Category Archives: Society
A deeper inquiry into corruption
Note: This write-up was first published on December 27, 2019 in Express Tribune blogs, with a different heading given by the editor. It can be seen at https://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/92407/corruption-in-pakistan-is-not-limited-to-politicians/
Corruption is commonly understood to be the giving or taking of money to commit an illegal act benefiting the money giver, while enriching the money taker. It is also invariably implicit that such benefit is at someone else’s or the state’s cost. The bribe can be in cash or in kind; high value material things – like a plot of land, a house / apartment, a car, jewelry, gold, et cetera.
The saint we have lost – A humble tribute to Maulana Abdul Sattar Edhi
Money Talks
Feeling disgusted.
The Supreme Court, after several weeks of deliberations, lifted the ban on the hunting of the winter migratory bird, the Houbara bustard by Arab royalty, succumbing to Foreign Ministry plea that allowing Houbara hunting is a ‘pillar’ of our foreign policy and vital for maintaining cordial relations with the Arabs. The petitioners for the removal of the ban also included the provincial governments of Punjab, Sindh and Balochsitan.
The ‘F’ Word
Has anyone noticed how frequent the use of the F word has become these days, especially on the social media? Or is this question redundant because you too are a frequent user?
Misogyny Musings
The word misogyny has become quite popular in our lexicon, especially on the social media, and competing with the word ‘selfie’ in frequency of usage generally. Women use it more than men. The word itself originated in the mid 17th century, from the Greek words misos ‘hatred’ and gunē ‘woman’.
In our Life & Times
What a complex global society exists today! From several perspectives, it seems to be hurtling at incredible speed towards eventual self-destruction. From another perspective there is hope that out of the present volatility will emerge an era of great global harmony and prosperity.
Engendering change
An attempt to analyze the myriad issues confronting us today leads to a dizzy realization that the distinction between cause and effect has become totally blurred. For example, is terrorism a cause of our growing despondency, or it is an effect caused by a deeper malaise? Certainly you will have people supporting both viewpoints. This confusion, or perception variation, is perhaps spawned by the very multitude and enormity of ills overpowering society. Think of a wrong, any wrong, and we have it. To name a few, just to drive home the point – extremism, terrorism, intolerance, bigotry, polarization, parochialism, hatred, corruption, nepotism, fraud, dishonesty, exploitation, harassment, misogyny, poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, crime …. The list is endless.
The Kunri Report
Note: This is a follow up to my previous blog, Ladies and Gentlemen, Meet Aansoo Kohli
Starting from home
Ladies & gentlemen, meet Aansoo Kohli
Aansoo Kohli is a teenaged, physically impaired girl from the minority Hindu community, living in a poor, marginalized village near the dusty town of Umerkot, in the Sindh province of Pakistan. There you are – a single sentence that totally sums up Aansoo’s apparently desperately unfortunate existence. She is a girl in a male-dominated, often misogynistic social order. That makes her a second-class citizen.