One October morning, Aizaz Akhtar received an unusual request from his boss, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, to accompany him on trip to a mystery location in Kasur. With

1977.Ras-e-Jask(Iran).Another fifteen days of sailing past Gwadar and Chah Bahar took us to the narrow entrance to Persian Gulf famously named Strait of Hormuz. Our "Pilot", book giving

My first exposure to Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst the Youth (SPIC-MACAY) was in 1983 as a dance student in Delhi, when

The effect of Partition on Punjab was to brutally tear apart communities of Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs who had lived together for centuries. Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed reviews a

In recent times the tradition of veil, in particular by the Muslim women, has come under fire in enlightened and progressive parts of the world. Freedom of speech

1977.Karachi. Myself, Captains AP Singh and Luv Shingal had reached Karachi sailing the boat named Albatross from Bombay in 17 days. A deadly storm and day-and-night sailing the

During a trip to India in early 1984 (my first and last), I was a second-yearstudent at a college in Karachi. My fellow travellers on that trip were

KARACHI: Perhaps it is inevitable that Indian visitors have to face the partition question and the state of Muslims in India. And credit to most who address the

The Khayyal Festival brought together a diverse array of accomplished, pioneering, critical voices from Pakistani society. Arshed Bhatti, having attended the festival, feels that this augurs well for

A timely book by Shamsul Islam demolishes stereotypes associated with the role of Muslim masses during Partition The standard narrative about the Partition, actively propagated by the Hindu

I think it was substantially shaped by my personal experiences: in the sense that what impressed me most since my childhood – and later agitated me most when

Rabindranath Tagore was once asked why he got the Nobel Prize for literature and Allama Iqbal did not. Tagore replied “Probably because I write in my mother tongue

Mobbed at signings, followed by millions and topping the bestseller lists: Instapoets such as Lang Leav, Rupi Kaur and Tyler Knott Gregson are poetry’s new superstars, publishing their

“The pity of partition was not that the country had been divided into two, Independent India and Independent Pakistan; but it was that people had become slaves to

For too long now there has been a parochial understanding of what Pakistani history as anACADEMIC discipline entails, as there is a firm assumption that it has to

HYDERABAD: The 272nd urs celebrations of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, Sindh's most popular sufi saint, commenced formally Friday morning in the town of Bhit Shah in Sindh's Matiari

TAXILA: Over 2,500 Sikhs have travelled to the Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Hassanabdal from India, arriving early on Saturday morning aboard special trains via the Wagah border. Around

After attending several events on Urdu in the last few weeks, I was intrigued by the question whether Urdu was indeed a victim of a conspiracy. If yes,

LAHORE: Over 2,500 Sikh pilgrims arrived in Lahore on Friday from India by three trains to participate in religious and cultural rituals to mark the 547th birth anniversary

On the 14th of August 1947, our family was vacationing in Pehlgam, one of the most famous resorts in Kashmir. My father, Dr Rahmat Ullah, had earlier been

It is good news that Lahore is to have a metro train. It is about time our planners and policymakers considered the needs of the majority instead of

The Hindu community celebrated the Diwali Festival (the festival of light) with religious fervour, traditional zeal and enthusiasm on Wednesday. People across the country illuminated their worship places

After being introduced to Amrita Sher-Gil’s work, I have been thinking a lot about the politics of representation: ethnicity, class and the Orient.According to art historian Marcella Nesom

OTTAWA: Sporting a turban and a thick beard, decorated soldier Harjit Sajjan stood out in the Canadian military, but as defence minister he is among several Sikhs appointed

Vancouver, BC (October 28, 2015) – As Shauna Singh Baldwin emphasized in her keynote at the second annual Dhahan Prize for Punjabi Literature Awards Gala, “We tell, read

Sheikh Mohammad Sharif Sabir, the great Punjabi scholar, researcher, editor, poet and lover of language passed away on October 1, 2015 at the age of 87. His landmark

Dr SS (Surendra Singh) Bhatti is a celebrated author with three doctorates in his kitty on three different subjects of his intensive life-long study. He is a multi-dimensional

Fakhar Zaman1s book in Urdu with sections in English, is a comprehensive document bout the history, political movements, kisan agitations, heroic traditions….

Punjab, the land of five rivers, is facing one of the worst crisis in its history. Its youth is trapped in drugs, marginal farmers are trapped in bank

Few would deny that Bulleh Shah is a major poet, while the extensive use of his kafis by innumerable modern singers and musicians attests to his continuing popularity.

Jati Umra and Gah remind us of the potential for peace and cooperation between India and Pakistan . Last week, I was in Jati Umra – a village

Famous actress Madhubala died more than forty six years ago, but for her dedicated admirers, she is still alive. Her fans are not only in India, but in

On Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered a formal apology in his country’s House of Commons for an incident that took place more than a century ago.

Spreading its beauty near Chakwal in Punjab province of Pakistan, the most reverenced among all the temples are the Katas Raj Temples. In a heaven like surrounding, complex

Author: Swarn Singh Kahlon, Chandigarh Publisher: Manohar Publisher, New Delhi Year of Publication: 2016; Pages 352; Price. Rs. 1195/- (Hard Bound) Reviewed by: Dr. Hardev Singh Virk, Visiting

With their skill in Urdu, Punjabi story and script writers were prominent in Calcutta and Bombay and, of course, Lahore. We have already discussed in previous articles the

The fame of smaller cities almost always rests on one or two places of historical importance. Think of Agra and your mind at once races to the Taj

The single lane disappeared deep into the darkness of the road. Shadows of the trees ran past as the headlight of the car illuminated them. There was a

250 yrs of ‘Heer’ fine, where’s original? Even as the Punjabi literati settled across the globe are keen to celebrate 250 years of compilation of Waris Shah’s Heer,

The Indus is one of the oldest and longest rivers in Asia. Though it originated in the Tibetan Plateau in China, much of it flows across Pakistan.Over the

There is an unseen Punjab beyond Lahore that proudly maintains its own character and colour. Lahore has its own charm and beauty but the desire to retain the

The making of Pakistan placed the Punjabis in a triple bind. The province was divided on communal lines and the cultural assets, both tangible and intangible, were bifurcated

In a small and dimly-lit Urdu Bazaar Lahore shop, stacked with old and new of all types, sits Muhammad Qasim with a ballpoint placed on his right ear

Most people are familiar with Huzoori Bagh, bounded by the majestic Badshahi Mosque and grandiose Lahore Fort. Have you ever heard, though, of the basements of Huzoori Bagh

With their skill in Urdu, Punjabi story and script writers were prominent in Calcutta and Bombay and, of course, Lahore. We have already discussed in previous articles the

Hint: lots of Hyderabadi friends were made, music by Mai Dhai, The Sketches, Zoe Viccaji and Gumby was heard. During our two days in Hyderabad we made at

LAHORE has a long and ancient past. (Top) DAV High School, Lahore.The gateway to the subcontinent, it had through the centuries attracted trade caravans, plundering hordes and conquerors

Bonhams at London auctions off rare art pieces as a matter of routine. But a neck piece under the hammer this month-six glittering emeralds framed in gold and

LAHORE – Hundreds of Indian Sikh pilgrims (Yatries) to arrive in Lahore through Wagha Railway Station on 10 days visit for participating in the 317th Vaisakhi Festival (Mela)

Speakers at colourful Visakhi Mela have pledged to promote the language and culture of Pakistan’s most populous province, Punjab. The colorful Spring Festival was organised by Punjabi Parchar

LAHORE (Staff Report) – Speakers at colourful Visakhi Mela have pledged to promote the language and culture of Pakistan’s most populous province, Punjab. The colorful Spring Festival was

It would not be wrong to say that without the singer doing justice to the tune composed by the music director and written by the lyricist, a song

“The Vedic language has been called the oldest Punjabi, because it is nearer to Punjabi than Hindi. Classical Sanskrit evolved from the Vedic is the main source of

Punjabi is one language that is spoken in nearly 160 countries. It is the 11nth most widely spoken language. Crores of Punjabis residing in these nations, speak, read

In the new Lahore lies buried Shah Husain and with him lies buried the myth of Lal Husain. Still, at least once a year we can hear the

FOR the first generation of professional men in the Punjab it had been the natural thing after retirement to go back to the place they came from, and

Moments of my life in the womb of time-lived awhile, and after Time's span, seemingly entombed-are today alive again, stalk past me…. How have all the graves yielded

The place and date of birth of Baba Fareed is disputed by historians of all ilk. The following is one assessment. Baba Fareed was born in a village

Shaah Husayn (1538-1599) lived in the time of the great Mughal emperor Akbar. He was born in the same year as the passing of Baaba Naanak (1469-1538) another

There are various ways in which individuals approach the question of identity in their endeavor to feel and experience themselves as a moment containing past, present and future.