Libre Magazine

Complexities in Leadership

How do we measure quality of leadership: through success or ability? Most generally success. However, that does not mean there was only one Einstein or Newton. There must have been many, but the appropriate channelisation, opportunities, luck, results and fame were only achieved by the named few, similarly for leaders. For instance, the idea of an [...]

Working Women’s Woes

Women’s human rights deserve more importance than they are accorded in many societies. Every woman deserves her dignity and respect at home and in the workplace as much as any man – if not more. The term, ‘Human rights’ refers to the basic rights to which all human beings are entitled. The United Nations Universal Declaration [...]

Cops, Laces and The Accelerator

Once, in a cold summer night of 2005, we were on our way back to Abbotabad from Naran valley in northern Pakistan, after a tiresome but wonderful journey. Even in summers, it was as cold as winter. We were driving the jeep as fast as we possibly could because we couldn’t bear the chilly winds [...]

An Interesting Sunday

“Man, its really hot. How long do we have to wait for her?” “Just a little while more, her cousin is coming to give us the tickets at the main gate” “Oh no way man, that’s two whole blocks away… grrrr …ok, lets walk” They started at gate 3, and walked steadily towards the main entrance. The [...]

Sights of Quetta, Pakistan. (Photography)

Dispel the Darkness

“Education for all is important for three reasons. First, education is a right. Second, education enhances individual freedom. Third, education yields important development benefits.” John Daniel, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Education. How committed are the South Asian nations to promoting education for all? How focused, indeed, are they on building their future? At the Millennium Summit in [...]

A Dream and a Truth

Once upon a time I had a dream , dream that the world we live in ceases to show any economic disparity , people living if not in harmony as that’s against human nature ( so conflicts still exist) but no one dies of hunger. A few years ago when I used to think what it [...]

The Long Winters: Part 1

Winters were pure and long in those days; no wonder they still stick to my memory very warmly. It was the beginning of 1986; there wasn’t much of a hustle bustle even though we were moving to a newer and bigger house. Maybe, because we were to the house (in fact a servant quarter) where [...]

Winds of Change

Human societies have traditionally been male-dominated, owing to the male’s superior physical strength. However, as higher intellectual concerns gained importance, change became inevitable in the status quo with some cultures being more receptive while others, resistant. Over the last hundred years, Western societies have seen a change in attitude, with emancipation and empowerment of women bringing [...]

‘Adressing the Cliche’ - Education

The Higher Education Dilemma- Case Pakistan A few weeks ago, while discussing the future of Pakistan, I hit some clichés which although vital can be considered redundant in terms of thought and creativity of development in Pakistan, as they are equivalent to banging on the old closed door, ‘for and against’ a rhetoric of education which [...]