Accidents happen but Mistakes are not to be repeated

Accidents do happen, and we can not predict when and where, what will happen, but we do try to take preventive measures to avoid disasters.
May be right time to remind Pakistanis what they need to know is if all precautions were taken, if all standards were met, if right procedures were followed at all stages before sending that unfortunate plane to air------ till connection was broken.....
Can we ask for independent experts to investigate the case? To know what really happened, and to know what should be done to minimise possibilities so it will not happen again.

how history is taught

I was reading a book on NSW extension history course by Ken Webb. Amazing the youngsters here read Herodotus, Gibbon, Macualay, Hill, Marxist histiography, Annalists, Postmodernism, Relativism, and Deconstructionism. Most important first thing they are thought is analytics, what is history? analyse historian before history; lucky people these fellows must be.....


forgot to mention, it is an HSC course. More details here:

http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/history-extension.htm l

I wish in developing countries, we can review our education standards. May be very few people here in Australia take interest to study courses such as history extension, but point is how young brains are prepared to understand the world. In contrast to this what we are taught is miserable. Also worth noting is the fact that it is government approved syllabus which is followed. One can check the list of recommended text here:

http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/pdf_doc/history_ext_r eadings.pdf

Noticeable will be the names from across different schools of thought recommended without any prejudice as it is felt that without them any study of history is meaningless and it will not help develop the right scholarship attitude and mind which can explore, asses and continue the process of research and learning to help develop the society. In contrast all we see is rhetoric, negative attitude, denial, abuse, and annihilation of facts on our side of world.

Clearly objectives of both systems are different, one is progressive, democratic and respectful which needs leadership, scholarship, vision and virtue to continue progress of its citizens and society; while the other is on defensive, ruled by powerful few who want to secure their interests, totalitarian and weak.

Habib Jalib Baloch, Obituary

Not sure why, but it was a sad moment when I read about demise of Habib Jalib Baloch. I am sad but I feel it is useless, utterly useless to express my feelings, for no one cares, and it does not matter anymore in Pakistan where people targeted and killed are numbered daily  in two digits. It is like a jungle, and who cares in a jungle about the prey; those who are hunting or those who are getting hunt, all they need is to care about themselves. That is what I am doing, and that is what all remaining Habib Jalibs should do as well, who knows who is next. So this is what I was thinking, what if I am sad? nothing.

His dismissal however will be felt one day, because he was a modest and moderate, urban middle class person. He was someone with whom you can indulge in dialog, someone who was respected from people across different interests and his absence is in favor of both separatists and the establishment. That is why he fall prey, it was required to bring close the decline, because sanity is not a virtue in reign of barbarians.  

Football

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)

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

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.

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.

"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.

And then he is calling 'thankless' those who want to know, how much healthy is such behavior for a progressive nation? what he wants people to do? just accept whatever thought to them without saying nay, without asking its credibility, without trying to understand the motive.
Pitty we have such people followed and acknowledged!

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)

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)

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.

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.