Life seems in full swing,
People around me laugh and chuckle,
like there is no end…
Bursting in laughter and full of energy
So vibrant and colourful it seems…
But here am I sitting all by myself-
Surrounded with people, yet confined…
Hiding in a shell, deep down inside
So alone I feel-
Why can’t I define?
The smell of rose,
Burning candles and dimming lights…
The carving on the wood and some old bricks
I feel it all…
I see it all…
Yet, why do I feel this is not where I belong?
eyes rolling about..
Take me out…
I don’t want to dig in…
I plead and cry…
From within I hear someone,
Wanting to reach high…
Then why is this feeling still inside?
Oh God! Can’t I just die?
1 March 2009
28 February 2009
In response
This is in response, to a comment that I received for my post 'Political Parties' from my friend Kazim Aizaz Alam and from a response I received from another friend on my Facebook status.
I hope I do justice, presenting my view point.
I must confess, I have not read much literature about politics. But my article was based on the knowledge that I possess on the matters that have crossed my eye in recent time. Kazim's comment presents good facts but I am afraid I cannot provide any facts at the moment that proves my liking for the two-party system. But I would like to present my argument.
My support for two parties, is merely because, of the fact that I personally like this idea, of having one Party in power while the other one criticizing it. Just like the simple idea of ‘good’ and ‘bad’. Although like you mentioned, some voices may 'disappear in the propaganda filled bourgeois world of politics’; still they raise their voice to bring back their party in power.
My main aim, of the article was to draw a connection between the two-party style and our politics with many parties. I didn’t even know before writing this reponse how many parties we currently have in the Pakistani Senate. I just googled now and found out there are 15 parties at the moment, with 10 of them in the national assembly. But what do these parties do, when it comes to conflicts or disagreeing the policies of one another?
Out of the 15 parties that we have, I am not aware as a commoner, of either one of their policies. Or what they stand for, when it comes to their policies about our banks, big and small businesses, taxes, sharia law, terrorism, about their war on Iraq and Afghanistan. Off course, I am aware that at least for the sake to remain in power they would strongly oppose wars against these two countries. But what would be their take when it comes to the USA using our bases? One of the arguments could be, that we will have less choice when it comes to such decisions. But the point I am trying to make here is that, such issues should be addressed and thought before they come to power.
All we know about them right now is, that PML-N is in power because of the Shariff brothers, PPP belongs to the bhuttos MQM belongs to Altaf Hussain and so on.... but more than that, the irony is, that we also classify them as, the Sindhi's party, the Punjabi's party and the Mahajir's party.
I cannot recall any instance, where the people here would think that the labours or the conservatives would do well for only one particular area if either of them comes to power.
I must write, that I am so ashamed that even after being so much educated, and gone abroad for studies, I got a comment from a friend on facebook in response to my status on facebook
'Nousheen is utterly disgusted listening every bit of the Nawaz shariff's speech! Oh God plz save Pakistan!!!!'
The response I got was: "Well there is no need to be gutted atleast your family is safe just becuase of him right now y? coz what happened in 1998 otherwise rightnow there would have been a moneky sitting at Quaid tomb... and karachites would have been dancing around it.... any ways coming back to his potent speech which was a needed for this nation and plus you dont mess with sheer in punjab... he took mush down and now its zardari turn... respect your future PM Sheer hamara zindabad”
The reason behind my status was not because, being a Karachite, I would support MQM, or having lived in Sindh all my life I would support PPP, But, because I was just seriously ridiculed after listening to his speech. The way he spoke, the way he sort of roared, it just ridiculed me. Not once he mentioned why would we like him in power again and why should we support him, after he has been charged and even thrown out of the country.
But his response clearly meant that he had misunderstood me. He being a Punjabi thought, I would have written this status, because I would be supporting the PPP or the MQM. But I just don’t get it. Can we not for once, look beyond being a Sindhi or a Punjabi or a Mahajir? Why after being educated, we look at the fact of who belongs to our province rather than, what they as an individual and what their party stands for? I am completely aware of the killings and murders that took place during the Nawaz's tenure in Karachi, the land grabbings and so much more and I am also aware of what happened when Benazir was in power. I am aware of the facts that Zardari is the one of the most corrupted politician. He will ever gain my support, because I belong to Sindh or Nawaz would have gained my support had I belonged to Punjab!
Kazim, mentioned that he can look upto thee Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party, Labour Party of Pakistan and the International Socialists, I truly understand the reason behind his liking for them but what is the mere use when the voice of a commoner like you and me are not being heard? All I mean to say is, out of the 15 parties that we have, if we can relate to the parties, that form a minority and are ‘not’ in power, then what is the use of having 15 parties. Each of them fighting, for just one cause, just to get in power, but are eaten up by the four parties that are the most corrupt and have been in power since Pakistan is formed!
Although the two-party system might get manipulated some times, but is not ineffective like our system of 15 parties.
I hope I do justice, presenting my view point.
I must confess, I have not read much literature about politics. But my article was based on the knowledge that I possess on the matters that have crossed my eye in recent time. Kazim's comment presents good facts but I am afraid I cannot provide any facts at the moment that proves my liking for the two-party system. But I would like to present my argument.
My support for two parties, is merely because, of the fact that I personally like this idea, of having one Party in power while the other one criticizing it. Just like the simple idea of ‘good’ and ‘bad’. Although like you mentioned, some voices may 'disappear in the propaganda filled bourgeois world of politics’; still they raise their voice to bring back their party in power.
My main aim, of the article was to draw a connection between the two-party style and our politics with many parties. I didn’t even know before writing this reponse how many parties we currently have in the Pakistani Senate. I just googled now and found out there are 15 parties at the moment, with 10 of them in the national assembly. But what do these parties do, when it comes to conflicts or disagreeing the policies of one another?
Out of the 15 parties that we have, I am not aware as a commoner, of either one of their policies. Or what they stand for, when it comes to their policies about our banks, big and small businesses, taxes, sharia law, terrorism, about their war on Iraq and Afghanistan. Off course, I am aware that at least for the sake to remain in power they would strongly oppose wars against these two countries. But what would be their take when it comes to the USA using our bases? One of the arguments could be, that we will have less choice when it comes to such decisions. But the point I am trying to make here is that, such issues should be addressed and thought before they come to power.
All we know about them right now is, that PML-N is in power because of the Shariff brothers, PPP belongs to the bhuttos MQM belongs to Altaf Hussain and so on.... but more than that, the irony is, that we also classify them as, the Sindhi's party, the Punjabi's party and the Mahajir's party.
I cannot recall any instance, where the people here would think that the labours or the conservatives would do well for only one particular area if either of them comes to power.
I must write, that I am so ashamed that even after being so much educated, and gone abroad for studies, I got a comment from a friend on facebook in response to my status on facebook
'Nousheen is utterly disgusted listening every bit of the Nawaz shariff's speech! Oh God plz save Pakistan!!!!'
The response I got was: "Well there is no need to be gutted atleast your family is safe just becuase of him right now y? coz what happened in 1998 otherwise rightnow there would have been a moneky sitting at Quaid tomb... and karachites would have been dancing around it.... any ways coming back to his potent speech which was a needed for this nation and plus you dont mess with sheer in punjab... he took mush down and now its zardari turn... respect your future PM Sheer hamara zindabad”
The reason behind my status was not because, being a Karachite, I would support MQM, or having lived in Sindh all my life I would support PPP, But, because I was just seriously ridiculed after listening to his speech. The way he spoke, the way he sort of roared, it just ridiculed me. Not once he mentioned why would we like him in power again and why should we support him, after he has been charged and even thrown out of the country.
But his response clearly meant that he had misunderstood me. He being a Punjabi thought, I would have written this status, because I would be supporting the PPP or the MQM. But I just don’t get it. Can we not for once, look beyond being a Sindhi or a Punjabi or a Mahajir? Why after being educated, we look at the fact of who belongs to our province rather than, what they as an individual and what their party stands for? I am completely aware of the killings and murders that took place during the Nawaz's tenure in Karachi, the land grabbings and so much more and I am also aware of what happened when Benazir was in power. I am aware of the facts that Zardari is the one of the most corrupted politician. He will ever gain my support, because I belong to Sindh or Nawaz would have gained my support had I belonged to Punjab!
Kazim, mentioned that he can look upto thee Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party, Labour Party of Pakistan and the International Socialists, I truly understand the reason behind his liking for them but what is the mere use when the voice of a commoner like you and me are not being heard? All I mean to say is, out of the 15 parties that we have, if we can relate to the parties, that form a minority and are ‘not’ in power, then what is the use of having 15 parties. Each of them fighting, for just one cause, just to get in power, but are eaten up by the four parties that are the most corrupt and have been in power since Pakistan is formed!
Although the two-party system might get manipulated some times, but is not ineffective like our system of 15 parties.
26 February 2009
Political Parties.
I was watching a programme on BBC yesterday. It was about how The Conservative party bought David Cameron to shape the outlook of the Conservative Party. The foundations of the Conservative Party were very much the ideas of Margaret Thatcher. Her ideas were modern for that time. But she also believed in sticking to the roots. Once a journalist asked her, ‘Is there going to be a new start?’ and she replied, ‘why what is wrong with the old one?’ She was the Prime Minister of England from 1979 to 1990. After her, the Conservative Party hasn’t won any elections. The Conservative party, talked on the same lines and loss the other 2 elections in which, Tony Blair won the elections and in 2005, David Cameron was bought to light. He promised of changed and a better future. Although he was a breath of fresh air and a new change in the Conservative party but the conservative’s loss the elections again in 2005 to Gordon Brown.
While, I was watching this program, I began to wonder, how in the U.K and in the U.S.A they have just two parties. In the U.K, the Conservatives and the Labour and in the U.S.A, the Democrats and the Republicans. If one party is in power, the other party is always there to cross and balance on issues. To check if the later party is performing it’s duties correctly and also condemning and asking questions about their policies and practices. At the very core, are the values behind each party. If you ask the people here, they would either favour the Conservatives or the Labour. In the U.S.A they would be either the democrats or the Republicans. It is because; it depends on the basis of what they stand for. Their leadership styles, agendas are different. Hence, a person can relate to either party based on their own perception. They have a whole ‘motto’ ‘ideals’ ‘set principles’ behind the foundation of the party. In the book ‘the audacity of hope’ by Barack Obama, he talks about the democrats’ style. Their values, their beliefs, their leadership style and then about what he feels about those simple values and ideals. This is the core idea behind having a party. One that you could relate to, one that could stand up for your views. For the people’s view, if not all, but most of the time.
Then my mind raced towards our politics. I started to think, out of all the parties that we have in Pakistan. Not one has any set of principles, ideals, and a mission statement. They all stand for themselves; or rather for power and money. Although personally, I can’t relate to any Party. I was wondering if any one could relate to them? If yes, then on what basis? They don’t promise us any kind of a leadership style, or any ideals, or the shape of the economy is they do come to power. All they talk about is themselves. About who should we support. But why? Just because, they have a dynasty. Or that there father or mother was in politics. Is that enough? This also, brings to my mind the role of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. At the mere age of 18, he has been passed on the Kingdom from his mother. But what is his qualification? We don’t even know him. His ideas, his ideals, his principles. He has lived all his life abroad, and now he just become the Co-president and his father with all the corruption charges becomes the President of Pakistan, but on what basis?
Today, I switched on Geo. And Nawaz Shariff was addressing a crowd in Shaikhupura. He is a former Prime-Minister of Pakistan and could be the next Prime-minister of Pakistan. But what does his party stands for? I listened to him in disbelief. More than once I heard him swearing, and asking people to take out 2 or 3 weeks from their life and give it to Pakistan and the first week should be dedicated to restore the judiciary, but why and how? and what about the remaining 2 weeks? he never explained! He sweared on God wasn’t there to talk about the verdict, he mostly did! I was thinking, what is the need to bring ‘God’ in here. Is this any sort of professionalism? If you want power, why don’t you talk about your policies, basis of the foundation of your party? What you have done over the years for Pakistan. The issues that needs to be addressed. The poverty level, rules and regulations, general situations. Where are these points? I listened to it and thought, what does he as a person stands for? All I saw was a circus of people around him, and he introducing each member in that circus, telling the crowd that how close they are to him. But what about us? How would they shape our economy? What did they bring to us when they were given the power? What do they stand for; just for power and money!!
While, I was watching this program, I began to wonder, how in the U.K and in the U.S.A they have just two parties. In the U.K, the Conservatives and the Labour and in the U.S.A, the Democrats and the Republicans. If one party is in power, the other party is always there to cross and balance on issues. To check if the later party is performing it’s duties correctly and also condemning and asking questions about their policies and practices. At the very core, are the values behind each party. If you ask the people here, they would either favour the Conservatives or the Labour. In the U.S.A they would be either the democrats or the Republicans. It is because; it depends on the basis of what they stand for. Their leadership styles, agendas are different. Hence, a person can relate to either party based on their own perception. They have a whole ‘motto’ ‘ideals’ ‘set principles’ behind the foundation of the party. In the book ‘the audacity of hope’ by Barack Obama, he talks about the democrats’ style. Their values, their beliefs, their leadership style and then about what he feels about those simple values and ideals. This is the core idea behind having a party. One that you could relate to, one that could stand up for your views. For the people’s view, if not all, but most of the time.
Then my mind raced towards our politics. I started to think, out of all the parties that we have in Pakistan. Not one has any set of principles, ideals, and a mission statement. They all stand for themselves; or rather for power and money. Although personally, I can’t relate to any Party. I was wondering if any one could relate to them? If yes, then on what basis? They don’t promise us any kind of a leadership style, or any ideals, or the shape of the economy is they do come to power. All they talk about is themselves. About who should we support. But why? Just because, they have a dynasty. Or that there father or mother was in politics. Is that enough? This also, brings to my mind the role of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. At the mere age of 18, he has been passed on the Kingdom from his mother. But what is his qualification? We don’t even know him. His ideas, his ideals, his principles. He has lived all his life abroad, and now he just become the Co-president and his father with all the corruption charges becomes the President of Pakistan, but on what basis?
Today, I switched on Geo. And Nawaz Shariff was addressing a crowd in Shaikhupura. He is a former Prime-Minister of Pakistan and could be the next Prime-minister of Pakistan. But what does his party stands for? I listened to him in disbelief. More than once I heard him swearing, and asking people to take out 2 or 3 weeks from their life and give it to Pakistan and the first week should be dedicated to restore the judiciary, but why and how? and what about the remaining 2 weeks? he never explained! He sweared on God wasn’t there to talk about the verdict, he mostly did! I was thinking, what is the need to bring ‘God’ in here. Is this any sort of professionalism? If you want power, why don’t you talk about your policies, basis of the foundation of your party? What you have done over the years for Pakistan. The issues that needs to be addressed. The poverty level, rules and regulations, general situations. Where are these points? I listened to it and thought, what does he as a person stands for? All I saw was a circus of people around him, and he introducing each member in that circus, telling the crowd that how close they are to him. But what about us? How would they shape our economy? What did they bring to us when they were given the power? What do they stand for; just for power and money!!
23 February 2009
Death Will
If I get a call and have to leave
I had no choice, please believe!
Think of the times I avoided,
and told them numerous times,
this is where I need to be!
If I get a call and have to leave,
move ahead with your life….
Don't stop for me.
I will be watching you still….
Will meet you in your dreams.
If I get a call and have to leave,
stay close to me…
Think of the good memories….
sooner or later I had to leave.
If I get a call and have to leave,
please don’t cry behind me for I may see….
Your prayers will always reach me….
Will let me know u still want me!
If I get a call and leave…
Don't you forget the promises you made to me!
Remember always what you meant to me…
Pray for me that I may rest in peace…
I had no choice, please believe!
Think of the times I avoided,
and told them numerous times,
this is where I need to be!
If I get a call and have to leave,
move ahead with your life….
Don't stop for me.
I will be watching you still….
Will meet you in your dreams.
If I get a call and have to leave,
stay close to me…
Think of the good memories….
sooner or later I had to leave.
If I get a call and have to leave,
please don’t cry behind me for I may see….
Your prayers will always reach me….
Will let me know u still want me!
If I get a call and leave…
Don't you forget the promises you made to me!
Remember always what you meant to me…
Pray for me that I may rest in peace…
21 February 2009
The importance of finding the 'Authentic Source'.
I watched Delhi-6 last night. It seems like an ok movie, but I liked the concept behind it. The story revolves around a true incident that took place in Delhi in 2001. This incident depicted in the film, is about a Black-monkey, in contrast to the original ‘Monkey-man’. It just tells, of how a rumour probably a true one off incident can float and take many faces. How it can take lives, the terror and the superstitions can survive, how some religious and political leaders can take a role and manipulate the people.
The idea behind it is very simple, I wasn’t aware that it was a true incident that took place. I googled it today, to find out that it was actually true. It is amazing to see, how in our society, people just build on to things that never exist. The fact that we never think about ‘the source’ it is coming from. But just that someone said it somewhere, and someone might have seen it somewhere. Without even thinking if ‘it is actually true’. Such news are so easy to float around, but then it is scary to think about the consequences it then makes and the shape it takes with each one, adding a new part to it.
We are constantly involved in this habit to forward emails and news around to everyone without checking their source. I keep receiving forwarded emails that have no authentic source attached to the news. And if we just look at the news itself, we instantly believe it and then base our thinking on it, pass it on without checking what lies behind actually exists or not. I received a forwarded email from a group. I am pasting the forwarded "news" for your interest:
Nasa - Sunrise from the West
The science of astronomy states that the speed of planet Mars has been decreasing in its course toward the eastern direction in the past few weeks to the level we notice the "waver" between the east and the west..and on Wednesday the 30th of July the planet movement stopped going toward the eastern direction.. Then in the months of August and September...Mars changed its course in the opposite direction to the West- and that until the end of September..which means the sun will rise now from the west on Mars!! And this weird phenomena of the opposite movement called "Retrograde Motion" Most scientist state that all the planets will go through the same once at least and our planet Earth is one of them. Planet Earth will move in the opposite direction some day and the sun will rise from the west!!
This might occur soon and we are unaware! The rise of the sun from the west is mentioned in the hadith and this is the major sign of the day of judgment, most if not All, the minor signs have occurred. Wake up.
Our beloved messenger Mohamed (Peace Be Upon Him) said: "One of the signs of the hour..the sun will rise from the west, where no longer tauba(forgiveness) will be granted" !!And the strange thing..most of our Shariah scholars mentioned that the rise of the sun from the west occurs only once..on that day..the sun will rise from the west..then again from the east..and continues until Allah wishes..and this is similar to what is happening to Mars..it stops, then it changes its course of direction for a short period of time..then returns to way once it was.
And Abdullah Bin Amro (R.A.) said: (I memorized from the messenger (SAW) a hadith I will never forget..I heard the messenger of Allah (SAW) say: The first aya to come the rise of the sun from the west) [Ahmad]
And the messenger SAW "Allah (SWT) places HIS hand at night to forgive his morning sinners, and places in the morning to forgive his night sinners until the sun rises from the west" [Muslim]
This piece of news is very important as it brings with it a great sign of warning and remembrance of the coming of a new WORLD - the world of he Hereafter When we show this hadith that was told 1400 years ago about this miracle..you will see InshaALLAH, a lot will rivert to right path...And the muslims if they see this phenomena happening in
Mars..who knows maybe it would bring them closer to our CREATOR.
May Allah (swt) keep all of us in the Right path and provide us with
success in this world as well as in the hereafter.
When I read it first, I thought, well, this is very important news. But why have I not read about any such news in any of the local or international newspapers? Nor I have seen any such news on T.V. So I googled it, by simply typing: Nasa - Sunrise from the West. All I found in the search results was, the forums, where this news was being posted and the people’s commenting on it. I did not find, any newspaper revealing such a story. It is interesting to read the discussions on the chat forums. They actually believe that this is a true story and are actually building facts and false theories around it. Without even finding out the actual source. It is also interesting to note, how such a story is then linked to Hadith and the revelations in the Quran. Apart from this, the above pasted article has got so many, spelling mistakes and errors that it, in no way looks like a published piece.
One of the things that is the most interesting is that, whenever we hear a news and there is a course of religion or a reference of Hadiths attached at the end of it, we do not think beyond that. Rather we think, this had to happen to this is happening. I am not denying the fact that the revelations made by the Quran and as described by the Hadiths are not happening. But I am strictly against the rotation of false news and then linking it to the Quran and the Hadiths.
We don’t realize, but this is a very important issue. It is time, that we all must try and find the real sources behind all the rumours and the news that we are surrounded with. Otherwise, as a result we face consequences as depicted in the movie Delhi-6 and so many more that still lay unrevealed!
Also read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey-man_of_New_Delhi#Last_sightings
http://www.paklinks.com/gs/all-views/159958-nasa-sunrise-west.html
http://my.opera.com/mailmurshed/blog/index.dml/tag/Nasa%20-%20Sunrise%20from%20the%20West
http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3430
The idea behind it is very simple, I wasn’t aware that it was a true incident that took place. I googled it today, to find out that it was actually true. It is amazing to see, how in our society, people just build on to things that never exist. The fact that we never think about ‘the source’ it is coming from. But just that someone said it somewhere, and someone might have seen it somewhere. Without even thinking if ‘it is actually true’. Such news are so easy to float around, but then it is scary to think about the consequences it then makes and the shape it takes with each one, adding a new part to it.
We are constantly involved in this habit to forward emails and news around to everyone without checking their source. I keep receiving forwarded emails that have no authentic source attached to the news. And if we just look at the news itself, we instantly believe it and then base our thinking on it, pass it on without checking what lies behind actually exists or not. I received a forwarded email from a group. I am pasting the forwarded "news" for your interest:
Nasa - Sunrise from the West
The science of astronomy states that the speed of planet Mars has been decreasing in its course toward the eastern direction in the past few weeks to the level we notice the "waver" between the east and the west..and on Wednesday the 30th of July the planet movement stopped going toward the eastern direction.. Then in the months of August and September...Mars changed its course in the opposite direction to the West- and that until the end of September..which means the sun will rise now from the west on Mars!! And this weird phenomena of the opposite movement called "Retrograde Motion" Most scientist state that all the planets will go through the same once at least and our planet Earth is one of them. Planet Earth will move in the opposite direction some day and the sun will rise from the west!!
This might occur soon and we are unaware! The rise of the sun from the west is mentioned in the hadith and this is the major sign of the day of judgment, most if not All, the minor signs have occurred. Wake up.
Our beloved messenger Mohamed (Peace Be Upon Him) said: "One of the signs of the hour..the sun will rise from the west, where no longer tauba(forgiveness) will be granted" !!And the strange thing..most of our Shariah scholars mentioned that the rise of the sun from the west occurs only once..on that day..the sun will rise from the west..then again from the east..and continues until Allah wishes..and this is similar to what is happening to Mars..it stops, then it changes its course of direction for a short period of time..then returns to way once it was.
And Abdullah Bin Amro (R.A.) said: (I memorized from the messenger (SAW) a hadith I will never forget..I heard the messenger of Allah (SAW) say: The first aya to come the rise of the sun from the west) [Ahmad]
And the messenger SAW "Allah (SWT) places HIS hand at night to forgive his morning sinners, and places in the morning to forgive his night sinners until the sun rises from the west" [Muslim]
This piece of news is very important as it brings with it a great sign of warning and remembrance of the coming of a new WORLD - the world of he Hereafter When we show this hadith that was told 1400 years ago about this miracle..you will see InshaALLAH, a lot will rivert to right path...And the muslims if they see this phenomena happening in
Mars..who knows maybe it would bring them closer to our CREATOR.
May Allah (swt) keep all of us in the Right path and provide us with
success in this world as well as in the hereafter.
When I read it first, I thought, well, this is very important news. But why have I not read about any such news in any of the local or international newspapers? Nor I have seen any such news on T.V. So I googled it, by simply typing: Nasa - Sunrise from the West. All I found in the search results was, the forums, where this news was being posted and the people’s commenting on it. I did not find, any newspaper revealing such a story. It is interesting to read the discussions on the chat forums. They actually believe that this is a true story and are actually building facts and false theories around it. Without even finding out the actual source. It is also interesting to note, how such a story is then linked to Hadith and the revelations in the Quran. Apart from this, the above pasted article has got so many, spelling mistakes and errors that it, in no way looks like a published piece.
One of the things that is the most interesting is that, whenever we hear a news and there is a course of religion or a reference of Hadiths attached at the end of it, we do not think beyond that. Rather we think, this had to happen to this is happening. I am not denying the fact that the revelations made by the Quran and as described by the Hadiths are not happening. But I am strictly against the rotation of false news and then linking it to the Quran and the Hadiths.
We don’t realize, but this is a very important issue. It is time, that we all must try and find the real sources behind all the rumours and the news that we are surrounded with. Otherwise, as a result we face consequences as depicted in the movie Delhi-6 and so many more that still lay unrevealed!
Also read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey-man_of_New_Delhi#Last_sightings
http://www.paklinks.com/gs/all-views/159958-nasa-sunrise-west.html
http://my.opera.com/mailmurshed/blog/index.dml/tag/Nasa%20-%20Sunrise%20from%20the%20West
http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3430
20 February 2009
Gasping for air
Dark night…
Silence-loneliness,
Breathlessness-dizziness,
Palpitations and heaviness!
Awakening of a new dawn...
with some old feelings for long!
Crunching of the chest,
gasping for air,
fading breath...
This might be it!
This might be the end!
So soon, not known,
Heart is racing and I am falling numb.
Shall I stay?
Or travel to the other place?
What is here seems to still hold…
So many things left untold….
Scared to death or for death?
What is this feeling?
I don’t know…!
Silence-loneliness,
Breathlessness-dizziness,
Palpitations and heaviness!
Awakening of a new dawn...
with some old feelings for long!
Crunching of the chest,
gasping for air,
fading breath...
This might be it!
This might be the end!
So soon, not known,
Heart is racing and I am falling numb.
Shall I stay?
Or travel to the other place?
What is here seems to still hold…
So many things left untold….
Scared to death or for death?
What is this feeling?
I don’t know…!
17 February 2009
The role of 'Maids' in our society.
A couple of weeks back, I was looking at an album on my friend’s profile on Facebook. It was a Birthday album of a little girl. What really struck me was, not the lavish birthday party, which was thrown for a little girl aged 4 but the fact that the mom’s were busy socializing, where the kids were shown in the other picture with their maids. So much so, that in one of the pictures which was the cake-cutting picture, I did not see the mom’s around but all the maids with the kids.
It made me at unease. I began to wonder, in our society, we actively put the burden of our work on others. Well one of the arguments is that, these people (the maids and the servants) are there to work and we provide them with employment. But then, it has also become a social symbol. We very proudly say, the number of servants and maids we have. Besides, all this, the main issue that struck me was, that the kids were being handled by the maids and not their mothers. So their mothers were at the time of the birthday party busy socializing their kids were with someone else.
Apart from this, I sensed an untold feeling, a fear an emotion in the pictures. I saw a kind of helplessness on the faces of the maids was, that the poor maids, who were carrying those little ones, and actively involved in managing them. They might have wondered, or fancied coming to such parties, dreamed of having such birthday’s for their kids but, these kids who they were with were not their own. I was wondering if they were wishing at that point of time that they were with their kids and if their kids were there to see and celebrate such an event. On the other hand, the fortunate ones the elite mom’s who were there with their kids, were obviously not there with them. So the kids might be wishing if their mom’s could spend sometime with them rather than chitchatting.
This is the dilemma of our society. I am not against, employing maids. But those pictures just raised a number of questions in my mind. Why, the mother’s could not spare sometime, keep the maids at home and be with their kids. Or if the maids were there, they could still be actively engaged with the kids.
Parents in the west work, full or part-time, based on the understanding and law that one of parent/adult/grandparents have to be home to be with the kids. In some of the cases, they hire a nanny or a baby sitter, but that is just for some special occasions and not always. One of the reasons is off course that a babysitter or a nanny is not affordable for all households. Apart from this, single parents do get compensation to be with their kids at home. But we don’t have any such issues in our society. That one of the partner has to work, to make ends meet. I am aware of the issues that the kids do face later in the west. But that is when they go for their schooling but during their early ages, they are very much in contact with their parents unlike the social structure in our society. Our society is socially rich, our culture is deep and relations are tied up together. The pictures that I saw were not of all working mothers but those belonging to the elite, showing their status to carry maids.
I felt after looking at those pictures, the sadness, when you have something, a blessing, that you are in the position to be with your kids, and you leave them to be handled by someone else. And on the other side, the maids, who wants to be with their kids and there they are, because of circumstances handling someone else’s.
It made me at unease. I began to wonder, in our society, we actively put the burden of our work on others. Well one of the arguments is that, these people (the maids and the servants) are there to work and we provide them with employment. But then, it has also become a social symbol. We very proudly say, the number of servants and maids we have. Besides, all this, the main issue that struck me was, that the kids were being handled by the maids and not their mothers. So their mothers were at the time of the birthday party busy socializing their kids were with someone else.
Apart from this, I sensed an untold feeling, a fear an emotion in the pictures. I saw a kind of helplessness on the faces of the maids was, that the poor maids, who were carrying those little ones, and actively involved in managing them. They might have wondered, or fancied coming to such parties, dreamed of having such birthday’s for their kids but, these kids who they were with were not their own. I was wondering if they were wishing at that point of time that they were with their kids and if their kids were there to see and celebrate such an event. On the other hand, the fortunate ones the elite mom’s who were there with their kids, were obviously not there with them. So the kids might be wishing if their mom’s could spend sometime with them rather than chitchatting.
This is the dilemma of our society. I am not against, employing maids. But those pictures just raised a number of questions in my mind. Why, the mother’s could not spare sometime, keep the maids at home and be with their kids. Or if the maids were there, they could still be actively engaged with the kids.
Parents in the west work, full or part-time, based on the understanding and law that one of parent/adult/grandparents have to be home to be with the kids. In some of the cases, they hire a nanny or a baby sitter, but that is just for some special occasions and not always. One of the reasons is off course that a babysitter or a nanny is not affordable for all households. Apart from this, single parents do get compensation to be with their kids at home. But we don’t have any such issues in our society. That one of the partner has to work, to make ends meet. I am aware of the issues that the kids do face later in the west. But that is when they go for their schooling but during their early ages, they are very much in contact with their parents unlike the social structure in our society. Our society is socially rich, our culture is deep and relations are tied up together. The pictures that I saw were not of all working mothers but those belonging to the elite, showing their status to carry maids.
I felt after looking at those pictures, the sadness, when you have something, a blessing, that you are in the position to be with your kids, and you leave them to be handled by someone else. And on the other side, the maids, who wants to be with their kids and there they are, because of circumstances handling someone else’s.
16 February 2009
Dreams
Dreams are continuous never ending,
If you achieve them you want the other thing.
Dreams provide hope,
What you aspire and desire for,
Dreams are a reality that you haven’t yet achieved,
Once you achieve they are no longer desired.
But dreams are important for they give u a meaning to stand up and achieve something.
Dreams! What are dreams?
Fantasy, reality or just something you haven’t achieved?
Dreams are like stars on the sky you want to reach,
Once you get there they no longer mean anything.
Why are there dreams just for hope or to give us something to look for?
Dreams are about things you think would change your life,
Dreams should remain dreams for if you achieve them they lose their meaning.
If you achieve them you want the other thing.
Dreams provide hope,
What you aspire and desire for,
Dreams are a reality that you haven’t yet achieved,
Once you achieve they are no longer desired.
But dreams are important for they give u a meaning to stand up and achieve something.
Dreams! What are dreams?
Fantasy, reality or just something you haven’t achieved?
Dreams are like stars on the sky you want to reach,
Once you get there they no longer mean anything.
Why are there dreams just for hope or to give us something to look for?
Dreams are about things you think would change your life,
Dreams should remain dreams for if you achieve them they lose their meaning.
14 February 2009
Selfish Beings!
Innocence of childhood,
Wrapped in the warmth of parents,
Playing around them,
Happy and healing,
Corruption takes over,
Values are distorted!
All the rules are broken,
The innocence is long forgotten!
Helpless creatures-
Humans become!
Wisdom is tarnished,
Hopes are broken,
Eyes hard to meet them,
Becomes difficult to take care of them,
So surrounded with, the world around-
Worry less where you were born!
Self is disgusted!
Loneliness surrounds,
Future takes over past is gone,
Selfish is human,
Looks ahead not at what’s gone!
Wrapped in the warmth of parents,
Playing around them,
Happy and healing,
Corruption takes over,
Values are distorted!
All the rules are broken,
The innocence is long forgotten!
Helpless creatures-
Humans become!
Wisdom is tarnished,
Hopes are broken,
Eyes hard to meet them,
Becomes difficult to take care of them,
So surrounded with, the world around-
Worry less where you were born!
Self is disgusted!
Loneliness surrounds,
Future takes over past is gone,
Selfish is human,
Looks ahead not at what’s gone!
Regret!
Someone makes a journey and someone stays,
They don’t even give you any warning to say,
That this might their last day,
Someone goes away in a faraway land,
Leaving everyone behind,
So much you remember later, that you wish have said!
Things to do before they had left,
Face the reality of life, would you treat them
Any different if they were still there?
Look around and think,
People you are surrounded with,
Be nice and love them irrespective of what they say,
As this regret might be there to stay,
Care for the ones that remain,
For you don’t know whose next!
They don’t even give you any warning to say,
That this might their last day,
Someone goes away in a faraway land,
Leaving everyone behind,
So much you remember later, that you wish have said!
Things to do before they had left,
Face the reality of life, would you treat them
Any different if they were still there?
Look around and think,
People you are surrounded with,
Be nice and love them irrespective of what they say,
As this regret might be there to stay,
Care for the ones that remain,
For you don’t know whose next!
Farewell
Sweet smile, soft voice and those lovely hazel eyes.
That cute face to die for and the tenderness to hold,
You took my hands when we first met,
I was nervous, you made me at ease, smiled and looked ever so great.
Hours of talking, that I did with you,
You really loved me like my own Nan would do!
You did take my side and were always there,
Then why couldn’t you have stayed?
You told me, you missed us,
Then why did you left us away?
I wish we were there, when you were taking your last breath.
Just to tell you how much we cared!
I wish I had seen your face,
Kissed you on your forehead,
And bid you my last farewell,
When they took you to the other place.
Your memories will always last,
But your touch was one of its kinds..
Tell me where will we find such innocence
And love in these times?
You prayed for us when you were here,
It is now our time!
We will love you forever,
Our love for you will last lifetime!
That cute face to die for and the tenderness to hold,
You took my hands when we first met,
I was nervous, you made me at ease, smiled and looked ever so great.
Hours of talking, that I did with you,
You really loved me like my own Nan would do!
You did take my side and were always there,
Then why couldn’t you have stayed?
You told me, you missed us,
Then why did you left us away?
I wish we were there, when you were taking your last breath.
Just to tell you how much we cared!
I wish I had seen your face,
Kissed you on your forehead,
And bid you my last farewell,
When they took you to the other place.
Your memories will always last,
But your touch was one of its kinds..
Tell me where will we find such innocence
And love in these times?
You prayed for us when you were here,
It is now our time!
We will love you forever,
Our love for you will last lifetime!
7 February 2009
Will I ever get there?
I saw them playing, clicking pictures
I gently asked ‘can I come up’?
They shrugged me off
And said go away, this is not your place!
I was cleaning the table
Where I saw his mother
Feeding him gently
Telling all the stories I never got a chance to hear
I silently whispered,
I wish I had a mother
Look I’m just here
Would you keep me like your son?
I was picking up the plates where one of it fell
A scream came my way ‘can you do one thing straight?’
I looked around and all went black
My cheek turned red, it hurt so bad; did I just get a slap?
I was cleaning the room
When my heart started to pound
Just touched a toy lying around
And then came he crying about!
I tried to explain
I just wanted to play
‘They are expensive’ they said
‘Have you even seen your face?’
I sobbed and cried
No one seemed to have cared
I have a heart too, am I not a child?
Is it my fault, if I’m born in a no-where town?
I picked myself up, brushed myself off
My stomach crunched, and my eyes felt numb
But those images kept flashing that day
And I kept asking myself, 'will I ever get there?'
I gently asked ‘can I come up’?
They shrugged me off
And said go away, this is not your place!
I was cleaning the table
Where I saw his mother
Feeding him gently
Telling all the stories I never got a chance to hear
I silently whispered,
I wish I had a mother
Look I’m just here
Would you keep me like your son?
I was picking up the plates where one of it fell
A scream came my way ‘can you do one thing straight?’
I looked around and all went black
My cheek turned red, it hurt so bad; did I just get a slap?
I was cleaning the room
When my heart started to pound
Just touched a toy lying around
And then came he crying about!
I tried to explain
I just wanted to play
‘They are expensive’ they said
‘Have you even seen your face?’
I sobbed and cried
No one seemed to have cared
I have a heart too, am I not a child?
Is it my fault, if I’m born in a no-where town?
I picked myself up, brushed myself off
My stomach crunched, and my eyes felt numb
But those images kept flashing that day
And I kept asking myself, 'will I ever get there?'
Setting dreams on fire.
Setting dreams on fire,
tearing all hopes gathered together…
But something stops me,
Tells me I can still achieve whatever I desire!
Setting dreams on fire,
Burning all what I aspired…
A voice comes from within and says;
What’s stopping you from reaching there?
Setting dreams on fire,
losing all the strength puckered,
And as I look in the mirror….
my image, tells me this is not the face of a loser!
Setting dreams on fire,
Fading deep down in the ocean,
And let myself drown, but my body resists and says;
You can swim this water!
Setting dreams on fire,
Will lead nowhere but frustration.
Don’t squelch flow against the current,
Forget the failure and get what u desire!
tearing all hopes gathered together…
But something stops me,
Tells me I can still achieve whatever I desire!
Setting dreams on fire,
Burning all what I aspired…
A voice comes from within and says;
What’s stopping you from reaching there?
Setting dreams on fire,
losing all the strength puckered,
And as I look in the mirror….
my image, tells me this is not the face of a loser!
Setting dreams on fire,
Fading deep down in the ocean,
And let myself drown, but my body resists and says;
You can swim this water!
Setting dreams on fire,
Will lead nowhere but frustration.
Don’t squelch flow against the current,
Forget the failure and get what u desire!
5 February 2009
Ashes of Hope
Hopes being tarnished
Dreams being thrashed
Esteem being lost
Pride is there no more
Things change suddenly
Tears shed endlessly
Hurt's so deeply
Broken up to the highest degree
Sun brings no change
Moon seems so gloomy
Each day remains the same
Look everywhere for change
Things remain the same
Mind too occupied lost somewhere
Hurt so much, tears seemed to have dried away
Why do I find no way?
Dunes of sand I see everywhere
No hope for rain, only despair
Such is the agony
If you listen with open ears
Feelings can’t be told
My fears can’t be sold
They lie deep inside me
Burning every inch of me
Why do I feel sad?
When everything seems all right
No one will ever know
What lies within my eyes.
Dreams being thrashed
Esteem being lost
Pride is there no more
Things change suddenly
Tears shed endlessly
Hurt's so deeply
Broken up to the highest degree
Sun brings no change
Moon seems so gloomy
Each day remains the same
Look everywhere for change
Things remain the same
Mind too occupied lost somewhere
Hurt so much, tears seemed to have dried away
Why do I find no way?
Dunes of sand I see everywhere
No hope for rain, only despair
Such is the agony
If you listen with open ears
Feelings can’t be told
My fears can’t be sold
They lie deep inside me
Burning every inch of me
Why do I feel sad?
When everything seems all right
No one will ever know
What lies within my eyes.
Whispers in the darkness.
Whispers in the darkness
Of silence and loneliness
Mind wanders, runs and thinks
Things achieved and yet to achieve
Mystery continues and seems endless
Things come up and hang there
Worries seems to have no boundaries
Imagination speaks more than it should allowed to be
Thoughts stride like waves on the shore
Shutting doors, windows everything around
Let there be not air to breathe
Cascade in a box let the world die for me
Just lie in, don’t speak!
Leave the world behind
Shut everything for me
close my eyes and let me be in peace.
Mind wanders, runs and thinks
Things achieved and yet to achieve
Mystery continues and seems endless
Things come up and hang there
Worries seems to have no boundaries
Imagination speaks more than it should allowed to be
Thoughts stride like waves on the shore
Shutting doors, windows everything around
Let there be not air to breathe
Cascade in a box let the world die for me
Just lie in, don’t speak!
Leave the world behind
Shut everything for me
close my eyes and let me be in peace.
4 February 2009
The Trail.
Satisfaction, content and happiness
Words can't define their essence
Easily lost cannot be stolen
Found in little things.
Struggle continues each day
Difficulties pave their way
Gales come and stride away
Forces easily get there and prevail
So hard it is to get there
Understand the meaning behind all the trails
Quintessence is hard to comprehend
For if you get them easily, they are forgotten
Fight is a must!
Strive and achieve what you deserve
Stand like a mountain
Be that rock and get what you truly want!
Resistance will pay off someday
Never loose faith, stand up and face your fate
For satisfaction, content and happiness are a necessity of life
Find them, get them and hold them tight!
Words can't define their essence
Easily lost cannot be stolen
Found in little things.
Struggle continues each day
Difficulties pave their way
Gales come and stride away
Forces easily get there and prevail
So hard it is to get there
Understand the meaning behind all the trails
Quintessence is hard to comprehend
For if you get them easily, they are forgotten
Fight is a must!
Strive and achieve what you deserve
Stand like a mountain
Be that rock and get what you truly want!
Resistance will pay off someday
Never loose faith, stand up and face your fate
For satisfaction, content and happiness are a necessity of life
Find them, get them and hold them tight!
2 February 2009
Fair Trade.. is it really?
I have seen many customers at Marks and Spencer's paying a higher price to buy 'Fair trade' items. Once a customer told me, “I would rather go for the Fair Trade items, so that it could benefit the poor people and they get a fair price for their work”. Well, I thought... is it really Fair trade?
What is Fair trade? I just searched on the Internet to find a definition and according to The Fair-trade Foundation it is:
“Fair-trade is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Its purpose is to create opportunities for producers and workers who have been economically disadvantaged or marginalized by the conventional trading system. If fair access to markets under better trade conditions would help them to overcome barriers to development, they can join Fair trade.”
So Fair trade means, creating opportunities for workers and producers, giving them a fair price for the good purchased so that their conditions can get better off. But is this really the reality? I know this is how is should be but is it really how it is?
During my undergrad, we attended an additional certification course of the ISO-9001. It was just a 2-day certification course. We were more interested in getting the certificate then actually listening to what the course instructor was teaching. But it seemed pretty much basic for us. It seemed as if it was just normal, this is how it should be, there should be proper lighting, there should be an adequate space, fire exits etc. But when I was doing an internship, at a Textile firm and I realized that things are not the way they are supposed to be. That Textile mill was ISO certified, but when I spoke to one of the colleagues I asked him, do you really follow ISO? He said, 'Well we do get visits from officials ever so often to see if we are following it or not, but when they are due, we change the things a little bit and get the certification". I know ISO is not related to Fair Trade in any way. But the reason to mention ISO is, that things are not being implemented the way they should be. There was a big board that crossed through my eyes every day I walked in through the main doors; it was the Wal-Mart compliance board. I can't recall all the points, but the one that really stunned me was, that the daily wage for labour workers would be a minimum of 99 rupees (approx 70-80 pence) per day. I don't really understand how 99 rupees per day can benefit employees. I wondered is it really compliance? Is it really being followed? So I am not entirely sure, if compliances really works and completely unsure how Fair-Trade would work? There are only particular lines that are Fair trade. But first of all, the market is so competitive, that how are the producers supposed to get a fair price for it? And even if they do will they really pass it on to the labour working on daily wages? And for once if I think that this extra margin that they do earn for Fair trade is being passed on... how is it exactly being passed on?
In a textile mill, there are large orders processing all together. So for instance, a few labour workers are working on Type A non fair trade and a few on Type B fair trade items, in the end how will their wages be decided? Will the labour workers working on the Type A be less fortunate then the Type B workers?
In reality, I guess there is no fair trade. I do not really think that the extra money, if the producers get any, benefits the labour workers in any way. Will they think about deepening their own pockets, and will pass it on to their sales and marketing team rather than to increase the wages of the labour workers and that too just for a particular line. Which might not be significant at all!
I have also seen here, a debate about child labour. I am not in favour of child labour but I have one question, what after you ban child labour? Are you going to feed their families? Provide them with education? If not, then, what will those poor kids end up like? Being street beggars? The question is that people in the west do not understand the level of poverty and that it cannot be cured easily. They just think, that if they ban child labour that will be it! They just think that if they pay more money for buying a 'Fair trade' item, then this benefit will surely go to them... But are things this simple?
It is just a marketing tactics. I have seen, two exactly same T-shirts, of nearly the same quality, one with a higher price for being 'FAIR TRADE' they other a cheaper make... but ultimately they both come from the same place, both made under the same circumstances and both produced by the same people, earning exactly the same!
What is Fair trade? I just searched on the Internet to find a definition and according to The Fair-trade Foundation it is:
“Fair-trade is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Its purpose is to create opportunities for producers and workers who have been economically disadvantaged or marginalized by the conventional trading system. If fair access to markets under better trade conditions would help them to overcome barriers to development, they can join Fair trade.”
So Fair trade means, creating opportunities for workers and producers, giving them a fair price for the good purchased so that their conditions can get better off. But is this really the reality? I know this is how is should be but is it really how it is?
During my undergrad, we attended an additional certification course of the ISO-9001. It was just a 2-day certification course. We were more interested in getting the certificate then actually listening to what the course instructor was teaching. But it seemed pretty much basic for us. It seemed as if it was just normal, this is how it should be, there should be proper lighting, there should be an adequate space, fire exits etc. But when I was doing an internship, at a Textile firm and I realized that things are not the way they are supposed to be. That Textile mill was ISO certified, but when I spoke to one of the colleagues I asked him, do you really follow ISO? He said, 'Well we do get visits from officials ever so often to see if we are following it or not, but when they are due, we change the things a little bit and get the certification". I know ISO is not related to Fair Trade in any way. But the reason to mention ISO is, that things are not being implemented the way they should be. There was a big board that crossed through my eyes every day I walked in through the main doors; it was the Wal-Mart compliance board. I can't recall all the points, but the one that really stunned me was, that the daily wage for labour workers would be a minimum of 99 rupees (approx 70-80 pence) per day. I don't really understand how 99 rupees per day can benefit employees. I wondered is it really compliance? Is it really being followed? So I am not entirely sure, if compliances really works and completely unsure how Fair-Trade would work? There are only particular lines that are Fair trade. But first of all, the market is so competitive, that how are the producers supposed to get a fair price for it? And even if they do will they really pass it on to the labour working on daily wages? And for once if I think that this extra margin that they do earn for Fair trade is being passed on... how is it exactly being passed on?
In a textile mill, there are large orders processing all together. So for instance, a few labour workers are working on Type A non fair trade and a few on Type B fair trade items, in the end how will their wages be decided? Will the labour workers working on the Type A be less fortunate then the Type B workers?
In reality, I guess there is no fair trade. I do not really think that the extra money, if the producers get any, benefits the labour workers in any way. Will they think about deepening their own pockets, and will pass it on to their sales and marketing team rather than to increase the wages of the labour workers and that too just for a particular line. Which might not be significant at all!
I have also seen here, a debate about child labour. I am not in favour of child labour but I have one question, what after you ban child labour? Are you going to feed their families? Provide them with education? If not, then, what will those poor kids end up like? Being street beggars? The question is that people in the west do not understand the level of poverty and that it cannot be cured easily. They just think, that if they ban child labour that will be it! They just think that if they pay more money for buying a 'Fair trade' item, then this benefit will surely go to them... But are things this simple?
It is just a marketing tactics. I have seen, two exactly same T-shirts, of nearly the same quality, one with a higher price for being 'FAIR TRADE' they other a cheaper make... but ultimately they both come from the same place, both made under the same circumstances and both produced by the same people, earning exactly the same!
28 January 2009
Killing réalité!
Anger and aggression kills me,
And takes me away from me,
So hard hitting are the facts,
Leave me in torment and angst.
Why do they ask me to speak?
When they don’t want to know the réalité!
Why it is counted as a sin when I do speak?
For they not know what I have been…
I wonder why people have double standards,
Want something for themselves and something else for others!
Oh! They change so suddenly,
And forget the promises made so easily.
It keeps killing me,
With so many thoughts floating inside me,
Pain, tears and left in self-pity,
Is this where I wanted to be?
They remind me of the past days
Do they even remember any of the promises made?
Bravo to them, they forget so easily,
And then come and ask what is wrong with me.
Alas! Those promises so fulfilling and content, of change and future!
But do the same when put in the situation again,
Here I was fighting with the whole world for them,
And so easily they give you up for the world!
And takes me away from me,
So hard hitting are the facts,
Leave me in torment and angst.
Why do they ask me to speak?
When they don’t want to know the réalité!
Why it is counted as a sin when I do speak?
For they not know what I have been…
I wonder why people have double standards,
Want something for themselves and something else for others!
Oh! They change so suddenly,
And forget the promises made so easily.
It keeps killing me,
With so many thoughts floating inside me,
Pain, tears and left in self-pity,
Is this where I wanted to be?
They remind me of the past days
Do they even remember any of the promises made?
Bravo to them, they forget so easily,
And then come and ask what is wrong with me.
Alas! Those promises so fulfilling and content, of change and future!
But do the same when put in the situation again,
Here I was fighting with the whole world for them,
And so easily they give you up for the world!
26 January 2009
What if...
What if there is no one and you are left on your own?
No lights, no one to guide, and no one there for you.
What if you look back and still you can’t find them?
Distances create their way, with your heart bleeding and you don’t know what had happened.
What if that someone is there but seems away?
You want to reach them, touch them, and tell them how much you care.
What if that someone listens but don’t understand, hears but acts deaf?
With you left in disbelief, wondering how could that ever happen to me.
What if you still wish to be with them?
Leading the life listening to what they say and just stay.
What if I tell you this the reality of life?
No matter what happens you have to keep trying…
No lights, no one to guide, and no one there for you.
What if you look back and still you can’t find them?
Distances create their way, with your heart bleeding and you don’t know what had happened.
What if that someone is there but seems away?
You want to reach them, touch them, and tell them how much you care.
What if that someone listens but don’t understand, hears but acts deaf?
With you left in disbelief, wondering how could that ever happen to me.
What if you still wish to be with them?
Leading the life listening to what they say and just stay.
What if I tell you this the reality of life?
No matter what happens you have to keep trying…
23 January 2009
Silence speaks...
Where there is darkness all around and no one to speak,
I can hear my heart ticking feeling very week.
So much life was there during the day,
Why does everything appears dead to me?
Is it just me or my imagination speaks,
Feeling so alone and as I look back,
I can’t really find any friends that I once had,
Was it me or did they leave by themselves,
So hard to guess, and the regret is still there,
Would life be any different if I would still have them?
When there is darkness all around and I can’t sleep,
I ask myself what will happen when I don’t live?
My mind just wanders around,
Thinking about things that I don’t want!
The bed feels like a grave to me,
And the silence comes and kills me.
How different would that world be?
Will I see the ones that I wanted to meet?
Why are we so afraid of the life after death?
For God is forgiving and he might forgive.
When there is darkness all around and I hear a voice,
Making me feel I am still alive.
I can hear my heart ticking feeling very week.
So much life was there during the day,
Why does everything appears dead to me?
Is it just me or my imagination speaks,
Feeling so alone and as I look back,
I can’t really find any friends that I once had,
Was it me or did they leave by themselves,
So hard to guess, and the regret is still there,
Would life be any different if I would still have them?
When there is darkness all around and I can’t sleep,
I ask myself what will happen when I don’t live?
My mind just wanders around,
Thinking about things that I don’t want!
The bed feels like a grave to me,
And the silence comes and kills me.
How different would that world be?
Will I see the ones that I wanted to meet?
Why are we so afraid of the life after death?
For God is forgiving and he might forgive.
When there is darkness all around and I hear a voice,
Making me feel I am still alive.
22 January 2009
Innocent eyes.
I am just a little girl, lying on a hospital bed,
Smile on my face with a teddy in hand,
Don’t know yet that I have lost my legs!
I was just having fun with my sisters the other day.
And then came they, with a big tank.
What was my fault? I was just playing out door!
Why do you come now? Where were you when the massacre was going on?
We shouted and cried, but no one seemed to have cared,
Everyone, I was playing with seemed to be playing a new game,
Hospitalized somewhere, don’t know where my father stand,
I’ve lost two sisters still have a smile on my face.
Look at my father standing tall, still wants to live where he lost all!
I know nothing for I am so young,
But don’t know what will happen when I discover I won’t be able to run!
Nightmares will haunt me my sisters will call me,
Who will now play with me, for they are long gone!
Smile on my face with a teddy in hand,
Don’t know yet that I have lost my legs!
I was just having fun with my sisters the other day.
And then came they, with a big tank.
What was my fault? I was just playing out door!
Why do you come now? Where were you when the massacre was going on?
We shouted and cried, but no one seemed to have cared,
Everyone, I was playing with seemed to be playing a new game,
Hospitalized somewhere, don’t know where my father stand,
I’ve lost two sisters still have a smile on my face.
Look at my father standing tall, still wants to live where he lost all!
I know nothing for I am so young,
But don’t know what will happen when I discover I won’t be able to run!
Nightmares will haunt me my sisters will call me,
Who will now play with me, for they are long gone!
21 January 2009
Are these just numbers?
I have just seen a news on the BBC and i just can't write anything at this point. I want all of you to look at this video and ask yourself, how easily we see the figures of the number of people killed everyday, and the number of people injured. Ever thought what lies behind those figures and numbers? For they are not just numbers of people killed, they are families, their relavatives left in despair and the life of those injured people after that incident.
How easily, Israel and Hammas fought a war before the finish of the Bush administration. How easily, they both called ceasefire, just at the time Obama walked in the Office. How easily they just bombarded the entire area leaving, so many people dead, so many injured and so many homeless... Just think for a minute.. are these just numbers?
Check out this link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7843430.stm
How easily, Israel and Hammas fought a war before the finish of the Bush administration. How easily, they both called ceasefire, just at the time Obama walked in the Office. How easily they just bombarded the entire area leaving, so many people dead, so many injured and so many homeless... Just think for a minute.. are these just numbers?
Check out this link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7843430.stm
Fragile Dreams...
In the midst of the darkest dreams,
That sometimes, still haunts me,
I get up in the middle of the night and pray,
Oh God, take the evil away.
Aggression, depression and anger, still pave their way,
But somewhere inside us, a voice comes and says,
No matter where we may stay,
This will go away.
Hunger, yearning and poverty, ever heard a poor man’s dream?
So simple and fragile it seems,
Sometimes, I wonder, where their life has been,
But wisdom and hope I can still see.
Amusing, entertaining and diverting, are the kids you see,
Playing around the corner of the street,
So full of life they seem,
Ever thought, what lies behind them is reality!
Aspiration, ambition and longing do they even know their meanings?
For they are the words, not meant for them,
Still how astonishing to see, how they juggle each day,
Hope comes and sinks again and again.
For dream, imagination and reverie, needs no boundaries,
Impossible is nothing, until you believe,
And we all know, that they say,
When there is will, there is a way.
That sometimes, still haunts me,
I get up in the middle of the night and pray,
Oh God, take the evil away.
Aggression, depression and anger, still pave their way,
But somewhere inside us, a voice comes and says,
No matter where we may stay,
This will go away.
Hunger, yearning and poverty, ever heard a poor man’s dream?
So simple and fragile it seems,
Sometimes, I wonder, where their life has been,
But wisdom and hope I can still see.
Amusing, entertaining and diverting, are the kids you see,
Playing around the corner of the street,
So full of life they seem,
Ever thought, what lies behind them is reality!
Aspiration, ambition and longing do they even know their meanings?
For they are the words, not meant for them,
Still how astonishing to see, how they juggle each day,
Hope comes and sinks again and again.
For dream, imagination and reverie, needs no boundaries,
Impossible is nothing, until you believe,
And we all know, that they say,
When there is will, there is a way.
20 January 2009
Once slaves, now Leaders!
Today was a very exciting day. Today Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of The United States of America and the first Black president. I have been a big fan of Obama, not because he is a black, or because of his astonishing personality and persona, but because, a few months back, I read his book ‘Dreams from my Father’. It is such an excellent book, it is written not by the President of the United States today, not from a senator but from a young 33-year-old man. Fresh out of University. I like this book, because it is free from any manipulation or as some might say, propaganda for fame. It is a very honest book and it is because of this book, that I like and adore him so much.
I knew very less about him before, but now, it really seems to me as if his life is like a movie. After reading the book, when I started following on his speeches, his career, it really appears so surprising and exciting. I picked up another book of his as well, ‘The audacity of hope’. I left it in the middle because of the lapse of time. But he is a person, who believes in simple values. Education, health, some of the very basic things in life, not the fancy ones. His core values are for an ordinary person are to be happy and content. In his book, 'Dreams from my father' he writes about how his grandfather used to feel, doing the same job over and over again and for years. He explains about the dejection he faced at work. And in the 'Audicity of Hope' he again mentions that, that simple Americans or rather people around the world, face such issues in their day to day life. These are the issues and his idea about such issues that makes him so special. If you look at the basics of life and try to sort them out first, then many complicated things will get sorted out. He is the person straight out of the streets of Hawaii. In his books, he also mentions about his juggle for being a Black man. I can imagine it must be difficult, being a black but living in whites. It is just amazing to see, how he is full of so much hope, all of his speeches so full of wisdom. The most exciting speech of his was the one, when he won the Presidency. It was amazing to see a person like Jesse Jackson, in tears. Yes M.L King’s vision has come true and the slaves are now the leaders. I bet it is not just the speeches that are so power housed, but also his definite charm and personality and those witty eyes. I think he will make a good president, because he has been through a lot in life. He has been raised in a middle class family. Travelled to Kenya and experienced poverty in his relatives life and been closer to life than I guess any of the previous Presidents. I think his approach towards, the Muslims will be different, not because half of his family is Muslim or he has a Muslim name, not because his father was a Muslim but because, I see him as being sensible enough to make a balance between good and bad. And to lead in an affirmative manner that is positive for all. He has worked with charitable organizations, lived a middle class life, and I guess that is what is so extra ordinary about this man.
Also in policies, he has defined and promised a different approach for the Middle East, Iran, and Afghanistan. I really am looking forward to seeing a different world from now on. Not because he has promised for that, but because his policies will be such a break through from that of the Bush. Also, recession entered the U.S.A during the Bush's era, the country is still into recession and during the Obama's tenure, it will pull out from the recession. This will make him more popular, as a country cannot remain in the recession for long. Apart from this, Democrat’s way of leading is much different than that of the Republicans. His way of leadership will be more similar to that of the Clinton’s and I guess that is what the world needs now. But I am sure, that there will be some forces that will try and break that harmony and peace and cause disturbance, especially during the first few months. But I am sure; he will come out of it.
I knew very less about him before, but now, it really seems to me as if his life is like a movie. After reading the book, when I started following on his speeches, his career, it really appears so surprising and exciting. I picked up another book of his as well, ‘The audacity of hope’. I left it in the middle because of the lapse of time. But he is a person, who believes in simple values. Education, health, some of the very basic things in life, not the fancy ones. His core values are for an ordinary person are to be happy and content. In his book, 'Dreams from my father' he writes about how his grandfather used to feel, doing the same job over and over again and for years. He explains about the dejection he faced at work. And in the 'Audicity of Hope' he again mentions that, that simple Americans or rather people around the world, face such issues in their day to day life. These are the issues and his idea about such issues that makes him so special. If you look at the basics of life and try to sort them out first, then many complicated things will get sorted out. He is the person straight out of the streets of Hawaii. In his books, he also mentions about his juggle for being a Black man. I can imagine it must be difficult, being a black but living in whites. It is just amazing to see, how he is full of so much hope, all of his speeches so full of wisdom. The most exciting speech of his was the one, when he won the Presidency. It was amazing to see a person like Jesse Jackson, in tears. Yes M.L King’s vision has come true and the slaves are now the leaders. I bet it is not just the speeches that are so power housed, but also his definite charm and personality and those witty eyes. I think he will make a good president, because he has been through a lot in life. He has been raised in a middle class family. Travelled to Kenya and experienced poverty in his relatives life and been closer to life than I guess any of the previous Presidents. I think his approach towards, the Muslims will be different, not because half of his family is Muslim or he has a Muslim name, not because his father was a Muslim but because, I see him as being sensible enough to make a balance between good and bad. And to lead in an affirmative manner that is positive for all. He has worked with charitable organizations, lived a middle class life, and I guess that is what is so extra ordinary about this man.
Also in policies, he has defined and promised a different approach for the Middle East, Iran, and Afghanistan. I really am looking forward to seeing a different world from now on. Not because he has promised for that, but because his policies will be such a break through from that of the Bush. Also, recession entered the U.S.A during the Bush's era, the country is still into recession and during the Obama's tenure, it will pull out from the recession. This will make him more popular, as a country cannot remain in the recession for long. Apart from this, Democrat’s way of leading is much different than that of the Republicans. His way of leadership will be more similar to that of the Clinton’s and I guess that is what the world needs now. But I am sure, that there will be some forces that will try and break that harmony and peace and cause disturbance, especially during the first few months. But I am sure; he will come out of it.
19 January 2009
Continious learning approach.
I was having a discussion this morning on Gtalk with Baba (my father-in-law). He told me he was reading about ‘Kaizen’. I told him, I had studied about ‘Kaizen’ during my Masters here. ‘Kaizen’ is the Japanese style of management; it very much became a part in the Japanese management system after the Second World War. At the very jist of it, it means ‘continuous improvement’.
He asked me, if Kaizen was being implemented here. Well not so much I replied. Not in a way that they say we are going to apply ‘Kaizen’ but I guess it is inherent here. I can’t generalize, but people do believe in ‘team work’ and are open for suggestions.
In one of my conversations with my colleague at Marks and Spencer, she asked me, how different is the work approach in Pakistan from here? I told her well, there are many a things that are different. Just to name a few, for example, I call you by your first name. If I was in Pakistan, I would have added a Baji (elder sister) with your name. I recalled an earlier incident, that it was difficult for me to call my Manager, who was around 55 or 60 by his first name. I said to her if I was in Pakistan I might have been calling him ‘Sir’.
I said: “We have this habit to link and to form a connection with our work colleagues. It has both positive and negative points. Sometimes, you can’t tell them, that they are not performing well on their task. In such a system, there are also occasions where, ‘seniority’ is considered more than ‘capability’”
Another thing that I have noticed is that back home, if you do something wrong you will be told directly ‘you shouldn’t do it this way’ or ‘this is wrong! It shouldn’t be done this way and this is the way to do it”. Whereas, here if you (my colleague) were to tell me something which I was doing wrong, you would say ‘well I always like to do it this way’ or if I would have asked for help, you would always say ‘I would prefer doing it this way’. I really appreciate this approach. In a way, you are not undermining the person’s capability to do the task, not telling the person directly they are doing something wrong and only ‘you’ know the correct way of doing it. But this manner emphasizes that there might be a better way to do the task, which they might not know. So, rather than dejecting their approach towards work, you tell them, the way you prefer to do it. To adopt or not to adopt thus lies with the person.
You might have noticed, that I am always drawing comparisons between Pakistan and the U.K. Rather I guess the management style is the different not just between Pakistan and the U.K but between east and the west or I guess across countries, even between firms. There might be similarities as well some of the Chinese firms, might work like the Pakistani ones and the American firms might follow the U.K style or vice versa.
But I do agree with one thing, that a continuous learning approach is a must. The day we say, 'we know the best' that's a dead end. Management style should always be flexible, open for suggestions and a two-way communication system is a key for a firm to progress. Also if we would all, think about improving ourselves and stop pointing out faults in others, and have competitions with ourselves, then we as individuals will progress towards success and then our firm will be successful, because of our collective efforts.
He asked me, if Kaizen was being implemented here. Well not so much I replied. Not in a way that they say we are going to apply ‘Kaizen’ but I guess it is inherent here. I can’t generalize, but people do believe in ‘team work’ and are open for suggestions.
In one of my conversations with my colleague at Marks and Spencer, she asked me, how different is the work approach in Pakistan from here? I told her well, there are many a things that are different. Just to name a few, for example, I call you by your first name. If I was in Pakistan, I would have added a Baji (elder sister) with your name. I recalled an earlier incident, that it was difficult for me to call my Manager, who was around 55 or 60 by his first name. I said to her if I was in Pakistan I might have been calling him ‘Sir’.
I said: “We have this habit to link and to form a connection with our work colleagues. It has both positive and negative points. Sometimes, you can’t tell them, that they are not performing well on their task. In such a system, there are also occasions where, ‘seniority’ is considered more than ‘capability’”
Another thing that I have noticed is that back home, if you do something wrong you will be told directly ‘you shouldn’t do it this way’ or ‘this is wrong! It shouldn’t be done this way and this is the way to do it”. Whereas, here if you (my colleague) were to tell me something which I was doing wrong, you would say ‘well I always like to do it this way’ or if I would have asked for help, you would always say ‘I would prefer doing it this way’. I really appreciate this approach. In a way, you are not undermining the person’s capability to do the task, not telling the person directly they are doing something wrong and only ‘you’ know the correct way of doing it. But this manner emphasizes that there might be a better way to do the task, which they might not know. So, rather than dejecting their approach towards work, you tell them, the way you prefer to do it. To adopt or not to adopt thus lies with the person.
You might have noticed, that I am always drawing comparisons between Pakistan and the U.K. Rather I guess the management style is the different not just between Pakistan and the U.K but between east and the west or I guess across countries, even between firms. There might be similarities as well some of the Chinese firms, might work like the Pakistani ones and the American firms might follow the U.K style or vice versa.
But I do agree with one thing, that a continuous learning approach is a must. The day we say, 'we know the best' that's a dead end. Management style should always be flexible, open for suggestions and a two-way communication system is a key for a firm to progress. Also if we would all, think about improving ourselves and stop pointing out faults in others, and have competitions with ourselves, then we as individuals will progress towards success and then our firm will be successful, because of our collective efforts.
Thank you.
Recently as of all you might have seen, I have become really obsessed with writing Poetry. It is because I have never even tried to write Poetry except just once and that too was published in 'the young world' but they never came naturally to me. All of a sudden I feel as if I have rediscovered myself. I am really loving it. I am truly enjoying this phase and am really very excited. I am truly Thankful to Allah for providing me with such an ability that I was for long, unfamiliar with.
I really hope to improve my skills and to express my feelings more deeply. I wish someday, my pieces can create a positive impact in the world.
And last but not the least, I would really like to Thank all of my readers, for liking all my articles and poems and for all their support and appreciation. I hope I continue to write this way and improve more.
Thanks
xx
Nousheen.
I really hope to improve my skills and to express my feelings more deeply. I wish someday, my pieces can create a positive impact in the world.
And last but not the least, I would really like to Thank all of my readers, for liking all my articles and poems and for all their support and appreciation. I hope I continue to write this way and improve more.
Thanks
xx
Nousheen.
18 January 2009
Special sister....
Sitting in a corner by your brother,
I knew at once who you were,
Those shiny curly hair and big black eyes,
And then you were always by my side.
I walked in your home, and you told me then,
You always wanted a sister and you have got one now,
Can’t explain what I felt then,
As if I have found the missing one.
Little did I know that I was going to,
Be blessed with one more sister besides my two,
You always looked up to me,
Always battled with your brother for me.
You hugged me and cuddled me, always stood besides me,
And you always said to me, you are the most precious for me,
I still remember you cried the day we left home,
You said how you always wanted me to stay there with you.
I remember the day I walked from hospital to home,
I was so depressed, never felt that alone
And there you were, talking with me all night long
How easily I forgot the time was gone.
So excited I was to see you,
When you were sleeping upstairs in your room,
I shook you up and said to you ‘look honey we are back home’
And you seem so puzzled to me as if you were still seeing a dream.
I want you to know what you mean to me
There may be times when you might be mad at me
But I know you will always come back to me
For you are the most special sister for me.
I knew at once who you were,
Those shiny curly hair and big black eyes,
And then you were always by my side.
I walked in your home, and you told me then,
You always wanted a sister and you have got one now,
Can’t explain what I felt then,
As if I have found the missing one.
Little did I know that I was going to,
Be blessed with one more sister besides my two,
You always looked up to me,
Always battled with your brother for me.
You hugged me and cuddled me, always stood besides me,
And you always said to me, you are the most precious for me,
I still remember you cried the day we left home,
You said how you always wanted me to stay there with you.
I remember the day I walked from hospital to home,
I was so depressed, never felt that alone
And there you were, talking with me all night long
How easily I forgot the time was gone.
So excited I was to see you,
When you were sleeping upstairs in your room,
I shook you up and said to you ‘look honey we are back home’
And you seem so puzzled to me as if you were still seeing a dream.
I want you to know what you mean to me
There may be times when you might be mad at me
But I know you will always come back to me
For you are the most special sister for me.
You remember....
You remember when I was little you took me in your arms,
Making me feel that I was still strong,
Small steps that I was taking, at the first day of school when you walked with me in,
You let go of me, smiled and waved, for you knew I will be ok,
But I kept looking making sure u were still there.
You remember when I was at school,
Everyday you taught me, how to make a nine from a six,
Never did you say to me, how much do i have to teach more! for you always encouraged me, for whatever I scored,
You showed me you were the best from everyone that I had known,
Since I was little I had known, who I wanted to be like when I was all grown.
You remember when I got hurt, and got a bum on my head,
I showed it to everyone, but no one seemed to have cared,
And then you came home, and said ‘O my darling daughter how did u get that?’
You caressed me and loved me, and that day I knew,
So lucky I was to have you.
You remember, when I told you that I wanted to work with you,
No you said, don’t come behind me,
If you want to become something stand on your feet,
So mad I became that day when you said that to me,
As it was always my dream to be just like you had been.
You remember when I asked you what did you want me to be?
No expectations you showed to me,
Just looked around and said to me,
How you had always wanted to study,
That day I thought, I would fulfil all your dreams.
You remember when you came in the graduation for me,
Can’t forget the sparkling eyes of yours that I had seen,
And as I walked down the aisle for the degree,
Taking small steps, I still turned back, with you looking at me,
I knew that day what you had expected of me.
You remember that you never said to me,
But I knew always what you wanted from me,
And that day it became clear to me,
Of why you had said 'I don’t want you to follow me',
You wanted me to be independent and now I realize what you had meant on that eve.
You remember on my wedding day,
When you hugged and kissed on my forehead,
And you whispered in his ears, ‘Always take care of my daughter my dear’,
Tears dipping down my eyes, for I realized only there,
How much I will miss you from that day.
But you remember the day when I was born,
The nurse came and told you, 'you have a baby girl',
The tears of joy I can still see,
I will never remove your name from me,
And I will always love you unconditionally.
Making me feel that I was still strong,
Small steps that I was taking, at the first day of school when you walked with me in,
You let go of me, smiled and waved, for you knew I will be ok,
But I kept looking making sure u were still there.
You remember when I was at school,
Everyday you taught me, how to make a nine from a six,
Never did you say to me, how much do i have to teach more! for you always encouraged me, for whatever I scored,
You showed me you were the best from everyone that I had known,
Since I was little I had known, who I wanted to be like when I was all grown.
You remember when I got hurt, and got a bum on my head,
I showed it to everyone, but no one seemed to have cared,
And then you came home, and said ‘O my darling daughter how did u get that?’
You caressed me and loved me, and that day I knew,
So lucky I was to have you.
You remember, when I told you that I wanted to work with you,
No you said, don’t come behind me,
If you want to become something stand on your feet,
So mad I became that day when you said that to me,
As it was always my dream to be just like you had been.
You remember when I asked you what did you want me to be?
No expectations you showed to me,
Just looked around and said to me,
How you had always wanted to study,
That day I thought, I would fulfil all your dreams.
You remember when you came in the graduation for me,
Can’t forget the sparkling eyes of yours that I had seen,
And as I walked down the aisle for the degree,
Taking small steps, I still turned back, with you looking at me,
I knew that day what you had expected of me.
You remember that you never said to me,
But I knew always what you wanted from me,
And that day it became clear to me,
Of why you had said 'I don’t want you to follow me',
You wanted me to be independent and now I realize what you had meant on that eve.
You remember on my wedding day,
When you hugged and kissed on my forehead,
And you whispered in his ears, ‘Always take care of my daughter my dear’,
Tears dipping down my eyes, for I realized only there,
How much I will miss you from that day.
But you remember the day when I was born,
The nurse came and told you, 'you have a baby girl',
The tears of joy I can still see,
I will never remove your name from me,
And I will always love you unconditionally.
17 January 2009
A few feet under....
So happy I am now, with glory all around,
Hope for the future, desire for money and to be where I always wanted to be,
But Oh! What just happened? Did I just have an accident!
And as I lay here on the stretcher I think, this is nothing I will be up and running.
But now what I see, two death angels on top of me,
No! No! I cry, this is not where I should be,
Oh please look away, tell me you are not here for me!
I wish I could scream, go away it’s not yet time for me!
With my eyes falling numb, my hands turning cold,
And Oh the pain is unbearable I can explain no more,
My feet are cramping with my body just tarnishing,
And so helpless I feel, with no energy to move my hands or feet.
And then I hear people scream and cry,
Oh what just happened? Did I just die?
Please don’t close my eyes,
I need to say good-bye!
Here I am now, at the home that I grew in,
Two ladies bathing me but I am not familiar with,
All wrapped up I am now in a white sheet,
And now they are carrying me somewhere I never thought I would be.
Where I enter now, I should have been before,
People offering prayer now for me,
I think this will just spare me,
I wish I had spent some time here when my parents advised me.
I am now lifted up in the air, with four men, one on each side,
Please walk slow I don’t want to be there,
Oh what is this place, so dusty and sandy,
And few men digging a hole, Is this where they will put me?
I lay here a few feet under the world completely shut for me,
They did not even think about keeping me until wee,
I bang on the sides, and scream but no one to listen me,
It was never the case before and I was so full of energy.
My grave starts to shrink now, with ribs twisting apart,
Oh it’s hurting I shout and cry aloud,
Take me out from here I want to breathe,
Oh mom you were always helping me, look what just happened to me.
I thought the world would end without me,
But oh what do I see,
People did not even cry a few days for me!
I wish I had known before so that hell was not for me.
Hope for the future, desire for money and to be where I always wanted to be,
But Oh! What just happened? Did I just have an accident!
And as I lay here on the stretcher I think, this is nothing I will be up and running.
But now what I see, two death angels on top of me,
No! No! I cry, this is not where I should be,
Oh please look away, tell me you are not here for me!
I wish I could scream, go away it’s not yet time for me!
With my eyes falling numb, my hands turning cold,
And Oh the pain is unbearable I can explain no more,
My feet are cramping with my body just tarnishing,
And so helpless I feel, with no energy to move my hands or feet.
And then I hear people scream and cry,
Oh what just happened? Did I just die?
Please don’t close my eyes,
I need to say good-bye!
Here I am now, at the home that I grew in,
Two ladies bathing me but I am not familiar with,
All wrapped up I am now in a white sheet,
And now they are carrying me somewhere I never thought I would be.
Where I enter now, I should have been before,
People offering prayer now for me,
I think this will just spare me,
I wish I had spent some time here when my parents advised me.
I am now lifted up in the air, with four men, one on each side,
Please walk slow I don’t want to be there,
Oh what is this place, so dusty and sandy,
And few men digging a hole, Is this where they will put me?
I lay here a few feet under the world completely shut for me,
They did not even think about keeping me until wee,
I bang on the sides, and scream but no one to listen me,
It was never the case before and I was so full of energy.
My grave starts to shrink now, with ribs twisting apart,
Oh it’s hurting I shout and cry aloud,
Take me out from here I want to breathe,
Oh mom you were always helping me, look what just happened to me.
I thought the world would end without me,
But oh what do I see,
People did not even cry a few days for me!
I wish I had known before so that hell was not for me.
Death just seconds away....
I fell on the ground with blood tipping down,
I knew nothing of what had happened,
The time was just floating,
So weak I felt as if I was nearly dead.
I saw strange men come in,
My mind was just too shaken,
And then I was with all the plug-ins,
Lying helplessly not knowing what had happened.
They all looked weird to me speaking a language I hath not heard,
With my eyes scrolling about, I saw a man just around,
Yes he was the man I had known,
He seemed worried to me, with his eyes still following me.
I had no hope, O God! What will happen if I live no more?
I looked here and there in a hope that I could move,
For this might be my chance for that man to say,
I have always loved you for you are my soul mate!
My heart racing now, with tension building all around,
I said O God! if this is it grant my parents patience, as they need it,
Memories now floating my mind, had I done any good in so many years time?
I turned up to God and said, ‘O God! please forgive my sins'.
What if this is it? Has my life even started?
For I hath not known, life is short and may last no more,
And so helpless I felt that day…
With death just seconds away……
I knew nothing of what had happened,
The time was just floating,
So weak I felt as if I was nearly dead.
I saw strange men come in,
My mind was just too shaken,
And then I was with all the plug-ins,
Lying helplessly not knowing what had happened.
They all looked weird to me speaking a language I hath not heard,
With my eyes scrolling about, I saw a man just around,
Yes he was the man I had known,
He seemed worried to me, with his eyes still following me.
I had no hope, O God! What will happen if I live no more?
I looked here and there in a hope that I could move,
For this might be my chance for that man to say,
I have always loved you for you are my soul mate!
My heart racing now, with tension building all around,
I said O God! if this is it grant my parents patience, as they need it,
Memories now floating my mind, had I done any good in so many years time?
I turned up to God and said, ‘O God! please forgive my sins'.
What if this is it? Has my life even started?
For I hath not known, life is short and may last no more,
And so helpless I felt that day…
With death just seconds away……
The world around me....
As I sit here, the world around me rocks,
with people laughing about, so full of joy,
with kids free of worries in a environment so green,
with students in a hope for a future, already living their dreams.
As I sit here the world around me excels,
with technology rising every day,
with progression everywhere,
with developments hard to conceive.
As I sit here I think about the world far far away from me,
with people dying of hunger,
with brothers killing one another,
kids with a broken arm or leg, left in despair.
As I sit here I think about the world that still rocks
with the sound of barrages,
with the lightning of the blasts,
with the smell of gunpowder,
And as I sit here I think about the world so gloomy,
with still expectations exceeding their grief,
with desperation making them hearty,
with still hope, belief, optimism and dream...
with people laughing about, so full of joy,
with kids free of worries in a environment so green,
with students in a hope for a future, already living their dreams.
As I sit here the world around me excels,
with technology rising every day,
with progression everywhere,
with developments hard to conceive.
As I sit here I think about the world far far away from me,
with people dying of hunger,
with brothers killing one another,
kids with a broken arm or leg, left in despair.
As I sit here I think about the world that still rocks
with the sound of barrages,
with the lightning of the blasts,
with the smell of gunpowder,
And as I sit here I think about the world so gloomy,
with still expectations exceeding their grief,
with desperation making them hearty,
with still hope, belief, optimism and dream...
16 January 2009
Alien in my own land....
A few days back, during my training, I was trying to divert my attention from the cross trainer. I rolled in my earplugs and focused on one of the four Plasma's that hung in a row just a few yards away from me, each playing a different channel. I just picked a channel and focused on the plasma that hung right across my cross trainer. I did not want to, but just in a hope that my remaining 15 minutes would pass quickly I started to watch SKY NEWS. And there it was! the news I have been ignoring for sometime now. The news about Gaza. I have been trying hard to stay away from this news as it just breaks my heart over and over again when I see the faces of those poor children and women being killed in a deadly battle with the enemy attacking from everywhere. It makes me angry and frustrated that I can't do anything about it rather than just signing a few useless petitions and updating my status reporting how many people have died so far in Palestine on Facebook.
So as I focused my attention to the channel, the newsreader began to interview an Israeli spokesman in Israel. She seemed a bit furious at him. The anger was understandable. "Despite all the efforts to call for a cease-fire, we see Israel still shelling bombs in Gaza what you have to say about it?" " well we are just shelling the bombs because Hammas is throwing the missiles at us from Gaza" " but do you know you are killing civilians, there are children and women who are being killed everyday because of those attacks", "You don't know! Hammas is using these civilians and these kids as a 'human shield', we get missile fired at us from within those places", "so you do know that Hammas is using those civilians as human shield, at least you can back out because they are a 'human shield' and they are meant to be protected" ... but needless to say there was the same old answer that one could expect, like two kids fighting over the same piece of toy and the first one would just make it up and say "unless Hammas won't stop, we will continue to do what we are". One of the other Israeli official said "Hammas instead of building schools and providing with education has made a infrastructure of homes and mosques and we will remove all that". The next she interviewed was a Palestinian writer in Gaza (i can't recall the name). She asked him about why Hammas was using civilians as a human shield, to which he replied "I don't think we are being used as a human shield rather we are the ordinary civilians living in Gaza. The Israeli's are killing innocent civilians" "So you are saying that their are no missiles being fired from the residential areas of Gaza?", " Well no, in fact they have already killed so many of us, we are just civilians, they have killed so many of our children. We really want all this to end. We are desperate for a cease-fire and as we speak now, you can still hear the bombings in the back.. taking place right now!".
After this course, I called one of my very good friends 'Amani'. She is a Palestinian and now lives in Grimbsy. We studied Msc Management together in the University of Sheffield. When I first met her, it was the first day at the Univ. I was actually surprised to see someone from Palestine. I was really excited to know about her life there. So one day I asked her, "how is it living in Palestine?" She said "well where i live now is a part of Israel, so we don't see many problems there. It is completely developed, like any western country. But you can see the difference, from when you enter a Palestinian area". She told me about the difficulties she had to face going to the Jerusalem University with all eyes following a Muslim lady in a Hijab. I asked her "Do you want to go back?" "Yes, off course I do! Like every Palestinian I want to live in my country and that is the reason why, we Palestinians don't want to leave Palestine. We believe that we will win it back, InshAllah".
So as we spoke over the phone, I told her how sorry i felt for the people of Gaza. I asked her about what she thought about Hammas. I said to her, don't you think Hammas could be playing a game with the civilians in Gaza? She said, "I really don't know, but we just think we have nothing to loose now, and after all these years, we still might have a chance to raise our voices, in a hope that we might get heard and tell the world of what we are going through"!!
I began to wonder, we all know, what Palestine is. How it was taken from those people, how the massacre continues. We all know the facts and the figures of how many people are killed everyday and and are being killed uptill now! We all know everything... and yet.. what can we really do about it?... the answer is simple.. 'Nothing'.
And her voice just echo's in my mind...... "but it is difficult to live in a land which is yours but seems alien"
So as I focused my attention to the channel, the newsreader began to interview an Israeli spokesman in Israel. She seemed a bit furious at him. The anger was understandable. "Despite all the efforts to call for a cease-fire, we see Israel still shelling bombs in Gaza what you have to say about it?" " well we are just shelling the bombs because Hammas is throwing the missiles at us from Gaza" " but do you know you are killing civilians, there are children and women who are being killed everyday because of those attacks", "You don't know! Hammas is using these civilians and these kids as a 'human shield', we get missile fired at us from within those places", "so you do know that Hammas is using those civilians as human shield, at least you can back out because they are a 'human shield' and they are meant to be protected" ... but needless to say there was the same old answer that one could expect, like two kids fighting over the same piece of toy and the first one would just make it up and say "unless Hammas won't stop, we will continue to do what we are". One of the other Israeli official said "Hammas instead of building schools and providing with education has made a infrastructure of homes and mosques and we will remove all that". The next she interviewed was a Palestinian writer in Gaza (i can't recall the name). She asked him about why Hammas was using civilians as a human shield, to which he replied "I don't think we are being used as a human shield rather we are the ordinary civilians living in Gaza. The Israeli's are killing innocent civilians" "So you are saying that their are no missiles being fired from the residential areas of Gaza?", " Well no, in fact they have already killed so many of us, we are just civilians, they have killed so many of our children. We really want all this to end. We are desperate for a cease-fire and as we speak now, you can still hear the bombings in the back.. taking place right now!".
After this course, I called one of my very good friends 'Amani'. She is a Palestinian and now lives in Grimbsy. We studied Msc Management together in the University of Sheffield. When I first met her, it was the first day at the Univ. I was actually surprised to see someone from Palestine. I was really excited to know about her life there. So one day I asked her, "how is it living in Palestine?" She said "well where i live now is a part of Israel, so we don't see many problems there. It is completely developed, like any western country. But you can see the difference, from when you enter a Palestinian area". She told me about the difficulties she had to face going to the Jerusalem University with all eyes following a Muslim lady in a Hijab. I asked her "Do you want to go back?" "Yes, off course I do! Like every Palestinian I want to live in my country and that is the reason why, we Palestinians don't want to leave Palestine. We believe that we will win it back, InshAllah".
So as we spoke over the phone, I told her how sorry i felt for the people of Gaza. I asked her about what she thought about Hammas. I said to her, don't you think Hammas could be playing a game with the civilians in Gaza? She said, "I really don't know, but we just think we have nothing to loose now, and after all these years, we still might have a chance to raise our voices, in a hope that we might get heard and tell the world of what we are going through"!!
I began to wonder, we all know, what Palestine is. How it was taken from those people, how the massacre continues. We all know the facts and the figures of how many people are killed everyday and and are being killed uptill now! We all know everything... and yet.. what can we really do about it?... the answer is simple.. 'Nothing'.
And her voice just echo's in my mind...... "but it is difficult to live in a land which is yours but seems alien"
14 January 2009
My habit to rush!
One of things that i really don't like about myself is my habit to rush! Everytime i am writing a post i am just so excited to click on the 'publish post' button that i don't take time to proof check it until it is published. And after that, everytime i read my post i pick out mistakes of my spellings, missing comma's and fullstops! This is the habit which also made me loose a collection of tiny marks during my schooling.
So please people bare with me and spare my mistakes. I do appreciate your patience and your time to read my blogs.
Thanks
xx Nousheen.
So please people bare with me and spare my mistakes. I do appreciate your patience and your time to read my blogs.
Thanks
xx Nousheen.
13 January 2009
Courtesy.
While i was waiting to get in the lift to the car park of my gym, two kids just immediately rushed in before me. Their mom stepped in and said "you should be courteous to the lady standing here". That was OK with me. I did not really mind those young kids rushing in before i did. But this thing was important to be taught to them as i was the elder one and waiting for the lift before they had arrived. These things are so basic that needs to be taught right from the very beginning.
One of the things i have learned living in the U.K is 'courtesy'. How small things such as 'Thank you', 'please' and 'sorry' could mean so much. How such simple things such as giving people way or keeping the door open for the next person to come in could count so much and how a little 'thank you' could have such a big meaning.
This thing is so much embedded in the system here that no one says 'yes' if you ask a simple question such as 'would you like a coffee'? they always say 'yes please' and a 'thank you' is a must after that. The importance of such little things is hard to realize. Once i bumped into someone by mistake. The mistake was mine but the other person immediately said 'sorry' to me. I wondered why. It is because it doesn't matter whose fault it is, if you take the initiative and say sorry it wouldn't harm anyone.
The same way is in the courtesy of a smile. You don't really have to know the person to smile at them. When i started working in Marks and Spencer soon after i came here, my Manager would always ask me every time he crossed me 'you alright' with a blink and a smile. I wondered why does he keep doing that? But it was just the courtesy of him being so nice and polite that he wanted to make sure that i was fine and comfortable in the new enviornment that i was working in.
Such are the things here and if i could just take a little of these and teach it to our people. Life would be so different. Not again will i see, traffic jams, or listen to the horns. Not again will i see people being depressed about their bosses being rude to them and not praising their work, not again will i see people just rushing and thinking about just themselves and wanting to be the first one to reach their destination the quickest, rather paving ways for others. And this is how i would like our people to be.... more courteous.
One of the things i have learned living in the U.K is 'courtesy'. How small things such as 'Thank you', 'please' and 'sorry' could mean so much. How such simple things such as giving people way or keeping the door open for the next person to come in could count so much and how a little 'thank you' could have such a big meaning.
This thing is so much embedded in the system here that no one says 'yes' if you ask a simple question such as 'would you like a coffee'? they always say 'yes please' and a 'thank you' is a must after that. The importance of such little things is hard to realize. Once i bumped into someone by mistake. The mistake was mine but the other person immediately said 'sorry' to me. I wondered why. It is because it doesn't matter whose fault it is, if you take the initiative and say sorry it wouldn't harm anyone.
The same way is in the courtesy of a smile. You don't really have to know the person to smile at them. When i started working in Marks and Spencer soon after i came here, my Manager would always ask me every time he crossed me 'you alright' with a blink and a smile. I wondered why does he keep doing that? But it was just the courtesy of him being so nice and polite that he wanted to make sure that i was fine and comfortable in the new enviornment that i was working in.
Such are the things here and if i could just take a little of these and teach it to our people. Life would be so different. Not again will i see, traffic jams, or listen to the horns. Not again will i see people being depressed about their bosses being rude to them and not praising their work, not again will i see people just rushing and thinking about just themselves and wanting to be the first one to reach their destination the quickest, rather paving ways for others. And this is how i would like our people to be.... more courteous.
11 January 2009
My blog life.
It hasnt been long since i have started to write the blogs. But since that time i am just having this feeling that a voice in the back of my head is constantly following me. Everything i do i have started to think more and evalaute it deeply. I have started to realize that everything carries a meaning or a message behind it and i am in constant search to find out the message or the moral. It is as if i am reading a story about myself and the story teller is constantly trying to read out what i am doing at that point of time. I know it sounds complicated but this is how it has become now with me.
I feel much empowered. As if my mind has suddenly opened up and is now seing a different aspect about things altogether. I have started to realize that i have a voice and my words carry meanings. And even though it is just a blog and i only express my view points i feel they are very important not that i did not felt the same way before about my opinions but it is just different now. More than i can explain in words.
I have started to enjoy this part of my life.. as a blogger!
I feel much empowered. As if my mind has suddenly opened up and is now seing a different aspect about things altogether. I have started to realize that i have a voice and my words carry meanings. And even though it is just a blog and i only express my view points i feel they are very important not that i did not felt the same way before about my opinions but it is just different now. More than i can explain in words.
I have started to enjoy this part of my life.. as a blogger!
9 January 2009
If we won't then who will??
I just came back after watching two movies at Cineworld. The first one was 'Role Models' and the second one 'Slumdog Millionare. Both movies poles apart. One a cheeky flick and the other one realistic and it has gained a special place in my collection of favorite movies.
Slumdog Millionaire story is about how a slum boy wins 20 million rupees and how he knew all the answers. But behind this story line are the incidents he goes through as a child. And that is what makes the movie so special. Not just because they are incidents that have occurred with them but because they are incidents that I think goes with most of the children that live in the slums and that are currently living on the streets.
This movie just bought tears to my eyes on several occasions. I don’t know the reason why my eyes felt so heavy with tears when I am used to seeing such children on the streets in my day-to-day life in Pakistan and yet ignore them easily. I couldn’t find an answer to why my heart was so broken after seeing those poor kids loose their mother in front of their eyes when I know there are millions of orphans on the streets on Pakistan left on the mercy of no one. And I couldn’t figure out a reason why my eyes went blur when I saw their 'slum' being thrashed and on fire but I easily flipped the channel the day before yesterday when a news came that a Slum in Karachi had caught fire killing 40 people with half of them children and their bodies were left on the hospital floor.
I don’t know why we react this way to movies but we just easily neglect these issues in our real life. How simple it is for us to just turn our backs or close our car window and distance ourselves from them. How easily we look away and try not to think and ignore as much as we can to the kid that bangs on our car or ignore a street kid who tries who run after us in a hope that we may change our mind, look at his dirty clothes and dark eyes and at least buy a flower worth just 3 pence. How dearly we just want our kids to look the best and feed them the best of food and just easily ignore and make small poor kids do our household chores. How easy it is for us to just avoid those kids on the streets with a broken limb, arm or been blinded but when I saw such a scene in the movie today, I just couldn’t look at the screen any more...!
I guess these are the realities of our lives that we want to run away from. This is a chapter of our society that we want to close and prefer not to look at. We do look at them and may be have pity on their poor conditions for a micro milli second of our precious time, but deep inside, our souls have died, our hearts just care about our loved ones and our mind is just so occupied that these small issues are not 'the' issues for us. And even if we want do something for them then we start and think so logically as to well how many children can we save? We can't save everyone. We can't really turn every slum into a small house of bricks. We can't provide all of these kids a proper meal of 2 times a day. We can't provide all of them with education. We can't safeguard their lives. We can't really do that can we?
Well if we won't then who will?...........
Slumdog Millionaire story is about how a slum boy wins 20 million rupees and how he knew all the answers. But behind this story line are the incidents he goes through as a child. And that is what makes the movie so special. Not just because they are incidents that have occurred with them but because they are incidents that I think goes with most of the children that live in the slums and that are currently living on the streets.
This movie just bought tears to my eyes on several occasions. I don’t know the reason why my eyes felt so heavy with tears when I am used to seeing such children on the streets in my day-to-day life in Pakistan and yet ignore them easily. I couldn’t find an answer to why my heart was so broken after seeing those poor kids loose their mother in front of their eyes when I know there are millions of orphans on the streets on Pakistan left on the mercy of no one. And I couldn’t figure out a reason why my eyes went blur when I saw their 'slum' being thrashed and on fire but I easily flipped the channel the day before yesterday when a news came that a Slum in Karachi had caught fire killing 40 people with half of them children and their bodies were left on the hospital floor.
I don’t know why we react this way to movies but we just easily neglect these issues in our real life. How simple it is for us to just turn our backs or close our car window and distance ourselves from them. How easily we look away and try not to think and ignore as much as we can to the kid that bangs on our car or ignore a street kid who tries who run after us in a hope that we may change our mind, look at his dirty clothes and dark eyes and at least buy a flower worth just 3 pence. How dearly we just want our kids to look the best and feed them the best of food and just easily ignore and make small poor kids do our household chores. How easy it is for us to just avoid those kids on the streets with a broken limb, arm or been blinded but when I saw such a scene in the movie today, I just couldn’t look at the screen any more...!
I guess these are the realities of our lives that we want to run away from. This is a chapter of our society that we want to close and prefer not to look at. We do look at them and may be have pity on their poor conditions for a micro milli second of our precious time, but deep inside, our souls have died, our hearts just care about our loved ones and our mind is just so occupied that these small issues are not 'the' issues for us. And even if we want do something for them then we start and think so logically as to well how many children can we save? We can't save everyone. We can't really turn every slum into a small house of bricks. We can't provide all of these kids a proper meal of 2 times a day. We can't provide all of them with education. We can't safeguard their lives. We can't really do that can we?
Well if we won't then who will?...........
8 January 2009
The complexity of Gold prices.
I checked the gold rates again this morning..! I think it is more out of habit which was instilled in me during my undergraduate years when i used to sit with my dad infront of the tele watching 'bloomberg' or the 'Business plus'
I have been following the gold prices well if not quite closely then close enough to potray an overview of the last few years. What really drives the Gold prices? According to Donald Doyle Jr of Blanchard, there are five key factors, supply and demand, weakness in the dollar, the balance between gold and oil prices, institutional buying and uncertainty over the economy.
I would just like to present an overview of the last 10 years data. Gold prices were fairly stable around $300 between Jan 1999 to the end of Jan 2002. Then between Jan 2003 to Jan 2004 the rates fluctuated $300 and $400 and by the end Jan 2006 the rates reached around $600. From the end of Jan 2006 to the begining of 2007 there was a fluctuation of a $100 in the gold prices. From July 2007 their was a steep climb in the gold prices they increased from $700 to $900 by the end of Jan 2008. On March 13th 2008 Gold touched $1000. At this occassion there were even talks that Gold would soon cross $2000.
Supply and demand according to 'UBS metal strategist Robin Bhar' was no longer the factor and one of the reasons was said to be that the Dollar was a 12 year low at that point compared to the yen with other reasons also including the Global financial crises. At this point, the investors felt safer to put their money in a commodity such as Gold. But soon after that that was a steep fall and Gold was back again to $900. Between July 2008 to January 2009 alone the gold prices pluged from over $950 to $850.
But the most important part of the story is not just the variation between the duration of July 2008 and January 2009 but the amout of variation each day and during each month. From mid July 2008 to mid august 2008 alone the gold fell over $125 and between end of august to the end of september Gold climbed around $150. And most astonishingly from within a week from 30th September'08 to 6th of Nov'08 gold pluged around $175.
The interesting thing to note here is that gold with such variations have increased the chances of being risky as a short term investment. Where on one side within a month it could make you earn as much as $150 an ounce it can also make you loose the same amount in a matter of just a week.
I guess there are more than just the five factors as explained by Donald Doyle. Gold prices are not as easy to determine and predict as they sound to be. They are complex. For instance, if we say that there needs to be a balance between the oil and the Gold prices. Right now there isnt any. From my early days, when i started to read articles related about Gold. The researchers presented a simple formula to predict Gold prices. Gold prices being directly propotional to crude oil and inversely propotional to the Dollar.
During the past few months, it has been witnessed that the crude oil prices are at an all time low where as the gold prices are around $800-$850. Whereas, the dollar is not in an entirely bad condition and is seen strenghtening as well.
Economic conditions are one of the factors behind such an investment. Investors feel that their money would be safe with a commodity rather than a foreign currency as their might be risks with the economic and financial conditions of that country. The five factors do play their roles but at.
I guess one of the major reason behind the fluctuation is the speculation in the market and it does not seems like a fair game any more. Economic conditions, recessions were faced earlier as well. But variations like these were hardly seen before. If we look at the date, then the Gold price between $700 to $800 looks a fair trend. However, reaching $900 or above is a level that is just a hype.
Gold is still an investable commodity. In my opinion it is one of the safest long-term investment. But there are many big buyers in the market and the demand and the supply now goes not only to the big buyers but also to the countries. And when the countries become the buyers or seller (to stablize their currencies) then the market can reverse any time.
I have been following the gold prices well if not quite closely then close enough to potray an overview of the last few years. What really drives the Gold prices? According to Donald Doyle Jr of Blanchard, there are five key factors, supply and demand, weakness in the dollar, the balance between gold and oil prices, institutional buying and uncertainty over the economy.
I would just like to present an overview of the last 10 years data. Gold prices were fairly stable around $300 between Jan 1999 to the end of Jan 2002. Then between Jan 2003 to Jan 2004 the rates fluctuated $300 and $400 and by the end Jan 2006 the rates reached around $600. From the end of Jan 2006 to the begining of 2007 there was a fluctuation of a $100 in the gold prices. From July 2007 their was a steep climb in the gold prices they increased from $700 to $900 by the end of Jan 2008. On March 13th 2008 Gold touched $1000. At this occassion there were even talks that Gold would soon cross $2000.
Supply and demand according to 'UBS metal strategist Robin Bhar' was no longer the factor and one of the reasons was said to be that the Dollar was a 12 year low at that point compared to the yen with other reasons also including the Global financial crises. At this point, the investors felt safer to put their money in a commodity such as Gold. But soon after that that was a steep fall and Gold was back again to $900. Between July 2008 to January 2009 alone the gold prices pluged from over $950 to $850.
But the most important part of the story is not just the variation between the duration of July 2008 and January 2009 but the amout of variation each day and during each month. From mid July 2008 to mid august 2008 alone the gold fell over $125 and between end of august to the end of september Gold climbed around $150. And most astonishingly from within a week from 30th September'08 to 6th of Nov'08 gold pluged around $175.
The interesting thing to note here is that gold with such variations have increased the chances of being risky as a short term investment. Where on one side within a month it could make you earn as much as $150 an ounce it can also make you loose the same amount in a matter of just a week.
I guess there are more than just the five factors as explained by Donald Doyle. Gold prices are not as easy to determine and predict as they sound to be. They are complex. For instance, if we say that there needs to be a balance between the oil and the Gold prices. Right now there isnt any. From my early days, when i started to read articles related about Gold. The researchers presented a simple formula to predict Gold prices. Gold prices being directly propotional to crude oil and inversely propotional to the Dollar.
During the past few months, it has been witnessed that the crude oil prices are at an all time low where as the gold prices are around $800-$850. Whereas, the dollar is not in an entirely bad condition and is seen strenghtening as well.
Economic conditions are one of the factors behind such an investment. Investors feel that their money would be safe with a commodity rather than a foreign currency as their might be risks with the economic and financial conditions of that country. The five factors do play their roles but at.
I guess one of the major reason behind the fluctuation is the speculation in the market and it does not seems like a fair game any more. Economic conditions, recessions were faced earlier as well. But variations like these were hardly seen before. If we look at the date, then the Gold price between $700 to $800 looks a fair trend. However, reaching $900 or above is a level that is just a hype.
Gold is still an investable commodity. In my opinion it is one of the safest long-term investment. But there are many big buyers in the market and the demand and the supply now goes not only to the big buyers but also to the countries. And when the countries become the buyers or seller (to stablize their currencies) then the market can reverse any time.
7 January 2009
So Kasab is finally a Pakistani!
So Kasab is finally a Pakistani!
Since 26/11 India has been blaming Pakistan for the attack. Even before any evidences were released India knew who to blame. Fair enough! But when there are terror attacks in Pakistan who do we blame...! the answer is straight forward our fellow Pakistani's, ethnic groups, political party members, general public and so on..! There arent any members other than 'us' involved in the whole process of the blame game.
As i was sitting and watching the whole coverage on BBC for the two or three days after the attack not once did i hear or see any internal voilence in India. Infact i saw people condenming such an attack, and not once did any one of them even said it could be their own people. I started to wonder what had happened if such an attack would have been in Pakistan? imagine for a while.. an attack where 150 people are killed and then 100 people are killed on top of it with more then 20 cars being set on fire by the 'locals' of Pakistan in protests!! I guess a day or two later i heard from someone there was voilence in Karachi and what for? Well i can't still get my head around with the reason but it was between the ethnic groups. Many a cars were set on fire, 28 people were killed with 150 people injured and then i heard people were scared to sit in the buses and use public transport of the fear that 'some' men would try to put glue in their eyes and cut their ears. But the question is what did we do for dat? Nothing. What did we do for the Islamabad attack? or for the Hyderi Masjid attack? or for the Benazir's assasination... the answer remains the same.
A week or two later, Geo which i think is one of the most manipulative media's Pakistan is blessed with, out of a blue just aired a video sowing their visit to Faridkot with some villagers speaking out that they had actually seen Kasab sometime back and that he wanted to go for jihad. It just boiled my blood. I was upset i wanted to scream! How can a media do that to their country? If geo was so sure that it was Faridkot and they were the people why did they not consult with the government or the authorities. Or ok i understand they wanted to utter the truth if it was the 'truth' but then, does truth comes out risking your national integrity? At a time when there are talks of Pakistan being under attack, can't the media get responsible enough and either act positive for the sake and benefit of the poor Pakistani's or atleast stay neutral and wait until 'officialy' such a remark is released rather than just seeking their TRP's and computing gains their channel will get if they air such a news.
The whole world's media was showing the dual side of Pakistan. Where on one side the Officials claiming Kasab is not a Pakistan and Geo, a popular Pakistani news channel claiming he actually is one.
After a few days i saw it on facebook a picture of the people of Faridkot protesting against GEO that the clipping showed on GEO was not actually Faridkot.
Yesterday i saw a headline on CNN IBN, Pakistan's divided answers! They showed on one sphere, Officials claiming he was not a Pakistani and giving remarks such as 'how can he be a Pakistani when he speaks hindi' and then another Official 'Pakistan's National security advisor' Mr durrani claiming that he was a Pakistani! The next day Geo shows, Mr Durrani has been sacked by the Prime Minister for uttering such remarks while on the other hand Pakistan finally accepting that Kasab is a Pakistani.
I have just one question to ask... what does that represent us as? That we are not together, not on the fronts when it comes to terrorism, not when it comes when we become victims, not when we are on the road and want our car to be the first one to reach its destination the quickest, not when we want our country to develop, and not on the fact that we should atleast call a meeting and decide what to say to the international media and on how to settle issues with our own media!
Today finally the Pakistan's officials accepted after much a hype and drama that Kasab was a Pakistani. Along with GEO very haughtily claiming that they were indeed the first one to find out about the truth about Kasab, i just began to wonder if all of us Pakistani's have this inherited quality that 'we are right and you are wrong' and 'that we know better than you do?' .....is it just about that. And finally one other inherit quality that we have, which reflects in the statement made by a Pakistani official earlier 'Even if he is a Pakistani, it would'nt effect Pakistan' ... and guess what??!!! He is now.. Finally!
Since 26/11 India has been blaming Pakistan for the attack. Even before any evidences were released India knew who to blame. Fair enough! But when there are terror attacks in Pakistan who do we blame...! the answer is straight forward our fellow Pakistani's, ethnic groups, political party members, general public and so on..! There arent any members other than 'us' involved in the whole process of the blame game.
As i was sitting and watching the whole coverage on BBC for the two or three days after the attack not once did i hear or see any internal voilence in India. Infact i saw people condenming such an attack, and not once did any one of them even said it could be their own people. I started to wonder what had happened if such an attack would have been in Pakistan? imagine for a while.. an attack where 150 people are killed and then 100 people are killed on top of it with more then 20 cars being set on fire by the 'locals' of Pakistan in protests!! I guess a day or two later i heard from someone there was voilence in Karachi and what for? Well i can't still get my head around with the reason but it was between the ethnic groups. Many a cars were set on fire, 28 people were killed with 150 people injured and then i heard people were scared to sit in the buses and use public transport of the fear that 'some' men would try to put glue in their eyes and cut their ears. But the question is what did we do for dat? Nothing. What did we do for the Islamabad attack? or for the Hyderi Masjid attack? or for the Benazir's assasination... the answer remains the same.
A week or two later, Geo which i think is one of the most manipulative media's Pakistan is blessed with, out of a blue just aired a video sowing their visit to Faridkot with some villagers speaking out that they had actually seen Kasab sometime back and that he wanted to go for jihad. It just boiled my blood. I was upset i wanted to scream! How can a media do that to their country? If geo was so sure that it was Faridkot and they were the people why did they not consult with the government or the authorities. Or ok i understand they wanted to utter the truth if it was the 'truth' but then, does truth comes out risking your national integrity? At a time when there are talks of Pakistan being under attack, can't the media get responsible enough and either act positive for the sake and benefit of the poor Pakistani's or atleast stay neutral and wait until 'officialy' such a remark is released rather than just seeking their TRP's and computing gains their channel will get if they air such a news.
The whole world's media was showing the dual side of Pakistan. Where on one side the Officials claiming Kasab is not a Pakistan and Geo, a popular Pakistani news channel claiming he actually is one.
After a few days i saw it on facebook a picture of the people of Faridkot protesting against GEO that the clipping showed on GEO was not actually Faridkot.
Yesterday i saw a headline on CNN IBN, Pakistan's divided answers! They showed on one sphere, Officials claiming he was not a Pakistani and giving remarks such as 'how can he be a Pakistani when he speaks hindi' and then another Official 'Pakistan's National security advisor' Mr durrani claiming that he was a Pakistani! The next day Geo shows, Mr Durrani has been sacked by the Prime Minister for uttering such remarks while on the other hand Pakistan finally accepting that Kasab is a Pakistani.
I have just one question to ask... what does that represent us as? That we are not together, not on the fronts when it comes to terrorism, not when it comes when we become victims, not when we are on the road and want our car to be the first one to reach its destination the quickest, not when we want our country to develop, and not on the fact that we should atleast call a meeting and decide what to say to the international media and on how to settle issues with our own media!
Today finally the Pakistan's officials accepted after much a hype and drama that Kasab was a Pakistani. Along with GEO very haughtily claiming that they were indeed the first one to find out about the truth about Kasab, i just began to wonder if all of us Pakistani's have this inherited quality that 'we are right and you are wrong' and 'that we know better than you do?' .....is it just about that. And finally one other inherit quality that we have, which reflects in the statement made by a Pakistani official earlier 'Even if he is a Pakistani, it would'nt effect Pakistan' ... and guess what??!!! He is now.. Finally!
5 January 2009
The difference in the education system
So what is the idea of writing a group report/project in a Pakistani education system? Well to start with, you take the topic home that your teacher has assigned to you and leave it until the very last or the second last day. Log-on the internet and surf the web. Then just copy and paste various paragraphs and merge them into one piece that is '' your collective effort'' well of 'compiling' them together. And Ah what about referencing?? Now what is that? isnt that my own work! or ok i can include a reference or two, or can make it on my own, can't i?!
During my undergraduate years the idea of referencing did not even come into my frame of mind. The idea of refernence was: well you copy and paste from numerous resource from the web and books and then at the end of the project/or assignment simply mention one or two major sources of the work. It seemed pretty simple. Not a big deal. Mostly the essays, reports or projects were generated from my/or from a collective effort of me and my group mates frames of minds. We just copied and pasted almost everything and by the end of the group project or report we had pretty much ''created'' our piece of work.
When i came to U.K for my education, we were handed over a list of topics that would be covered for the semester. And underneath each topic there were list of around 15 journal articles and 5 to 6 books that were required for further studies. I was then not entirely fimiliar to the culture of reading that much. It then did not seemed like the teacher/instructor was really serious about us actually reading that many things. But when i was given a book of the 'Harvard referencing system' along with my essay topic that i had to do, it pretty much became clear that were taking it pretty seriously.
So well I, was not fimilar with this idea of referencing the 'harvard referencing way'. After my teacher David collings who taught us Work and employement module was finished with one of his lectures. He handed over an essay for us to write and the further reading required for that topic. I went home that day slightly confused. Checked out the links of the journal articles and they pretty much seemed like a bunch of quotations and notes taken from other journal articles and researches and then the author building on his own piece of work. I was completely unfimiliar with this writing style. The next time we had a lecture with David i went to him and i asked him. 'Can your please explain me about the writing style of an essay'? And he said 'well you have to read all the journal articles and discuss what they are discussing their way of researches, their pros and corns. One of the ways to get around with it can be that you read the positive researches around this topic and negative researches around the topic and then well say that these researches by so and so authors present this view point and these present the vice versa'. Even confused than before, I asked David, 'well then wont this be just a mix of what the authors are saying and not what i have to say?' He said to me with his ever so sweet smile and twittering eyes 'are you experienced and well versed enough to publish your own work at this point of time?'
This answer so intrigued my mind... All those years of education just seemed to have washed away. How can i have my ideas when i havent done any piece of research myself at all? how can i write on an issue when i have no facts at all? and how can i take credit from someone and publish it like my own piece of work when it is their hard work and by all means the deserve to be accredited for that!!!
This is such a simple enough thing but it has such a deep meaning. Giving someone the credit for their piece of work. We as a nation have long forgotten this thing. It starts when we are little and we start to steal from other's pieces of work and copy it as our own. And then later slowly and gradually we just stop giving people the credit and appreciation for what they have done and achieved and want everything for ourself. It is a simple enough thing which is taught in the education system here 'Give people credit for their piece of work' and what a deep meaning it has!
During my undergraduate years the idea of referencing did not even come into my frame of mind. The idea of refernence was: well you copy and paste from numerous resource from the web and books and then at the end of the project/or assignment simply mention one or two major sources of the work. It seemed pretty simple. Not a big deal. Mostly the essays, reports or projects were generated from my/or from a collective effort of me and my group mates frames of minds. We just copied and pasted almost everything and by the end of the group project or report we had pretty much ''created'' our piece of work.
When i came to U.K for my education, we were handed over a list of topics that would be covered for the semester. And underneath each topic there were list of around 15 journal articles and 5 to 6 books that were required for further studies. I was then not entirely fimiliar to the culture of reading that much. It then did not seemed like the teacher/instructor was really serious about us actually reading that many things. But when i was given a book of the 'Harvard referencing system' along with my essay topic that i had to do, it pretty much became clear that were taking it pretty seriously.
So well I, was not fimilar with this idea of referencing the 'harvard referencing way'. After my teacher David collings who taught us Work and employement module was finished with one of his lectures. He handed over an essay for us to write and the further reading required for that topic. I went home that day slightly confused. Checked out the links of the journal articles and they pretty much seemed like a bunch of quotations and notes taken from other journal articles and researches and then the author building on his own piece of work. I was completely unfimiliar with this writing style. The next time we had a lecture with David i went to him and i asked him. 'Can your please explain me about the writing style of an essay'? And he said 'well you have to read all the journal articles and discuss what they are discussing their way of researches, their pros and corns. One of the ways to get around with it can be that you read the positive researches around this topic and negative researches around the topic and then well say that these researches by so and so authors present this view point and these present the vice versa'. Even confused than before, I asked David, 'well then wont this be just a mix of what the authors are saying and not what i have to say?' He said to me with his ever so sweet smile and twittering eyes 'are you experienced and well versed enough to publish your own work at this point of time?'
This answer so intrigued my mind... All those years of education just seemed to have washed away. How can i have my ideas when i havent done any piece of research myself at all? how can i write on an issue when i have no facts at all? and how can i take credit from someone and publish it like my own piece of work when it is their hard work and by all means the deserve to be accredited for that!!!
This is such a simple enough thing but it has such a deep meaning. Giving someone the credit for their piece of work. We as a nation have long forgotten this thing. It starts when we are little and we start to steal from other's pieces of work and copy it as our own. And then later slowly and gradually we just stop giving people the credit and appreciation for what they have done and achieved and want everything for ourself. It is a simple enough thing which is taught in the education system here 'Give people credit for their piece of work' and what a deep meaning it has!
My first blog
Hi,
Welcome to my Blog. I am Nousheen Zakaria. I have completed my BBA (textiles marketing and management) from the 'Textiles institute of Pakistan' and my Msc Management (HRM) from the University of Sheffield. I currently live in Sheffield.
I always wanted to write blogs. But i was not sure when and where to start from. I guess this is it. Today the 5th of Jan. I woke up with a sore throat and fever. As i looked outside the window i saw, the grass gone all white with snow flakes. It just bought a smile on my face. I have always loved snow but also i was disappointed that it was overnight and that i was not able to go out in the snow and feel it on me.
Omar (my husband) made some hot chocolate for me and while i was sipping it, he told me that he had read a blog of my friend's kazim and really liked it. This is where i thought today is the day i need to sit down and start blogging. I read his blogs. He had written about various topics. One that inspired me was about my fellow class mate and he had gone to study abroad. It touched me because it was similar to what i have gone through. I wrote a comment on it and thought why not start my own blog!
For your interest, i am pasting here the link of the blog:
http://redkazim.wordpress.com/2008/12/23/raju-ban-gaya-gentleman/
I would really appreciate if you would leave your worthy comments and suggestions for me.
I would like to thank you all for reading my blogs and posting your comments.
Many Thanks
Nousheen Zakaria.
Welcome to my Blog. I am Nousheen Zakaria. I have completed my BBA (textiles marketing and management) from the 'Textiles institute of Pakistan' and my Msc Management (HRM) from the University of Sheffield. I currently live in Sheffield.
I always wanted to write blogs. But i was not sure when and where to start from. I guess this is it. Today the 5th of Jan. I woke up with a sore throat and fever. As i looked outside the window i saw, the grass gone all white with snow flakes. It just bought a smile on my face. I have always loved snow but also i was disappointed that it was overnight and that i was not able to go out in the snow and feel it on me.
Omar (my husband) made some hot chocolate for me and while i was sipping it, he told me that he had read a blog of my friend's kazim and really liked it. This is where i thought today is the day i need to sit down and start blogging. I read his blogs. He had written about various topics. One that inspired me was about my fellow class mate and he had gone to study abroad. It touched me because it was similar to what i have gone through. I wrote a comment on it and thought why not start my own blog!
For your interest, i am pasting here the link of the blog:
http://redkazim.wordpress.com/2008/12/23/raju-ban-gaya-gentleman/
I would really appreciate if you would leave your worthy comments and suggestions for me.
I would like to thank you all for reading my blogs and posting your comments.
Many Thanks
Nousheen Zakaria.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
