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Your right to know Wednesday, June 19, 2019


Razi Azmi

The writer is a former academic with a doctorate in modern history. He may be contacted on raziazmi@hotmail.com

Speaking of the Khans, so to speak

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I have often pondered over our Khan conundrum, but not until I read an opinion piece in these pages was I moved to actually write about it. The op-ed in question is titled, Khan’s illegitimate child is not our business. Of course, Khan’s whatever child is Khan’s business. But that is another matter. What needs to be made clear is which Khan is being referred to.Obviously, this Khan has to be … [Read more...] about Speaking of the Khans, so to speak

Living long: but how long is long enough?

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I am 68 years of age, with a margin of error of a few months. That is because when and where I was born, almost all children were delivered by traditional dais (midwives) at home and no one kept any records. So, my date of birth is based on a later recollection by my mother, which was recorded after the passage of many years for my school admission record.My father was too pre-occupied with … [Read more...] about Living long: but how long is long enough?

Untapped tourism opportunities in Asia

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Yes, I have a dream. Not one of those nightly dreams all of us have, nor anything approaching the lofty dream of Martin Luther King, from which the title of this article is taken. But a dream nonetheless, somewhere between our very mundane nightly ones and the soaring visions of Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela. Mine is a traveller’s dream.I have travelled every continent (not counting … [Read more...] about Untapped tourism opportunities in Asia

Kashmir, the millstone around our neck

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Incessant shelling along the Line of Control (LOC) in Kashmir has led to the death of scores of Indian and Pakistani soldiers in the last few months, in addition to the casualties and suffering among civilians on both sides. Like an active volcano spewing smoke constantly, Kashmir is showing all signs of an imminent eruption, and threatening to explode at any time with devastating consequences for … [Read more...] about Kashmir, the millstone around our neck

India and Pakistan: the dance of death

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Despite officially and virtually being in a state of war since 1953, and dangerously close to an actual war in the last few months, North Korea and South Korea have now agreed to walk hand in hand under one flag at the winter Olympics next month.North Korea’s overt and covert acts of subversion and terrorism against South Korea are well-known. Mutual suspicion and bellicosity between the two … [Read more...] about India and Pakistan: the dance of death

Starving billionaires, thriving despot

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From the town of Livingstone in Zambia, it is a very short ride to the Zimbabwe border, just two-three kilometres away. The no-man’s land is the famous 128-metre high, 198-metres longrail-and-road bridge over the Zambezi River, which divides the two countries. It was opened in 1905 by George Darwin, son of Charles Darwin. From the bridge, one catches a glimpse of the magnificent falls, just … [Read more...] about Starving billionaires, thriving despot

The ‘smoke that thunders’

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The flight from Johannesburg in South Africa to Livingstone was over the vast, flat expanse of Botswana. As the plane approached this small Zambian town at the confluence of four nations, named after the great Scottish explorer and missionary, I could see the famous spray of the waterfall from my window seat. From Livingstone, Zimbabwe lies a short walk over a bridge, Botswana is only a few … [Read more...] about The ‘smoke that thunders’

Swahili, slavery, socialisms and superstition — IV

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Superstition is as old as us humans. Since recent discoveries trace the origin of our species to Africa, it is hardly surprising that superstition is most entrenched in that part of the world. Most superstitious beliefs are rather benign, such as those relating to black cats crossing one’s path, walking under a ladder or spilling salt. But in its extreme manifestations, superstition leads to … [Read more...] about Swahili, slavery, socialisms and superstition — IV

Swahili, slavery, socialism and superstitionn — III

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My Malawi bus trip aborted, I returned to my motel in Dares Salam and began to plan my next destination. Air travel is generally very expensive in Africa. Direct flights are few; most flights in sub-Saharan Africa are routed through Nairobi, Addis Ababa or Johannesburg. I remember meeting a Sudanese diplomat a few years ago who told me that when he and a few of his colleagues were declared persona … [Read more...] about Swahili, slavery, socialism and superstitionn — III

Swahili, slavery, socialism and superstition — III

on

My Malawi bus trip aborted, I returned to my motel in Dares Salam and began to plan my next destination. Air travel is generally very expensive in Africa. Direct flights are few; most flights in sub-Saharan Africa are routed through Nairobi, Addis Ababa or Johannesburg. I remember meeting a Sudanese diplomat a few years ago who told me that when he and a few of his colleagues were declared persona … [Read more...] about Swahili, slavery, socialism and superstition — III