On stereotyping
I posted an article on female stereotyping at All Things Pakistan blog. There was a bit of discussion but I was also chided as being…
Shoaib Akhtar in Delhi
This photo was published by the Daily Times with the caption New cap for Pakistan? with the following text: Shoaib Akhtar light-heartedly wears the…
Fukuyama defends his Neocon legacy…
This is a good review of After the Neocons: America at the Crossroads by Francis Fukuyama. Khaled Ahmed, one of my favourite writers makes…
Post-Islamism debates
Ali Eteraz on post-Islamism: …since 2001 we have devoted far too much time to the Islamic reform cult of personality. Faced with an increasingly…
My interview at the Pak Spectator
Raza Rumi was interviewed at the Pak Spectator blog. My interview is nothing but rambling galore; but I did relish answering the various questions.…
Ecstasy and Order – Salman Chishty on Rumi
My young friend, Salman Chishty, from Ajmer (India) wrote this piece for the HT on the eve of Rumi’s birth anniversary.He was quick to…
Oh, Lucknow!
By Intizar Husain ONE fine morning under the programme of Sahitya Academy I found myself in Lucknow, and wondered if it was the Lucknow…
Dumbfounded by Love
Dear soul, Love alone cuts arguments short, for it alone comes to the rescue when you cry for help against disputes. Eloquence is dumbfounded…
Miniatures make for a commentary on the Sufi spirit
Nicholas Cranfield considers work that draws deeply on traditional Islamic art FATIMA ZAHRA HASSAN has been teaching in London for more than a decade,…
October 18: Attack on Benazir Bhutto’s rally at Karsaz, Karachi (From the archives)
Despite the Tragedy, Extremism Will be Fought by Pakistanis Published October 20, 2007 (blogcritics) 180 are dead and more than 500 injured in Karachi…
“Naught to do with existence”
From Rumi’s Mathnavi (book III) – a parable most beautiful. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One day a sufi sees an empty food sack hanging on a nail.…
Mir Dard – a ghazal’s translation
We have laid such wild misdeeds to our name. for this we came. the account is full. by the wrack of this storm, this…
The devastating midnight attack
140 dead and 538 injured – this little byline cuts through hearts and our future! Yesterday was the day of images – moving pictures…
Buzkashi – the ancient game continues…
Further to yesterday’s post, I am reproducing this image from Saira Wasim’s website – this is a powerful painting and says it all. Titled…
Saira Wasim’s Art
ATP has published my post on Saira Wasim’s extraordinary art: Saira Wasim is a prominent Pakistani miniaturist. I found a link to her website…
Miniature painting – the global traumas narrated by Saira Wasim
Saira Wasim is a prominent Pakistani miniaturist. I found a link to her website hidden in my unread emails. Some of her recent paintings…
Ramadan came to the heart’s temple
Ramadan came, but Bairam is with us. The lock came, but the key is with us. Mouth is closed. Eyes are opened. That brilliance…
Violence: targeting the lamp of Chishtiyan
Agar Gaiti Sarasar Bad Girad, Chiragh-e-Chishtiyan Hargiz Namirad If the entire universe is devastated by the storm the lamp of Chishtiyan shall not cease…
Ramzan – some home-truths
Today, ATP published this post of mine that attempts to look at some of the uncomfortable aspects of the way Holy month is practised…