Author Archives: Ardeshir Cowasjee
13th August, 2012
Lost in the mists of time
The atrocities we have witnessed, and witness today, are in large part due to the fact that religion is very much the business of the state. By Ardeshir Cowasjee
The atrocities we have witnessed, and witness today, are in large part due to the fact that religion is very much the business of the state. By Ardeshir Cowasjee
10th April, 2012
The greening of justice
IN a country where the economic cost of environmental degradation, as determined by the World Bank, has increased from six to more than seven per cent of GDP over the past five years, a most gratifying recent development went unnoticed by many citizens
IN a country where the economic cost of environmental degradation, as determined by the World Bank, has increased from six to more than seven per cent of GDP over the past five years, a most gratifying recent development went unnoticed by many citizens
25th December, 2011
Winding down
TODAY, we in Pakistan observe the birthday of the man who founded and made Pakistan just over 64 years ago.
TODAY, we in Pakistan observe the birthday of the man who founded and made Pakistan just over 64 years ago.
18th December, 2011
Four decades on and where are we?
TWO days ago the nation ‘commemorated’ — or it should have even though to the majority it may have little significance — the 40th anniversary of the signing of the instrument of surrender by the commander of the
TWO days ago the nation ‘commemorated’ — or it should have even though to the majority it may have little significance — the 40th anniversary of the signing of the instrument of surrender by the commander of the
11th December, 2011
Our native lemmings
LEMMINGS are small rodents of the Arctic areas that experience population explosions when food is plentiful.
LEMMINGS are small rodents of the Arctic areas that experience population explosions when food is plentiful.
4th December, 2011
Humanity’s foot on the accelerator
OVER two years ago, this column commented on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s ‘Chicken Little’ statement at the 150-country Geneva environmental conference
OVER two years ago, this column commented on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s ‘Chicken Little’ statement at the 150-country Geneva environmental conference
27th November, 2011
What makes a regional chaudhry?
SOON after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s statement earlier this year that America was “betting” on India’s future and sought Indian presence beyond
SOON after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s statement earlier this year that America was “betting” on India’s future and sought Indian presence beyond
20th November, 2011
Not winning, but changing
AS I was recently reminded by a young friend from Lahore, a representative of what has come to be known as civil society which during these past few years
AS I was recently reminded by a young friend from Lahore, a representative of what has come to be known as civil society which during these past few years
13th November, 2011
The latter-day hunter-gatherer
FOR hundreds of thousands of years the ancestors of today`s man were hunter-gatherers. They were spread all over Earth and wandered around in mobile family bands, foraging for food as their chief occupation
FOR hundreds of thousands of years the ancestors of today`s man were hunter-gatherers. They were spread all over Earth and wandered around in mobile family bands, foraging for food as their chief occupation
6th November, 2011
Pakistanis do not learn from history
“A PHENOMENON noticeable throughout history regardless of place or period is the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests. Mankind, it seems,…
“A PHENOMENON noticeable throughout history regardless of place or period is the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests. Mankind, it seems,…
30th October, 2011
The judicial environment
LAST weekend, the Balochistan High Court and its bar association organised a two-day Conference on Environmental Law at Quetta. Over 300 persons participated including Chief…
LAST weekend, the Balochistan High Court and its bar association organised a two-day Conference on Environmental Law at Quetta. Over 300 persons participated including Chief…
23rd October, 2011
Permanence is not an option
WHO was it who said, many moons ago, when asked where he thought Pakistan was going that it would trundle on — and on —…
WHO was it who said, many moons ago, when asked where he thought Pakistan was going that it would trundle on — and on —…
16th October, 2011
‘A policeman’s lot is not a happy one…’
“RIGHTLY constituted laws should be final sovereign; and personal rule, whether it be exercised by a single person or a body of persons, should be…
“RIGHTLY constituted laws should be final sovereign; and personal rule, whether it be exercised by a single person or a body of persons, should be…
9th October, 2011
Killing the messengers
WE Pakistanis are determined never to learn from history. Our leaders deem ignorance to be bliss and choose to pay no attention to what the…
WE Pakistanis are determined never to learn from history. Our leaders deem ignorance to be bliss and choose to pay no attention to what the…
2nd October, 2011
Struck by calamity
THIS follows on from mention in my recent column on Karachi’s rain of the “colossal rain damage in the rural areas of Sindh, caused by…
THIS follows on from mention in my recent column on Karachi’s rain of the “colossal rain damage in the rural areas of Sindh, caused by…
25th September, 2011
Paucity of Pakistan’s politics
PAKISTAN can produce generals of the army who, from time memorial, have held sway over the national scenario, internally and externally, whether in or out…
PAKISTAN can produce generals of the army who, from time memorial, have held sway over the national scenario, internally and externally, whether in or out…
18th September, 2011
‘Rain, rain, go away…’
“IF you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain,” sang Dolly Parton. But that was before the days of escalating climate change.…
“IF you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain,” sang Dolly Parton. But that was before the days of escalating climate change.…
11th September, 2011
Mediaeval-minded presidents
THE expert in understanding the wiles and ways of the truly accidental co-chairman of the party of the people who doubles as head of state…
THE expert in understanding the wiles and ways of the truly accidental co-chairman of the party of the people who doubles as head of state…
4th September, 2011
They do protest too much
IN Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, the eponymous hero’s mother, the Queen, ironically remarks about a character in a play her son is staging, “The lady doth…
IN Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, the eponymous hero’s mother, the Queen, ironically remarks about a character in a play her son is staging, “The lady doth…
28th August, 2011
Hope springs eternal
OCCASIONALLY, just occasionally, there is a glimmer of hope. Not for the immediate present, nor even for the near future — but hope there may…
OCCASIONALLY, just occasionally, there is a glimmer of hope. Not for the immediate present, nor even for the near future — but hope there may…
