The Greek-to-Arabic translation movement: no expense spared
by Rashmee
Posted on September 12, 2020
The 200-year-old Greek-to-Arabic translation movement begun by the Abbasid Caliph Al Mansur (r.754-775) has no …
Read MoreCulture wars and cultural gaps: the Hellenic equation
by Rashmee
Posted on September 11, 2020
The culture wars between the Muslims and the Byzantines had decided effects. Often, they left …
Read MoreDon’t despair over the culture wars. They’re benign compared to 8th and 9th centuries
by Rashmee
Posted on September 10, 2020
Not too long ago, British sociologist Frank Furedi wrote a piece on the culture wars…
Read MoreIs there an inherent Islamic hostility to representation?
by Rashmee
Posted on September 3, 2020
The issue of Islam’s attitude to free expression is back in the news with the …
Read MoreIn France, it’s yesterday once more with ‘Charlie Hebdo’ Prophet cartoons and a terrorism trial
by Rashmee
Posted on September 2, 2020
Except for the pandemic, it feels like 2015. The French satirical magazine ‘Charlie Hebdo’ has …
Read MoreTurning the NYT’s Morning Briefing into a ‘good news’ bulletin – Part II
by Rashmee
Posted on July 29, 2020
Here’s an update on my July 24th creative experiment in positivity bias in which I …
Read MoreTurning the NYT’s Morning Briefing into a good news bulletin
by Rashmee
Posted on July 24, 2020
Today, as a creative experiment in positivity bias, I turned part of the NYT’s Morning …
Read MoreIt matters that Kazakhstan is championing a 9th century Islamic philosopher. Here’s why
by Rashmee
Posted on July 20, 2020
Just days ago, an online symposium on Al Farabi celebrated the Islamic philosopher’s 1150th year …
Read MoreSocrates would’ve marvelled at Trump: Here’s an ‘honest’ politician who lives & succeeds
by Rashmee
Posted on July 6, 2019
N.B.: After publication, I had to qualify the word “honest” in the headline because it …
Read MoreThe Catholic Pope’s visit to the Arabian Peninsula reprised Abbasid times
by Rashmee
Posted on March 6, 2019
Weeks after Pope Francis visited the United Arab Emirates, the implications remain profound. For the …
Read MoreRashmee has lived and worked in several countries in the past decade, including Afghanistan, India, Haiti, Tunisia, the UAE, US and UK