As you pick up your phone for the hundredth time that day, you wonder what the reason foryour unproductivity is. The lack of ideas, or your lack of trust in your own creativity? Youscroll through your Instagram reels, filled with all the things you wish to be; everything butyourself, and a bitter taste fills your mouth. You glare down at your empty page, in the … Continue reading The Battle Against One’s Mind
Historically, an overwhelming number of individuals have argued in black and white–the dilemma of the two bipolar ends never ceases. Is Imran Khan a horrible person or the messiah of Pakistan? Pick one side and stick to it till your last breath. Exploration for people who think the same, results in conformity and echo chambers. Shove your agenda, your sentiments, and your righteousness, in other … Continue reading Moral Superiority 101
In the enchanted realm that thrived within Lalarukh’s imagination, her life unfolded to the beloved saga of Little Red Riding Hood. Her journey was akin to Little Red Riding Hood, as she created her own fable where each person donned a role mirroring characters from the beloved tale. In Lalarukh’s world, Chachi, with her wily smirk, inhabited the guise of the cunning wolf. Her laughter … Continue reading Beyond Red’s Hood, From Lalarukh’s Eyes
Growing up in a post-colonial independent nation where English has become the medium of education in most schools has led to a common occurrence in our rapidly advancing, tech-savvy generation: the imposteristic feeling of an estrangement and lack of connection with our mother tongue, Urdu. This article comes from a place of both personal experience and a general look on how we as the youth … Continue reading Why is It Hard to Talk About ‘Feelings’ in Urdu?
Have you ever been scrolling listlessly through your Instagram feed and suddenly encountered Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Obama playing minecraft with each other? Or a horribly realistic video of Mr. Beast’s face on a toddler’s body? That’s Artificial Intelligence, more commonly abbreviated to AI. I cannot remember AI in 2022. All of sudden, in 2023, AI became something everyone had access to, a lesson … Continue reading The Dualistic Emergence of AI
I’m sure many of you have had that one Desi aunty tell you how so many ‘goray’ are now adopting certain ways of life that resemble those of the Prophet Muhammad ? and his companions—or the ones that Islam has already taught us. (Spoiler Alert: she’s right.) There have been countless other Western and religious philosophies that have claimed to be the key to a … Continue reading On the Wise Habits of The Prophet Muhammad ?
As the unfettered reign of the caretaker government comes to an end (much to the dismay of the power-deprived individuals who make up the dynamics of Pakistan’s political backdrop), there are quite a few things that I — as an inevitable observer and a frustrated nationalist — have to say. Before we leave our houses on the morning of February 8, 2024, we must remember … Continue reading Elections and Outlaws: The Scandalous Mise-en-scèneof Pakistan’s Politics
Recently, I stumbled upon a magnificently ornate book on Mughal Architecture titled “Lahore: History and Architecture of Mughal Monuments” by Anjum Rehmani. A deep delve into the influences and achievements throughout the Mughal period, starting from pre-Mughal history, the book explored new aspects of Lahore that I had yet to see around me. In comparison to the almost fantastical seeming portraits of beauty and splendor … Continue reading Neither the City of Gardens nor the City of Love: Lahore
It’s safe to assume that nearly everyone has heard one thing or another about soccer football by now, but most of them are casual fans at best. But what about those who are incredibly passionate about the game but are struggling to get a concrete grasp of what exactly goes on in the footballing world? Well, this article is for them (and anyone else who … Continue reading From Kick-off to Full-time: A Beginner’s Guide to the Premier League
Without getting derailed this time, the first demographic I will be discussing fairly extensively in this part is shoujo. The word ‘shoujo’ itself translates to ‘young girl’ and is a demographic that targets young girls and women from approximately around the ages of 12–25. Commonly associated traits with shoujo manga are: use of the female-gaze, introspective dialogues, focus on emotions/emotional storytelling (even within plot and … Continue reading Demographics in Manga (Part 2): Shoujo and Josei
