An interdisciplinary study on design and visual culture in Pakistan, this book reflects social, commercial and geo-political changes influencing this region. It documents contemporary visual vernacular and provides an overview of the impact of diverse cultures assimilated over several millennia. A broad horizon of graphic expression is addressed: from architectural calligraphy to postage stamps, from steatite seals of the Indus valley culture (4000 BC) and coinage to Mughal manuscripts and cinema posters. Historic evidence is fused with contemporary expression, as well as "fine arts" with "applied arts." Over 30 contributions from leading experts are organized into five sections. "Dekh Magar Pyar se" (Look, but with Love) consists of indigenous popular icons, a majority drawing heavily from religion and mythology. "Read" covers typography depicted by the Urdu, Persian, Arabic and English languages and script. "Be Pakistani, Buy Pakistani" celebrates consumer culture providing critique of some of the local retail packaging. "Pakistan Zindabad" (Long Live Pakistan) offers insight into the construct of a national graphic identity after its Independence in 1947. Pre-partition Perspective is structured chronologically and offers an illustrated history of the region. It is a sourcebook for designers, artists as well as students of communication and culture.

A 1999 overview of Taliban rule in Afghanistan that describes the country's history; mujahideen; the Taliban's theological and political infrastructure; the economy, social order, and human rights; relations with neighboring countries; and the background and beliefs of Osama bin Laden.

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Pakistan is a land with a unique history, formed by migrating peoples who have left their footprint in its diverse cultures, languages, literature, food, dress, and folklore. The country is besieged by bad news, but despite the political turmoil the everyday life of its people is more stable, rich, and rewarding than the media headlines would lead you to believe. A myriad local festivals and celebrations and a vibrant cultural life go unremarked. Pakistan has the eighth-largest standing army in the world and is the only Muslim-majority nation to possess nuclear weapons, but few know that it is also the home of two unique schools of art. This complex nation consists of various ethnic groups, each with its own individual cultures and subcultures, but which are unified by the common values of hospitality, honor, and respect for elders. Pakistani society has extremes of wealth and poverty, and daily life for most people is full of difficulties, yet everyone knows how to cope with crises. Creative and adaptable, Pakistanis are among the most self-reliant people in the world, bouncing back after major catastrophes. Culture Smart! Pakistan takes you behind the headlines and introduces you to many of the country's little-known traditions. It describes the vitally important cultural and historical background, shows you how modern Pakistanis live today, and offers crucial advice on what to expect and how to behave in different circumstances. This is an extraordinary country of enterprising, tough, and passionate people. Earn their trust and you will be rewarded many times over.

Culture of Encounters documents the fascinating exchange between the Persian-speaking Islamic elite of the Mughal Empire and traditional Sanskrit scholars, which engendered a dynamic idea of Mughal rule essential to the empire's survival. This history begins with the invitation of Brahman and Jain intellectuals to King Akbar's court in the 1560s, then details the numerous Mughal-backed texts they and their Mughal interlocutors produced under emperors Akbar, Jahangir (1605–1627), and Shah Jahan (1628–1658). Many works, including Sanskrit epics and historical texts, were translated into Persian, elevating the political position of Brahmans and Jains and cultivating a voracious appetite for Indian writings throughout the Mughal world. The first book to read these Sanskrit and Persian works in tandem, Culture of Encounters recasts the Mughal Empire as a polyglot polity that collaborated with its Indian subjects to envision its sovereignty. The work also reframes the development of Brahman and Jain communities under Mughal rule, which coalesced around carefully selected, politically salient memories of imperial interaction. Along with its groundbreaking findings, Culture of Encounters certifies the critical role of the sociology of empire in building the Mughal polity, which came to irrevocably shape the literary and ruling cultures of early modern India.

Presents a thematically indexed bibliography devoted to Afghanistan. Following the pattern established by one of its major data sources, viz, the acclaimed Index Islamicus, both journal articles and book publications are included and indexed.