Obituary: Viqar Ahmad

Obituary: Viqar Ahmad

Obituary: Viqar Ahmad Letters to Editor Viqar Ahmad, the most outstanding broadcaster and an authoritative voice of the BBC Urdu Service for many decades, passed away on 13 March, 2019, after a prolonged illness in a London hospital. He was 90. Viqar Ahmad was born in Sitapur in Awadh in 1929 in undivided India to…

Aurat March Still Faces Never-Ending Backlash and Threats of Violence in Pakistan

Aurat March Still Faces Never-Ending Backlash and Threats of Violence in Pakistan

Aurat March Still Faces Never-Ending Backlash and Threats of Violence in Pakistan Aurat March 2019 was held on March 8 as part of International Women’s Day celebrations in different cities including Lahore, Faisalabad, Islamabad, Peshawar, Karachi, Hyderabad and Larkana.  People from diverse backgrounds came out on the roads in large numbers to express solidarity with…

Patriotism of Cowardice and Enslaved Mind

Patriotism of Cowardice and Enslaved Mind

Patriotism of Cowardice and Enslaved Mind The modern industrial civilisation has witnessed two World Wars. The researchers of war have yet not been able to estimate the magnitude of casualties/deaths—both military and civilian—which occurred in these two World Wars. The estimated figure of people killed in both World Wars is between 10 to 15 crores….

‘NO to War’: Appeal to Maintain Peace

‘NO to War’: Appeal to Maintain Peace

‘NO to War’: Appeal to Maintain Peace Resolution Passed in the ‘Save Democracy, Save the Nation’ Conference of ‘Cititzens For Democracy’ on March 3, 2019 in New Delhi.     ‘Citizens For Democracy’, set up by Loknayak Jaiprakash Narayan in 1974, views with grave concern the  recent growing tension between India and Pakistan and the…

Wars Never Produce Answers

Wars Never Produce Answers

Wars Never Produce Answers Laxminarayan Ramdas, a retired admiral of the Indian Navy, served as the chief of naval staff between 1990 and 1993. Over a phone conversation with Surabhi Kanga, the web editor at ‘The Caravan’, Ramdas discussed India’s response to the militant attack on a Central Reserve Police Force convoy in Pulwama, in…

War Mongering Must Give Way to Trust, Peace and Friendship

War Mongering Must Give Way to Trust, Peace and Friendship

War Mongering Must Give Way to Trust, Peace and Friendship I went to participate in a candle light homage paying event at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s statue organised by about 200 Dalit students on Hazratganj main crossing in Lucknow on 16 February 2019 evening, two days after the dastardly terrorist act in Pulwana, Jammu and Kashmir,…

Imran Khan and Minorities in Pakistan and India

Imran Khan and Minorities in Pakistan and India

Imran Khan and Minorities in Pakistan and India Imran Khan, the Prime Minster of Pakistan, seems to be unaware of the trajectory of state of minorities in Pakistan. While addressing a ceremony, Khan stated that his government would ensure that minorities in Pakistan get equal status and rights. Good intentions! At the same time he…