Orion Belt....my friend in the winter sky

Its night here and everything is quiet, what I can hear is only the sound of my typing keys and this sound is music to my ears because I know each strike on the key brings my ideas on the blog and I love it. I just saw Orion Belt on the vast expanse of western horizon....as the summer is approaching it will disappear and only show itself again when winter comes...it will now be visible in the nights of southern hemisphere. I remember it was 1989 when I started developing interest in astronomy or to be specific in watching different constellations of the sky. During these nights of sky watching I made frienship with Orion Belt. Whenever something important happens in my life I look upward and say "hey Orion you see I have got this, Orion see......I am here in Thar, Orion you look so beautiful in the sky over the arid mountains off super highway ( between Hyderabad and Karachi...I must have travelled thousands times on this route). All my conversations with Orion could only take place during winter nights and when it is not here I wait for it to reappear. Tonight I have seen it on the western horizon ...soon it will be set and...as summer is approaching it will say good bye to the dwellers of northern hemisphere. O Orion!!I will miss you and I wont say come soon...as I know you will come in your time. Have a nice stay in the south. Do tell me about lake titicaca and andes and kangaroos when you reappear. BBye

Ride to unknown

In the evening I took out my bike and picked up Z and said to him, "Let's go." He asked where???...dont ask just come with me..as at that time I had no idea myself where to go..I just wanted to get out to some place where I was away from the mess of the city .....he like always was ready for another ride to unknown......I decided to go straight towards airport road.....(yes, there is an airport in Hyderabad, closed for so long now) and up we went on the rise that is called Ganju Tikkar ( the bald mountain) towards CATI ( Civil Aviation Training Institute) on the left was Sindh Regimental Centre (HQ for Pak Army's Sindh Regiment) the road was narrow but in good condition and the surrounded by arid land. We kept moving straight till we passed Kohsar Housing Scheme and found the splendid scene down there where green lush fields were present and the sun was about to set, just across the fields we could see the glittering water of River Indus. I thought to go down near the fields and watch the sun set. We went down a steep decline towards the fields. There we found a young guy of listening to Sindhi music on the radio. We went to him and he told us his name was Ali Hassan Chuttu. I practiced my Sindhi after long time. I have always felt that I speak better Sindhi whenever I am talking to a peasant than to any one of my Sindhi friends here in the city. It may be because I become conscious or feel being judged..... whatever but at that time it was a smooth talking in Sindhi. He told me about the expanding city that was threatening to gulp his small village. He knew it was inevitable as the lush green field was already purchased by the builders for another housing scheme. I felt bad but he told me that water scarcity was another cause of the selling of lands to builder. Another village would be extinct soon. Sun was about to set. We said good bye to Ali Hassan Chuttu as we watched sunset beyond the green fields.

Its suffocating out there

Dust, smoke........on the roads....rickshaws emitting whirls of poisonous smoke and the dust from the ruined roads mixing with them and I am out there...feeling suffocated...my eyes redening and my heart pounding ..... the invisible pillow of fume smothering me, is there anyone who could take off the pillow......but every one is rushing, rushing in or rushing out?.....I don't know but I have to rush back to my home to breath deeply in the air that gives life.......the downtown is a gas chamber .....where poison is poured into the blood and thoughts of the people ......they fight with each other, they lose temper, its mayhem...its hell..yet they don't know what they need....they need fresh air, flowers, blue sky, shining sun......to get back their smiles, to make them generous and accomodating. Fresh air you envelop me.......I cannot live without you.

Keep the momentum going.

Now when you have over come the inertia and started doing the jobs which were pending for so long do not let procrastination creep in again. Keep finishing the tasks and if negetive thoughts come just do not heed them. Just keep the momentum going.

Saramago's Cave, I got it.

Hey....I got Jose Saramago's The Cave, I am so happy. I didn't go to Karachi I placed the order online and here it is. Now I have done what I said to you I would do. Happy!!!

Let the fun remain !

Don't be too good to me lest I be good to you then all the fun is gone.

Respect for freedom of speach, yes....submission NO

The editor of JP has written lately why he published cartoons. I quote
"Has Jyllands-Posten insulted and disrespected Islam? It certainly didn't intend to. But what does respect mean? When I visit a mosque, I show my respect by taking off my shoes. I follow the customs, just as I do in a church, synagogue or other holy place. But if a believer demands that I, as a nonbeliever, observe his taboos in the public domain, he is not asking for my respect, but for my submission. And that is incompatible with a secular democracy."

Here I reply
" Have muslims insulted and disrespected freedom of speach? They certainly didn't intend to. But what does respect mean? When I read newspapers I show my respect to freedom of speach by showing tolerance towards the criticism of many muslims, governments of Islamic countries and practices within Islamic countries . But if a proponent of freedom of speech demands that I, as a believer of Islamic faith, follow his standards for freedom of speech even if he insults and derogates the very person who embodies Islam then he is not asking for my respect, but for my submission. And that is incompatible with my Islamic faith."

Diary 1994

Quotations and facts........from the diary of 1994

"I am always ready to learn but I do not always like being taught" ( Churchill)

I feel rather low and don't have the energy.
Bang
A
Nasty
Job
Off

Real exile begins when you no longer pine for home, when it has been lost forever, buried in the recesses of the psyche, and the only home you have is memory.
( Susha Guppy from her book A girl in Paris)

Because humor involves ambiguity and newness, and because the mechanical thinker avoids ambiguity, he misses a great deal of the charming absurdity in the world around him. ( Brain Power)

When a custom, belief, value, or practice is defended and worshipped for its own sake instead of for the definite benefits it offers, it has become Crap-with a capital C. ( Brain Power)

Intimacy is often frightening because itinvolves risk. In an intimate relationship people are vulnerable and many times it seems easier to pass time or to play games than to risk feelings either of affection or rejection. Winners risk genuine intimacy.

If there is no wind, row.

No body is 100%.
To a snale a turtle is fast.
Sidewalks don't always go where you want to go.

Italian merchant Fra Luca Pacioli is the Father of modern accounting.

It's not the name that we are called, but the name that we answer to is important.

A nova, blazing out of deep space is remarkable, but, except by astronomers, unremarked.

A person who isn't busy living is busy dying.

The spark of genius travel a non linear path.

Ok , Ok I will do what you say

No, no, no .....I won't delay anymore what I wanna do with my life. Yes I have done always what you,my heart ,say but what can i do you keep saying do this do that ,now u must start this ,...when r u gonna do that..waghera waghera ok..ok...ok..I will start doing what you want..but first lemme write what u want ...u want me
1. to start photographing ( hey...I need to buy digital camera...not that much money in hand right now....ok,...I will have it..Khush..soon, kaha na)
2. to start learning persian..( yeah, its important...if I don't learn Persian this will be bad..I should...)
3. to start walking daily...( Oh yeah I am gaining weight..and I don't like it..I like to look cool, and yeah when I walk I feel fit and egile and energetic so..yes I will start now tonight ....ok.?)
4. to start reading a new book...find a new author....like Milan Kundera or Kazantzakis..yes I am doing it..and I have found ...what was his name ...he was from Portugal yes...lemme see in google...Jose Saramago..yes..now when I will go to Karachi...I will buy his book from liberty ..ok? theek hai na?)
5. to buy new shirts ( fine..next visit to Karachi, from dolman books as well as shirts ....ok?)
6. to visist Gorakh hills.....( now this is hard...u know I have not been in touch with the free wandering part of my soul so..and I am bit hesitatnt......I know I should not fear anything...there is no law and order problem etc but.........ok.ok......ok..ok.I will visit in June will it be fine?)
7. to start learning Spanish.........(yes...it has been my dream and I have learnt a bit as well...ok I will..start it soon for Bolivia, lake Titicaca then......Incas, Andes I love you all. You are right my heart)

it's enough for tonight as you would continue to ask for more.............
Oh I haven't forgot novel, history articles, writing on.................so many topics I will do , I will write ok......now just smile because... I love you.

Raheela Gul: Daring Woman of Pakistan.

I had never met Raheela or seen her picture when I came to know from Yunus Thakur about a girl who was doing a travel document on Thar desert for Geo TV. I was excited. Thar desert carries a magnetic appeal for me. I always wanted to make a documentary on Thar desert especially on Nagar Parkar and Karonjhar mountain. Thakur told me about the documentary because he knew about my passion for Thar. He was a member of the team of Raheela for the Thar expedition. I was genuinely interested to know about the girl who was capturing the eastern desert of Pakistan. Thakur was all praise for her...he told me that she was a real professional . I told him ....hey I wanna meet her because I wanted to see the adventure lady who aspired to travel to the places which had always fascinated me. Time kept passing and then in the morning of October 8' 2005 news started coming in from Islamabad that a major earth quake had struck Pakistan. All the T.V channels in Pakistan were showing the scenes of a collapsed building of Margalla Towers. Little did I know at that time that beneath the wreckage lied daring woman of Pakistan Raheela Gul. The person whom I wanted to meet. I was shocked when news came in that the body of Raheela Gul was found in the rubble. I searched for information about her on net and found that she was in Islamabad for the arrangements for her upcoming adventure tour of Amazon, South America. She was staying in Margalla Towers and was about to leave for Lahore when that fateful moment came that took away multitudes of precious lives. Geo TV is now telecasting Raheela's adventurous trip entitled Tharparkar say Rohi tak.Raheela!! I never met you but I know we would have been friends.

Thar Express, Tears of Joy

Thar express completed its first journey and reached India after the hiatus of four decades. There were tears of joy in the eyes of pessengers. I look forward to travelling towards India via Thar Express. O!!! desert, I hear your call.

Thar Express

Just after 3 hours Thar Express is leaving Karachi Cantt: Station on its journey towards Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. The demand of the people of Sindh especially those having family links in India has finally been fulfilled. The Khokhrapar route as it is commonly known here in Sindh was not in operation since 1965 Indo-Pak war. I belong to the generation whose parents had migrated from India and settled down in Sindh, Pakistan in 1947. Most of the migrated families now living in Sindh had come through Khokhrapar route to Pakistan. The closure of Khokhrapar route has caused unnecessary difficulties for the passengers from Sindh as they have to go through Wagah border near Lahore in Punjab to reach India. While on a visit to Nagar Parkar in Thar I met a family whose relatives lived across the border...just few miles away and to attend a wedding ceremony they had to travel via Lahore and Delhi to reach the other side of border. It was ridiculous...!!The desert train linking Sindh with Rajasthan will open new contacts.Th Pakistani Punjab has already many routes linking it to Indian Punjab. The beneficiaries of the links between Indian and Pakistani Punjab are mostly the Sikhs ( from relegious point of view) but the opening of the route between Sindh and Rajasthan will provide opportunities to Hindus to visit their holy places spread all over Sindh and Balochistan.There is however the need for the opening up of Indian High Commission in Karachi so that the visa is issued from Karachi and prospective visitors to India do not have to go to Islamabad for Indian visa.

13371st day of my life

Today is 13371st day of my life. When I look back I found that only few days have been in my memory with their specifics. Rest of the days I dont know how did I pass them. For example I don't remember what happened ....ummm lets say on May 5' 1983. It may be because I have never kept a diary on regular basis but the point is not that if I remember what happened on a specific day the point is did I intentionally try to make my days of life memorable, useful, eventful and productive. 13370 days came and went away. Ofcourse whatever I am this is due to these passing days but I have a feeling that the realiziation how useful and miraculous each day is comes lately.I do remember May 5' 1983 came in my life when I was studying in Public School Hyderabad, Sindh in 9th Class. I think those were the days when my final exams were going on. I appeared in the exams at the centre in Unit 10, Latifabad in a school named Noor -e- Islam high school. Oh those were the days. I remember my father used to drop me for the exam in the morning. Now here I have certainly the idea what I was doing during those days but I don't remember what I did on May 5' 1983. Now is it important to remember each day with its specific? No, its not important but it is important to remember that each day is important. What I mean is that we should give respect to each moment and each day of life because few seconds, few minutes or few days in the life bring changes that have long lasting impact. Whatever I have done on May 5 '1983 has a direct impact what I am today and it goes true for every day of my life. If we realize that each day is a miracle then we will cherish its presence and get the best out of it. So this moment here as I am writing has a direct influence what I will be in the coming days.

Lamha/Moment

mujhay woh lamha day do jo sirf mera ho
aur phir meri umar ghat kay woh lamha ban jai
ya phir woh lamha barh kay amar ho jai
mujhay woh lamha day do jo sirf mera ho

Give me the moment that is exclusivly mine
and then my life is reduced to become that momen
tor that moment exapnds to become eternal
give me the moment that is exclusivly mine

Speak Up!!

Silence overwhelms me, whenever you are quiet
I feel myself frozen in the ice block that is not melting
I feel suffocated, wilted, tormented, dejected, and dispirited your speaking with quietness kills meSpeak, talk, fight, blame, complain, cry but don't be quiet
I know if you talk I will take care of everything
I will reach the heart of matter and resolve the problems
I like to listen and make connections
I want to reach and hold hands
I want to hear you and then the world will smile
the ice will melt and I will breath freely
Speak up...

Blasphemous Cartoons

I spent most of the time during two-day Muharram holiday (9th and 10th) surfing the net especially the blogs. In the form of blogs I have found a treasure. I went through many blogs but enjoyed Uncut India very much. The recent posts on the blog are on the writer’s ongoing trip of Pakistan with Indian Cricket team. I enjoyed the postings on Peshawar and Karachi very much.At the same time I want to write on different topics. To beging with here I post my thoughts on the cartoon controversy. I have read several articles on net about it. I felt that the western media should have condemned the blasphemous cartoons but they didn't. The obvious reason for not doing so is the wide gulf that exists between the western and Islamic world in understanding the place of religion in each other's society. The church and its domination during the middle ages led to the rovolt against it and gave birth to enlightenment and therefore the media in west see religion as against the progress and development. The Church had played the role of a bigot against new thinking and science. On the contrary Islam has been instrumental in unlocking the human potential and challenging the status quo. Therefore the attitude towards religion is totally poles apart in these two worlds. Religion plays central role in the Islamic societies whereas it plays a very limited role in the western societies.Although the Muslim world needs renaissance but the initiative should come from within. In my opinion even Voltaire would not approve of what has been published in the Danish newspaper in the name of freedom of expression. It was sheer nonsense. Muslims have a chance to show they are mature enough to deal with such blatant provocations without being carried away. The debate is going on and campaign against the cartoons is on a rise. I am following the developments keenly. Lets see where they will lead.

Its Getting Chaotic!!

Its getting chaotic!!!
The world is chaotic. Noises, shouts, cries, loud music (or cacophony) invading the tranquility of my space. I cannot do much to protect my little quiet island. I am clinging to the slipping rope of serenity but it seems my grip on it is losing.Its like hanging on a cliff. Beneath the cliff lies the abyss of chaos. I am struggling to hold the rope as it is my only hope to get back to the plateau of composure.What have brought me to the state of mess? External noises or internal noises? External noises are feable compared to the thunderbolts I hear inside. The internal noise pollution is not letting me to concentrate. I feel myself being pulled by strings in all direction. Nothing is happening and time is passing. Focus is lost and life is moving in a whirlpool. I know what I need to do. I know how to get out of it. It is the inertia that needs to be overcome. It is endless thinking without action that is overwhelming my power. I need to listen to myself. My voice is somewhat lost in the din. I am going to find it. I know I have to listen to it. Through getting rid of all noises and bringing the silence back in my inner world I will be able to pull myself back to normalcy. Slowly and slowly,inch by inch, moment by moment I need to shut up all the distracting noises. Once I am all alone with myself and I listen to my inner voice it tells me what to do. As I am writing this I have already statred listening to my voice. Writing helps in focusing and focus helps in achieving the goals. I am on my way.........................