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A day of reflection ADMITTEDLY, I am an old fashioned Pakistani. The question, whether creation of Pakistan was right or wrong, never crossed my mind. It may be intellectual bravado or a fashion to ask such questions these days....		When Hiroshima and Nagasaki turned to ashes IN the first week of August, 1945, Harry S. Truman, who had succeeded President Roosevelt just four months ago as Supreme Commander of US Armed Forces, ordered the dropping of atom bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki...
Intelligence in perspective THE importance of intelligence can never be undermined. More so in the present volatile conditions, the value of knowledge is invaluable. And along with this intelligence, there has to be technology...		Karavan Karachi unfolds its new agenda IT was a time to reaffirm faith in Karachi and its eventual bright future, despite the dark clouds hovering over it. It was, in fact, a repeat of what was done...
In the land of the Tamils I WAS covering only the test matches and coming back to Karachi in between to touch base, and then I would be off again. It allowed me to recharge my batteries...		Sharing of thoughts I HAVE started writing my diary recently. Finally, after much pleading with my Dad because he considers diaries to be useless things, he bought me one. Actually, he didn’t really buy...
A dip into the fountain of youth YEARS may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm, wrinkles the soul. Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns spirit back to dust. Whether 60 or 16, there is in every human being’s heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing childlike appetite of what’s next and the joy of playing the game of living. In the center of your heart, and mine...		Experiments in education DESPITE the closure of educational institutions for summer vacations, the education sector has been a busy scene. This hasn’t been so merely because of the protest of teachers of nationalized schools...
Exploring the Canyons THE US state of Arizona, also called The Grand Canyon State, is full of surprises. It’s not just the landscapes, which take in tall mountain ranges, swift rivers, grasslands, sand dunes,...		The mighty Karamar KARAMAR is a mountain in Mardan division. Full of historical details, the ancient highway still runs by Karamar. It starts from Peshawar and after passing through Charsadda, Shahbaz Garha, it reaches...
Hooking up the dead and alive SHE saw faces of people in her dreams who later died. At age five, Sylvia knew she had special powers, “but I prayed to God to take away this knowledge,” because she did not want to be the bearer of bad news....		East, West and the rest THE widening chasm between the East and the West is intriguing. The East is my home, and I have had an opportunity to spend some useful and interesting time in the West, meeting people and going places. For some time since, I have been trying to critically analyse why, according to Rudyard Kipling: “West is West and East is East.....
Tragedy can strike unexpectedly AT times, only 45 minutes can stand out so clearly while days, weeks and months seem to whiz by without a thought. On this particular day, I was sitting and going through some troubling thoughts, sorting out personal problems....		Post-modern trends in Pakistani culture POST-modernism is an unsurpassable philosophy of this age. All views are relative and subordinate to this dominant point of view. Some thinkers and writers of France and Germany initiated this movement. And as Habermas defined post-modernity, “It is a tradition from Bataille to Derrida by way of Foucalt.”....
Society and the human mind THROUGHOUT the ages our ever changing social structure has laid a heavy stress on the minds of people. This has especially been the case with the growing generation. History reveals that...		Should a writer respond to everything? FIRST, we are very fond of talking in the language of cliches. Second, little do we believe in the need to revise our opinions in the light of changed circumstances. We go on repeating time-worn views without the least bit of realization that they have lost their validity...
Bhakti Movement IN the 13th and 14th centuries India went through social, cultural, religious and political changes. The Turkish rule ended the small states and laid down the foundation of a kingdom that...		Cricket’s newest waterhole AFRICA. The name forces a kaleidoscope of images. From romantic Casablanca to the savagery of the slave trade. From the untamed wildlife, best epitomised by Hollywood to the uninhibited landscape. The...
A tale of two autographs I AM not an autograph-hunter. I have never been. Though, like everyone else, I had my idols in my childhood, I never ran after people with an autograph book in my...		Time to bring back the team TO say that the nation has been shocked by the indefensible 7-1 defeat at the hands of New Zealand, is an understatement. There is a feeling of sheer disgust among the...
Dehumanizing the city AUNTIE, can we drop Jojo on our way to the doctor?” chirped my niece. “Where to?” I inquired. “At Lalukhait.” I looked at the little angel with a bit of amusement....		Shattered dreams PAKISTANI youngsters are in disarray. They see no bright future for themselves in this country or abroad. Previously, most of them used to harbour the hope of making it big in...
Pucca kaam affairs MANY are aware of the concept of the perfect crime as developed in the advanced world not only by robbers and killers, but also by those who manipulate state policies and developments in other states. Our police have also recorded some achievements in the line of devising a perfect prosecution....		A closed mind THIS is with reference to Dr Manzoor Ahmad’s article A closed mind (issue of July 28, 2002). It is very rare to find articles in the print media of the country which are thought-provoking in the truest sense.....
MOSAIC: Kids on bikes RECENTLY a bike competition for children was held at the Karachi Parsi Institute. Children from the ages of nine to fourteen years, participate in the day long event. The whole outing...		Newsmaker FOLLOWING nearly a day-long operation, a team of medical experts at Mattel Children’s Hospital at the UCLA Medical Centre in Los Angles successfully separated the conjoined twins. The two Guatemalan sisters were born....