{{EngvarB|date=August 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Multiple issues| {{More citations needed|date=August 2007}} {{Primary sources|article|date=July 2011}} {{Notability|1=Web|date=April 2025}} }} {{Infobox website | name = Chowk.com | logo = ChowkLogo.png | logocaption = | screenshot = | collapsible = | collapsetext = | caption = | url = {{URL|www.chowk.com}} | commercial = | registration = | language = English | num_users = | content_license = | owner = | editor = | launch_date = 1997 | revenue = | current_status = Offline | footnotes = }} '''Chowk.com''' was a website with a focus on the current affairs, politics and cultural aspects of India and Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web|last=ZNET|date=19 April 2005|website=ZNET|url=http://www.zmag.org/southasia/pakistan.htm|title=South Asia Watch|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20050419105456/http://www.zmag.org/southasia/pakistan.htm |archive-date=19 April 2005 |url-status=dead|quote=Chowk — Information and debate on Pakistan-- an internet community…}}</ref> Its stated goal is to provoke readers go beyond soundbites and uncover the truth, however uncomfortable. It was also a magazine that aimed to promote discourse between people of the subcontinent on various issues which affected their lives. The site appeared to become stale in March 2012.
== History == Chowk was launched in 1997 on the 50th independence anniversary of India and Pakistan with the mission to promote and nurture independent voices that question, dissect and examine the social, political, religious and cultural moorings of that region.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Chowk|date=27 August 2007|url=http://www.chowk.com/about|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070827004600/http://www.chowk.com/about|url-status=dead|title=Chowk: Identity Politics Culture and Religion of India Pakistan<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=27 August 2007}}</ref> Chowk's founding team included Safwan Shah, Umair Khan, Saima Shah, Ginni Dhindsa<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cemendtaur|first=A.H.|date=26 July 2005|editor=Akhtar M. Faruqui|url=https://www.pakistanlink.org//Community/2005/Aug05/26/07.HTM|title=Community|website=pakistanlink.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131235557/https://www.pakistanlink.org//Community/2005/Aug05/26/07.HTM|archive-date=31 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> and Radhika Nagpal, who came together in the mid-1990s with the idea of a South Asian political and literary online magazine.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}}
The site appeared to become stale in March 2012, with archives from 1 September 2012 showing no updates since March 2012.<ref name="ChowkHome-20120901">{{cite web|last=Chowk|title=Chowk Homepage|date=1 September 2012|url=http://www.chowk.com/|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901011634/http://www.chowk.com/|archive-date=1 September 2012|website=Chowk.com }}</ref> Subsequent archives of the homepage saw the site become unfunctional before showing a controlled site closed message from about 2014.
== Format == Chowk was updated daily with original articles, opinions, and commentary on current affairs, politics and cultural trends. In addition, Chowk publishes reviews, short stories, and poetry by new, upcoming writers of South Asian origin. Chowk also features services like blogs, photo galleries and discussion forums. Almost all of Chowk content was contributed by its members. Chowk published commentary, analysis and reviews alongside fiction and poetry.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chowk|date=20 November 2010|url=http://www.chowk.com/guidelines |title=Writing on Chowk |publisher=Chowk.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120234424/http://chowk.com/guidelines |archive-date=20 November 2010 |access-date=13 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Chowk content was regularly republished by news websites, popular South Asian blogs and discussion groups.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}}
==Columnists==
Columnists at Chowk included:
*Pervez Hoodbhoy *Beena Sarwar *Veeresh Malik{{Sfnp|Nazeem|2008|p=199}} * Nadeem F. Paracha<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pakistantimes.com/topics/nadeem-f-paracha/|title=Nadeem F. Paracha|date=31 March 2012}}</ref> * Farzana Versey * Jawahara Saidullah
==References== {{reflist}}
==Sources == * {{Cite book|last=Nazeem|first=M. Ayaz|date=2008 |editor=Jing Lin |editor2=Edward J. Brantmeier |editor3=Christa Bruhn|oclc=488973218|isbn=978-1-59311-905-8|ol=18800699W |title=Transforming Education for Peace|publisher=Information Age Publishing Inc.|location=Chartlotte, North Carolina |chapter=10: Peace-Educational Value of the Word Wide Web: Dialogue and Confidence Building in Cyberspace — An analysis of Chowk.com}}
==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.chowk.com}}
Category:Pakistani news websites Category:Indian news websites Category:Online magazines published in Pakistan Category:Online magazines published in India Category:Magazines established in 1997 Category:Internet properties established in 1997