Poetic Misconceptions

Poetical misconceptions

Middle

                                                                      

Dr. Muhammad Asadullah

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Once my lecturer, Mr. Khadakkar, now he is no more in this world, told me ,” Every day you have five times “Azan” in mosques in loud speaker ,whether God can’t listen this  prayer in slow voice ?He referred Sant Kabeer’s ,  famous Doha (Couplet) saying : 

Kankad  pathad jo kar Masjid laye banay ,

Ta chadi Mulla bang dai Bahra,bhaya Khuday

(Means: By assembling stones and sand, you have erected mosque, and early in the morning you give “Azan “(Islamic call for prayer), whether God is deaf?)

I clarified to him that though Sant Kabeer was a great poet and saint but either he had used a particular figure of speech in this couplet. He has given the reason for a particular occurrence which is not its real reason, or he is unaware of it.

The Azan in our mosques is given only for calling Muslim to perform Namaz which is the real prayer. My teacher surprise to know this fact then he asked me to translate the words of Azan in Marathi.

I discussed several people during yester years, and found them confused about these things.   This is amazing that we live in a country where a number of religions are in practice but we have very limited knowledge of other religion and even we don’t know basic things about our own religion.

Poetical misconceptions are also surprising in our literature which may be the result of poet’s unawareness or he deliberately projects something wrong. Nida Fazli, a modern Urdu poet well-known for his tender thoughts and unique style had also been in controversy for many issues. Besides other forms of literature he had expressed his views in the form of Doha in Urdu which is actually came from Hindi literature. One of his Urdu Doha Nida says:

Bachcha bola dekh ke Masjid aalishan

Ek Khuda ke waste Itna bada makan 

A child was astonished to see a splendid mosque, he said, How surprising that for a single God this huge home is constructed.

Perhaps poet has expressed these words by a child so that people may not accuse him to criticize on a holy place. It also indicates that there is tendency to spend a lot of money on decorating religious places. But the wrong massage goes from this couplet is that mosque is the house of God, which is indeed true but at the same time it is a place of worship where people  assemble five times to perform Namaz ,an important prayer in Islam. The size of a mosque may be depending on the Muslim population of that area. The people unaware of this fact may be misguided by these lines which is merely a poetic allegation.

The grandeur of holy places always fascinated me  as it   create the sense of  greatness of God ,but at the same time I feel that despite of spending lavishly on extraordinary decoration ,it is necessary to spend some money to establish a library attached to mosque in which religious literature and the explain er to holy book must be available so that people must understand their religion correctly.

 Most of the people in the world are unaware of the true spirit of their religion .In our country  also a number of superstitions are in practice in the name of holy faith. 

 When I inquire such type of mosques in our city only two or three places are there like this. I hope education will create awareness among new generation about the need to acquire true spirit of religion despite of adopting rituals to follow religion.    

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celebrating Eid e Milad .an other point of view

Celebrating Eid Milad 

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          My younger   son Anas   tries to celebrate his birthday twice or thrice  in  every year. Isn’t it surprising?

Actually he was born on the day which was of Eid.Now he insist to remember the day of Eid and forget the date  because in this process he has an advantage of celebrating his birthday on both the the Eids,Eid- ul- fitr and Eid-ul Azha. As, with in a year, these two festivals are most important all over the world for Muslims.

As far as his birthday which falls in the month of March,who may stop him to celebrate it .Though ,I always try to  convey him the tradition of our religion that we don’t believe in celebrating our birth day. Every year when we have our birth day, it indicates us that a precious  time span; consist of one year; has been deducted from our age ,as every human being has its fixed quota  of not only days but moments too. He says to me Abbu ,you are right,I also don’t believe in this ,but still what is wrong to have some celebration just to remember it and definitely this is last celebration , I shall not celebrate it next year.  

This year Anas is a student of standard eighth. He has begun to understand the content of a Calendar. Yesterday, he turned the page of April and jump with delight telling me, Abbu, there is an other Eid this month, Yahoo, My third birthday.  After going through the Calendar tried to appease him by saying that

Actually this is not an Eid. We don’t celebrate it like other festivals.

“Not even as my birthday? His humorous remark made  me laugh .Then I tried to explain him that the Eid-e-Milad –Un-Nabi  which is falling this year on 1^st  April is celebrated as the birth day of Prophet Mohammad(P.B.U.H.)though, a bigger group of Muslims community, well aware of Islamic Tradition and teachings in this regard ,doesn’t believe in any type of birthday celebrations and take it against the true spirit of their religion. 

          As a personal matter, social atmosphere compelled me, some times to allow my children to celebrate their birthdays, but at the same time  I had convinced them that these  things are just for timely enjoyment. We don’t believe in it. Consequently my elder children had given up these celebrations during last few years. 

For a long time, after the death of Prophet Mohmmad(P.B.U.H.) no one knew this festival. This celebration is recent one started during a couple of centuries, Since, most religions celebrate the birthday of their religious   leaders, some people says that it is an imitation of these religions. There  are so many non- Islamic rituals, performed in our country as a part of imitation. 

Thus the brighter part of such ceremonies might be used to make it as a medium to communicate the valuable thoughts, teachings and the great deeds of Prophet Mohmmad(P.B.U.H.) His life and the values he   had taught to the people are still useful for humanity. His deeds and comments  is like a light house for the whole world, wondering in the darkness of ignorance ,terror and hatred ,but it is seen ,most celebrations served no purpose beyond taking processions and rising slogans .

Once I asked one of the organizers of such procession, What do you want to serve by this? He replied “We want to demonstrate our majority.” I tried to explain him that it is against the true Islamic sprit. Majority or minority has nothing to do with obeying Al-mighty creator. Holy Quran had also condemn this trend by reminding in one of it’s verse that many times a small group of people had defeated the group which was proud of being in majority .

 As they were at that time,   During the Battle of Ohad , a war in Arab, the defeat  of Muslims was interpreted as a lesson from Allah .

Celebration of this festival may be a medium to convey the teachings and message of Islam by introducing life and thoughts of great personality, Nabi Akram (S.A.S),

Practically in the procession of eid milad in most of the cities, now a day’s lavishly expenses, dancing by youths, use of D.J. and singing, participation of ladies in juloos (procession), all these things are against Islam .our leaders and Ulema had given instruction to avoid such things. It defeats the purpose of this celebration. We should try to introduce life and thoughts of  Nabi Akram (S.A.S),and the aim of Risalat to the people unaware with this great occurrence.

   

Muslim voters aur voting مسلم ووٹر اور ووٹنگ

مسلمان عام طور پر ووٹ ڈالنے سے کیوں کتراتے ہیں ؟
یہ ایک سوال ہے جو حالیہ لوک سبھاالکشن کی ہنگا مہ آ رائیوں کے درمیان اکثر ذہنوں میں سر ابھارتا ہے۔

اس کی ایک وجہ تو ظاہر ہے کہ عام مسلمان اپنے گزشتہ برسوں کے تجربات کی بنیاد پر منتخب ہو نے والی سیاسی پارٹیوں کی کا رکردگی سے بری طرح مایوس ہوا ہے اور مستقبل میں بھی سیاسی لو گوں سے کو ئی خاص امّید نہیں کی جا سکتی ۔ گویا اب الکشن میں ہمارے لئے ووٹ ڈالنے کا مقصد اچّھے حکمرانوں کا انتخاب کر نا نہیں ،بلکہ دو بُرے لو گوں میں سے کسی کم بُرے کو چنّا ہے ۔ لیکن جو لوگ اس میدان میں اترے ہیں ان پر ایک نظر ڈالئے تو لگتا ہے یہاں تو ساری ہی دال کالی ہے ۔یہ سبھی ایک ہی تھیلی کے چٹّے بٹّے ہیں ۔

بظاہر دو درختوں کی طرح جو کچھ فاصلے پر کھڑے نظر آ تے ہیں، لیکن ان کی جڑیں اندر سے ایک دوسرے سے ملی ہو ئی ہیں ، یہ سیاسی پارٹیاں حکومت بنانے کے لئے یا بالفاظِ دیگر کر سی حاصل کر نے کے لئے سیاسی گٹھ بندھن کے نام پر ایک ہوجائیںگی۔یعنی ہمیں ان لوگوں کو منتخب کر نا ہے جو اس میدان کے مرد ہیں اور آ ئے ہی اسی ارادہ سے ہیں کہ مال و دولت،شہرت حکومت حاصل کر یں گے ۔ان میں شائد ہی کو ئی ایسا ہوگا جو خالص خدمتِ خلق کا جذبہ لے کر آ یا ہو اور اپنی دنیا بنا ناا س کے پیشِ نظر نہ ہو، بلکہ ایسا کو ئی اس گلی میں آ ئے اور آخر تک اپنے ارادہ پر قائم رہ پائے حالانکہ یہ ممکن نہیں ہے ( کہ نکٹو ں کی بستی میں کسی ناک والے کو ٹکنے نہیں دیا جاتا ) تو اس شخص کو سادہ لوح کے علاوہ اور کیا کہا جاسکتا ہے اسی لئے اب سیاست میں شریف لوگ بہت کم گھستے ہیں (کیونکہ شریف آ دمی گھس پیٹھیا نہیں ہو تا) ۔بقول غالب ؔ

ہاں وہ نہیں خدا پرست ؛جا ؤ، وہ بے وفا سہی
جس کو ہو دین و دل عزیز، اس کی گلی میں جائے کیوں

ایک حکایت

ایک شخص کو پھانسی کی سزا دینے سے پہلے بادشاہ کی خدمت میں پیش کیا گیا تو بادشاہ نے کہا : آ ج ہماری بیٹی کا جنم دن ہے اس لئے ہم تم پر خاص عنایت کر نے والے ہیں ۔وہ آ دمی بہت خوش ہوا کہ ممکن ہے جان بخشی ہو جا ئے ۔ بادشاہ نے کہا : تمہارے سامنے تین کارڈ ہیں ان میں سے جو سہولت تمہیں پسند ہو اسے چن لو ۔ مجرم نے پہلا کارڈ اٹھایا اس پر لکھا تھا ’موت‘ ،اس نے گھبرا کر دوسرا کارڈاٹھایا ،اس پر درج تھا’موت‘ ۔اس نے اس امّید پر کہ یقینا یہی بادشاہ کی طرف سے خاص عنایت ہے تیسرا کارڈ اٹھایا اس پر بھی لکھا تھا ’موت‘۔
یہی حال ہمارے ووٹروں کا ہے خواہ وہ کسی بھی سیاسی پارٹی کو منتخب کریں نتیجہ وہی ہے ڈھاک کے تین پات !


مو جوددہ دور میں مسلمان سوچتے ہیںکہ ہم کو جن سے ہے وفا کی امیّد ،وہ نہیں جانتے وفا کیاہے ۔اسی لئے عام طور مسلمانوں کا بڑا طبقہ نہ ووٹر لسٹ میں اپنا نام درج کر وانے کے کئے دوڑ دھوپ کر تا ہے اور نہ مسلم ووٹر اپنا ووٹ بینک کتنا طاقتور ہے یہ بتانے کی فکر کر تے ہیں ۔
یہ اور بات ہے کہ بدلتے ہو ئے حالات نے اب خاص طور پر پڑھے لکھے طبقے میں یہ شعور پید اکر دیا ہے کہ ہمیں ووٹ کا استعمال ضرور کر نا چاہئے ۔یہ نہ صرف ہمارا قومی فریضہ ہے بلکہ اگر ہم اپنی پسندیدہ پارٹی کو منتخب کروانے میں زیادہ دلچسپی نہ لیتے ہوں تو کم از کم ووٹ کی طاقت کا استعمال کر کے ان سیاسی جماعتو ں کو حکومت پر قابض ہو نے سے روک ضرور سکتے ہیں۔جو نہ صرف مسلمان بلکہ ملک کے لئے بھی نقصان دہ ثابت ہو سکتے ہیں ۔

میںا یسے لو گوں سے بھی ملا ہوں جو اس بات کو فخرسے بیان کر تے ہیں کہ ہم نے نہ زندگی میں کبھی ووٹ نہیں ڈالا اور نہ اس اختیار کا استعمال کریں گے ۔یہ دراصل موجودہ سیاسی اداروں کی کالی کرتوت کے خلاف برہمی کے اظہار کا ایک طریقہ ہے اور کہیں تو یہ خیال ان لو گوں کے دلوں میں جا گزیں ہے کہ یہاںے داغ تو کو ئی ہے ہی نہیں پھر
ہم ووٹ ڈال کر بد کر دار لو گوں کو حکومت کی کر سی پر بٹھا نے کا گناہ کیوں کریں ؟
یہ سچ ہو تب بھی وقت کا تقاضا تو یہ ہے کہ اگر ہمارے ووٹ کا استعمال نہ کرنے سے اگر قوم و ملک کے لئے خطرہ بننے والے لوگ کرسی پر قابض ہو گئے تو اس صورت میں بھی ہم غفلت شعاری اور قوم کے مفادات کا تحفّظ نہ کر نے کے مجرم تو ہو نگے ہی ۔

بہتر یہ ہے کہ قومی مفاد کے پیشِ نظر اپنے ووٹ کا سوجھ بوجھ کے ساتھ استعمال کی جائے ۔

Poverty in India

The nation, once upon a time, known as the golden bird, enchanted by the slogan Gharibi Hatao, crowned the politicians who coined these word, still repent for its miserable condition. There are certain socio economical as well as political factors responsible for the problem. Though many waters have been flown during the passage of time after independence, in spite of abundant natural resources and the great man power available in this country, inexplicable condition of human life here is a matter of concern for concerning authority, but who cares.

Some people have an opinion that the ideological back ground of Indian society, a creation of our religious thinking, though it may be created by Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Buddhist religion, always preferred poverty to prosperity.

Islam’s concept of ‘’Tassawwuf’’ denounced worldly grandeur and preferred good deeds and charity, “Maya” and “Mitthya” in Hindu Philosophy have same notion, Gautam Budh, the Prince of Patliputra had disowned his Kingdom and gone towards forest in search of peace. All these evidences show t wealth hat various religions in our country had always discouraged the, pomp and show, wealth and worldly luxuries.

The accumulation of wealth in some hands was always criticized in our country. Our moral values gave stress on philanthropy and charity. Capitalism was always at stake in our society but the consequences of poverty and unemployment were also ignored, though it is equally dangerous, leading towards corruption followed a number of crimes in our society.

Neither poverty nor prosperity to be blamed for a corrupt society, it depends upon the behavior of people. Individuals in a society must be trained to utilize the resources in hand skillfully and honestly. It is a tragedy of Indian society our youth are unable to get suitable jobs despite of education, they observe corruption and discrimination and it creates frustration and nervous ness among them. The unrest on this issue among new generation is dangerous for the society and this situation may give way to the chaws and even antagonist attitude. Terrorism in some part of our country is also a reaction of this problem, which should be curbed from grass root level.

Beating Drum of Sex Education

While using electronic gadgets like mobile, computers, T.V. and even bikes too, I have to take help of my sons, as they know how to operate these things and solve the problems in no time. This is not only with me. The people of my age are passing through the same situation and feel that the time is passing with the speed which is not in our control. We are compelled to drag ourselves in a world witch is strange to us, different to the period we were accustomed to. The present time is of new generation and the nature has bestowed these young people, intelligence, skills and all those abilities which are required to cope the problems of present world.

We know that the sexual urge is common among man and animal. The teaching system of nature never failed to train these two species to perform their duties, otherwise some generations would have passed without generating their next generations. In such a situation we advocate imparting sex education to the new generation which is very sharp to under stand each and every thing, it looks like a joke.

The great exposure of sex in media had filled the atmosphere with sex waves in our atmosphere.
A day before, my fiend Mr. ‘S’ told me, “The students whom we intend to educate sex are already in a position to teach you some thing new, these advance learners have no need of such type of education, although, the threat regarding AIDS and other abuses may require awareness among them, which we are already teaching through different campaigns, however, separate provision for sex education may be as we are giving a dangerous tool not only in the hands of students but it may be harmful for the irresponsible teachers too. This statement can’t be understood if you are not aware, what is going inside the four walls of our educational institutes.”
Most of the people advocate sex education in school with out knowing its consequences. Now a days it has become a fashion to favor each and every thing newly introduce, so that people may not categories you orthodox.

Sex education is being introduced in schools so that our students may not fall pray of illicit relation and it is a safety measure from dangerous deceases like Aids. I thing the threat may be convey to them, but to tell them whole story is beyond logic. It recalled me another story. Once, before Fridays prayer, a Maulana, a religious orator told the audience, in the mosque that it is against our religion to beat drum in a mosque.

After prayer ,when he reached home, his wife informed him that she is suffering from a decease since a long time, she had promised God ,if she got rid from that ailment, she would made her husband beat a drum in the mosque on Friday. Maulvi Sahab shocked to know her intention and told her that he had just announced it prohibited, so how is it possible?
His wife started weeping, “You can’t do such a small thing for me!”

Next week, before Friday prayer Maulvi Sahab stood for his sermon with a drum in his hands and beat it two or three times .People were astonished to see him .One of them asked Maulvi Sahab , “ last week you had declared that it was prohibited in our religion ,and now you are doing it ?.Maulvi Sahab replied, “last week; I had forgotten to tell you which type of drum beating is prohibited, so I thought, I should give a practical example before you.

I told this story to my friend, Mr.“S.”, so he asked me ,The people want to make sex education compulsory in schools ,are they also suffering from any decease, like Maulvi Sahab’s wife?

Learning English

It is a fact that teaching and learning go hand in hand, but our education system has invented such strange institutions in our society, which have ridiculed the whole process. A personal experience revealed the fact.

Those were the days of full of problems as I was eagerly looking for a job. My family problems compelled me to do anything even to do post graduation in English. In this Herculean task, I managed to get third division which was sufficient, at that time for the job of a high school teacher.
As I had already passed my B.Ed examination, I easily became a teacher. Being a product a non-English medium school, speaking flawless English was beyond my capacity.

A feeling of inferiority complex turned into a guilty conscious which forced me to avoid conversation skillfully. Fortunately, my school was in a town.
Not a single teacher had mastery over any language. Talat was the only lady teacher who had control over many languages at a time. So was the common opinion about her. She always tried to prove herself as a good speaker in English.

The conscious listeners always encouraged her with a meaningful smile but she was not smart enough to understand its true sense. Once she told me that some of her colleagues blamed her for speaking faulty English. They say, “Main Angrezi ki Tang Todti Hoon”. Is it correct sir? She asked me. I tried to cool her by saying that the British had kicked Indians for a long time, therefore, there is nothing wrong in breaking “Tang” of their tongue.

Once I went through an advertisement about an English speaking class run by a social organization. Now a days such coaching classes have mushroomed in cities and towns. Since villages and towns are on the path of following ever bad things of cities, these things are spreading in our villages too. I thought it would be an opportunity to overcome my problem of communication in English. So I approached them the secretary of the organization welcomed me warmly. He gave me details of the class and amount to be deposited, which was affordable and the timings suitable. I informed him about my intention to improve my English. I informed him that I am a graduate of English literature, he again shook hands and encouraged me by saying, “Don’t bother about it, the problem is common in our society and for this we are trying to provide atmosphere so that people can develop their hidden skills, so tell me, when will you join us?”
“Tomorrow I replied”.

Next day, I reached there and about to enter the classroom, the secretary stopped me and said, “Sir, since, it is our first batch we will pay you only five hundred rupees per month”.
“You will pay me for what?”, I asked surprisingly. As a student, actually I have to pay you”.
“No sir”, said the secretary, “Since you are a teacher in our speaking class, we will pay you”.
“Oh God, I came here as a student” I tried to clear my position.
“Let it be”. He said, but we are appointing you as a tutor as you have done graduation in English.
“And what about my speaking ability?” I asked worriedly.
“Don’t worry sir, the best way to learn any language is to teach it to others, a practical approach”, said he pushing me into the classroom.

The Pride and Prejudice of Languages

The most important aspect of a language is its charismatic power to bind people with each other. In our day to day life if we want to get some one’s favor, the key to open the door of his heart is to speak in his or her mother tongue. A famous couplet of Persian says, , Zuban-e Yar Mun Turkey Vo Mun Turkey Nami Danum ,Che Khub boode agar boode Zubanash Dar Dhane Mun .
(My beloved’s language is Turkey which I don’t know; how better it would be if I would have her tongue (language) in my mouth.

Languages are not merely a medium of expression but an asset to be boasted about. Nations and people always feel proud of their respective language for different reasons. Some on their being sweetest one, some for their literary heritage, other for their sound and vocabulary and there are some ancient languages a matter of pride for the nation. Arabians were so much proud of their skill of oratory and art of speaking; therefore they would call themselves Arab and say rest of the world, ‘Ajam’ means dumb.

When Sarojini Naidu,famous poetess showed her poems to a British writer, he had a strong objection to her on being a creative writer of English ,as he thought it was the only privilege of British.

In Urdu language famous poet Meer Taqi Meer says, Reekhta Mein Hum Se Gugtagoo Mat Kar ,Yeh Hamari Zuban Hai Pyare. (Don’t try to have a conversation in Reekhta with us as it is our language (Earlier Urdu language had been called Reekhta)
An other Poet Dagh Dehelvi says: Urdu Hai Jis Ka Nam Hum hi Jante Hain Dagh ,Sare Jahan Mein Dhoom Hamari Zuban Ki Hai.(We are ,the only one ,well versed in world famous ,Urdu language)

The history of languages contains a number of similar examples, which shows people exaggerating merit and greatness of their languages and at the same time they degrade others. In fact literary heritage is a matter of pride for a nation as well as for the people associated to it. But, this love and the pride, some times, had given way to the hatred for other languages too. We know that the people of France are against English. In India Southern states have disliking for Hindi. Similar situation is with Urdu and Hindi in U.P., where these two languages are considered rival to each other. The other day; a comment of a scholar, speaking regarding languages, shocked me. He said: the division of states in India is based on languages; we can’t ignore this harsh reality that languages had divided our country.

This is a co-incident that we witness both the sides of reality in our society. I meet a number of people whose mother tongue is either Hindi or Marathi, they are eager to learn Urdu, so that they may enjoy the rich literary treasure of Urdu Ghazal directly through its original script. The attention for Urdu language may be for its literary characteristic, particularly for the form of Ghazal. Ghazal is really very much useful for common man as well as for lovers and even for politicians too .It has a number of couplets enable you to express your heart so skillfully and in an artistic manner, It is helpful to contact to the person you want to convey your feelings, which is not possible in plain conversation.

Memories of a Riot

The lasting influences of any atmosphere on our mind can’t be denied .The framework provided by the happenings around us moulds our emotions too. I acquainted with this fact by a strange incident in my life.

I was, at that time living in a town with my uncle, by profession a businessman, having four shops dealing with different commodities related to the necessities of life, you may call it the life line of the town. The shops adjacent to his home, no other building was as huge as it was in that small town.

It was an enjoyment for me to see natural life in rural area, slow, calm, like a brook, a very simple, honest, far from artificial decorum of city life. One day; suddenly, a riot broke out and engulfed the peaceful atmosphere of the whole region.

Amidst the thick population of other community, my nucleus’s shops cum house were the only one belonged to our community. We were crazy about our safety. The history of such incidents made me believe that hatred, and madness of communalism turns people into a blind devil and the relations of years lose meanings and the warmth of love with in a moment. Though we were afraid of the hostility of other community, my uncle never bothered about it. He was calm, confident about the intention of his neighbors. He was very popular among the residents of the town for his nobility, and helping nature. Poor people would admire his philanthropy, when ever they need money or any other help he was ready to help them. Due to affection and love for him in the hearts of residents, my uncle never worried about the changing weathers of the town.
The people from out sides were trying to disturb the atmosphere of the vicinity by provoking speeches, so I was anxious about any unpleasant incident, which may occur any time.
It was the moments before dawn; I woke up hearing uproar in the street. People were shouting loudly, the sound of slapping and beating some one was clear. Different voices being heard: “Maro, Pakdo, Udhar, Udhar Bhaga paskdo, Are rassi se bandho, pakdo ……”

It took no time to understand that the riot has taken this village into his grip. I knew that it was the time when uncle would go to Namaz-e Fajr (morning Prayer) and I thought that miscreant Had captured him. There was no other way remained for me, except to go out side to rescue him. I was aware that it was impossible for me to give a fight to a mob still I went ahead. Near the door I found a heavy iron rod .I took it and entered in the balcony realizing
Those those were the last moments of my life. I confirmed my belief on God by enchanting holy verses.

As I entered in the balcony and peep into the street, to my surprise a strange view made me laugh. There were a number of people around many cattle pushing them to wards kanji house, which was in front of our shops. The uproar was for those cattle to put them in kanji house.
Now, when ever I think about this incident. I feel my self-ashamed that we think about people according to the noises arises in our atmosphere. Most of them these misunderstandings are due to the false propaganda destroying the peace and unity of our country too.

To Be A Common Man

I think it was a great change in Mr. ‘B’, after his promotion as an in-charge of his department; he would avoid joining the band of his colleague during the lunch break. Perhaps after elevated on a post upper then others, he thought, it was not proper to stand having tea, near a roadside tea stall, with his juniors. At that moment he didn’t remain a common man like others. I have seen many officers and the people enjoying a special status in society, avoid public places and even they don’t intend to meet the people not belonging to their cadre. Such types of people live in their own ivory tower. Mostly, these people are found detached from real life, their gain proves to be at the cost of a loss.

After a year, an employee who was senior than Mr. ‘R ’, represented himself and replaced at the post of Mr. ‘R’, so he was reverted on his former post and joined us as usual. It doesn’t mean that real joy of a life is only lies in the life style of a common man, but surely it is not in a mess of so many bindings and restrictions. A common man has no need to wear mask neither he has to adopt double standard, which becomes very necessary for celebrities, in this sense, I think, he is closer to life. Perhaps, this is a justice of Almighty God, that when He bestows some privileges to a V.I.P., the man don’t know that his gain has also a supplement of loss on the contrary same position is with the common man that though he has been deprived of those special things, but still he belongs advantages of being a common man.

I don’t know how many people in this world aspire to be a V.I.P., as for as my personal intention is concerned, I have never desired to do so as I think to be a common man is to be in a position to enjoy a natural and a peaceful life .Now a days to remain a common man is not so easy as every individual in our society has been put on a track where the ultimate goal of life is to achieve a place for himself which may provide him an identity and his behavior may suit the life style of our age, and it is sure that this ideal attitude is not of an ordinary man’s behavior.

Every age brings its own requirements, and the people living in that particular period mould themselves accordingly.

Tsunami

Every disaster occurs in any part of the country. Its waves, sooner or later reach to the other citizens too. The war, earthquake, or any other natural calamity make target to a particular area, but after a very short period, people living in other regions have to share it, either it may be a lions share or of an ant.

All such occasions are very important for particular people. Most of them are of political brand, which come forward with helping hands to collect funds. Here we may recall a famous Hindi proverb Dant Bhi Apne, Hont Bhi Apne and you may change it to, Hath Bhi Apna, Pet Bhi Apna. There are a lot of people who are not greedy of money. They have only a thirst of fame. Though their own monetary share has a very small bit, but the procedure provides them an opportunity to collect money for needy people and name or fame for their own account. No doubt our society has a large number of people, who feel others sorrow with depth of their heart and always ready to support others, at the same time there are another type of people who use these opportunities for there own benefit.

Apart from these particular group of people, there are many other agencies prove themselves to be very helpful and beneficial for the victims of such atrocities and the students are one of them. Last week, when I was on the way to my home, on different squares, I saw many groups of students belonging to different schools, collecting funds for the victims of Tsunami. My first impression on seeing this effort was that It was not only helpful for the victims but useful for these students also, as it will arouse a feeling of sympathy among the students and enable them to share the atrocities which had affected a large number of human beings. When we help others, it provides us with a natural ecstasy. This is a unique experiment and our students have to go through it. The people who have never extended a helping hand to others are unaware of this feeling.

The next day when I was about to leave the classroom, the class captain, Guzman approached me. She wanted my permission for collecting money to help a fellow student, Cabaña’s a class teacher I knew that Cabaña belonged to a poor family; She was even unable to pay her school fees also. Her father who was a patient of cancer, after a prolonged treatment, died last month. Guzman informed me about the hardship of her family which was passing through a huge burden of debt. There was no earning hand in her family after the death of her father. Now they are in an unbearable plight. Guzman told me that the students of her class collected some money to help Shabana’s family. After the permission of the principal, I allowed them to do so .It happen with us that we always fell the troubles of the people far away from us and fail to under stand the problems of our kith and kin. I was happy that my students not only acknowledged the agony of Tsunami victims but they also felt the Tsunami waves under their feet.

The sympathy and humanity is indeed a part of our teaching. These human values are at the stake in our society. If the educational institutes succeed to inculcate these ideals among the students, it will be indeed a great achievement.

Tulsi

Last week as I returned from office my wife informed me about some neighboring ladies, just came on a casual meet. While they were wandering in our mini garden, they stopped near a Tulsi plant (besil) and murmured Kaise Musalman Hain Yeh Log, Apne Ghar main Hinduoon Ka Paodha Tulsi Laga Rakha Hai? (How surprising, being Muslim, these people have grown Tulsi a plant associated with Hindus.)

The fact is that I was some how hesitant at the time of it’s planting, thinking; how people will react on it .I had never thought about things in terms of cast and religion. Things have no religion. These disputes are only enjoyed in human being. The most important example is the water provided on railway plate forms, before partition, had been served as Hindu Pani and Muslim Pani. It was only because the water touched by a particular community was not usable for others, so they had their own water named according to their religions

I had planted Tulsi in my garden only for it’s medicinal advantages. It has nothing to do with any religion, but the comment passed by that lady surprised me, though it was not unexpected. All things are merely creature of God .If particular things are associated to a religion, it doesn’t meant that such things have been prohibited for others like dates, having religious importance among Muslims but a number of Hindu families use it for it’s enriched nourishment qualities. I know a fellow who used to wear a dress not according to the customs of the religion he belonged to. Once, someone said him your appearance doesn’t match your religion so he replied my religion is not in my dress, it is in my heart and character.

This is the tragedy of our so called religious minded people that they always have an eye on the apparent shape of religion, whereas a true religion concerns with the inner world of a man which translates into action. Nowadays people are doing much more against the spirit of their religion; it shows that they have failed to absorb the spirit of their religion. Poet Iqbal says that, religion doesn’t teach to make differences and enemity. Mazhab Nahin Sikhata Aapas Mein Bair Rakhna.
Isn’t it a paradox that people spread hatred and fight on the name of the religion? Coincidently, yesterday I went through an article about Tulsi written by the famous expert of medicine. Hakim Abdul Hannan .He writes in this article, that Tulsi is called Raihan, in Arabic and there are many references of Raihan in the Holy Quran, particularly in the context of luxuries of paradise. Prophet Mohammed (P.B.U.H.) has also liked it and said ‘whenever someone offers you Raihan; don’t refuse it and this plant has come from paradise. I remember somewhere, in a religious book, it was written that when a righteous person breathes its last, the angels come to greet him, and they have shrubs of Raihan in their hands.

These details are sufficient to mark the importance of Raihan or Tulsi, and there is no reason for a Muslim to be refrain from it. Majority of Muslims don’t have plants of Tulsi in their homes, however, Tulsi has been entered if not in their gardens but in their drawing rooms, on a silver screen, through the idiot box, as many of them watch Kyunki Sas Bhi Kabhi Bahoo Thi, what about it?

Teachers Day

As usual Teachers Day came with greeting cards and flowers in the hands of students, a brightness of respect on their faces and love in the hearts. These students, wanted to celebrate a function dedicated to their teachers.

It may be a common scene in our schools on fifth September, which is the birthday of our former president of India, Dr.Radhakishnan, a highly learned personality, a genuine thinker and an educationist .He had expressed his desire that his birth day to be celebrated as a Teachers Day, his intention was to elevate the status of teachers which was at stake in the society he belonged to. It is sure that at that time commercialization had not enveloped every thing, as today we are observing and the field of education is not an exception.

Like the celebration of other days, the Teachers Day has it’s own commercial advantages and social disadvantage too. No doubt its main object is to inculcate a sense of reverence towards their teachers. Since like other institutions educational centers have also become commercial one. The celebrations of such Days have lost their real value. I know Mr.S., a friend of mine and a teachers always take leave on Teachers Day .The reason behind it is the happenings in his School. He is a simple language Teachers and the students mostly piled up flowers either on English, Mathematics Teachers or present it to their class teachers. Mr.S. takes it, as a bribe .One of the main objectives of Teachers Day’s celebration is to make them happy, as most of the teachers are found irritating on the part of school management or the government. They feel that their services to the society are not appreciated, as they should. But it is a mockery of the time that most of the teachers being hurt on the teachers’ day too. The program arranged on this occasion in the schools found full of advices to the teachers. The exception is the students’ real feelings and respect expressed through their gifts and flowers and speeches too. This is the only source of inspiration for the genuine, loyal to their profession and the dedicated teachers.

There is nothing wrong if society blames them for the negligence of their duty and show them right path, which is actually a duty of the teachers. But most of the teachers, sincere in their work, find no happiness this day too. Many teachers arrange a programmed so that they could get maximum gifts. I know a teacher who brings a car especially on the Teaches Day, only to show his colleagues the number of gifts he receives on this day.
The teachers who are not performing their duties are also felicitated; most of such type of teachers arranges their own felicitation. Such types of teachers may be less active in their duties, but they store their energy and all their powers to invest in this business of publicity. It is a great pity that most of the teachers awarded with the best teachers awards, don’t deserve it.

In fine, all is not well with teachers day, whether it serves the purpose of it’s celebration?
Isn’t this day being only used for snatching gifts from students?
Are our schools really successful to inculcate a feeling of respect and love for their teachers among students, and these students who are the future of India able to recognize their teachers or well-wishers services?
And is there really a service to be recognized?

Vacations

What a lovely time the last day of the examination is! Only those people know its fascination who have passed through the tiresome agony of the examination. No problem whether they pass or fail . The result of every examination is a sigh of relief, full of joy and ecstasy.

The tragedy of new generation is that it has been deprived of a number of natural pleasures. A freedom after the examination is also one of them .you might have seen the glowing faces of small children, as they are poured out of a school building, after the school is over. Last day of the examination provides the same feeling to it’s every examinee. Nowadays education has become a nonstop procedure. As soon as the students of higher classes particularly of ninth and eleventh standard come out of the kingdom of boredom of any examination, they have to join another territory of tuition and coaching classes.

After the annual examination, students are provided leave, for at least one or two weeks. Some teachers presume that one or two days are sufficient, but the concept of this one-day leave does not match to the young minds, which are always full of ambitions.

Now a day after examinations, in spite of enjoying holidays, they have to start tuition classes which have become a part and parcel of our education system, at every level I have even seen tiny tots studying in the kindergarten, also join tuition classes which have become, more a matter of prestige and less a solution for the education. A huge burden of books is piled upon these small heads, which they have to transport all over the year.

These students spent their academic year hoping that at least, at the end of the session holidays will bring comfort for them, but in vain, now they have to continue this tire some journey on the path of extra coaching in vacations too. Vacations and holidays provide a short stoppage to our daily routine. We feel charged our selves and go ahead with a better speed .On the contrary, if it doesn’t happen; we loose interest in the business of life.

The strange phenomenon of human nature is its ability to acquire personal requirements from different sources .If people don’t get fulfillment from one place they make it available from other one since natural resources of entertainment have been snatched from young generation they are approaching to unhealthy centers of attraction.

Many coaching centers and educational institutes have become a source of pleasure for students, though it has nothing to do with their educational activities. The students who have been engaged in coaching or tuition classes, were already over burdened with the work of their previous classes, next year they will have to bear a heavier bag, full of books, with out gap or holidays between two sessions, to relax them. It shows that our whole educational set up treats these students as machines, or as a computer, though it is a machine, it has sighted an example before us that every thing has its own limitations. Computers slow down after being over burdened and some times hang too, so why not man?
Shouldn’t human being, be treated at least like a machine too?

A student is indeed a human being and he should also be treated likewise.

Dilemma of diary writing

Teaching self-expression to students is not only beneficial for their emotional out -let but also useful to involve them in creative writing. I think so, therefore, at the beginning of every academic session; when new faces, glowing with the shine of ambition, and hearts to follow every path; taking them to wards their dream land and heights of their carrier, appears in my college, as a teacher I suggest them to adopt many activities. Diary writing is one of them.

Some of those students had delighted me by providing proof of their venture. These students, according to my instructions, keep a record of happenings around them, note down important information, couplets, sayings, proverbs, important events from the life of famous personalities, etc. I found it helpful in developing literary test among them as most of these students collect famous Urdu couplets and other literary masterpieces in their diary.

I recall those days, when I also used to write diary, with same zeal and enthusiasm, but with the passage of time; the life had snatched several things from us, the spirit of storing events on paper is also one of them. Now those moments turned into memories, I found it only in the safe deposit of my diary.

The time when I was passing through many hardships, I was full of tension generated by financial and family problems, at that time; my diary had become a friend of mine. It was a sort of catharsis for me, which was earnestly needed to me, as I was on the threshold of adolescence. The same passages have to travel to those students of same age. I think a diary may extend a helping hand to these people. The things they want to say to some one, and find no one to listen them so the diary plays there a role of “some one”.

This year, at the beginning of the session, I told my students that a diary may be beneficial to them for personality development, as what ever important information and instructions they have stored in a diary may shape their emotions, thought and elevate their personality. In case of applying all those information’s in speeches and discussion, in day-to-day life, it may help them to appear as an impressive personality in the society.

Since last few years I have been suggesting diary writing to many students for development of writing skill. But, this year, as many things happening around us are shocking, my suggestion created doubt in a student’s mind was also unusual for me.

When the usage of diary writing was being explained in the classroom, a student stood up and asked: ‘Sir, may I ask a question ’?
‘Yes.”
“Sir, You have suggested us diary writing for developing language, particularly in our mother tongue, Urdu, but you know, what is going on around us, is it safe to do so?”
“Why? What is wrong in it?”
“Isn’t it possible, that any one of us writing diary in Urdu, may be caught with this diary and in no time declared a terrorist, as it happens in such cases, and may be encountered.
I was pale with fear.

I found no satisfactory answer to his doubt. His questions certainly were a pointer to the unsafe times we live in. And more than unsafe, the turbulent emotional thoughts that the people have because of these events going on. For this youngster’s sake and for their creativity to live on, I wish the world is one happy place again.

Eid Celebration

Last week I saw ten years old Najma asking her mother, “Why don’t this Eid come earlier, I have completed all my preparations, I have purchased clothes, sandals and bangles etc”. It was the middle of Ramzan, the holy month, which is famous for the fast, prayers and charity. At the end of this month Muslims all over the world celebrate the festival of Eid -ul-fitr, which is considered a joyful reward for their fasts and prayers they have performed during the month.

Every festival is an occasion of merry making and happiness. The same sense is in the word ‘Eid’. Eid-ul-Fitr, the most important festival of Muslims has many common features of celebrations like other festivals, but there are a few peculiarities for having Sheer Khurma and Sewaiyan (vermicelli), special sweet dishes prepared for the occasion, wearing new scented clothes, performing Namaz-e-Eid which most of the people particilarly in villages prefer to go to the out side open ground called Eid Gah, but in cities due to unavailibility of such places muslims perform Namaz in nearest mosques. After namaz they congratulate each other by hugging and shaking hands.

A few newspapers publish suppliments consisting many pages of pictures of kids who had performed Roza (fast) during the month of Ramzan. It is strange that most of the poems published in Urdu on Eid have a common notion that depicts the woe of poor people unable to celebrate Eid hole heartedly due to their poverty. The same situation has been described in a couplet of poet Iqbal.
He says,
Hilal-e-Eid Hamari Hansi Udata Hai (The crecent of Eid seems to laugh at us)

In our society we have also seen middle class people facing hard time to cope with the expences of shopping they have to do for the festival. Last week I saw a heap of applications forms for emergent loan before the secretary of Teacher’s co-operative society.
A couple of days before, I saw a beggar lady with her children asking my neighbour for some money,” Amma, hamare chhote chhote bachche hain, kuch zakat, fitra dila do.” This is a common scene, particularly in Muslim vicinities during this holy month. Many groups of beggars and charity collectors seem wondering from door to door. Most of them are not really in need but they have adopted this as an occupetion. It is also a fact that there are a number of people who are unable to meet both the ends, their poverty and dire need never Known to public. The people who are enjoying three-figured salary also found disturbed at the occasion of a festival then what about a person who is lying below poverty line .The charity in the month of Ramazan is for these needy people. This charity called Fitra is compulsery to every Muslim, and it should be handed over to the needy people before going to the namaz of Eid. Some one had asked Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) “What about the person who is unable to give any thing in charity?”

She was told that such person should refrain himself from hurting others and perform good deed with his hands, this is charity on his behalf, and if he has no hands, he should advise people for good deeds and in case he is unable to do this too, he should keep silence. It would also be treated charity from him.

It may be Eid or any festival, these occasions being enjoyed mostly by the children. We have ample sweet memories of such moments in our childhood. Most of us have fade up with these celebrations. New clothes, bright new shoes, sweet dishes and other things have been failed to provide us joy. Still a new form of delight is remaining for us and that is, smiling faces of our children and relatives and certainly this is our Eid.