Every new morning is a blessing from the Almighty God, After a hard day's night, we fell asleep, mostly sound sleep, and we never know what is happening outdoors or anywhere else in the world. Then the rooster's morning call and adhan from the nearby mosque wakes us up. And then we realize that we are alive for yet another day and we really thank God for this great blessing.
Some of us open the window and feel the cool breeze that is silently hissing past carrying the unpolluted freshness that is so very refreshing and soul enchanting. Thanking God, I bow my head to my Creator and seek in my true earnest forgiveness.
Then I supplicate and silently cry out to my Lord and say with tearful eyes:
O my Creator, the merciful and bountiful!!
Please forgive me - a forgiveness after which there are no sins
Please bless me with guidance, after which there is going astray
Please grant me such health, after which there is no illness or ailment
and
Please bless me with your countless blessings, after which there is no drought of your blessings for me and my family
And I wish love and peace to everyone who reads this and prays in one’s earnest for forgiveness of one’s sins and thanks the Almighty for another beautiful day to day.
Roses are probably the most liked flowers around the world for their exotic colours, scented aromatic smell and beautiful shapes. Although roses come in many colours, but red roses stand out from the rest for their majestic shape, beauty and fragrance. While roses are synonymous with love and happiness, these also come with thorns of pains:
“If you enjoy the fragrance of a rose, you must accept the thorns which it bears.” – Isaac Hayes
That is rose brings love but also bears thrones that brig sadness and harsh realities of life. And I am going to talk of both love and happiness, and sadness and pain when talking of red roses. Roses remind me of two special events of my life that both happened on 10th of June, though years apart.
It is the day when I got engaged for life with my wife almost four decades ago and a garland made of fresh roses was hung around my neck when I reached the house of my spouse. That was the first of roses and it was a day of celebrations and joy for our two families. That was my first encounter with red roses that infused lifetime happiness and love in my life..
And then came another 10th of June many years later – a sad day for me as I bade farewell to my father who boarded his heavenly flight and left me forever. And when he had been buried, I showered rose petals on this grave to bid him farewell amid the scent of fresh roses. That was though a day of roses for me, it was utterly sad and lamenting as I had lost not only my father, but a friend, a mentor, a teacher and someone who shaped me to live a life of integrity and honesty as he had lived all along his life.
So I celebrate the day with a tinge of joy and sadness as roses remind me of my engagement – which started my married life, and roses again that were scattered on the grave of my father. How could I forget roses and 10th of June ever in my life!!
Procrastination is the action of unnecessarily and voluntarily delaying or postponing something despite knowing that there will be negative consequences for doing so. There are a large number of people around the world who for many known and unknown reasons delay doing things, and so do I.
I for one have suffered for delaying or postponing things for no good reasons and have suffered for not having done things in time - time when I could have picked up courage or strength and finished doing my work rather than delaying it for another day.
While we are sitting idle and random thoughts wandering in our memory, there are times when some bright idea suddenly pops up - and that was the time to materialize that idea, just as E. L. Simpson said: "Getting an idea should be like sitting on a pin; it should make you jump up and do something." But if one does not feel the prick of the pin and let that idea get lost in many useless thoughts, one has lost a fortune.
Or as famous scientist Sir Alexander Graham Bell said: "The only difference between success and failure is the ability to take action." He cashed on to this idea and became known for many of his inventions, specially the telephone.
So back to losing time and delaying things, which can sometimes saves lives or save an innocent by being prosecuted by divulging the truth. and when talking of procrastination, one of my favourite poetry is by Pakistan's renowned poet Munir Niazi, whose poem "Hamesha dair kar deta hun main" or in other words I always let it get too late starts playing in my memory.
Herein under is the Urdu text of Munir Niazi's poem - verses repeated in Roman English. This piece of poetry is a masterpiece to express one's inability to do things in time and delay these which often cause harm and regret for not acting in time:
ہمیشہ دیر کر دیتا ہوں میں
Hamesha dair kr deta hoon main
ہمیشہ دیر کر دیتا ہوں میں
Hamesha dair kr deta hoon main
ضروری بات کہنی ہوں
Zarori baat kehni ho
کوئی وعدہ نبھانا ہو
Koi wadha nibhana ho
اُسے آواز دینی ہوں
Ussey awaz deni ho
اُسے واپس بُلانا ہو
Ussey wapis bulana ho
ہمیشہ دیر کر دیتا ہوں میں
Hamesha dair kr deta hoon main
مدد کرنی ہو اُس کی
Madad karni ho us ki
یار کی ڈھارس بندھانا ہو
Yaar ki dharas bandhana ho
بُہت دیرینہ رستوں پر
Buhat derina rastoon par
کسی سے ملنے جانا ہو
Kissi se milney jana ho
ہمیشہ دیر کر دیتا ہوں میں
Hamesha dair kr deta hoon main
بدلتے موسموں کی سیر میں
Badaltey mousmoon ki shair mein
دل کو لگانا ہو
Dil ko lagana ho
کسی کو یاد رکھنا ہو
Kissi ko yaad rakhna ho
کسی کو بُھول جانا ہو
Kissi ko bhool jana ho
ہمیشہ دیر کر دیتا ہوں میں
Hamesha dair kr deta hoon main
کسی کو موت سے پہلے
Kissi ko mout se phele
کسی غم سے بچانا ہو
Kissi gham se bachana ho
حقیقت اور تھی کچھ
Haqeeqat aor thi kuch
اُس کو جا کے یہ بتانا ہو
Us ko ja key yeh batana ho
ہمیشہ دیر کر دیتا ہوں میں
Hamesha dair kr deta hoon main
Now listen to the legendary poet Munir Niazi reciting the above said poem in his own very style (video is in Urdu with English sub titles):
How about you? Are you one of the people being referred to in this post? Has it ever left you in regret ever?
Is our life meaningless? Well for the ordinaries, life is full of challenges and there is hardly any time to ponder over the meaning of the true life or whether it is meaningless or not. For some who are depressed for some reasons, be economic, social, spiritual or family disturbances, at some point in time their depression makes their life meaningless. Under such circumstances, negativity surrounds him and living becomes difficult.
Poets are normally people who live in utter poverty or their circumstances builds an aura of melancholy around them which results in poetic works full of sadness and expression of one's difficult times. In such distress, they do not feel like doing anything except writing some superb poetry as famous Punjabi-Urdu language poet of Pakistan Munir Niazi wrote.
Herein under is a piece of his Punjabi poetry in which he laments of a wasteful day. I have tried to translate each worse in English. Though this translation cannot match the rhythmic tone of his poetry, yet it may give an idea what he is trying to say:
Scroll down for video of this poetic work by Munir Niazi himself
Aj da din vi aenwein langya
yet another meaningless day passed away
koi vi kam na hoya
no worthwhile work could be done
purab valon charya suraj
The sun rose from the east
pascham vang khaloya
Came to set at the west
na milya mai khalqat nu
Neither did I meet any people
na mai yaad khuda nu kita
Nor did I remember God
na mai parhi namaz
Neither did I offer my prayers
na mai jaam sharab da pita
Nor did I drink a peg of wine
khushi na gham koi kol na aya
Happiness or sadness, nothing came near me
na hasya na roya
Neither did I laugh nor did I cry
Aj da din vi aenwei langya
yet another meaningless day passed away
Now listen to Munir Niazi in his very own style reading his above shared poetry:
About the poet: Munir Ahmed Niazi, (Punjabi: منیر نیازی ) (9 April 1923– 26 December 2006) was an Urdu and Punjabi language poet from Pakistan. He also wrote for newspapers, magazines and radio. Originally of Pashtun descent, Munir Ahmed used to call himself Punjabi as Punjabi definition is cultural and geographical and most of his poetic expression was done in the Punjabi language. He was awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) Award in 2005 and Pride of Performance Award in 1992 for his notable services in Urdu and Punjabi poetry.
I am making this post extremely short to just give a message. It is up to my friends and connections to ponder over it and g down into the meaning of these four lines:
Would someone wait for me?
Would someone waste life for me?
I am not special for someone
So why would someone remember me?
We all think that we are special for many around us – but so do everyone else. Thus everyone expects to be treated like a special entity – but how could a special person like other special person because then his degree of being special will lose marks. So we keep waiting for someone to walk over to us and tell us how special we are for him/her.
So we keep waiting all along our lives for someone to wait and remember us!!
Peace is one thing that everyone longs for. Writers, thinkers and peace lovers have been struggling for establishment of peace all over the world and condemning the use of force to settle score between people and nations. Yet nations, fond of wielding their muscles for gaining top s lots in world dominance continue to ignore calls for peace and are hell bent to destroy it.
The musicians and song writers too have joined the peace lovers and some very moving lyrics have been sung to draw world attention to peace. Bob Dylan (Noble price in Literature for 2016 ) once wrote and sang a beautiful song. He draws attentions to the wrongdoings the answer of which is known to everyone but no one is ready to accept and say it boldly, so he simple says "The answer is blowing in the wind."
And what do we mean by this: The answer is blowing in the wind? For example the people of Palestine and Kashmir are suffering from the atrocities of Israel and India and denied their right to peace and independence, yet these two countries are supported by some world powers to continue with their rule of oppression and deny rights to the people they oppress. Most people know that the these two people are to be liberated from the yoke of oppression and given independence, but no one is bold enough to say it. Yes, “the answer is blowing in the wind”.
Read the lyrics of the song below and I have highlighted some of the mind boggling lines of which the entire world knows the answer, yet it is blown in the wind:
How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
and how many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
how many years must a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea?
And how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
and how many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
and how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
And how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
and how many deaths will it take 'til he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind
See, how easy these questions are and how candidly have these have been said, yet no one cares, and we just simple enjoy this melodious song and keep sinning it of and on, yet not raising voice so that these could be addressed and peace prevails.
You may listen to this song, but please don't blew up the answer to the wind (re-sung by Jessica Rhaye:
When I was a kid, though if I am not at 66 years past, whenever any class fellow of mine came to visit me, my father would invariable ask that who had come. And I would say without any hesitation that a friend a of mine. My father would just smile and tell me that he may be your acquaintance or a mere class fellow but not a friend. And that always puzzled me for I was suer that someone who visiting me was nothing but a friend. The notion is similar as we have more than xxxx numbers of friends on Facebook and many others on various social media networks – but despite that we are all alone. I know the reason: These countless numbers are just acquaintances – not my friends, as my father told me decades ago.
I also read many posts that they were defrauded by the person called friend who left when they needed the friend the most. I also know the answer here too: They were just people piling up their list of friend by making you a friend and getting a reciprocal action.
But one comes to know who actually one’s friends are - and mind you they cannot be more than a few. Anyone who claims that he has a dozen or more friends, he is sadly mistaken While one progresses in life, your Wishlist of friends continues to scale down. The test of true friendship comes if God forbids one stumbles and is in real distress. Our hardships tell us who our friends really are – and do not be surprised to know that the number would not be more than a couple.
You may not agree with me – but I have learnt this the hard way. Don’t make a mistake identifying your friends lest you are disappointed and get heart broken.
You may listen to a beautiful song "You've got a friend" by James Taylor that beautifully describes friendship - my favourite since my teen age:
This post is specially those who have gone past their prime youth age and stepping in to the rather serious stage of their life. It is also applicable for me as I have already entered the age of senior citizen.
When one is old, one has two choices – shroud oneself in the old age or while still behaving like an old man, doesn’t let the child inside die and keep him giggling. It is the second type of oldies who live a meaningful, vibrant and happy old age. In fact those who preserve their childhood never grow old – they are always young at heart, which keeps them healthy and happy.
In his book "I'm OK - You're OK" psychiatrist Thomas Anthony Harris presents a practical guide to transactional analysis as a method for solving problems in life. According to him, each man's life is composed of three segments: Parent, Adult and Child. And man reflects these segments of his life every now and then. And it is the last segment child that is the subject of post today.
So be a child much too often. One may still wear a short and go out and play in the rain – one may still like to wear gaudy colour clothes one wore in the childhood and crack jokes and move about heartily. Although one should not be like a child all the time, but occasionally recalling one’s childhood has no harm. and to do that, one must never quit the family of school or college day friends for it is they who help has reminisce our childhood and recall days of our innocence or should I say golden period of our life. A life that is long past but can be relived when with friends of our childhood.
I saw this young couple in their 60s, wearing colourful clothes and glasses with rectangular and round frame, enjoying their childhood youth merrily. They giggled and laughed and held each other tight with a passionate kiss. I saw them enjoying while standing outside a nearby shop and took this photo. How often do we do this - perhaps very seldom.
The choice rests with us: Live a dull and boring life, mostly clinging to our reclining chair, reading newspapers full of hair raising news and then feel helpless for not having changed the world, or go out and meet friends and make our life joyous and health for hearty Laughters raise our spirits and in turn keeps us healthy.
Social media is one such forum where once can find lost friends and lost childhood happiness. I for myself was found out by a school day class fellow and then the chain was not ending as through him I found out many other class fellows I haven't met or even talked to for good about four to five decades. I have already shared my experience of finding out lost friend in one of my earlier posts: School days friends: Lost and Found.
And these reunions even took me to Groningen, Holland to meet a friend of school days and had hearty laughs with him recalling our school days, our mischiefs - something that made our families smile too, seeing oldies laughing like kids.
Would you like to relive your childhood in your old age?
Whenever you meet someone for the first time, you would
certainly want to know more about him/her. Though I have been here on this platform for almost a decade, I never talked about myself. So today I thought of sharing something about me so that people around
start to know me and my likes.
Here are 20 things about me:
I am a proud Leo and the lions always fascinate
me.
My country Pakistan is the best country in the world and am proud of being its citizen.
l love nature in its every form and love to be
as close to it as possible.
For some
unknown reasons, I always wanted to see Switzerland since my childhood - and
suddenly unplanned I did manage to be there and loved being there.
My
favourite band is The Beatles - something of the past though, but since I grew
up listening to them, I still enjoy listening to the old songs. But for singles, Annie's Song is my favourite.
I always
wanted to play guitar - as was inspired by The Ventures.
Paul
Mauriat’s Love is Blue is my favourite instrumental.
I am very selective in choosing friends.
Looking down from a high rising building is ….
I love everything that my wife cooks - though I like to eat every type of vending junk that is sold by the roadsides.
Continuing with the list, the remaining 10 things about me are:
If someone confides with me, rest assured he has confided it with the right person.
“How things are made” on Discovery channel is my favourite TV programme.
I love watching sea surfing, though tennis is my favourite sport.
I really cannot understand poetry, so I prefer listening to a song with good music.
Thorn Bird and El Chemist have been my favourite readings.
My favourite film? Well can’t name one, but Heaven can wait, After the promise and To kill a mocking bird are some of my favourite.
Photography, philately and blogging are my favourite pastimes, while playing Scrabble on line keeps me busy when am not doing anything else.
I had a terrible handwriting in my childhood, till grilled by my mother (may she rests in heavens – Amen) and I corrected it (people now admire it :).
My late father continues to be my power of strength (may he rests in peace in heavens – Amen).
Must have been a good feeling. You know what? I recently went all the way to Holland to meet a friend after 43 years. Boy what a great moment it was.
Needless to mention, I love my wife and two great sons.
The listing above would give a fare idea about who I am to my readers. Have you ever tried listing yourself ever!! If you like Jaho Jalal, please follow us on Facebook
"Auld Lang Syne" is a famous Scottish song, usually sung and its tune played to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. But is also usually played and sung at the goodbyes like graduations or even funerals, and as a farewell or ending to other occasions. Its eloquent verses are really heart moving and bring back the nostalgia of past associations and times spent together, specially under similar environment. Auld Lang Syne in English simply means "old long since" or, more idiomatically, "long long ago". In fact Auld Lang Syne is remembrance of the days gone by. the days gone by, or simply the old times. While this rather unusual Scottish word is popular in the civilians on gathering and reunions of old pals, it has since assumed a wider usage in the military and the military bands more often than not play it on farewell parties, or bid farewell to fallen friends and specially on military parades, when a contingent is departing after a spell of training or even leaving for combat. Why I am sharing this song today, I will tell a little later in the post. But if you are not acquainted with this song, read the poetry below: Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld lang syne! Chorus.-For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne. We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne. And surely ye'll be your pint stowp! And surely I'll be mine! And we'll tak a cup o'kindness yet, For auld lang syne. For auld, &c. We twa hae run about the braes, And pou'd the gowans fine; But we've wander'd mony a weary fit, Sin' auld lang syne. For auld, &c. We twa hae paidl'd in the burn, Frae morning sun till dine; But seas between us braid hae roar'd Sin' auld lang syne. For auld, &c. And there's a hand, my trusty fere! And gie's a hand o' thine! And we'll tak a right gude-willie waught,
For auld lang syne
Auld Lang Syne evokes an undeniable sentimentality, a disorienting nostalgia, an instantaneous affection for the people around you at that exact moment; loved ones and strangers alike.” it evokes a strong sense of nostalgia and reflection on the past, particularly related to cherished memories, lost loved ones, and the passage of time, making it a deeply sentimental song
Herein under is an emotionally charged video of acquaintance never to be forgotten with a tinge of nostalgia with the song Auld Lang Syne playing beautifully synchronized with the scenic expressions:
Coming to why am I sharing this video today. The associations of men in uniform are something that one can never forgot throughout one's life for comradeship is the company and friendship of others with common aims. Men train together and then leave to fight on diverse frontiers, sometimes never to see each other again as treacheries of battlefields consume many of them who departed amid laughter and hearty handshakes and embraces. And this song befittingly fits on military departures in every sphere.
Military academies around the world are one such places where boys in their teens join the rigours of the military life, completely different to the lives they have lived before. Here they undergo strict military training, whether it is raining or snowing, whether it is mud filled trenches or freezing cold winds piercing through one's body when standing on a sentry duty while all his comrades take a nap for an eventful day ahead. They still laugh and cherish the memory of each day that passes by. And then a day comes when they finally prepare for their graduation ceremony, smartly dressed in the military tunics and marching into the drill squares. After the routine rituals, awards of medals and the coveted sword of honour, the passing out cadets from ranks in the middle of the drill square and slowly move out of the drill square on the tune of Auld Lang Syne beautifully played by the military brass band. I too once marched on this tune, some forty two years ago, and the heart wrenching tune of Auld Lang Syne made me both sad and happy: sad for leaving such a prestigious institution which transformed us from raw college boys to military men and officers and for leaving the comrades to meet later on battlefield or in training camps, and happy for finally being successfully and proudly joining the armed forces of the country. The nostalgia of marching on Auld Lang Syne remains fresh for as long as a man in uniform lives or later as a veteran. This feeling can only be felt, cannot be explained. Now herein under watch the passing out cadets of Pakistan Military Academy, located in Kabul near the city of Abbottabad. Listen to the tune on which passing out cadets leave the drill square on the beautiful tune of Auld Lang Syne. For decades the tune is being played during passing out parades held twice a year:
It was a similar day when I too was among my comrades slowly leaving the academy with a tinge of nostalgia that still remains afresh even till day. Some of my comrades have fallen in these forty years, and one's heart laments on their loss for we have once been together, laughing, enjoying and caring each other when undergoing training at the military academy.
I do not know who out of my batch mate remains to be the last one alive, but I am very sure if he ever listens to Auld Lang Syne, he will have tears rolling down his cheeks for there will be no one to share the memories of the days we shared together. To those listening to this and maybe feeling the void that I feel for those that I Love and lost I pray that every coming day brings to you only health, happiness, and Love.
Photos (self) | Resource Reference: WikipediaIf you like Jaho Jalal, please follow us on Facebook
There are only few people in the world who make a lasting impression on their audience and convey the plight of people, suppressed and enslaved, to the world in a manner that even the hardest of hearts melt and eyes that have long since dried up start to cry with tears rolling on the cheeks uncontrollably. This was exactly the scene on 27th September 2019 when Pakistan's Prime Minister took the podium and spoke relentlessly, without consulting any written papers, and put across the case of islamophobia and plight of Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir, presently occupied by India. Besides exposing hypocrisy of developed world on climate change and money laundering safe havens, Imran Khan spoke at length on "Islamophobia". He blamed the world for implicating Islam to terrorism and creating conditions so that people around the world start to hate Islam and Muslims. Imran Khan spoke without any prejudice, liking or political affiliation, yet very forcefully pressed home his view point about Kashmir and Islamophobia to the world community. Imran Khan blasted the Western leaders on exploiting their self worded "Islamophobia" and said:
“Islamophobia since 9/11 has grown at a pace which is alarming,” said Pakistan's Prime Minister without fear of antagonizing some of the Western allies. “Certain Western leaders equated terrorism with Islam,” he said, by employing labels like “radical Islam.” Khan said that the very concept intrinsically contradictory, because “no religion teaches radicalism. The basis of all religion is compassion and justice, which differentiates us from the animal kingdom.”
The use of “radical Islam” by Western leaders has created an association between a whole religion and terrorism, and put people in the position of suspecting all Muslims. “How is a person in New York, in a European country, or in the Midwest of the US going to distinguish between who’s a moderate Muslim and who’s a radical Muslim?” Asked Imran Khan!!
Muslim women wearing hijabs has become an issue in some countries as if a hijab is some kind of weapon. This is happening because of Islamophobia.
IK speech which was a fine outburst of emotions duly backed with logic, captivated the audience at the UNGA session, oft interpreted by loud applause and clapping on every point that he scored. He very effectively put across the Kashmir dispute, the UN resolutions on disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir and recent annexation of it by India.
He very effectively presented to the world the issue of Kashmir, a people of 8 million Muslims, forcefully suppressed since independence of Pakistan and Indian in 1947. And more recently, after the unlawful annexation of Kashmir by the Indian government, disregarding the countless UN resolutions that declared Kashmir as a disputed territory and call for the holding of impartial plebiscite so that people of Jammu and Kashmir decide for them their future lives and affiliations.
“This is the time when you, the United Nations, must urge India to lift the curfew; to free Kashmiris who have disappeared and this is the time when the UN must insist on Kashmir’s right to self-determination.”
Every word that Pakistan's Prime Minister minced, spoke of his courage, sense of responsibility, pain and sincerity in him, far superior then his Indian counterpart Modi who sheepishly spoke before him and made no mention of atrocities his forces are committing against Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir. Seeing and listening is believing. Listen to the part of Imran Khan's speech at the UNGA session that moved hearts and made many wept:
Talking of the consequences and fallout of Indian oppression, Mr Khan reiterated that for the freedom of the Muslims of the Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan will go to any extent, if world conscious continues to sleep and gives an indifferent attitude to the sufferings of the people under severe oppression by almost a million strong Indian army presence in Kashmir. He also warned the world that as and when siege is lifted by Indian government, it will lead to a genocide for which the India will blame Pakistan and may indulge in to an open war. And a stage comes to that, Pakistan will fight till the end, for a country seven times smaller than India, will be compelled to use its nuclear weapons to survive. But such a stage will be catastrophic for the entire region and the world for the fallout of the nuclear war will see no bounds, warned Mr Khan. The speech being extempore, crossed the allotted 15 minutes time, but the enthusiasm and interest of the audience not only those attending the session but also worldwide never diminished and everyone listened to him with complete concentration, interest and understanding. For here was a man speaking his heart out to the world for it was full of pain and anguish, crying for those Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir suffering the atrocities of Indian government and its army. Photo | References | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
The horse driven carriages have ruled the world for since time immemorial. Once these elegant carriages were the prestigious means of transportation for the rich and famous. By and by, these start to vanish from usual city roads as dirt roads disappeared and metaled roads came to accommodate cars and other means of transportation. However, these continued to be a major to subsidiary means of transportation in our part of the world for a considerable period of times. And were used in cities as late as 70 and 80s. I remember, we had a stable called "Astabal" near in our house in Lahore and tonga stand nearby where one could hire a tonga for any destination in the city. Occasionally, the licensing teams would come and new tonga licenses were issued after giving many tests to the horses to ascertain their roadworthy strength, the same we now licensing authorities give roadworthy certificates to vehicles.
Photo taken by me while travelling in a train
Abdullah, one of the kochwans (tonga driver) was our favourite for he had decorated his carriage very elegantly with brass couplings and plates polished everyday and a pedestal mounted bell horn. We loved riding his tonga and he would occasionally allow us to press the bell horn, a feel I still remember. In Lahore, the single horse drawn carriage was known as Tonga or "Tanga" (in local language), similar to the one in above photograph. In Karachi, these were called Victoria for these resembled the carriages of England and the design came to this part of the world when the British came to the Indian subcontinent.
Lahori Tonga - Photographer Unknown
The tongas in Lahore were of two types: the straight carriage tongas, which were the usual sights, and the Lahore Tonga. The latter was unique design but very uncomfortable to ride. I wonder who designee it and why.
As of now these tongas are no more to be seen in the cities, but are still being used in the villages a cheap and affordable means of communication. I shot the above photo from the moving train a while ago when passing through a village.The state of the tonga speak of the poorness of its owner and the people who travel in these. But for them, it is still their Rolls Royce. If you ever want to ride a in Lahore, do visit old Lahore, specially the Bhaatti Gate where local tour operators have these tongas specially prepared for tourists and you can have a ride of the old Lahore and be fascinated with the glory and awe of the narrow alleys overlooked with tall buildups, though now in much dilapidated condition. When the tip top of hooves of the horse of the tonga resounds among the rather closed environment of the walled city, it leaves reverberating memories of the once glory of the old Lahore where princes and wazirs once rode on their royal carriages.
Tourists from Abroad enjoying Tonga Ride in Old Lahore [Photo]
One may also have a tour of famous old Anarkali Bazaar, now turned into a food street near the Tollington Market on the Mall Road. Here one can also have a hearty dinner in pure Lahore style with heavily oiled dishes which leave the diners licking their fingers even when the dishes have been wiped empty. Watch this video below, though not in English, but it gives the viewers a good view of riding a tonga and walking through extremely compressed alleys of old Lahore:
Pakistan is an awesome travel destination for foreigners. Anyone who discloses to one's associates, friends or family that he is planning to embark upon a journey to Pakistan. the instant reply is "Don't ever think of going to Pakistan." The reason for such notion is very simple: The world media has over the past many years has portrayed Pakistan is a country where people carry guns and kill foreigners on sight or foreigners are abducted and bla bla bla.
But the amazing thing about Pakistan is that those who finally decide to come to Pakistan and spend sometime here do not want to go back for its landscape, its people and their hospitality are simply mesmerising. Sighting a foreigner, people of Pakistan are overwhelmed and in many cases, shopkeepers or taxi drivers refuse to take money in return of services rendered. In most cases, all food is free and so are most rides. And when you start eating Pakistani food, you will simply love it right in the first instant, though chilies will make you grab a glass of water immediately. As for sweets, Jemima Goldsmith once tweeted: I miss jalebis and gulab jaman of Pakistan. Today, I am going to share experience on such traveler who came to Pakistan and fell in love with it. Drew Binsky is one such traveler who is otherwise famous for his travel blogs and videos with captivating details about the country he visits. He like all other travelers came to Pakistan scared, nervous and intimidated by what he had heard on the media but when he left he left with the biggest smile on his face, knowing that this might be the most special country in the world.
In Pakistan, Binsky intermingled with people from every segment of the society, from rich to poor, walked in bazaars and streets, rode in rickshaws and ate street food and enjoyed many traditional dishes and cuisines, while enjoying the hospitality of people of Pakistan. Summing up his stay in Pakistan, he feels a bit nostalgic: "My time in Pakistan has sadly come to an end, and words cannot describe how incredible the last 2 weeks of my life have been." I wont describe how he felt, just watch his video below and see how a perception of a person scared to enter Pakistan changes when one is received with warm open arms and willing hearts of a country that is known as Pakistan!!
Binsky leaves a message for all those who shirk to make plans to visit Pakistan: "I hope you enjoyed watching my content here, and if any of you have had your perspectives changed about Pakistan (even a little bit), please share because I’d love to hear your feedback!" You may got to the video at YouTube and share your views to reach Binsky or even share your view in my comment box below. Tell me when you are visiting Pakistan? Photo [Click of Qazi/Facebook]
The choice of living lies with men: some choose to live a life of disgrace and rot for the rest of their lives either in prisons or living a life of being repelled and discarded by the community. This is the life the terrorist who killed dozens of peaceful worshipers right inside the mosques in Christchurch a few days ago.
But there are few people who live for others and so not care about their own self, their safety or even their lives. These are the people who are called heroes and live an eternal life in the hearts of people whether they knew him personally r otherwise. And Naeem Rashid was one such person who dared the Christchurch terrorist right in front of him while the terrorist was spraying bullets without mercy. Perhaps he knew that he was daring the terrorist and was most certainly to succumb to it, but in trying times, heroes rise above self and all they care is saving others.
On Friday, 15th March, Naeem Rashid was at the Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch with his 21-year-old son, Talha Naeem, for Friday prayers. The day was just a normal day when Muslims around the world gather together to offer the obligatory Friday noon prayer in an congregation. But he and others never knew that many would not be going back home, but to Jannah right from the home of Allah. It as then the brute terrorist rushed in and started spraying bullets on everything that was human. Naeem's son Talha, a civil engineering graduate, embraced shahadat (martyrdom) right in front of the eyes of his father. Naeem reacted promptly and instead of running towards his son, ran towards the terrorist to stop him in his evil endeavour hoping to stop him and save love of the others. He can be seen in a screen shot of the video which the terrorist was making from his helmet mounted camera right in front of him:
But was seriously injured. After the assailant had gone out to hit other worshipers in a nearby mosque, Naeem was rushed to hospitals but lost his life to his wounds that were inflicted from a very close range.
A peace loving docile, humble and friendly Naeem Rashid hailed from Abbottabad, Pakistan and moved to New Zealand and was working as a teacher. It was his death of a hero that has taken him from Pakistan to New Zealand. Naeem had been married and had three sons. On this fateful day, the other two sons were not accompanying their father and brother Talha. The mortal wounds left on the family, his widow and two sons would perhaps take a very long time to heal. But perhaps they would always cherish the memories of Naeem who died the life of a hero protecting others with least effort to save them. If you like Jaho Jalal, please follow us on Facebook
