Sehri Wala.... A Tradition on verge of Extinction

Ramadan is laden with abundant excitements depending upon the choices of people they enjoy the most. With the prelude of Ramadan people engage themselves in the activity they like. Girls enjoy the preparation of Eid and shopping, boys playing the cricket matches at dawn, but for me the source of merriment at my childhood, was the drummer at sehri.

The rocking beats of the drum, tthak tthaka tthak, tthak tthaka tthak, and the refreshing voice of the drum beater (Actually the Sehri Wala for me) compel me to run to the terrace and watch him, whenever I used to stay at my grandma home during Ramadan. I always wondered that how the Sehri wala wake up so early, doesn’t he sleeps at night? My situation after listening to his energizing voice and beats of his drum was not much different from the rats who danced on the tune of Pied Piper.

As I lived in apartments , I couldn’t get this  excitement at my home so I find reasons to stay at my grandma home and whether to have fast or not, I tried to get up for sehri,

just to have a glance of that scene which was immense blissful for me.

Like every drummer he uses to come to the streets the whole month of holy Ramadan and even at Eid to get his reward. It was one of the Eid that I heard the beats of drum and the same zealous voice of that Sehri wala. I got out to terrace to see what he was doing. He knocked at every door of the street asking for the reward of this hard work, some gave him few rupees and others shut their doors on his face asking, Hum ne kaha tha jagaaney ko, to phir pese kese?

I became really sad and also irked at the selfishness of people. He worked so hard then why people are not willing to give him his due money, I inquired myself. But I didn’t know at that time that this egotism of people will bring a dearth of drummers today and will plunge this profession in to murky.

The concept of sehri wala is considered pious for many people today because it is one of the oldest traditions of ours. When there were no alarm clocks and loudspeakers people rely on them to get up for sehri. But with the advancement in technology and all facilities available to us, our hearts and pockets have become so tiny that a 20Rupee note doesn’t come out of it for any one.

As stated in the news I read, a drummer (sehri wala) was of the view that his profession is not helping him to make enough money for his survival. Despite of his services in weddings and Ramadan he couldn’t make money to make his ends meet and even fails to earn two meals of a day sometimes. He said if it continues he will be succumbed to quit his ancestral profession like many others did.

The fanatical voice of    Sehri wala that I heard in my childhood reverberates in my ears till today. But unfortunately I don’t see many of them on roads and streets whenever I get out for sehri. This tradition of ours is not only unique but also worth watching for people residing outside Pakistan. We can still drag this tradition from the verge of extinction by paying due rewards for their services. I really don’t want to loose this languishing wing of our culture so that our up coming generations can also feel its pleasure and glee, as I felt when I was a kid.  

Who left behind................

The following post got published at blogs.dunynews.tv on 18 August 2011.

People say everything is possible in this world, what all one need are the will, determination, Zeal and passion to make it happen. Yes many things are possible in this world and much loss can be fulfilled. Wealth, health, respect, trusts, confidence can be regained but few things never return. Time if once fly, words if once spoken, bullet if once fired and life if once lost can never come back.

Above all the loss, the most heart thrashing is the moment when one looses his beloved, his source of life, around which his world of happiness orbits. Ferocious flood of tears fill up the eyes sweeping all the dreams, commitments, hopes, happiness and promises away with the departed soul and left rampant memories behind.

28 July was commemorated as the first anniversary of the tragic Air Blue crash. This calamity which engulfs 152 lives is still a mystery not only for a common man but also for the clan of the deceased as the government has not make the investigation reports public.

The investigation was done by two teams. One of the teams was headed by Air Commodore Khawaja Abdul Majeed, president of the Civil Aviation Authority’s Safety Investigation Board, which focused on human factors, possibility of technical fault and weather conditions.

The second team, headed by Federal Investigation Agency director-general, was assigned the task of investigating the possibility of `sabotage’, but neither of the reports is unveiled for the public like others in the past. The guardians of the dead are enraged and traumatized by the most important questions rattling in their minds that How this havoc took place? And who should be blamed for the bloodshed of their loved ones? Neither all the legal heirs have got compensations announced by the high ups of government and Air Liner Company, nor have they got any satisfactory answer to their burning question.

My soul shivers when I thought about the families of the victims. How have they controlled themselves when they heard about the tragedy? How had a brother felt that has just see off her newly wedded sister for honey moon? How had a sister reacted when the wedding album arrived with the dead body of his brother? What did a mother feel when she saw her son’s fiancé after his death? Had that father been able to stand who has lost his only son? How painful was it when they saw Margalla hills encircled by human limbs? How grim was to recognize the corpse of their beloved? How battering was it when they were misinformed that few people had been rescued? How much hopes had been torched till they get into reality?

I become deeply grieved when I saw tears in their eyes, when I hear their stories, when I witness unanswered questions on their faces.

But why can’t I escape from these thoughts, none of the victim was my friend or relative, I don’t know their families personally. But yes, we share a common bond. The bond of humanity, which is above all the relations.

The loss suffered by those families can never be compensated. But providing accurate answers to their questions can bring an iota of relief to their hearts. 

KARACHI.......... I AM MISSING YOU

Karachi… my city of lights….my city of life

Where mornings begin at 10 am and nights are brighter than days. Where traffic noise can never let u sleep and no roads are find without a jam. Where beaches are packed with people in every hour of the day. Where food streets and restaurants are bulging even after the mid night, where malls and bazaars are always crowded as if there is Chand Raat. Where customers are not willing to leave the shop unless the shop keeper is about to kick them, where boys play cricket on the roads, where people are always complaining about the load shedding and where newspapers and news channels are loaded with the inflation updates.

Life in this city has its own charm, containing so much of qualities Karachi and Karachiites are surely different from every other city and citizens in this world. If a person has spent few years in this part of the world he can never love any place more than this vicinity.

With the ups and downs of life, something strange happened in past few days. The wind which was always smiling, is mourning. Something has changed. But what?

I went out of my home, everything was bizarre. I didn’t find my city illuminating; I found it haunted by darkness. I didn’t witness any traffic jam, I saw every road cleared. I didn’t heard any shouting horn, I felt cries and firing in the air. I didn’t find the busy restaurants and bazaars, I saw troops of rangers, I saw blood. What all I witness in the city was terror, pain, tears and anguish.

Lot of feelings attacked me at the same time, I came back home, I was astonished, worried, horrified and grieved. I did not understand where I have been, where I am, is this same city I lived in or have I come to a mysterious locale? How can it be my metropolis?

 My city is the city of lights, not of darkness. My city is the city of life, not of corpses, my people thank God for their fix load shedding time, not for escaping from bullets, my city is where peace means happiness, not the interval between two killings, and my city has got a rush at food streets not at the coffin shop.

This is the city of brutality, killings, sectarianism, racism, politics, violence, animals and vampires.

This is not my city God, this is not my Karachi.

Dear God,

I am missing my Karachi a lot. Please return my city to me with its all charms, with its jammed roads, with its zealous people, with its twinkling lights and with its colorful life.

Trendy Question of Summers

With mercury rising the high ups, people turning to beaches, price hike in commodities and Kulfi and Gola gandey wala on streets, summers gain hot welcome by the sweating Karachiites. The gifts of summers are not only the mangoes, but also a question which is most popular in every conversation between friends and relatives, and that is. Light hai aap k yahan?? Guests to their utter curiosity are found asking the load shedding timings and are telling theirs also.

The hot tempered and fainting citizens are not only frustrated by the aggressive heat but also by the KESC (Karachi Electric Supply Company) who has thrashed over dosage of power cuts in the metropolis and has increased load shedding up to nine hours in industrial areas and above that in residential and commercial areas, compelling people to come to streets not to have kulfi but to protest against this menace.

Intermediate and graduate students who are giving their exams or are preparing for it are the most affected among the citizens. The blessings of KESC have doomed the “City of Lights” into Dark Age where students are left with no option than to study under the sun only.

The scuffle erupted between PEPCO (Pakistan Electric Power Company) and PSO (Pakistan State Oil) over the provision of dues and furnace oil is not coming at halt. PSO accumulates receivables of 180 billion from power sector. The non clearance of the dues has left PSO at the mercy of its own resources and has prohibited it to import oil. The total power generation has currently been recorded at 9,500MW, while the demand has shot up to 15,500MW, leaving PEPCO with a shortfall of 6,000MW. The KESC has warned about the dire power outages due to the acute shortage of furnace oil and has commenced to act upon its words. Who is right between the two is not important. What worthy is that, people are succumbed between this tug of war. The frequent and unannounced breakdown has led people to shut their businesses down. Mills and industries where production is solely dependent on electricity are among the prime victims of the haunting load shedding. But this curse has become blessing for other businesses also. Carrying no hopes with the authorities, people find ways to soothe them from this soaking menace. They buy UPS/ generators which blossoms its business. They spent heavily on petrol either for their generators or for their outings. Uses of drinks, juices, beverages, ice and cooling powders increased which boosts their businesses as well.

Dear viewer, here the point to be noted is that, despite of power outages lashing to the citizens in torrents, the KESC bills remains the same. It does not reduce even to a penny. But bearing taxes and high electricity fare, it just tends to exceed. When we are out of power for more than nine hours how can the bill remains as it is?? We are without a doubt an exemplary nation in patience. But it appears that the KESC wants us to hit a World record in it. When we became contented with the routine breakdowns, it kicks off unannounced load shedding. 

The Karachiites like every Pakistani beg to the authorities to eradicate this worst load shedding from the country. Only God knows when they will take our appeals seriously.

My heartiest best wishes are with the whole nation, especially the students preparing for exams, the people who do not have the luxury, (oops) necessity of UPS/ generators, and the Pakistani viewers reading this post. Because you never know what happens in a jiffy.

KYA HUA, LIGHT HAI YA GAYI??

The Czar of Humor

Though much have been, talked, heard and written about the iconic artiste Moin Akhter, but I believe if every single Pakistani will pay him the homage, it will be less to balance the happiness, fun, cheers and laughers, he spread among people. Truss up by my love for him, I am here expressing my dedication, respect and inspiration for the legend.

Born in 1950, Moin Akhter beloved of his family and friends, gradually became an apple of the whole nation’s eye. During his 45 years regime in the entertainment industry, he clinches the position of the brightest star due to his extra ordinary work. His performances in Budha ghar pe hai, Bakra kiston per, Rozy, Sach Much and Loose Talk are incredible and a heavenly laughter treats for his viewers.

When I came to know about his death, like others my heart too was not accepting the bitter fact, what out burst me with tears and grief was a thought that “Ab hume hansae ga kaun??” Not only me, all his fans across the globe are mourned and this dilemma is grave across the country. M. Akhter had got the exceeding talent to make people laugh with his simple, prompt and pun oriented jokes, with all decency. Impersonation had always been his forte. He was unprecedented in mimicking Mehdi Hassan, Mohammad Ali, Waheed Murad and Ahmed Rushdi. Zia Mohiuddin used to say “No one can imitate me as well as Moin can.” He was a great friend of his colleagues, and an elder who was overwhelmed by the new talents and had settled many of them in their careers. Umar Sharif, while acknowledging this said “Moin played a vital role in all the success I possess today.”

His death revealed that he was a super star with a golden heart. He had immense love for his friends, fans and humanity. Lehri said on his demise “I lost a friend, the one who called me to Karachi for my treatment and was bearing its expense.” Umar Sharif told in a TV show, on the request of his fan, Moin used to visit her and communicate her in writing as she couldn’t speak. Moin was a charitable person, who runs the bread for many families.

The void left after Moin Akhter can never be filled. He has left us but there are other legends like Mehdi Hassan and Lehri, living an anonymous life in extremely bad condition. Government must pay heed towards them and bear the expenses of their sickness, because they have dedicated their lives to us. They are our asset, our gems so they must be treated in the deserved way.

Though Moin disappears physically from us, but his outclass performances and vibrant memories will lasts in our hearts and minds forever. He remains a guide, an inspiration and institution for every new comer of the showbiz. Without a jot of doubt he is the Czar of legends. May God rest his soul in eternal peace. Aameen.

Irresistible beeps

Toont toont, toont toont!!

Whenever a mobile beeps or vibrates a person begins to check his pockets or rushes to the place where he has kept his mobile phone. This beep is none other than the beep of SMS (Short Message Service).

Splitting his social contact for few seconds a person reads his message without caring about the people talking to him. Completing his SMS he diverts his attention again to his surrounding asking Han Kya keh rae thy tum?

Listening this, the person who had cut off his words for him definitely want to lash a hammer on his head.

This is the situation which is surely faced by each one of us in form of either of the person. But the situation is really helpless because SMS has now become an irresistible and integral part of everyone’s life.

Negligible SMS rates offered by telecommunication companies are a scrumptious treat for its lovers. Youngsters find texting cool and entertaining; house wives a time pass and a binding tech to their relatives, businessmen a cheaper and impact full means of promotion of their products and services, and TV channels a connecting way with the public. Different services offered by media like news alerts or food recepies can be easily available through SMS.

The reaction of people while reading SMS is very exciting to observe. People behave differently according to the SMS. On Funny SMS: a person laughs saying Suno!Ye acha hai, starts to reads SMS for others. Weird SMS:  skeptical reaction while reading, then gives mobile to other saying Parho, tumhe samaj aya? Sad SMS: exhausting facial expression after reading saying about sender, Lagta hai is ko Ishq vishq ho gaya hai. Tangy/ Naughty SMS: Evil smile on face and forward it to others. And if Smses comes non-stop consecutively then turning the mobile to silent mode murmurs, Kitne msgs bhejo ge bhai!!

The expressions of people while reading Smses are indeed a fun to notice. Involving in Smses they laugh, smile, astonish, worry and even whisper, forgetting that they look like a clown for the outer world.

Like peoples reaction Smses itself are very interesting. These enormous numbers of smses rotating in our society are put in some of the categories. Greeting SMS: Smses containing wishes which are sent mostly on special occasions like birthdays, holy days, national days etc. Religious SMS: Smses containg ayaat, ahadith, quotes. Tune to News SMS: Sms compelling us to watch News Channel e.g. Tomorrows paper cancel, watch news. No Parking Sms: Sms insisting to forward it to others e.g. forward this msg to 10 people; you will get good news today. Danger Zone Sms: Sms containing jokes on politicians. Aapa Sms: Sms having revived home remedies of Zubeda Aapa. Begging SMS: Sms pleading for credit e.g. I am in hospital, give me 30Rs credit, I will return. This type of sms is also sent often by friends on short of pocket money.

The most exceptional creation in SMS is the parody SMS which contain humor on famous ads, their tag lines, songs and prominent figures.

The popularity of the products, songs and personalities today, can be determined by the number of Smses it is discussed in. the greater the number of smses the popular its craze is.

So whether Kamran Akmal drops the catch or India gets fake trophy. Holy book is disgraced or any law is violated. From sensitive to funny topic, every news reaches to people more rapidly through SMS then by any other means. Now we have become so use to it then if people get any major news without any sms then they are found saying Hain, Ye kab hua? SMS to aya nai!!

Forwarding sms is not objectionable. But it is our prime responsibility to check out the facts properly before passing that information to other. This will nip any rising panic in the bud. So keep going, it’s your mobile and your money! Keep texting if you like!!

Haey rey Parchi!!

The following post got published at blogs.dunyanews.tv on 17 August 2011


With thousands of dreams twinkling in the hopeful eyes, excitement glooming the face, curiosity and innovative ideas bulging the mind, a person steps in the university, and so did I four years ago.

Introduction and ragging being the ritual at the orientation day was done with us also. An astonishing incident also occurred that day. A senior of ours after introducing himself said’ “Mai ap logo ko yaha best wishes dene aya ho, mai ne b yaha se masters kia hai lekn abi tak jobless hon. Ap logo k lie all the best.” Such a strange wish at the commencing day was really weird for us; taking it as jokes we laughed and get indulged in exploring the new phase of our lives.  Four years could fly in such a flash, I haven’t even imagined. As the university was about to over my dreams, excitement, curiosity and hopes have mounted the sky, much higher then they were at my first day. My destination which was once blurred appears to be clear and illuminating before my eyes. The only thing left is to walk for it.

As days greeting me farewell I realized my destination was not near to me, it is much farther than I have thought. And the basic and gigantic dilemma was that I have no path to walk on.

I tried to my utmost effort and strength to manage a way for myself but very soon I met with a bitter reality that getting myself recruited is very difficult without a reference. (Some call it reference and a common man, parchi)

Parchi is the fastest and smartest key which opens the doors of employment. A ready made halwa for those who have it and an impediment for those who can’t manage one for themselves.

During the process of interview, many of us have listened thousands of excuses for rejection based on reference. Here is a brave and creative one, “Ap ki cv cheekh cheekh k keh rai hai k ap ko appoint kr lon, pr kya kren ap k pas reference jo nai hai, kuch nai ho skta.”

Being the student of media sciences it is our goal to practice in this field. Some of my fellows have accomplished that and others like me are still playing with full zeal to achieve that.

Parents always wanted to see their children high in the sky; they can’t tolerate others of their age flying, if their own child couldn’t make it for himself.

The funniest thing which embarrassed me a lot and make me laugh later occurs when I see a classmate of mine working at a news channel. With full excitement I say, “Arey, ye yahan!” with changing tone expression and facial color my mamma asks, “tum ise janti ho?” I try a lot to escape from this question but fails to succeed because is not uninvited but welcomed by myself. Stammering I murmur, “Ji, Ye mera classmate tha.”

What happens next can only be felt and imagined, it’s very difficult to pen all of it down. Taunts and irony from each family member began to gush in torrents, sweeping my excitement away that I felt few seconds ago and submerge me into the deep sea of embarrassment.

When the roaring tides of taunting tsunami calms down, I laugh a lot at myself and smile at the love of my family who wanted to see me successful without much of struggle.

Yes it hurts, when I see those on good position who are not worthy of it, but being optimistic I always manage to find God’s clue for my betterment in every rejection I face.

I strongly believe that His plans our better than ours. So either He will send me a parchi or will take me to the right person who don’t need it. Trying, trying, and trying are in my hand and blessing is in His. Now whenever anyone taunts me, it is my patent reply, “May be He wants to open my career innings with a huge six!!

The parchi system can not be abrogated so the only motive behind writing this is to motivate the jobless people not to loose their confidence and their faith in Him. There are always some people going through the same state as you are, if you find them better. It’s because of the difference in perceiving that situation. 

Innocence in Darkness

A common man is so much busy in handling the affairs of his inner world that he does not care about the filth, cruelty and complexity in the outer world of him, in the same surroundings in which he dwells. Being blind, happy-go-lucky and reckless from the dirt around him, he enjoys the ups and downs of his life unless a jolt of menace started to affect him. Some of them remain dumb, some talk loud about it and others do not feel that the problem exists.

But no one bothers to think about how to free the environment from its grip.

Child labor is one of those menaces that are spreading in Pakistan like a forest fire. And embarrassingly I was among that common man who notices its innocent prey working regularly, battered by their circumstances.

Scolded by our hearts I and my buddies took an initiative for it. We decided to make a short documentary on Child Labor not only for our final project but also for creating more awareness among our fellows. This compelled us to take a deeper view of this dilemma and cleared its horrible picture in front of us which was once blurred. Targeting a small area we went to roads taking our camera in hands.

As we traveled we were stunned to see that the working children were twice in that area from our expectations. Some were working as fruit and vegetables vendors, some are rag pickers, some are involve in domestic services, some are working at cafes, dhabaas and tandoors, some as sellers and mostly as mechanics. The unhealthy environment in which most of these pretty souls were working was really saddening. The biggest problem which we faced during this process was that the masters were not allowing us to talk or to cover the little labor. Still we manage to interview some of them and came to know that mostly work for wages under 2000Rs and in some cases for no money to pay the debt of their family.

To our great astonishment children we met do not want to study; they do not know that they are being exploited. They are happy the way they are. And obviously children, who are even unaware of their ages, how can felt that what is happening to them is wrong and illegal.

This leads to the birth and growth of this deadly disease for the society. We have laws to stop child labor but unfortunately we don’t have any laws to stop violation of these laws.

Awareness not only on part of children but also on part of parents is adequately needed. Basic financial assistance, proper guidance about the rights of children, importance of education and strict punishment on the violation of the laws will be extremely beneficial to kill this toxic disease of child labor from our society.

The first step matters, instead of waiting for others to take it we all should move forward for it together.