Deadpan Thoughts

As I write this, I have just returned from a whirlwind tour of the world expo here in Shanghai china. its nearly past midnight and I have stood in hour long lines just to get inside four pavilions at the expo center. More on that later though as I shall start from the beginning of [...]

Through out the history of our world women have been both neglected, suppressed and trodden down upon in an effort to systematically reduce them to a level lower then men for objectification as well as exploitation.  However women’s groups and movements have fought against this oppression and for the equality of women to grant them [...]

Are you are sitting there wondering what the above image is about? Its a section for women in the court marriage application form in Dubai. This has not been completely verified as I have yet to see the full document but this was tweeted by @youseftuqan this week and it kind of puts everything in [...]

A new corporate mini-documentary featuring our new superstar Naseem Hameed is all over our television screen these days. It shows a girl sprinting at school races as her parents cheer her on. Cut to the South Asian Games and that girl now a woman, still a sprinter, who wins the 100-metre event gold medal for [...]

The people of Pakistan are a paradox. Faced with the insurmountable Taliban, the war on our city streets via suicide bombs or the staggering inflation and crushing economic debt , most would either run for the hills or try to stand up for what they believe in.  Instead, we see most of us living in a bubble [...]

The quarter-final stage of the Fifa World Cup is just round the corner but the air is already thick with controversy and gloom as a result of poor refereeing decisions. Football is a very strenuous sport as referees have to run from one end of the field to another to monitor the on-field play, aided [...]

The last few days have been hot and dreary, spent at work, awaiting a storm that never arrived, yet added more stress to one’s daily routine. Friday (June 4) was different; Cyclone Phet did not arrive, but Cyclone TEDx (x= independently organised) did. And am I bowled over or what? On Friday, I was exposed [...]

As I write this, I am sitting at the bottom of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The tallest building known to mankind looms over me like some sort of fantasy. In front of me is a dancing fountain and lights show the likes of which at least I have never seen. The building itself is [...]

When digests such as  Sabrung were at their peak in Pakistan, they went ahead in every facet of publishing and tried to make them selves better, where they failed though was to successfully convert themselves into an institution. It was the same in my case, as after launching and successfully claiming my spot in the [...]

In Pakistan, we often make the mistake of thinking that the phenomenon of women breaking stereotypes and conquering uncharted terrain is a recent one. However, a conversation with a path-breaking woman such as Nigar Nazar serves as a reminder that the current generation has only had the courage to step out of their comfort zones [...]