Author Archives: Razi Azmi

Sikdar, Samiullah and Sarbahara – I

Fortunately, Samiullah Azmi did not live long enough to see his beloved party fall to such depths and his comrades turn on one another with such brutality. He left the party – and this world – before paranoia and personality … Continue reading

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Ostentatious piety: all ritual, nil spiritual

Note from author: The following two columns were first published in 2007 in the Daily Times.  I reproduce them here because some readers of my recent columns have accused me of not criticizing Muslims. In any case, I think the … Continue reading

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Short but extraordinary life of Samiullah Azmi

For the 21 years that she lived after Samiullah’s reported death in a hail of bullets in 1971, this most loving of mothers refused to believe that her son was dead. She would pray to Allah on his behalf every … Continue reading

Posted in Reminiscences | 10 Comments

All hell breaking loose – for Muslims

President Obama was right in not referring to ISIS by its chosen name of Islamic State, for it is neither Islamic nor a state. Unfortunately, the western press is not just providing ISIS with a semblance of legitimacy by referring … Continue reading

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The force and the fallacy of stereotypes

Whereas prostitution is often referred to as the world’s oldest profession and war as the oldest activity, stereotyping other communities may be the world’s oldest pastime.  No group of people can claim not to have engaged in this practice, just … Continue reading

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Obama, bring back Osama

I am reminded of this parable in light of what “Caliph Abu Bakr al Baghdadi” of the “Islamic Caliphate” is doing to attract the wrath and hatred of the world’s peoples.  Even the infamous Abu Qatada has called IS “the dogs … Continue reading

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On a wing and a prayer

Wonder what is going through my friend’s mind. But should I wonder? Like millions and billions of other faithful of all religions, he would never connect the dots to see the larger picture. He will see the trees but not … Continue reading

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The beauty and bane of language

Nothing else but those 26 letters, used in an infinite number of combinations, employing typically ten or fewer of them in words, are the basis of everything that was ever written in English.

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Much ado about names along the Trans-Siberian

Ekaterinberg is located just east of where Asia meets Europe. If one is alert and quick enough, as I was, one can see from the train window the marker on the geographical line where Asia meets Europe, 22 km west … Continue reading

Posted in Travelogues | 4 Comments

Israel and Gaza, truth and untruth

It is not just the Iron Dome which prevents free thought. All belief systems and ideologies do that, whether they be Zionism, nationalism, ethno-centrism, racism, religion, sectarianism, Communism, Fascism or any “ism” whatsoever. To their credit, a few Israeli journalists … Continue reading

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