Caravan of Light

Today marks the 143th birthday of a man most famously known for accomplishing the daunting and rare task of creating a country, developing a nation and changing the geopolitical boundaries of South Asia for forever!         Happy Birthday, Quaid e Azam!!! Each year we pay tribute to you and your selfless struggle for the people of Indian subcontinent. The political solution you offered saved millions of lives from communal attacks and possible civil war in case British had left Indian subcontinent in a haste without paying heed to the wishes of its large minority population! However this year is special. Dear Quaid, you must have noticed that just a few years ago on this day we sang the patriotic songs with a heavy heart and crooked voice. Just 4 years ago, after the APS attack we practically forgot how to smile and thought we may never see happiness again! But even in our gloomiest hour we did not loose hope. We fought multiple wars, n...

There was uncertainty, there was no unity. Political power lost, social rights taken away. Destiny not clear, sky without much hopes… Strength and confidence still resides in some Such strength only Love can give birth to and foster; Love cast its spell The fragrance spread, reaching every nook and corner of garden And the moment arise when, lost in the charming scent Flocks move towards one destiny… Blind faith in the power of Love Steers their boat towards the shore Uncertainty vanished as if it never existed Every breath carrying the trust of the other A caravan moved, towards an unknown world But the elegant march showed no signs of fear Freedom was at hand, freedom to Love To choose, decide, to practice what is dear Love is the source, Love is the way Love is power, Love is what await… If this is the story of the struggle for Pakistan The Dawn of 1946 would have found its passionate lovers singing with zeal something similar to ther verses below as their anthem of Love... ...

The ‘after freedom’ position requires a nation to decide with utmost clarity what relations it intends to keep with other members of the world it dwells in, especially with its former masters, as any nation in the condition of slavery tends (and mostly ‘needs’) to adopt norms and customs, literature and the ways of thinking of their masters. Freedom, once achieved, demands an outlook different from the previous, hence former influences can either be washed away, or (better still) molded so as the free nation can benefit the most out of them. An question, however, is raised as to what status of relation does the independent state enjoys with the previous masters and based on what lines or factors any equal platform may be worked out for future. After a state achieves freedom, establishing foundations of relations with the former masters on equal footing requires a development involving psyche of the people and their social canon, helped by the literary circles, historical ident...

In this world of missiles and other massive destruction arms, one may argue that there remains no need to train a common man for his self-defense, because it is virtually impossible for a man to combat against the possible destruction a missile brings. But I would argue that such training can certainly decrease the losses of a community under attack. Also, two parties, possessing equally destructive weapons would want to avoid declaring wars on their borders, resulting in a battle that is entirely staged on roads and near civil localities, which we may term as terrorism. Such circumstances put responsibility on the shoulders of civilians, because intrusion of army in civil localities may create more confusion and a sense of decreased civil liberty, further complicating the issue. Hence, training residents of a locality so that they may help each other before, during or after an adversity can be of help. Such training may start at school level, where basic rescue tactics, param...

On the road to transformation… Realization is the first step, Raising voice is the second, But there comes a point when mere blind-ended ‘discussions’ can lead a people to hopelessness, Its now when we collectively need to take a step forward The third step being that of ‘Action’; For no caravan can reach its destination if it feels satisfied after taking only the first few steps! ‘Action’ with ‘discipline’ and a sense of ‘responsibility’ can turn a barren soil, with no prospect of bearing fruit, fertile. This fertility results only when labor is employed to till the soil properly, with every person using full potential of their position and role. We need to adopt an analytical approach towards knowing what stage on the road to transformation we are at, both individually and socially, to secure what we dream to achieve.

Love, with its universality, attired in simplicity can lead one to the highest points of Human capabilities and gives man a unique strength to fight against all odds, learning to sacrifice his desires for others … This is something I learnt when I first got a chance to watch a Pakistani film. For me, films are an attraction, not just for entertainment, but as a learning house too. A film can teach me something I missed out on books. Pakistani films in their Classic Era have given us both, entertainment as well as awareness. Higher human values, Love in its highest form residing in the heart of ordinary people and social norms based on love, equality and sacrifice thriving in a society were introduced to me by these films. Making me conscious of my identity, these films boasted my morale, made me think high of myself, my nation and my cultural and religious distinctiveness; consequently acting as a social binding force and nurturing collective psyche of a nation with values of its ...

A story to CELEBRATE the INDEPENDENCE DAY!  A VERY HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO MY NATION HUNZA VALLEY, PAKISTAN Behind me was a path trodden by men for many millennia. In front of me was a valley, as if nature had put a large bowl, with a green back-drop and flowery décor on it. I was sitting on a stone, which was positioned at the brim of the bowl, with my legs hanging down, and my heart throbbing, trying to settle down the strong urge rising inside me to descend and explore the green world. The path behind me stood in contrast to the green bowl, lacking all vegetation and life form. It was the same path which I took before finally taking a pause. Moving on and on the journey I would not have taken out time to stop and reflect but for a traveler I met on the way. An Old man in shabby clothes with a wooden rod in hand, his voice was weak but eyes shinned with flame. “It’s been a thousand years that I have been wandering in the deserts and mountains. My appearance may depict weari...

Laws enacted in a society determine the direction of its progress. Muslims of sub-continent dreamed of a separate homeland, where they can introduce and practice laws according to their own interpretation of the Islamic principles of Law. Creation of Pakistan was the first step towards this goal, but coming up with Law which corroborate Islamic values in accordance with the current needs of the society required the nation to explore and experience the pros and cons of the legal systems already flourishing in the world. In the last six decades, we have gone through a number of legal experiments, adopting Secular views and experiencing certain kind of Islamization, Pakistanis have come across a number of questions regarding the legal scenario. In the past few years the urge to define our legal philosophy has met new zeal. The armed militancy of Talibanization brought much more than unrest and disturbed law and order situation, a social legal system based on values alien to the commo...