Time Perception – BBC World
Mike Williams asks why some weeks just fly by but sometimes minutes can seem like hours? Why do we perceive time differently in different…
The party line
My exclusive interview for the Friday Times with Kamran Asdar Ali about his book and the history of the Pakistani left Your book employs…
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…
My interview with Ithaca Times, U.S.
Recently I was interviewed by Ithaca Times, USA. Here is the text: The Ithaca Times sat down with Rumi to talk about his work…
Even as Lahore limps to normalcy
A splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for killing at least 72 people in a heinous attack in Lahore at a…
A message from Nizamudddin Dargah
I have never met Marta but the attachment to Nizamuddin Dargah has bound us for years. Yesterday I got this email and beautiful photographs…
Remembering Intizar Husain
.Raza Rumi remembers Intizar Husain as a colossus of letters, but also as a formative influence for himself (L-R) Jamila Hashmi, Intizar Husain, Masood…
A twist in the tale
My Interview conducted by Abdullah Khan for Earthen Lamp Journal: ELJ: Tell us something about your journey from being a civil servant to a…
Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy’s, Badge of honour
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Badge of honour incisive documentary helps reignite the debate on honour killings in Pakistan. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has won the second Oscar for…
Some thoughts on indigenous peoples
Last week, I visited the National Museum of American Indian, New York. Thereafter, I posted a few tweets. Sharing them here. Grateful to @historianess…
2015: The year in words
Last year was long, unsettling and transitional. I have always welcomed change but being unsure about one’s future path is not too exciting.Have been…
From terror to trade: Eight reasons Pakistanis now want a peace process from Modi and Sharif
The carefully staged surprise diplomacy by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and his warm reception by his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif break a logjam…
Remembering Parveen Shakir (1952-1994)
My 2009 article published in The Friday Times. Parveen Shakir (1952-1994) has defined the sensibilities of several generations and beyond. At the relatively young…
Grace in hand
Komail Aijazuddin’s artwork marks a step beyond the earlier explorations of the baroque symbolism Komail Aijazuddin is a representative of Pakistan’s younger generation of…
Islam and the Cold War baroque
When empire strikes back, but the Force remains strong in the arts and academia of contemporary Muslim countries. I spared with Sadia Abbas As…
Midnight furies
The violent process of Partition remains a highly contested domain in the study of history. Raza Rumi examines various histories of Partition in the…
Global terrorism myth and reality
A new report by the Institute for Economics and Peace, an international think tank based in Australia, brings to light some hard data on…
Nawaz Sharif shift to the centre
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chequered political career may have entered a new phase. His third term is beset by the same old challenges usually…
Faiz Ahmed Faiz: A window to what could have been
Most of us recognize Faiz Ahmed Faiz for his immortal poetry. Few are aware that Faiz Ahmed Faiz was also a prolific prose writer…
Raza Rumi Speaks Out on Countering Violent Extremism