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In the name of Hydra CONTROL over water has always been important for the survival of human civilization. In the context of South Asia, where several civilizations have flourished or perished due to abundance...		Existing mechanisms are good enough As Pakistan and India are heading towards finding a negotiated settlement of the ‘core’ and ‘central’ dispute over Kashmir, officials believe that the two countries will also be able to resolve differences...
Militarism in politics During Field Martial Ayub Khan’s martial law, a Sufi said: “He who forcibly takes over the reigns of a country enacts laws for the perpetuation of his dubious rule.”...		Maid mania Today, maids are more in demand than anyone else. Full-time maids charge nothing less than Rs3,000 per month, at times rising up to even Rs5,000, depending on bargaining power, competence and expertise....
Prince Kunala’s eyes The legend about the love of Tishya-rakshita, the young wife of King Asoka, for her stepson, Kunala, has a wide currency in South Asia and far beyond its frontiers. He rejected...		My romance with khauk-swe Our family has always been associated with Burma, now known to the world as Myanmar. Both my brother and I were born in Rangoon, in 1928 and 1931, respectively....
NET-CLIP: Observing Earth Day The year was 1970 and the place, the Northern Illinois University in the USA. Hundreds of students, all concerned with the constant degradation of their environment, had gathered together to express...		From an orphan to a Taliban It was the morning of November 17th, 2001, when a radio address by Laura Bush was broadcast for the Americans....
The vanishing mangh There is no evidence of the architectural mechanism the people of Moenjodaro used to make their house airy. But it is generally believed that they developed an indigenous technique for making...		An outsider’s view from the inside I am a Pakistani who is currently living in Cape Town, South Africa. During the last few years of my work related involvement with the African continent, I have become a student of its political and economic past and present....
DIARY OF A VAGABOND: The fairies of Nanga Parbat I haven’t the foggiest whether you believed in fairies when you were a kid, but I admit I did. In those days of innocence Koh Kaf was a reality and there...		What of our children? The status of child healthcare management in Pakistan is miserable. In fact it is so bad that even a problem infested country like Bangladesh has a better child health system than ours....
HOT SEAT PINNING down Nabila, hair-stylist par excellence and nominee for the forthcoming third Lux Style Awards in the category of hair and make-up, is no easy task. She works 24/7 as she...		Scientific ideas in Iqbal’s poetry My long research on the poetry of more than 100 Urdu poets, with reference to their scientific concepts, have given rise to a very interesting picture. According to it, Urdu poets can be classified into three categories....
CHAPTER FROM HISTORY: The Mongol incursion The last quarter of the 12th century witnessed the rise of nomads from the steppes of the Gobi desert known as Mongols, until then obscure in the annuls of history. Comprising...		POINT OF VIEW: Saigal’s centenary year Khalid Hasan has, in his column, informed us that “this is K.L. Saigal’s centenary year, but not in Pakistan.” He regards this indifference to Saigal on our part as “a commentary...
Talk issues, not people Who ever thought suicide attacks in Rawalpindi were a thing of the past, only had to see Pakistan’s batting on the fourth day....		Hats off to the friendship The mind goes back to November 4, 1987, when Imran Khan’s Pakistan were knocked out in the semifinal by Australia. The home team’s supporters sat down on the pavements outside Gadaffi...
THROUGH THE COVERS: It’s a matter of attitude AND so, the worst fears did materialize, with the series-deciding third match coming to an end midway on the fourth day, with Pakistanis showing no inclination to prolong the misery. I...		A topsy-turvy affair it was The recently concluded Test and One-Day series between the arch rivals, after taking numerous twists and turns, ended in disappointment for the home team. The batting superiority of the visitors was...
A nation of cheats? In the end, her best friend and neighbour betrayed her. Martha Stewart stood convicted. The billionairess who began business from her kitchen table, some 20 years ago...		The samosa that went a long way A fine-tuned palate has always been the hallmark of Karachi’s populace, but expecting a measely morsel to make it all the way to the Khyber, a feat even the British rulers were unable to accomplish...
NEWSMAKER Raising his hands and flashing the victory sign, waving to both his supporters and protesters, a smartly dressed Mordechai Vanunu showed that 18 years behind the bars, with more than 11 of them in solitary confinement, have not broken his spirit or changed his convictions....		‘Alsi’ to the rescue With reference to the article, ‘Alsi’ to the rescue! (March 21), Alsi or linseed is cultivated for its oil and linen fibre. Its oil contains glycerides of oleic acid and other...