Human Empowerment – مرد کے سکون اور عورت کے اختیار کی ابتدا

‘Women Empowerment’, what is so fascinating about this slogan?  And more stupid it sounded when thousands of men sent their women on streets to beg before a politician who being the citizen of another country, self-exiled for many years, promised them to help in getting their rights through Pakistani parliament.  It appeared to be even more hideous when women started the jalsa with emotional speeches and ended with singing and dancing for no reason.

Which rights and authority are they talking about – that women will not be treated inhumanly at homes (the homes that they had come from), get their rights of education and making decisions for their life?  These rights are already mentioned in both constitutions – Qur’an and the national constitution of Pakistan.  It is only that men and women don’t respect both of them and obey none.

Those women at Bagh-e-Jinnah were representing thirty or fourty thousand families of Karachi.  Were they there as a victim of their men’s injustice at home?  Then what would parliament do about this?  If Altaf Hussain is their saviour, as their quaid he can just order the Karachiite men to behave and that is it.  This way it would set an example for ‘macho man’ all over Pakistan.

So basically, what I think that this jalsa was arranged to achieve many goals, such as, diverting people’s attention from Balochistan issue and to warm Imran Khan to keep his hands off Karachi – but to solve women’s issues.

Just think about it.  There was no Altaf Hussain when Ms. Fatimah Jinnah, Mrs. Rana Liaquat Ali Khan and Mrs. Bilqees Edhi were born.  How these honourable ladies grew up to be so powerful and stepped forward with leading and administrative qualities.  Their men at home encouraged them and helped them, not the stupid strangers on the streets.

LEARNING is important for women.  Women need to learn how to read, write and calculate, how to raise their sons not as their supporting cane but as a useful citizens for all, how to discuss issues with their men at home and find their solution, how to keep their honour while being out on the streets.  Why do they wait for men to give them a purpose of life, define their status in society, teach them what Qur’an says about their status?

Men’s period of tranquility begins when they accept women as equal human beings and let them live and perform accordingly. Crushing women’s rights in the name of securing their honour and dignity results in men’s own destruction.

عبدالستار ایدھی کو پاکستان نے ایک شناخت دی جس کا بدلہ انہوں نے نیکیوں کے ایک ختم نہ ہونے والے سلسلے کو شروع کر کے دیا…اور آج ایدھی صاحب ذاتی طور پر ایک بہت بڑا نام ہی نہیں بلکہ پاکستان کی پہچان ہیں… 
١٩٢٨ گجرات میں پیدا ہو ۓ… انیس سال کی عمر میں ١٩٤٧ میں ہجرت کر کے پاکستان آۓ… ١٩٥١ میں اپنی مدد آپ کے اصولوں کے تحت ایدھی ٹرسٹ کے نام سے  میٹھادر میں ایک ڈسپنسری  قائم کر کے باقاعدہ فلاح وہ بہبود کا سلسلہ شروع کیا… ١٩٦٥ میں ٣٧ سال کی عمرمیں ١٨ سالہ  بلقیس ایدھی صاحبہ سے شادی کی جو کے انکی ہی ڈسپنسری میں نرس تھیں… انکے دو بیٹوں اور دو بیٹیوں نے اپنے والدین کے نقش قدم پر چلتے ہو ۓ انکے مشن میں انکا ساتھہ دیا… 
انسانوں کی فلاح و بہبود کے اسلامی تصور کو عملی طور پر ثابت جس طرح ان دونوں نے کیا، آج کے زمانے میں اور پاکستان میں اسکی مثال نہیں ملتی… 
انکی کامیابی کا راز کیا ہے… دونوں میاں بیوی کوئی خاص تعلیم یافتہ نہیں… دولتمند بھی نہیں تھے… دونوں انگلش سے بلکل فارغ… لیکن بچے پڑھے لکھے بلکہ فیصل ایدھی تو ڈاکٹر ہیں… سٹائلش بھی نہیں… لیکن حکومت کی برابری کی سطح پر ایک فلاحی نظام قائم کر کے دکھانا اور چلانا بہت بڑا کارنامہ ہے… کونسی فلاحی عامه کی سروس ہے جسکا ایدھی فاونڈیشن  نے انتظام نہیں کیا ہوا ہے… 
انکی اہلیہ بلقیس ایدھی صاحبہ گو کہ کبھی کبھی ایدھی صاحب کی ایک شوہر کی حیثیت سے.شکایات کرتی نظر آتی ہیں .. لیکن انہوں نے ایدھی صاحب کا جس طرح ساتھہ دیا خاص طور پر خواتین کے معاملات حل کرنے میں اور انکو صحیح سوچ دینے میں، انکو عزت کا راستہ دکھانے میں، انکو ایک چھت مہیا کرنے میں… وہ انکا بڑا کارنامہ ہی نہیں بلکہ انکی حکمت اور سمجھداری کی علامت ہے… ایدھی صاحب لا کھہ کوشش سے بھی خواتین کے لئے خود کچھ نہیں کر سکتے تھے… 
مادرملّت اور رعنا لیاقت علی خان کی  قائدانہ اور انتظامی صلاحیتیں تمام پاکستانی خواتین کا لئے مثال ہیں… محترمہ فاطمه جناح اور رعنا لیاقت علی خان کے بعد بلقیس ایدھی صاحبہ تیسری خاتون ہیں جنہوں نے اپنے عورت ہونے کا ہر لحاظ سے بہترین استعمال کیا… اور اپنے ہی گھر کے مردوں کے ساتھہ مل کر پاکستان کی بہتری کے لئے کام کیا… عورتوں کے حقوق، آزادی، اختیار کیا ہوتا ہے کس حد تک ہوتا ہے اور اسے پاکستان کی عزت، معاشرتی قدروں اوردینی حدود کو قائم رکھتے ہوۓ کس طرح استعمال کیا جاتا ہے، کس طرح خود کوعورتیں قابل بھروسہ اورقابل عمل بنا سکتی ہیں… ان خواتین نے سکھایا… 
یہ وہ خواتین ہیں جن کو سخت ترین حالات ملے کام کرنے کے لئے، اپنی صلاحیتوں کو منوانے کے لئے، عورت کی طاقت اور ہمّت کا صحیح مظاہرہ کرنے کے لئے، عورت کا ایک انسان ہونے کے ناطے اپنا حق اور اختیار استعمال کرنے کے لئے، عورت کے درست اور بروقت فیصله  کرنے کی اہلیت دکھانے کے لئے … انکو عیش وعشرت، سہولتوں، گھر کی چار دیواری میں بیٹھ کر معاشرے کو جہنّم بنانے کے طریقوں، چار نوالوں اور پانچ کپڑوں اور چند زیورات کے لئے سازش اور چالاکیاں کرنے، شوہر کو قابو کرنے اور بھائیوں کو بھڑکانے کے منصوبوں سے کوئی سروکار نہ تھا… انکی زندگی کا مقصد اپنے جسم کی چوٹی چوٹی خواہشات پوری کرنا نہیں تھا بلکہ پاکستان جیسے تحفے کا احترام کرنا، اس خطہ زمین کا نام روشن کرنا اور اپنی قوم کے لوگوں کو انکے پیروں پر کھڑا کرنا اور انھیں خودداری کا راستہ دکھانا تھا…
اگر انکے گھر کے مرد انکی راہ میں رکاوٹ بنتے تو کیا یہ اتنا سب کچھ کر پاتیں؟  یا اگر یہ خواتین اپنے مردوں کی راہ کی رکاوٹ بن جاتیں تو وہ مستقل مزاجی کے ساتھ کام کر پاتے؟  کیا تحریک پاکستان کامیاب ہوتی اور پاکستانی میں اتنے بڑے بڑے فلاحی ادارے قائم ہوتے؟  تو بات ساری ہے ایک دوسرے کو سمجھنے کی…. معاشرے ہمیشہ سے مردوں کے ہاتھوں میں رہے ہیں اور شاید قیامت تک رہیں گے… کامیاب صرف وہ معاشرے ہو ۓ جہاں مردوں نے خواتین کو انسان تسلیم کیا اور پہلے انکو انکے حقوق اور عزت انکے گھروں میں دئے…. 
چاہے معامله عورتوں کو گھرکی چار دیواری کے اندر بٹھاکر رکھنے کا ہو یا تعلیم، ملازمت یا کسی بھی مقصد کے لئے گھر سے باہر جانے کی اجازت دینے کا… ملک و قوم کی ترقی اور خوشحالی تب ہی ہوتی ہے جب ایک خاندان کی عورتیں اور مرد مل کر کوئی فیصلہ کرتے ہیں، کسی بھی قسم کے حالات میں کوئی متفقہ راستہ اختیار کرتے ہیں، گھر کے اندر انصاف اور آزادی را ۓ کی فضا پیدا کرتے ہیں… ہر رشتہ دوسرے رشتے کی آزادی اور حقوق کا خیال رکھتا ہے… ایک گھر کے افراد ایک دوسرے پر بھروسہ کرتے ہیں… 
یہ ہوتی ہے مرد کے سکون اور عورت کے اختیار کی ابتدا… جب مرد اور عورت مل کرخوشی خوشی  ذمہ داریاں بانٹ لیتے ہیں… جس کو جو آسان لگے اور وہ اسے ایک طویل عرصے تک انجام دے سکے…

 

Unified Education in Pakistan

Unified educational system is in favour of common Pakistanis and is necessary for Pakistan’s peace and progress.  Those who are sincere to Pakistan must keep it a priority even if it take years in implementation.  It is going to be the most difficult task to gather the representatives of public schools, private schools, madrasahs, schools run by political figures, Agha Khan system, O’ Levels and home-schooling for the purpose to help in designing a unified syllabus from first to matriculation.

یکساں تعلیم کا کوئی بھی آئیڈیا فضول ہے اگر وہ عام لوگوں کو ملک کے سیاسی عمل میں حصہ لینے کا اوراقتدار کے ایوانوں تک پہنچنے کا موقع فراہم نہ کرے۔۔۔۔۔۔  لہذا پاکستان میں امن, ترقی, خوشحالی اور مضبوط  دفاعی طاقت کے لئے یکساں تعلیم کے ساتھہ ساتھہ  قوانین میں تبدیلی یا نئے قوانین ضروری ہیں۔۔۔

مثلا سیاسی عمل میں حصہ لینے کے لئے انٹرمیڈیٹ کے ساتھہ سیاسیات, بین الاقوامی تعلقات, معاشیات کا علم لازمی ہو۔۔۔ امیدوار لازمی طور پر حکومت پاکستان سے سند یافتہ ہو۔۔۔ لازمی طور پر پاکستانی قومیت رکھتا ہو۔۔۔ اپنے علاقے میں اسکا کردار کیا ہے۔۔۔ ذریعہ آمدنی, ذاتی اثاثے کیا ہیں۔۔۔

ایک یکساں یا قومی تعلیمی نظام کے لئے ضروری نہیں ہوتا کہ مضامین اور موضوعات سب کے لئے لازمی ہوں۔۔۔ بلکہ ایسا نظام تعلیم جس میں مختلف عقائد, مختلف نظریات اور مختلف زبان بولنے والوں کے لئے چوائس موجود ہو۔۔۔ اوریہ کسی کے لئے بھی علم وہنر سے متعلق بنیادی معلومات فراہم کرسکے۔۔۔ لیکن ہوں مرکزی حکومت کے کنٹرول میں۔۔۔
دنیا کا کوئی ملک اورکوئی نظام اس سے زیادہ یونیفائیڈ تعلیمی نظام نہیں دے سکتا۔۔۔

 اگر کسی جگہ کے لوگ ایک زبان بولتے ہوں, انکے عقائد ایک ہوں اور نظریات میں بھی فرق نہ ہو۔۔۔ اسکے باوجود بھی وہ اس سے زیادہ یکساں تعلیم کا تصور نہیں دے سکتے۔۔۔ کیونکہ بہرحال اگرانھوں دنیا کی باقی قوموں کے ساتھہ معاشی اور سیاسی روابط رکھنے ہیں توپھران کے نظام اور نظریات کو کسی حد تک اپنے تعلیمی نظام کا حصہ بنانا پڑے گا۔۔۔

اور یہ کوئی نیا آئیڈیا نہیں۔۔۔ دنیا کے بہت سے ملکوں میں موجود ہے ۔۔۔ اور غیر اسلامی بھی نہیں۔۔۔ 


کیا پاکستان میں مدرسے, سرکاری اسکول,  پرائیویٹ اسکول, آغا خان سسٹم, اولیولز, خیراتی اسکول, یتیم خانے, سیاسی شخصیات کے اسکول اور ہوم اسکولنگ مرکزی حکومت کے تحت کام نہیں کر سکتے۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔ کرسکتے ہیں اگر بنیادی تعلیم کے علاوہ پرائیویٹ اسکولز کے مشکل, مہنگےاور درآمد شدہ سلیبس کو اور مدرسے کے کورسزکو ایڈوانس مضامین کی فہرست میں ڈال دیا جائے۔۔۔ اس طرح بنیادی تعلیم تو سب کے لئے ایک جیسی ہو گی لیکن ایلیٹ, غیر ملکی, مذہبی, صوبائی یا اور دوسری زبانیں بولنے والوں کے لئے اختیاری مضامین کی شکل میں چوائس موجود ہوگی۔۔۔ اہم بات یہ ہوگی کہ سند حکومت پاکستان کی ہو۔۔۔ اس کے لئے جگہیں بدلنے کی بھی ضرورت نہیں۔۔۔ اپنی اپنی جگہوں پر تعلیم حاصل کریں اور امتحانات دیں۔۔۔  اسکا مطلب یہ بھی نہیں کہ تعلیمی اداروں کو نیشنلائز کردیا جائے۔۔۔ پرائیویٹ اسکول کالجز, مدرسے۔۔۔ سب اپنی جگہ پر بنیادی تعلیم کا سرکاری ریکوائرمنٹ پوری کریں۔۔۔ پھر طلبہ چاہیں جو مضامین ایڈوانس لیول پرپڑھیں۔۔۔ 

اسکے فوائد کیا ہونگے۔۔۔

سارا کا سارا تعلیمی نظام ایک مرکز کے تحت کام کرے گا۔۔۔ جس سے مرکزی حکومت کو اہمیت حاصل ہو گی, وہ مضبوط بھی ہوگی ۔۔

علمی بنیادوں پرلوگوں کی تقسیم اور تفاخر بہت حد تک کم ہو جائے گی۔۔۔ کیونکہ تمام کے تمام مضامین پر تعلیمی اسناد پہ ٹھپہ یاسیل مرکزی حکومت کی ہو گی۔۔۔

پاکستان میں سب سے بڑا تعلیمی فرق مدرسہ اور اسکولز کی تعلیم میں ہے۔۔۔ ایک کو شرعی تعلیم کہہ کر محدود کردیا۔۔۔ دوسرے کو جدید تعلیم کہہ کر کفر یا غیر شرعی یا دنیاوی قرار دے دیا۔۔۔ پاکستان کے ماحول میں دینی اور ماڈریٹ کا فرق بھی کچھہ کم ہوگا۔۔۔ اوردینی لوگوں کی آئے دن کے نفاذ شریعت کی دھمکیوں کا زور بھی کم ہوگا۔۔۔ اور دونوں قسم کے لوگ ایک ہی مرکز تلےآجائیں گے۔۔۔

صوبوں کے درمیان تعلیمی فرق بھی کم رہ جائے گا۔۔۔ ایک صوبے کے رہنے والے کو دوسرے صوبے میں جاکر تعلیمی سلسلہ بدل جانے کی شکایت نہیں ہوگی۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔ خیراتی اسکولوں اور فلاحی اداروں کے بچوں کا کم از کم علمی بنیادوں پر احساس محرومی ختم ہوجائے گا۔۔۔ انکے پاس بھی کیونکہ  سرکاری سند ہوگی۔۔۔

پھر یہ کہ پرائیویٹ یا ہوم اسکولنگ والے بچوں کے لئے جو سائنس نہ لینے کی پابندی ہے وہ بھی ختم ہو جائے گی کیونکہ سائنس تو میٹرک تک لازمی ہی ہوگی۔۔۔ 

یہ سب کرنا آسان نہیں۔۔۔

چوں کہ ہمارا حکمران طبقہ جاہل اور ذہنی طور پر غلامانہ سوچ رکھتا ہے  وہ امریکہ اور مغربی دنیا کےاشارے کے بغیر کچھہ نہیں کرتا۔۔۔ اس لئے عوام کو ہی شور مچانا پڑے گا۔۔۔ اپنے اپنے علاقے کے سیاستدانوں اور حکومت پر دباؤ ڈالنا پڑے گا۔۔۔ اور وہ بھی کافی عرصے تک۔۔۔ 

دوسرا بڑا مسئلہ دینی فرقے ہیں۔۔۔  انکا کسی بھی معاملے کو سمجھداری سے نمٹانا نہ ممکن سا لگتا ہے۔۔۔ لیکن بہرحال معجزات بھی تو ہو سکتے ہیں۔۔۔  

تیسرا مسئلہ او لیولز اور آغا خان بورڈ۔۔۔ پرائیوٹ اسکولز اور برٹش تو او لیولز کے نام پر کڑوڑوں روپے احمق پاکستانیوں سے کمارہے ہیں۔۔۔ بھلا وہ اس لوٹ مار کو کیسے بند ہونے دینگے۔۔۔ دو سال بعد کا کورس دوسال پہلے پڑھا دیا تواس سے معیار بلند تو نہیں ہو جاتا۔۔۔

چوتھا مسئلہ ہے ہمارا طریقہ تعلیم جو خاص طور پر ابتدائی درجات میں اور ویسے بھی کتابوں اور کاپیوں کے گرد گھومتا ہے۔۔۔ اکثر تین یا چار سال کےبچوں کو بھی کتابوں اور کاپیوں سے لکھنے پڑھنے پر لگادیا جاتا ہے۔۔۔ یکساں تعلیم کا سن کر سب کا ذہن جائے گا ایک جیسی کتابوں کی طرف۔۔۔ حالانکہ یکساں تعلیم کا مقصد یکساں نتیجہ حاصل کرنا ہوتا ہے نہ کہ یکساں طریقہ تعلیم۔۔۔

پانچواں مسئلہ ہے خیراتی اسکولوں سے مطلوبہ نتائج حاصل کرنا۔۔۔ یہ تو چلتے ہی عطیات زکات پر ہیں۔۔۔ کوئی معیارقائم ہوگیا تو چندہ کون دے گا۔۔۔
چھٹا مسئلہ وہ اسکول جو سیاسی شخصیات نے کھولے ہیں یا انکے پرنسپلز بنکے بیٹھے ہیں۔۔۔ وہ برداشت کر لیں گے کہ انکا اور انکی مخالف پاڑٹی کے اسکول کا معیار ایک جیسا ہو۔۔۔

ساتواں مسئلہ یہ کہ حکومت کی طرف سے بنیادی تعلیم کا سلیبس ترتیب کون دے گا۔۔۔ ملک میں ہزاروں کی تعداد میں بپبلیکیشنز ہیں اور ساری ہی کہیں نہ کہیں استعمال ہورہی ہیں۔۔۔ اسی طرح مدرسے کے کورسز ہیں, سینکڑوں کی تعداد میں کتابیں ہیں۔۔۔ کوئی کسی کتاب کو ابتدائی درجہ کے لئے موزوں سمجھتا ہے تو دوسرا اسے ایڈوانس لیول رکھتا ہے۔۔۔ کیا مدرسے, سرکاری اسکول, پرائیویٹ اسکول, آغا خان سسٹم, اولیولز, خیراتی اسکول, یتیم خانے, سیاسی شخصیات کے اسکول کےنمائندے اور ہوم اسکولنگ کی طرف سے والدین اس میں ایک سطح پہ آکر حصہ لیں گے۔۔۔

آٹھواں مسئلہ بنیادی تعلیم کی تعریف اور اسکا معیارکیا ہونا چاہئے۔۔۔ یہ کون بتائے گا۔۔۔

What could/should be the definition of unified education in Pakistan?  Is unified education the synonym of fundamental education?

PHONICS:

I totally disagree with introducing phonics to our educational system at any level except for if there is a dire need of it.  Such as for especial children.

Pakistan’s modern education system is founded upon foreign-based ideas, methods, contents and curriculums.  Phonics is one of the method that was introduced with the purpose of quality education.  On one side, we have a government that consists of illiterate ministers and parliamentarians like Jamshed Dasti who are possessed with ignorance.  On the other side, we have educated people who are obsessed with imported items.  Both groups are dangerous for our identity as they both lack confidence, wisdom and spirit of freedom.  In short, they are slave-minds.

Western countries are developed and advanced countries.  One reason of their progress is that they don’t import but introduce ideas.  Now, instead of learning from them, we try to copy them as it is.  We waste our energy and time in convincing people that this imitation will get us some respect in the Western world.  What a rubbish!

These countries introduced phonics as a technique to enhance reading ability through sound of letters.  It is sound of a letter at the beginning or at the ending of a word, sound of vowels and sound of a compound.  English is their mother tongue.  This is the language they communicate in 365 days a year.  Before introducing any idea to their system, they study their people and the nature of requirement, they design it in a form of step-by-step guideline, they compose it in a timely manner, they train faculties, they prepare parents’ mind to accept it, their purpose of introduction is not to rip off money, it is to bring improvement.  Phonics may be good for them because they are not in hurry.  They don’t teach in large groups.  They don’t have to pressurize their children for quick learning so that they can get first position.  They don’t want to run away from their country after higher education.

Still I don’t get it that how do they figure out that at what age or level, their student should know the sound of letter ‘c’ as /s/ or /k/ — or ‘g’ as /g/ or /j/– then the difference between c and k and g and j –or the sound of ‘ph’ as /f/– or the sound of letter ‘u’ in but, put, use, blue — or merging the sounds of two vowels like in ‘road’, ‘lead’, belief — or when to use ‘the’ as ‘tha’ or ‘thee’ — or when do letters become silent?….at what age or level, students won’t need to use phonics?….. is phonics really meant for all students in general or only for special children?

In alcoholic societies, children are born with slow mental progress, brain disorders, mental retardation, low tolerance, difficulty in reading and relating connections and reasons.  So phonics is a useful technique for them in general.

Pakistanis are very talented people.  Lacking healthy environment and health facilities, our children are still born normal.  It is parents and the overall system that suck their abilities to progress.

Phonics is not good for our children.  It is damaging their brain, slowing down their learning abilities, burdening them with confusing sounds of a foreign language.  Our Montessori teachers are intermediate or B.A, B.Sc or B.Com.  They are not trained to deal with children, how to teach, how to behave, how to handle them.  Even the ones certified from Early Childhood Training Centers don’t know how to plan for phonics.  Even their sounds of letter differ in length and pronunciation.  For example, 95% of them mix up the short vowel sounds of ‘a’ and ‘e’, ‘v’ and ‘w’…. pronouncing very to vaary, was to vas, bed to baad, red to raad.  Also, it is a non-sense to teach normal children the normal things sounding like animals, aa, baa, caa, daa, skipping e, faa, haa, skipping i, at ‘G’ they are confused if alone it sounds like ‘g’ or ‘j’.  A child who is not even familiar with the sequence of letter, how can he learn their sounds skipping vowels and with exceptions?

If this is all we are doing to teach English as a language, both in speaking or reading, then we should focus on improving children’s listening skills, through stories, discussions, discipline and instructions.

 

 

 

 

 

MATRICULATION:

Matriculation is the tenth year of regular schooling system.  Generally, matriculation is defined as a process that prepares students for college level.  In America, it is part of the high-school which ends at Twelfth Grade.  Prior to partition, in South Asian region, it was regarded as a sign of honour and wisdom.  Even after the establishment of Pakistan, “matric paas students” were preferred for jobs and matrimonial proposals.

One aspect of our overall failure is that our governments never planned for improving educational system according to the growth in population and in comparison to the new world challenges.

The situation we are facing right now is that on one hand we have masters and bachelors complaining about suitable job opportunities while lacking professionalism.  On the other hand, we have a huge number of matriculated youth being hired at low salaries obviously not fulfilling any professional requirements.  Another horrible reality that we face in our system is that we never think of solving problems according to the mental and social level of our own people.  Most of our celebrities from different fields of Fine Arts, when don’t find anything else to do or let’s say when they think of serving nation, they start opening school or join some famous chains at high position.  Durdana Butt, Rahat Kazmi, Huma Akbar, Afshan Ahmed, Khushbakht Shuja’at, Jawad Ahmed, Shezad Roy and many more.  Have they ever tried to sit together and discussed how they can bring a change in the existing system, how they can get together to build a unified educational system that has something to do with Pakistan and with the people of Pakistan???

In Ninth and Tenth Grades, subjects are divided into three or four main groups which doesn’t make a sense.  At least not now.  Students have to choose to study either from Science Group, Arts or Humanitarian Group, Commerce Group or may be computer.  After two years of study, the Science group students have no idea about even the basic concepts of Economy, Psychology, Sociology, Education, Political Science, Sociology etc.  The Arts/Humanitarian group remain ignorant about simple Math, the basics of Zoology, Botany, Biology, Physics, Chemistry etc.  In Science group they don’t focus on writing skills and speech power.  Now what if a Science student has to deliver a speech about plantation to grow economy or write an essay on wild life in Sindh or prepare a Science syllabus for Elementary classes.  The career choices for Arts group students are to become a writer, singer, musician, performer, painter etc.  What if they have to write a true story of a zookeeper hero falls into love with a marine-biologist or a drama about a singer studying plants part-time.  All of them have zero knowledge about environment.

I just remembered this drama of Indus TV (I forgot the name) that was about a hospital, doctors, nurses and patients.  I really thought that it was a parody of some American medical shows because the whole serial was totally non-scientific.  The serial didn’t teach a single medical term to the viewers, neither it brought any awareness about health and hygiene.  They didn’t even discussed the problems of doctors and patients in our society.  Each episode was focused on the make up and style of female actresses (doctors/nurses), love affair between the staff, emotional scenes of patients coming depressing background.

Back to the point, this two-years of matriculation becomes useless if they decide not to (as most of the students do) join any college or institution for further studies.  The matriculated students are not given jobs on the basis of subject grouping.  The idea is to eliminate grouping subjects in Ninth and Tenth Grade and to introduce an intensive occupational studies course of one or two year instead to equip our students with the fundamentals of main subjects in each existing group.  Girls are usually hired as assistant teacher, teacher, receptionist, office-helper, factory worker etc.  Boys get jobs as sales person, clerk, cashier, messenger, dyer, courier etc. Many other countries are doing it.  My two-years of occupational studies course was composed to accounting, business maths, writing skills, keyboarding, typing, business law, psychology, personal management, fundamentals of computer, literature, business management etc.  Why can’t we introduce such kind of grouping here?

ہمارے ملک میں تعلیم کی منصوبہ بندی کی جتنی  کمی ہے اس سے کہیں زیادہ زندگی کی منصوبہ بندی کی کمی ہے۔۔۔ تعلیم کا معیار جتنا کم ہے تربیت کا معیار اس سے بھی کم۔۔۔ جتنا تعلیمی نظام بگڑاہواہے اس سے زیادہ سماجی اورسیاسی نظام بگڑا ہوا ہے۔۔۔ حالانکہ تعلیم سے پہلے ان سب چیزوں کاہونا ضروری ہے۔۔۔ یعنی زندگی کی منصوبہ بندی,  تربیت کا معیار اور مضبوط سماجی اورسیاسی نظام۔۔۔۔۔۔

ہمارے ہاں عام تعلیم کی حد میٹرک یعنی دسویں جماعت ہے۔۔۔ اسکی ایک وجہ لوگوں کے معاشی حالات انھیں لڑکوں کو آگے پڑھانے کی اجازت نہیں دیتےاور وہ کسی کام سیکھنے پر بٹھا دئے جاتے ہیں۔۔۔ لڑکیوں کی شادی ہوجاتی ہے یا منگنی۔۔۔ پھر وہ جب موقع ملے پرائیوٹ ہی پڑھتی ہیں۔۔۔ اکثر پرائیوٹ اسکول میں میٹرک یا انٹر پاس لڑکیوں کوٹیچرز رکھا جاتا ہے جو کم تنخواہ پر کام کرنے پر راضی ہو جاتی ہیں۔۔۔ دوسری وجہ تعلیم کی اہمیت کو نہ پہچاننا۔۔۔ اکثریت اسے اسکول کالجز کی کاروائی سمجھتی ہے, جس میں امتحان پاس کرنا ایک بڑا مرحلہ ہوتاہے۔۔۔ اور جو اہمیت بتائی جاتی ہے اسکے مطابق ملازمتوں کا نہ ملنا۔۔۔ کم عمر میں کم تعلیم اوربے تربیتی کے ساتھہ آگے بڑھنے کاراستہ کرپشن ہوتاہے۔۔۔

میٹرک پاس بچوں میں ان صلاحیتوں کی ازحد کمی ہوتی ہے جو ایک لڑکا یا لڑکی میں دس بارہ سال کی اسکولنگ اور گھریلو تربیت کے نتیجے میں ہونی چاہئیں۔۔۔ سوچ, رکھہ رکھاؤ, انفرادیت, معلومات عامہ, آگے بڑھنے کا جذبہ, بہتری کی خواہش, مسائل کو سمجھنا انکا حل تلاش کرنا, منصوبہ بندی کرنا, خودانحصاری۔۔۔۔۔۔

ایک مسئلہ یہ بھی ہے کہ نویں جماعت سے جومضامین کی گروپنگ کی جاتی ہے اور اس میں موجود مواد کا انتخاب  اکثر بے فائدہ ہوتا ہے۔۔۔ مثال کے طور پر سائنس گروپ کے بچے ایجوکیشن, سیاسیات, معاشیات کے تصور سے بھی ناآشنا ہوتے ہیں۔۔۔ حالانکہ ایک سائنس کے طالب علم کو کمانا تو ہوتا ہی ہے, اس کا تعلق ملکی سیاست اور تعلیمی نظام سے بھی ہو تا ہے, لوگوں کی نفسیات سے بھی ہوتا ہے۔۔۔ خاص طورپر ان بچوں کے لئے جنھوں نےمیٹرک کے بعد تعلیم کو خیرآباد کہہ دیناہو۔۔۔ لازمی ہے کہ وہ ضروری مضامین کے بنیادی تصور اور انکی حقیقی زندگی میں کارآمد ہونے سے واقف ہوں۔۔۔

آٹھویں جاعت کابچہ عموما تیرہ سال کاہوتا ہے۔۔۔ اگر نویں اور دسویں یعنی دو سال مضامین کی گروپنگ کے بجائےایک ایسا تعلیمی کورس مرتب کردیا جائے جس میں موجود مواد انکے کام کاہو تو تعلیمی نظام اورسماجی نظام دونوں میں بہتری آسکتی ہے۔۔۔

فوری طور پر حکومتی سطح پر تو تبدیلی ناممکن ہے۔۔۔ لیکن دن بہ دن بڑھتی ہوئی آزمائشوں کا آسانی سے مقابلہ کرنے کے لئے کوئی نہ کوئی نئی راہ تو نکالنی پڑے گی۔۔۔ لوگوں کے ذہنوں کو بہتر تبدیلی کے لئے آمادہ کرنا شاید دنیاکاسب سے مشکل کام ہوتاہے۔۔۔ باہر ممالک کی طرح اگر ایک سال یا دو سال کا  آکیوپیشنل اسٹڈیز کا انٹینسو کورس جس میں کتابوں سے زیادہ تحقیق, بحث اور لکھنا شامل ہو متعارف کرائے جاسکتے ہیں۔۔۔ جس سائنس, آرٹس, کامرس, کمپیوٹر کے بجائے پرفیشنل اسکلز کو ابھارنے پر مرکوز کیا جائے۔۔۔ کیونکہ ابھی تو حال یہ ہے کہ ہمارے ببیچلرز اور ماسٹرز کوبھی ملازمت کی درخواستیں نہیں  لکھنی آتیں۔۔۔۔۔۔۔

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDUCATIONISTS:

We all have endorsed the fact that our schools and colleges are worthless places for providing with any useful training or education of at least international level.  If they do then what do we complain about.  If they don’t then we must think of ways changing it.  In order to change it, we must discuss what kind of change do we want and why.

Since we all know our teachers, most of them have no passion for their profession, others are either over-burned with piles of responsibilities or are obstructed due to limited resources.

The private institutions (from Montessori to college level) can make a difference by using technology at their premises.  Few years ago, I gave this idea to a school owner that the principals of different schools in a certain area can arrange a workshop once a month for teachers’ training.  They can gather at some place and exchange their expertise.  They can exchange good ideas, curriculum and other activities.  They can also watch educational videos to learn effective teaching skills.  Plus they can plan community visits and inter-school competitions.

Principals can sit together and think of ways to reduce the cost of education and make it affordable for parents.  For teachers’ convenience, they must provide them with some kind of help in their daily routine.  They must be given enough time to get organized, to check students’ work and a precise syllabus according to students’ level.

Preschools, schools and colleges can use videos, CDs and DVDs to occupy children with educational learning.  Children can be kept involved with Adam’s World, Sound Vision and Astrolab productions, Seasame Street, Barney, Between the Loins (children’s show about vowels) and other good shows on daily basis.  They can learn new vocabulary, songs, games and manners by watching these videos.  Just half-hour video everyday can play a big role in keeping them busy with something interesting for their age.  That half-hour or one hour will be a spare time for teachers to relax a little and finish their checking.

Even public schools, colleges and universities can take advantage of the technology (I don’t want to call it a new technology since it belongs to the last century).

If the public and private institutions are not interested in it, still a great idea for charity schools and other places where unwanted or homeless children are accommodated for any reason.  Such as Edhi’s children section, orphanages, etc.

Many of our high profiles like Ms. Afshan Ahmed, Madam Khushbakht Shuja’at, Mr. Rahat Kazmi, Madam Durdana Butt, Mr. Shezad Roy, Mr. Jawad Ahmed and many others who claim that they are very sensitive towards the issues of our society, must sit together and plan something.  All these ‘sensitive’ educationists can influence the parents with whatever they come up with (something like negotiations or conclusions).

Cost-Reduction in Education:  It’s possible.

1) Little children can learn to write and to draw things on slates (old fashioned) instead of wasting money on copies/notebooks and drawing copies.

2) Instead of buying books in Montessori, they can learn alphabets, numbers and words on board or charts.

3) Instead of buying supplies, school can charge a little amount from each parents and purchase the necessary items in bulk on discount,  keep them in classes and train children to share them, use them and organize them.

4)  Painting school walls with cartoons and animals looks horrible and messy, it doesn’t help them in learning.  Instead, take them to the nearby park, zoo, keep a pet or give them some other activities to show them the real colours of life.  They need to be trained to face the reality, not to be lost in myths and mysteries or unnecessary imaginations.

5) Avoid phonics, it makes normal children read like foolish.  Just teach them the letters like a normal insaan ka bacha is supposed to learn.  Children are human beings too, they should not learn to read by making strange animal sounds.  After all, our teachers don’t know how and when to teach phonics.

 

 

 

 

Freedom of Speech in Qur’an

What is the use of talking?  Does talking help us in achieving anything?  Who has the right to speak?

1) Speech, Argument, Proof – Qur’an encourages to talk reasonably and logically to resolve disputes.  Not only Mullahs and scholars but common people and even non-Muslims have a right to speak and argue on certain matters.  Questions are also the part of speech or argument.  Only those who lack intellectual capabilities to understand a question and a wisdom of how to respond usually avoid facing discussions and issue fatawah (their final decision without consulting the scholars of different sects).

There was a time when people knew what to teach their children.  The elders in the family use to watch youngsters’ behaviour.  Now, what a newborn in a Pakistani family might hear right after his birth is azan and then most probably an Indian song.  At the age of 1.5, 2.0 or 2.5, he/she is thrown to a place called a nursery, where they start their learning with the sound of animals or strange phonics.  That is the beginning of a long trail known as “schooling”.  Children learn to “shut up and do your work” at homes, at schools, at tutors.

Where do they learn “the freedom of speech”?  No where.  And then we ask each other surprisingly the causes of extremism and barbarism in our society.

> “The Most Gracious (Allah)! It is He Who has taught the Qur’an.  He has created man.  He has taught him speech (and intelligence)” ….. Surah Ar-Rahman/The Most Gracious 1-4

> “When a (courteous) greeting is offered to you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous, or (at least) of equal courtesy. Allah takes careful account of all things” …. Surah An-Nisa/The Women 86

> “Invite (all) to the Way of Your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for Your Lord knows the best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance” … Surah An-Nahl/The Bee 125

> “Or, Who originates creation, then repeats it, and who gives you sustenance from heaven and earth? (Can there be another) god besides Allah. Say, “Bring forth your argument, if ye are telling the truth!” …. Surah An-Naml/The Ants 64

> “And they say: “None shall enter Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian.” Those are their (vain) desires.   Say: “Produce your proof if you are truthful” … Surah Al-Baqarah/The Cow 111

> “Allah has indeed heard (and accepted) the statement of the woman who pleads with thee concerning her husband and carries her complaint (in prayer) to Allah. and Allah (always) hears the arguments between both sides among you: for Allah hears and sees (all things)” …. Surah Al-Mujadilah/The Pleading Woman 1

2) Vain Talk, Humour, Offensive Nicknames, Suspicion, Back-biting – Qur’an discourages what may heat up the discussion or create issues and suggests how to respond in such situations.

> “And when they hear vain talk, they turn away therefrom and say: “To us our deeds, and to you yours; peace be to you: we seek not the ignorant” …. Surah Al-Qasas/The Story 55

> “And remain steadfast in the face of their utterances, and disregard them in a nice manner” ….. Surah Al-Muzammil/The Enshrouded One 10

> “O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women laugh at others: It may be that the (latter are better than the (former): Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used of one) after he has believed: And those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong…… O ye who believe! Avoid suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some cases is a sin: And spy not on each other behind their backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, ye would abhor it…But fear Allah. For Allah is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful” ….. Surah Al-Hujraat/The Apartments 11,12

> “Nor can goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better: Then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate!  And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint,- none but persons of the greatest good fortune. …. Surah Fussilaat/Signs 34,35

http://themuslimvoice.wordpress.com/2010/10/07/the-manners-of-speaking-in-islam/

 

 

 

 

Peaceful Karachi

Allah (SWT) says in Surah Al-Anfaal (Spoils of War/Booty)… “Let not the unbelievers think that they can get the better (of the godly): they will never frustrate (them).  Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly.”

It was few years ago, when on a channel I heard Anwar Maqsood, the famous comedy writer saying, “hum nay atom bomb bana liya, kaash kay hum phelay logon tak roti poncha detay…” (meaning it was better if we had thought of providing bread to everyone before making atom bomb).

For his information, Prophet Suleman (A.S) who had the vast kingdom in all prophets, tried to feed the humanity and failed in doing so and couldn’t fill the stomach of even one person.  Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), even in the hardest times, didn’t establish any charities but the system where orphans, poor, single/widow/divorced women, prisoners, strangers…everyone was facilitated with basic needs.  Providing people with luxuries has never been the task of any government.

In our society, no one minds these kind of thinking because this has become our most common mentality.  We should not expect anything better than this coming from the people who have been raised with a vision of Roti, Kapra and Makan?  Food, covering and shelter – even animals care about these basic needs and spend their life in sustaining them.  Some human beings are also born with this limited vision.  Filling someone’s stomach with few pieces of bread is the main purpose of their life.  Fine, nothing wrong with this.  For a normal human being, this is a perfect vision to dedicate their life to.

How has this vision effected our society?  A part of our society only cares about feasts and fashion.  Others die of hunger and rely upon the donations to get the minimum of what they need to survive.  A complete disproportion and instability.

Muslims are born with a Divine system in their hands – the system of justice, peace and basic human rights for everyone.  Providing others with basic necessities is a Muslim’s first priority in normal life but their life doesn’t end there.  Implementation of that system is the main purpose of their life and the time has witnessed them sacrificing their basic necessities to guard this system.  Even in the time of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) when common Muslims had to starve for days and they faced poverty for months, they never forgot to protect their people from external invasion.

To all those who are limited to this vision, “roti, kapra aur makan Musalmanon ki zaroorat aur ghulamon ka vision hoa kerti hay – Musalamanon ka vision justice and peace hoa kerta hay”. (food, Clothing, Shelter could be the vision of slaves or oppressed but for Muslims, these are the necessities to survive”.

To all those who are limited to the vision of authority of people on their lives, “authority sirf Allah (SWT) ki hay, logon ke liye choices and limitations hain aur jub wo limitations cross karain gay, inhi halaat se guzrain gay jo aaj Pakistan aur khas ker Karachi main hain” (authority belongs to Allah (SWT)…people have no authority on their lives but few choices along with certain restrictions and limitations”.

Now why people are silent even at this time is only the result of the wrong philosophy of humanity and the above mentioned visions that our thinkers, writers, poets and well-known wise individuals have been preaching for years.  Their preachings have diverted people from the teachings of Islam, from the vision of Iqbal which enabled us to establish Pakistan, from the message of Quaid-e-Azam which we have totally ignored like his great efforts.

People who are leaving Karachi or Pakistan are not in search of a system but in search of food, clothing and shelter.  They don’t care if wine, adultery, prostitution, ribah, gambling, vulgarity are the roots of foreign system and might affect their generations.  Here in Pakistan, they torture and kill for love marriages in different Muslim communities.  There in foreign lands, they don’t even investigate if their daughter-in-law was a legitimate child.  Here they would never accept their sons driving taxi or rickshaw after receiving bachelor’s degree.  Their they don’t mind if he earns from a bar or a casino.

For provisions, Allah (SWT) says at so many places in Quran, He provides them to you all as He wills or equal to the efforts you make.  We create our own opportunities to earn provisions.  What He orders in Qur’an should be our vision and mission.

“O ye who believe! bow down, prostrate yourselves, and adore your Lord; and do good; that ye may prosper.  And strive in His cause as ye ought to strive, (with sincerity and under discipline). He has chosen you, and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion; it is the cult of your father Abraham. It is He Who has named you Muslims, both before and in this (Revelation); that the Messenger may be a witness for you, and ye be witnesses for mankind! So establish regular Prayer, give regular Charity, and hold fast to Allah. He is your Protector – the Best to protect and the Best to help!”  Surah Al-Hajj 77/78

“O ye who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well- acquainted with all that ye do”… Surah An-Nisa/Women 135

May Allah (SWT) guide us all to the right path, the path of those who were successful and not of those who indulged in the worldly desires and lost the Akhirah.  Ameen!

Good Luck to Egyptians

It was almost eighty two million Egyptians who had to get rid of one dictator backed up by the army.  They really did it in less than twenty days.  They all desired freedom for each other.  They joined their voices.  They stood together.  They supported each other, like one nation.

Egyptians are admired by the world.  Pakistanis are also happy for them and wish them all the best in future.  Facing the same challenges, Egyptians have set an example for many African and Arab countries.  What I wish for them is not to fall in the same pit of democracy as we have in Pakistan.  They must elect someone who work for their interest and not for American’s.

In South Asia, it is almost one hundred and eighty million Pakistanis who are trapped by a gang consisted of hundreds of political and religious parties and groups.  They all failed in showing sincerity towards the land and the nation.  They all are no less than Mubarak or even worse.  They are expert in using each other to divert public attention.

So the idea of revolution in Pakistan is not to shu-away the current seated American-collard alliance.  They are illiterate.  They wait for their masters’ signals and work accordingly.  Once can replace the other easily.  They actually have to be replaced by two-third of sensible, wise and educated Pakistanis.  Do we have them ready to fill in the seats?

PIA has set an example.  It should start with the removal of corrupted MDs, GMs, CEOs, administrators in every department and then MPAs and MNAs.  Once resigned on the charges of corruption, that should be the end of their career.  Their resignations should not exempt them from accountability.  They should not be allowed to run away.

We should reconsider our demands.  It shouldn’t be “roti, kapra, makan” or “ikhtiyar sub kay liye” that we vote for.  We don’t want to hear it anymore.  We should vote for the rule of law, justice for all, quality education for all, clean environment, forestation, agricultural reforms, facilitate to encourage cottage industries, planning for youth, for old and/or disabled, ………….

We shouldn’t be fooled by the decision of PPP for downsizing the cabinet.  They are doomed.  MQM didn’t join them in this new game.  Then why did Altaf Hussain even appreciated their idea of downsizing.  May be they have realized that they are done in the assemblies for now.  They can use this time to prepare themselves for the next elections.  But again, how will they compete with Imran Khan, who already built a hospital and has planned the knowledge city?  They are middle class.  They don’t have champions who can raise high funding for their projects.

Shumail’s Last Words

Faheem was killed by Raymond Davis, the American consulate.  His widow later on committed suicide.  In her moments, she demanded “JUSTICE” from the government, the government of Punjab, the media and the people of Pakistan.  I don’t know if she meant to include the ex-Pakistanis or not.

Anyway, America and Americans don’t care about Pakistani civilians.  American government has ordered their paid-slave Pakistani officials to release their terrorist asap.  They don’t care about how Shumaila suffered and finally decided to kill herself knowing the result of this investigation.  She said “blood for blood”.  She’s gone but her voice is alive.

Was she at some point equal to Muhammad Bouazizi of Tunisia?  Is her dying voice strong enough to cause change in Pakistani system?  It all depends upon people of Pakistan, how do they react to it.

We shouldn’t expect a bit from Asif Zardari, Yusuf Raza Gilani, Altaf Hussain, Nawaz Sharif, Shebaz Sharif, Asfand Yar Wali, Shahi Syed, Jamat-e-Islami, Tanzeem-e-Islami, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the Qadri Group, the Supreme Court, Aitizaz Ahson, Ali Ahmed Kurd, Muneer A. Malik and all the famous lawyers and barristers who promised the justice to the people of Pakistan.  They are more loyal to their Western masters and they will go to any extent in obeying them.

Raymond Davis is confident about his unconditional release.  This murderer of civilians is already getting a VIP treatment.  The Pakistani community in American will not care and will not interfere for fear of ………

The release of Raymond Davis will mentally facilitate foreign officials to kill Pakistani civilians, anywhere they want without any fear.  All our political parties will become cowardly-brave in declaring their own citizens and voters as “Terrorist”, without any shame.

The self-claimed caretakers of Karachi, MQM and their workers disassociate themselves from anything happening in other parts of the country, especially if it has something to do with peace and justice.  Last few months, they have succeeded in diverting Karachiites mind by launching unnecessary events like “Jalsa-e-Quomi Yuk-Jehti”, inauguration of a library, etc.  Somehow they have found peace with the existence of Taliban in Pahar Ganj Area (as they claimed a while ago).

“TEN DAYS HAVE PASSED, NOBODY DID ANYTHING, I WANT JUSTICE FROM THE GOVERNMENT, SHEBAZ SHARIF, MEDIA AND PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN.”

 

Inqilaab

Revolution:

  1. (n.) A total or radical change; as, a revolution in one’s circumstances or way of living.
  2. (n.) A fundamental change in political organization, or in a government or constitution; the overthrow or renunciation of one government, and the substitution of another, by the governed.
  3. (n.) Return to a point before occupied, or to a point relatively the same; a rolling back; return; as, revolution in an ellipse or spiral.
  4. (n.) The space measured by the regular return of a revolving body; the period made by the regular recurrence of a measure of time, or by a succession of similar events.
  5. (n.) The motion of a point, line, or surface about a point or line as its center or axis, in such a manner that a moving point generates a curve, a moving line a surface (called a surface of revolution), and a moving surface a solid (called a solid of revolution); as, the revolution of a right-angled triangle about one of its sides generates a cone; the revolution of a semicircle about the diameter generates a sphere.
  6. (n.) The motion of any body, as a planet or satellite, in a curved line or orbit, until it returns to the same point again, or to a point relatively the same; — designated as the annual, anomalistic, nodical, sidereal, or tropical revolution, according as the point of return or completion has a fixed relation to the year, the anomaly, the nodes, the stars, or the tropics; as, the revolution of the earth about the sun; the revolution of the moon about the earth.
  7. (n.) The act of revolving, or turning round on an axis or a center; the motion of a body round a fixed point or line; rotation; as, the revolution of a wheel, of a top, of the earth on its axis, etc.

The word revolution in English sounds more scientific than political or religious.  Since we are the people of emotions and not of science, we use this word more frequently as a threat to cause things upside down without estimating the consequences.  In general, it is taken as a blood-shedding movement.  Untrained people fighting against trained forces.  What happens after that, nobody cares about it.  Idiots are those who provoke people to revive French or other revolutions.

People of Pakistan are emotional, illiterate and negligent but they are not coward and ignorant.  It’s not that they don’t want to see a good change in their surroundings, it’s just they are so used to the typical processes of changing that they can’t think of anything beside that.  So many political parties and religious groups have created such a mess that people feel like even losing their strength and will to survive.

They need some-buddies to tell them that there is always a way out.  Not necessarily a revolution has to be so bloody as it is thought and taught.  It becomes one like that begins with the sentences like “weeeee woooon’t tolerate this, we will accomplish it no matter whatttt, hosh kay nakhun lain, we will fight against them, our quaid will lead the revolution, we promise good governance when we come in power, only we guarantee peace and prosperity”……

People of Pakistan (from all provinces) must ask these idiots, how will they do all that.  Where will they get the money for reformation, for re-establishing the infrastructure, for building the system?  Do they have those efficient, eligible and sensible workers to work for them?

If their answer is that they will beg before the international community or they will kneel down to the Pakistani community living abroad for all this, then what’s the difference between them and the one ruling now?  Why voting for and electing beggars? Why acting upon politician’s words, be the part of their game and let generations suffer for long time?  Why not act for a little more time and save generations from suffering?  Which revolution sounds better?

Why must Pakistanis follow Tunisia, Yemen or Egypt?  Do we really want our police and army to be used against us?  How long will it take?  What will happen after that?  Do we see any wise and sincere leadership in next ten or twenty years?  Who will replace the current political figures?  They all are corrupted.  Have we thought about the consequences?

Be wise, think twice, what are we up to?

Inqilaab is the Arabic word for revolution.  It came from the root letters Qaaf, Laam and Baa, making the word “QALB” meaning heart.  Heart is the place for desires.  So the true and peaceful revolution occurs when hearts are changed.  It occurred in Arab fourteen centuries ago.  That society was equally corrupted as we are now.  A man of the best character, who wasn’t happy with their conditions, who desired to see the good change in his society, stood up.  He didn’t make his party, claimed himself a leader and called people to over throw the existing norms.  He didn’t shout speeches, he taught and guided people step by step, even for the little things like how to clean after themselves or wash hands before eating.  He was seen on the streets admonishing people to be kind to animals.  He was witnessed as a caring husband, loving father, sincere neighbour, trustworthy and honest community member.  He didn’t provoke people against anyone.  He didn’t hate anyone for being different.  He taught people to love each other, to support each other in good deeds, to help each other for betterment, to avoid racism, to create brotherhood, to preach goodness and forbid evil.  That was the most peaceful revolution of the human history introduced by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Just thirteen years of extraordinary patience and moral improvement and the majority was convinced.  Peace guaranteed.

Changing The Tide

Same is the case with Pakistanis or even worse.

1) We tell the world who we are not.  We are not terrorists.  We don’t try to tell the world who we are.  If we think that we were chosen over previous Muslim ummahs, why is that so?  Totally unable to define ourselves.

2) Our Islamic identity does not stop us from patriotism, from progress, from keep good relations with other nations.  We need to stop the false propaganda about Islam, about Pakistan, about our founders (Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam), about stability of Pakistan, about Pakistanis.

3) Pakistani mullahs, scholars and religious leaders don’t need to go to America in order to preach Islam.  American reverts are better Muslims and they are doing their job well, as Muslims and as Americans.  We can’t help them any better, except by supporting good voices from there for the sake of peace in Pakistan and off course for global peace.

Theory of an Islamic State – 2

Political Science – B.A. Part I

An Islamic state  is a system of government which is based upon the principles of Sharia’ set by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).  The first Islamic state was established in Medinah in 622 A.H by the Prophet himself as he migrated from Makkah to Medinah and all the residents and migrants mutually accepted him as their ruler.

Muslims believe in Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as the final prophet of God, after his demise, his companions continued the system as his followers and  the Islamic state got the title of caliphate.  So caliphate is an institution in which a Muslim personality of high profile rules according to Qur’an and sunnah as the follower of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).  The caliphate is the symbol of the unity of Muslim nations around the world.  The period of 632 -661 A.H was ruled by Abu Bakr, Umar ibn Al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan and Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with them all) respectively.  This period is called Khilafat-e-Rashida.

Later on, from 661- 1346 A.H (March 3, 1924), different Muslim dynasties ruled over Muslim territories.  Sultan Abdul Majid son of Sultan Abdul Aziz from Ottoman Dynasty was the last caliph of Islamic caliphate.  His rule ended on March 3, 1924 when a Turk general Mustafa Kemal Ata-Turk abolished the caliphate and became the first Turk president.

A very few Muslim individuals or groups in different countries since then have proclaimed to be the caliphs for the sake of revival of Islamic caliphate but couldn’t succeed.  However, the global domination of Islam or a global Islamic caliphate is already prophesied by the Prophet(pbuh).

The nature of Islamic state:

“The sovereignty of God, the message conveyed by all the prophets, is the foundation of the system.  Legislation contained in the Qur’an becomes the basic law of the state.  This puts the fundamental law of the society beyond the lobbying power of particular interest groups and ensures that legislation is just and equitable.  The government must make decisions on the basis of what God has revealed.  If it does not, according to the Qur’an it is not Islamic, for those who make decisions on other than what God has revealed are unbelievers (Surah Al-Maida 44).  In cases not covered by revelation, decisions based on Islamic principles ar left to the Mujtahids, Islamic experts on legal interpretation.  The Muslims can make laws or regulations dealing with such matters, but these do not have the same permanence as Qur’anic injunctions” taken from http://www.islamfortoday.com/cleland04.htm

The concept of an Islamic state, is of a territory that is governed according to the will of Almighty God and where people regardless of any differences live in a peaceful environment and enjoy their rights as per granted by Allah (SWT).  Following are the elements/features/characteristics/principles of an Islamic state.

Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: “I will create a vicegerent on earth.”…Surah Al-Baqarah 30

In general, all human beings are Allah’s viceroy, thus they all responsible to establish a system under His divine laws.  

1. Sovereignty of Allah -  Believing in Allah (SWT) as the Supreme Authority in all matters is the foundation of an Islamic state.  Allah is self-sufficient and His being and work is free from all faults.  Everything and everyone depends upon Him for their existence and sustenance.   His divine law should be the law of His land like it is in the the rest of the universe.  So basically an Islamic state is a divine state where Allah (SWT) is regarded as the only Sovereignty over all.

“Whatever is in the heavens and on earth,- let it declare the Praises and Glory of Allah for He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise… To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth: It is He Who gives Life and Death; and He has Power over all things… He is the First and the Last, the Evident and the Immanent: and He has full knowledge of all things...He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days, and is moreover firmly established on the Throne (of Authority). He knows what enters within the earth and what comes forth out of it, what comes down from heaven and what mounts up to it. And He is with you wheresoever ye may be. And Allah sees well all that ye do… To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth: and all affairs are referred back to Allah…He merges Night into Day, and He merges Day into Night; and He has full knowledge of the secrets of (all) hearts”…Surah Al-Hadeed 1-6

2. Khalifah/Caliph – A form of government which is founded upon Islamic Sharia’ is called khilafah/caliphate.   The head of the state/ruler/commander is called “khalifa/caliph, ameerul mu’minee or imam”.  He must be the true follower of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).  A wise, pious man who could be trusted for guarding the Islamic constitution (divine laws) and ensures it’s imposition.  He is also the symbol of Muslim’s unity and brotherhood.  He can be held accountable by the judiciary, just like an ordinary person, if found guilty of error/crime.

3.  Consultation (Shura) – An Islamic state is not a dictatorial kind of government.   It is a system where all state and public affairs are handled and accomplished by the mutual consultation of  the wise and educated representatives of people.  These representatives are elected on merit.  The criteria for merit is also prescribed by Sharia’.

“Those who hearken to their Lord, and establish regular Prayer; who (conduct) their affairs by mutual Consultation; who spend out of what We bestow on them for Sustenance;”…Surah Shura 38

4. Obedience of the ruler (Ulul-amr) – The citizens of an Islamic state must obey  their ruler/khalifa in all the matters that are not contrary to Islamic Sharia’.  They have a right to submit their doubts or complaints against khalifa or other officials in judicial courts.   They will be punished if they disobey the ruler or break laws.

“O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination”…Surah An-Nisa 59

5. Equality/Equal Opportunity – Islam denounces discrimination on the basis of race, colour, cast, creed, language, faith, and nationality.  Islam believes in human rights for each individual present there within the boundaries of an Islamic state.  The authorities and majority are guardians of the rights of minorities and are not allowed to interfere in there religious and personal matters.

“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other.  Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.  And Allah has full knowledge and is well-acquainted”  Surah Al-Hujraat 13

6. Justice – Rule of law and safety of people’s life and property regardless of any differences is one of the main objectives of an Islamic state.  All are equal before the law and the court cannot make distinction between elite and poor, the less privileged Muslims and non-Muslims.  All citizens are assured of the freedom to move around and enjoy their rights.  They can approach the judicial courts for fast and fair justice to solve their disputes.

“O ye who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well- acquainted with all that ye do”  Surah An-Nisa 135

7. Welfare State/Social Welfare -  The state is responsible for the well-being of every citizen and for the proper provision of basic necessities to them.  The social welfare  is maintained through  collection of zakah.  Zakah is the yearly tax imposed upon Muslims on their savings.  Khilafah is an institution where religion and politics are not considered separate and khalifa/caliph/ruler/head is an authority over both terms, thus the government is authorized to collect zakah and distribute it according to the rules of sharia’.

“It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces Towards east or West; but it is righteousness- to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfil the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the Allah.fearing”  Surah Al-Baqarah 177

“Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah. and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom”…Surah Tauba 60

8. “Amr bil ma’roof wa nahi anil munkar” – The head of the state is ordered to follow the rule of “amr bil ma’roof wa nahi anil munkar” meaning order people to do good and stop them from wrong and punish them if they don’t.  It is to create an environment where people are persuaded to live in harmony, behave nicely, control their anger through sermons and/or public speeches.  Children are trained to develop such a character from homes and educational institutions.  The purpose is to reduce the rate of home-based or street crimes and stop people from harming each other.

“You are the best community that has been raised for mankind.  You enjoin good and forbid evil and you believe in Allah”  Surah Al-e-Imran 110

“The believers, men and women, are protectors of each other; they enjoin what is right and forbid what is evil”  Surah Tauba 71

“The hypocrites, both men and women, proceed one from another.  They enjoin the wrong and forbid the right”…Surah Tauba 67

Note – The course books do not explain the characteristics/features of an Islamic state as they are mentioned above.  #2 Khalifah/Caliph is replaced with caliphate because it doesn’t make sense to include caliphate as an article of the complete institution which is caliphate.  The references from Qur’an and ahadith are missing in three books that I have referred to.

Thus, an Islamic state or khilafah/caliphate is comprised of these eight features/characteristics; Sovereignty of Allah, Khalifa/ruler, consultation, obedience of the common Muslims towards their khalifah, equality, justice, welfare, “amr bil ma’roof wa nahi anil munkar”.  (do correct me if this is wrong).

Objection: As a Pakistani, we believe that Pakistan is naturally an Islamic state.  She has lost her true identity and couldn’t proceed in the right direction as must have been the dream of Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam.  The reasons are enormously numerous. Out of them, one is our poor and abnormal educational system.  The book writers seem highly obsessed with ancient foreign systems, most systems are proven dead.  Students cannot be blamed, even teachers do not take interest in explaining such boring, dull and dead theories for the whole year.  The curriculum does not include anything that can help a student developing positive thoughts about Pakistan.

This is very much unfair to include as a major part of the curriculum of political science, the centuries old ideologies and theories that most of them are irrelevant in today’s political environment.

Herbert Spencer’s organic theory, Bluntschli’s idea of state as a personified masculine, jusristic theory of the personality of state presented by Treitschke, Bluntschli, Jellinek and Maitland, Rousseau, Jhon Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Bertrand de Jouvenel and hundreds more….. they might be good to be studied in extra timings, but don’t deserve to be the part of the course book to occupy few chapters.

While the relevant content is not even mentioned in the book anywhere.  Allama Iqbal’s theory/ideology of an Islamic state, his political thoughts, Quaid-e-Azam’s understanding of Iqbal’s theory, his political efforts and strategies to prove it to be a practical one. What kind of state is Pakistan?  What features are missing and why, that can make Pakistan an ideal Islamic state?

Long Live Paksitan

“The fact is that the revelations that have come to you from Allah will surely make many of them increase in their wickedness and unbelief. We have stirred among them enmity and hatred till the Day of Resurrection. Every time they kindle the fire of war, Allah extinguishes it. Now they are striving to spread mischief in the land. Allah does not love those who do mischief “……..Surah Al-Maidah/The Table Spread,64

The flood disaster is a great trial for the people of Pakistan.  We must get united against all the injustices and brutalities.  We can’t afford to fall into any other man-planned calamity.  We should not support any further military operations against anyone.  Rather we should try to work along Pakistan Army and Pakistan Rangers.  Our civilians can learn a lot from them and then help themselves to rebuild Pakistan.  We need to gather our entire energy and resources for rehabilitation process.  People of Pakistan are the only hope for each other.  We need to spread the message around that we are not against anyone, not even against our own people whoever they are.  This is not the right time for launching anti-anyone campaign.

Instead, educated people should try to educated and train these flood victims about their rights, what to do next, how to re-start their lives in a better way.  They need our time and energy.  They need moral and all kind of support from us.  Lets forget about the politicians what they say and condemn them if they plan to do something that could ruin whatever is left.

Long Live Pakistan, Long Live Pakistan Army and the People of Pakistan.

Sialkot Incident

“…Verily We have tried them as We tried the People of the Garden, when they resolved to gather the fruits of the (garden) in the morning….. But made no reservation, (“If it be Allah.s Will”)….. Then there came on the (garden) a visitation from thy Lord, (which swept away) all around, while they were asleep….. So the (garden) became, by the morning, like a dark and desolate spot, (whose fruit had been gathered)….. As the morning broke, they called out, one to another,-…..  “Go ye to your tilth (betimes) in the morning, if ye would gather the fruits.”….. So they departed, conversing in secret low tones, (saying)-……  “Let not a single indigent person break in upon you into the (garden) this day.”….. And they opened the morning, strong in an (unjust) resolve….. But when they saw the (garden), they said: “We have surely lost our way:….. “Indeed we are shut out (of the fruits of our labour)!”…… Said one of them, more just (than the rest): “Did I not say to you, ‘Why not glorify ((Allah))?’”….. They said: “Glory to our Lord! Verily we have been doing wrong!”….. Then they turned, one against another, in reproach….. They said: “Alas for us! We have indeed transgressed!….. “It may be that our Lord will give us in exchange a better (garden) than this: for we do turn to Him (in repentance)!”….. Such is the Punishment (in this life); but greater is the Punishment in the Hereafter,- if only they knew!……. Surah Al-Qalam/The Pen, 17 – 33

باشعور اور بے شعور شخص میں کیا فرق ہے۔۔۔

شاید وہی جو ریاض شاہد مرحوم صاحب اور پچھلے تیس پینتیس سالوں کے فلم ڈائریکٹرز میں ہے۔۔۔ سید نورکی چوڑیاں دیکھیں یا کوئی بھی پنجابی فلم۔۔۔ شروع سے آخر تک بے دردانہ وحشیانہ طریقوں سےلوٹ مار اور قتل دکھائے جاتے ہیںیا بے ہودہ رقص یا خواتین کے ساتھہ زیادتیاں اورپھر انکا لازمی انجام طوائف بن جانا۔۔۔۔۔۔۔ کیا اسی کو فن کی خدمت کہتے ہیں۔۔۔ کیاپاکستان اور اسلام کو دنیا میں اسطرح پیش کرنا چاہیے۔۔۔ ان فلموں کے ڈائریکٹرز کو ایوارڈز دئے جاتے ہیں۔۔۔ انکے مرد وعورت اداکارجیسی تیسی اداکاری کرکے پیسے سمیٹ کر ایوارڈز جیت کر گھر بیٹھہ جاتے ہیں۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔ کیا انکا کام یہاں ختم ہو جاتا ہے۔۔۔ کبھی ان سب نے یہ سو چا کہ انھوں نے پاکستانی معاشرے کو دیا کیا۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔ شاید ایسے کردار جو حقیقت میں اسی ظالمانہ طریقوں سے لوگوں کی جان لیتے ہیں جیسا ان فلموں میں دکھایا جاتاہے سیالکوٹ کا واقعہ بھی اسی طرح کسی فلم کاسین لگتا ہے۔۔۔ جسے فلموں ہی کی طرح سارے تماشائیوں نے ملکر لطف لیا۔۔۔

تین چار دن پہلے ایک شخص نے اپنی ماں, بہن, بھابھی اور بھانجی  کو پٹرول چھڑک کر آگ لگادی۔۔۔ بہت سے واقعات ایسے ہو چکے ہیں۔۔۔ یہ تو ان علاقوں کی بات ہے جہاں شعور ہے نہیں۔۔۔ پڑھے لکھے لوگوں کو دیکھہ لیں۔۔۔ کتنی مائیں ہیں جو اپنے بیٹوں کو چھوٹی عمر سے یہ جملے کانوں میں ڈالتی ہیں کہ باہر جارہے ہو دیکھہ کے چلنا۔۔۔ کسی کو غلطی سے ٹکرلگ جائے تو سوری کہہ دینا۔۔۔ کسی کی چیزکو بغیر پوچھے ہاتھہ نہ لگانا۔۔۔ باہر کوڑا نہ پھینکنا سڑک گندی ہوگی۔۔۔ کسی سے بد تمیزی سے بات نہ کرنا۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔ کتنی بہنیں اپنے بھائیوں کو باہر جاتے وقت نصیحت کرتی ہیں کہ دوسری لڑکیوں کی اسی طرح عزت کرنا جیسے ہماری۔۔۔۔۔۔۔ ہمارے معاشرے میں مائیں بہنیں جس طرح بیٹوں بھائیوں کو لاڈ میں بگاڑتی ہیں بعد میں اسکا انجام صرف وہ ہی نہیں بلکہ دوسرے بھی بھگتتے ہی۔۔۔۔ ڈی پی او سیالکوٹ, پولیس والے اور عوام یقیناایسے ہی بد نصیب ماؤں کی اولادیں ہیں جو صدقہ جاریہ کے بجائے گناہ جاریہ بن جاتے ہیں۔۔۔

یہی سب کچھہ اگر تعلیم یافتہ لوگ کریں تو قوم کی اجتماعی جہالت کا اندازہ آسانی سے کیا جا سکتا ہے۔۔۔ دو ہزار چار  کا واقعہ ہے۔۔۔  باجی کے محلے والوں نےایک چوکیداررکھا ہواتھا دبلا پتلا سا غریب انسان۔۔۔  اسی گلی میں تین چار گھر چھوڑ کر گورنر صاحب کی سالی رہتی تھیں۔۔۔ انکے ہاں چوری ہوئی۔۔۔ انھوں نے ملازمہ کو الزام دیا۔۔۔ وہ پکڑی نہ جاسکی۔۔۔ تو انھوں نے شک ظاہر کیا کہ ہم نے ملازمہ کو چوکیدار سے بات کرتے دیکھا تھا۔۔۔ پولیس اسکو لے گئی۔۔۔ دوسرے دن پتہ چلا کہ اس پر اتنا تشدد کیا گیا کہ اسکے جسم کی ہڈیاں ٹوٹ گئیں اور وہ ہسپتال میں ہے۔۔۔ اگلے دن اسکی موت کی خبر آئی۔۔۔ شام کو میں نے ایک عورت کو گورنر صاحب کی سالی صاحبہ کے دروازے پر ایک عورت کو روتے دیکھا۔۔۔ باجی نے بتایا کہ یہ چوکیدار کی بیوی ہےصبح سے بیٹھی رو رہی ہے کہ انصاف کرو۔۔۔ دو دن اور آئی پھر وہ مایوس ہو گئی۔۔۔ میں نے مشورہ دیا کہ وہ آدمی محلے کی حفاظت کیا کرتا تھا اب محلے والوں کا فرض ہے کہ ہر مہینے سو دوسو جمع کرکے کچھہ رقم اسکے بچوں کی تعلیم وغیرہ کے لئے دے دیا کریں۔۔۔ کیونکہ جو کچھہ ہوا اس میں بچوں کا کوئی قصور نہیں تھا۔۔۔ باجی نے کہا اس گلی میں اکثر کے ہاں دو یا تین ائرکنڈیشنرز ہیں۔۔۔ بقرعید پر گاؤں بکریوں کے مقابلے ہوتے ہیں مگر جمعدار کو چالیس روپے مہینہ دینے میں بھی تنگ کرتے ہیں۔۔۔
پھر یہ بھی دیکھا کہ مشنری اسکولز جانے والے امیر ماں باپ کی اولا دیں پرنسپل سے پوچھتی ہیں کہ یہ سو دو سو کا جوڈونیشن ہے اسکا سرٹیفکیٹ ملے گا کہ نہیں۔۔۔
پڑھا لکھا ہو یا غیرپڑھا لکھا۔۔۔ جب گھر اور خاندان میں ہی انصاف نہ کر سکے۔۔۔ اپنے رشتہ داروں میں ہی ظلم کے خلاف آواز نہ اٹھا سکے۔۔۔ وہ صدر بنے گورنربنے یا پارلیمنٹیرئین۔۔۔ ملک وقوم کے لئے کیا کر سکتاہے۔۔۔۔۔۔ اسی کو شاید جہالت بھی کہتے ہیں اور غلامی بھی۔۔۔

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