Ibtidah-The Beginning

09/08/2025

Through symbols and silences, Malik Maher Ali captures the unbroken thread of history woven into the Neeli Bar’s soil.
Each story breathes with the quiet defiance of lives lived under unseen burdens.
For complete article, click on the link.

As old as literature itself, symbolism’s rise in Pakistani writing was no accident—it became the defining wave of the tide during the nation’s earliest encounter with authoritarian rule. It emerged as a powerful instrument for expressing the discontent and resentment of the people across nearl...

01/08/2025

Feeding decisions must be based on evidence and need not on persuasion and profit. For the complete article click on the link

Every child is born with an inviolable right to health and nourishment. This right is not a matter of charity, culture, or convenience—it is the most fundamental human entitlement. Breastfeeding, universally recognised by science and endorsed by global health institutions, is central to securing t...

22/07/2025

To understand Hussainiat is to understand suffering and to keep the struggle against tyranny alive.
For complete article click on the link

By Zeeba T Hashmi First Published on March 17, 2015 The subcontinent is unique in its remembrance of Ashura by people of all religions and sects, an example for which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The spirit of resilience, valour and bravery is awakened on the day we know as Yom-e-Ashu...

05/05/2025

The families of over 400 youths implicated in alleged blasphemy cases demand a broader investigation, as the modus operandi of this mafia-like operation

31/10/2024

Happy Diwali dear friends who are celebrating it. May this event bring the spirit of togetherness and love for all

21/10/2024

At the outset, 26th Amendment is a good deterrent to attacks on the parliament coming from the unchecked powers of the judiciary, that was actively engaged in meddling into law making, to the point where some legal experts say, was akin to rewriting the law, instead of interpreting it. The judiciary remained compromised to the whims and will of the powers that be, the powers that always undermined the law. We needed stability of every government's term for 5 years at least. We never had it, or even if we did,, in our 75 years of history, we made it without a single government without a Prime Minister completing his term.

But the strong objections coming to the passage of 26th Amendment is not only coming out of the sorry, hypocritical political sloganeering of PTI, that only sees it as an inescapable trap for Imran Khan. But in fact, the criticism is coming from the very sane, progressive legal practitioners and the experts of the constitution. The problem of judiciary remaining hijacked for political gains remains there. Politcal appointments of the judges, by the selectors having only a small share representation from judiciary, is bound to doom any other political party that feels disenfranchised. How the elections take place, how it gets pre-decided who gets how much representation, and how voting is managed are not unknown facts. So what if PML-N is soon to lose its blue-eyed status, what if IK is again brought back with smashing majority, what will they do next knowing that undoing a constitutional amendment that sets up for strong political influence will, need another 2/3rd majority of the house. This is not the reform that needed to be worked on, unless there is an acknowledgement that merit and democracy, as ideal enablers for a perfect harmonization among all pillars of the state, are missing.

And needless to state, other clauses of this amended law are disturbing. Council of Islamic Ideaology will see more expansion of powers. Economy clauses (the Riba to appease Maulana) are also going to spell for a doom. And not to mention, the very questionable processes involved in this "consensus building" negotiations that PPP is celebrating today, is actually an extremely shameful thing to celebrate.

The system will not prevent from hijacking of the judiciary, and will be more detrimental for as long as the parliament is controlled by the powers that be. There. Yes, I said it. Now i;m relieved.

19/10/2024

Zeeba Hashmi writes "The political appeasement of clerics in Sindh, like UmerAyubSarhandi, and MianAbdul Haq (famous as MianMithoo) is not unknown. They have set up empires on the Madrassah business and thriving on vulnerabilities of the economically marginalized peasants, or the helpless, landless, loan-bondage victim Haris whose families are at stake at the hand of exploitation. A special mention on the vulnerabilities of Hindu Hari peasant communities must be made here, as their religious conversions are taking place with no scrutiny, checks or balances. Chances of these conversions being forced and coerced are also high under all plausible situations. And here, it must also not be forgotten that a bill was presented in Sindh Assembly to end forced conversions, but it was rescinded first after getting passed unanimously, and was completely struck down by the treasury bench the second time it was presented. PPP was responsible."

I have known Jami Chandio as a friend for many years. Always, with a gift of explaining in plain and simple terms what makes the world so beautiful.He is among those people who developed, in the most subtle and subconscious ways, an unending curiosity and fascination to learn more of people’s hist...

19/10/2024

I have known Jami Chandio as a friend for many years. Always, with a gift of explaining in plain and simple terms what makes the world so beautiful.He is among those people who developed, in the most subtle and subconscious ways, an unending curiosity and fascination to learn more of people’s hist...

13/10/2024

08/08/2024

A voluntary, self-initiated independent study to dig out more on the indigenous learning cultural practices in indigenous languages, Gojri of the nomadic community. IFE is all set documenting enablers and barriers to education yet again.

07/08/2024

Morning thoughts: Whatever we wish of aim for, should be aspired for in its whole value, and its complete worth. Settling for something less, means you are willing to compromise on what should have been integral and intrinsic to the core. We want things that are complete. A human right to education, is not about a good or service that needs to be supplied. We have a right to acquire the skills enough to help us understand and access unadulterated, unfiltered knowledge, based on which we define our ambitions and life choices, without fear of persecution.

When we say access to education, we say it from the perspective of education as a commodity being offered as if it has to be spoon fed, not as something that can allow for further explorations and intrigue. This part is where the government wants to control (content) but not on making opportunities and ensuring freedom that are integral and associated with education. They will not allow for ideas to promote freedom of thought and stress on democratic processes for decision-making. This is the control state wants to hold on to as part of its interpretation on what "mandatory education" means. It is a tool to indoctrinate and politically brainwash at a massive level. Predesigned mindset formation is not really the right to education we should aspire for.

Zeeba T. Hashmi
7th August, 2024
In Gilgit.

05/08/2024

https://ibtidahforeducation.com/the-caste-system-in-pakistan-a-hidden-social-issue/

"Unlike in India, where using caste and religion-based derogatory terms is outlawed, Pakistan lacks stringent legal measures against such abuses. In India, efforts have been made to curb the derogation of caste and religious identities through legal frameworks, helping to protect marginalized groups from verbal and social abuse. This difference highlights the need for Pakistan to develop similar protections and promote respect for all communities, regardless of their caste or religion."

Writes Pirzada Fawad for Ibtidah-The Beginning
in .

By Fawad Pirzada The caste system, often associated with Hinduism, also exists in Pakistan, where it divides people into groups based on family background and traditional jobs. This system leads to social hierarchies, with some castes seen as higher and others as lower. This article explores how the...