Josh Malihabadi | December 05 1894 to 22 February 1982
Aur tu aur khud insan baha jata hy ketna pur hol hy tufan-e-rawayat aay Josh Ehl-e-alfaz shariat pay maray jatay hain Kis ko samjhaon masheyat k isharat aay Josh Josh Malihabadi will be remembered as Shayar-e-Shabab (poet of beauty) and Shayar-e-Inqilab (rebel poet). This 20th century master poet’s life and work has gained public attention, …
Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi | August 20 November 1916, 10 July 2006
Dawar-e hashr! mujhe teri qasam (O Lord of the Day of Judgment, I swear by you) Umr bhar mein ne ibadat ki hay (I have worshipped all my life) Tu mera namaa-e-amaal tau dekh (Look at my balance sheet) Mein ne insaan se mohabbat ki hay (I have loved mankind) A humanist and a revolutionary, …
Fehmida Riaz | 28 July 1946 – 22 November 2018
I am not an exceptionally politically over-charged poet. Perhaps the only exception is that I am a woman, excerpt from a magazine interview. Fehmida Riaz is no more—with her the voice of reason, critical inquiry and profundity. Fehmida is acclaimed as a writer and poet of the progressive movement. All her life she stood up …
The writ of the state
Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan’s (TLP) prominent leaders have been charged with sedition and terrorism in a latest bid by the Pakistan state. The government, in doing so, sends a clear message that no contra-state pressures or actions will be tolerated in Pakistan and that no one can threaten or halt major state apparatus or position holders and …
Detangling the financial yarn
PTI wants to be known as a results-driven government. In the two months since taking reigns of the country, the PM, Imran Khan, has painstakingly turned all stones, looking for means to aid the damaged economy. The only international visits the PM undertook, thus far, were to consolidate the national kitty. Khan and his ministers …
Khawaja Khurshid Anwer | March 21, 1912-October 30, 1984
The man who only gave music for 29 films in his career spanning four decades, left indelible impression on music in the Pakistani and Indian music. Khawaja Khurshid Anwer is remembered for his astute music sense and unflinching work ethic. Khawaja Khurshid Anwer was a profound audiophile, artiste, writer, director, philosopher and an active agent …
Open society and the doctrine of necessity.
Do we want to be a part of an open society? An open society provides freedom and protection enabling the basic tenets of democracy and thrives on critical intellectual discourse, paving way for the future. It provides access and opportunity to all segments of the society through a carefully cultivated tradition of inquiry and critique …
Jamal Khashoggi, Journalist, Blogger, reformist, friend.
October 13, 1958—disappeared October 2018 When I speak of the fear, intimidation, arrests and public shaming of intellectuals and religious leaders who dare to speak their minds, and then I tell you that I’m from Saudi Arabia, are you surprised? —Writes Jamal Khashoggi in his column titled; Saudi Arabia wasn’t always this repressive. Now it’s …
Ustad Amanat Ali Khan (1931-September 1974)
His mellifluous voice was appropriate for performing light and light classical music, a talent well used to ride the tide of fame in the 1960’s music scene, Ustad Amanat Ali Khan was among the stars of Patiala Gharana. He was awarded the Pride of Performance honour by the government of Pakistan in 2009. Prized for …
Crimes against children on the rise
Child abuse cases are becoming an alarming trend in Pakistan. In the first half of 2018 as many as 2,322 countrywide cases of child abuse were reported by the media. Traditionally, the cases of child abuse have been treated as domestic affair. No cases are registered and news curbed. Despite the presence of protective laws …