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…
The Feast Of Roses
The Feast Of Roses is a sequel to Indu Sundaresan’s widely appraised novel The Twentieth Wife. As can be expected it is the story…
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…
Stories of Sarmad
Read this excellent piece by Bilal Tanweer published in DAWN, Pakistan on one of my favourite characters: In another variation of this motif, the…
Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri – March 16, 2009, originally uploaded by Jahane Rumi. I was in Fatehpur Sikri a week ago. I love going there again…
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…
The native returns
Unaffected by the prophets of doom, a Lahori decides the city is the place to be Twenty years ago, I left Lahore. Excited by…
Delhi by the book
Published in The News What motivates me to write? Lacking an appropriate label, a catchy boxed tag such as a historian or a sociologist,…
Sultana Begum – a surviving heir of Bahadur Shah Zafar
Neena Jha and Shivnath Jha have launched a nationed wide movement to protect musicians, artists, academicians and others who have brought laurels and pride…
Aurangzeb as he was according to Mughal Records
Found these amazing images on a deeply problematic exhibition on the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb here Exhibit No. 2: Prince Dara Shukoh translating the Upanishads.…
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…
The Irreverent Hero Islam Forgot
Tehelka magazine has this story on how magic and adventure render the Hamzanama the most popular oral epic of the Islamic world. WILLIAM DALRYMPLE…
Love Stories of the Risalo of Shah Latif
Sur Suhni This story dates back to the time when the Moghul Emperor, Shah Jahan ruled over Delhi. There was a wealthy potter named…
Jama Masjid Delhi: The Real Estate Hunt and the State
By Sadia Dehlvi Jama Masjid, the last significant and glorious monuments of the Mughal period now faces a threat of extinction in the garb…
Akbar’s enlightenment mind
Thanks to Khaled Ahmed, we get to hear about new books on a variety of subjects. He has reviewed a new book: “Hindu Myth,…
Jodha Akbar – this is no ordinary film
My blogger friend, Manasvi wrote this reviewof Jodha Akbar and I am glad that the film is good. Jodha Akbar brings to cinema an…
The plight of Bahadur Shah Zafar’s descendants
I had earlier posted on the sad state of the heart wrenching denouement to the dazzling Mughal Empire thanks to Indscribe who related the…
These strange times
Found lovely photo from taken near the Hiran Minar built by Emperor Jahangir. This monument was built by the Mughal Emperor in the memory of Mansraj, his favourite antelope.…