Our school van driver (it was a private business) was a busy person, he had taken responsibility of more people than he could manage in one go, hence he used to make two or three rounds when picking up and dropping children, and as his confidents we were the last to be picked up and last to be dropped, it was a friendship agreement, our parents never got to know that. Well, so we had to wait for more than half an hour daily after school, and our favourite pass time was play as usually it should be, and one of the games we played was football, at least that is what we called it. Ground was a “chabootra” (closely like a footpath, but it is built by the house owner as it suits one, and not mandatory) around 12 feet long and six or seven feet wide, goal posts were marked by stones and remarkably the ‘ball’ usually has to be a stone as well as we never felt it necessary to have a ball, nevertheless the balls we tried were the ping pong ball, tennis ball and those small bouncy rubber balls which are mostly lost quickly. Most of time it was a stone as continuous availability of a ball was not possible, and we never felt it was necessary. But now, as I imagine myself playing with a stone along with a bunch of boys on a foot path, it feels crazy, but that is the beauty of that game as I discovered it later (anyone anyway, all you need is something which can be hit and move afterwards). That was my introduction to football, and of course we never cared about rules, it was only when I started to play with my classmates in a proper football field, I came to know about rules. And this is another great quality of the game; for sure you do not need to worry about ’offside’ very much and who hits his comrades by will? It was only accidental if somebody was hurt. So we were all set to enjoy and play, and that is what we did.
It was not only footpath; I have played football in the garage, in courtyard, on the road, in the garden, in the playground (not a football ground) and in proper football field as well. I should mention that I never was a good player, but who cares and no one cared, it was for fun we played, so as people do. And in a community where hatred and division was on rise (race, ethnicity, religion, you name it and we had it, yes those were the days when Afghan war was in full swing, Zia was in his prime, MQM was becoming powerful in Urban Sindh and we had started to witness the rise of trends now we debate daily ) it was a blessing for me, as I find something in common with Sindhis, and Punjabis, and Pathans, and Hindus and Christians, something where no one cared about being a Shia or a Sunni (not only football, but cricket and hockey as well which I enjoyed playing with my mates across all communities and classes). I am saying it was a blessing as I learned very early that end of the day we are humans despite all our differences (something which many grownups fail to realize till their end) and despite differences we can always find something common, I also learned that we all feel and react same way, or joys and sorrows, our physical and mental limitations, how we get motivated, how we get hurt, how we get injured, how we go into conflicts, why we need mediation, another person to provide us with the justice. Yes to the core of it, we are all one and same. I am thankful to football, it thought me a very important lesson in my life.
And that is what thousands of others across the globe do, they play and enjoy with whatever means they can have, this is a game for everyone, this is a game for anywhere. And that is the beauty of this game, the reason why it is so much popular across the globe, this game provides opportunities to everyone.
(I am reding on the history of the game, how it developed and became popular, social and other factor behind the game, it is interesting)
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Introduction to Dr. Billa (prelude to interview on philosophy of 'langar banto langar') - Part 2
As I said Dr. Billa is a profound historian, one of his great achievements is discovery of ‘Ghazis’ from across the history’, Dr. Billa has created a tower of heroes, and he is sitting on top of this tower looking tall and mighty and people like me can only admire those wuthering heights which he has achieved in this moral life , the proof of the depth of his scholarship is that he has only testified the epics in which a hero is fighting against infidels, he says all else is mere crap, and no one can object because he is such a profound scholar, no one can deny him.
He wants every youth of his nation to be a ghazi, only problem is availability of that many infidels to fight with, but Dr. Billa and his associates are working hard to increase the number of infidels, that is why we hear ‘he is kaafir (infidel)’, ‘she is kaafir’ every now and then. This is yet another proof how much depth and demand Dr. Billa’s philosophy has. Hakeem Izafi, one of admirers of Dr. Billa took responsibility of the supply of ghazis from the youth of the nation, his is a immense success story, his ghazis have shown great courage and bravery (we can say brevity as well) on platforms like drawing rooms, clubs, talk shows, and internet forums, Hakeem Izafi has created a facility for them, where they learn to fight with infidels in their dreams. By continuous dreaming, these ghazis have become so much sleepy and lousy that no one turned around when Hakeem Izafi tried to call their first annual public meeting.
There is no doubt that these theories of Dr. Billa are highly appreciated and regarded in scholastic circles. It is said that every great thinker is voice of his age as he answers to the needs and demands of that age. Theories of Dr. Billa portray in which age we are living and what kind of needs and demands are highly in demand. I am thinking to invite Eric Hobsbawm to write a detailed contemporary account of this age, and title should be ‘age of Langar’. Many a people will think that I am exaggerating, but we do not understand that Dr. Billa is voicing a phenomenon which is greatly shaping the societies of many countries in the region. Concept of ‘langar banto langar’ is highly appreciated by rich and powerful across this region, this helps them keep high moral to do everything they can do in accumulating from people to serve people.
Most important characteristic of Dr. Billa’s character is his humbleness; he raises his voice on every important issue and conflict, and goes into deep details and research and writes into daily Bhang on it, same time he demands that no one should start arguing with him, if by chance he is surrounded, he get out of it by saying he is a mere student not a professional politician or historian. To be on safe side he has created a list of traitors with proper categorization, some of them are agents of the powers conspiring against us, some are those whose children are studying in neighboring country, some are the thankless who have got everything from this country but they do not want to return anything, he believes only thankless can be so mean to criticize their leaders which are natural born innocents.
(Next will be the interview with this infamous personality)
Note:-
--What is written above is fictitious; any resemblance with real life characters, organizations or events will be coincidental
He wants every youth of his nation to be a ghazi, only problem is availability of that many infidels to fight with, but Dr. Billa and his associates are working hard to increase the number of infidels, that is why we hear ‘he is kaafir (infidel)’, ‘she is kaafir’ every now and then. This is yet another proof how much depth and demand Dr. Billa’s philosophy has. Hakeem Izafi, one of admirers of Dr. Billa took responsibility of the supply of ghazis from the youth of the nation, his is a immense success story, his ghazis have shown great courage and bravery (we can say brevity as well) on platforms like drawing rooms, clubs, talk shows, and internet forums, Hakeem Izafi has created a facility for them, where they learn to fight with infidels in their dreams. By continuous dreaming, these ghazis have become so much sleepy and lousy that no one turned around when Hakeem Izafi tried to call their first annual public meeting.
There is no doubt that these theories of Dr. Billa are highly appreciated and regarded in scholastic circles. It is said that every great thinker is voice of his age as he answers to the needs and demands of that age. Theories of Dr. Billa portray in which age we are living and what kind of needs and demands are highly in demand. I am thinking to invite Eric Hobsbawm to write a detailed contemporary account of this age, and title should be ‘age of Langar’. Many a people will think that I am exaggerating, but we do not understand that Dr. Billa is voicing a phenomenon which is greatly shaping the societies of many countries in the region. Concept of ‘langar banto langar’ is highly appreciated by rich and powerful across this region, this helps them keep high moral to do everything they can do in accumulating from people to serve people.
Most important characteristic of Dr. Billa’s character is his humbleness; he raises his voice on every important issue and conflict, and goes into deep details and research and writes into daily Bhang on it, same time he demands that no one should start arguing with him, if by chance he is surrounded, he get out of it by saying he is a mere student not a professional politician or historian. To be on safe side he has created a list of traitors with proper categorization, some of them are agents of the powers conspiring against us, some are those whose children are studying in neighboring country, some are the thankless who have got everything from this country but they do not want to return anything, he believes only thankless can be so mean to criticize their leaders which are natural born innocents.
(Next will be the interview with this infamous personality)
Note:-
--What is written above is fictitious; any resemblance with real life characters, organizations or events will be coincidental
Friday, July 2, 2010
Introduction to Dr. Billa (prelude to interview on philosophy of 'langar banto langar')
I have been very curious to interview some of my country’s intellectual especially from the journalist class who write in newspapers, as they are a very impressive lot, looks like they have solution to all our problems but no one listens to them, though some of the newspapers in which they write are circulated in millions daily. But sadly I was not able to get hold of them, reason is that I live thousands of miles away and I can only write to these eminent personalities and of course they receive posts in thousands daily, admiring their thoughts and efforts they do to solve problems of this nation, most of them spend time meeting ministers, generals, lords and businessmen; attending official dinners and events, hence it is surely difficult for them to check their mails and reply specially answering those which stops them from doing what they do the best and ask them to think (a habit which they have lost in process of evolution). Even if I would be at home, it will be difficult for a common person like me to reach the drawing rooms of these eminent personalities, surely if they spend their time meeting jerks like me then who will be working and writing on solving our problems?
Fortunately my dear friend Majeed introduced me to Dr. Billa, a very prominent scholar living overseas and working hard in the struggle to solve the problems of his fellow countrymen. He writes regularly in daily Bhang, which is widely circulated newspaper of my country, long before 3-idiots was released or even its story was conceived, our daily Bhang was reciting ‘all is well’ and it has a big contribution in keeping our masses silent, as silence brings peace and peace is the pathway for prosperity ( if you don’t ask whose prosperity it is? Then ‘all is well’). Nevertheless he is very much respected across all walks of life especially by politicians, land lords, army generals, bureaucrats and religious scholars.
Why Dr. Billa is called Dr. Billa? it is a very interesting story as well. During his student years when he was doing his Masters and eventually PHD( in sociology and history related subjects like Islamiat, Pakistan Studies, and Urdu literature), he was famous for his laziness, he was sleeping all the time everywhere. He was only waking up when nature calls, i.e. when someone was offering him food, or when it was required to get attention of opposite sex, or if someone was stepping on his tail (offending him) or you know when it can’t be helped waking up and going to respond call of nature. Only then he was waking up and acting accordingly. Hence his friends started calling him Billa (cat), he continues to carry this name and associated characteristics.
Majeed my friend is considered mentally retarded and so no one takes any notice of what he says or does, for same reason he is considered harmless and hence he succeeds in reaching where I cannot, otherwise I am sure I was not able to conduct this highly important interview in which Dr. Billa explained his philosophy of ‘Langar banto Langar’ necessary to keep masses happy where they are, and other beliefs important for stability of the country like ‘don’t ask question you traitor’ ---- you are a traitor if you question any established and accepted narrative surrounding inception of the motherland or events happened afterwards, because it will destabilize the masses and harm the peaceful situation where ‘all is well’, or calling every passed away leader of ours ‘Rehmat –Ulla-Alleh’ ----so that they will become saints and we spent all our lives reciting qawwalis on their shrines, and hang those who say anything not worthy of those personalities.
(To be Continued)
Note:-
--What is written above is fictitious; any resemblance with real life characters, organizations or events will be coincidental
--'Langar banto langar' means give alms and alms and alms.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Dr. Safdar Mehmood's column
http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/jun2010-daily/20-06-2010/col2.htm
what is really worrying is the reach these 'scholars' have through newspapers such as Jung which is most widely read in Pakistan. What historical sense people will gain? His opinion that Muslim League was a democratic party(we need to know how Muslim League council functioned?); that Musalmans of India voted for Pakistan (75% ?????, in NWFP there ... See Morewas boycott by majority); the massacres during partition were planned by Sikhs(who was killing Hindus and Sikhs in NWFP, Punjab and even in Sindh?); all these points are questionable and need scrutiny.
First book I came to access; published on Muslim League is "The Muslim League: its history, activities & achievements" by Lal Bahadur published by Agra Book Store in 1954, AHAM.
"The All India Muslim League, 1906-47" by Nadeem Shafiq Malik, Published by National Book Foundation in 1997??? Is it the first official written history of the founding party of the country? in 1997? ok after finishing 50 years in being, someone thought that it is a good idea.
First book I came to access; published on Muslim League is "The Muslim League: its history, activities & achievements" by Lal Bahadur published by Agra Book Store in 1954, AHAM.
"The All India Muslim League, 1906-47" by Nadeem Shafiq Malik, Published by National Book Foundation in 1997??? Is it the first official written history of the founding party of the country? in 1997? ok after finishing 50 years in being, someone thought that it is a good idea.
"The History Of The Indian National Congress" by Pattabhi Sita Ramaiah was published in 1935 by working committee of INC. I have this book, may be not very scholarly but it shows the sense of direction of the people and workers and their leaders. Muslim League sadly has no such record.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Abrar and Jawwad
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/in-paper-magazine/images/abrar-and-jawad-draw-daggers-360 (viewed 19 June 2010)
Here it is mentioned that the salary of Abrar's brother is more than what he stated:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrar-ul-Haq (viewed 19 June 2010)
Its a shame for both of them, and yet another display of growing intolerance in our society and immaturity of people of reputation in Pakistan. When institutions (like education, civics, law and order, journalism) are delined, effects go deep down into psychology of people and no one seems to be safe from it :( maturity and patience comes from knowledge
Here it is mentioned that the salary of Abrar's brother is more than what he stated:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrar-ul-Haq (viewed 19 June 2010)
Saturday, June 5, 2010
On BoyCott of facebook
I was perhaps amongst the first who reported that 'page' as abusive, that was my first action, and it was indeed very unpleasent to see that page alive. I decided to be here as things are not that much in black and white as we want them to be, by leaving space for others and going on back foot will push us towards the wall, I think it is not a good... See More idea, not for us, neither for our next generation.
Let’s not boycott (though it is the easiest thing to do) but face it peacefully (this is also Sunnah, or say an aspect of Sunnah), so that we can present a sober and effective outlook of Muslims and Islam. Let’s try to be strong in knowledge, and economy, and then we can really make a difference, let’s do good for the people and put our energies to fight corruption and social evils in our society (I wish my people would have come out against corruption and injustice with equal zeal and emotion) and that LHC and the society has taken notice of the maltreatment Ummah of Muhammad (PBUH) received from its oppressors, I think real blasphemy is seeing corruption and abuse going on and not to raise voice against it, who we are afraid of? God or Police(or people with power)? check the level of your ‘Iman’ and resist giving bribes, safe the women from abuse, save your children from hardships, give them education, create a safe future for them, go and vote in elections, select the right people. How many of us can dare to do so in real life? Please look at the real issues, don’t just satisfy yourself; raise your voice where it is really required to be raised, say ‘No’ where it puts you in difficulty, and check if you are a real believer or not.
Let’s not boycott (though it is the easiest thing to do) but face it peacefully (this is also Sunnah, or say an aspect of Sunnah), so that we can present a sober and effective outlook of Muslims and Islam. Let’s try to be strong in knowledge, and economy, and then we can really make a difference, let’s do good for the people and put our energies to fight corruption and social evils in our society (I wish my people would have come out against corruption and injustice with equal zeal and emotion) and that LHC and the society has taken notice of the maltreatment Ummah of Muhammad (PBUH) received from its oppressors, I think real blasphemy is seeing corruption and abuse going on and not to raise voice against it, who we are afraid of? God or Police(or people with power)? check the level of your ‘Iman’ and resist giving bribes, safe the women from abuse, save your children from hardships, give them education, create a safe future for them, go and vote in elections, select the right people. How many of us can dare to do so in real life? Please look at the real issues, don’t just satisfy yourself; raise your voice where it is really required to be raised, say ‘No’ where it puts you in difficulty, and check if you are a real believer or not.
Friday, April 16, 2010
MQM, TTP, Feudals and Pakistan
It is not just MQM or TTP but almost all other mainstream and nationalist parties in Pakistan which are actually supported or infiltrated by the Feudal class of Pakistan. May I suggest that we should not forget the role of the Pakistani Feudal class and that we should really revisit and research on the role of Feudal, their motives and objectives behind supporting all anti progressive forces in Pakistan.
MQM specially deserves more rational and unbiased analysis, as they enjoy a mass support in Urban areas of Sindh, it is not totally true that they win because of force and violence or rigging elections, they in fact enjoy a wide stream support from the people who once were in the forefront of democratic movements of Pakistan (please do not overlook the demographic facts e.g. education rate in Karachi is far higher than any other part of Sindh, and hence people living here are more politically aware and learned irrespective of their ethnic background) , whether it was in favor of Fatima Jinnah, in favor and than against Bhutto, or against Zia. Those people (called Muhajirs or Urdu-Speaking, both terms look stupid and naive after 50 years of inception of Pakistan and 4th Generation of Pakistanis in their youth and in a city like Karachi which is rightly called mini Pakistan) were perhaps the biggest threat to the Feudal class in Pakistan. Now they have been forced to be curbed and confined within the Metropolitan Sindh. It is a pity to see major nationalist parties in Sindh adopting a biased and anti democratic behavior against Muhajirs and as a result they are supporting MQM by proving it right. During 1980s a virtual wall was build between urban and rural population of Sindh, people were forced to migrate from both sides and violence, killing, looting, rapes all brutal means were adopted to support the divide (It is a pity no one has written anything for those who were affected, those stories still waiting for our attention). It was naivety of nationalists in Sindh and Pakistani Progressives in general that they did not raise their voice against it, they failed to realize the real motive and that motive was Feudal interest and preservation of Feudal status, which we can see is defended very well. If you have any doubt please revisit Sindh, and you will feel that divide in all walks of life. So those who were supposed to be aligned on basis of class struggle are now divided on the basis of race. Nationalists have been played with, and it is apparent from the famous term 'Sindh Card' we usually heard about PPP playing in elections.
TTP or Taliban should also be analyzed in same manner, those who were supposed to get united as a class are now divided on the basis of religion, they have been kept away from their basic rights of education and health while they are wasting their energies in Jihad. Now you can clearly realize why leaders are supporting them or supported them in past.
MQM specially deserves more rational and unbiased analysis, as they enjoy a mass support in Urban areas of Sindh, it is not totally true that they win because of force and violence or rigging elections, they in fact enjoy a wide stream support from the people who once were in the forefront of democratic movements of Pakistan (please do not overlook the demographic facts e.g. education rate in Karachi is far higher than any other part of Sindh, and hence people living here are more politically aware and learned irrespective of their ethnic background) , whether it was in favor of Fatima Jinnah, in favor and than against Bhutto, or against Zia. Those people (called Muhajirs or Urdu-Speaking, both terms look stupid and naive after 50 years of inception of Pakistan and 4th Generation of Pakistanis in their youth and in a city like Karachi which is rightly called mini Pakistan) were perhaps the biggest threat to the Feudal class in Pakistan. Now they have been forced to be curbed and confined within the Metropolitan Sindh. It is a pity to see major nationalist parties in Sindh adopting a biased and anti democratic behavior against Muhajirs and as a result they are supporting MQM by proving it right. During 1980s a virtual wall was build between urban and rural population of Sindh, people were forced to migrate from both sides and violence, killing, looting, rapes all brutal means were adopted to support the divide (It is a pity no one has written anything for those who were affected, those stories still waiting for our attention). It was naivety of nationalists in Sindh and Pakistani Progressives in general that they did not raise their voice against it, they failed to realize the real motive and that motive was Feudal interest and preservation of Feudal status, which we can see is defended very well. If you have any doubt please revisit Sindh, and you will feel that divide in all walks of life. So those who were supposed to be aligned on basis of class struggle are now divided on the basis of race. Nationalists have been played with, and it is apparent from the famous term 'Sindh Card' we usually heard about PPP playing in elections.
TTP or Taliban should also be analyzed in same manner, those who were supposed to get united as a class are now divided on the basis of religion, they have been kept away from their basic rights of education and health while they are wasting their energies in Jihad. Now you can clearly realize why leaders are supporting them or supported them in past.
Hazardous!!!!!!!!!!!
I wrote this on a friend's wall in facebook :
"Believe in what you think is true and don't become an egoist so that you can accept when you realize you were wrong or when you do not know; we are not complete, and we learn and so we progress. I think if you keep your focus simple then you can not get deviated because of ridicule around you; and truth is a very simple thing :) problem is that we are always afraid of accepting it because of ridicule around us; survival always takes precedence."
This was to reply her concern that it is becoming difficult for her to grasp what is right and what is wrong, what is a truth and what is a lie; surely this world has become complex day by day, or shall i say we humans and our world has become complex, both of us are not what we were thousand years, or hundred years, or few years or an year ago. Complexity is a sign of evolution, every evolving system is more complex than what it was in past and lesser complex than what it will evolve into; though the the final stage will be the simplest.
But it is not only complexity which is a problem but the deception induced in to the sources of knowledge and understanding; that deception of course is necessary and part of the process of evolution because everything tends to be what it is so as the evolving system. The system tries hard to resist a change and , this tendency to resist a change is a survival instinct; it is that same survival instinct however which becomes a tool in the hands of forces of change and a cause of evolution.
I usually do not take problems which I can not solve :) because what I can not understand is what I can not solve and what I can not understand is not worthy of my time, rather I should concentrate on what I can understand to be able to understand more of what I can not understand. That is why I always become confused when people started to talk of everything like everything is very simple; when they talk of Plato, Spinoza, Hegel, Kant and Marx or any other great philosopher and they refer to their work as it is something like a comic. Very honestly I have not even opened books I have collected on Hegel as I do not find myself able to understand him, whenever I start Freud I sleep, I am trying to read Schopenhauer these days and I had to read every paragraph twice or thrice to understand his world as will, dialectics took some time before I grasps it, and Marx is still difficult, when I take a book on Islamic political thought, I got mesmerized by the the depth of efforts people have put in to create that system, so as I feel about any other theological system of thought. I do not find myself able to reject it all let alone accepting it; for acceptance is a more difficult process than rejection.
Do not think that I am a dumb idiot who can not understand simple things; for I am not what I was yesterday and I will not be what I am today :) there are many who think I am still that dumb which I used to be ten years back, ah I am not and I can promise; if I survive till tomorrow I will not be that dumb as I am today. So what did I write about a system? Don't you think characteristically I am like that system to which I belong?
This was to reply her concern that it is becoming difficult for her to grasp what is right and what is wrong, what is a truth and what is a lie; surely this world has become complex day by day, or shall i say we humans and our world has become complex, both of us are not what we were thousand years, or hundred years, or few years or an year ago. Complexity is a sign of evolution, every evolving system is more complex than what it was in past and lesser complex than what it will evolve into; though the the final stage will be the simplest.
But it is not only complexity which is a problem but the deception induced in to the sources of knowledge and understanding; that deception of course is necessary and part of the process of evolution because everything tends to be what it is so as the evolving system. The system tries hard to resist a change and , this tendency to resist a change is a survival instinct; it is that same survival instinct however which becomes a tool in the hands of forces of change and a cause of evolution.
I usually do not take problems which I can not solve :) because what I can not understand is what I can not solve and what I can not understand is not worthy of my time, rather I should concentrate on what I can understand to be able to understand more of what I can not understand. That is why I always become confused when people started to talk of everything like everything is very simple; when they talk of Plato, Spinoza, Hegel, Kant and Marx or any other great philosopher and they refer to their work as it is something like a comic. Very honestly I have not even opened books I have collected on Hegel as I do not find myself able to understand him, whenever I start Freud I sleep, I am trying to read Schopenhauer these days and I had to read every paragraph twice or thrice to understand his world as will, dialectics took some time before I grasps it, and Marx is still difficult, when I take a book on Islamic political thought, I got mesmerized by the the depth of efforts people have put in to create that system, so as I feel about any other theological system of thought. I do not find myself able to reject it all let alone accepting it; for acceptance is a more difficult process than rejection.
Do not think that I am a dumb idiot who can not understand simple things; for I am not what I was yesterday and I will not be what I am today :) there are many who think I am still that dumb which I used to be ten years back, ah I am not and I can promise; if I survive till tomorrow I will not be that dumb as I am today. So what did I write about a system? Don't you think characteristically I am like that system to which I belong?
Monday, January 4, 2010
Maulana Azad on Partition of India
This is a historic speech from a well known scholar and a National leader of India. If we listen to it calmly and with an open mind, we can understand most of what he perceived earlier was right, whatever be the reason division can only bring more division. That is why I adore Abraham Lincoln and his fellow leaders of America that they never accepted division of United States, though it was an easy option. I wish our leaders (weather from Muslim League or Indian National Congress)could have that far sightedness, broad vision, tolerance and lesser egos and of course a lesser appetite for power.
Those who put forward state of current Indian affairs as an argument in favor of communalism which include emergence to power of Far right political parties like BJP or RSSS, and the communal violence against minorities; they tend to forget to look on the other side of picture which includes the secular parties and a past (more than a thousands year now) and present in which Hindus and Muslims still live peacefully together, shall I put forward examples of Kerala and Soorat? There is no violence against Muslims or any other Minority in many states of India. Communal problem has many aspects which need research and a policy of tolerance before one can embark on commenting or forming an opinion. If you start from 'Nay' you are not expected to reach any where, as Naysayers always do in all walks of life.
In Pakistan, major problem is how history is written and 'preached' to the younger generations, they have never been thought tolerance, our history as well as literature is full of wars and ultimate success. We are not told that war has a price, which we all have to pay, we have not been told about the masses who suffered during wars (holy or not), the people who were massacred, the women who were raped or enslaved, the man who were killed, their families who suffered from hunger and devastation, they are all out of our history, even if they were our own.
So as the communal problem in India, if Hindus were that bad how come our ancestors managed to live with them for more than thousand years, how came most of us are off springs of Hindus who embarrassed Islam, why not they were killed by their relations and how was this tolerated by the society? India was ruled in a decentralized way by Muslim Sultans and then Mughals, their administrative framework was geared to keep the treasury full, they never bothered to alter the Indian society hence their influence on common people was negligible and most of people in their armies and administrative work force were Hindus. Islam spread amongst masses not by force but due to other more peaceful reasons, by force it was not possible convert India to Islam and hence it was not tried otherwise what was better than that? The first Arab Governer in India Muhammed Bin Qasim never tried a mass conversion of Indian masses to Islam, as he was not ordered to do so and that was not the policy of Arabs. All Muslim rulers who came in to India after him, followed same policies. SO how was it possible that we lived and prosper for more than thousand years in Hindu majority India and all changed within hundred years of British arrival? If we see India at the time of arrival of western powers, it was by no means a Muslim ruled country, as Mughals were declined and most of India was ruled by independent rulers (both Muslims and Hindus and Sikhs), there was a communal identity but not a division.
History has been thought to Pakistanis from a communal point of view so that they can not look at the big picture which serves the interest of our ruling elite.
And forget about the Muslims of India, we do not have to do anything with them now, just like we do not have to do anything with the Bangladesh and its people. Consequences of this mentality are appearing brightly as we now have nationalist movements inside Pakistan. No matter how hard we try to blame others, it is our deed and we have to resolve or we will have to face the consequences.
Those who put forward state of current Indian affairs as an argument in favor of communalism which include emergence to power of Far right political parties like BJP or RSSS, and the communal violence against minorities; they tend to forget to look on the other side of picture which includes the secular parties and a past (more than a thousands year now) and present in which Hindus and Muslims still live peacefully together, shall I put forward examples of Kerala and Soorat? There is no violence against Muslims or any other Minority in many states of India. Communal problem has many aspects which need research and a policy of tolerance before one can embark on commenting or forming an opinion. If you start from 'Nay' you are not expected to reach any where, as Naysayers always do in all walks of life.
In Pakistan, major problem is how history is written and 'preached' to the younger generations, they have never been thought tolerance, our history as well as literature is full of wars and ultimate success. We are not told that war has a price, which we all have to pay, we have not been told about the masses who suffered during wars (holy or not), the people who were massacred, the women who were raped or enslaved, the man who were killed, their families who suffered from hunger and devastation, they are all out of our history, even if they were our own.
So as the communal problem in India, if Hindus were that bad how come our ancestors managed to live with them for more than thousand years, how came most of us are off springs of Hindus who embarrassed Islam, why not they were killed by their relations and how was this tolerated by the society? India was ruled in a decentralized way by Muslim Sultans and then Mughals, their administrative framework was geared to keep the treasury full, they never bothered to alter the Indian society hence their influence on common people was negligible and most of people in their armies and administrative work force were Hindus. Islam spread amongst masses not by force but due to other more peaceful reasons, by force it was not possible convert India to Islam and hence it was not tried otherwise what was better than that? The first Arab Governer in India Muhammed Bin Qasim never tried a mass conversion of Indian masses to Islam, as he was not ordered to do so and that was not the policy of Arabs. All Muslim rulers who came in to India after him, followed same policies. SO how was it possible that we lived and prosper for more than thousand years in Hindu majority India and all changed within hundred years of British arrival? If we see India at the time of arrival of western powers, it was by no means a Muslim ruled country, as Mughals were declined and most of India was ruled by independent rulers (both Muslims and Hindus and Sikhs), there was a communal identity but not a division.
History has been thought to Pakistanis from a communal point of view so that they can not look at the big picture which serves the interest of our ruling elite.
And forget about the Muslims of India, we do not have to do anything with them now, just like we do not have to do anything with the Bangladesh and its people. Consequences of this mentality are appearing brightly as we now have nationalist movements inside Pakistan. No matter how hard we try to blame others, it is our deed and we have to resolve or we will have to face the consequences.
Monday, December 14, 2009
My Ordeal
I took this residential unit on rent last year in June as my first residence in Sydney, and I got reference of this land lord from a relative in Pakistan. He was giving this unit on rent and I needed a place. The only friend I had here by that time, suggested that I should take what comes first because it is very hard to get rental property in Sydney. I was by that time not aware of the procedures as I was renting for the first time and did not know any one except for this friend of mine with whom I stayed and unfortunately he did not give me right guidance, he was busy in his own struggle. So I relied on the land lord (I will call him G here onwards) as he said he knew everything and he will fulfill all the procedures.
When we inspected the premises, it was under use by G and his family, and we were told everything is fine, except for what I observed immediately that washroom had a broken shower area, and carpet was very old, kitchen was old too. G said he will arrange to repair everything and that he will paint the unit as well as kitchen will be cleaned. He did paint the unit but no action was taken regarding kitchen and wash room. After moving in, we discovered that Oven was not working and the fittings in kitchen were damaged, rotten and decayed. We really put lot of efforts to fine clean the wash room as it was kept unhygienic for a long time. That was the start of our ordeal and continuous humiliation; we later found that the wash room floor and ceiling (floor of the resident upstairs) were leaking, hence whenever we used the wash room three or four times, carpet was getting soaked and wet, and then stinking. My son locked the room by mistake, and we found there were no keys of that room with us, we asked G, he came and broken the door lock. There was no fire alarm (as I came to know this is a must requirement), and the worst blow came when cockroaches started to appear by October 2008. After our complaint G came with some powder to spread across the walls and kitchen cabinets, which I did not prefer.
The after effects of all this were apparent on our health, my son has developed allergies, he was getting ill whenever there was dampness in the carpet, cockroaches became impossible to control and we lived in fear, you can imagine how would it look to see them roaming around every where, we were washing every utensil before use, we were spraying around the bed room before going to sleep, we were putting bets here and there to kill the insects, my son developed worst reactions in his mind, he started to cry whenever watching the cockroach.
I had communicated repeatedly to G, complained to him, requested him for fumigation and calling Strata management for repairs, but he take half actions, every now and then some plumber was coming to check the fittings, but no repair work, we had problem in water lines as well, cold water was coming in hot line, and we used to complaint then a plumber was repairing it every once and then. At last I asked G if he will not take action I will leave and started looking for alternate, at this notice he replied that I can not leave or I will have to pay the rent of two months to him. However after a very bitter argument, he arranged the fumigation in May 2009, but it turned out to be a cheap way of doing things, and the guy who came did it not in a professional thorough way, and result was that cockroaches started to appear again hardly in two weeks, but situation was much better for us as we had gone through the worst. Strata were also arranged after that and we got the washroom repaired. Did I forget to mention the leaking of taps in kitchen and washroom and a broken leaking and as a result full of algae and dirty pantry? Well if so, yes it was a head ache as well and never really resolved, because every plumber who came said that the setup is not made in a professional way and it needs to be done from scratch again, and G was never willing to do so. I also forget to mention the mice who are coming through holes in kitchen walls and rotting our ration. We have taken all efforts to keep them away, but they appear again after a brief period of calm. As a result we seized to use kitchen cabinets with holes and kept them closed, instead we are using plastic boxes to store the items.
In addition to all this he increased our rent during a fixed term agreement, which now I came to know is illegal. His letters still come to our mailbox, and he comes to collect them or his son or daughter is coming. It seems they did not change their address to ATO, Centerlink and banks, and as a friend told me this probably is illegal too. I have been asking him repeatedly throughout the time to change his address, and he always say that he has done so, and that he doesn’t know why we get his family’s letters.
After this entire ordeal and after fulfilling some financial obligations, I decided to move, and after finding a unit I gave him the notice. He asked me to serve a 60 days notice, which the real state agent (whom I met during my search and who proved to be my first source of real guidance) said is illegal and that only a 21 days notice is sufficient. I talked with G and he changed his statement without any shame that he never meant 21 days notice is not possible. I am still worried as I did not sent him 21 days new notice in writing, I however have SMS saved which I sent to him.
Last blow came after this notice, he asked us to provide him three days as he is intended to repair the kitchen and that the contractor will not change the dates and he will suffer the loss as he has already paid and ordered. The contractor on direction from G, started work without informing us the precautions we should take and scope of work, and they created a mess, they completely broken everything, all fittings and then tiles from walls and floor which resulted in heavy amount of dust across the unit, and now we are facing a huge hygienic problem, there is dust in everything. We asked him to provide professional cleaning and he refused that as we own the premises we should take care of it. In addition the work is not finished in three days, and the contractor suddenly disappeared, I asked G to finish the work on Monday but he said the worker is not available. So here we are, sitting by this pile of garbage and dust. We have tried hard to clean the mess and as a result my wife got ill, she is having continuous head ache and flu. My son started to bleed from nose and he has cough, he can not sleep in night. I have asked G to schedule the work as we had to leave and we had to pack and do all necessary arrangements for our shifting. But there is no action from him so far.
I asked G if he can release our bond money, and he said he will send his agent to check the premises. I consider it to be a clue of his intention to tease us for one more time, as it is stated in our agreement that Agent is not applicable, moreover he did not prepare a checklist at the time of renting (I came to know about this from web site tenants.org.au and then I went to fair trading web site, after a friend advised me day before yesterday, I was sadly not aware of these sites and other details they have provided before).
I am writing all this, to record my ordeal and to share it with the society I and my family live in. I do not know what law says about it, and I do not want any compensation, as all I want is a safe way to get out of this ordeal; me and my family are still suffering and it seems no one can help us out of it. I still have a fear in my mind that G will not let me get out of it that easily. I want moral support, as this gives strength.
The after effects of all this were apparent on our health, my son has developed allergies, he was getting ill whenever there was dampness in the carpet, cockroaches became impossible to control and we lived in fear, you can imagine how would it look to see them roaming around every where, we were washing every utensil before use, we were spraying around the bed room before going to sleep, we were putting bets here and there to kill the insects, my son developed worst reactions in his mind, he started to cry whenever watching the cockroach.
I had communicated repeatedly to G, complained to him, requested him for fumigation and calling Strata management for repairs, but he take half actions, every now and then some plumber was coming to check the fittings, but no repair work, we had problem in water lines as well, cold water was coming in hot line, and we used to complaint then a plumber was repairing it every once and then. At last I asked G if he will not take action I will leave and started looking for alternate, at this notice he replied that I can not leave or I will have to pay the rent of two months to him. However after a very bitter argument, he arranged the fumigation in May 2009, but it turned out to be a cheap way of doing things, and the guy who came did it not in a professional thorough way, and result was that cockroaches started to appear again hardly in two weeks, but situation was much better for us as we had gone through the worst. Strata were also arranged after that and we got the washroom repaired. Did I forget to mention the leaking of taps in kitchen and washroom and a broken leaking and as a result full of algae and dirty pantry? Well if so, yes it was a head ache as well and never really resolved, because every plumber who came said that the setup is not made in a professional way and it needs to be done from scratch again, and G was never willing to do so. I also forget to mention the mice who are coming through holes in kitchen walls and rotting our ration. We have taken all efforts to keep them away, but they appear again after a brief period of calm. As a result we seized to use kitchen cabinets with holes and kept them closed, instead we are using plastic boxes to store the items.
In addition to all this he increased our rent during a fixed term agreement, which now I came to know is illegal. His letters still come to our mailbox, and he comes to collect them or his son or daughter is coming. It seems they did not change their address to ATO, Centerlink and banks, and as a friend told me this probably is illegal too. I have been asking him repeatedly throughout the time to change his address, and he always say that he has done so, and that he doesn’t know why we get his family’s letters.
After this entire ordeal and after fulfilling some financial obligations, I decided to move, and after finding a unit I gave him the notice. He asked me to serve a 60 days notice, which the real state agent (whom I met during my search and who proved to be my first source of real guidance) said is illegal and that only a 21 days notice is sufficient. I talked with G and he changed his statement without any shame that he never meant 21 days notice is not possible. I am still worried as I did not sent him 21 days new notice in writing, I however have SMS saved which I sent to him.
Last blow came after this notice, he asked us to provide him three days as he is intended to repair the kitchen and that the contractor will not change the dates and he will suffer the loss as he has already paid and ordered. The contractor on direction from G, started work without informing us the precautions we should take and scope of work, and they created a mess, they completely broken everything, all fittings and then tiles from walls and floor which resulted in heavy amount of dust across the unit, and now we are facing a huge hygienic problem, there is dust in everything. We asked him to provide professional cleaning and he refused that as we own the premises we should take care of it. In addition the work is not finished in three days, and the contractor suddenly disappeared, I asked G to finish the work on Monday but he said the worker is not available. So here we are, sitting by this pile of garbage and dust. We have tried hard to clean the mess and as a result my wife got ill, she is having continuous head ache and flu. My son started to bleed from nose and he has cough, he can not sleep in night. I have asked G to schedule the work as we had to leave and we had to pack and do all necessary arrangements for our shifting. But there is no action from him so far.
I asked G if he can release our bond money, and he said he will send his agent to check the premises. I consider it to be a clue of his intention to tease us for one more time, as it is stated in our agreement that Agent is not applicable, moreover he did not prepare a checklist at the time of renting (I came to know about this from web site tenants.org.au and then I went to fair trading web site, after a friend advised me day before yesterday, I was sadly not aware of these sites and other details they have provided before).
I am writing all this, to record my ordeal and to share it with the society I and my family live in. I do not know what law says about it, and I do not want any compensation, as all I want is a safe way to get out of this ordeal; me and my family are still suffering and it seems no one can help us out of it. I still have a fear in my mind that G will not let me get out of it that easily. I want moral support, as this gives strength.
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