Author Archives: Razi Azmi

If natural catastrosphes are divine punishment for sinners, then it must be accepted that they are inflicting massive collateral damage.  If they are intended as warnings to evil-doers, then, I am afraid, these are mostly being delivered to the wrong … Continue reading →

Some generals, even captains, think they can succeed where civilian leaders are perceived or alleged to have failed.  They make short shrift of elected governments for corruption, even failure to make the trains run on time.  Truth is, as the … Continue reading →

Conspiracy theories give free rein to one’s imagination, indeed they allow the imagination to run wild.  They weave a web of mysteries where none exists, suspect conspirators in high places when there are only bumbling politicians, incompetent generals and idiotic … Continue reading →

Historical accounts are so mutually antagonistic, exclusive and self-serving, and yet peoples and nations invariably fail to see the crude distortions in their own versions… The popular narratives of history reduce it to vehicles of patriotism and nationalism, shamelessly extolling … Continue reading →

Old age is all wisdom but little or no dignity… Getting old was always pain, but now it is shame as well, thanks to the pace of technological change… To hear people talk about the “intelligent design” under these circumstances … Continue reading →

The minister of defence acted like a minister of offence when he publicly slapped a senior police officer.  More recently, the law minister became a law unto himself and slapped a PIA passenger for protesting that his son had jumped … Continue reading →

The practice of booking a berth in heaven with a payment may have been reduced to a historical curiosity among Christians now, but it seems to be thriving among many mainstream Muslims.

Humanity is forever locked in the battle for life against death, whatever the religious belief or lack of it.  Man’s greatest preoccupation, the mission of his life, so to speak, is to live on.  From pope to layman, imam to … Continue reading →

Politicians by definition are guided by nothing more substantial or lofty than the desire to win the next election, no matter what it takes. Their methods vary, but by far the most dangerous is to sow the seeds of suspicion … Continue reading →