NON-FICTION: POINTS OF DEPARTURE

NON-FICTION: POINTS OF DEPARTURE

An anthology of academic essays seeks to shift the focus away from the history of an imagined and unitary Pakistan, to the diverse Published 31 Dec, 2023 08:47am
NON-FICTION: A HIT AND MISS AFFAIR

NON-FICTION: A HIT AND MISS AFFAIR

A collection of Urdu essays that combines satirical pieces with personality sketches and travelogues mostly misses the mark
Published 31 Dec, 2023 08:47am
NON-FICTION: BLOW BY BLOW

NON-FICTION: BLOW BY BLOW

Former British-Pakistani boxer Amir Khan’s autobiography reveals all about his career and the controversies that have dogged him
Published 31 Dec, 2023 08:47am
NON-FICTION: A COMRADE TILL THE END

NON-FICTION: A COMRADE TILL THE END

A collection of writings by one of the foremost Marxist peasant activists shows how, for him, the struggle of Sindh’s rural
Updated 31 Dec, 2023 08:50am
FICTION: SERENADE TO AFRICA

FICTION: SERENADE TO AFRICA

A well-planned, well-executed and easy-to-read debut Urdu novel about ambition and redemption spans from Karachi to Conakry
Updated 31 Dec, 2023 08:49am
NON-FICTION: TREKKING IN ZIARAT

NON-FICTION: TREKKING IN ZIARAT

Salman Rashid’s latest book could well be used as a travel guidebook as well as an absorbing bedtime read
Updated 31 Dec, 2023 08:49am
COLUMN: THE NEED TO REDISCOVER

COLUMN: THE NEED TO REDISCOVER

Some of us in Pakistan continue to speak out against the erasure of memory project pursued by the powerful elites ...
Updated 31 Dec, 2023 08:48am
NON-FICTION: JEWELS OF PERSIA

NON-FICTION: JEWELS OF PERSIA

A coffee-table tome full of exquisite photography educates about the richness of the history of Persia while also being a work
Published 17 Dec, 2023 07:57pm
Column: WEBS OF CENSORSHIP

Column: WEBS OF CENSORSHIP

In my last column, I had suggested that, as evidenced from the events in Palestine, a permanent shift is taking ...
Updated 18 Dec, 2023 10:47pm
Column: WANDERING WITH THE QALANDAR

Column: WANDERING WITH THE QALANDAR

We don’t have a decent edition of this glowing text — and this despite the fact that we have the observation of the famous
Updated 10 Dec, 2023 10:04pm
NON-FICTION: A TALE OF LOST CITIES

NON-FICTION: A TALE OF LOST CITIES

Renowned Indian filmmaker Muzaffar Ali’s autobiography is a portrayal of a bygone world as well as a search for his authentic self
Published 10 Dec, 2023 08:13am
COLUMN: THE MAN WITH A MOUSTACHE

COLUMN: THE MAN WITH A MOUSTACHE

Over the past many years in Lahore, be it at a book launch or any other political, social, cultural or literary...
Published 03 Dec, 2023 07:18am
NON-FICTION: A STRATEGIC TRIANGLE

NON-FICTION: A STRATEGIC TRIANGLE

An in-depth study examines the relationship between China, Iran and Pakistan, the impact of whose cooperation goes beyond
Published 03 Dec, 2023 07:18am
FICTION: TRANSLATING AN ETHOS

FICTION: TRANSLATING AN ETHOS

An English translation of a well-regarded Urdu novel manages to capture social and political dynamics in pre-Partition central
Published 26 Nov, 2023 09:08am
NON-FICTION: FOOL’S PARADISE

NON-FICTION: FOOL’S PARADISE

A book adds to the growing literature on the reasons for the failures of the US to implement its vision of Afghanistan
Published 26 Nov, 2023 08:38am
COLUMN: FLOWERS IN A MIRROR

COLUMN: FLOWERS IN A MIRROR

The great 19th century Urdu and Farsi poet Ghalib was a master in creating neologisms. He excelled in pushing language to its...
Published 26 Nov, 2023 08:26am
NON-FICTION: WORDS AS WEAPONS

NON-FICTION: WORDS AS WEAPONS

A compilation of selected articles by late columnist Irfan Husain from nearly three decades showcases his consistently honest...
Updated 19 Nov, 2023 07:19pm
NON-FICTION: FAST LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE

NON-FICTION: FAST LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE

A book of autobiographical episodes is a brisk and witty narrative about adventures of all types, that leaves the reader craving
Published 19 Nov, 2023 07:50am
FICTION: GLIMPSES OF HUMAN FRAILTY

FICTION: GLIMPSES OF HUMAN FRAILTY

An English translation of a collection of short stories by eminent critic M.H. Askari showcases human beings trying to make the
Updated 19 Nov, 2023 02:07pm
COLUMN: A TEMPLATE OF VIOLENCE

COLUMN: A TEMPLATE OF VIOLENCE

With Palestine, we are in a unique time in history. Savagery is the domain of power, and history is replete with examples of human
Published 19 Nov, 2023 07:37am
POETRY: RECREATING FAIZ

POETRY: RECREATING FAIZ

A second collection inspired by Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poetry uses the great Urdu poet’s poems as starting points for the English...
Published 12 Nov, 2023 07:22am
COLUMN: AMONG READERS AND WRITERS

COLUMN: AMONG READERS AND WRITERS

As autumn is edged away by winter in Islamabad, the 9th edition of the capital’s largest literary festival was organised by the...
Published 12 Nov, 2023 07:13am
LITBUZZ

LITBUZZ

Now in its fifth year, the Zeenat Haroon Rashid (ZHR) Writing Prize for Women 2023 has been awarded to writer Sana Mohsin for her
Published 12 Nov, 2023 07:11am
NON-FICTION: STORIES OF BELONGING

NON-FICTION: STORIES OF BELONGING

A collection of personal accounts of Sindhi Hindus, who had to uproot from their homeland after 1947 and replant themselves in...
Updated 05 Nov, 2023 09:32am
FICTION: AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

FICTION: AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

Simone de Beauvoir’s ‘lost’ near-autobiographical story of an enduring friendship that profoundly shaped her own perspectives on
Published 05 Nov, 2023 08:45am
NON-FICTION: THE MILITANCY CHRONICLES

NON-FICTION: THE MILITANCY CHRONICLES

A book by a journalist is a valuable resource for those seeking to understand the multifaceted nature of Islamist extremism in....
Published 05 Nov, 2023 08:32am
COLUMN: VISITORS IN AUTUMN

COLUMN: VISITORS IN AUTUMN

Sometimes the weight of the world’s problems forces you to seek the refuge of memory and fiction. And the uncertain weather,...
Published 05 Nov, 2023 08:23am
COLUMN: WATER AND THIRST

COLUMN: WATER AND THIRST

Karachi-born Farah Ali is the author of the short story collection People Want to Live (McSweeney’s, 2021). That book is being...
Published 29 Oct, 2023 07:03am
NON-FICTION: GLORY DAYS OF CINEMA

NON-FICTION: GLORY DAYS OF CINEMA

A first volume of a compilation of Ilyas Rashidi’s writings, originally published in the weekly film magazine Nigar, vividly...
Published 29 Oct, 2023 07:03am
NON-FICTION: BORN WITHOUT PERMISSION

NON-FICTION: BORN WITHOUT PERMISSION

An English translation of a woman’s story brings forth with great poignancy and spirit what a whole generation of children went...
Published 29 Oct, 2023 07:03am
NON-FICTION: THE TWO NAOMIS

NON-FICTION: THE TWO NAOMIS

Naomi Klein’s new book on her celebrity namesake, Naomi Wolf, examines the transformation of the latter from an influential...
Published 29 Oct, 2023 07:03am
NON-FICTION: ISKANDER MIRZA’S VERSION

NON-FICTION: ISKANDER MIRZA’S VERSION

The memoirs of Pakistan’s fourth governor general and first president, who died in exile, seek to present his version of history
Published 22 Oct, 2023 08:25am
FICTION: BLAME THE AUTHOR

FICTION: BLAME THE AUTHOR

A quick-read of a ‘psychological thriller’ novel is weighed down by unfathomable characterisation and poor narrative choices
Published 22 Oct, 2023 08:20am
FICTION: THE MASKS WE WEAR

FICTION: THE MASKS WE WEAR

A postmodernist novel explores themes of identity and meaning and offers a unique and rewarding reading experience
Published 22 Oct, 2023 08:12am
COLUMN: FROM SONIPAT TO KOT ADDU

COLUMN: FROM SONIPAT TO KOT ADDU

It was some time ago, when work related to community development would take me regularly to Multan, Bahawalpur, Layyah,...
Published 22 Oct, 2023 08:05am
WHEN SCI-FI MEETS REALITY

WHEN SCI-FI MEETS REALITY

From high-tech fighting machines to supercomputers and killer robots, science fiction has a lot to say about war....
Published 15 Oct, 2023 06:41am
FICTION: UNFINISHED AGENDAS

FICTION: UNFINISHED AGENDAS

A provocative family saga tries to connect the 1857 Indian ‘mutiny’ with rebellious ideas against Western imperialism
Published 15 Oct, 2023 06:41am
NON-FICTION: WITNESS TO A TIME GONE BY

NON-FICTION: WITNESS TO A TIME GONE BY

A diary of the experiences of a Pakistani doctor who worked in Nigeria for four years in the 1960s is both amusing and dramat
Published 15 Oct, 2023 06:41am
NOBLE PRIZE: MASTER OF THE UNCANNY

NOBLE PRIZE: MASTER OF THE UNCANNY

The works of Jon Fosse, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature last week, include novels, poetry, essays, translations
Published 15 Oct, 2023 06:41am
BOOKS IN BRIEF

BOOKS IN BRIEF

The little book, which has even less than a hundred pages, talks of the importance of moral values, which,
Published 15 Oct, 2023 06:41am
COLUMN: WRITING ON CINEMA

COLUMN: WRITING ON CINEMA

Like most people, I love watching films, but can make little or no claim of critically understanding the medium —...
Published 08 Oct, 2023 07:28am
NON-FICTION: ‘FRIENDS, NOT MASTERS’

NON-FICTION: ‘FRIENDS, NOT MASTERS’

A gripping account of how one former American soldier helped his Afghan interpreter and thousands of others to flee the Taliban
Published 08 Oct, 2023 07:28am
NON-FICTION: THE WONDER WOMAN

NON-FICTION: THE WONDER WOMAN

An Urdu translation of the English memoirs of famous yesteryear actor Begum Khurshid Mirza paints a remarkable life lived
Published 08 Oct, 2023 07:28am
NON-FICTION: A LEGACY OF RUTHLESSNESS

NON-FICTION: A LEGACY OF RUTHLESSNESS

A biography structured as an expose of an American media mogul is a cautionary tale that reflects the intensely ugly ways in
Published 08 Oct, 2023 07:28am
NON-FICTION: HOW TO FIGURE OUT HISTORY

NON-FICTION: HOW TO FIGURE OUT HISTORY

A compilation about the historiography of Sindh under the Kalhora and other dynasties is an excellent exposition of primary...
Published 01 Oct, 2023 06:53am
FICTION: CONTROL AND REBELLION

FICTION: CONTROL AND REBELLION

A page-turner of a dystopian novel about a future one-party United Kingdom that harshly enforces a one-child policy is as much...
Published 01 Oct, 2023 06:53am
COLUMN: A MUSHAIRA IN VIRGINIA

COLUMN: A MUSHAIRA IN VIRGINIA

The mushaira at Richmond, Virginia, in late August this year reminded me of gatherings from my childhood, when poets...
Published 24 Sep, 2023 05:25am
FICTION: SHAAM'S MINDSCAPES

FICTION: SHAAM'S MINDSCAPES

A novel by a veteran journalist and editor reflects on Pakistan’s media, politics and history
Published 24 Sep, 2023 05:25am
FICTION: SQUASH AND GRIEF

FICTION: SQUASH AND GRIEF

A Booker Prize long-listed debut novel is a poignant tale about an athlete’s coming-of-age, growing up and grief
Published 24 Sep, 2023 05:25am
COLUMN: A HISTORY OF URDU MYSTERY

COLUMN: A HISTORY OF URDU MYSTERY

In order to flourish and have existential permanence, a language needs both chroniclers and ambassadors, in addition...
Published 17 Sep, 2023 06:02am
NON-FICTION: ERASED FROM MEMORY

NON-FICTION: ERASED FROM MEMORY

A veteran journalist’s book reminds us that all that is served up in Pakistani textbooks is not the whole truth
Published 17 Sep, 2023 06:02am
FICTION: THE ART OF DECEPTION

FICTION: THE ART OF DECEPTION

A novel challenges expectations in a story built around friendships, envy, economic divides and people’s individual ways of
Published 17 Sep, 2023 06:02am
NON-FICTION: THE ROOTS OF INTOLERANCE

NON-FICTION: THE ROOTS OF INTOLERANCE

A book considers why Muslim states and societies show such a lack of tolerance when it comes to religious minorities or those who
Published 17 Sep, 2023 06:02am
COLUMN: CURRY AND SCHOLARSHIP

COLUMN: CURRY AND SCHOLARSHIP

In 1996, after climbing up a steep staircase, I first entered the India Club in London with my friends Anjali Mody...
Published 10 Sep, 2023 07:00am
NON-FICTION: NOTHING TO DECLARE

NON-FICTION: NOTHING TO DECLARE

An English translation of a book originally written by the grandson of the last Mughal king, Bahadur Shah Zafar, is well-produced
Published 10 Sep, 2023 07:00am
MEMOIR: CHALLENGING MONOLITHS

MEMOIR: CHALLENGING MONOLITHS

A memoir by a Pakistani woman is more than just about her juggling a career, marriage, abuse and her husband’s life-altering
Published 10 Sep, 2023 07:00am
NON-FICTION: HOLLOWING OUT FROM WITHIN

NON-FICTION: HOLLOWING OUT FROM WITHIN

An investigative journalist’s account of the ways in which elitism and oligarchic power structures have eroded the fabric and
Published 10 Sep, 2023 07:00am
NON-FICTION: THE GLOBAL PIVOT STATE?

NON-FICTION: THE GLOBAL PIVOT STATE?

Shahid Javed Burki’s latest book is a cornucopia of Pakistan’s geopolitical history and foresees a bright future for the country
Published 03 Sep, 2023 07:28am
FICTION:THE DEMONS OF CORROSION

FICTION:THE DEMONS OF CORROSION

A new novel takes on the difficult issue of acid violence in Pakistan without being preachy. But it is not for the faint of heart.
Published 03 Sep, 2023 07:23am
NON-FICTION: VINTAGE HOLY LAND

NON-FICTION: VINTAGE HOLY LAND

A beautifully produced coffee-table book takes readers on a visual journey of historic Jerusalem
Published 03 Sep, 2023 07:18am
DECOLONISING CHILDREN

DECOLONISING CHILDREN

As independence from British colonial rule swept across East Africa in the early 1960s and freedom was won in ...
Published 03 Sep, 2023 07:11am
FICTION: WATER FOR LIFE

FICTION: WATER FOR LIFE

Set in Kerala and spanning over seven decades, a novel traverses stories about land, faith, class and love and immerses readers in
Published 27 Aug, 2023 09:01am
COLUMN: COLONIALISM, PLANTS AND HUMANS

COLUMN: COLONIALISM, PLANTS AND HUMANS

Amitav Ghosh’s latest work, a nonfiction book titled Smoke and Ashes, was published in India this July. Being in New Delhi at the
Published 27 Aug, 2023 08:53am
NON-FICTION: RIVER OF MEMORIES

NON-FICTION: RIVER OF MEMORIES

A heartwarming memoir describes not just personal events but also the broader political backdrop of a transitioning Empire
Published 20 Aug, 2023 07:37am
FICTION: THE MONETISATION OF IDENTITIES

FICTION: THE MONETISATION OF IDENTITIES

Rebecca F. Kuang’s latest novel is a story of racial tensions, loneliness and the mechanics of a prejudiced publishing industry
Published 20 Aug, 2023 07:37am
NON-FICTION: DEALING WITH TALIBAN 3.0

NON-FICTION: DEALING WITH TALIBAN 3.0

A well-researched and well-written book offers a nuanced perspective on understanding the politics of the Taliban and the future
Published 20 Aug, 2023 07:37am
FICTION: AROMA THERAPY

FICTION: AROMA THERAPY

Historian Aanchal Malhotra’s debut novel is a story of deep love spread across four generations, and is steeped in scents
Published 13 Aug, 2023 08:24am
COLUMN: WRITERS' UNIVERSES

COLUMN: WRITERS' UNIVERSES

A novel is a thematic world controlled by the author. Sometimes a writer realises that his many thematic worlds fit...
Published 13 Aug, 2023 08:24am
NON-FICTION: LIGHT UNTO THE WORLD

NON-FICTION: LIGHT UNTO THE WORLD

Former US First Lady Michelle Obama’s second book imparts insight and powerful stratagems for staying optimistic, hopeful
Published 13 Aug, 2023 08:24am
FICTION: FRUSTRATED HOUSEWIVES

FICTION: FRUSTRATED HOUSEWIVES

The writing of a debut novelist at the age of 64 reflects the wisdom and confidence that she has due to her experience and stikes
Published 06 Aug, 2023 09:09am
FICTION: STREETS WITH NO NAMES

FICTION: STREETS WITH NO NAMES

Asghar Nadeem Syed’s newest novel blurs fact and fiction in musing over the lost years of Gen Zia’s dictatorship
Published 06 Aug, 2023 09:00am
COLUMN: THE COSMOLOGY OF KARBALA

COLUMN: THE COSMOLOGY OF KARBALA

One of the towering giants in the rich domain of the Karbala elegiac art of marsiya, Mirza Salamat Ali Dabir, had at one place...
Published 06 Aug, 2023 08:54am
FICTION: GHOSTS OF VENGEANCE

FICTION: GHOSTS OF VENGEANCE

Shehan Karunatilaka’s Booker Prize-winning sophomore novel is a fantastical murder mystery that, like his debut Chinaman, sweeps
Published 29 Jul, 2023 10:18am
NON-FICTION: KARACHI’S BUILT FORM

NON-FICTION: KARACHI’S BUILT FORM

A new book looks at the background, evolution, language, influences and design paradigms of Karachi’s public architecture...
Published 29 Jul, 2023 10:12am
COLUMN: THE CHANGEMAKER FROM HALA

COLUMN: THE CHANGEMAKER FROM HALA

Like other developing countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America, Pakistan also espouses an economic development model that
Published 29 Jul, 2023 09:58am
COLUMN: THE MIGRANT POET

COLUMN: THE MIGRANT POET

Kunwar Muhammad Jamilur Rahman Khan Jamil was born and raised in Lahore, Pakistan. He served as Joint Secretary Halqa-i-Takhleeq
Published 23 Jul, 2023 05:25am
NON-FICTION: DAYS OF TERROR

NON-FICTION: DAYS OF TERROR

The filmmaker abducted alongside Khalid Khwaja and Colonel Imam tells his story
Published 23 Jul, 2023 05:25am
NON-FICTION: IMAGINARY HOMELANDS

NON-FICTION: IMAGINARY HOMELANDS

A young man from a working class immigrant Pakistani family in Canada details his life growing up as the Other in the West
Published 16 Jul, 2023 08:49am
ESSAY: HENRY AND KATHERINE

ESSAY: HENRY AND KATHERINE

It’s common knowledge that Henry VIII had six wives. But the cataclysmic love triangle between Catherine of Aragon...
Published 16 Jul, 2023 08:44am