(+92) - My Identity

I have been born and raised in those times when people really cared about Pakistan. When popular and respected figures wrote about Pakistan in their autographs. I can never forget Shaheed Hakim Muhammad Saeed's trademark 'Pakistan se muhabbat karo, Pakistan ki taa'meer karo' autograph. We hardly have such people any more. Who put Pakistan as their priority. Who portray Pakistan as their pride. Our generation has a lost sense of patriotism. We think wearing the green jersey and cheering team Pakistan in a cricket match is what patriotism is all about. We only celebrate Pakistan when in crowd (match-screenings etc), we only show concern for Pakistan on occasions (national level crisis or some jalsa demanding change). At collective level, we are considerate enough to give SOME of our time from daily lives to Pakistan. This won't do the job. Pakistan needs more. Pakistan is in a terrible state. Corrupted to its roots. Mafias everywhere (from hawkers at the street to the public transport, from police to public). Everyone has been selfish lately. Concerned about their trivial individual daily matters, least caring about Pakistan. When a nation is at such a stage, the only saviour can be 'ME'. Be the change that I want to see. We all have a responsibility to this state, no matter how much we ignore it. It is time to redeem and respond to the call! We all must do more than we expect of ourselves. That is the only way towards positive change. We've gone numb by all the wrongdoings our entire life that we don't expect much. We'd break the traffic rules because we won't be reprimanded, we'll trash our homeland because we don't consider it our home any more. Make yourself exceed your own expectations. Prioritize Pakistan. Put Pakistan as a major factor in your decision-making. Only then you are patriotic. Only then you are a Pakistani.

There's a tide in the affairs of men,

Which, taken at the flood,

Leads on to fortune,

But ommitted, and the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and miseries,

On such a full sea are we now afloat,

And we must take the current when it serves,

Or lose the ventures before us.

This post is dedicated to the person who made me realize I had not yet truly taken Pakistan into account in any of my decisions throughout my life.

Football Is Life

I had learnt what it means to play football. It's not just about the sports. It's a metaphor for life, not only the most watched sports in the world; it's the most exalting and heartbreaking and potentially tragic. It poses every conceivable element to the player, and more; disappointment, adrenaline, unspeakably bad luck, unthinkable beauty, unmatchable elation, hopelessness, helplessness, and above all a great, deep self-questioning. During our lives we're faced with so many different elements as well, we experience so many setbacks, and fight such a hand-to-hand battle with failure, head down in the rain, just trying to stay upright and to have a little hope. Football is not just a sport, not at all! It is a test. It tests you physically, it tests you mentally, and it even tests you morally. (excerpt taken and edited from It's Not About The Bike - My Journey Back to Life by Lance Armstrong)
In football, as in life; you've got a goal to achieve and you've got companions who share the same dream. In football, as in life; you'll meet resistance in the face of opponents who are determined to not let you succeed. In football, as in life; you'd sometimes need a moment of individual brilliance. Other times, you'd have your companions who'd help you win. In football, as in life; there'll be moments that take your breath away! In football, as in life; when you achieve your purpose, you are complete and you have your companions to celebrate with you. In football, as in life; you've individuals by your side who will always be willing to go the extra mile with you, to throw their bodies on the line for you. In football, as in life; you'd need assists and you'd need to assist others. In football, as in life; you'd have the moment of glory and you'd have your days of gloom. If there's a defining characteristic of football as opposed to life, maybe it's that football makes sense.

That letter 'f' in life stands for football. Without it, life remains just a lie.

Mere Mortals

Mortality is such a blessing. Time flies, death urges, knells call, heaven invites, hell threatens. Being mortal gives meaning to our existence. What we do while we are here is of value. Every action has an impact. Imagine never dying- you can continue to make mistakes, continue your ways of living, no consequences, no regret or guilt because we will be without direction and at ease, existing forever and ever, our doings without any accountability because we can never die; never dying is never living! Fear of death or harm makes us 'human', immortality is 'inhuman'. No purpose of existence, just being there and doing things. Thank God that we are limited! Eyes that can not see everything, ears designed to hear within a range, mind that functions up to a certain limit; our limits make us the most superior creation of God. We are limited so that what we do has a value, so that we are important, so that we may have a chance to show compassion to the weak, rise against tyranny, let ourselves be count! We are limited so that we can make our mark.

Seek not, my soul, the life of the immortals; but enjoy to the full the resources that are within thy reach.
- Pindar

Deserving Education

I had the opportunity to visit a revamped government school in a backward are few days back. The school used to be a dumpster and a place for drugsters. Now it's home to many young aspiring girls having dreams and hopes clearly glimmered in their eyes. The classes were small but enthusiasm high. The room was crowded but students were not complaining as each bench was shared by 3 to 4 students. The students were divided into groups of threes and fours in the playground but organized in classrooms as they innocently answered the raised questions in one voice. The classes were really vibrant and full of energy. Students were not 'pushed' to learn rather they were 'pulled' towards it as was evident from their excitement in the classrooms. They wanted to learn more and do more. They corrected the teacher that there were 8 maths questions given as homework as opposed to 5. They asked why they were to practice ONLY 10 questions in class and not more. They were eager to get their practice answers checked by the teacher and get approval and appreciation. Such students deserve scholarships, sponsorships and support. Such students deserve opportunities and platform. Such students deserve education and not just literacy. Such students deserve a bright future.

“The aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think, than what to think—rather to improve our minds, so as to enable us to think for ourselves, than to load the memory with the thoughts of other men.” 

- John Dewey

Purpose Of Life

We all have good and evil in ourselves. That's what makes us human; we have the potential to be good and are also prone to err. One cares about his/her outlook because it can be observed but what about the inner self? No one but oneself can be sure about that. One has a mirror that reflects the true image about oneself- conscience! One is always at war. The battle to choose good and be on the right path. This is the constant inner battle that each of us go through. Life is a struggle and the most important endeavour is to differentiate between right and wrong. This is the purpose of life. To shun the evils and to embrace the goodness. People often lose sight or never really have any clue in the first place about the purpose of their existence. They set for themselves achievable short term goals which define their lives. Great job, great company, comfortable living; all these can't possibly be the purpose of life simply because you can always achieve these targets. Purpose of life is endless. If one believes his/her life purpose to be materialistic then what after he achieves this target? Once s/he has achieved this materialistic purpose of life, the life is meaningless as the purpose is fulfilled BUT the life goes on. That is why I believe that true purpose of life is endless and has to be a constant battle; the most important battle, the inner battle!

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

No Pain No Gain

Hardships are opportunity cost if not learnt from. One can learn from tough times and rough patches; build resilience to sufferings and show character in the face of hardships. Pleasure makes us complacent and thankless, pain makes us considerate and compassionate. We tend to think about others after we've been through suffering. We can relate to them. We are more wary of how testing times can reduce one to helplessness and hopelessness. As we make it through the difficulty, through the dark tunnel into the light; we emerge as more compassionate, more grateful and more 'human'. It helps us realize our vulnerability and fragility so that we seek God's help to show us the direction of ultimate success and save us from the path of absolute harm. So that we may seek salvation and hope for redemption. Pain makes a believer out of us.

"Behind every trial and sorrow that He makes us shoulder, God has a reason." 
— Khaled Hosseini (A Thousand Splendid Suns)