Against Zardari's Pakistan

When a people become this apathetic, they forfeit the right to a decent life. They have made their peace with the circumstances and deserve no struggle in their name.

Yes we can, Obama!

We are not demanding of Obama to perform a miracle, but seems, and people across the world would agree, that Obama will leave a better world when he leaves the White House than what he confronts today.

Of Medical Students, Passports and Religous Tolerance

Who am I to declare that Mirza Ghulam Ahmed Quadiani is an impostor nabi? Why on earth am I even being asked the question?

I Spy Hindutva

Attempts have been made to 'saffronize' at both the ground level (by editing textbooks) and by challenging conclusions of scholars who have attempted to rewrite history.

At Last...Nationalism at Last

Socialism, the destroyer of the civilisations, took the world under its claws after the Second World War. This (Kosovo) win might be the beginning of the end of the anti-nationalist hegemony all round the world.

This Pyre Will Burn…!

Larkana and the entire interior of Sindh and Sindhi/Baloch dominated areas in Karachi resonated with the slogans of Jiya Sindh and Punjabi na Khapan and Pakistan na khapay.

Free to Dress

Subhash Chandra Bose, three year old. Jawaharlal Nehru, eight year old. Shivaji, ten year old. Rani Luxmi Bai, five year old. Sounds puzzling?

Corruption and Freedom of Press in Pakistan

There have been a number of statements lauding the “freedom” of the press accompanied by a grim reminder of the “dark” days under the democratic governments of the 90s. What does the evidence say?

An Alternative Approach to International Development

Although many nations have promised 0.7% of GNI to relieve suffering and secure the enjoyment of basic human rights, no one is able to hold them accountable.

The Corporation That Changed The World

A book exposing the illegalities, tyrannies, immorality, rapacity, frauds and every kind of misfeasance practised by the East India Company.

Home is where the heart is

I remember an episode of Boston Legal where when Alan Shore is feeling schizophrenic, a psychiatrist asks him where does he live. He says in a hotel. I was mildy surprised.

Pakistan Shinning II - Propoganda or Reality

There is no precedent of any nation having developed economically without consistently saving and reinvesting a substantial portion of its annual GDP.

Medicalising Pakistan

A recent visit to Pakistan was the eye opening one. There was one pharmacy in my neighborhood a few years ago, but now the small street is sprawling with five pharmacies and all are doing “wonderful business”.

Re-Imagining Pakistan

Commencement lecture by Pervez Hoodbhoy at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi, 9 December 2006.

Crime and Human Rights in the Developed World

After the NYPD shot a groom leaving his stag party two days ago, there has been a huge uproar in the American press over what was clearly a crime committed by the men in uniform in the world’s wealthiest city.

Glossing Over Bad Patches of History

Japan is desperately trying to hide its past so that the nation is saved of the shame of its leaders’ dreadful deeds in the past.

Is Secular India really Secular and Islamic Pakistan really Islamic?

Revisiting the History through the words of a Nobel Laureate, Amartya Sen

Union Strike One

Something out of the ordinary has happened over the past 3 weeks. The PTCL workers Union has pulled off a successful strike and has managed to get the privatization of the company postponed indefinitely.

Baloch Rights or Sardars’ Rights?

It is always hard to distinguish where Baloch Sardar rights end and Baloch people’s rights begin.

Branding Nations

A country’s image is its ‘brand’ and building an image is like building a brand. No country or society is perfect. What differentiates nations is the perception about them and the quality of their ‘brand’.

Proud to be a Pakistani?

Our leaders sitting in their big houses, driving their big cars...do not seem to bother as to what the future holds for ambitious students like myself who are made to stand at the end of the line at every job opportunity around the world because of the kn

Twilight of a Passionate Love Affair

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

Indian Womb, Pakistani Soil

Dr. Hafsa Khan is flaunting her son as a Pakistani. If she is deported will she forgo the child? Would that child be recognised as a Pakistani? Would her husband want that child? Would she then have the right to claim him to be an Indian?

International Law: Applicability and Real Politik in the Middle East

For the first time since 1948, an Israeli prime minister or government elect has publicly stated what the Palestinians have been crying out for years

Oh Myopia, Thy Name is Pakistan

Wisdom is the ability to achieve desired results in the long run; foolishness is the propensity to grab the immediate opportunity today and harm oneself tomorrow. Enlightened self-interest is not as dazzling as street-smart wizardry but it prevails in the

On Countries of Dwelling

America arrived, as they would say in Urdu. This country is the best thing that ever happened to me without a doubt. It’s here I learned that even if everything is aesthetically perfect, ..

Myths and Dreams: Hindutva Nationalism and the Indian Diaspora

In the United States, the fervour of long distance Hindutva nationalism is intense. Dangerous stories circulate. Muslims are polygamous terrorists whose deliberate identification and massacre in Gujarat is justifiable, even necessary. The campaign for tri

I am Not a Patriot

When the ideology of Islam expands, nationalism is destroyed, and when nationalism grows, Islam is annihilated.

Can Muslims Become Part of Mainstream Nationalism?

Whenever any disturbances involving Muslims take place anywhere, the Hindu community is automatically blamed - though sometimes justifiably.

Origins of the Modern World Capitalist Economy

The Wages Of Death

Wars are political acts of concentrated violence and yet, there is violence in this war, but there is no rhyme to its logic.

What Would Baynard Rustin Say?

In our casual GAP knockoffs and Old Navy clothes, we convey the idea that we are rebelling against suburban middle class proprieties

Towards Greater Tolerance

Anti-Pakistanism and neo-Indian Nationalism

The March of Folly

Road Blocks in Normalising Relations

If cross border terrorism ceases, facilitating a dialogue between India and Pakistan, will a dividend of long term peace follow?

A Contrary Opinion

why not give the goodwill to someone who has only been brutally honest with us

The Future Is Another Country: 2050 And Beyond

Osama bin Laden has his own vision of a perfect world and millions will die

Muslims and The West After 11th September

America has exacted blood revenge for the Twin Towers

The Clash Of Un-Civilizations And Osama-ism

It is misleading to think and give an impression that these issues will just disappear if Osama is captured or killed today.

1971 in 2000

... this singular event is consigned to the dustbin of history.

Eqbal Ahmad: Post - Pokhran Days

The mountain had turned white. I wondered how much pain had been felt by nature ...

Pssst...This is Rest of South Asia speaking

for every Indian dollar-billionaire, there are at least a hundred million paupers

Straight From the Heart: Dushman Kaun?

Moderates of our world unite. Silent majority speak up

A Road To Siachen

An analysis of the Pakistani military thought and its interests in the present crisis

India’s Failure of Imagination

No one in India, it seems, has a clue what people across the border in Pakistan are thinking

The Battle For Kosovo

An argument for the use of NATO ground forces in Kosovo

Need for a Confederation

India had never been a Nation, it is still not one

Communists and Congress Should Give Birth to ’Red Indians’

The Communist parties and the Congress (I) are toying with the idea of coming closer to form an alternative political dispensation

Repercussions of Nuclearization

The question of women and public space in the nuclear debate hardly exists in the popular imagination

Nuclear Bomb for Sale

the demand for nuclear bombs outstripped that of mangoes, movies, health services, designer labels, paan, clean water,

Onwards to the Nuclear Abyss

India, Pakistan and the March of Folly

Patriot Games

Pass out the barfis. It could be a hockey match. A Tendulkar century. A riot or a nuclear blast.