The British rule over India left behind more than partitioned borders. It entrenched the politics of division. From the census categories hardening identities to the stereotypes that demonise, colonial tools of control have been repurposed into modern-day conflicts. What began as a means to consolidate imperial rule survives in the form of fault lines. The Empire ended, but its divisions endure
Zoroastrian Bhandara family-owned Murree Brewery is Pakistan’s only distillery and one of the country’s most successful firms and biggest taxpayers, which hit the headlines in 2007 when it produced the Muslim world’s first 20-year-old malt whisky that a handful of distilleries produce globally
Westernized elite founded Pakistan and helmed it for decades before Zia-ul-Haq sought to recast the state and society and provoked artistic resistance with poets such as Faiz Ahmad Faiz and Jalib rallying against it to foster a vibrant culture, music, and literature
Rebels attack Aleppo, reigniting the civil war, Israel continues assaults in Gaza despite expected talks for a ceasefire with Hamas, the latest on protesters demanding the release of Imran Khan, a new carbon-absorbing powder offers hope for climate efforts and record online holiday shopping
Indian pilgrims reinstalled Hindu deities at Lahore’s Krishna Temple in 2007, marking a significant moment during a thaw in India-Pakistan relations (2003-2008) which also coincided with the restoration of Katas Raj temples and cross-border pilgrimage to Mata Hinglaj amid willingness to move beyond past conflicts for peace
The camaraderie of Arshad Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra despite the strained India-Pakistan ties highlights enduring cross-border bonds built on mutual respect that transcend nationality, religion, and politics, highlighting the deep-rooted cultural and historical connections and shared common heritage
Jinnah once dismissed India’s potential Hindu domination as a bogey before Gandhi’s emergence marginalised and transformed him from the ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity into the ‘sole champion’ of Muslim rights
The Dawoodi Bohras, a branch of the Ismaili Shia Muslim sect, have for centuries been unified under a supreme spiritual leader or Dai Syedna that has helped them remain well-knit and maintain a unique cultural identity
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s drama series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar has put a spotlight on Lahore’s neighbourhood of courtesans, which suffered a decline in the 1980s before artist Iqbal Hussain, a courtesan’s son, sought to humanize the area through and helped make it a popular attraction
Hayat Khan Baloch stood by his friend and Ramesh Singh Arora’s grandfather, Gopal Singh Arora, when partition triggered genocidal violence in Punjab, ensuring they continued to live like brothers in Pakistan’s Lyallpur (now Faisalabad) with their religious identity and dignity intact
