The Simplicity!

We are in a habit of making our lives complicated, tough and hard by continuously following the on going traditions, styles and trends. In doing so we have to bear a huge expense and we make our domestic budget non-workable at times.

We have become class and brand conscious, which has made us complexed people. We target the life style of a higher class and try to be like them in terms of general living and and their out look. In order to do so, we would love to wear the brands they like or the brands which are considered in style, we would go for interior decor of the house, we would spend our life saving on a latest model car which is considered as "cool" car to have by the gentry. We would send our kids to the schools where only elites could afford to send their kids and confusing our kids with excellent facilities at school and less attractive home as compared to the school. Ladies would love to buy the in trend ready made garments of an expensive label and would try n match that with equally expensive jewellery and shoes. We strive to achieve an artificial life style in which media is playing a vital role. With the facilitation of the government in last 4-5 years, a lot of new channels are being operational which use their air time to show glamour and artificial life style to make the people wish for things which they can not afford at all.

Now how would they get it, the first thing would be coming in to trap of getting a credit card with a good limit and then keep on getting the credit the new cards from different banks every month. By the time a year ends, they will get at least 6-7 different cards and are spending heavily through each of these. This story never ends here, when they are under heavy debt cause of the interest and principle amount still not paid, they indulge themselves in to illegal ways of earning money that includes bribes, frauds etc. Thus to cut short, they make their life a living hell in a matter of 2-3 years which other wise would have been lot easier and simple if they had managed to survive with in their means of earning and that too legal.

I can understand that it is a birth right of every person to pursue the dreams and go higher and higher in life in terms of success in the careers and life. But it should be at the expense of making ones life miserable and difficult along with its family as the race of jumping from class to higher elite class of the society is a never ending story. We spend our life time to pay back the loans etc we had taken un-necessary in our life as we wanted to have the confidence in moving in the circle of elites. We would love to go there in their parties wearing HSY, Armani or Gucci in a latest Sedan driven by a chauffeur and then brag about it when sitting in the people who actually belong to the same class of society as we are, but those people are sensible and never ran after an artificial life.

Its easy to adopt a simple living style and enjoy most of it using the available source of income we have to get a smooth sailing in family and professional life. Life can be difficult as there are so many attractions coming our way to tempt us to spend far beyond our earning means. We want more and more in our life, first we strive for one thing in our life when we achieve it then we want to grow limitless in terms of enjoying luxuries of life, it starts a vicious circle of loans, credit cards, debts etc and we get financially fully exhausted in a mere two years time and struggle like any thing to get out of these loan payments but we cant get out of it.

This clash of the classes has made life close to miserable of so many people around. Due to excessive spending and burrowing, such people do not normally have any kind of saving at all for the any un-foreseen bad patch in life and we see them becoming patients of depression and stress at a very young age.

Our religion Islam tells us to spend according to our means of earning and highly condemns getting loans against interest. The interest is considered as going for an all out war against The Almighty Allah. But unfortunately our whole economy is based on a system which does not support interest free banking at all. The division that deals ordinary people like us in any bank is called consumer banking. This division has got many ways to attract people with the advertisement campaigns of getting cars on lease, home loans, home improvement loans, house hold goods on lease, educational loans and send us regularly a list of 100's of attractive things which we might get on installments using our credit card.

I sincerely wish and hope that all of us limit our spending to less than what we earn and influence our family members to go for savings every month by try to lead a very simple but a happy life. We are running blindly after the things which we don't really need, if we can live two suits reserved for party wearing and on weddings etc, why to go for a new suit on every function that we attend. Secondly there is no point wearing the international brands and labels when we can not afford those, we spend millions every year on our out look just to be seen distinguished and branded from head to toe just to hear comments like " Oh my God, you look stunning! what is it? Oh Hugo Boss my Gosh"

This is an artificial way of life and suits only to those who earn 100 times more than what they spend, no matter their earnings are through fair means or not. Its not not us at all, we have to save our selves from the on slought of International brands and labels in Pakistan. We tend to get hold of these if we can not afford these, we buy readily available fake imitations of Rolex watches, Armani and Boss Suiting's and shirts, M&S garments, LV and Gucci ladies hand bags etc.

This thing is making every thing seems like fake even the relations of love and trust as people tend not to settle with one life partner and strive for the better options all the times.

All of us to do a self assessment of our spending patterns and refrain our self from undue and un-necessary spending just ot show off and impress people around us. The reality bites and bites very hard when we utilise all available resources one day and look for support and help from others which may or may not come forward at the hour of our need.

Baba Bulleh Shah: The Sufi poet!

Bulleh Shah is believed to have been born in 1680, in the small village of Uch, Bahawalpur, Punjab, now in Pakistan. His ancestors had migrated from Bukhara in modern Uzbekistan . At the age of six months, his parents relocated to Malakwal. There his father, Shah Muhammad Darwaish, was a preacher in the village mosque and a teacher. His father later got a job in Pandoke, about 50 miles southeast of Kasur. Bulleh Shah received his early schooling in Pandoke, and moved to Kasur for higher education, to become a student of the prominent professor, Ghulam Murtaza. He also received education from Maulana Mohiyuddin. His spiritual teacher was the eminent Sufi saint, Shah Inayat Qadri . Bulleh Shah was a direct descendant of Muhammad, through the progeny of Shaikh Abdul Qadir Gillani of Baghdad. A large amount of what is known about Bulleh Shah comes through legends, and is subjective; to the point that there isn’t even agreement among historians concerning his precise date and place of birth. Some “facts” about his life have been pieced together from his own writings. Other “facts” seem to have been passed down through oral traditions. Bulleh Shah practiced the Sufi tradition of Punjabi poetry established by poets like Shah Hussain (1538 – 1599), Sultan Bahu (1629 – 1691), and Shah Sharaf (1640 – 1724). Bulleh Shah lived in the same period as the famous Sindhi Sufi poet, Shah Abdul Latif Bhatai (1689 – 1752). His lifespan also overlapped with the legendary Punjabi poet Waris Shah (1722 – 1798), of Heer Ranjha fame, and the famous Sindhi Sufi poet Abdul Wahad (1739 – 1829), better known by his pen-name, Sachal Sarmast (“truth seeking leader of the intoxicated ones”). Amongst Urdu poets, Bulleh Shah lived 400 miles away from Mir Taqi Mir (1723 – 1810) of Agra. He died in 1758, and his tomb is located in Kasur, Pakistan. Poetry Style The verse form Bulleh Shah primarily employed is called the Kafi (Refrain), a traditional style of Punjabi poetry used by Punjabi Sufis and Sikh gurus (such as Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh). In Bulleh's time, Sufi poets often did not adopt the classical languages of Persian and Urdu, instead choosing to write their verses in Punjabi, Saraiki, and Sindhi – languages of the common folk amongst whom they lived. Although the number is disputed, Bulleh Shah is credited with authoring anywhere from 50 to 150 Kafi, 1 Athwara, 1 Baramah, 3 Siharfi, 49 Oeodh and 40 Gandhan. This appears to be a large body of work; however, this oeuvre is small enough that one could read it all in a few weeks. What is most striking about Bulleh Shah’s poetry and philosophy is his audacious critique of the religious orthodoxy of his day, particularly the Islamic religious orthodoxy. His poetry is filled with direct attacks on those who claim control over religion, to the point of comparing mullahs to barking dogs and crowing roostersTemplate Spiritual Purification Sufis typically spend their lives trying to penetrate the meaning of life while searching for God. Those among them who were poets articulated this exploration through their poetry. ‘Who is the Creator?’ ‘What is the truth?’ ‘What is the meaning of life?’ ‘How can one find God?’ ‘Who am I?’ These are some of the questions Sufis have tried to answer, by dissociating themselves from worldly activity, and moving onto a saintly field where they are no longer bound by conventionally interpreted holy or material boundaries. Bulleh Shah studied Arabic, Persian and the Quran under his traditional teachers. After that, in an attempt to move to the next level (of mystic realization), he searched for a spiritual guide. Ultimately he found his murshid, in the form of Inayat Shah Qadri. Inayat Shah Qadri (or Shah Inayat, as he is referred to in Bulleh Shah’s poetry) was a Sufi of the Qadri order, who authored many Persian books on mysticism. He was from the Arian cast and grew vegetables to earn a living. Paradoxically, Bulleh Shah was of the much higher Syed caste. Yet, in defiance of tradition, Bulleh Shah accepted Shah Inayat as his spiritual master, and subordinated his life to his lower-caste murshid. Much of Bulleh Shah’s verses about love are addressed directly to his spiritual guide, Shah Inayat. Religion Despite being very critical of religion, Bulleh Shah does not denounce religion as a whole. Nor does he appear to be pushing any other structure of thought to supplant religious notions. His ideas, therefore, cannot be placed into the category of secularism or atheism. In reality, Bulleh Shah seems somewhat critical of all persons in authority - including intellectuals, academicians and jurists - who create obstacles and needless complexities for common people in discovering love, and through love, discovering God. Bulleh Shah preaches an uncomplicated conception of humanity, as the common connection through which persons of all faiths, creeds and opinions can attain a superior and more pure existence, eventually coming closer to God. Humanist Bulleh Shah’s writings represent him as a humanist, someone providing solutions to the sociological problems of the world around him as he lives through it, describing the turbulence his motherland of Punjab is passing through, while concurrently searching for God. His poetry highlights his mystical spiritual voyage through the four stages of Sufism: Shariat (Islamic Law), Tariqat (Observance), Haqiqat (Truth-Essence) and Marfat (Union or God knowledge). The simplicity with which Bulleh Shah has been able to address the complex fundamental issues of life and humanity is a large part of his appeal. Thus, many people have put his kafis to music, from humble street-singers to renowned Sufi singers like the Waddali Brothers and Abida Parveen, from the synthesized techno qawwali remixes of UK-based Asian artists to the rock band Junoon. Bulleh Shah’s popularity stretches uniformly across Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims, to the point that much of the written material about this Muslim thinker is from Hindu and Sikh authors. A Beacon of Peace Baba Bulleh Shah's time was marked with communal strife between Muslims and Sikhs. But in that age Baba Bulleh Shah was a beacon of hope and peace for the citizens of Punjab. While Bulleh Shah was in Pandoke, Muslims killed a young Sikh man who was riding through their village in retaliation for murder of some Muslims by Sikhs. Baba Bulleh Shah denounced the murder of an innocent Sikh and was censured by the mullas and muftis of Pandoke. Bulleh Shah maintained that violence was not the answer to violence. Bulleh Shah also hailed Guru Tegh Bahadur as a ghazi (Islamic term for a religious warrior) and incurred the wrath of the mullas. In one of his poems, he also writes "I don't talk of here and there, I will say the truth only; Had there not been Guru Gobind Singh all the Hinds would have got circumcision" in reference to not what the Sikhs did for the Hindus, but against oppresion and tyranny. Banda Singh Bairagi was a contemporary of Bulleh Shah. In retaliation for the murder of Guru Gobind Singh's two sons by Aurangzeb, he sought revenge by killing common Muslims. Baba Bulleh Shah tried to convince Banda Singh Bairagi to renounce his campaign of revenge. Bulleh Shah told him that the same sword which fell upon Guru Gobind Singh's sons and innocent Sikhs also fell upon innocent Muslims. Hence killing innocent Muslim was not the answer to Aurangzeb's reign of oppression. Modern Renditions !n the 1990s Junoon, Asia's biggest Sufi rock band from Pakistan, has also rendered such poems as Aleph (Ilmon Bas Kareen O Yaar) and Bullah Ki Jaana. Bulleh Shah's verses have also been adapted and used in Bollywood film songs. In 2004, Rabbi Shergill successfully performed the unlikely feat of turning the abstruse metaphysical poem Bullah Ki Jaana into a Rock/Fusion song, which became hugely popular in India. Another version was performed by Lakhwinder Wadali titled simply Bulla. Examples include the songs Chhayya Chhayya and Thayya Thayya in the movie Dil Se. Few translations of his work, Neither Hindu nor Muslim, Sacrificing pride, let us sit together. Neither Sunni nor Shia, Let us walk the road of peace. We are neither hungry nor replete, Neither naked nor covered up. Neither weeping nor laughing, Neither ruined nor settled, We are not sinners or pure and virtuous, What is sin and what is virtue, this I do not know. Says Bulhe Shah, one who attaches his self with the lord. Gives up both hindu and Muslim. Bullah is neither Rafzi nor Sunni, nor learned nor an intellectual nor a Jaini. I have learnt the lesson of love of God alone. People say : Bulleh is an Infidel (Kafar) and an idol-worshipper. But in the Lords court, both the Momin and Kafar (Believer and un-believer) are treated alike. I am free, my mind is free, I am neither a sick person nor a physician Neither a believer nor an infidel Nor a mullah or syed In the fourteen spheres I walk in freedom I can be imprisoned nowhere. I know not who I am I am neither a believer going to the mosque Nor given to non-believing ways Neither clean, nor unclean Neither Moses not Pharaoh I know not who I am I am neither among sinners nor among saints Neither happy, nor unhappy I belong neither to water not to earth I am neither fire, not air I know not who I am The more we read his poetry, the more our hearts are enlightenened and our minds are opened to the world of Sufi thoughts!

Khalil Jibran Quotes!

One of the amazing and beautiful writers and poets of our times, some of his quotes to refresh your memories.

His Date of Birth:
January 6, 1883
His Date of Death:
April 10, 1931

But his works still live in the hearts and minds of millions of admirers across the world.

• But let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
• Coming generations will learn equality from poverty, and love from woes.
• Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.
• Exaggeration is truth that has lost its temper.
  
• A friend who is far away is sometimes much nearer than one who is at hand. Is not the mountain far more awe-inspiring and more clearly visible to one passing through the valley than to those who inhabit the mountain?
• A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle.
• All our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind.
• Advance, and never halt, for advancing is perfection. Advance and do not fear the thorns in the path, for they draw only corrupt blood.
• Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.
  
• Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof.
  
• Faith is an oasis in the heart which will never be reached by the caravan of thinking.
  
• Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.
• Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity.
  
• Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.
  
• Hallow the body as a temple to comeliness and sanctify the heart as a sacrifice to love; love recompenses the adorers.
  
• Generosity is not giving me that which I need more than you do, but it is giving me that which you need more than I do.
• I existed from all eternity and, behold, I am here; and I shall exist till the end of time, for my being has no end.
  
• I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers.
  
• I love you when you bow in your mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church. For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the spirit.
  
• I prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest, with visions to be realized, than lord among those without dreams and desires.
  
• I wash my hands of those who imagine chattering to be knowledge, silence to be ignorance, and affection to be art.
  
• If my survival caused another to perish, then death would be sweeter and more beloved.
  
• If the other person injures you, you may forget the injury; but if you injure him you will always remember.
  
• If you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work.
  
• If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. And if they don't, they never were.
  
• If you reveal your secrets to the wind, you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees.
  
• If your heart is a volcano, how shall you expect flowers to bloom?
  
• In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.
  
• Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children.
  
• Knowledge cultivates your seeds and does not sow in you seeds.
  
• Knowledge of the self is the mother of all knowledge. So it is incumbent on me to know my self, to know it completely, to know its minutiae, its characteristics, its subtleties, and its very atoms.
  
• Let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
  
• Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.
  
• Love and doubt have never been on speaking terms.
  
• Love is trembling happiness.
  
• Love one another, but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
  
• Love possesses not nor will it be possessed, for love is sufficient unto love.
  
• Love... It surrounds every being and extends slowly to embrace all that shall be.
  
• Many a doctrine is like a window pane. We see truth through it but it divides us from truth.
  
• March on. Do not tarry. To go forward is to move toward perfection. March on, and fear not the thorns, or the sharp stones on life's path.
  
• Most people who ask for advice from others have already resolved to act as it pleases them.
  
• Much of your pain is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.
  
• No man can reveal to you nothing but that which already lies half-asleep in the dawning of your knowledge.
• Nor shall derision prove powerful against those who listen to humanity or those who follow in the footsteps of divinity, for they shall live forever. Forever.
  
• Of life's two chief prizes, beauty and truth, I found the first in a loving heart and the second in a laborer's hand.
  
• Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.
  
• Pain and foolishness lead to great bliss and complete knowledge, for Eternal Wisdom created nothing under the sun in vain.
  
• Poetry is a deal of joy and pain and wonder, with a dash of the dictionary.
  
• Poverty is a veil that obscures the face of greatness. An appeal is a mask covering the face of tribulation.
  
• Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be.
  
• Rebellion without truth is like spring in a bleak, arid desert.
  
• Sadness is but a wall between two gardens.
  
• Safeguarding the rights of others is the most noble and beautiful end of a human being.
  
• Say not, 'I have found the truth,' but rather, 'I have found a truth.'
  
• The eye of a human being is a microscope, which makes the world seem bigger than it really is.
  
• The just is close to the people's heart, but the merciful is close to the heart of God.
  
• The lust for comfort, that stealthy thing that enters the house a guest, and then becomes a host, and then a master.
  
• The most pitiful among men is he who turns his dreams into silver and gold.
  
• The obvious is that which is never seen until someone expresses it simply.
  
• The person you consider ignorant and insignificant is the one who came from God, that he might learn bliss from grief and knowledge from gloom.
• The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind.
  
• There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.
  
• They consider me to have sharp and penetrating vision because I see them through the mesh of a sieve.
  
• Time has been transformed, and we have changed; it has advanced and set us in motion; it has unveiled its face, inspiring us with bewilderment and exhilaration.
  
• To be able to look back upon ones life in satisfaction, is to live twice.
  
• To understand the heart and mind of a person, look not at what he has already achieved, but at what he aspires to.
  
• Trust in dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.
  
• Truth is a deep kindness that teaches us to be content in our everyday life and share with the people the same happiness.
  
• We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them.
  
• What difference is there between us, save a restless dream that follows my soul but fears to come near you?
  
• What is this world that is hastening me toward I know not what, viewing me with contempt?
  
• When love beckons to you, follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
• When we turn to one another for counsel we reduce the number of our enemies.
  
• When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
  
• When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
  
• When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music. Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sings together in unison?
  
• Where is the justice of political power if it executes the murderer and jails the plunderer, and then itself marches upon neighboring lands, killing thousands and pillaging the very hills?
  
• Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep, too grave to laugh, and too selfish to seek other than itself.
  
• Wisdom stands at the turn in the road and calls upon us publicly, but we consider it false and despise its adherents.
  
• Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.
  
• Would that I were a dry well, and that the people tossed stones into me, for that would be easier than to be a spring of flowing water that the thirsty pass by, and from which they avoid drinking.
• Yesterday is but today's memory, and tomorrow is today's dream.
  
• Yesterday we obeyed kings and bent our necks before emperors. But today we kneel only to truth, follow only beauty, and obey only love.
  
• You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
  
• You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
  
• You have your ideology and I have mine.
  
• You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might also pray in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.
  
• Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They came through you but not from you and though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
  
• Your daily life is your temple and your religion. When you enter into it take with you your all.
  
• Your friend is your needs answered.
  
• Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.
  
• Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.
  
• Zeal is a volcano, the peak of which the grass of indecisiveness does not grow.
  
• 
  

The dreams of the neglected!

It gives me heart ache to see a lot of kids roaming on the streets at the mercy of our society to help them or to let them be beggars or may end up getting in to the hands of a criminal gang to be a potential out law of future. Tomorrow is 14th August, 09. We would see our leaders once again at the flag hosting ceremony, we would listen to their address to the Nation on the media, we would hear there promises once again that they will change the fate of Pakistan by removing poverty, by spreading education, by opening new job opportunities, by rewarding the talented people, by upholding the law, by ensuring respect and due rights for women blah blah blah!

But the thing that we always miss is the governments support to these children on the streets and alot of kids being raised in the central jails for the sins committed by their father or mother. they are also Pakistani citizens although they might not be having the legal documented proof of being a Pakistani Citizen. Their smiles are not an indicator of their ill fate. They have learnt to live life the way the living rights are being given to them. In seminars we condemn the child labor, next day we get our cars fixed from an eleven year old. They observe the world and literally miss every thing that can bring them at par with the kids who live with their parents and who could afford to send them to schools, who could afford to take them to parks and fun lands, who could take them to hill stations in vacations, who could feed them with the clean and healthy food, who could get them a good medical attention if they become ill, who could bring them the toys and gadgets that could make them happy, who could plan their future years in advance.

We see them on the roads, consider them beggars and thieves and simply ignore them. We fail to see the hopes in their eyes which are still there, we fail to see a future A.Q Khan, Imran Khan, An Army General, a leading medical specialist, a natural singer, a talented teacher, an excellent fighter pilot, a man of letters, a future head of the state and a versatile actor in them. All we see is our unknown and un-realistic hatred for them for what they are today. If we part handswith our government and NGOs.

I managed to talk to few of these little kids five to ten years of average age, I could see so much deprivation in their eyes and so much feeling of being neglected when they talk, every one wanted to study, every one had a dream to pursue like our kids, every one wanted to live in a nice clean place and to put on a nice clean dress, every one had a different profession in mind and I met one kid who has seen a movie of Pakistani actor Shan, just one movie and he wanted to become a "Wehshi Gujar" and to beat and kill all the bad guys! Food, clothes and shelter is the basic promise of almost every political party before and after coming in government or in rule. What happens next is quite evident by the presence of thousands of homeless people around in every city who are looked after in elections only for two weeks to get the desired votes and then they are at the mercy of the cruel society. We are making thieves, dacoits,burglars, terrorists on our streets by not providing them food, shelter and education which creates a natural aggression in their behaviour and they want to snatch all the luxuries of life which they see that other are enjoying. Parents only feed them once cause of the poverty and rest two meals they have to earn by working at work shops, restaurants, small businesses or they will snatch it from one their mates who gets food in return of a day's work.

I am sure no body would plan a long march for these kids basic rights as a citizen of Pakistan, Hats off to EdhiFoundation, Anjuman e Faiz ul Islam (orphanage), Ansar Barni Trust, and other NGos which provide education and shelter to these kids.

Our heads of the state should consider people of Pakistan as their family where parents can not sleep if any of their children is suffering or struggling in life. A lot has been bragged about that the fate of Nation is going to be changed, who will promise these kids that their dreams can come true, all of us will join hands to work as a team as a nation to help them pursue a good life, which is their basic right. Its us all who can bring a genuine smile on these little angels innocent faces but we consider it a government's task and leave these human beings to rot their life in the slums cause all we focus is on the fact that our kids sleep in an air conditioned room, if there is no light, the stand by generators or UPS will not disturb their sleep, bank balances are just right enough to get out kids best of the education and living etc. But parents of these homeless kids only worry about the fact that how will they feed their kids with a single meal tomorrow.

We could see a lot of awareness being generated by the media but am sorry to say its more directed towards the fact that how to sell the air time with program where facts are being told in a harsh manner, government officials being humiliated, heads of states being ridiculed to make it funny and worth watching for general public and after that telecast nothing happens in general.

As Pakistani citizens and Muslims its our foremost duty to help these innocent kids to be a useful and effective citizen of Pakistan who can contribute to the over all development and prosperity of Pakistan. We can make their dreams come true, we can take them out of slums and let them live in a respectable manner, we can take them out of complex of being inferior to any one, we can make them all proud Pakistanis. I would request every body to come forward and give their share in re-habilitation of these ignored and helpless kids and their families. I have seen a lot sorrow, depression and helplessness when they communicate but I can still see a lively spirit in all of them to celebrate 14th August, some of them carrying small flag flags, some of them having a flag affixed their donkey and horse carts etc, Can our leaders have mercy on them and Allah might have mercy on them (leaders) as well.

I wish we could celeberate an independence day with a real sense of freedom!

It is always good to see live wires in a dull routine of our nation especially in the second week of August every year. All of a sudden as if a reminder struck our mind to refresh our memory, a wave of happiness and pride take charge of us we want to celebrate the independence day, 14th August, 1947. That is the day when all of us thought our worries are over as we are a free nation after all. Did the freedom actually come in to existence as well? The answer is some what not satisfactory for any any body.

The idea was to establish a government which can provide food, shelter, jobs, social and economic justice and above all an equal opportunity to all to strive for a bright future. Initially every thing seemed to be working in a perfectly well manner. Then starts the era When Quaid E Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan left uswith very short intervals. Afterwards we saw an invasion of people on the resources of Pakistan who were some how made our leaders and the progress got slowed a great deal if not stopped at all.

We saw military dictator ships, we saw our leaders playing in the hands of west and serving western interests. We saw religious and ethnic riots being staged and handful of people getting benefit out of it. We saw mass corruption which resulted in over all turmoil of the economy and our journey. Despite these we saw great individuals giving fame to our country on International level like Behram Avari (water sports), Jahangir Khan (Squash), Imran Khan (Cricket) ,Hameedi, ISlahul din, Sami Ullah, Hassan Sardar, Akhtar Rasool, Shehnaz Sheikh, Shahbaz senior in hockey, HussainShah in boxing and Yousaf in Snooker. Apart from that works of our great poets of current times like Faiz, Faraz,Qasmi, Amjad Islam Amjad, Parveen Shakir brought us fame in the literally circle across the globe. Performing arts saw wonderful works of Tallat Hussain, Qavi Khan, Uzma Gillani, Najeeb Ullah Anjum, Subhani Bayounis, ShahnazSheikh, Roohi Bano, Shafi Muhammad, Javed Sheikh, Abid Ali, Shoaib Mansoor, Shoaib Hashmi etc to entertain generations. Music industry saw works of Sohail Rana, Attray, Khalil Ahmed, Nisar Bazmi as Directors and in the great line of singers we were lucky enough to see the majical voice of Madam Noor jahan, Ustaad Amanat Ali Khan, NayyaraNoor, Malika e Pukhraj, Fareeda Khanum, Bilquees, Mehdi Hassan Khan, Ahmed Rushdi, Alamgir, Shehki and a long list of bands and solo singers of current generation. In the social welfare sector we saw Ansar Barni, Edhi Sb and AsmaJahangir playing a role to help the needy under all circumstances especially the women.

We saw great achievements in the field of science and technology thanks to Dr. A. Q Khan, Dr. Atta Ul Rehman. We see heroics of Bhutto against dictators, we saw heroics of our armed forces in the wars, we saw mean dictators, we saw dedicated struggle of people to up hold the rule of law.

But we never saw an end to the suffering of people who are almost 65% of our population and are still deprived of basic human rights, we never saw equal opportunities for women despite having a female Prime minister Benazir Bhutto, we saw 10 % of our population enjoying and rest being crushed in the life cycle for mere survival. We saw an invasion of terrorism and ethnic violence cause we parted with USA to defeat Russia in Afghanistan and then to defeat Al Qaedathere, end result was we were used like toilet paper and were thrown and forgotten when the purpose was served. Our education system is a total failure based on elite producing and ignoring the people who can not afford to the expensive education.

We are celebrating freedom but we are not free to caste our vote with out influence or pressure, we are not free to criticize government policies, we waste our time in useless activities and like our leaders have forgotten to work hard, we are not free to pursue our liked professions cause we cant afford the necessary education at Universities. We are not free to uphold the judiciary system, we are not free to catch the convicts, we are not free to associate with each other with out biases, ethnic and social differences as state and our leaders encourage the ethnic and social differences to pursue their own vested interests, we are not free to determine and monitor equal distribution of wealth. We are finding it very hard to digest that an ordinary man has the right to flourish in life. We are free to do corruption as long as we are in government, in rule and have got some body influential enough to get us away from murder even. We are free to make or break the law/constitution the way it suits us.

Are we an independent state whose state of affairs are being dictated by the west and our leaders for own good always keep our welfare and dignity as a secondary matter as the prime importance for them is their own well being and people around them which includes key party leaders and their own family. We are fighting a much bigger battle than our initial efforts for independence in early 1900's as our existence as a Muslim Nation and an Independent state is at danger. We see huge palaces (presidency and prime minister house ) stretched over the 100 of acres and having provision of all the necessary luxuries in life that one could even think of and people residing in those palaces rely on begging rather than earning the livings for themselves and for the Nation. 80% of our government officials foreign trips are focused on getting aid to run the state, in return our independent leaders do what the money lenders want them to do.

It is great to see the love of people especially of the kids and younger generation in Pakistan eagerly awaiting the 14thAugust Celebrations through out the country and I have great hopes after seeing a change reaction of speaking of thetruth on media and making our youth aware of what to do and what not to do. If our next generation could come forward and take charge and get all politicians and other corrupt people who are proven guilty by the law, punished in such a manner that they serve a sentence in jail and then are asked to leave our home land, if this could happen then I would be able to breathe may be for a brief time in a real independent state and will really spend the independence daywith a flag in my hand, dancing madly on the tunes of National songs.

I salute all the people who have contributed positively for the growth of Pakistan after the independence in a positive manner with out keeping own benefits at the back of their minds and are the real reason for our Nation's survival in the world of negative tactics by the west to destabilize an Islamic state which can unite the Muslim world for a better future for the generations to come.

Long Live The Pakistan!

Little Angels telling us how to live!

The real and deep hearted love is reflected in our interaction with little children under the age of the three years. The more we interact with them the more we feel happy and the more we love them. But again the children remain children for parents even they reach the age of sixty and become grand parents them selves.

We often ignore our kids best age which is early childhood cause of our commitments to the business and job in general and normally dont get enough time to spare to interact with them. But still no matter how stressed out we are, how busy we remained in the day or how difficult the day was for us, when we look at our children we forget every thing and become stress in the matter of few minutes by playing and chatting with them.

These little angels give us lessons to mend our life styles. Their interaction with other kids is based on true feelings of love and innocence and when they fight amongst each other, they have a valid reason for that. They believe in forgive n forget and are very good at socializing. Its us the elders who are non-accommodating, believe in nurturing grudges, think of taking revenge, plan to ruin each others life, less tolerant, mean and cruel in our day to day dealings. Our such routine is making our lives much more complicated and stressed out. These little angels give us a message every day through their innocent gestures that world can be a much better place to live if we learn to facilitate each other and also can learn the ways for a successful mutual co-existence. We read books, watch informative programs, visit different places in the world to enhance our knowledge and widen our IQ horizon but we rarely stop by and observe our kids playing and how they handle different situations.

The present day scenario is giving us a very gloomy picture of no hope, but the rays of hope are around us but our false egos dont allow us to stand under these rays. Kids believe in love, we believe in our goals. Kids are straight forward when it comes to dealing, we are rather hypocrites. Children are fun loving where as our joy is not fully focused. They are more innovative and we waste our time in leg pulling and other useless activities at the work place. Kids focus on the things of their interest and loose interest in the things which are supposed to be requiring the most attention. Kids offer loving gestures, smiles and few sweet words when they like something and we have forgot to appreciate and acknowledge each others efforts. Kids get inspired quickly and we think that we are the most perfect human beings and who need inspiration to be more precise. Children dont have any emotional, social or religious barriers to interact with each other and we tend to hide behind the walls of biased beliefs, hatred and cross culturalboundries.

We should learn to observe our kids and from them we should learn to spread love and care feelings for each other and should try our level best to make some time for our family from our busy life. It often happens that the only memory from the old days remains visible in family photo albums in which we are often not visible. It reminds us that we have not enjoyed the presence of beautiful children around us when they were there to bring cheers and laughter in our life. Above all this initial close interaction with children helps parents remain close to their kids through out their lives which enhances a true spirit of love, affection and respect.

Its time for us all to come out of a self made cover or a barrier between us and the true happiness, all we need to do is to look around us in our family and make the most of all happy moments that come our way by having blessed with children, then becoming lucky enough to see them growing and enjoying every part of their life. Kids are the best teachers if we try and think on these facts in a rather more open and understanding manner. This would help us in avoiding the so called stress and worries that we have created for us out of unknown reasons and at times the reasons are very obvious too!

Sweet & Sour!

Wife can be a good friend but dont share secrets or else you will get the beating of a life time which normally never remains a secret FOR LONG …

What are the three words guaranteed to humiliate men everywhere?
‘Hold my purse.’

To generate more revenue Government has decided to impose ” Bathroom tax”, so please try to eat less otherwise this tax will EAT all of your income…….

The average woman would rather have beauty than brains, because the average man can see better than he can think.

I told my wife that a husband is like a fine wine; he gets better with age. The next day, she locked me in the cellar.

WASHINGTON POST COMPETITION ASKED FOR A TWO-LINE RHYME WITH THE MOST
ROMANTIC FIRST LINE, BUT THE LEAST ROMANTIC SECOND LINE

I see your face when I am dreaming.

That’s why I always wake up screaming.

Kind, intelligent, loving and hot;

This describes everything you are not.

Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you.

But the roses are wilting, the violets are dead, the

sugar bowl’s empty and so is your head.

I love your smile, your face, and your eyes –

Damn, I’m good at telling lies!

This is the winner:-

My darling, my lover, my beautiful wife,

Marrying you screwed up my life.

life is simple, dont make it complicated with marriage, if marriage is un avoidable, then u need definitely need a life insurance policy, one for you and three for your other three girl friends.

wife and a used car are the same, both need maintenance every now and then and the more you spend on them the less they improve.

A wife is similar to American spy satellite, it follows foot steps of a husband after 8pm, tracks it down and attack him like a drone and destroy the moments he was about to enjoy,

kids are too smart these days, they can even tell that dad gets sparkle in his eyes when he sees aunt next door.

all the good things in life are either not available, illegal, banned or married to others.

better half which is wife is always ignored for worst half ….. the girl friend

speaking truth will be so rare in National assembly and at TV channels that a National Truth speaking day will be celeberated in which the concerned have to speak at least one real truth in a day

And now some real time messages of day to day life some we even see on buses n rickshaws and some we hear from intellectuals and some we read ……

dont be jealous, be a hard worker!

you gave your mom a hard time, now you drive a rickshaw

It takes a minute to find some one special, an hour to appreciate him or her, a day to fall in love and an entire ligr to forget them if you get married!

gave you heart thinking you are kind hearted but you ate my heart like a sweet

ok we shall meet again

old driver, too good service

my heart n breaks both fail to see lovely ladies

accident always seems impossible until its done!

Silence is the fence around wisdom. If your foot slips, you can always regain your balance…! But, if your tongue slips, you can never recall the words.

Life is like a coin. Pleasure and pain are the 2 sides. Only 1 side is visible at a time. But remember other side is also waiting for its turn…!

Don’t make relations before understanding & Don’t break relation after misunderstanding!

‘Successful people do not plan Results, They plan Beginning. Because Right Results always Follow the Right Beginning

”Dream is Not that What U See in SleeP.. Dream is The ThinG Which Does Not allow you to sleeP”

Luck is like sand in hands. It will sneak out through the fingers, no matter gripped firmly or held loosely. Only hands in the praying posture can save it..

What we Do> what we Think> what we Experience> what we Expose…

Wandering and dreaming, the words have different meaning

The cruelest lies are often told in silence.

Let no man pull you low enough to hate him.

Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.

The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.

The past is a source of knowledge, and the future is a source of hope. Love of the past implies faith in the future.

Each new day is a blank page in the diary of your life. The secret of success is in turning that diary into the best story you possibly can.

faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

You see someone through the window Who you’ve just learned to miss

life is short, believe in miracles so play more…

in chinese, the word “crises” is composed of two characters: danger + opportunity…

When the voice and the vision on the inside become more profound clearer and louder than the opinions on the outside, you have mastered your life

One must desire something to be alive.

keep your mind off the things you don’t want, by keeping it on the things you do want….

Our judgements, even concerning ordinary things, are frequently clouded by our emotions.

you can get everything in life you want if you will just help other people get what they want…

the secret to concentration is the acceptance of endless distractions.

Luv is a fire ,but weather its gonna warm ur heart or burn down ur house,u can never tell ….

setting an alarm clock for 7:01 or 6:59am reminds you that you have choice in everything you do.

Giving up doesn’t always mean you are weak; sometimes it means that you are strong enough to let go n forget.

Even the best of friends need time apart.

The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone to blame it on.

It’s true that we don’t know what we’ve got until we lose it, but it’s also true that we don’t know what we’ve been missing until it arrives.

Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.