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Historic Temples in Pakistan

By Reema Abbasi

September 12 2014

Historic Temples in Pakistan: A Call to Conscience –  makes a case for keeping ancient emblems of faith alive and for pluralism in a land of irony that has been home to multiple ancient faiths yet stands besieged by unpalatable extremism by Reema Abbasi and Madiha Aijaz

It also aspires to enshrine the ideal of liberty. This book sets out to ignite a discourse and the collective conscience of a nation numbed into silence, fear or the false conviction of the supremacy of a singular religion—to institutionalise the fundamental right of will.

Elaborately embellished with evocative photographs of antiquated and exquisite Hindu shrines, opulent rituals and festivals and regional populace,the chronicle has extensive research and exceptional pilgrimage sites— Hinglaj, Katas Raj, Kalka Cave Temple, Panchmukhi Hanuman Mandir and Shivala Mandir, to name a few.

While vivid introductions and sweeping images present the landscape and the social fabric of a territory, the redolence of celebrations spread passion and fervour. A special article introduces the extraordinary Fakira, last of the human hands behind idols in Pakistan. Humanity is cast as the oldest of creeds and as the reason for faiths. Therefore, devotion cannot be reserved for a sole Call to Prayer.

About the authors

Reema Abbasi was the recipient of the Gender in Journalism Award 2003 from UNESCO for the most gender sensitive reportage. A journalist

for almost 19 years, she began with culture and lifestyle at The NewsInternational, moved on to crime and socio- political writing with The Herald Magazine and then became an editorial writer at Dawn.

At present, she is a columnist with The Daily MailMail Today and an independent contributor with Dawn and The Indian Express.

In the last decade, Reema’s writings have maintained a rabid focus on the values of secularism. With this book, she aims to stir a discourse that dispels intolerance towards any faith and shuns the concept of religious power.She attended Sherborne School for Girls in England and St. Joseph’s College in Karachi, Pakistan. Her other passions include music, reading, writing and research, cinema, travel, art, poetry, and yoga.

 

Photographer – Madiha Aijaz studied at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture (IVS) in Karachi, Pakistan and at Parsons in New York City. In 2007, she was awarded the Fulbright scholarship for photography. Herwork has been exhibited in Pakistan, the United States and South Africa.

 

For more details on Historic Temples in Pakistan: A Call to Conscience  please visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Historic-Temples-in-Pakistan-A-Call-to-Conscience/774600765924025

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