Author
Marvi Sirmed is a political commentator, governance specialist, free lance journalist, theater actor and an independent blogger. She works with a parliamentary development program and is based in Islamabad, Pakistan. She is founder and editor of Baaghi – a political blog site that covers political and socio-economic issues impacting people's lives in Pakistan.
Sick and tired of these profile statements written in second person! Let me be myself and tell you who I am!
Born on June 11, 1972, I'm a citizen of Pakistan and have Masters’ degrees in Political Science, Science Education and English Linguistics.
My current project involves working closely with the Parliament of Pakistan for the capacity building and orientation of the honourable members of the parliament along with the officials of the parliament’s secretariats. Earlier, I've been working as Institutional Development Specialist with the Ministry of Women Development, Government of Pakistan and as Policy Advocacy Specialist with National Commission on the Status of Women.
I started my career as journalist in 1990 and have been working as Sub Editor, Editor Women’s Page, Editor Students’ Page and Member of Investigative Team in different national dailies (Daily The News, Jang, Pakistan, Khabrein etc.). After an enriching experience as a media person, I moved on to work with two of the top educational institutions of Lahore, The Crescent Model School and Pamir Knot College. Afterwards, switched to the development field and joined South Asia Partnership Pakistan in March 1997, where I engaged myself in the program development, organizational assessments, monitoring and evaluation of the development projects in Punjab and interior Sindh. It makes me proud of the fact that our work resulted in establishment of women’s groups and community based organizations in many districts of Punjab and Sindh.
In 2000, I joined Institute of Overseas Pakistanis to develop a leading organization to watch the process of legislation in Pakistan, Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) where I got very enriching learning opportunities and became a part of pioneering team to develop maiden programs for the capacity building of parliamentarians.
Then I joined Aurat Foundation, a leading NGO, in 2001 as Provincial Coordinator (Punjab) of Legislative Watch Programme. Under this programme, legislative processes going on at federal and provincial levels were watched through Legislative Watch Groups (LWGs), established in all the provinces and composed of legislative experts and technocrats. Advocacy programmes were developed in the light of LWGs’ observations and executed in order to affect policy change and legislations.
One of the marked achievement and successful advocacy programme was a unanimous recommendation from all Legislative Watch Groups for the reservation of 33% quota for women in law making bodies. Before the military coup of 1999, these recommendations were submitted to all provincial legislatures and parliament of Pakistan, pursuing which, General Pervez Musharraf's government later promulgated the legislation providing allocation of 33% reserved seats for women in local bodies while for provincial and national legislatures, this quota was lowered down to 17%.
I'm fond of traveling and like to see places as well as meet people. My travels include USA, UK, Malysia, Indonesia, Bangkok, India and Bangladesh for reading various papers, participating in conferences / seminars / training events on legislative development, democratic governance, poverty reduction, and community development. One of the most enjoyable learning and touring experience was my participation in International Visitors Leadership Programme (IVLP) run by State Department of United States of America, in 2004. We visited many states and observed different models of management existent in non-profit sector of USA. Besides, traveling in different countries of South Asia has been not only a treat at personal level, but has added a lot of richness to my worldview.
Not only traveled in South Asia as part of different delegations, but also, am fortunate to get the opportunity of performing theater in these countries especially India and Bangladesh. My theater activities started in 1997 when I got introduced to Ajoka Theater and later performed in many plays produced by Ajoka. We from Ajoka, have performed at many stages of the world, but performing on Broadway is still an unfulfilled dream!
Besides being founder member of an independent political think tank, Voice of Democracy, I'm a member of Women’s Initiative for Peace in South Asia (WIPSA), Women’s Action Forum, Insaani Haqooq Ittehad, Pakistan India Peoples Forum, and Pakistan Forum for Social Democracy. I've also authored many research based papers, articles, and contribute columns in different dailies of Pakistan. I'm also an independent blogger and have named my blog as BAAGHI, an Urdu for rebel. I'm using this term to put it strongly that I refuse to accept ages old stereotypes, unjust societal traditions & norms, religious implements of subjugation and everything that perpetuates inequality, injustice and gender / religion / caste / linguistic / ethnicity based discrimination. Being a strong supporter of social democracy, I believe in progressive and socialist ideals of governance and strongly believe in complete separation of religion and state.
I look forward to your comments on posts and overall blog approach.
Warm wishes!
Marvi Sirmed
mohammed siraj
August 20, 2010 at 5:54 pm
you discussion in the bucks stops here was admirable.hats off_mohammed siraj
[Reply]
Musings
August 4, 2010 at 12:22 am
I see that you have traveled both the India and to the US. Politics apart, Indians in general are not anti-pak and in the US, Indians and Pakistanis get along well. With voices like yours and other such people on both sides of the divide, I hope to see an open border between India and Pak. As for Kashmir, why can’t both the countries maintain a status-quo and open up the border? A united Kashmir is much better place than an Indian or Pakistan Kashmir.
I ramble, but I see no point in the continued animosity between India and Pakistan. It is for writers like you on either side of the border to break the wall built of ignorant distrust.
Good blog and nice to know a Rebel with a Cause!
[Reply]
M. Naeem Sattar
July 24, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Reality is matter of perception.
Effort is very appreciable, but one has the right to differ from perception and wisdom of yours, right?
After reviewing your blog and articles, I see that your efforts are more than to presenting things, as they are. And I think this is the very soul of field of science called Journalism. No doubt journalism is a great responsible job, but influencing, polishing, reforming and impacting peoples' ideologies, is far greater responsible and answerable task. As 'Reality is matter of Perception', and perception of one can never be same of another, usually, so isn’t better to present own perceptions with such delegacy that audiences may get the best possible reflection of realities through this prism, rather than focusing on presenting perceptions as realities? This statement is another point of discussion that perception also depends upon different factors, such as personal wisdom, approach, character and canvas size of mind etc.
"The Islam that is practiced" name focuses mainly on Islam, rather than false practices, as elaborated rightly in your very article. And here is a question mark, are you trying to influence and reshape people’s theologies and believes from behind the curtain of Journalism? In fact one can’t, using such general medium. Knowledge always comes from outside, but wisdom, always, comes from inside. And required parameters for being a person whose words can truly impact others ideologies are beyond degrees, worldly knowledge and professional experiences. I am not here to preach something, but just to present a critical analysis. You also have the right to differ.
[Reply]
M. Naeem Sattar
July 24, 2010 at 7:42 pm
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Effort is very appreciable, but one has the right to differ from perception and wisdom of yours, right?
Best of Luck and keep it up.
After reviewing your blog and articles, I see that your efforts are more than to presenting things, as they are. And I think that presenting the things as they are is in fact the very soul of field of science called Journalism. No doubt journalism is a great responsible job, but influencing, polishing, reforming and impacting peoples' ideologies, is far greater responsible and answerable task. As 'Reality is matter of Perception', and perception of one can never be same of another, usually, so isn’t better to present own perceptions with such delegacy that audiences may get the best possible reflection of realities through this prism, rather than focusing on presenting perceptions as realities? This statement is another point of discussion that perception also depends upon different factors, such as personal wisdom, approach, character and canvas size of mind etc.
"The Islam that is practiced" name focuses mainly on Islam, rather than false practices, as elaborated rightly in your very article. And here is a question mark, are you trying to influence and reshape people’s theologies and believes from behind the curtain of Journalism? In fact you can’t, using such general medium. Knowledge always comes from outside, but wisdom, always, comes from inside. And required parameters for being a person whose words can truly impact others ideologies are beyond degrees, worldly knowledge and professional experiences. I am not here to preach something, but just to present a critical literary analysis. You also have the right to differ.
[Reply]
Mohsin Khan
May 20, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Hi Madam,
I am impressed by your credentials and achievements.
R U Muslim? Asking this question because of Bindiya on your forehead…!!
If you are not muslim then i would request you to embrace ISLAM and change your life…Allah will forgive your all sins and you will start a new life….INSHA-ALLAH.
Regards,
Mohsin, Lahore
[Reply]
anup_ahl
April 28, 2010 at 12:23 am
Ms. Sirmed you've made an impression on me in the two days that we've interacted on twitter. Hoping to know the serious entrepreneurial side of the worker/leader in you.
Regards,
Anupam
[Reply]
rao
April 27, 2010 at 9:50 am
U r impossible….. I wish ………!! all the very best in all that you take up..
across the border your fan…
[Reply]
FM Bhatti
March 30, 2010 at 12:01 pm
i think itz simplee wow,,ya r doiin awssm job ,,ya hv such a impresive personalitee wii yr superb n marvelous career keep it up n god bless ya,,nd ne time if ya need ne sort of services fr yr wrk i ll definatalee love to join yr team,,
[Reply]
imran
December 20, 2009 at 8:28 pm
sallam,,,,
you are good in concept. but need to implement and consultant for pakistan and for people.
specilly for youth and for cabnet people…..
but plss tell me what is yours statement about current satuation in pakistan.
thank you great lady
[Reply]
abe
December 7, 2009 at 9:12 am
you are very pretty
[Reply]
Abdul Qayyum
December 3, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Well done Marvi. I M also woking for Community Development. Is your project expend in AJK? qayyum97@gmail.com
[Reply]
intikhab khan
November 26, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Ur profile says u r talented of highier standard realy appreciated & respected.
[Reply]
Ali Munawar
November 25, 2009 at 12:22 pm
We appricated your work, we are also working for the promotion of Music All over the world? ?
[Reply]
Ali Munawar
November 25, 2009 at 12:18 pm
?? ? ? ?? ?? ?? ??? ? ?? ???? ???
[Reply]
Hassan Shigri
November 22, 2009 at 9:23 pm
???? , hope you will be fine, i am one of the person to whom you have afforded an opportunity of being friend of your as at facebook…..I read your profile and admire it very much, you have a robust ??????????. ??? ???
[Reply]
Hassan Shigri
November 22, 2009 at 9:21 pm
???
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[Reply]
Muhammad Naeem
November 17, 2009 at 6:42 am
Hi, mam, hope you will be fine, i am one of the person to whom you have afforded an opportunity of being friend of your as your added me there at facebook…..I read your profile and admire it very much, you have a robust personallity,, keep it up… take care.. Muhammad Naeem Shaikh
[Reply]