In a rare autobiography book, Alberto Cacopardo suggests ‘Peristan’ for Dardistan and Nuristan dubbed as ‘Kafiristan’ By Zubair Torwali An Italian researcher and scholar has deconstructed the myths around the Kalasha community living in Kalash valley for centuries. In his work, he has tried to remove the stereotyping of the most peaceful community and the many identities imposed on them by …
Raza Naeem on the politics and worldview contained in the work of Kaifi Azmi (1919–2002) by Raza Naeem “Stone Kaifi to death, the rulers cried The Messiah? We do not know where he hides!” Born Syed Athar Hussain Rizvi, a hundred years ago this year, Kaifi Azmi, who passed away into eternity seventeen years ago on the 10th of May earlier …
by Raza Naeem “I am the trader of sighs To versify blood is my mission Remaining winds of the garden! Gather your refuges…for My fiery songs Are about to cause an upheaval within depressed bosoms” When the Jallianwala Bagh massacre occured in 1919, Saadat Hasan Manto was nine years old. The hero of Jallianwala Dr Saifuddin Kitchlew was a close relative …
Fatehul Mulk Ali Nasir holds his Fort and offers a view of daily life in his winter refuge Even though I am based in Islamabad, during the winter I always spend at least a week to ten days in Chitral every other month, so as to see that my affairs run smoothly. This includes both paperwork as well as meetings …
Zaynab Mukhammad-Dost The Turkish and Turkic Collections at the British Library are the largest collections of manuscript and printed material from the Turkic world housed anywhere in the United Kingdom, says Michael Erdman in an Interview with Zaynab Mukhammad-Dost. What is special about the British Library’s Turkish and Turkic collections? What is the most treasured item? Does the British Museum, …
Hundreds of civilians were massacred by a British general who was later treated as a hero. There has still been no apology Mihir Bose Tomorrow marks the centenary of a British general gunning down unarmed Indians who had gathered peacefully in a park in Amritsar. In India, you only have to mention the name of the park, Jallianwala Bagh, for everyone to …
By Osama Siddique First, both choices are rather toxic — fans, often abusive, show blind, cult-like devotion to ‘demigod’ Imran Khan; and critics, often scornful, reserve instinctive, pathological malice for every syllable that he utters. Collectively, they deeply polarise conversations about him and jeopardise any fair and balanced assessment of his personality and politics. I shall steer well clear of …
Editorial IT is exactly a year ago that one of the bravest daughters of Pakistan, Asma Jahangir, passed away suddenly and quietly. A redoubtable defender of human rights and democratic values, champion of the downtrodden, and fierce opponent of repressive forces, she was, true to form, fighting the good fight to the end. Even today, indeed especially today, her voice …
HAH Report Islamabad The government has formed a 10-member committee to examine the constitutional, governance and administrative reforms for Gilgit-Baltistan. According to a summary submitted to the Supreme Court of Pakistan by the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP), Anwar Mansur Khan, Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Minister will be the committee’s convener with federal and GB law ministers, GB governor, the …
Mudabbir Ali Some say it is a year-old video. Be that as it may, the video came under spotlight of social media very recently. It showed students – both girls and boys – of Karakorum International University (KIU) dancing to a folk song alongside TV anchor Sanam Baloch. And it has generated a lively outburst of public debate in Gilgit-Baltistan. …
