Book Review: In the Name of Honour: A Memoir by Mukhtar Mai

Mukhtar Mai’s book is a true, bitter and inspiring account of her struggles in life. Her name came to surface in June 2002 when journalists wrote about her. She was gang raped and punished for an honor crime allegedly committed by her brother. The accusation against her brother was never proved. After Mukhtar Mai was gang raped she intends to commit suicide. Instead, she went against the local custom. She took her rapists to court. The true...

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Book Review: The Eye of the Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

The Eye of the Prophet is another interesting book by Kahlil Gibran. It is brief, but it touches upon topics such as life, youth, woman, love, social relations, slavery, law, understanding, music, art, religion, wisdom etc. I quote here some of Gibran from this particular book. He says: “The man who does not feel friendship towards himself is a public enemy, and he who finds no confidant within himself will dies of despair.” At another...

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Book Review: The End of India by Khushwant Singh

The End of India is a thought provoking book about the crisis which continues to haunt India even today. Based on five chapters, this book includes the problems of Gujarat, communalism and religious fanaticism in India. Singh writes that he won’t be surprised if the Muslims living in Gujrat start paying jaziya which medieval Islamic rulers imposed on their non-Muslim subjects. Ahmedabad, Gujrat’s capital was built by a Muslim ruler in the...

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What is Corona Virus?

Last Saturday on the 14th of March 2020 I was sitting with a small group of people at Melody Market Islamabad. Our conversation had just begun, when I saw a middle aged man of around 40, who directly approached us.  He straight way objected me wearing a mask and did not engage with the others sitting next to me, as they were not wearing masks. Quickly without wasting any time, he asked me if I knew the origin of Corona Virus. When I asked...

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Book Review: The Culture and Civilization of Pakistan by Kishwar Naheed

This publication which I read today is a version translated by Amina Azfar and published by OUP. The book is written by Kishwar Naheed who wrote it in Urdu. In the prologue Kishwar describes this book as the “vindication point” in her life and for “future generations”. The author talks about literature, language, sports, attire and geography of the different areas of Pakistan. She gives a general overview and does not delve into details....

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Book Review: The Vision: Reflections on the Way of the Soul by Kahlil Gibran

The version of this book which I read has been translated by Juan R. I. Cole, with an introduction by Robin Waterfield. Gibran says: “Human beings unite in destroying the temples of the spirit and cooperate in building the edifices of the body”. At another place Gibran says: “I love you when you bow in mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church. For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the spirit”. Further in the book the author...

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