The feeling of deep satisfaction and a boost in self-worth that one feels after accomplishments is best described as the feeling of pride. A way for man to respect himself, his honour and his dignity. Taking too much solace in this feeling, however, fuels arrogance and entitlement; transitioning it into vanity. The more wood you feed the fire, the greater the flame becomes until it … Continue reading Is There Vanity In Pride?
For centuries, humanity fought wars with men, clad in armor. On foot or on a horse, with a sword or with a gun, they fought on the very soil that supported them. The paradigm of this scheme shifted in 1903, when 2 brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, invented the first ever plane. They successfully launched the first powered, controlled flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. … Continue reading Wings Of Change: Jets That Reshaped Air Combat
Moons in metalworks. Puppets in makeshift cinemas. Threaded tapestries on wooden floors. The grandeur of calligraphy. Our modern world progresses more and more each day, and we find our centuries old traditional Pakistani craftsmanship transforming into a testament of the past. Where the craftsman sits on the street, the metal laden at his feet, the world loses itself in the digital universe. Once, decades ago, … Continue reading Obsolescence Woven in Silver: The Decline of Pakistani Craftsmanship
I’m sure many of you have had that one Desi aunty tell you how so many ‘goray’ are now adopting certain ways of life that resemble those of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companions—or the ones that Islam has already taught us. (Spoiler Alert: she’s right.) There have been countless other Western and religious philosophies that have claimed to be the key to a … Continue reading On the Wise Habits of The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Recently, I stumbled upon a magnificently ornate book on Mughal Architecture titled “Lahore: History and Architecture of Mughal Monuments” by Anjum Rehmani. A deep delve into the influences and achievements throughout the Mughal period, starting from pre-Mughal history, the book explored new aspects of Lahore that I had yet to see around me. In comparison to the almost fantastical seeming portraits of beauty and splendor … Continue reading Neither the City of Gardens nor the City of Love: Lahore
Buckle up, folks, because we’re about to dive headfirst into the captivating world of Bran Castle, better known as ‘Dracula’s Castle’! If you’ve ever wondered where Count Dracula might’ve hosted his undead soirées, this is the place. Before we explore this Transylvanian gem, let’s add a touch of humour to our garlic necklaces and garlic-rubbed stakes— it’s going to be a thrilling ride! Fangtastic Host … Continue reading Bran Castle: Where Dracula Meets Quirky Charm
Enter the absurd world of dreams: a lawless land where you can murder and get away with murder, see floating babies in the sky, or get chased by barnyard animals (not talking about Riverdale here). A dream is somewhere you can be anything or anyone you want to be, although it is not you who governs the bizarre plotlines and mystifying visions. You close your … Continue reading Dreams: A Walk Through the Annals of History
“We often tell our students.’The future’s in your hands.’ But I think the future is actually in your mouth. You have to articulate the world you want to live in first.” – Ocean Vuong. History has witnessed this idea countless times; those who dare to bring change, cannot do it without language. It is the core trait that holds the sheer power of awakening a … Continue reading Faiz Ahmed Faiz; a symbol of revolution
As humans, the need to express one’s desires and feelings is inborn, while the skill of communication through language is acquired. The first thing that is expected of an infant is to utter a few syllables—this shows the significance of language in our lives. Even when mankind had not yet developed the intellect to form words, pictorial scripts such as the hieroglyphics in Ancient Egypt … Continue reading Through the Time Machine: A Commentary on Language, History and Racism
Recently my coach recommended that I read this book by Mark Forsyth called ‘The Elements of Eloquence’. My initial plan was to toss it in my never-ending TBR pile, but they say opportunity creates desire, so I picked it up. In this book, Forsyth uses his witty style to deconstruct works of famous authors to help readers understand the simplicity of language behind the complicated … Continue reading All That’s Shakespeare Isn’t Gold
