumi, Manto, Hafez and Iqbal have a special place in my heart. 

Some of my favourites are:- (all are translated)

Sit at my grave with wine and a minstrel in a trance, so your smell will raise me from the dead.

HAFEZ

My lover’s sadness lit a fire in my heart that burned my chest, there was a fire in his house that burned the nest.

HAFEZ

O the day turned night, what a shame, a gazelle of kindness a lion became, my partner and lover grew tired of my words and prayers too.

RUMI

These are my personal favourites. I can always make a longer post if you all want.

Female poets deserve a whole other post.

As someone who goes to an English-Medium school, we are always taught to converse in English, see the language as a part of yourself but deny a place to Urdu. As I grow older, I have come to appreciate my identity and so should all my fellow brown people. Take pride in your mother tongue.

Rebec.

A precursor of the violin that originated in Islamic nations in Asia. It found its way to Spain and France where it remained popular until the violin displaced it. It had only three strings and was rectangular or trapezoidal. This instrument was also known by the Arabic name, rabab.

Dark Academia Gift Ideas!

I was looking for some dark academia gift idea lists, but couldn’t find any, so i’ve compiled my own list of affordable gifts for a anyone who loves the DA aesthetic! Feel free to reblog to add to the list! :)

• notebooks with cute designs (Paperblanks make beautiful ones, but are on the more expensive side)

• a fountain pen

• DIY or shop-bought quill

• accessories such as scarves, socks or jewellery (cute scarves and jewellery can be found in second hand shops or on etsy)

• vintage/antique knick-knacks like tins, spectacles, drinking glasses, ornaments etc

• books! I recommend looking in charity/second hand shops for cheap books

• candles or incense or accessories like candle holders etc

• a tea set, or part of a tea set (teapot, cup and saucer)

i can’t believe there are people who live in such historically rich places like italy or scotland or greece or paris with old architecture and ruins and museums… the audacity. 

I adore the traditional afghan dresses. Beautifully captured.