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The Greeks had great respect for art and philosophy. When they lost faith in philosophy and lofty ideals, their civilisation, which had shone so brightly for centuries, almost instantly dimmed and then died forever I wonder what the western artist must do if he cannot escape the awesome pull and power of the market. He […]

Artists and writers in countries like Pakistan have a better perspective of the globe today than many of their contemporaries residing in the First World. However, in spite of their closer proximity to contemporary events that are profoundly affecting the world, artists of the Third World have barely taken cognisance of this advantage I would

In all fairness to our police and secret services, Khalid is an odd-looking character, who is really hard to categorise. He is far too sophisticated to be considered a rogue and far too unkempt to be regarded a gentleman Pakistan, like a few other countries, has an absurdly high, and rather peculiar, sense of national

Globalisation is being perceived today as a coercive force. Its most controversial aspect is the neo-liberal economic onslaught by the powerful, industrialised nations. It is heartening that perhaps for the first time the people of North and South have jointly demonstrated all over the globe against the imposition of harsh and exploitative measures of GATT

I am sure if an honest woman were standing at the street corner, the law would be most upset. Even the mullahs are never tired of promising to cleanse the streets off women. They are so obsessed with the gender that they can’t even tolerate their inert two-dimensional image on a hoarding After you come

The thanedar being a thanedar — and a good one — totally identified with the State. He immediately had the tractor and trolley, plus the passengers riding the trolley squatting on bags of wheat, impounded I am sitting under a guava tree — thirty-five years old — planted by my father. Most of its companions,

Mr Gwyn had obviously cautioned himself against purchasing a Gauguin print in which Polynesian maidens were going about their daily chores with bare bosoms. I think for the same reason the best of Renoir was also not there Mr Gwyn, the Principal of Aitchison College Lahore, during one of his vacations back home in England,

 Longinus described puerility as an actor who is fired with emotions but his audience is cold. This is also true of painting and poetry but some people say their feelings cannot be shared with every one. But then why write or paint? I should have thought that the whole purpose of creativity was not to

Husain handles his vowels as elegantly as his suave deportment. It is terribly sad that it was for his English that he was relieved of his responsibility as speaker of the Sindh Assembly circa 1985 I love Karachi but it is after 33 years that I am having an exhibition of paintings here. It is

Gwalior seemed to be an interesting place, but we couldn’t learn much about it. Sohail needed to recuperate from his long journey. I couldn’t even argue because he had indeed made a marathon effort to be with us It was the first car allowed into India three years after the 1965 war, courtesy Mian Iftikhar-ud-Din