Answers to Students’ Queries

Students are humans too.  They have brains to think and mind to judge.  They want to know about many things.  They want to discuss issues and express their opinions.

Q1) What is the link between social development and economic development?

Q2) Why do we have to learn all this?  What are we gonna do with it?

Ans) Let second go first.

Education is not just to finish syllabus, give exams and get a degree.

The reason you have to learn all this is that you have to learn how to live in this world.  Because if you don’t, people will live your life and you will have to be dependent upon people to live.

Right now you are relying upon your parents.  They are feeding you, they are buying you clothes, you live in their house.  They cannot do that forever.  After 10 or 15 years, you will have to take care of yourself.  You will have a family of your own.  How will you do that?

Now come to the first question.

Before understanding the terms and the link between them, just remember two things; first, you need money to buy necessities of life.  With more money, you can get luxuries you want.  Second, economic development does not prosper in a society which is not socially prepared for it.

Economic development is a process of gathering resources in order to generate more revenue, people of which are the key resource.

Economic development is not a convenience to work 9 to 5 and get salary at the end of the month.  It is to create a convenient environment for such conveniences.  People work 9 to 5 or flexible hours in offices, factories, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, airports, seaports, schools, colleges, malls and shops, etc.  These places provide employment.  If they run properly, expand and make good profit, they can produce more job vacancies.

There are many people who do not want to work just 8 hours a day.  They want to earn more money than monthly salary.  They have saved some money and are capable of running a business.  If they own a shop or a factory or a clinic, they would need helpers.  That would create more jobs for people.

Television channels, radio stations, newspaper and magazines also contribute in job activities.

People also work at places owned by the government, such as electric and gas corporations, police department, public schools and colleges, government hospitals, national T.V. channel, national airline, etc.

Foreigners, the citizens of other countries, can also be good source of income.  They visit our country, pay for accommodation, do shopping and buy souvenirs.

It is people earn from people.  People employee people.  People are the part of any economic cycle.  People should know that they need each other, so they should try to be as helpful as they can in financial matters.

Social development is a process of organizing and utilizing human energies in a way that can satisfy their needs and desires.  It is a process of thinking and struggling for betterment in all aspects.

The true link between the two terms is that when you think about ‘better life’ (which is social development), you think of having money at the same time and how to avail it.  You look out for possibilities in your very surroundings or in a far place.  You find out that money making requires things that you must to consider; appearance, objectives, degree, skills, experience, job hours, working environment, nature of job/job description, attitude, moral values, job-manners, chances of learning more and earning more, etc.

People cannot be selected for jobs with inappropriate appearance.  They cannot keep a job or run a business if they are short-tempered, dishonest, disloyal, crooked and fraud and untrustworthy.

Just think about it.

Would your parents hire a tutor if he/she appears lousy, does not come on time and is not qualified for teaching?

Would you eat from a restaurant that is unhygienic and serves cheap quality food to customers?

Would people go to a doctor who’s clinic is dirty and he/she is not kind and expert in his profession?

Which shopkeeper would get more business, the one who does not weigh or measure accurately or the one who is honest?

How long can a crooked and fraud real estate agent, a sales person, a motor mechanic, a pharmacist or anyone run their business?  How will they end up finally?

Would foreigners visit your country if your streets and roads are full of dirt and garbage, there are no pleasing sights, historical landmarks are not maintained, or people are living a miserable life?

So, what is the conclusion?  You want business from world, you want world to respect you, you world to trust you – you will have to provide reasons for that or nothing will happen.

Social and Economic Development in Pakistan

Let’s start from where we are standing right now.  How optimistic are you, the students, about the working opportunities when you will complete your suggested course of study?  You are not living 50 or 60 years ago when families were fed on the earning of one person.  The unemployment rate was high at that time too but they survived because they were contented with whatever they had.  Their purpose of life was to give families “roti, kapra and makan”.  You are living at the same place but in a different era.  You are growing up in a competitive environment, domestically and internationally.  Your working field is not limited to your national boundaries.  It encompasses the entire globe and thus, you need to prepare yourself for global challenges to achieve your goals.

Before comparing yourself to the students of advanced countries and your life-style to their life-style, just do compare the opportunities too.  Students in foreign countries start working part-time at the age of 14 or 15.  By the age of 16, 17, 18, they have to live on their own, unless they agree to pay their share in rent, food and utilities.  They don’t bother their parents to have enough money for their wedding shopping, dowry and other events.  They celebrate what they can afford.  They don’t mourn and blame their parents if they can’t.  They are not after luxuries but what gives them pleasure and keeps them independent.  They take responsibility of their actions and behaviour.

In contrast, you take for granted all the favours done to you by your parents.  Remember, your parents are not your servants.  They have a right to live their lives too.  Having children and raising them up is not a life time confinement.  You have a right to stand for your rights but not at the cost of your parent’s earnings.  Your abilities to support yourself financially following all moral values would be the best proof to support your demand for freedom.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

India Burns

“In August 1947, the British decided to quit India after nearly 200 years of taking power. India, one the most ethnically diverse nations in the world was to be divided. One country will now become two, India and Pakistan. The once peaceful land now implodes, people are forced out the villages that they have lived in for generations. 15 million scramble to be on the right side of the boarder, at least 1 million die in the process. Communities that have lived together for centuries turn on each other in one of the worst communal massacres of the 20th century. Britain the once great colonial power looks on as India Burned.”  (taken from the video India Burned)

I AM NOT SURPRISED TO SEE MQM SUPPORTERS SHARING THESE VIDEOS ON FACEBOOK.  WHAT ELSE COULD BE EXPECTED FROM THEM.

The definition of the geographical extent of Indian subcontinent varies. Historically forming the whole territory of Classical India, now it generally comprises the countries of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh; prior to 1947, the three nations were historically combined and constituted British India. It almost always also includes Nepal, Bhutan, and the island country of Sri Lanka and may also include Afghanistan and the island country of Maldives.  The region may also include the disputed territory of Aksai Chin, which was part of the British Indian princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, but is now administered as part of the Chinese autonomous region of Xinjiang. A  booklet published by the United States Department of State in 1959 includes Afghanistan, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), India, Nepal, and Pakistan as part of the “Subcontinent of South Asia”.  When the term Indian subcontinent is used to mean South Asia, the islands countries of Sri Lanka and the Maldives may sometimes not be included, while Tibet and Nepal may be includedor excluded intermittently, depending on the context. (Wikipedia)

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If they blame Mr. Jinnah for what is going wrong in Pakistan now, who do they hold responsible for what is going wrong now in India?  Hindus were in majority.  Their leaders had more influence on British rulers than Muslims.  Why couldn’t they save the subcontinent from division when even half of the Muslims and mullahs/scholars were against the establishment of Pakistan and supported Congress?  Mr. Jinnah, his team and his Muslim supporters were a minority.  Why did they still succeed in their mission?

1) The Subcontinent was not divided into two but many countries.  All those countries together were called Hindustan.  Then why is the propaganda only against Pakistan and Mr. Jinnah?

2) “the once peaceful land now implodes”….. oh really, Muslims and Hindus never had any problem prior to 1946?  Were they really living in peace and loved each other?  Hindus and other non-Muslim minorities never caused trouble for Muslim rulers?  Muslims in different states of the subcontinent were united and showed solidarity to other minorities?

3) “one million die in the process of division”….well, how many died in the War of Independence 1857 and who fought the war against whom?  How many died in the process of extending the subcontinent by different rulers?  How many have died in Indian Occupied Kashmir and for what reason?

4) How safe are Muslims in India?  Why didn’t Indian government reward Indian Muslims for not supporting Pakistan and Quaid-e-Azam?  Why didn’t Indian Muslim show Pakistanis after the partition that look, this is how you should have lived with Hindus and other minorities, in peace and harmony?

5) How safe is India for Christians and other minorities?

6) British – where ever they went, they caused injustice, hatred and division.  I can understand why America has become the greatest problem for the world peace.  They originally came from Britain.

I Love Pakistan

People say Islam is more important than Pakistan, faith is more important than land.

I say, “Pakistan is the symbol of Islam in form of land.  If you don’t care about land, where would you practice your Islam and establish khilafah, in the air or under water?  Land, book, building, stone – all are material things and have no value against faith.  But Muslims do own Makkah, Madinah, Ka’abah, Aqsa, Qur’an and Hajr-ul-Aswad.  Then what’s wrong with owning or loving Pakistan.  Prophet (pbuh) owned it, he felt fresh breeze from this piece of land.”

People say people have a right to live anywhere they want.

I say, “Yes, they do.  But they don’t have a right to misuse, abuse or accuse the land/place they have disowned for any reason.  That is in general.  For Muslims, there are few conditions for migration.  Migration means a temporary stay.  It is allowed for trade, marriage, preaching and political reasons.  Muslims migrated to Habsah (Abyssinia) for political asylum and returned when it was safe.  They migrated to Madinah for political reasons.  Finally, they came back to free Makkah from disbelievers.  As Makkah and Madinah became two cities under one khilafah, Ansar (residents of Madinah) and Mahajreen (migrants) – all were regarded as equal citizens of the first Islamic State.”

People say making of Pakistan was a wrong decision.

I ask them, “whose decision was it?

They say, “Jinnah’s decision”.

I ask them, “Wasn’t Quaid-e-Azam supported and trusted by influential personalities of that time and millions of common Muslims?  If yes, then how could millions of people be wrong at the same time?  Why would millions of people decide to sacrifice their lives and properties for a land that could be the result of someone’s wrong decision?  Were those influential personalities from all provinces and of minorities also wrong?  Don’t blame great people who established Pakistan for your failure.  Blame your parents who failed in bringing you up like a gentle, civilized, ambitious and skillful person.”

People say Pakistan did not give them anything.

I ask them, “Do countries really have such powers?  Does visa for other countries assure you of suitable employment, three times meal, clothing and other facilities?  No, right.  Then why do you expect such a non-sense from Pakistan.  You live, you struggle…you invest, you gain…you earn, you eat…you make wrong decisions, you lose.  Simple rules of life in all countries.”

Urdu Speaking say, “mahajirs are not treated well, there is no space for us in Karachi”.

I tell them, “Mahajir/migrants are not treated well anywhere.  They are granted with basic necessities on humanitarian basis.  Calling yourself mahajir is a sign of disowning Pakistan.  Should people who disown their own lands be treated well in foreign lands?  Hmmm, I don’t think foreigners are that stupid.  and…..Why do you care about having no space in Karachi when you are ever ready to leave this city?  Leaving your place means you don’t care about it or you don’t need it anymore, others will ultimately occupy it.  By the way Urdu Speaking don’t leave Karachi like a migrant.  They plan to travel abroad, they sell their properties, prepare people’s mind to accept their excuses and justification.”

Old Age

I am an elderly person from the next few decades (if I get to survive).   Next few decades which I am not very much hopeful regarding my old age.  Old age, when I will not have the same stamina as I have now and my physical organs will not function in the same proper way.  I won’t be able to sustain my provisions on my own.

Where will I live then?  Who will provide me with food and clothing?  Who will be there to take care of my health?  It will be useless to ask these questions to the future youth because by the time they will come up with an idea, I will be resting in peace for hundred years.

One solution that the majority has worked upon is to work hard, earn money until there are chances and then settle down in another country where they have made some system for elderly people.  Many celebrities like Uzma Gilani, Munni Begum, Majid Jahangir, Umm-e-Habibah, Zohra Noorani, Tehseen Javed, Sajjad Ali and families of scholars and middle class people have applied this strategy to turn their olden era into a golden era.  They are nice people and have right to live wherever they want to whatever the way they want.  May be this is a part of globalization that you grow up with thoughts of taking care of yourself and your family, be nice to everyone and live your own life.  For most people now “how to live?” matters more than “where to live?”.  The thing is that I cannot expect anything from them like helping in building this nation, except for crumbs of donation time-to-time or a statement “I miss Pakistan”.

Still some ladies (I call them great), the legends of our time, like Bano Qudsia, Bajya and Bilqees Edhi preferred to stay.  May be because their names begin with letter ‘B’, who knows.  All I want to know is that why did these ladies prefer “where to live” over “how to live”?

I’m not a celebrity.  I’m just a common person.  Everyday I notice the increase in number of old women beggars.  In last eight or nine years, I even saw many of them sleeping on sidewalks along with their grandchildren.  I wouldn’t say that they all have come from the interior of Sindh or Punjab or Baluchistan or Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (jitnay mushkil khud hain utna hi mushkil naam rakh diya soobay ka).  Many of  them belong to Karachi.

I remember few families from my childhood.  They had migrated from India in search of a peaceful land.  They sacrificed their loved ones, lost their properties, even their basic belongings.  There was one family whose head of the house was a sixty five year old lady and was obviously an illiterate person.  She had a son who was killed during the riots of sixties and left few children including other family kids whose parents were lost during partition.  Then there was another family of similar kind.  The seventy year old lady was responsible for her eight little grandchildren and a mentally ill daughter age 55.  Sometimes they had nothing to eat for days but one time meal that was a ‘roti’ , no curry to eat with.  Neighbours provided them with some good food but that was not on the regular basis.  They still needed clothes, education, somebody to supervise them.  Both ladies became nani’s friend.  They were from noble families in India.  I am sure there were thousands of stories like this.

The ladies must have died soon as they were already feeble and ill.  But I don’t know what their grandchildren had gone through.  If they are alive, they must be my age now or may be a little younger or older.  May be few of them had found a good support later on which rarely happens.  But what about the rest.

There was no system at that time.  Not even the concept of having a system.  Children from that time are now middle-aged and have grown as unwanted beings while the children of this time are growing as wild beings.  God knows what kind of society we’re going to turn into next twenty or thirty years.

Edhi seems to be the only refuge for elderly people especially women.  There are few adult homes but they are mostly for men to live till their death and they are expensive too.

I have no hope at all from our political parties and religious groups for next hundred years.  They will keep growing fear and hatred in people’s mind against each other.  Only if common people support each other and help each other about solving issues of common people like them.

From Cradle to Grave

Years ago, when I was asked what would I do if I fail to do anything in Pakistan?  My reply was that I will still prefer to live in Pakistan because they have Edhi Centers.  From cradle to grave, they take care of everything.

The name “Edhi” in Pakistan is the symbol of humanity, sincerity and trust.

I had to spend the whole day yesterday at the funeral of one of our relative.  She died in her nineties.  On Tuesday night she was taken to the hospital and an hour later her body was sent to Edhi Center to be kept in freezer until it was ready for burial.  The next morning, her daughters and a couple of relatives reached there to wash the body (ghusl) and wrapped it in white clothes (kafn) and brought it home for final procession (i.e. the family members may apologize the deceased person, his/her debts are paid off, pardoned or transferred to another person, final sight and funeral prayer).

Few years ago, Mr. Edhi made an exclusive request to donate for burial services.  They needed money to buy land for grave, coffin and clothes for unclaimed dead bodies.

Now I came to know that most of the dead bodies, even of the well off people, are brought to Edhi Center for this purpose.  They use electricity, maintain the premises, buy wood to prepare coffins, buy clothes for kafn, pay to workers and drivers, use petrol or CNG, use stationary for documentation.  I am not sure if they charge everyone for their services but they should.  Why Edhi Centers?  Isn’t it the responsibility of government hospitals or private hospitals to provide this facility?

If they can’t, then….

1) people should force government to allocate land and funds to establish Edhi funeral homes all over Pakistan

2) professionals from related fields can sponsor training sessions for their workers

3) rich people can sponsor jobs or the salary of Edhi’s staff on yearly basis or they can finance their own employees to spend few hours a week or month to work at different branches of Edhi Foundation.

4) Schools, colleges and universities can arrange practical workshops for their students to volunteer at Edhi centers on weekends or holidays.  The hours of their volunteer services and their progress report should have points to be included in their mark sheets.

There is a lot that people can do for them to maintain and beautify their centers.  Their gates , grills and walls need to be painted, their floors need to be leveled, their passages need to be filled with plants and flowers, their slaughter house need to supplied with disinfectants, their children need to be provided with activities, their animal shelter need to be equipped with vet-staff, animal food, grassy patches, trees, flowers, plants, water and handy food for their workers at the shelter.

Edhi Foundation is not a charity anymore.  It has become the soul of Pakistan, a trust-building amenity between all Pakistanis.  Edhi’s name and services should immediately be made the part of our educational curriculum from Elementary to Ph.D.  His photos deserve to be placed right next to Allama Iqbal, Quaid-e-Azam and Ms. Fatima Jinnah.  May God bless him and his family and the entire team for symbolizing Pakistan with true spirit of humanity, Ameen!

 

A peaceful man in beard

 

http://edhidoc.com/

http://natashasuleman.wordpress.com/2010/07/23/the-man-called-edhi/

First Ladies

Eve/Hawwa (peace be upon her) was the first female and the first lady on this earth as her husband was an appointed leader to the pubic he will give birth to.  She stood shoulder to shoulder with him in all historical events.  She accompanied her husband in Paradise, both disobeyed the God, both were humiliated, both repented, both were forgiven, both were honored, both were sent to earth (on temporary basis), both returned to Paradise, their permanent home and reminded their children to join them.  She had no parents so no feelings of being a daughter, a sister, a cousin or a friend.  She had no childhood stories to tell as she didn’t grow.  No burden of reading, writing, cooking, shopping etc.  No beauty and fashion competitions.  Her life was peaceful for having no mother-in-law and sister-in-law.  Her daughters-in-law were her own daughters, her sons were her sons-in-law, so there was no issue of favoring whom, no home politics.  She wasn’t a grandchild herself but was a grandmother to many.  She had no mother but became mother of whole mankind.

Hagar/Hajrah (peace be upon her) was the first lady who had to live in the valley of Makkah as her husband Prophet Abraham/Ibraheem (peace be upon him) left her there to fulfill God’s strategy to populate Makkah.  She gave birth to Prophet Ismaeel/Ishmael (peace be upon him) whose rubbing heels caused the Zum Zum to gush out of the ground.  Her efforts to look out for help for her infant are titled as “sa’ee” (Arabic word for effort), a must-to-follow part of Hajj at the same place.  I wish if I can ask her how she managed to live in the middle of high mountains all alone and raised her son to be a pious man.

Maryam/Mary (peace be upon her) was the first lady who was selected to grow in church’s boundaries.  Her Prophet Zakariyah (peace be upon him) took care of her.  She was fed on the food from heaven.  She saw the angels and had a conversation with them.  She was the first and the only one to give birth to her son Prophet Isa/Jesus (peace be upon him) without following the normal reproductive course.  Her own son in his infancy was made the witness to her purity and piety.  Her name is mentioned in Qur’an as the most honored lady in all.

syeda Khadijah bint Khuwelad (peace be upon her) was probably the first business lady who proposed her young employee Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) for she found him very honest and trustworthy in his dealings.  She was the first lady to declare the shahadah and accepted him as a prophet.  She dedicated her life and wealth for the cause her glorious and handsome husband stood for.  She faced the three-year boycott along with other believers and died of illness during the siege.  She was the first one to receive the title of “Umul-Mo’minee”/The Mother of Believers.

Syeda Fatima Az-Zahrah (peace be upon her) was the first lady who got the honor of being the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), wife of the Caliph Ali ibn Abi-Talib and mother of sons Hasan and Hussain who will lead the martyrs in Paradise.   She was a dignified lady, very kind and just too.  She was the first and most probably the only lady who treated her maid so respectfully that she shared her responsibilities on equal basis.  Having the fear of being unjust, instead of dividing chores, she divided the days.  One whole day for Fizza to work and the other whole day for herself so the maid can enjoy the full break.

Syeda Zainab (peace be upon her), the granddaughter of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and Abu Talib, daughter of Ali and Faimah–was the first lady who joined her brother Hussain in the journey to Karbala along with her sons.  She lost them both in the battle.  She faced the massacre with courage and dignity.  She roared in the court of Yazeed denouncing his throne and predicting his fall in coming years.  She is role-model for all Muslim women.

Ms. Fatimah Jinnah (peace be upon her) may not be the first woman to stand up for a political cause but she was the first Pakistani lady who worked with her brother, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, side-by-side and step-to-step for the establishment of Pakistan.  A dentist by profession, she served her great brother as a loving sister, sincere friend, loyal assistant, wise political adviser and trustworthy colleague throughout the movement.  People of Pakistan loved her the same as they loved Quaid-e-Azam.  She led Muslim League as a unified platform for Pakistanis until her death in 1967.  She didn’t get married though but she was the first and the only lady to be remembered as Madre-Millat/The Mother of Nation.  This nation is really very unfortunate for they produced hundreds of movies, dramas, theater shows, songs, books about the love stories of Empress Noor Jahan, the royal maid Anar Kali, the warriors Razia Sultana and Chand BiBi — writers, poets, composers, actors, actresses, singers, comedians, producers, directors — they all failed to present Madre-Millat as a calm, dignified, educated, brave and wise politician of Islamic world.  And they all claim that they are a sensitive part of society and have been loyal and sincere to Pakistan.  What a great sense of humor they have!

Madam Noor Jahan, a gorgeous actress and a great singer, was the first lady to be awarded with the crown and the title of “The Queen of Melody” by President Gen. Ayub Khan in acknowledgment of her outstanding services for Pakistan.  She was the first and the only woman so far who visited the borders to encourage Pakistani soldiers to win the war of 1965.  Her profession, her career, her family — nothing could stop her from serving her country at the right moment.  Putting her little children behind, felt the pain for the whole nation, she used her voice to energize the troops for definite victory.  She was also the first one to declare publicly that she is in deep love with Pakistan.  She may rightly be called the symbol of Pakistan because of the gift of her passionate, patriotic songs.

Bilqees Edhi, another extraordinary female figure from Pakistan, who is the first woman to run one of the world’s biggest and organized charity with her husband Mr. Abdus-Sattar Edhi, having no educational and professional background.  This jolly, friendly, simple, to-the-point lady is a blessing from God.  Embracing children who are dumped on garbage piles by their own parents, counseling women to settle down family matters, guiding even educated girls how to make their lives purposeful, managing facility for mentally retarded women, adult home for homeless elderly people, running a shelter for homeless animals, etc.  In short, Ms. Bilqees Edhi has shared an equal contribution in whatever the kind of services Edhi Foundation is providing to humanity.  Her visit to Lal-Masjid in order to solve that political issue between the government and the extremists was a surprise for me.  One brave and wise lady we should all be proud of.

Fatimah Surayyah commonly known as Bajya can be distinguished as the first lady who, lacking even the basic formal education at all, wrote plays on family matters and social issues and won awards on her writings, can discuss issues with scholarly perspectives of her own.  Being witness of the Pakistan movement and its establishment, she is a sign of love and affection, courage and dignity, knowledge and respect.

These were the women who marked the history in unsuitable conditions.  Then there are thousands of women who performed remarkably in different fields of life and even those who could only succeed in taking good care of their family members.

May God bless them all for being the subject matter of my post on Great Women.  Ameen!

Wisdom of Mosa/Moses

(Pharaoh) said: “Did we not cherish you as a child among us, and did you not stay in our midst many years of your life?… “And you did a deed of yours which (you know) you did, and you are an ungrateful (wretch)!”… Moses said: “I did it then, when I was in error”… “So I fled from you (all) when I feared you; but my Lord has (since) invested me with judgment (and wisdom) and appointed me as one of the apostles… “And this is the favour with which you did reproach me,- that you had enslaved the Children of Israel!”…….Shura Shu’ara/The Poets, 18-22

وہ (فرعون) کہنے لگا کہ کیا نہیں پالاتھا ہم نے تجھے جبکہ تو ایک چھوٹا سا بچہ تھا اوررہا  تھا تو ہمارے ہاں عمر کے کئی سال۔۔۔اور کی تھی تو نے وہ حرکت جو کی تھی تو نے اور تو بڑا ہی ناشکراہے۔۔۔ کہا (موسی نے) کہ کی تھی میں نے وہ حرکت اس وقت جبکہ تھا میں نادان۔۔۔ پھر بھاگ گیا میں تمھارے پاس سے جب مجھے ڈر ہوا تم سے, پھر عطا کی میرے رب نے حکمت اور شامل فرمایا مجھے رسولوں میں۔۔۔اور جواحسان جتارہا ہےتو مجھہ پر, اسکی حقیقت یہ ہے کہ تو نے غلام بنا رکھا ہے بنی اسرائیل کو۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔ سورہ الشعراء

پتہ نہیں مغرب فرعون کی طرح احسانات جتاتا ہے کہ نہیں۔۔۔ اگر احسانات جتاتا ہے تو اسکا جواب بھی موسی علیہ السلام کی طرح سادہ اورلاجواب کردینے والا ہے۔۔۔ مغربی ممالک نے جو فساد مسلمانوں کے خلاف برپا کیا ہوا ہے, آئی ایم ایف کے قرضے, قدرتی وسائل پر قبضہ, غلام ذہنیت جاگیرداروں, سرمایہ داروں, سیاستدانوں اورمولویوں کی حکمرانی۔۔۔ دنیا میں بھوک, افلاس, ظلم, جرائم, بدامنی اسی کا نتیجہ ہیں۔۔۔ اور ان سب کے اثرات دو طرح ظاہر ہوتے ہیں۔۔۔ یا بغاوت ہوتی ہے یا انقلاب آتا ہے۔۔۔ بغاوت مزید فساد اور خون خرابہ پیدا کرتی ہے۔۔۔ انقلاب فساد اور خون خرابہ کو ختم کرتا ہے۔۔۔

Freedom is the spirit of revolution.  ‘To know your rights’ is its content.

The ground reality for Muslims may be the most challenging in human history but that can never be negotiable to the extent of losing their spirit of freedom.  Compromise could be a strategy but is not another word for slavery.

So first I imagined that if Americans and their allies are grasshoppers and Muslim populations are ants, their verdict should be the same as of Flik and the Princes to Hopper.  The West need to kill Muslims to seize their natural resources for their comfort.  They need to diminish common Muslims so they are compelled to work for them and can generate tax money for them.  They justify their plans to western populations by creating fear and terror against Muslims.

But what if our feudal lords, politicians and elites play grasshoppers and people of Pakistan are ants, the solution is still the same.  “The ants pick the food, the ants eat them and the grasshoppers leave.”

And I loved this movie.

PES

Pakistan Environmental Studies- 1:  Introduction

Earth is made up of hard and soft elements known as natural resources.  Some are found on the surface, in the air, under the oceans and many of them exist inside the earth.  Each element is a treasure, a blessing from our Lord Almighty.  Thus we all are dependent upon His mercy in each and every second of our lives.

یہ کرہ ارض جو اربوں لوگوں کا اس کائنات میں واحد گھر ہے۔۔۔ مختلف قسم کےعناصر سے مل کربنا ہے۔۔۔ کچھہ زمین کی سطح پر, کچھہ ہوا میں اور بہت سارے زیر زمین یا سمندروں میں۔۔۔ یہ سب کے سب الله کی نعمتیں اور اسکی رحمتوں کی نشانیاں ہیں۔۔۔ اس لحاظ سے ہم سب ایک ایک لمحہ الله کی رحمت پر زندہ ہیں۔۔۔

“When the earth is shaken to her (utmost) convulsion, and the earth throws up her  burdens (from within)”…..(Surah Az-Zilzal/The Earthquake)

“(It is) a Day whereon men will be like moths scattered about, and the mountains will be like carded wool”….(Surah Al-Qaari’a/The Calamity, The disaster)

“When the sun (with its spacious light) is folded up:  When the stars fall, losing their lustre:  When the mountains vanish (like a mirage);  When the she-camels, ten months with young, are left untended;  When the wild beasts are herded together (in the human habitations);  When the oceans boil over with a swell;”….. (Surah At-Takweer/The Overthrowing, Extinguished – Wrapping up Things)

“Then, when one blast is sounded on the Trumpet, and the earth is moved, and its mountains, and they are crushed to powder at one stroke”…… (Surah Al-Haa’qah/The Reality)

As a child and a teenager, I believed that the final hour (Yaum-ul-Hashr) will just occur suddenly in one hour time as we measure it by sixty minutes or three hundred and sixty seconds.  I was really terrified to imagine that how such an enormous system of life will be destroyed in few moments.  Then I was relaxed by some ahadith mentioning the signs of the end of the time.  I developed satisfactory feelings that at least I won’t be alive to face the calamities of the final hour as they will happen one by one.  The pleasure didn’t last for long.  The explanation of this couplet of Iqbal snatched away all my thoughtful comfort forever, producing a tremble that we are passing through the final hour.

یہ گھڑی محشر کی ہے تو عرصہ محشر میں ہے۔۔۔ پیش کر غافل عمل کوئی اگر دفتر میں ہے۔۔۔

The famous explanations describe the final hour as the time between the era of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and last sign that is the sun will rise from the west.  The catastrophes will go through different phases all interlinked and each generation will be the witness to the tribulations of their own time.  Each blaming the previous one for creating the mess ignoring their own participation in it’s progress.

Tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, melting glaciers, rising sea-levels, extinction of species of birds and animals and of forest as well, barren lands promising hunger…and the most of all, the deadly armaments.  Just a quick look at the causes of current environmental threats will reveal the most hideous facts to the people of wisdom that human beings are behind all this mess and have caused the signs of Hashr to happen so consistently and are energized for it’s accession.

Every nation, every religious group, every political party, every community, every criminal, both human genders, all are fueled up with the determination of wiping off each other from the face of the earth.  Failed in saving everything, I don’t know how do we succeed in reproducing human blood to shed for this purpose?

Men in explosions are scattered like moths.  Hills are broken to pebbles for construction.  Mountains are losing strength for nuclear explosions and are turning into dust-powder by bombardments.  The oceans’ surface are heating up.  Wild beasts are jailed in cages in human populations.  Earth vibrates and shakes with digging and drilling, spilling out it’s hidden treasures, revealing fossils to tell the stories that were buried in there long time ago.

 

Pakistan Environmental Studies – 2:

Allah (SWT) has gifted the world with natural resources of both kinds; renewable such as fruits and vegetables, cotton, meat, poultry, plants, flowers, trees, honey, herbs, solar energy and non-renewable such as fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, oil and natural gas), rocks, stones, gems, marble, many minerals and nuclear power.

The products manufactured by the reproducible resources can be prepared in proportionate to their usage, such as food products, medicines, skin products, cosmetics, vegetable oil, vegetable shortening, milk, wool, wax/candle, fabric, leather, paper, pencils, rubber, wood furniture, etc.

Other natural resources that may not be reproduced easily but possess energy to reproduce their product i.e. electricity are water and wind.  Wind Energy helps in generating electricity.  Hydrogen Energy generates electricity through flow of water.  Geothermal power generates electricity from the steam of heated water.  Bio Energy through plant materials and landfill or animals waste can help in producing heat and electricity.   Ocean Energy is helpful in producing electricity from the power of waves and trapping water in dams  by tidal energy.  Solar Energy produces steam (hot water) and electricity.

Non-renewable resources cannot be reproduced so people must be very careful about relying upon them.  They are present in a fix quantity.  Once they are used up, they can’t be replaced or refined to their original state.  They need to be replaced with reproducible alternatives before facing issues of scarcity.

Pakistan is blessed with all kind of natural treasures out of which the most precious is its fertile lands.  Being an agricultural country, it could have developed a very strong economic hold in the region and internationally.  Unfortunately, the land has been a victim of environmental damages caused by the negligence of its own citizens.  Polluting air, land and water is not the only sin that they have committed but are also guilty of destroying their agricultural fields and forests which could have been the main source to provide “roti, kapra and makan”.

Another interesting aspect of most of the non-reproducible items is that they are solid and are the part of the earth.  They make the mass of this rocky planet.  They exist in form of layers or filling up the inside of the ball people are living upon.  They are present in a proportionate to the geographical features of different areas both inside and on surface.  Mines are dug with the purpose to scarp them out.  Once these solid layers are removed, they leave a gap or a hollow space.  These kind of spaces can cause a collapse of the surface, shredding the size or dis-balance in it’s geological shape.  Just imagine a hard spinning ball made up of different solid materials and then it is extracted to build some long, wide, tall, heavy features on the its surface.  Now empty or semi-hollow from inside, would it be able to move as smoothly as it was before?  Would the surface be as steady as it was or will have chances of breaking up due to the burden on its surface?

http://www.islamfrominside.com/Pages/Articles/Ecology%20Environment%20and%20Islam.html

http://www.arpnjournals.com/jabs/research_papers/jabs_0806_14.pdf……… (M. S. Sarir1 and M. Ilyas Durrani1
1Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan)

http://www.usislam.org/95earth.htm

 

Pakistan Environmental Studies – 3

Farming, Forestry, Fishing, Gardening:

So lets talk about the renewable resources.  They consist of two main types of living things; plants and animals.  Fruits and vegetables, flowers and trees, plants and herbs, crops, birds and animals, insects, sea animals.  They are very common and very important for us.

Since the beginning, all human activities have been based upon filling the stomach, covering the bodies and finding a roof to live under.  For centuries, men were accustomed to nature.  Human populations traveled and chose to live near water sources and woods.  Farm animals were part of their lives.  They were skilled in hunting.  They grew their own food.  They exchanged commodities for goods and services.  They didn’t have any tax system.  Their particular tribes were their sole interest to be loyal to.

If I am not wrong, it is Islam which introduced the concept of gathering tribes and nations as one human community, known as universal brotherhood.  Feeding in mind how different communities can be more useful to each other under the system of justice and equality, exchanging commodities, knowledge and skills, Islam prevailed.

Time has changed.  Skipping the causes of chaos, hatred and division, the reality that humans are facing right now is that, politically, they live inside fixed boundaries.  They can’t travel around as freely as did their past generations.  Economically, they are categorized in communities by profession.  The members of each profession are dependent upon others for their survival.  Socially, many families are recognized by their family talent, such as tailor, milkman, farmer, embroider, mason, gardener, goldsmith, iron-smith, butcher, confectioner, carpenter, weaver, driver etc.  Individuals are introduced by the occupation they choose, such as a physician, an engineer, a journalist, a writer, a singer, an actor, a teacher, a banker, a businessman etc.   They live under one government.  They all pay taxes to the government.  Their tax money is used to build infrastructure for everyone’s benefits.

Now, nothing exists anymore as a free land to travel to and occupy it to gain individual or tribal benefits or even for financial reasons.  Traveling means to live among other groups of people, respecting and not disturbing their way of life.

The world has become more economic as anything people desire to do cost them money.  People buy and sell and that balances the finance.  The economic activities that are based upon renewable resources and/or the products that are made from them is more reliable for stability than which involves the non-renewable material.  That is because they regrow.

Forestation, farming, gardening are good for health, give food for people and animals, provide habitat for birds and animals, supply ingredients for medicines and cosmetics.  They are part of our faith, a form of worshiping God Almighty as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “planting trees is ibadah”.

Wood as a reproducible item means a lot to our lives.  Wooden industry creates long-term jobs and has a wide room for innovation.  The wooden products are light weight for shipment, are recyclable and easily disposable.

Flowers are not only a symbol of beauty but they do contain substance for beauty products.  Honey is their healthiest food product.  Wax from honey combs is used for making candles for light.

The solution to food crisis and unemployment simply lies in growing more and more food and focusing on animal agriculture.  Farming not only satisfies the basic food requirements but also sustains industries with the purpose of manufacturing food based products.  Wool and leather are two very common and very important worldwide commodities.

A country like Pakistan which is blessed with more than forty-five big and small rivers and streams and a long and alive coastal line should have no excuse for lacking fishing harbors and their related activities.

The entire textile and fashion industry depends upon cotton crops.  Hotels, restaurants and caterers cannot survive without a reasonable supply from live stocks and poultry farms.  The educational system anywhere is founded upon the use of paper and pencils, which cannot be prepared without trees.

Problems in Pakistan:

1) Agriculture, fishing, forestry and livestock sector are still run by non-educated part of our population.  They are still not reached and supported by experts and researchers of those fields.  Their educated consumers don’t take part in solving their problems at any level.

2) The entire educational system is missing subject/courses related to reproduction of food and animals.

3) The educated minority mostly consists of professionals with community services.  They provide services by eating food, using herbal supplies, wearing uniforms, using stationary items, prescribing medicines, building houses, driving vehicles, delivering mails and packages, using computers — whatever they are using, they buy it, don’t grow the resources.

4) Feudal system and lack of interest of educated people has resulted in moving villagers to main cities.  Their migration has caused two simultaneous effects on our economy; decreasing food producers, increasing food consumers along with beggary, homelessness and health problems.

 

 

 

Chand Baluchistan

Three times since last year, I wrote a draft under this title “Chand Baluchistan” and deleted it.  I don’t know why I did it, may be out of fear or may be because it’s not a popular issue among readers.  Baji was in 10th Grade when she got a chance to visit Quetta with my aunt’s family.  For years, she talked about the natural beauty she explored and the people there, how simple they were.  I also wanted to go there, never got an opportunity except for an online exploration.  But I always loved the lyrics ‘suraj hay Sarhad ki zameen, chand Baluchistan hay” and still sing them.

Seems like all human beings have been traveling throughout human history.  Some as rulers invading territories to extend their kingdoms.  Others migrated to escape tyrants and in search of peace.  Some people claim ownership to a place because they are born there.  Others disown it for the same reason and choose to flee to live with other nations.

The word Balochistan is derived from the Persian Language and was originally termed to mean “ignorant”.  (*I took it as Bedouins or Baddoos in Arabs were considered the ignorant or uncivilized wanderers).  Balochistan in Pashto is known as Godar.  The Baloch Tribes claim themselves to have come from Zagros Mountains, Syria, Anatolia, Iran in the First Millennium CE.  Some connect their origins to Medes and Kurds.  Many of them believe that they were originally Semitic.  Great tribal wars have been the part of Baluchistan’s history and the life-style of Baloch warriors as well.  The worst aspect of tribal wars is that they gradually lose all the economic advantages that they could avail by developing diplomatic terms with their neighbours and are finally left with no choice but to compromise with superior powers in order to continue their “never-ending enmities”.

Baluchistan includes part of southeastern Iran, western Pakistan, and southwestern Afghanistan.  Baluchistan in Pakistan has borders with Iran in the west, Afghanistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the north, Punjab and Sindh in the east and Arabian Sea to the south.

Time-line Baluchistan:

1) 7000-6000 BC – Hunting camps and lithic scatters

2) 6500 BC – Mehrgarh inhabitants in the history of Indus Valley Civilization

3) 4500 BC – Farming communities spread to parts of Balochistan and Sindh

4)  2500 BC – Became part of Harappan culture providing key resources to the expansive settlements fo the Indus river basin to the east.

5)  2000 BC – Became part of Achaemenid, Seleucid, Parthian, and Sassanid empires.

6) 650 BC – the part of region was ruled by Deoikes, a Persian King who said to have defeated by Alexander

7) 1st-3rd Century – Paratarajas/Parata Kings of Indo-Scythian and India-Parthian dynasty

8 ) 6th Century – The Baluch tribes were engaged in fight against Khosroes I Anoshervan, the Persian King.  They moved to the southeastern region which is now known as Baluchistan.  The immigrants joined the locals of Makkran, Sistan and Barahui and to become one strong force to fight against another Iranian group known as Pashtuns.

9) 7th Century – Arab armies controlled the area and many Balouch tribes embraced Islam.

10) 1000 AD – The area is named ‘Baluchistan’ after the numerous Baloch tribes, Iranian peoples who moved into the area from the west.  I couldn’t find the detail if the natives were really courteous to let these immigrants abide there.  Later on, wherever they originated from, they decided to call it their homeland.

11) 15th Century – Mir Chakar Khan Rind founded the Kingdom of Baluchistan.  He defeated Lasharis (another Baluchi tribe) after thirty years of bloody civil war and was engaged in another fight against Afghan king Sher Shah Suri.  Mir Chakar Khan Rind lost the battle, migrated to Punjab and settled there in Sahiwal District (1518).  He tried to establish his kingdom there but was resisted by Persian Emperors.  Years later, he was offered by Sher Shah Suri to shake hands but he refused and instead join the Mughal Armies of Empror Humayun under the command of his son, Mir Shahdad Khan (1555).  He was rewarded a vast land in Punjab by the emperor.

12) 17th Century – Hamedzai Khan from Afghanistan ruled the area.

13) 19th Century – Khan of Kalat signed a treaty to bring Kharan, Makran and Lasbela (three main territories) under British Empire.  Western Baluchistan was conquered by Iran and they fix the boundaries in1872.

14) 20th Century – Bahram Khan controlled Baluch lands and (1906) British Empire recognized him as the King of Baluchistan.  His nephew Mir Dost Muhammad Khan continued till 1928 when Reza Shah raided from Persia and defeated Baluchis.  Mir Dost Muhammad Khan was executed in Tehran prison.

16) 1958 – Gawadar was the part of Oman and it was sold to Pakistan in 1958 and was made part of Baluchistan in 1977 as Gawadar District.  The natives of Gawadar were influenced with Arabs rather than Baluchis and Pashtoons.  Oman has offered a billion dollar aid to rebuild infrastructure in Baluchistan.

17) 1972 – The provincial assembly of Baluchistan was constituted and held its first assembly session the same year.

This is very unfortunate and sad indeed that while millions of people show solidarity to their fellow-citizens, are sincere to work for their betterment so they can grow as one strong nation… knowing that each and every human being is originated from Adam and that everything belongs to the Creator… others instigated by their feudal lords and chiefs, pledge to safeguard the honour of their tribes, families and dynasties thus provide fuel for enmity and never-ending fights…

http://www.answers.com/topic/baluchistan

http://horsesandswords.blogspot.com/2006/03/administrative-control-over.html

Political Workers

I searched on internet and couldn’t find anything about this topic except for the following link which is about political skills.

Nothing I could find in the three books of Political Science as suggested by Karachi University.  There is only one chapter in each book defining and describing the kinds and function of “Political Parties”.

However, one of the book (author’s name not printed anywhere) mentioned the four things that are necessary to constitute a group of persons into a political party.   1) These people must be organized to carry out principles 2) they must agree on fundamentals of party beliefs 3) they should formulate a clear and specific program for the electorate to win their support and maintain it 4) they should seek to carry out the policies by constitutional means and by capturing government 5) According to Burke, “a body of men united for promoting by their joint endeavors the national interests upon some particular principle in which are all agreed. (It says four but gave 5 points) (the book does not explain the term “group of persons”)

The other book by Mazharul-Haque described the same points under the heading “characteristics of a political party”.  They are 1) Agreement on fundamental views and ideas 2) organization and leadership 3) constitutional methods 4) promotion of national interests.

I made this up myself.

Political workers are one of the factors of a political party.  I don’t know how many factors there should be.  Let’s say the main leadership, the administrators/staff and the political workers.

Political workers play a key role in promoting party’s thoughts and beliefs.  They belong to common people, they live among them, they know how people survive.  They are a source between leader and public.  So they must realize their importance as a political worker and as a good citizen.  They must understand that their national identity and loyalty is superior than their party’s allegiance.

A political worker is an individual who agrees with the political thoughts or ideology or agenda of a political party and joins it.  He/she fills out their membership form and/or take oath of loyalty.

A political worker is given multiple tasks to achieve party’s goals. He/she is asked….. 1) to propagate party’s agenda among his/her family, friends and neighbourhood 2) to convince people to support them for a better future through logical reasons and not just by emotions 3) to influence people with good character and nice behavior to gain moral support and to avoid racism and discrimination 4) to have knowledge of and respect and obey country’s law and avoid civil disobedience  5) to be firm, honest and sincere with their co-workers and the leadership 6) to be ready with the updates regarding party activities and party’s progress 7) to be prepared for the accountability by the leadership 8 ) to be alert about public opinion and public response 9) to be wise enough to avoid unnecessary arguments and conflicts with the opponents and to keep an eye on their activities 10) to be ready for the changes that may take place any time.

I am not sure about…. 1) if all or some political workers are being paid or work voluntarily 2) if they are provided with funds by the party for running their campaign or they raise money on their own 3) if they are promised any compensation by the party in case of losing their employment, facing social boycott 4) if their families and dependents are promised for a financial support if they lose their lives 5) what kind of legal assistance they are provided with in case of illegal detention by government or any agency 6) if in Pakistan, political workers are aware of their responsibilities even as a good citizen 7) if they are handed over their job descriptions 8 ) if they are trained to be helpful to the public in disasters and during turmoils 9) if they are being asked to upgrade their knowledge about local and foreign affairs 10) if they are really a driving force to form or change public opinion 11) what they are supposed to do or how should they react if at some point they find their party betraying the nation or becoming dangerous to the national integrity or a threat to the nation’s sovereignty.

http://www.reliableplant.com/Read/1384/gaining-worker-support

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_campaign_staff

State of failures or a Failure state

“Meray aziz hum-watno”… hehehe, main nay socha Kiyana Sahib to aa nahi rahay, main hi shuroo ho jaoon.

Pakistan is not a failure state.  Pakistan is a state of failures.  The reason is the lack of coordination between the people and the government.

Sometimes people think of patriots as a hurdle in the progress of their country.  They are the one who usually condition their personal progress with the country.  If they get appreciations, the system is good otherwise they blame others for their failure.  Unfortunately, the moment they get good opportunities, the first thing they think of is to run abroad and never come back.  Pakistan gave birth to many such remarkable and extra-ordinary people but are they in Pakistan?  Those students who made world record in O’ Levels or as it really means the ordinary level and the one who got positions in software or engineering or medicine or science or any other field.  So for me, they are all very sincere to others but are selfish to their own people and that is why I rank them as aliens, using Pakistani soil and resources to propagate others.  They need to understand that ‘moving fast breaking all the limits’ is not called progress even in the advance countries.  These are the people who, despite of being blessed with all kind of facilities, fail to work for their nation in a direct or indirect way.

Patriots are those who believe in the “get along and work along” policy.  They set their boundaries of halal and haraam and right and wrong and they step forward very carefully.  Before deciding for their own life, they think about a lot of people, the one who have played a big role in their upbringing…. to keep the balance between the two ways of serving their nation.

ہمارے ہاں ملک وقوم کا تصور صرف گھر اور برادری کی حد ہے۔۔۔ کسی بھی صوبے یا شھر کے لوگوں کودیکھہ لیں۔۔۔ عام حالات میںوہ اپنی ذات گھر اور برادری سے زیادہ وفادار ہوتے ہیں۔۔۔ اور ان وفاداریوں کو نبھانے کے چکر میں جو بھی فیصلے کرتے ہیں وہ کچھہ عرصے بعد پورے ملک وقوم کے مسا ئل میں اضافے کاسبب بنتے ہیں۔۔۔

پچھلے چند دنوں میں کافی ساری شادی اور بچوں کی خبریں سنیں۔۔۔ کسی نے ایک ہی وقت میں دو شادیاں کیں۔۔۔ کسی نے سات شادیوں پر اڑتالیس بچے پیدا کرلئے۔۔۔ کسی کو ورلڈ ریکارڈ قائم کرنے کے لئے مزید شادیوں کی اجازت چاہیے۔۔۔ اکثر شادیاں گھر یا خاندان کے بڑوں کے فیصلوں  کا نتیجہ ہوتی ہیں۔۔۔ حالانکہ وہ بڑے کبھی خود بھی جوان رہے ہوتے ہیں اور بہت کچھہ سہہ چکے ہوتے ہیں۔۔۔ لیکن اپنے تجربات سے کچھہ نہیں سیکھتے اور نہ ہی اپنے رسم ورواج میں کسی تبدیلی کے خواہشمند ہوتے ہیں۔۔۔ بڑوں کے فیصلوں کے آگے سر جھکانے والوں کو فرماں بردار اور جنت کا حقدار سمجھا جاتا ہے۔۔۔ اورجو ذراانکے خلا ف چلے اسکو نافرمان اور باغی مشہور کیا جاتا ہے۔۔۔ ایسے موقعوں پرمولوی حضرات قرآن وحدیث کے مطابق اس کے جہنمی ہونے کا فتوی صادر کر دیتے ہیں۔۔۔ ویسے بھی دینی لوگوں کا اسلام نماز روزے حج اور زکوہ کے مسائل کے بعد مرد عورت شادی بچے اور طلاق مصائب سے آگے نہیں بڑھ پاتا۔۔۔ یاتومصائب بیان کرکے خوش ہو تے ہیں یا مسائل۔۔۔

ویسے توخیر میرے دادا نے بھی آٹھہ شادیاں کی تھیں۔۔۔ یا تو انکی بیویاں مر جاتی تھیں یا بچے۔۔۔ بابا کو اسی بات کے طعنے پڑتے تھے کہ کیسا مرد ہے ایک ہی شادی کرکے بیٹھا ہے۔۔۔ اکلوتا ہونے کی یہ بھی ایک پرابلم ہوتی ہے کہ سب کی خواہشات کا بوجھہ اسے اٹھانا پڑتا ہے۔۔۔

خیر۔۔۔ بات یہ ہے کہ اس گھروں گلی محلوں میں بکھرے  ہوئے لوگوں کو ایک قومیت اور انسانیت کا تصور دینا۔۔۔ اور ان دونوں کاآپس میں ربط سمجھانا اصل کرنے کا کام ہے۔۔۔ یہ کرنا تو چاہیے تھا نظام تعلیم سے تعلق رکھنے والوں کو۔۔۔ لیکن وہ ہو گئے فیل۔۔۔ وزیرتعلیم, اساتذہ, کورس سیلیکٹ کرنے والے, سلیبس بنانے والے۔۔۔
اب اس فیل قوم پر کون محنت کرے گا کہ یہ آگے پاس ہو جائے۔۔۔
سیدھی سی بات ہے ملک و قوم کے کام بھی الله کی عبادت کی طرح دو طریقوں سےکئے جاتے ہیں۔۔۔ ایک براہ راست اور دوسرا ان ڈائریکٹ۔۔۔ دوسرا طریقہ عام اور آسان ہے کہ معاشرے کے ہر فرد کے پاس اتنی سمجھہ اور صلاحیت ہو کہ وہ ہر روپ میں اپنا فرض اداکرے۔۔۔ کیونکہ ظاہر ہے ہر انسان  بیک وقت کئی مختلف کردار مختلف جگہوں پر ادا کر تا ہے۔۔۔ مذہبی اور اخلاقی حدود کونظر میں رکھہ کراپنے ہی کرداروں میں توازن قائم کرنا اس کی اصل آزمائش ہوتی ہے۔۔۔ جس ملک کے لوگوں کی اکثریت اس میں کامیاب ہو جائے وہ لوگ ایک اچھی اور کامیاب قوم بن جاتے ہیں۔۔۔ ورنہ ایک سرزمین ہو نے کے باوجود خود ہی اپنے آپ کو ملک بدر کرتے اوربھٹکتے پھرتے ہیں۔۔۔
براہ راست طریقہ یہ ہوتاہے کہ اپنی قومی شناخت کوزندہ رکھا جائے۔۔۔ قومی پرچم, قومی ترانے, قومی زبان اور قوم کے ہیروز کا احترام کیا جائے۔۔۔ قومی دنوں کو کسی مقصد کے ساتھہ منایا جائے۔۔۔ ان دنوں کا نماز روزے حج زکوہ کی طرحخاص اوقات ہوتے ہیں مگر ادائیگی نہایت ضروری ہوتی ہے۔۔۔فرائض کی طرح۔۔۔

جہاں کی اکثریت ان دونوں طریقوں میں ناکام ہو جائے وہاں ذمہ داریوں کا بوجھہ ان پر جاپڑتا ہے جنکو ان باتوں کا شعور اور احساس ہو۔۔۔

“Allah Ta’aala hum sub ka Hami-o-Nasir ho”…… laikin us say phelay Mr. Himayat aur Miss Nusrat ko apnay darmiyan dhoondhna paray ga”.

 


The State

State in Political Science or Political Sense:

1) Population or People, 2) Land or Territory, 3) Government or the administrating body and 4) Sovereignty or the freedom to make decisions….are the four elements/factors that are necessary for the establishment of a state.  Missing anyone, the other three cannot be defined and identified as a state.  All these factors must be in compliance with each other to maintain peace in it’s environment. State should not be compared or mixed-up with the factors that it is made up of.  No matter how powerful and organized they are, alone, these elements would not be honoured as a state.

A state is formed when a group of people on common grounds avail a piece of land with a fixed boundary.  They elect reliable and efficient individuals to work for their betterment, to assure justice to prevail, to keep an eye on their internal and external affairs and to represent the entire population outside their boundaries.  For showing the ability of good governance, this group of elected individuals forms the government.  The co-ordination between people and their representatives (government) entitles the state, which in this case would be known as the land, to be sovereign.  So in brief, people, land and government are the physical elements while sovereignty is an ideal and it depends upon 1) how  much powerful and united are the people to defend their rights and land and 2) how wise are they in electing their representatives.  State is an abstract in the absence of either or all basic elements, otherwise it is concrete.  It does not exist unless people and land are there to represent it.

The state is also defined as a political orgnization, a land where people of mutual interests form a government and are free to make decisions.  State is dependable upon it’s citizens for it’s existence, that is why it is necessary for all it’s citizens to be politically wise and correct so they can choose a good governing team among them to run the state affairs.  In this case, people hold the sovereignty to make all the decisions, they have a right to elect or reject the individuals they choose to govern them.

Is Pakistan a state?

*Having a reasonable population, fixed land with a definite boundary, elected government and sovereignty (has an established and strong army for their defence); Pakistan fulfills the criteria thus is recognized as a state.

Prior to 14th of August, 1947, a majority of Muslims living in the Subcontinent (commonly known as Hindustan) believed that all their basic human rights were literally abused by the British rulers and Hindu majority.  Their common agenda and common interests got them united and under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam and his team (the elected governing body of that time), they availed the land called Pakistan.  Muslims disregarded their differences and trusted Quaid-e-Azam, Mohammad Ali Jinnah to be their leader, law-maker and the head of the state.  Not an O’ Level (ordinary) but an extra-ordinary performance by the leaders of the Pakistan movement, their workers and the common people claimed the land to be sovereign.

Similarly, the Muslims living in Makkah were tortured and abused by all means up to the extreme that they had to migrate from there.  Fortunately, they were welcomed by the inhabitants of Madinah.  They were offered the land, resources and possessions and then on common grounds, under the most sacred and the most efficient leadership of the Prophet (S.A.W), they established a state.  Sovereignty was there, for the people (disregarding their differences, by heart or willingly) chose the Prophet (S.A.W) to be their leader/king/ruler/head of the state/law-maker/judge/commander-in-chief etc.

What would have happened if the people had rejected the Prophet (S.A.W) to be their leader and the governing body?

What would have happened if the people had not selected Quaid-e-Azam to be their leader?

State in Islamic Sense:

1) People are the most important factor of a state and their welfare (smooth provision of basic necessities) and betterment (opportunities) regardless of any discrimination is the base of it’s foundation.  In that sense, there is no difference between a secular and an Islamic state.

2) It is people from where all kind of professionals sprout, such as leaders, politicians, political workers, police, judges, lawyers, scientists, philosophers, historians, poets, authors, writers, journalists, teachers, doctors, nurses, engineers, tailors, manufacturers, businessmen, farmers, postmen, sweepers, street hawkers, etc.  They are there to serve each other (not to entertain) in different forms.  They all need to be provided with education (professional training) and healthy environment for better service.  Again, education and healthy environment are the basic objectives of both secular and Islamic state.

3) People choose people to build a system and create an environment where justice prevails and their lives, possessions, properties and rights are not threatened or abused by any internal or external elements.  Both secular and Islamic states are obliged to do that.

The difference between the two states could be, 1) who should hold the sovereignty/supreme power?  2) how should people choose their leader, based on what criteria?………..

In a secular state, people make decisions according to their likes and dislikes and finally the majority rules whether the minority likes it or not.  In an Islamic state, God is considered the Supreme Authority and He decides what is good or bad for people whether the people like it or not.  So the entire system in an Islamic state is designed according to God’s will.

In a secular state, people choose individuals to make laws according to their will and elect individuals to form an administration to implement those laws.  In an Islamic state, people choose individuals who can implement the laws ordained by Shari’ah (Qur’an and Sunnah).  If there is a need, new laws can be designed but they must not be in contradiction with the divine laws.

In an Islamic state, people’s top priority is the implementation of Islamic laws and their personal or common interests don’t cross the limits fixed by the Shari’ah…….because people have faith that Qur’an is an absolute solution to all their problems and the Qur’anic system ensures peace, prosperity and justice.

In an Islamic state, politics and religion are not separate.  Religion is the form of particular rituals or forms of worship which distinguish faith of one from another.  Politics is the process of governing a group of people in an organized way.  Islam is not just a religion but a complete way of life or I would say religion and politics are the two important factors of Islam, which are not contrary to each other nor they interrupt or intercept each other at any point.

Is Pakistan an Islamic state?

With an absolute YES, Pakistan, in it’s nature, is an Islamic state and Islam is her identity…….because the whole movement from the two-nation theory to the achievement of a separate land was run and organized by Muslims.  Later on, non-Muslims also joined the hands but the objectives of the movement remained same.  Muslims succeeded because of their common agenda “The Pakistan/Lahore Resolution”.

Pakistan has survived though as a natural state but has lost her Islamic identity.  External conspiracies and people’s ignorance in all aspects have stained Pakistan’s honour and identity in the international community.  The political and religious criminals took the best advantage of the whole situation.

Is Pakistan a nation-state?  May not be categorized as one.

Is Pakistan a failure state?  Hmmm, may be….but not doomed.

THIS IS AN EXTRACT OF A HOME-DISCUSSION, CORRECT IF YOU FIND SOMETHING WRONG.

Unknown People

کافی سال پہلےاربعین نووی سے حدیث جبریل پڑھی جو حضرت عمر رضی الله تعالی عنھ سے روایت ہےاور ڈاکٹر صاحب نے اسے بہت اچھی طرح سمجھایا بھی۔۔۔ مزے کی جو بات مجھے لگی وہ یہ کہ صحابہ کرام نے کس طرح حضرت جبریل کو ابزرو کیا۔۔۔۔۔۔ ایک شخص کارسول سے ملنا اور رسول کے گھٹنے سے گھٹنا ملا کر بیٹھنا بغیر تعارف کے مخاطب کرنااسطرح جیسے ایکدوسرے کو جانتے ہوں جبکہ رسول کے علاوہ کوئی بھی اس شخص کو نہیں جانتا تھا جس کا مطلب کہ وہ اجنبی تھا۔۔۔ اجنبی ہونے کا مطلب کہ وہ کہیں دوردراز کا سفر کرکے آیا تھا لیکن سفر کے آثار ظاہر نہیں ہو رہے تھے۔۔۔ کوئی سواری نہیں۔۔۔ صاف ستھرا لباس, ہشاش بشاش خوبصورت چہرہ, بال چمکدار سیاہ۔۔۔ صحابہ حیرت زدہ سوال وجواب سنتے رہے۔۔۔ اس شخص کے جانے کے بعد رسول نے بتایا کہ یہ جبرئیل تھے جو تمھیں تمھارا دین سکھانے آئے تھے۔۔۔۔۔۔
آج ہماری ابزرویشن کا کیا حال ہے۔۔۔ ایک شخص بھرے مدرسے, بھری مسجد, بھری امام بارگاہ یا کسی بھی مجمع میں گھس کر خود کو اڑا لیتا ہے ساتھہ میں بہت کی جان لے لیتا ہے۔۔۔ کوئی یہ دیکھتا ہی نہیں کہ کون ہے کہاں سے آیا ہے۔۔۔ کسی کو بھی مکان دکان کرائے پر دے دیں گے۔۔۔ دھیان رکھیں کہ کوئی بلاوجہ کیوں بازار یا دکانوں کے آس پاس گھوم رہاہے۔۔۔ کیوں کوئی گھنٹوں ہوٹل پر بیٹھہ کرچائے ہی پئے جارہاہے۔۔۔ یا اتنی مہنگائی میں کوئی گھربیٹھے عیش کررہا ہے تو اسکا ذریعہ معاش کیا ہے۔۔۔ اسکی فنڈنگ تو نہیں ہو رہی یا منشیات کاکاروبار تو نہیں۔۔۔ اگر کسی پر شبہ ہو تو کوئی نمبر ہونا چاہئیے جس پر اطلاع دی جاسکے۔۔۔ اور جن کو اطلاع دی جائے وہ بھی اندھا دھند کاروائی کرنے کے بجائے اپنی تفتیش کریں پہلےثبوت حاصل کریں پھر پکڑیں۔۔۔

یہ نامعلوم افراد ہیں کون اور اچانک کہاں س آجاتے ہیں۔۔۔ کراچی کی آبادی اور ٹریفک کا جو حال ہے اس میں یہ تو ممکن نہں کہ آئے دن کوئی دوردرازسے ہتھیار لہراتا ہوا چہرہ چھپائے موٹر سائیکل پر آئے اور واردات کرے کیوں کہ وہ لوگوں اور پولیس کی نظروں میں آجا ئے گا۔۔۔ اور اگر وہ واردات کی جگہ سے نزدیک رہتا ہےتو پھر وہ نامعلوم نہیں ہو سکتا کوئی تو اسے پہچانتا ہو گا۔۔۔ ویسے بھی اجنبی شخص کو راستوں سے واقفیت اور اجنبی جگہ پر کوئک اینڈ ایکیوریٹ کاروائی کے لئے وقت لگتا ہے۔۔۔ رمضان میں بقائی ہاسپٹل کے پیچھے جانا ہوا۔۔۔ گھر والوں نے بتایا کہ دو تین گھر چھوڑ کرایم کیو ایم کے ایک کارکن کا گھر ہے۔۔۔ دو دن پہلے دو موٹر سائیکل سوارآئے اورگولی مارکر چلے گئے۔۔۔ اس علاقے میں ہر وقت چہل پہل ہوتی ہے پھر بھی کسی نے دھیان نہیں دیا کہ کہاں سے آئے اورگئے۔۔۔۔۔۔ اور شاید یہ بات تمام کاروائی کرنے والوں کو معلوم ہے کہ یہاں عام لوگ چاہے گلی محلوں میں ہوں دکانوں پر یا گھومنے پھرنے کی جگہوں پر۔۔۔ اپنے آپ سے بھی غافل ہوتے ہیں اور اردگرد سے بھی۔۔۔ اسی یقین کی وجہ سے انھیں کاروائی کرنے میں مشکل نہیں ہوتی۔۔۔  اسی علاقے میں دو لڑکے بم دھماکے کے شک میں پکڑے گئے۔۔۔ ایک فرار ہوگیا۔۔۔ کچھہ مہینوںبعد واپس آگیا اور اب کھلے عام پھرتاہے علاقے کے لوگوں کو پتہ ہےمگر کوئی کچھہ نہیں کہتا۔۔۔ کوئی اس کے گھروالوں سے نہیں پوچھتا کہ اچانک دولت کہاں سےآئی۔۔۔ اس علاقے کے سیاسی غافلین کو کچھہ تو خبر ہو گی۔۔۔
بات اصل یہ ہے کہ یہ نامعلوم افراد ہم نے خود تخلیق کئے ہیں۔۔۔ ہمیں خود اپنے گھر کے افراد, محلے کےلوگوں اور رشتہ داروں کا پتہ نہیں ہوتا کہ کیا کررہے ہیں۔۔۔ کون کس کا ایجنٹ بن چکا ہے۔۔۔ کس کے رات دن کہاں گذررہے ہیں۔۔۔ اولادوں کے پاس کہاں سے چیزیں آرہی ہیں نئی نئی۔۔۔
ایک جاہل قوم کا مقصد حیات صرف روٹی کپڑا اور مکان بن جائے اور اسکو صرف اپنی مرضی اوراپنی ذاتی پسند اور ناپسند کااختیار دے دیا جائے تو پھر موت, سوگ, رونا گانا, منہ بسورے شکایت کرتے رہنا جیسی نحوستیں اس قوم کامقدر بن جاتی ہیں۔۔۔

Wastage of Limited Resources

بنگلہ دیش کی طرف سے دو ملین ڈالرز کی امداد کا سن کر  لگا کہ کسی نے منہ پر تھپڑ سا مارا ہے۔۔۔ وہ لوگ جن کا ہم نے ہمیشہ مذاق ہی اڑایا۔۔۔ کبھی انکی زبان کا, کبھی لباس کا, کبھی انکے رہنے سہنے کا۔۔۔  اپنے سے نیچی قوم سمجھا۔۔۔ آج وہی ہم سے ہمدردی کررہے ہیں۔۔۔ سیاستدانوں نے جو نفرتیں ہمارے دلوں میں ڈالیں کبھی انہیں کم کرنے کی کوشش ہی نہی کی۔۔۔ شاید اس تکبر ہی کا نتیجہ ہے کہ آج یہ دن دیکھنا پڑرہے ہیں۔۔۔

آج یہ بھی پتہ چل گیا کہ اپنی علاقائی زبانوں سے کسی حد تک واقفیت ضروری ہے۔۔۔ سالوں یہی جواب سننے کوملا کہ اسکا فائدہ کیا۔۔۔ کوئی ریسرچ تھوڑی کرنی ہے۔۔۔ ترقی, خوشحالی اور انسانیت کے لئے انگلش ضروری ہے اولیولزضروری ہے۔۔۔ چلو مان لیا۔۔۔ لیکن جولوگ یہ کر لیتے ہیں وہ ملک سے چلے جاتے ہیں۔۔۔ ملک کی ترقی خوشحالی انسانیت سب پیچھے رہ جاتی ہے۔۔۔ اب ان حالات میں کون سے انگریزوں کے پالتو اور او لیولز کام آئیں گے۔۔۔ کون انکی زبان میں انکو ہمت اور کچھہ کردکھانے کی باتیں بتائے گا۔۔۔ ایکدوسرے کی زبان سے اجنبی, ساتھہ بیٹھنے اور بات سننے کو تیار نہیں۔۔۔ اور توقع کرتے ہیں کہ ہم ایک قوم بن جائیں۔۔۔ الزام لگاتے ہیں کہ سیاستدانوں اورمولویوں نے عوام کو یرغمال بنالیا ہے۔۔۔ انھوں نے ایسا اسطرح کیا کہ انھی علاقوں میں سے اپنےگھناؤنےمقاصد کے لئے ایجنٹ چنےجو انکی زبان میں سیاسی یا مذہبی نظریات کاپرچارکریں۔۔۔ اس سیلاب نے ایک موقع دیا ہے کہ اس عوام کو کچھہ نئی زندگی کے طریقے سکھائے جائیں۔۔۔ وہ متاثریں جوکہ سمجھدار اورپڑھے لکھے ہیں مختلف کیمپس میں لوگوں کواور سامان کومنظم کر کے فوج او رینجرز کا کام آسان کرسکتے ہیں۔۔۔

یہ تصویریں ایک چھوٹے سے کارڈ کی ہیں جس پر آیت الکرسی اور دعائیں چھپی ہوئی ہیں۔۔۔ یہ سلسلہ بھی کئی سالوں سے چل رہا ہے۔۔۔ خاص طور پرہررمضان میں مختلف دینی ادارے اور خوشحال لوگ ہزاروں کی تعداد میں ایسے کارڈ اور فلائرز چھپواتے ہیں ثواب کی غرض سے یاپھر اسکے عوض کچھہ رقم۔۔۔ شاید کہ یہ ثواب ہوتا اگر اس قوم کے پڑھے لکھے لوگوں کو دین سیکھنے کی کوئی لگن ہوتی  اور جن کو  ہےانکو یہ سب زبانی یاد ہو تا ہے۔۔۔۔۔۔ غیر پڑھے لکھے لوگوں کے لئے اسکی اہمیت ایک سادہ کاغذ کے ٹکڑے سے زیادہ نہیں۔۔۔ پھریہ پیسے کا زیاں کیوں۔۔۔ ہمارے ثواب حاصل کرنے کا تصور صرف ہماری مرضی کا پابند کیوں ہوتا ہے وقت اور حالات کی مناسبت سے کیوں نہیں ہوتا۔۔۔ ان کارڈز وغیرہ پہ دس بیس ہزار روپے تو خرچ ہو ہی جاتے ہیں۔۔۔ کاغذ الگ ضایع ہو تا ہے۔۔۔ اس وقت کے حالات میں ایک ایک پائی قیمتی ہے۔۔۔ کسی ادارے یا فو ج کو دے دیں۔۔۔

پیسہ خرچ ضرور کریں کیوں کہ اسی سے اکانمی چلتی ہے۔۔۔ یہی رقم بچوں کے لئے نوٹ بکس اور پنسلوں پر خرچ کردیں۔۔۔ بیس ہزار میں پانی نکالنے کی بیس پمپس بن سکتی ہیں۔۔۔ یا کوئی بھی کام ہوسکتا ہے۔۔۔
سیلاب سے دو کروڑلوگ متاثر ہوئے ہیں۔۔۔ پندرہ کروڑ تو باقی ہیں۔۔۔ اس میں سے آدھے اگر بچے ہیں تو پھر بھی ساڑھے سات کروڑ باقی بچے۔۔۔ ان میں اگر تین کروڑ مرد اورساڑھےتین کروڑ عورتیں ہیں اور دوکروڑ خواتین غریب یا جاہل بے حس اور فتنہ فسادی ہیں تب بھی دیڑھ کروڑ پچ گئیں۔۔۔ عید کے ایک جوڑے کی قیمت کم از کم دو سے تین ہزار روپے تو ہوتی ہے۔۔۔ اور ہر خاتون دو سوٹ تو لازما بناتی ہیں۔۔۔ اگر اس مرتبہ وہ ایک سوٹ عید کا اور ایک سادہ بننالیں اورایک ہزار روپے متاثرین کو دےدیں تو تقریبا ساڑھے دس ارب روپے صرف اس عید پر جمع ہوسکتے ہیں۔۔۔ اس طرح کسی کو بہت زیادہ  قربانی بھی نہیں دینی پڑے گی۔۔۔ کاروبار وغیرہ بھی چلتے رہیں گے اور ایک بڑی رقم سے بہت کچھہ کیا جاسکتا ہے۔۔۔۔
یہ سب مشکل نہیں۔۔۔ اگر پاکستان کی اہمیت کا اندازہ ہوجائے۔۔۔ سمجھداراور باشعور لوگ قومی نغموں ک ذریعے یہ جذبات پیداکر سکتے ہیں۔۔۔ بس ذرا انڈیا کے پالتو رکاوٹ بنیں گے لیکن یہ وقت جاہلوں کی فکر کرنے کا نہیں ہے۔۔۔۔
پاک فوج اور پاکستان زندہ باد۔۔۔