The Old Bungalow

Etched in my memory
Looming the house stood
Once it was my home
Now it’s on my mind

The Good Monster: Musharraf's Cultural Legacy

A leader’s true legacy tends to be more accurately deciphered when studied through the effects his ideas and policies have had on the cultural mindset of the people.

Curse of Arranged or Forced Marriages

He is from a “good� family or biradri! The girl might be given a chance to look at her future groom once if the parents are “Progressive�

The Transformation of the Punjabi Man: Pashtunization or Militarization?

Khalid Ahmed has opened the door for a serious debate and his words on this subject are and must not be the last.

Sex Education For the Next Generation

Sex education based on science, medicine and human psychology rather than cultural and religious superstitions help make rational and responsible choices in life.

Eternal Destiny

you were an inspiration, a desire, a belief,
we have expectations and wishes, but sometimes disappointment is what we meet,

Stephen Gill on his Writing and Diaspora

Multiple award-winning author Stephen Gill was born in Pakistan, grew in India and has settled in Canada after staying in Ethiopia and England for a while.

My Life Story

When I close my eyes in solitude and think about the goings-on in my life during the past 17 years, I realize that a big part of my life is gone, withered away, wasted...

Shopping with Perveen

You bandit. Too much money. We go.
Toilet brushes, Perveen, they’re only toilet brushes…
Too much…he want too much…

Worlds Apart

‘Home? Where was home, anyway? Don’t they say home is where the heart is?’

Female Image in the NWFP

A drive through Peshawar’s main roads shows the most perverse affects of gender selectivity.

The Invisible Men

In fact GORA is soooooo cool that it really doesn’t bother him if we have achieved a seam-less integration or we are trying to preserve our identity. GORA lives on a social, mental and philosophical so elevated and hence so detached from ours that

Impressions about Iran

The world has gone wrong somewhere in understanding them or stereotyping them with other Islamic fundamentalists like the Talibans.

Thar Desert Festival puts Tourism Ministry to Shame

Let no one, however, be under the impression that Umerkot has nothing to offer.

Let’s not Barter Away Our Food Security for GM Crops

What does all this mean for the Pakistani farmer? On the one hand, GM seeds and crops promise an increased yield. But the catch is that the farmer cannot re-use the seed. This makes the farmer a client of the biotech company for life.

The YouTube Baby

Even though it may have seemed an exciting prospect for many watching a young (bearded) man standing up to the most powerful person in the country, yes, but about what was he standing up for?

How Not to get Irritated with Hindi

Hindi has conquered India despite the Hindi zealots. Thanks mainly to the six hundred odd Hindi movies of generally unspeakable quality that emanate from Bollywood every year.

Thanksgiving as Tragedy

Thanksgiving: a feast as a prelude to a massacre.

Aussie Values: Save us the embarrassement!

The call for Australian values is quite xenophobic at its core. It is just another dig at reviving Hansonism by making an issue out of ethnicity.

Children of a Lesser God

Last week, a number of eunuchs holding placards gathered in front of the parliament building to protest against the excesses of their leader, Bobby Guru. They also made it a point to support the debate on the Hudood laws in parliament, thereby maki

Save this Cultural Heritage

I hope that the good people of Lahore show some concern in preserving and helping rejuvenate this cultural heritage and stand together with their brothers and sisters of Hira Mandi to have the neighborhood restored to its old glory.

Duality of our Lives: US Vs. Pakistan

Enticing visions of a studio apartment, Ikea shelves, weaved baskets, plastic trendy colored organizers and routine breaks to Starbucks Café for a shot of espresso creates a perfect harmony in my daughter’s life.

Dreaming of an Indian Renaissance

In an era of unprecedented upheaval and transformation in India, one young man is making waves with his vision for the future called Dreaming Of An Indian Awakening (DIA) through which he aims to usher in an appreciation of India’s rich cultural her

When Spring Arrives - Celebrating Navroz

It is believed by some that it was the day of Navroz when Hazrat Adam was bestowed with the soul. It was the day of Navroz when Hazrat Abrahim destroyed the idols. It was the day of Navroz when Hazrat Noah’s Ark got rescued

Losing one’s culture

Urban India -- The NRI Viewpoint

Perhaps this wave of westernization and erosion of culture and values is limited to a few, a solitary blond hair follicle in a jet black mane?

The Question Drives Us

Is this architecture real?

Beethoven’s Funeral

Just as a lot is changing, so is Metal. Heavy Metal has evolved into various other genres with each considered a legitimate musical expression in it’s own right. If music is food for soul, then Metal is raw meat for some and blood and gore for oth

South Asians in the USA

It is obvious that South Asians will leave a mark on the America. But what would be their contribution to the patchwork of American cultural landscape?

August 2003

Eventually I learnt to leave my Kraft cheese at home, stop talking about Luke Perry, and dress up to look poorer.

East and West

During the flight time, he told me his life, marriage, divorce, children and job ... as soon as the plane landed at Heathrow airport, he did not even say goodbye and never looked back!

Indians Do Not Like Each Other

India is an amalgamation of 29 different mini countries/states.

Old Neighbors And Old Memories

What was really an eye opener was the bonhomie between the Pakistani and the Indian diplomats, who had come to the reception. I drifted towards them and it turned out they were talking about the similarity of Laxshmi Mansions with a few buildings in New D

The Middle Kingdom Wallas

In a nutshell, the Middle Kingdom is unique in three aspects to the other ancient civilizations. It did not produce any God. It has been the longest continuous civilization. And it has yet to have the bitter-sweet taste of democracy.

Basking in Controversy

'Suppressed Voices', a cultural program hosted by Friends of South Asia (FOSA) in December

The Porno Paradox

Pornographic websites were some of the first to make the Internet a business, and they are still the largest conduits by which new users are exposed to the Internet. The same pattern is being seen in cell phones.

Socio-political History of Modern Pop Music in Pakistan

A complete chronology of influences on Pakistani Pop music and the rapid trend to being 'globalized'

Thanksgiving III

too many queries
orphaned by thoughts
too many thoughts
not in word prison

The Return of the Court Jester

The emergence and popularity of the Muslim stand up comic marks the return of the court jester from the days of yore.

Musings of an Immigrant on Culture and Identity

At home, the Indian side dominates, while outside the home, in college, at the workplace or in social situations, the American side dominates. This seemingly dual identity arises precisely because the community actively resists, and indeed comes up with i

Dracula: A Toothless Tirade

A review of the currently running drama at the NIC Building Islamabad - Dracula

The Tale of Five Rivers

The invaders brought new languages and strange cultures. Along with their brutality, there was the religious oppression by the Pundit and Mullah. Out of this chaos and turmoil was born a new language called Punjabi.

Indian Classical Music in Lahore

The Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth (SPIC MACAY) in its desire to spread its wings to the SAARC countries has gained another success. The society is sending a 15 member delegation to Pakistan with 10 artistes in t

The Bollywood Effect – is Reema the next Rani?

Singing of Pakistani songs is now passé and instead we must have 8 elaborately choreographed dances, to the upbeat tempo of Indian tracks, including sets and props!

Twilight of a Passionate Love Affair

O Canada!...Our home and native land!...True patriot love in all thy sons command……

The Mystery of South India

There is a similar philosophy behind the South Indian saree. The unstiched drape enhances the shape of wearer and only partially covers the midriff. The navel is left unconcealed because it is considered a source of life and creativity.

A Visit to My Hometown Kakori in Lucknow

Situated barely fifteen kilometers from Lucknow, the town is as much known for its fine variety of mangoes and kebabs as for the anciently grand mosques and havelis that dot it and the hordes of litterateurs and writers it has produced.

Welcome to the 21st Century

All they did was bark restrictions at them and not let them be normal just like everyone else at school.

From Jinnah to Jamali

Pakistan is not a failed state; the magnitude of our failure is much bigger than that. Pakistan is the name of a bankrupt culture that has been rotting since the fall of the Moghal Empire.

One Roof, Two Worlds

New immigrants, they say, carry a lot of old baggage. Well, not in the literal sense but metaphorically.

A Sign of Things To Come?

What is extraordinary is that this programme was shown on PTV. A few years ago something like this would have been unimaginable.

My Pakistan Diary: Lahore Aaya Main Othay Dil Chhod Aaya!

If it is true that puritanical Islam abhors fun and frolic, then the Mullah has met his match in the Lahori

Chai!

Tea is the most popular drink in the sub-continent. Let us taste a few flavours of it.

Promise Me

Each day I feel you next to me ...

Valentine’s Day

The Saudis were combating Valentine’s Day by raiding flower shops, gift stores and retail outlets and confiscating everything that resembled a red heart.

Basant

For a chance to play Hori again,
For sprightly Krishna to arrive,..

Basant 2002

As the policeman began to walk toward his pick-up, the writer blurted out, ’Basant Mubarak!’

History, Culture and the Mullahs

Once again Lahore is getting ready to enter into its most festive, cultural and colorful month... It seems however that Basant has suddenly over night become controversial for those in the city who are the self styled guardians of this country’s mor

Birth Of A Nation

Just like Eskimos are a snow based, as Venice is water based society, Desis are a Shaadee based culture. Without these functions we can not function. It is our basic right. You are asking the Pharoah to break the pyramid.

Junoon Ltd.

Who knows, maybe Junoon will release some better music soon. Hopefully the cola hasn’t gone to their heads. They might even prove me wrong with a good english language album.

Tomorrow never came

Maybe Johar was finally discovering that cinematic quality he has banished from his pastel-coloured universe: subversion. Maybe this was the real love story: a love triangle between two men and a woman!

Charbagh

Entering Gulgee’s gallery is like stepping into a wonderful surrealistic painting in which odd shapes, images, and objects stare at you as you pass by, giving you the feeling that you’ve turned into Alice and are stepping into Wonderland.

Banning Fashion Shows

To fully grasp the ramifications of the ban, one needs to understand the various dimensions of the front on which the Prime Minister has sought fit to engage battle

Destruction of World’s Eastern Heritage in Iraq

There was an international cry and outrage in April and May, when following the collapse of the Saddam Hussein regime, US armed forces as the occupying power, had allowed the heritage Museum in Baghdad and other museums in Iraq to be damaged and looted al

The Most Ineffective Ban Ever

What is common to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka? Besides being neighbours of India, these countries also live under the fear of Indian hegemony.

To the Gallows

The ill-fitting jail garb had lost whatever little there was of its faded color. How many had worn it before their D-day? Sweat made it cling to her like a second skin. She smelled like a pile of manure. Would they allow her a bath?

Of Weddings and Disney

When I saw the movie, Father of the Bride, I thought wow! these Americans spend so much money on their weddings. Hell, they have a wedding planner. Lo and behold, Pakistanis are no lesser mortals. We not only have our very own wedding planners, our weddin

Anarkali Bazaar

Ever since she could remember, Mari felt there was no other place in the world quite like Anarkali Bazaar. Located in the older part of the city, it was named after the young courtesan who stole Prince Saleem’s heart

Interview with a Historian

Interview of Dr. Robert Anderson (an anthropologist and historian)

Culture Jam

'Do women in your country wear veils?' an oft-repeated question like this I could even smell in the air before it could land on me.

Growing up Muslim

In a few months, the father was sure that his girls will become sexual beings, westernized and depraved

The Sheep Dilemma

I just HAVE to meet another of those alarmingly-increasing-in-number pseudo intellectual freak-shows with all the latest best selling Kamila Shamsie

Do it like the Dutchies Do

In this country you need a doctor’s prescription to buy tablets of paracetamol with codeine. However if you walk into any coffee shop in Amsterdam you can easily legally buy Marijuana!!!!

Takht-e-Bahi

Takht-e-Bahi is famed for the quality of the kebabs available here.

The Tyson Who Didn't Fight Lewis

Why were you insulting Hinduism in there?

Travels through America - Deep Thoughts

Finally, it was one sight that took my heart and left a lasting impression on me of the beauty and simple innocence of a human being...

Dear Dana

The last time I saw you was at the Espresso Royale Café.

Look Ahead In Terror

In college I decided that that I would learn Pakistani history through Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poems.

Why I Am Not A Muslim?

Life is spent in the fastidious guarding of a few empty possessions that sit around like a congregation of useless whores

My Little Bit of Hindu

I made acquaintances with a consciously unknown, but subconsciously known part of myself, the little part of me that was Hindu, so to say.

The Politics of Rape

Why the Meerwala Jatoi panchayat thought they would get away with it

The Myth of Autonomy

The bomb blast had blown off many leaves from roadside trees.

From Across The Border

full of the likes of us who grow up in an ideology laden environments

After Pearl, Which Journalist is Next?

So the press in Pakistan is free

Shadows of Hate

those who survive, will never be the same anymore

Maut Ka Kuwaan (Well of Death)

A pimp, two eunuchs, a maulvi, and a new 100 rupee note

The Meaning of Pakistan

Metaphysical Politics of Pakistan

Marital Rape

A man can’t rape his wife

Goodbye, Allah Rakhi

“Thank you” one last time

Pico’quant Tales

A case of bad writing versus good writing

Aap Amrika Main Hotay Hain?? (Do You Live In America)

This oddly discrepant way of looking at life and career appears to be quite the norm in Pakistan

Facts O-level and facts low level

the matric textbook reads like a badly done PR job by a government spokesman

The Louder Echo

children are more comfortable, knowledgeable, and literate than their parents

Mecca or Mohenjodaro?

A living religion is more eloquent than a dead civilization

What is lacking inside...

Become a servant, that thou mayest be free.

Goodbye, yellow brick road..

today is the first day of my last week as a teacher...

Revolution in the Westerlies

The prodigious son of a devout nation, Karachi sleeps late into the night.

Of Boylove and Boylovers

We (even in the oh-so-liberal West) live in a more conformist society that we are led to believe

An Inward Journey to Pakistan - Part 1

An introspective travlelogue of a journey to Pakistan after 16 years of absence.

Discovering Ali Hasan

Once upon a time, falling in love was not that complicated.

The Never-Ending Story

A womans take on being a ’druggie’ in Pakistan

Fire Alarm

As religious fundamentalists turn movie critics, what’s next for women?

Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder

Is science a superior form of knowledge?

Thanksgiving II

Revolution is perhaps life’s tax
unwittiingly, unwillingly, we pay.

A Day with an Orthodox Rabbi

Hebrew for God willing also sounds like insha’allah.

Thanksgiving

Our lives are but a passage
between two smiles

On Cyberspace and Human Communication

Is it possible that this is yet another fad in human history that has a unifying appeal?

Max Muller’s Ghost

Does Europe owe its culture and identity to India?

Why are Pakistanis so Foreign? It’s the Americans’ Fault!

Imagine a nation with a GNP of $60 billion maintaining an army of nearly 600,000 with 500,000 reserves.

The Basanti Dye

By four-o clock in the morning the whole sky became Basanti. It seemed as if mustard was flowering in the eyes of the sky….

The Good, the Bad and the Anxiety

Can’t we make choices about how to lead our lives without someone out there thinking that we are breaking a religious or cultural law? Who decides what these laws are anyway?

Selective Islam in Pakistan

I feel there are certain western countries with far more Islamic traits than us, especially in the way they protect the rights of their citizens.

The Sindhi Ajrak: An Ancient Art Form

An informative reference article on the Sindhi Ajrak.

The ABCD of Melting Pots

We swallowed the melting pot myth of America hook, line, and sinker … we ate spaghetti, chicken fried rice, and hot dogs and believed that these culinary delights originated in places like Boston, Wichita, and Phoenix.

Time to Move On: A Farewell Letter

Personally, I always felt that we were just fighting a losing battle. Finally, we declared truce and decided to move back to our roots.