............. WORDS BEFORE THE END!

................................. WORDS BEFORE THE END?

When is the end? No one knows. But if it is sudden, one does not get chance to say BYE to those we together marched through the journey life. World is a huge campus of learning and knowledge.

Millions arrive and depart; the world keeps on giving something to every body according to his/her capacity. When we arrive, though we have eyes but no vision, ears but unable to make sense from what we hear, tongue without coherent speech and brain unable to think. All these faculties are made functional here great teachers. When departing, we are duty bound to pay back according to our capacity.

The world is full of great scholars who give us power of imagination, thinking, observation and dreams. All these are incentives to excel in life. The individuals take the society forward when equipped with these senses.

The most difficult thing in life is to take first step and get self-recognition; the world greatest the Mother teacher gives us. And then life starts rolling on from the small step on a long journey to definite but unknown end.

The death shuts all the inlet of knowledge. The soul get out of the boundaries of the body prison and fly in vast universe.

My friends it hurts to leave you behind. When the next day dawns I will be unable to learn anymore from its rays and you. Every dawn is a new challenge and each dusk is an invitation to ponder over the achievements of the day gone. It forces us to think of the day gone by, is no more ours and tomorrow is not in our hands. Only today is ours. Those who avail today will never regret tomorrow.

I don’t think that the chain of moments is life. I may be wrong but I strongly believe that every moment is holding a life, pregnant with joy and events to be availed. All we need just to graze the moment and explore the opportunities of life. If we learn to avail the opportunities and starve our ambitions we can be a lot satisfied and the world be a better place.

Opportunities knock at every door but the clever of us avail; remember they never make a second visit. Vigilance is the key to a meaningful life.

Experiment is a good teacher but the fee is too much. Will it not be a good idea to learn from others experiences and not to re-experiment the same on ourselves; we all do invariably, particularly Afghans.

I honestly feel that there is nothing we can say with absoluteness, that it is good or bad. You might have noticed, that at times we hate something but when we feel good in ourselves, we enjoy the same something and call it wonderful. So bad or good is basically the shadow of our mental make up and internal chemistry. After all; it’s bad that tell us what is good. How a giver of information can be absolutely bad? Knowledge is fundamentally the flow of information. Unless there are two contraries how will we make observation? And unless there is observation how one can experiment? Experiment is the mother of knowledge, isn’t it a fact?

The lack of uniform rules and opportunities for all is regrettable. The division of haves and have not is deplorable. The racial hatred is condemnable. It will remain till educated certificate holders who have no knowledge to use their education are ruling the world. There are many blind spots like experience is a good teacher but cannot award certificate or job but it does not degrade the value of the experiment. At this very time we may not have answer to explain many things but I am of firm belief that the evolution of humanity will answer all these queries with the passage of time. W e may or may not be there in the world.

Our lives are just like a shelter for a night, not the end of the journey. Will it be fair to make a premature judgement? World is a great charming place created by Almighty and it is here that the presence of God is proved. May be that God created it for this purpose. I am saying good-bye to you all I would wish that you will make every possible endeavour to make it safe and make it a better place for the coming generations to come. Where we failed let it be thy success.

BYE MY FRIENDS. OFF I GO. LOVE YOU ALL. BUILD PEACE, IN PEACE THERE IS PROSPERITY AND GREATNESS OF HUMANITY.

ANOTHER IRON WALL IS CRUMBLING DOWN!

ANOTHER IRON WALL IS CRUMBLING DOWN!

Dr. Khurshid Alam. Khurshidalam44@hotmail.com

The fall of Berlin was celebrated throughout the world as the beginning of a long process that will bring down many walls, barbwires or lines erected or drawn by colonial powers to bring the divided nations together or remove the stooges of colonial powers who were installed to protect the interests of their ex-masters.

The Muslim world with exception of Afghanistan was under colonial rule. Algeria and few others fought for freedom. The others were given independence by their colonial master in a silver plate. It was in fact political and economical investment for the future by the colonial powers, as they could not maintain their grip any more after Second World War.

The Second World War though erased Japan, Germany and Italy to the ground but also break the back of colonial powers. In other words these three expansionists became the liberators of the colonies. But while colonial powers were departing they completely change the natural geographical boundaries and installed their faithfuls. Some countries were un-naturally divided, while some new were created like Pakistan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Havoc was played with Middle East. Saudi Arabia in its present form was the creation of British, Kuwait was carved from Iraq and Palestine was divided between the loyal Arab Sheikhs and Jews. Most of the boundaries were redrawn.

Palestine is still a bleeding wound. The rest Arab world were handed over to the cronies. Unlike socialist states where there was economical democracy but political dictatorship. On the other hand the capitalist countries had political freedom but economical dictatorship. The biggest Dollar dictatorship is in U.S.

In newly carved Middle Eastern countries had neither of the two. To be more honest it is applicable to most of the Muslim countries. To rule and strangulate their subjects they used religion as a lash. Terror was created.

In Islamic Republic of Iran Ex Prime Minister of Iran, Mr. Haveda was executed after two and a half minutes trial.

Mussadiq in Iran tried but was toppled by Americans and so Jamal Abdul Nasser was discredited using religion and King Faisal was propped in Saudi Arabia to counter Pan Arabism by religion.

These cronies blunted the Palestinians struggle. A Palestinian scholar in Dublin told me that a Democratic Nationalist Palestine is a threat to the Arab dictatorial regimens rather than Israel. He was of the opinion that if ever a Palestine state came in to existence these kingdoms will fall like house of cards one after the other.

In the same venue an American Film producer told me that it will take Israel less than 24 hours to completely capture Saudi Arabia bit it is not in American interest. It is easy to deal with Arab sheikhs to fix the price of petrol than to deal with Jews who are money minded.

They were right I believe Black September and occupation of Gaza by Egyptians were historical proofs that could not be defended on logic.

The sudden uprising in Arab world is the response to the wrong doings of colonial powers and decades long denial of human rights and freedom of speech. It was long overdue. Any how it is never late in human history as for the uprising against the tyranny is properly directed and peacefully sustained. Those who have been to these countries will support me that the masses after decades of suppression have done wonders to cross the barricade of terror and tyranny.

To every action there is equal and opposite reaction. Unless Americans and its allies hijack this revolutionary uprising it is bound to wash away these Tyrants. They deserve no mercy and should be dealt for their heinous crimes. They are pirate of humanity and they have brought shame for Islam.

In Pakistan this sort of uprising is least likely because of lack of trust between different nations but I would not agree with Mr. Ahsan Iqbal of Nawaz league that it is totally impossible and brushed aside. The corrupt rulers and impotent and purposeless opposition may rise suddenly and get rid of all existing political parties.

Iran has joined hands to prove that the Theocratic dictators are no different than totalitarian rulers. Tyranny is a common enemy.

The worrying factors is that this mass uprising in Arab world is not stolen by the theocrats as it happened after the fall Shah of Iran; Khalq was sidelined and eliminated.

The second worry is American. Gulf is strategically and economically most important for them. Israel worry speaks for it. They will try that this national tide is converted to some sort of constitutional changes to save the status quo. In Bahrain they tried and almost succeeded but probably the second thought of revolutionaries put the process back on track.

Unfortunately there is no political leadership to take this uprising to its logical conclusion. All the peace loving and democratic forces should support this movement with whatever at their disposal.

The history has cooked this wonderful opportunity and I sincerely hope and pray that it is not lost or diverted. Its failure will lead to a more tyrannical era, unimaginable in history. Let us prove that it is a global village in real sense and damage to one part can damage the whole village.

The men of words like Nelson Mandela and others should lend their moral support unconditionally.

Dated. 20/02/11

WHERE IS PAKISTAN GOING TO?

Where is Pakistan leading to?

Revolution or Anarchy?

Prof. (Dr.) Khurshid Alam…khushidalam44@hotmail.com

After the events in Tunis and Egypt the electronic and printing media of Pakistan is beating the revolutionary drum joined by some political parties without realizing the repercussions in a multinational state that is deeply divided politically, economically, culturally with deep rooted mistrust in each other.

All the ground factors are ripe for a drastic change in the system like a totally failed government corrupt with no direction, drowning economy, lawlessness, soaring prices and absence of basic amenities like gas, electricity and food stuff of daily consumption. Children are sold, parents are killed, suicides are surging up and people are abducted for ransom. No one is safe either at home or in the streets. The country is in a grip of uncertainty and has lost international credibility. Even the loans are offered on very stringent preconditions.

Added to this compound condition there is no credible and trust worthy opposition. Criticism is in abundance but alternatives are none but beating of the revolutionary is going on.

No doubt that the ground realities are ripe for a change but is the revolution only answers in present conditions?

National uprising can be either spontaneous or the result of a well thought strategy of an organization headed by responsible and trust worthy people, having a well educated cadre. If the uprising is spontaneous still it needs a disciplined party with the solution of the problems of the common man. In the absence of it there is every chance that the national uprising may take the course of anarchy. To be more clear revolution is a controlled uprising for the change of system while anarchy is an uncontrolled uprising having the possibility of unthinkable collateral damage in human lives and economy. In the process of anarchy the integrity of the country is also at stake particularly in a multinational state like Pakistan. USSR disintegration is the most recent example.

Anarchy is an uncontrolled uprising and can go any way in the absence of a well organized party. In the case of Pakistan with inherited intrinsic weaknesses any violent change can be a precursor to the sad demise of the state.

Do we have one? The answer is no.

On the other hand there are other ground conditions to be taken in to account before we think of revolution.

1) Pakistan is a multinational state having deep rooted mistrust in each other.

2) The army is busy in flushing out their self imported terrorist in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and there is insurgency in Baluchistan.

3) Punjab and Sind are in siege of political, ethnic and sectarian violence. Crimes control also need military help.

4) Karachi and Hyderabad is a mini state within the state run by a Mafia.

In this state of affair will it be advisable to call on public to come out on streets and change the system. Revolution is totally masses uprising and having no role of the army. MQM the champion of middle and lower middle class is asking the HONEST GENERALS to help them in hanging their adversaries to the electric poles and trees. It will be totally a mafia style revolution unheard in history. East Pakistan has not

been forgotten by the masses. That was military cum mafia operation that led to a disaster and international humiliation.

In last few uprising the exploited nations have been used as gun powder and at the end they have been totally ignored politically and economically. I doubt there is shred of trust left intact to convince the deprived nations to participate in another country wide uprising?

The common man sufferings are comparatively much less in Egypt and Tunisia. It was the result of decays long suffocation and denial of speech and assembly that led to the present state. Even now there is a vacuum of alternate leadership. Anyhow it is a positive step indeed but not a revolution. In my honest opinion it is a first step in that direction to get the freedom of speech and right to multi party system.

I was told by an Egyptian doctor that an Egyptian went to polls to tick mark “NO”. He told it to his wife. She became panicky and advised her husband to go immediately and rectify his mistake. The poor soul went to the presiding officer that he has mistakenly tick marked NO and he wants to rectify his mistake. The presiding officer consoled him not to worry they have already rectified his mistake and advised him not to repeat it in future.

Those who have been in Middle East will bail me out that it is the true reflection of Arab states or for that matter of all Muslim states.

No doubt that hunger is the first and foremost human instinct, needs satisfaction but freedom of speech and assembly should not be forgotten or taken for granted.

I agree with Dr.Masood that it will be equal to rewriting the history to include Jamal Nassir in the same bracket.

He was a legend who gave identity to Arab world. His popularity in masses was unimaginable. He was attacked several time by CIA either to kill him or to disfigure him but failed. To counter him King Faisal was propped up.

He might have committed many mistakes but legend is usually not a good politician like General De Gaul.

Let us be honest have we got a leadership with revolutionary capability and program and ready to stand tough to the unexpected? The leaders produced by army generals and groomed by them cannot be expected to do what a revolutionary is trained to do. Our army is trained and equipped by US. They have the same mental make up. Will the supporter of revolution not invite the wrath of our own army? Will these present lot of politicians have the courage to stand up to it? The past experience is not encouraging.

The situation is grave on the ground and needs urgent measure to avoid anarchy it needs collective political acumen. More than a corrupt incompetent government we have no vibrant and politically mature opposition.

If nothing is done in this regard not only anarchy will be invited but the disintegration of the state will be brought forward as the ground has been prepared by our myopic leaders.

It will be a wise idea to push forward for evolution for betterment than to talk of revolution. None of us is ready to accept the changes brought by the trio of Army, Punjab and Mohajirs.

Let us starve our ambitions and feed our opportunities. There are a lot of changes expected in Middle East and Iran. It is no point to play with the emotions of the

people by our prepaid electronic Taliban. I am afraid that if they succeed to trigger the impulse we have to taste another 1972.

To talk of revolution sounds nice but to carry it out is not a joke.