“Raza Rumi represents the intellect that defies identity and its lethal politics in the company of a few great classical minds that Pakistan is straining to forget. The mystic best represents his kind of political analyst: honest and non-partisan and therefore the target of the obscurantist. Being Pakistani enables us to understand cultural anxieties in a non-challenging, persuasive manner.”

Khaled Ahmed, Consulting editor, Newsweek Pakistan; Columnist

LATEST BOOK

Being Pakistani

Society, Culture and the Arts

How different is Pakistan’s culture from that of India? Exploring various aspects of the arts, literature and heritage of Pakistan, Raza Rumi argues that culture in Pakistan is not particularly unique to the nation, but rather a part of the cultural identities shared by South Asians. From the songs of Kabir and the ballads of Bulleh Shah to the cult of the feminine in the Sindh region, Rumi takes a kaleidoscopic view of the deep-set cultural mores that tie India and Pakistan together. Going further, he examines aspects of the visual arts, poetry, music and literature of Pakistan that impact global cultural narratives. Finally, he introduces readers to contemporary Pakistani writers and artists and the milieu in which they express their creativity, giving us a fascinating glimpse into cultural productions in Pakistan today. Being Pakistani is a riveting account of artistic traditions and their significance in present-day Pakistan, presenting an alternative view of the country, beyond the usual headlines that focus on political instability and terrorism.

ABOUT RAZA RUMI

Raza Ahmad Rumi is a writer, public policy specialist, editor and instructor. He is the Director at Park Center for Independent Media, Ithaca College and lecturer, Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. He is also the editor of The Friday Times and NayaDaur Media.

Featured Articles

Pakistan’s 2022: A Polarised Polity On The Brink Of Economic Default

Pakistan’s permacrisis has only deepened through 2022. Raza Rumi on what 2023 holds for the nuclear armed crisis state. As the year 2022 ends,…

Sayyid Ahmad Khan’s Search for a Modern Muslim

I grew up in Pakistan where we are taught about Sayyid Ahmad Khan throughout our school years as the grandfather of Muslim Nationalism in…

Maryam Nawaz’s Acquittal: Has The 2018 Political Engineering Project Run Its Course?

Will there be accountability of all those who planned and aided political engineering via courts? Maryam Nawaz’s acquittal by the Islamabad High Court is…
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Books

Rethinking Pakistan

A 21st Century Perspective Rethinking Pakistan brings together some of the best minds of the country and invites them to reflect upon the most…

The Fractious Path: Pakistan’s Democratic Transition

Since its creation in 1947, Pakistan has oscillated between weak democratic governments and brutal military dictatorships, the latter ruling for about half its existence.…

Being Pakistani: Society, Culture and the Arts

How different is Pakistan’s culture from that of India? Exploring various aspects of the arts, literature and heritage of Pakistan, Raza Rumi argues that…

Identity, Faith and Conflict: Essays on Pakistan and Beyond 

As a journalist and media commentator, Raza Rumi publishes with frequency, responding to continuing troubling events in South Asia. As a policy analyst, he…

Delhi By Heart: Impressions of a Pakistani Traveller

Why, asks Raza Rumi, does the capital of another country feel like home? How is it that a man from Pakistan can cross the…

Journalism

Sabeen Mehmud: A voice of reason, pluralism and secularism

I have been quoted on different stories published on the…

Be mature guys; there’s a lot at stake in India, Pak

  The much-hyped talks between the National Security Advisers of…

Suicide Bomber Strikes Pakistan Election as Christians There Fear Rise of Islamic Militancy

July 24, 2018: Suicide Bomber Strikes Pakistan Election as Christians There…

Media in the Cross Hairs: Militants continue to Target Journalists in Pakistan

Despite the commitments of the Pakistan government to protect journalists,…

Pakistan’s perilous democratic transition

  Pakistan’s perilous democratic transition has been rocked by the…

Militancy in Sindh: End of our plural culture?

The recent carnage in Shikarpur has come as a shock…

Sticky wicket: Why cricket is a lot like sex

Something primal and deep is at work. And could be…

The personal is political

January 22, 2017: The personal is political (Dawn) Pakistani American artist…

The trajectory of peace

By Raza Rumi The dramatic events of the past few…

A twist in the tale

My Interview conducted by Abdullah Khan for Earthen Lamp Journal:…

کیا شاہد خاقان عباسی کی گرفتاری مبینہ سیاسی انتقام میں وسعت ہے؟

سابق وزیراعظم شاہد خاقان عباسی کی گرفتاری پر میرا تجزیہ۔…

The Right to Dissent

(The year 2011 will be celebrated worldwide as the centenary…

Delhi and Lahore – globalised fads and trends

This piece of mine appeared in the Hindustan Times yesterday.…

A Young Pakistani Physicist Who Loves Nuclear Reactors

Last week, I was in Dallas, Texas to speak on…

Pakistan: Judiciary and Politics

September 30, 2018: Pakistan: Judiciary and Politics Pakistan’s judges have…

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy’s, Badge of honour

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Badge of honour incisive documentary helps reignite the…

The new Bhutto

My piece published in Express India In his first political…

Another Pakistani Journalist Threatened. Will the State Protect Him?

June 10, 2017: Another Pakistani Journalist Threatened. Will the State…

Be Global Citizens: My Advice to Public Affairs Students at Cornell Commencement

August 1, 2017: Be Global Citizens: My Advice to Public Affairs…

حج 2019: دنیا بھر سے مسلمان مقدس سرزمین پر پہنچ گئے

حجاج کرام میں اس برس کتنا اضافہ ہوا؟ سب سے…

Afghanistan: no cooperation, no stability

This is a shorter version of a brief which was…

Reclaiming One Voice

A man transports empty water containers on a donkey cart…

International Newsletter ‘The Story’ Gives Naya Daur A Warm Shoutout

Laxmi Murthi writes about the new space in Pakistani journalism…

When Will COVID Vaccine Arrive In Pakistan?

Lately with each passing day, the debate on procurement of…

Bring Pakistan’s Missing Bloggers Home

An activist holding an image of Salman Haider during a…

The Big Question: Is Print Media on its Way to Becoming Obsolete?

August 2017: The Big Question: Is Print Media on its Way…

Previewing Pakistan’s Election

July 19, 2018: Previewing Pakistan’s Election NOEL KING, HOST: It is…

The Fall of Nawaz Sharif

04 August 2017: The Fall of Nawaz Sharif, Open Magazine.…

From terror to trade: Eight reasons Pakistanis now want a peace process from Modi and Sharif

The carefully staged surprise diplomacy by Indian prime minister Narendra…

Peshawar attack: Pakistan’s 9/11 moment?

Pakistan faces a challenge largely of its own creation and…

Writing from the Heart

What a Lovely Review on my book “Delhi by Heart”…

Indian gov. avoids dialogue with Pakistan

December 3, 2018: Indian gov. avoids dialogue with Pakistan In an…

Raza Rumi: They Tried to Silence Me Once and For All

I spoke with Clarion about fighting for freedom of speech…

Race, Violence and Injustice: Unpacking the Ongoing Protests

The killing of George Floyd on May 25 triggered a…

In Pakistan, ‘Blasphemers’ Like Me Receive Militant Justice

Like so many others, I was recently targeted in a…

Imran Khan is Pakistan’s new captain. Will he deliver?

Pakistanis on July 25 elected Imran Khan as their new…

A Polarised Polity And Its Warring Institutions

The March 1 verdict of the Supreme Court, instructing the president and…

Global terrorism myth and reality

A new report by the Institute for Economics and Peace,…

Sadia Dehlvi: An Inimitable Friend Indeed

I had never imagined that I would be writing an…

Pakistan’s crumbling institutions

Published in The News (Sunday) Pakistan’s instability is a clichè,…

Islamist protests are a tried and tested way to bring change in government in Pakistan

November 26, 2017: Islamist protests are a tried and tested way…

Vajpayee Was a Bridge Between Our Countries: A Pakistani’s Elegy

Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been viewed by Indians through all…

Charting Pakistan Internal Security Policy

Pakistan recently announced National Action Plan focuses on combatting both…

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Raza Rumi

Raza Rumi

Writer, editor, multimedia journalist, International development practitioner and an educator. More on razarumi.com

POLICY & DEVELOPMENT PUBLICATIONS

All Publications

Digital Media Projects

The Edge

The Edge

Website
theedge

The Edge is a digital magazine that was launched in 2021 to create a space for commentaries and reporting that challenge the mainstream media narratives and engage journalists, students and communities in conversations important for the United States and the world.

Ideas + Futures

Ideas and Futures

Website
if

Ideas and Futures is an interdisciplinary platform with a focus on re-imagining our societies beyond the pandemic. Its website showcases scholarly reflections, art, literary essays and expressions, cultural, social and political commentaries and analyses for international and U.S. based audiences.

The Friday Times

The Friday Times

Website
tft

The Friday Times is Pakistan’s first independent weekly, founded in 1989. In 2021, the publication went into collaboration with digital news platform Naya Daur Media to publish under a daily cycle.

NayaDaur Media

NayaDaur Media

Website
nayadaur

Naya Daur Media (NDM) is a bi-lingual, progressive and public-funded digital media platform aiming to inform and educate Pakistanis at home and abroad. It attempts to amplify citizen voices and provide a platform to bloggers, v-loggers and reporters so that citizen journalism turns into a responsible and constructive branch of the country’s media environment.

Pak Tea House Blog

Pak Tea House

Website
Lahore Nama

Lahore Nama l

Website

Raza Rumi's Video Channel