“Raza Rumi represents the intellect that defies identity and its lethal politics in the company of a few great classical minds that Pakistan is straining to forget. The mystic best represents his kind of political analyst: honest and non-partisan and therefore the target of the obscurantist. Being Pakistani enables us to understand cultural anxieties in a non-challenging, persuasive manner.”
Khaled Ahmed, Consulting editor, Newsweek Pakistan; Columnist
LATEST BOOK
Being Pakistani
Society, Culture and the Arts
How different is Pakistan’s culture from that of India? Exploring various aspects of the arts, literature and heritage of Pakistan, Raza Rumi argues that culture in Pakistan is not particularly unique to the nation, but rather a part of the cultural identities shared by South Asians. From the songs of Kabir and the ballads of Bulleh Shah to the cult of the feminine in the Sindh region, Rumi takes a kaleidoscopic view of the deep-set cultural mores that tie India and Pakistan together. Going further, he examines aspects of the visual arts, poetry, music and literature of Pakistan that impact global cultural narratives. Finally, he introduces readers to contemporary Pakistani writers and artists and the milieu in which they express their creativity, giving us a fascinating glimpse into cultural productions in Pakistan today. Being Pakistani is a riveting account of artistic traditions and their significance in present-day Pakistan, presenting an alternative view of the country, beyond the usual headlines that focus on political instability and terrorism.
ABOUT RAZA RUMI
Raza Ahmad Rumi is a writer, public policy specialist, editor and instructor. He is the Director at Park Center for Independent Media, Ithaca College and lecturer, Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. He is also the editor of The Friday Times and NayaDaur Media.
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Rethinking Pakistan
The Fractious Path: Pakistan’s Democratic Transition
Being Pakistani: Society, Culture and the Arts
Identity, Faith and Conflict: Essays on Pakistan and Beyond
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Raza Rumi
Writer, editor, multimedia journalist, International development practitioner and an educator. More
Coffee, tea and revolution - Raza Rumi
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Before his death in July 2009, KK Aziz had accomplished one mission that he had set for himself, i.e. to write about the Lahore Coffee House, the glorious nursery of ideas. Luckily, despite his failin...POLICY & DEVELOPMENT PUBLICATIONS
Digital Media Projects
The Edge is a digital magazine that was launched in 2021 to create a space for commentaries and reporting that challenge the mainstream media narratives and engage journalists, students and communities in conversations important for the United States and the world.
Ideas and Futures is an interdisciplinary platform with a focus on re-imagining our societies beyond the pandemic. Its website showcases scholarly reflections, art, literary essays and expressions, cultural, social and political commentaries and analyses for international and U.S. based audiences.
The Friday Times is Pakistan’s first independent weekly, founded in 1989. In 2021, the publication went into collaboration with digital news platform Naya Daur Media to publish under a daily cycle.
Naya Daur Media (NDM) is a bi-lingual, progressive and public-funded digital media platform aiming to inform and educate Pakistanis at home and abroad. It attempts to amplify citizen voices and provide a platform to bloggers, v-loggers and reporters so that citizen journalism turns into a responsible and constructive branch of the country’s media environment.
