The Indian American

A mixed up amalgam of diluted Indian traditions and strong western ideas, the Indian American appears to be a rootless, yet confident, brown entity aspiring to be something it is naturally not.

Secularism, Positive Communalism and the Pluralist State

What form of secularism works in a pluralist state? Is it the one that bases itself in inclusiveness or that which is premised on insularity of state from religion?

Skins On Sale

Adam, a scared man in his millennium, hesitantly entered the shop, and stood alienated from the buyers. He was wrapped in a white cotton sheet that made him conspicuous. He watched the sale of skins with curiosity.

Pakistan Quarters

The name probably symbolized the fact that it gave shelter to the families of most of the government servants, keeping the administration of the newly formed nation running, Karachi being the capital then.

A Nation without an Identity

During the last few years the political tendency among Kashmiris gave heavy emphasis on religion. Whereas, the indigenous Kashmiri struggle when it started in 1989-1990 was provoked by the socio-economic factors and a growing sense of deprivation.

Why Assam to be Asom?

In the early nineties BJP politically aired a new slogan—'Indianization of big cities' since old names, to them were, symbolic to either Mughals or British slavery. The idea later became cheaper for all political parties with much vote bank credits.

How do you Define a Citizen’s Identity?

In many countries around the world, being a citizen is driven by religion, one can change his religion to get citizenship or is forced to live a life of shadows and hiding just to have any chance of being a citizen, as well as have some form of self-ident

Why Do We Reject Our Past?

I agree with the notion that I was a member of Indic-civilization for 5000 years, Muslim for around 1000 and Pakistani for 60. I wish our leaders would give us the chance to appreciate and accept all of these great periods as our national identity

Changing Radio Stations

Did he, a mere clerk, teach me a lesson- an Amrika returned Pakistani who knows all- a lesson in equality?

August 2003

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

Nobody’s World

Before death claimed him, he had finally become a nobody, a nobody who was owned by no one and who belonged nowhere. This feel of a nobody that he had seen on the face of that man on that footpath had given him his peace.

The Case for American Muslim Identity

In some cases, having a birthday party at the local community center is seen as 'haraam' simply because the concept of birthday party at the time of Prophet was unknown

Is Secular India really Secular and Islamic Pakistan really Islamic?

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

Losing My Religion

When my son, aged 6, shortly after 9/11, comes to me and gingerly asks me – Mama, am I a Muslim? I am stumped. And immediately begin telling him he is ¾ Hindu and ¼ Muslim. That’s once again, my own insecurity about the world we live in.

The Alternative Muslim Identity

We are not planning on going back home someday. We are home!

Soapbox Sania

Is Sania Mirza changing the impression people have of Muslims? She is doing far worse than all the veiled women put together with her hypocrisy; she makes it appear that the on-court clothes she wears is due to compulsions so god will forgive her

Born Again

The rabid religiousness was infectious. It didn’t affect me though. I was more concerned with the weight of the knot of hair on my head and my asthma. I wanted to be born again, leave the knot of hair behind, shave off the hair on my face, leave my

Branding Nations -- II

To achieve the aim of creating a positive Pakistani Brand there is need for a dynamic agency that can conceive, coordinate and monitor the brand building effort at the national and international level between all the role-players.

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

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?

• Partition Stories
• Immigrant Stories
• Search for Identity
• Social Justice
• Tracing Roots
• Its a Connected World
• Student Life
• Childhood Memories
• Travel Stories
• Dealing with Loss (Death)

• Pakistan's Struggle for Democracy
• The Indian Story
• Indo-Pak Relations
• Personal Narratives
• Religion Today
• War on Terror
• Role of Media
• Call for Social Change
• Hold Them Accountable
• Environment and Us
• Way of Life

• Hillary Clinton a Better Presidential Candidate
• Leaders, Heroes and Mountains
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and New American Dreams
• Pakistan Elections 2008 - An analysis
• Political Issues Ahead of Pakistan Elections