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Duty Queen Najeeba Arif Prof. Dr Najeeba Arif
is an eminent scholar, creative writer, critic and researcher. Her major field of specialization is Archival Research.
She has discovered, edited and published about a dozen manuscripts of eighteenth and nineteenth century. She also founded the first Indexation Agency for the Urdu Research Journals at International Islamic University, Islamabad and has been the editor of renowned research journals of Pakistan.
She has been invited to several universities in Europe and USA to present her research.
Some of her works in the field of Criticism are of pioneer nature, including her research on the Impact of 9/11 on Pakistani Urdu Fiction and the Impact of Colonialism on Sirah literature in Urdu.
Sufi literature has been another field of her interest.
Besides her research in Sufi literature, she has translated ‘Qaseeda Burda Shareef’ from Arabic into Urdu verse as well as a voluminous book on Science, Mysticism and the Concept of Allah from English to Urdu. Her collection of Urdu poetry ‘Ma’ani se Ziyada’ won the Award of the Best book of the year in 2015.
Her poetry is being taught at the Ankara University, Turkey.
Her other creative works include a book of memoirs, titled ‘Raagni ki Khoj Main’, a collection of short stories ‘Meethay Nalkay’, a novel, ‘Makhota’, travel writings and light essays.
She writes in Urdu and English and knows Persian, Arabic and Punjabi.

She has authored 18 books and published more than 60 articles in national and international journals.

Currently she is serving as the Chairperson of Pakistan Academy of Letters, Islamabad.Being the Chair of the PAL and its first-ever woman Chair carries deep personal meaning for all the women in Pakistan who strive for intellectual spaces without the weight of class pushing them back.

https://www.radio.gov.pk/programme/02-10-2024/takhleeq

Takhleeq Takhleeq

Opinion
Missing: the Bihari narrative in Pakistan-Bangladesh ties
The past cannot be buried when it continues to haunt the derailed lives of thousands of members of my community.

Dr Rakhshinda Perveen
October 02, 2024

the writer is a published author and can be reached at dr r perveen gmail com
The writer is a published author and can be reached at [email protected]
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The current political shift - characterised by the forced departure of pro-India Sheikh Hasina and reported public sentiments favouring Pakistan in Bangladesh, our former East Pakistan - has sparked renewed confidence in diplomatic media and engagements.

What is remarkable is the sudden interest of Pakistani media and academia in Bangladesh. It is important to emphasise that Pakistan has historically been a country where there has been either silence or hostility towards those who advocated for a united country and supported the Pakistan Army. While recognising the sensitivities of foreign relations and the limitations of our Foreign Office, I, as a member of the Bihari community - a community that has always demonstrated unconditional love for Pakistan despite being treated unfairly, to put it politely - cannot pretend to remain unaffected by the latest surge of goodwill toward Bengalis, especially while there continues to be total amnesia regarding the issue of stranded Pakistani Biharis in the ghettos of Bangladesh.

In my various Urdu and English blogs, columns and podcasts, I have provided specific examples and data to highlight the plight of the Bihari community, their loss of self-esteem due to thoughtlessly publicised acts of charity and PR, and their reduction to mere subjects in podcasts, films and theatre as key informants rather than protagonists, among other issues. In my earlier writings, I used to cite personal anecdotes or stories from affected Biharis. However, I am now tired and disheartened after observing the perpetual apathy and failure to enhance emotional resonance.

Stories and thought pieces from many professional journalists and esteemed academics made me a little sad, though not shocked, to see the insistence on "burying the past" without urging the relevant stakeholders to undertake difficult dialogues and admit embarrassing realities. The past cannot be buried when it continues to haunt the derailed lives of thousands of members of my community. Please do not mistake me or others like me for hawks who are unable to let go of the past. Certainly not. Rather, I am once again highlighting the need to face the facts and take steps toward healing old wounds, as all of us concerned in both countries require it, without oversimplifying the issue, unlike many expert journalists and academics who cannot wait for warmer ties with Bangladesh or veterans cherishing good old memories.

What could be the process - the painful and complex process? We, the Biharis of Pakistan, are deeply hurt and lost. I am sure many of our Bengali brothers and sisters are equally hurt. The only difference between us is the land. While Bengalis gained their liberation and their new homeland, Bangladesh, we Biharis are enduring a third migration in one lifetime. The most unfortunate among us are stateless in Bangladesh. They are Urdu speakers - stranded Pakistanis who were ruthlessly denationalised by the military dictator, General Zia-ul Haq. Their elders waited endlessly after the surrender for planes from this part of Pakistan to arrive and take them away, but it never happened. Those who somehow made it to Pakistan have had their stories largely stolen or silenced. Nobody in the media has the time to engage with Qutbuddin Aziz's Blood and Tears published in 1974. It seems that even accomplished news anchors, TV hosts, shrewd politicians, and brilliant diplomats have not read it. Had they read and understood it, their ethics would probably not permit them to abandon my community and support Sheikh Hasina.

The ethnic cleansing and war crimes - including r**e - against our group in former East Pakistan are not even highlighted by the PPP, who justifiably take credit for their founder's efforts to bring back the POWs.

It is important to provide a disclaimer before proceeding further. As an honest community with large hearts, we Biharis from former East Pakistan, now settled in Pakistan or any developed country, never forget to acknowledge the support of those Bengalis who helped us survive or flee from our homes while leaving our butchered loved ones, hard-earned money, and businesses built with sweat and blood. However, this does not mean that the Bengali Mukti Bahinis who did all this must never be mentioned while narrating the tales of deprivation experienced by Bengalis due to entrenched elitism in Western Pakistan, which sadly persists even today, causing suffering for many other ethnicities.

Many of us who still think freely and are attached to Pakistan as single passport holders are struggling to understand how long we will continue to be mocked, traumatised, and humiliated by our erasure in mainstream media, academia, and political advocacy. The most significant sign of this annihilation is the total absence of mention of the stranded community of Pakistani Biharis. Let me add another disclaimer: the MQM does not represent us, or at least not the perspectives of individuals like me who are trying in vain to draw attention to the legitimate issues of our identity, heritage, and the acknowledgment of our unending sacrifices.

While the current political climate presents a unique opportunity for Pakistan to strengthen ties with Bangladesh, making real headway will require more than symbolic gestures and meetings without people-centred outcomes from clueless foreign office representatives on both sides of the table. Reconciliation is incomplete and meaningless without acknowledging our historical truths. Thus, any progress intended to build genuine friendship - distinct from superficial gestures and propaganda - must prioritise addressing long-standing injustices, especially those affecting the Urdu-speaking Biharis, while also promoting accountability. Only through such a comprehensive approach can both countries move forward on a foundation of mutual respect and shared humanity.

Islamabad cannot reset its relations with Dhaka without revisiting the moral foundations of its political and military stance. Any willingness to move beyond the bitterness of the 1971 war would be hollow if this moment of diplomatic opportunity is not handled with empathetic care. Addressing unresolved historical grievances and the marginalised status of stranded Pakistani Biharis, who remain in limbo after decades of statelessness, should be at the core of all conversations.
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Missing: the Bihari narrative in Pakistan-Bangladesh ties | The Express Tribune The past cannot be buried when it continues to haunt the derailed lives of thousands of members of my community.

Read full OP-ED at https://tribune.com.pk/story/2498052/mental-health-unseen-casualty-of-politics-media-and-bureaucracy

"During my search, I stumbled upon an insightful research paper by one of Pakistan's few virtuous psychiatry clinicians, Prof Dr Abdul Wahab Yusufzai, in 2022. In his paper, 'Political Polarization and Its Impact on Mental Health: Where Do We Stand?', he aptly observed: "A country like ours, with entrenched religious intolerance, economic inequalities, social disparities, and alarming mental health statistics, cannot afford to descend into further social and psychological chaos amidst heated, polarized political discourse. We must encourage our younger generation to embrace tolerance and critical thinking to confront social challenges with grace and scientific reasoning, in order to counteract the looming threats of polarization, radicalization, and psychosocial malaise. There is an urgent need to restore political sanity and halt the escalating psychosocial turmoil in Pakistan."

Brain drain has become a frequent topic of discussion nowadays. Popular social media platforms and highly-rated TV shows in Pakistan abound with justifications for emigrating from the country. Many arguments, supported by dismal statistics and unsettling social scenarios, reveal a lack of tolerance and the ability to peacefully coexist. The normalization of inequities, injustices and inequalities perpetuates unemployment, strengthens patriarchal norms and fosters an elitist consensus.

Paradoxically, the brain itself is undervalued in Pakistan. During my medical schooling, it was widely understood that the brain was not an important subject in anatomy from an examination perspective. I was often ridiculed for reading high-quality, even out-of-syllabus, material on the brain. Later, after graduating from medical college but continually struggling through the university life, I understood why peers and teachers prioritized the head, neck and limbs over the brain. This is not a jest but a poignant reality. In a society where intellect is overlooked, it is no surprise that mental health remains marginalized amidst political chaos."

Dr.Rakhshinda Rax Rakhshinda

Mental health: unseen casualty of politics, media and bureaucracy | The Express Tribune The theme for World Mental Health Day 2024 is: It is time to prioritize mental health in the workplace.

🌟 Exciting Announcement! 🌟

Today, I had the privilege of being invited by a talented young Computer Science engineer-turned-Radio Producer to a special radio show hosted by the remarkable academic and poet, Munir Fayaz. 🎙️✨

The episode was a curtain-raiser for my latest book, Bay Waqt Ki Ragni, and the 25 minutes flew by in what was truly a unique and memorable experience. 📖💫

📅 Mark your calendars! The show, titled "Takhleeq," will be broadcast on 28th September 2024 at 10:30 AM on Radio Pakistan Islamabad. Don’t miss it!

💻 Bonus: The digital version of Bay Waqt Ki Ragni is available for FREE download on the website. 🙌 https://drrakhshinda.mystrikingly.com/

🎧 You can tune in via the Radio Pakistan mobile app!

Thank you, Radio Pakistan, for this incredible experience, and huge kudos to these brilliant young minds! 🌟