The rich history of South Asia is the history of Pakistan too
History of South Asia – South Asia includes the contemporary political entities of the Indian subcontinent and associated islands. Therefore, its history includes the…
Hundreds of decaying historical buildings across Lahore await Attention
Third story for the Herald’s annual heritage issue: Once renowned as a city of gardens and monuments, Lahore now manifests decaying cultural heritage, rampant…
Mughal era: Lahore’s neglected heritage is a sad shadow of its glorious past
The second story from Herald’s annual supplement on heritage As the second Mughal capital, Lahore was home to emperors and noblemen during the 16th…
Sultana Begum, the great grand daughter-in law of last Mughal emperor
Jahane Rumi is grateful to Shivnath Jha for this contribution.. Stiching words together to restore glory to the lives lost in oblivion may not…
Capitulating Rajas: why Taliban might not be resisted
My new piece for The Friday Times South Asian history is a tale of capitulation of local elites before external invaders. Be it the…
Why Jodhaa Akbar is a disappointment?
The challenge of translating a historical era into a cinematic endeavour is daunting, especially when it concerns historically contested subjects such as the fabled…
Mughal Princess Zebunnissa – Lady of the age
Mughal history ignores women of the empire, including Emperor Aurangzeb’s daughter Zeb-un-Nissa: patron of the arts, poet, and a keeper of several lovers –…
The invisible Princess Zebunnisa
A lesser known character from the Mughal Empire is princess Zebunnisa, the eldest daughter of Emperor Aurangzeb. Unlike her puritanical father, Zebunnisa was a…