Aur Nikle.nge Ushhaq ke Qafley – my documentary film on Dr Sarwar and DSF

Ok, I finally uploaded the 30 min film on Democratic Students’ Association to the web Aur Nikle.nge Ushhaq ke Qafley (There Will be More Caravans of Passion…) that I produced, directed by Sharjil Baloch. It’s on Youtube (Part 1 and Part 2) as well as on the Dr Sarwar blog.

Happy 25th Spelt, and good luck with the conference

My observations about the Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers (Spelt) as the organisation celebrates its 25th birthday. Spelt is a voluntary body for professional educators, that my mother Zakia Sarwar and a few other colleagues started 25 years ago.

Remembering those who have passed on

On special occasions like Eid or Navratri, we especially remember those who have passed. A note from Sehba in Houston relating a conversation with her daughter Minal who turns five years old on Sept 21

Jinnah revisited, thank you Jaswant Singh

Jaswant Singh’s latest work on Jinnah had not hit the Pakistani bookstalls at the time of writing. But from reported and televised statements and published extracts his thesis appears to be similar to Ayesha Jalal’s seminal work The Sole Spokesman: Jinnah, the Muslim League and the Demand for Pakistan (Cambridge University Press, 1985).

Dr Sarwar Reference, Aug 8, HRCP, Lahore

Press release: A Reference for the pioneering student leader Dr. Muhammad Sarwar will be held here at HRCP’s Dorab Patel Auditorium on Saturday August 8 at 5 p.m

DR SARWAR: New photos and articles

DR SARWAR: New updates and uploads www.drsarwar.wordpress.com – ‘Hasan Nasir’s case should also be reopened’ – article by Shafqat Tanvir Mirza – a couple of writings by Dr Sarwar (paper on democracy & letter to Editor) – article by women’s rights and health activist and friend Hilda Saeed – photos from Dr Sarwar’s student activist [...]

‘This wonderful Doc…’

Diagnosed with cancer in August 2007 (‘stage four’, pancreas, metastasis to the lungs), he remained characteristically calm and good humoured. “Look,” he reasoned, “everyone has to die. If this is how I have to go, so be it.” … He defied doctors’ predictions of ‘maybe six months…’. “To look into the eyes of a killer disease, and yet not roll over is something that the bravest could envy,” wrote Zawwar in October last year.

Doc’s blog; Madrassas vs Pvt schools; Hoodbhoy on Pk; Cost of war and more

New blog – www.drsarwar.wordpress.com – with photos and remembrances, including by I.A. Rehman, Salima Hashmi, Dr Badar Siddiqui, S.M. Naseem, Ali Jafari, Mohsin Tejani and others; ‘The Madrasa Myth’ – Foreign Policy op-ed co-authored by Tahir Andrabi, Jishnu Das, C. Christine Fair, and Asim Ijaz Khwaja; Pervez Hoodbhoy’s Pakistan predictions; Swat women and ‘mullah Radio’ – a report; HRCP’s report on the internally displaced and more

Celebrating Dr Sarwar

Pakistan Medical Association held a reference at PMA House Karachi on May 31 for Dr Sarwar titled ‘Celebrating Dr Sarwar’. Doc would have enjoyed the gathering, and the music (his favourite jugalbandi by Ustad Bismillah Khan and Ustab Vilayat Khan), the photos (we put together a slide show), the videos (including a clip from the last interview he did, the week before being admitted to hospital), the tributes and the resolve to move ahead and continue the struggle

Dr Sarwar passes on – memorial meeting May 31st

Well known physician and former student leader Dr Sarwar passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on May 26 in Karachi. He will be remembered for his inspirational leadership, generosity of spirit, warmth of character and clear-headed political vision.
A memorial meeting is scheduled at PMA House Karachi, on Sunday, May 31 at 6.30 pm.