Logic is Variable

Eman has always been eager to go to school. She had already been in Aly Muhammad's School, Laila Ke School Main and in my School. Now she has joined Garrison Junior Academy Lahore - one of the best schools in the city that is famous for schools and gardens - today (April 25, 2010) she was in her own School.  Today she had an orientation day. She was given a long list of books and other stationary items to bring and sent home. She even made some new friends. She calls them Doots. Images here show her enthusiasm and zeal and also tell that she was happy at School. We all wish her the best in life and education.

The Internet is a shorter route to many things: obtaining information, conducting business, making decisions, socializing or spending leisure time. Researchers are trying to find out Internet's impacts on life on and offline. Celebration of the Internet Free Day or the 20-year net veteran Steve Cisler's expedition to put himself "in other people shoes who are not online" are some cases in point.

For generation that is growing up with the Internet, the essence of existence lies in their presence online and being disconnected in their totally connected circle means like living in a digital dark age. This fraternity thinks that every one in the world is online. They forget an overwhelming majority of humanity which is without the Internet. Convinced that there is nothing that cannot be done online, this generation looks up to the Internet world for help and support for every thing from writing term papers to writing emails 'to the future' or doing what many will not try in real life -- even shy adolescents are active and bold in the virtual world when engaged in Internet communications as a passionate past time. I browsed MSN Member Directory with my search preference (Pakistan, single and looking, age 20-29) and found 20 pages of results showing Pakistani males and 20 pages of Pakistani females. Well, in today's world, the Internet does net people in a well knit circle together!

Always looking to own new gizmos, experience new technologies and find ways to do novel things online, it is the youth who are future computer scientists, engineers, programmers, developers and end users (also the Web queens and the Net princes). Youth are worst affected by no access to the Internet or outages. How do you perceive life without the Internet? "Without the Internet my life is unimaginable. It gives me feelings of being a dweller of the Stone Age if all of a sudden I were to quit use of the Internet. But like radio, television, or telephone, or cars and microwave ovens, the Internet is not going to go away. So I think of making best of it rather than thinking about living without it," says Sara Kazmi, editor Ravi, a magazine of Government College University Lahore. Jaffar, a Syrian student of de'Montmorency College of Dentistry Lahore says, "A lot of thrill and interactivity is attached with the world online so it really is painful to perceive life without the Internet."

The other categories hit by no access or disconnections are of IT professionals and those end users who are supplementing their earnings by pursuing income generating activities online. Zahid Shahzad, a techie says, "When I am disconnected, I attend to those assignments that otherwise keep piling up in the in-tray waiting for my attention. And, I keep jotting down things and thoughts, what I would do when online." Hafiz Munir is an urbanite computer engineer with his roots in the village where his mother, brothers and sisters live without telephone or possibility of the Internet access. He says, "I have always been going to my village to refresh my urban attitudes but going has become greatly difficult since I have put my work and life on the Internet. And it is no only me. No IT professional can afford to live without continuous connectivity. One of the reasons is that others assume IT people as 'on call' every time."

Users who have been online all their life have started taking it for granted. Any interruption, short or long, is frustrating. What do you do when you have to live offline for reasons beyond control? "Me and every one in my circle (presence on the Internet seems to be defining social circles) groans and grumbles when ever there is a disruption in connectivity; and there are so many," says Sara. Enthusiastic users have connections from more than one ISP (and the Internet cards at hand) and still "the first thing I do is to ring one or two ISPs and inquire, then I ask my friends before I decide what to do. One has to run around if there is a hardware or software problem that needs a repair or reinstallation. In our country you can do nothing in case of electric failures, telephone line disruptions or ISP 'maintenance' problem. Even respective departmental inquiry stations and help lines will not tell you what is happening," laments Arshad Mahmud. And Hafiz says, "After ascertaining the cause, I look for alternatives to remain online till things are back to normal at my own work station."

Acquiring necessary skills and hooking on the Internet at later stages in life was a major shift for those who were in the middle of their life when Internet necessitated changes in job specifications and descriptions as well as in societal norms. It is comparatively easier for this class to strike balance in on and offline life.

For Maryum Yunus, switching from the position of a sub editor in a print publication was a major shift -- especially in terms of Internet access and experience online. "The usage of the Internet mainly depends on what sort of work one is doing. I have Internet exclusively available to me at work as well as home. For my newspaper job, use of the Net was essential for me. I would logon and remain online more though I never was a freak. My present job as the Assistant Manager Image Marketing does not require active use of the Net. I only need to go online every now and then for a short duration to download my emails, fire off replies, weed out spam to keep the inbox under limits, exchange Hello Hi with friends if I can could catch someone online or to surf any specific site and look for particular information. Life never stops for me if I am disconnected or do not go online for days. After all people had been living, working and communicating even before IBM launched the personal computer. No?"

Life offline is rather harder for those who are yet striving to go online; those who are aware of the Internet and what people are accomplishing online. In our infrastructure poor country, majority of people are not online, for a variety of reasons. "I always dream about life online and what all I will be able to do when I join college in the city," told Mumtaz, a metric student from village Mong who is using computer since last one year and is to go to the city for college education where he will be able get connected. "People are migrating to cities for providing opportunities to their wards in the online world," says Hafiz.

There is an equilibrium point between the virtual and real life though it is getting difficult to point out where that point is. Life online is difficult but life can be much more enriching for those who are online, can take control of the Internet and are not mesmerized by its rhythm.

Look beyond eCommerce and you will find the real jingle. Go to your facebook and make yourself available for chat and you will have windows popping up with the messages like hi, hello, I like you (also I love you), are you free for a chat, ASL and even worst, mughe se dosti karo gey, from complete strangers. Be courteous and nice and you are in for a long haul. But facebook is much more than that.

Last week I had a wonderful experience when one of my facebook friends Nayyar Julian came to call on me. We spent some time together discussing variety of subjects from facebook to his day job. He is such a wonderful person; likeable, easy to talk and caring. Professionally, he is a qualified health technician who knows his job very well. All the time he was advising me on different health issues and giving useful tips for healthy lifestyle. I enjoyed being with him.

Prof Dr Asi Karnali was the first person who I had the privilege to meet and learn a lot when I was in Multan back in 1992. He was the soul (and a living encyclopedia) of literary landscape of Multan – a very literary city. Personally, Asi Karnali taught me the mechanics of Inshaya and encouraged me to write (Helmet ke nechee) every week in Nawa-e-Waqat. He was kind to write preface of my book Reet Pe Tehreer. I still remember countless meeting in literary congregations and at his home, where his writer wife Samar Bano Hashmi (another very kind and loving person), and poet sons would also join in our discussions I call my leaning sessions. He lived a very active life till the end.

Dr Asi Karnali’s Thesis “Persian poetic traditions influence on Urdu Hamd And Naat” is a great contribution in the field of Urdu poetry. Writer of 19 books (including 11 poetry books), Dr Karnali  was conferred upon President’s Pride of Performance Award on his book Naatoon ke Ghulab.

Related: Carry the dust to Multan

Societies pride in different strengths: Some give importance to bravery, some to democracy, and some nations think that freedom of expressions, development and or education are the hallmarks for their long-term sustenance. “The nations should be judged on how they look at their women,” writes Abbas Khan, the author of Urdu novel Mein Aur Umrao Jan Ada, his eleventh, that I have had the chance to read.

Helen of Troy was the daughter of Zeus and Leda and wife of Menelaus, considered to be the most beautiful woman in the world. Her abduction by Paris caused the Trojan War and made thousand ships drown.

Cleopatra (actually Cleopatra VII) was the last of the Ptolemies, the Macedonian-descended pharaohs who ruled Egypt beginning in 304 B.C. Cleopatra has come down through history less for her administrative skills than for her beguiling ways, which she used in an attempt to keep Egypt free from Roman domination. Among those whom she charmed was Julius Caesar, with whom she had a son, Caesarion. After Caesar’s death, Cleopatra joined forces with Caesar’s colleague Marc Antony; they became lovers and political allies against Antony’s rival Octavian. Octavian’s forces finally defeated those of Antony and Cleopatra in the naval battle of Actium in 31 B.C. The two lovers fled to Alexandria and, faced with defeat by Octavian, committed suicide. Legend has it that Cleopatra died by the self-inflicted bite of a poisonous snake called an asp, though no firm evidence exists to support that claim.

Qura tul Ain Tahira created waves in the history of Iran in 1848. Princess Noor Jehan was a Mughal princess who helped King Jehangir rule Mughal Empire. And Umrao Jan Ada, whose poignant tale of misadventure of a little girl, forced into prostitution; and the saga of 1857 at the center of this tragedy as a testimony are famous in history.

Umrao Jan Ada was a dancer girl of Lakhnow (India) and her fame was at the peak from 1896 to 1899. In 1899, Mirza Hadi Ruswa wrote a novel titled Umrao Jan Ada that was published by Maha Dev Parshad Publishers Lakhnow. In turn, Umrao Jan Ada published a novel titled Fasan-e-Ruswa, which describes the love story of Mirza Hadi Ruswa and a French woman Sophia Augustan.

These women are at the background in which Abbas Khan has set his novel. With the help of today’s characters, the author weaves a web around modern world’s family — a basic unit of the society and tells us how that is being disintegrated.

The theme of the novel has been defined by the first sentence which reads, “Family is the bases of society. Both male and female should refrain from every type of waywardness to save the society.” Abbas Khan portrays nineteenth century character (Umrao Jan Ada) living in twenty first century in his lucid style.

Books have been bringing changes in human relationships and making difference in the lives of people. The power of worlds has caused people to loose their existence or to better them. This is what his novel is expected to do.

Pakistan is one of the best travel destinations in the world – desert expanses in Thar and Cholistan, Lush green plains in Punjab, mighty mountains in Northern Pakistan, Chitral and Swat, so many unexplored and just to yourself places, what else. Start of some of the world history can still be traced down to Pakistan – Indus Civilization. Moreover, Pakistan being one of the cheapest countries in the world is best for budget travelers. Which is why it is said that Pakistan has a lot to offer to every one; not only to travelers, hard core adventurers, mountaineers, and rural tourists, vacationers but also to anthropologists, archeologists, and researchers? (Also for those who want to sit back and enjoy the ride from the comfort of home). Read about my travel experiences at  Doodh Patti - My Cup of Tea.

Imagine Lahore only ten years ago: It was a different city; socially cohesive, closely knit. Young children could go visiting neighbors or to nearby shopping centers to get groceries and other things but not now. People then knew each other personally and had strong social bounds; hence courtesies for each other.

Things started changing with an exponential increase in urbanization. Large number of outsiders started moving in Lahore to live and or work. Now even the immediate neighbors do not know each other and people act like total strangers. Garish housing societies have come up on all the open spaces inside the city and Lahore has expanded much beyond what used to be municipal boundaries. The crime rate has grown with mush faster speed than the city.

What are the apparent causes? Many experts say that crimes are a result of disintegrating familial and dwindling community values that are contributing in turning young people into violent criminals.

Due to the growing demand for educated workforce and skilled labor, an employment base that used to provide jobs for those without a school certificate has shrunk considerably. This situation has resulted in a general lack of hope. “If one does not have skills, training, and when socio economic situation looks desperate, does that young man really have hope? I think that ties into the anger,” says a sociologist Dr. Muhammad Anwar, “This anger seem to be translating in to crimes, petty in the beginning that leads to more heinous ones at later stages.” This is the reasons that the criminals mostly are in their mid teens to mid-20’s.

One finds unskilled workers sitting in a linear fashion with their tools - mountains of paint brushes, piles of colour scheme cards, number of empty paint cans, digging paraphernalia and or hammers of different kind (who said unskilled labour) - along any city roads and squares waiting for a day’s job. They all come from suburbs to earn their livings. What options do they have when they do not get the job for the day and they have to go back home to family that is to b fed, is the question. They not only lose hope but may get frustrated that may lead them to resort to unfair means, what ever is possible for them.

Similarly, the army of maids and home servants who come from nearby villages and towns when dazzled by urban glamour are incited to commit to petty crimes and thefts.

Not only unskilled and uneducated segment, even degree holders find it difficult to get their first job after graduation because traditionally the job market in slow economy of Pakistan has always been tight. Which is why one reads reports of crimes (from purse and mobile phone snatching to car lifting to burglaries and murders) being committed by people from effluent class and living in posh localities of Lahore? Though generally, the poorer neighborhoods are considered to be the hubs for frequent criminal happenings. Let me hasten to add, this does not imply that there are no crimes in posh localities like Defense Society, or Gulberg or the criminals living in these localities can not commit crime around Railway Station or Badami Bagh Bus Terminal or Lakshmi or Bhatti gate.

Besides hopelessness, crimes are attributed to greed, to an evil nature, to poor parenting, to television, to movies, to the Internet, to whatever seems to be popular and not in accord with our old societal value system. These and many other are the reasons that we find crime rate rising on an alarming rate.

Crime statistics, like any other officially reported data, cannot be considered reliable. In the past decade, Lahore has been awash with guns. Empirical evidences tell that Kalashnikov and other automatic weapons have become ubiquitous in Lahore, city called cultural capital of Pakistan. This fact makes the crime quick and fast, much faster than law enforcing agencies to track.

Criminality extends into all levels of society and it cannot be restricted to the largely undefined boundaries of Lahore. Given the fast and efficient communication means (roads network, mobile phones, more transport), it has been observed that criminals sometime come from suburbs, make their day and go back uncaught. Those who study crime debate say, “Criminals may be from anywhere but all crime is local, of course, and each city has its underlying causes.”

Analyzing crime is an absorbing exercise. It throws up new facets of crime and new ideas on how to cope with them. The real tragedy, however, is that there is hardly a national debate on crime, like the one seen in the developed world; where the crime are more. “Unless crime hits hard personally, I am not concerned,” is the worst attitude that is exhibited some time.

The only long term solution to put an end to crimes and make our society more civilized is to end hopelessness. How to create hope in the people and tolerance in our society are the real issues that need to be addressed. And this can happen when every one is conscious and does what ever is possible.

The solution is not with police or any other law enforcing agencies. “The problem is much deeper and the solution has to be long term. Combating crime firmly and honestly is one thing. Provision of education, heath and other social securities, fair play in practices and procedure are some other starting points. Collectively, we should act responsibly and are some factors to start if we have to combat crime,” Dr. Pirzada Inam Karim.

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Those readers who have read “Adhey Adhoorey khuwab” by Dr. Shahid Sidique are familiar with the novel already. Now this story of a professional leadership and on the other hand a narrative of contemporary social crisis have been translated in Punjabi by Qaisra Riaz Jaswal. If the book has the ability to compel readers to read it from cover to covaer, its Punjabi translation Adh Pachadhe Sufnay will do this ven more.

Teachers as critical thinkers and education as a source of building nations is explained by Dr. Shahid Siddiqui in a unique way. Dr. Siddiqui has portrayed teacher and teaching in an artistic manner. He has characterized a teacher as a real hero in all terms. But developing a heroic characterization he has not let go the piousness of this sacred profession. The goal oriented and visionary approach of teaching is not only depicted in one main character but also with reference to great researchers and educators. Qaisra Riaz Jaswal has captured and delivered the essence in Punjabi.

This is a unique piece of writing specifically in the context of Urdu literature. Such thematic writing is no where around us anymore and not at all in Punjabi language. Education, teaching and teachers are never addressed in this manner. A traditional view of a teacher is witnessed if ever. But viewing teaching and teachers as such strong elements in social structure is not very common. Teachers in Pakistani society have a crucial role to play as they can form a very effective pressure group for bringing a change mainly in the rural areas; where the uneducated population trusts them as saviors. Dr. Siddiqui has enabled the readers to identify this strength of teachers and has given a stimulus to people like myself who believe that teachers can be the best change agents. By translating the book in Punjabi, Qaisra Riaz Jaswal has prepatuated what Dr. Shahid has concieved and written in his book.

Half of the Qaisra Riaz Jaswal's translation has appeared in monthly Punjabi magazine Pancham. The other half will appear next month followed by a publication in the book form.

Related: Women at Their Best

This article appeared in daily the Nation, May 30, 2010

The passion for Football is certainly sweeping every one in Pakistan this time, particularly the sportsmen and the youth. In addition to conventional media, Pakistani football fans are going online to find all sorts of information about the championship, including multimedia content such as brief video clips of stars and highlights from games from earlier championships. Many Internet sites have sprung up which are reporting each and every thing about the World Cup. "The hype this time is of an entirely different order," says Zahir Khan, footballer and a student in Business and Information Technology.

Earlier football fan frenzy started when the 18 carat gold FIFA World Cup Trophy was taken on whirlwind global tour jointly organized by FIFA and a beverage company where it received an unprecedented welcome. Commencing on 21 September 2009, from Zurich - the home of FIFA - the Trophy Tour has undertaken an exciting journey, making history along the way by visiting 50 African cities from Abidjan, Ivory Coast to Yaounde, Cameroon. The Trophy was greeted by passionate football fans in 34 countries around the world, from established football nations including Brazil, Italy and England to countries where fan enthusiasm is growing such as New Caledonia, Malaysia and Kazakhstan. FIFA World Cup winners including Pele, Lothar Matthaus, and Christian Karembeu have shared in the Trophy Tour experience along with fans around the world who have enjoyed the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour celebrations. Not only that, welcoming the magic of the FIFA World Cup to their countries, 44 heads of state have made time in their schedules to greet the prestigious Trophy's arrival.

The tour gives an idea that FIFA is cottoning on to the idea of an equivalent to the Olympic Torch for football. Two years ago, instead of being carried by athletes to the Olympic Games in Greece, the torch made a tour of all the countries that had hosted the games. This year, the World Cup trophy was taken from country to country before it finally reached in Germany. It is not just visiting the countries which have hosted the tournament, but the idea seems to be along the lines of Olympic Torch.

Pakistani fans are very alive to the World Cup and are looking forward to it. When asked about their favorites, many replied, "Brazil is the favorites to win the World Cup. Spain will try hard for the top honor, but Brazil is the main candidates because of their players' abilities and because of their recent performances. Aamir Bashir says, "I have no doubts that Brazil will be at the top. I wish to be at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg where the final will be played on 11 July 2010, but it is costly for me."

"Being a Pakistani, I expect Pakistan to play and win," said Kamran Mirza, “but when Pakistan is not playing, I will still watch the game with concentration and enjoy without accompanying tension and verbal duel of traditional rivalries as are seen in Indo-Pak cricket series.”

“We Pakistanis are used to kind of sporting atmosphere, with fans rapt to the game, extremely cheering for players and teams," says Taha Riaz, player and an ardent football fan, "It is always a joy to see international tournaments and understand the game. Seeing my favorite stars at their best improves my own game." That is why football fans from around the world will watch the World Cup even if their own teams are not participating.

Tahir Abbas, an ex army football color holder has his 15-year-old son Mubarak who has got the love for the game from his father. Most of his friends play the game in a satellite colony where they live and have a football ground nearby. "I will certainly be following World Cup," he says enthusiastically. I asked him how many of his friends would be following the World Cup. "Oh, about 20, and my father has invited them to come a watch the matches at our home," was his answer. His father told, "Mubarak's interest in football is due to my own passion for the game mainly and our stay in cantonments where this game is regularly played.

Tahir Abbas is disappointed that our country is not participating in FIFA World Cup in South Africa. For Pakistan he says, "as far as the future is concerned, we have great potentials. Some talent hunt, some sponsorship from public and well as private sectors may take Pakistan in next championships."

Great supporting events have different impact on economies too. Remember closed bazaars and low turn-out in offices and educational institutions on the eve of India Pak cricket matches across the country in the past. South Africa will have upward economic surge due to large number of foreigner fans coming to watch World Cup in the country. On the other hand it is feared that the World Cup finals might have negative impact on some economies. During the 2002 World Cup (May 31-June 30), the Stock Exchange of Thailand slipped 4.34 percent. In Singapore, when England played Nigeria at the last World Cup, turnover on the market plunged and the Straits Times Index fell 11 points on a lack of buying interest.

"This time we are expecting dwindling sale during the Word Cup. Which is why we are putting up big screen TVs for the customers to sit and watch the game," says manager of a reputed café on M M Alam Road, Lahore. "Football fans are already enquiring about when we will put up a multimedia for the Word Cup as we do for cricket," he adds. Many other cafes and posh eating joints across the country are putting up bigger screen televisions to attract the Word Cup enthusiasts.

Athar Mahmood, good football player of his own time and father of two promising football players says, "Football is one of the greatest and most powerful filed activities. It is an economical activity as well. The amount of money and trade passed during Word Cups is remarkable. So many sports retailers, shops, transport channels and restaurants do good business during the championship; football creates many potential jobs for those who have that unique gift. Football gives our children hope and dreams. In places such as Brazil and even Cameroon, people love the beautiful game. We too should encourage others to become involved in the game. I can see footie fever striking Pakistan like cricket, hockey in near future."

Representation of Pakistan – once a credible ‘footballing’ nation, grinding its way into Asia's top 10 with players in demand from league clubs in different countries - in the 2010 World Cup is limited only to providing the hand stitched "Made in Sialkot" balls for the game and the attendance of few officials at the opening ceremony.

Unlike cricket that can be played on streets, football game needs wider grounds. And there is dearth of open spaces and grounds in our cities. That is one of the reasons that this game has not been popular in the past. But "football craze is picking up here too. There are many ardent fans who are looking forward to the Word Cup, for entertainment if nothing else," says Waqar Haider, manager marketing in an international concern who was on Lahore School of Economics team in his own times. Sports are often referred to as the world's finest form of entertainment. They are healthy social activities that hold the attention of an audience as well as its participants. "Football does it best," Waqar adds".

I am going to spend my time immersing myself in the world's most amusing and impulsive drama: Word Cup 2010. You are invited.

The Lahore School of Economic Association of Debaters is holding its sixth annual Lahore School Debate this week (February 3 - 7, 2012). Theme of the debates this year is Logic is Variable. Teams from 40 schools and 15 universities from across the country have gathered at the Lahore School Burki campus to compete in categories of English Parliamentary, Urdu Parliamentary and Declamations. Enthralling debates on wide spanning topics which addressed numerous pertinent issues such as religious intolerance, third world disparity and culture among many others are being debated during the week.


The declamation contest ended on a high note on Sunday with PAF Risalpur and UET capturing individual prizes and the Government College University bagging the team trophy. The parliamentary section of the tournament continues. Teams from LUMS, UCL, LGS Paragon, LGS Defense and LACAS will contest for semi finals and finals.


On the sidelines of debates, there were formal dinner and performances from a percussionist band and a Sufi troupe.

Pakistan's '1%' Internet population is divided between those who literally live on the Web and those who are clueless about its true potential. In the past, few technologies have affected the attitude of users of technology as the Internet. Although every one seems to be getting online these days but the fact is that the Internet is still in a formative stage with only a tiny percentage of Pakistani population having access to it, writes on S.A.J Shirazi

My Abode

I don’t live in hell of this world.

Then where you live?

In my thoughts.

Approach to acceptance

No doubt you love the girl but she doesn’t listen to anyone. How did you succeed in winning her over?

I asked her to hate me, treat me real bad instead.

Why?

Because she has destroyed me; made me worthless. All the time I keep thinking of  dreaming about her. I want to get rid of this miserable condition I am in. I have so much to do in life. May be I will get back to normal if she behaves badly with me.

Did she do accept your request?

No. She accepted me instead.

Net result

No one comes to my rescue in sadness, hopelessness. Assurance by religion, society, family and friends, strength of the wealth, countless mediums of attractions all fail.

What happens to you then?

Sadness, hopelessness pass by thinking this person is totally powerless.

Short stories from Sitaroon Ki Bastiyan by Abbas Khan