Dawn, The Review, July 24-30, 1997 The female characters mentioned in the Quran are often looked upon as narrative tools in stories essentially centered around men. They are seldom listed and studied for their own sake: to check what kind of female images God has chosen to present before us. Such a study, if carried […]
Women in the Quran Read More »
Herald, July 1997 Syed Afzal Hussain, popularly known as ‘Shahji’ in film circles, is the most senior sound recordist in the the national industry. But few know that he is also the man who produced landmark films of Pakistani cinema like Lakhon Mein Aik and Naag Muni. Unlike others in the industry, Shahji’s unassuming personality belies his
Syed Afzal Hussain – Recording the past Read More »
Dawn, The Review, Jun 26-Jul 2, 1997 It will perhaps be asked: religion, language and history belong to the domain of humanity, and therefore it is possible to look at them from men’s perspectives, women’s perspective or any other perspective. But how can you have more than one perspective about scientific truths, because science is,
Dawn, The Review, May 15-21, 1997 History is a record of events. But there is a trap. The events recorded in history have been recorded by men, since most of the historians were males, with a few rare exceptions such as Gulbadan Begum, the author of Humayun Nameh. History has been written primarily for men,
History, she wrote Read More »
Dawn, The Review, sometime in April, 1997 “Jane behaved like a man.” Consider this sentence carefully. What does it mean? I put this question in my workshops, and the answer I usually get is: “Jane behaved wisely, bravely, rashly, firmly, boldly, confidently or she became self-reliant or she dressed up in a man’s attire.” If
Men are from Mars, women are from Venus … no more Read More »
‘8 Days a Week’, Dawn The Review, 3-9 April 1997 ‘Rolling stone gathers no moss,’ right? The next time somebody asks this question don’t answer until you have finished the recently published autobiography of Dr. Mubarak Ali. The prolific history writer has chosen a curious moment for writing the story of his life: at the
Der Der Thokar Khaye Read More »
Dawn, The Review, March 13-19, 1997 Just as the communists saw religion as a dangerous tool for the exploitation of the masses, the feminists see it as an instrument of the patriarchy. Women who stand up for their rights are often confronted with arguments from the sacred beliefs of Islam, Christianity and Judaism to show
In religion’s wake Read More »
Dawn, Tuesday Review, February 3-9, 1997 Feminism is just as difficult to define as communism – perhaps more. While definitions abound in books, most feminists agree that feminism has got something to do with (a) a perception that the existing male-dominated society (patriarchy) oppresses women, and (b) a commitment to do something about it. It
Liberty, equality, fraternity Read More »
Herald (Annual), January 1997 The most important aspect of Jilani Kamran’s personality is his worldview. Here is a man who takes a positive pride in his religious identity – almost to the extent of chauvinism – and speaks the language of tolerance, love and Sufism. The combination is remarkable. Whether you speak to him or
Jilani Kamran – Profile Read More »
Dawn Tuesday Review, 24-30 December, 1996 In the history of literature we find people who undergo expulsions, displacements or confinements for the sake of their inner voice. Usually, the perpetrator I a tyrant and the writer is the victim. Zameer Jafery’s is a similar case, albeit with a difference. The expulsion, displacement and confinement he