On a cool February morning, I flew into Islamabad to speak at the Mother Languages Literature Festival at Lok Virsa... Published Apr 01, 2018 06:49am

One book I most enjoyed reading this year was a freshly translated selection of Ismat Chughtai’s short stories,... Published Dec 24, 2017 07:03am

Late summer, 1991. On a break between teaching classes at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), I found... Published Oct 29, 2017 06:06am

In August 2007, when smartphones and social media ‘connections’ weren’t ubiquitous, I returned to London from... Published Aug 27, 2017 07:00am

Last month the critic Boyd Tonkin, whom I have often worked with for about 25 years, wrote to ask me if I’d like ... Published Jul 02, 2017 06:58am

In ‘Muhabbat ka Bulava’ a young man falls in love with his friend’s sister and when his loved one’s very rich father Updated May 14, 2017 10:18am

In February 2007, Mai Ghoussoub — my publisher at Saqi Books and a very dear friend — rang me up in the morning... Updated Mar 19, 2017 08:35am

The ‘little voice’ from China, whose linguistic experiments aimed to dismiss the postcolonial legacy bequeathed upon Published Jan 15, 2017 08:22am

The true authorship of an Azerbaijani masterpiece comes up for debate, and the question of primary and secondary Published Dec 04, 2016 07:35am

Eva de Vitray-Meyerovitch’s translations of works of Rumi and Allama Muhammad Iqbal include the first complete Published Aug 07, 2016 06:43am

On writers who manage to escape exoticism and stereotypes while working in an idiom entirely alien to the setting, Published Jun 12, 2016 07:38am

The past, with its secrets, myths and legends, was woven into Mrs Abdul Qadir’s tales of horror and mystery Updated Mar 13, 2016 07:05am

Reflections on literary festivals and fellow panellists Published Jan 03, 2016 07:59am

The author looks back on how he juggled two careers and became a writer of fiction Published Nov 08, 2015 06:56am

On the brilliant Bangladeshi writer Rizia Rahman Published Sep 25, 2015 02:10am

On what makes the author such a master storyteller and a literary icon Published Jul 26, 2015 07:15am

The bewitching world of Urdu literature for children, often missed out on by those for whom it is written Published May 31, 2015 06:46am

Speaking of art in Pakistan is akin to discussing philosophical concepts. Published Feb 23, 2015 12:16pm

AS December days become shorter and darker, I find it hard to believe that just four weeks ago at this time I was on... Published Dec 21, 2014 06:46am

Every day the world is beloved by me, the seagull eager / for its perch. I woke up this morning to a darkened room,... Published Nov 02, 2014 06:27am