Directionless: trapped in a vicious cycle

The image below is that of a painting by the amazing Pakistani artist Saira Wasim and it relates to the theme of my piece…

Conversation with Mushir ul Hasan on my book

Last year, my book was released in Delhi. The video and transcript of the discussion have been uploaded now. Mushir ul Hasan: I’m delighted…

Writing from the Heart

What a Lovely Review on my book “Delhi by Heart” published  in South Asia Magazine! By Tariq Bashir Delhi by Heart is a passionate…

A wonderful review of my book by Rana Safvi

Here’s a lovely review written by Rana Safvi over at her blog “Dilli jo aik shahar tha aalam mai intikhaab rahtay thay hee jahaan…

Ghamdi on Islam and the Taliban

A friend sent this piece with an introductory message that “Ghamdi’s life is under threat by the Taleban as they want to eliminate all…

Delhi by heart: Writing “Home”

A review of my book, Delhi by heart, in the Express Tribune In candid tones, journalist and analyst Raza Rumi explores an Indian city,…

Book review: A psycho-social perspective on terror

The launch of Dr Unaiza Niaz’s excellent book in September was most symbolic, as the world commemorated the ghastly incident of 9/11 and the…

The enigma that is Pakistan (book review)

Anatol Lieven’s new book is not just a contemporary account of Pakistan, it also attempts to present an alternative narrative of what is often…

What are we teaching our children?

The overwhelming response to my earlier piece on the subject of jaundiced Pakistani textbooks has prompted me to continue with this theme. A large…

Our textbooks and the lies they teach

By Raza Rumi Due to the 18th Amendment, a momentous shift in Pakistan’s governance arrangements is taking place through a politically mediated and largely…

On Raja Paurava and Alexander

In an article entitled On Raja Paurava and Alexander, Salman Rashid writes: We do not celebrate Paurava; we name no roads after him and…

Alternative narratives: History rewritten to further political ends

 The view that Pakistan was conceived as soon as Muhammad bin Qasim set foot in Sindh amounts to rewriting of history, Historian Manan Ahmed…

On Sir Syed Ahmad Khan

C.M. Naim’s, A Professor Emiretus had shared this some months ago: “What an extraordinary man he was. Iftikhar Alam Sahib has been publishing books…

The Martyrs of Karbala

By Sadia Dehlvi We are in the beginning of Muharram, the first month of the lunar Muslim Hijrah Calendar. According to authentic prophetic traditions,…

History must not lie

By Shahid Javed Burki EVER since gaining independence Pakistan has done a remarkable job of either ignoring its history or simply not telling the…

Myths, fables and lies: The murder of history in Pakistan

KK Aziz’s seminal study, – The Murder of History – is essential to understand what went wrong in Pakistan. The most worrying sign of…

Oldest university on earth is reborn after 800 years

Nalanda, an ancient seat of learning destroyed in 1193, will rise again thanks to a Nobel-winning economist By Andrew Buncombe During the six centuries…

K K Aziz: Historian Extraordinaire

The state, society and intelligentsia in Pakistan had forgotten about this towering scholar of our times. His books on Chaudhry Rehmat Ali, Sir Agha…

To undo the vicious past

 Published in the News on Sunday It’s about time a civilian Pakistan functions as a peaceful country with fair share of resources put into…

The tender tea house

I was quite pleased to read this piece. Aside from fact that it talks about me, the constant rememberance of Pak Tea House is…