By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: Dawn
THE time is not far off when many children in Pakistan may never have heard of or seen a library. This institution of learning is in real danger of becoming extinct. With politics generating the sound and fury that it does in this country, it is not surprising that non-political and seemingly mundane issues, such as the paucity of libraries, never receive the spotlight that they deserve.
Continue reading Where are our libraries?
By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: Dawn
PRESIDENT Pervez Musharraf’s constitutional packages have focused public attention on the political power structure in the country. True, this is important, since the wielders of power do have the options and opportunity to change macro policies which vitally determine the state of the nation.
But recent happenings indicate that many of our woes stem from the power imbalance within society itself. There are many other factors which also influence social attitudes and thereby the power structure in society.
Continue reading Basic rights and power structure
By Zubeida Mustafa
A recent women’s conference in the US proved valuable for its contribution in reinforcing faith in the feminist interpretation of history, writes Zubeida Mustafa
When women from Pakistan, India and the US met in Westfield, Massachusetts recently what were they hoping to achieve? The Global Women’s History Project, which organized the meeting, is designed to give women the feminist perspective to their history.
The idea is that while their governments squabble, the women can meet unencumbered by the burdens of male-centred history and take a common female perspective of issues. Dr Elise Young, the founder of this project, is a professor of history at Westfield State College and describes her passion in life which is to bring together women on a platform of non-violence from the opposite sides of the political divide. She has already organized two such moots before bringing together women of Palestine and Israel, and from South Africa and Ireland to find common ground.
Continue reading Another world is possible
By. Zubeida Mustafa
On international women’s day last year, we had a torchlight March in Karachi to commemorate the occasion. I still remember how the flickering flames of the torches captured the powerful emotions on the faces of the participants. Most of them were familiar faces. Many had been turning up every year on March 8 for nearly two decades and the bonds of sisterhood held them together. It was reassuring to observe their strong commitment to the women’s cause. But it was saddening to note that there were not enough young faces around. Continue reading Do we need a women’s movement?
By Zubeida Mustafa
THE response to Professor Noam Chomsky’s visit to Pakistan in November 2001 was too overwhelming for words. Chomsky is known to be a crowd-puller in the United States and elsewhere — his talks being heard typically by standing-room-only audiences. Hence it was not strange that his planned visit should send a wave of excitement among the students and intellectuals in this country.
Continue reading AUTHOR: Making people think