Light Within

"BlogDay was created with the belief that bloggers should have one day dedicated to getting to know other bloggers from other countries and areas of interest. On that day Bloggers will recommend other blogs to their blog visitors. With the goal in mind, on this day every blogger will post a recommendation of 5 new blogs. This way, all blog readers will find themselves leaping around and discovering.”

An here are my top finds of the day: They are new (less than one year old) and already creating waves in the blogsphere. Find out how are they heading to the list of top bloggers.

Opinion Maker
Jalal HB
Yaqoob 
Rao Dilshad
Doodh Patti - My Cup of Tea
Cameroon Blog

By Rao Dilshad Hussain

Whenever a new body takes over the reigns of the Pakistan Cricket Board, the first thing it announces is the elusive revamp of the domestic cricket. The announcements sans actions follow and the plunge continues to plague the Pakistan cricket.

The PCB administration always changes following eventful defeats of the national team. In fact, domestic cricket is the backbone of the national team. If it is strong, it produces great players in all the fields.

One day Pakistan beats world champions but the very next day it crashes to a level below that of even club cricket. Pakistan has always lacked consistency and it is because of poor domestic structure.

It is excellence of the domestic structure in Australia due to which it has been ruling the world cricket for last couple of decades. It has thrashed almost every team in all the three formats of the game now.

There are a lot of events in Pakistan domestic cricket - the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pentangular Cup, Pentangular One-Day Cup, Patrons' Trophy Grade II, Inter-District Cricket Championships and Twenty20 Cup besides various junior tournaments organised under the banner of the regional associations and the PCB.

Many departmental, regional, senior and junior teams take part in these competitions. But surprisingly, despite a round-the-clock schedule, domestic cricket fails to provide adequate backup for the national team. Interestingly, every chairman promises to revamp the domestic cricket but does nothing to improve the standards. The failure of the national team is inevitably linked with the domestic cricket.

The situation of the domestic cricket currently is alarming. If no emergency measures taken, soon the Pakistan team would find itself slipping below the top six in ICC ranking. There are various ways through domestic cricket can be improved.

It is apparent that regions or associations cannot be helped out to promote the standard of domestic cricket because regional teams are playing since seven years but still are unable to produce a single finger spinner, world class batsman, wicketkeeper, fast bawler and a quality opener. An example of the system's bankruptcy is that the LCCA didn't choose test wicket-keeper Zulqurnan Haider though he had been playing since 2002-03.

In the regions, affluent businessmen and feudal lords reign supreme and head the associations. They do not care if they drop any deserving player and pick even their blue-eyed drivers for first class teams such as Multan region. They use teams as public relation platforms or mint money.

When the players are selected for the district teams during trials, a number of players take part but when the teams are announced, several such names are seen in the list who never appeared for the trials. Regional cricket, like the rest of the county, is suffering nepotism, merit-violation and corruption.

The Pakistan cricket can grow if the PCB plays a positive role in strengthening the departments and issue directives for making their U-19 teams. If every department manages to establish U-19 team, Pakistan would have more than 200 senior and 200 U-19 paid players. Department normally take deserving players. Departments pick on merit while regions always pick players to oblige their friends. So through empowering the departments Pakistan cricket can improve gradually.

Many great players have come from departments like Javed Miandad, Ijaz Ahmed, Wasim Akram, Younus Khan, Moin Khan, Saqlain Mushtaq, Aqib Javed Waqar Younus, Amir Sohail, Saeed Anwer, Iqbal Qasim etc. The department, which pays the player always opts for a quality cricketer.

During the 80s Pakistan domestic cricket provided healthy back up to the national team because departments like PACO, UBL and PIA made their U-19 teams as backup to the senior teams. Because of establishing these teams, Pakistan got great players like Wasim, Ijaz and Masood Anwar. The departments used to pay Rs 200 to 400 to the U-19 players for each match. So it should be made compulsory for departments to raise U-19 teams.

If the PCB upgrades the level of grade-II cricket and introduces the four-day format for grade-II, then it would be much better for Pakistan cricket.

The upgradation of this format can groom many temperamental players. Sadly, Pakistan has lost many Test matches within three days which reflects the need for patience and stamina. If the PCB makes sporting pitches then cricket quality would be improved.

In the world every board introduces new formats as Australia brought split-over format that replaced the one-day cricket but the PCB can't bring new things because it is full of sycophants. They are always seen to flatter the chairman -- Yawar Saeed, Intikhab Alam, Wasim Bari, Ranas (Sultan, Shafqat), Zakir Khan and many others are good at singing praises for the chairman. They don't suggest anything meaningful. If the PCB does not wake up from slumber now, the Pakistan team would never get legends.

The News of the World has smashed a multi-million pound cricket match-fixing ring which RIGGED the current Lord's Test between England and Pakistan. Read the story by By Mazher Mahmood and Amanda Evans, 29/08/2010

Hundreds of thousands of people were fleeing the Thatta district after the bloated Indus River crushed a levee and flooded new areas. The UN said as many as one million people have been displaced in last three days.

Related: Flood 2010

I saw this beautiful image in Time, Today in Pictures section (Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010 issue) . The caption reads "A child lines up food in preparation for the break of fast on the first day of Ramadan at the Memon Mosque in Karachi, Afghanistan."

I was wondering if the editors at Times really don't know in which country Karachi is located or is this just an error. Hope some one takes note and correct. This type of desk  journalism does reflect lack of knowledge.

Readers at Light Within are familiar with the work of NGOs and how Thatta Kedona (and also SPARC) is making difference in a small village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka situated on the bank of River Ravi near Gogera. Dr. Senta Siller (mother of dolls) and Dr. Norbert Centre (fondly called by village community as chaudhry sahib) keep toggling between Germany and the remote village with fresh ideas and people of the village keep making new products (dolls, tin toys and other decorative cultural mementos) keep travling from village to the entire world. Now the untiring couple has started another project in Cameroon. Heritage and Appropriate Technology Center is born in Cameroon.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said the Pakistan flooding is the worst natural disaster he has ever seen - as more heavy rain heads towards the worst-hit areas, reports Geo.

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While traveling, off the National Highway, not only you travel in soot free and serene environment but you see more too. Lately, I got a chance to explore the lush green plains of Punjab, riding my trusted old motorbike on Band Patri of Lower Bari Doab Canal (LBDC) from Sahiwal to Balloki Headworks. Many new and interesting things came in the way, which normally remain hidden from commuters on the National Highway or travelers in the area. The journey embraces you with lovely colors, atmosphere, people and bits and pieces of history. And, there is no hassle anywhere in the way.

I took the side route and got onto the LBDC from Sahiwal, the city famous for greenery and best breed of mammals. The first thing along the LBDC that attracted my attention was Mandi Maweshian (animal market) near Okara - one of the largest in the country. It is a complete bazaar where a large number of fine quality animals changes hand every month. You can find makeshift hotels (with arrangements for night stay), veterinary doctors, milk and fodder shops and even provision stores. "It is a complete market that keeps moving from one place to another as per its permanent schedule," told me an astute manager, who establishes a hotel wherever the market goes. "We have buoparis (businessmen) from Karachi to Peshawar, local farmers as well as people working in the market as our customers," he added. Another shopkeeper told, "Farmers sell their live stock here and buy provisions for their homes." The market has its own unique culture.

Next in the way comes one of the biggest fruit farms in Asia that was planted in 1933. Visiting the farm is a tranquil experience. Besides factories making large variety of products, a beautiful humming bird that appears on the logo of the farm's products dwells freely in the vast orchards attesting to its unpolluted environment. A rare flying ability of the bird enables it to hover, rise, move backwards and descends like helicopter. The bird usually feeds hovering suspended with air. Though not a keen bird watcher but I was surprised to know that "the small living avis can consume liquid up to eight times and solid about half of its body weight." Leaving the farm, you hit one of the first Hydroelectric Power Stations constructed in the Subcontinent. Sir Ganga Ram, an Engineer and famous Philanthropist had built this Power Station in 1925 in order to irrigate about 70,000 acres of agricultural land that is higher than the normal level in the area and could not be irrigated through the LBDC. Ganga Ram forked the canal, built the Power Station and installed five motors to generate electricity. The Governor Punjab, Sir William Malcolm Hailey laid down its foundation stone on March 22, 1925. Engineer in charge of the station Mr. Iqbal explained the working of the station and briefed about its excellent performance despite the old vintage. The Power Station is not linked with National Electric Grid and provides electricity for the five pumping stations for lifting the water from the LBDC.

The Power Station remained with Power and Works Department till 1958 when it was taken over by WAPDA. Why not more hydroelectric station in the country? The question keeps coming back to my mind.

First sight of the Power Station reminded me of Venice City. The building seems to be floating on water. The canal is covered with trees up and down stream. There is a small white mosque inside the canal in front of the station building. Green area adjoining the station is very restful.

Just about three Kilometers from Renala, you see a huge colonial ere mansion standing tall in the fields. This used to be headquarters of the Renala Estate _ the land leased by Major D. H. Venrenen in 1913 on the condition of horse breeding (ghori pall). The company had been producing very fine breed of horses in the past. Villa, a symbol of past glory _ is still owned by the family of landlady T. F. L. Taylor. That is the place from where my real 'hardship by choice' started.

I was traveling on a rural route, seeing the path but not knowing what was coming next. Not knowing what one is going to see ahead is sometime inspiring. But, about 11 Kilometers from Power Station, rear tyre of my bike went flat. There was no place in sight from where I could get it fixed. Advised by Chragh Din, a local, I waited for the 'help' to come and we talked.

Chragh Din, relaxed and amiable old man who was fishing asked about my destination, purpose of journey and why I was traveling on a bike. He did not seem convinced with my answers once I told him that I am traveling just to see the area. He was surprised instead. I enjoyed talking to him though. He was so candid and frank about every thing he said.

Mechanical and animal transport, plying on Pakistani highways and roads has almost equal right of the way. But, I was greatly pleased once a Tonga appeared on a track coming out of sugarcane and blooming mustard fields. I loaded my bike on the back and rode a sturdy Tonga to reach Akhtarabad _ the nearest place on National Highway with vulcanization facilities. It took me three hours to get on to my way to Balloki headworks.

As harvest approaches, the traveler, especially in the irrigated tracts, ride through endless expanses of waving crops of different shades of color, out of which the villages seem to rise like islets in an ocean of green. After the harvest all is changed: the dull brown of the fields is relieved by the trees, solitary or in groves and avenues, and by the hamlets and village ponds.

Near Balloki Headworks on River Ravi, one passes through a wide water reservoir that looks like a lake. In winters, this lack is full of native waterfowls. Flocks of Wild Ducks, Cranes, Strokes and black winged Stilts are the commonest sights in the area. Though at the dusk of the sunny winter day I could only see few Tobas hovering over their evening catch and few flocks of Murghabis (wild ducks). The fish kababs at Balloki Headworks are a specialty and culinary delight. I had a dinner break at Balloki, treated myself with fish kabab - fresh from the river - and moved to National Highway for onwards journey to Lahore via more familiar route.

More than 1,400 people have been killed and a staggering 20 million people have been affected by devastating monsoon rains in Pakistan. Entire villages, roads, bridges and millions of hectares of crops have been washed away by the ongoing deluge. See CNN images here.

On the bank of River Chenab in area called Sandal Bar, Chaniot town is an exotic place in the foot of series of hillocks that seem to be man made rather than evidence of old mountains. The town is very ancient. It was inhabited before the time when Alexander of Macedon came in the South Asia and was principal City during the rule of White Huns. Chinese explorer Hiuen Tsiang visited it. Alberuni has mentioned in Kitabul-Hind that Chaniot was one of the there most important places in this part of the world.

Chaniot suffered much from the Durrani inroads during the last half of the eighteenth century and also during the troubles of I848 because it remained the scene of constant fierce struggle among the leaders of local factions. As per the local legend, portion of the wall, surviving in situ, had been built during Hellenic period. The veracity of the wall's association with Alexander the great is yet to be proved though. But the sit does give evidence of its distant past.

During the Mughal era, Chaniot produced many intelligent personalities and talented artisans who occupied positions in the Mughal courts, Nawab Saad Ullah Khan and Nawab Wazir Khan held the post of prime minister of India and the Governor of Lahore respectively during the rule of King Shah Jehan.

Pakistan faces economic catastrophe after the devastating floods that have wiped out farmland and ruined infrastructure, with feared losses of billions of dollars likely to set back growth by years.

The country's worst ever-humanitarian disaster has ravaged an area roughly the size of England, affected 20 million people, exacerbated a crippling energy crisis and raising fears of social unrest.

"It seems we're doomed to walking through a dark tunnel. We're on an unending path of misery," said Morio Pahore, a farmer from small town Thul in southern Pakistan who is now living in a tent on a highway.

Shirtless, his face burnt dark by the sun, the greying 50-year-old said he lost everything when the rains fell and the river burst its banks.

"We had goats and buffalo and a wooden hut. We had grain to eat. The river ate everything, leaving the whole family hungry and empty-handed.

"I don't think we can start again for many years. Everything is under water and even if the river recedes, the water will be there for a long time."

It is a tragedy repeated millions of times over for farmers and peasants across the country who saw their livelihoods washed away in minutes after the floods first hit three weeks ago.

Agriculture accounts for 20 percent of Pakistan's gross domestic product. President Asif Ali Zardari said it would take two years to provide farmers with crops, fertilisers, seeds and food. Experts say it will take far longer.

On top of that, floods have inflicted widespread damage on infrastructure. In cities, flood waters have destroyed electricity installations, roads and phone lines.

The World Bank, which has announced a 900 million dollar loan for Pakistan, expects the economic impact to be huge, indicating that direct damage was greatest in housing, roads, irrigation and agriculture.

It estimated crop loss at one billion dollars, saying the full impact on soil erosion and agriculture could only be assessed when the water recedes around mid-September.

"We have lost around 20 percent of our cotton crops. The destruction of corn, rice, sugarcane, vegetable crops and fish farms are enormous as well," Ibrahim Mughal, who heads the independent Agri Forum organisation, told media.

Damage to cotton, rice, sugarcane and maize will hit the export sector, the main source for Pakistan's forex reserves. Textiles and agriculture account for about three quarters of Pakistan's 21 billion dollar export target this year.

"The floods have eaten three million tons of cotton -- over 20 percent of our 14 million bales for this year. It will negatively affect by 25 percent large-scale manufacturing and ultimately impact on exports," Ashfaq Hasan Khan, a former government economic adviser, told media.

There are fears that Pakistan risks running up a higher fiscal deficit which would lead to increased government borrowing.

Before the floods, the country had a healthy forex reserve of 16.45 billion dollars, thanks to a 11.3 billion dollar IMF rescue package meant to stave off Pakistan's worst balance of payment crisis and 30-year-high inflation in 2008.

After recording its lowest growth in a decade, GDP had been expected to grow by 4.5 percent in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, but the floods could shave at least one percent off growth estimates.

"Our assessment suggests Pakistan could achieve about 3.5 percent GDP growth rate this fiscal year," Khan said. "It means a loss of around two billion dollars."

Pakistan's UN envoy in Geneva, Zamir Akram, has said reconstruction in northern areas alone could cost 2.5 billion dollars.

Food prices are already rising and there are fuel shortages in some areas.

The director general of the Pakistan Electric Power Company, Muhammad Khalid, told media they faced losses of more than four billion rupees (47 million dollars) due to the floods with some grid stations wiped out.

Around 1,000 villages in flood-hit districts of southern Punjab are without power, said Jamshaid Niazi, spokesman for Multan Electricity Supply Company. "Our two grid stations are badly affected," he said.

"The loss is huge. We have to install new poles, wires, feeders etc."

Experts have urged the government -- already weak and unpopular -- to move quickly, warning that the losses could fan unemployment and social unrest.

"The peasants are our lifeline, so by not helping them we are in fact committing suicide," Agri Forum's Mughal said.

"Jobless people can become criminals if they can't get employment. In this case, the number of such people is in the millions."

With anything in life there are challenges and obstacles one must overcome to be successful. An online college degree program is no different. It’s important to do your due diligence and really think things through before signing up for any particular program online. I mean, with all the degrees to pick from on the internet today, which one is going to be the most beneficial to you?

No matter what college program you enroll in, whether it’s an online business degree, online teaching degree, or online nursing degree – every program is going to take at least some time commitment. Some online schools may require more time to complete than others and depending on the degree, well, strap on your seat belt because the ride could be intense! Most people who get involved with degree programs online are usually very busy and can only take classes from the comfort of their own home. Some degree courses that are perfect to learn from home usually consist of anything related to online business degree programs, online teaching degree courses and online nursing degree classes that you can take during your spare time. Especially if you’re a busy executive, have a family, or just can’t squeeze in time to physically make it to an actual college or university to take classes, the online degree arena is ideal.

With that said, many have stated that online classes are cheaper! With the convenience of completing courses at your own pace, online degree programs are handy because you’re saving all kinds of money on gas, textbooks, and college housing. However, there is one absolute necessity of taking classes online, and that is a dependable internet connection. I don’t care if you’re enrolled in an online business degree, online teaching degree, and/or online nursing degree program – without a great internet connection, it will be impossible to plug into a system and take the necessary classes to get that degree online.

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie has pledged to “do what she can” for flood-ravaged Pakistan. The Oscar-winning actress, 35, was asked what she would do in her role as goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as she promoted her new action thriller, Salt, in London’s West End.

“I’m doing what I can. I’m talking to Ambassador [Richard] Holbrooke, the UN and people on the ground about how we can spend our money,” she said at the film’s premiere in Leicester Square.

Jolie, who arrived without long-term partner Brad Pitt, added: “It’s unravelling every minute, it seems to be getting worse so we’re trying to keep track of it.”

The Changeling star is considering all her options and listening to advisers.

“A lot of people say it is important to visit but maybe in a month or two when the cameras go away – we don’t know when is the best time. We’re just going to keep on it and listen and take advice from the people on the ground as to what is best to do.”

Shimmering in a silver sequinned floor-length gown by Amanda Wakeley and Salvatore Ferragamo heels, Jolie thanked the thousands of fans who had waited for her – some camped out for 27 hours.

In Salt, which also stars Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor, she plays a CIA officer who goes on the run after being accused of being a Russian spy

“I love doing action and I think that when you like what you do, it’s contagious and hopefully people will like it too,” she said.

“I love it – I love to punch things, jump off things and shoot, so I’m lucky I got the job.”

UN chief Ban Ki-moon flew into Pakistan on Sunday to visit areas ravaged by floods and urged the world to speed up aid for up to 20 million people hit by the country's worst humanitarian disaster. The United Nations has appealed for 460 million dollars to deal with the immediate aftermath of the floods but has warned that billions will be required in the long-term with villages, businesses, crops and infrastructure wiped out. The government has appealed to the international community to help cope with the challenges of a crisis that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has compared to the 1947 partition of the sub-continent. Officials estimate that around a quarter of Pakistan appears to have been affected by the flooding. The UN estimates that 14 million have been affected and that 1,600 have died. The government has confirmed 1,384 deaths.

On 7 August 2010, the Islamabad/Rawalpindi Chapter met at the lush green Golf Club of Islamabad Club, which looked dreamy and impressive at night. A large number of course mates along with their wives attended. Although many more had confirmed their attendance, but as usual to the agony of the course secretary did not turn up.

Col Asif, the course secretary got the male participants fall-in outside the dinning hall for the update on accounts. He also informed that the dinner was arranged due kind courtesy of Ghori and the hall booking charges had been waived off by Arbab Zahid Pervez (few would remember him - he was from 54th PMA and joined us and later bid farewell to the arms after our first term) who is presently the Captain of Islamabad Club. Asif also apprised the participants about the birthday of Jalal (that's me), to which everyone sang the opening verses of "happy Birthday to you...." (thanks all for that), though Akhtar Nawaz Janjua reminded me that I was now a year closer to my final journey. [Via 55 PMA Long Course Website]

By RAO DILSHAD HUSSAIN

The tendency of politicising sports has been a continual trend since many decades, but what is more deplorable is that this trend is on a rise. The current scenario has become rather interesting, as the ruling elites and politicians have started taking keen interest in domestic sports. Recently during Waqt News’ popular sports show ‘Game Beat,’ the former Prime Minister Ch. Shujaat Hussain, President of Pakistan Kabbadi Federation, donated Rs.10 million to the Pakistan Tennis Federation. It was given upon the request of Senator Dillawer Abbas, President of Tennis Federation. Hafiz Imran and Rabia Qadir disclosed this fact during the show.

During the show these influential politicians gave their strong opinions about the plight of sport in Pakistani. Ch. Shujaat on this note expressed, “Promotion of every sport is the need of the hour. People are fed up of reading news about terrorism and crimes while sports provide them with some sort of entertainment. We can not deny the role of sport in the modern age because it produces healthy societies.”

Ch. Shujaat confessed that in the past politically influential people were given important designations such that of cricket, hockey, football, squash, tennis and many others. The same trend is being continued till date. A number of non-professionals who know nothing about sports are running sports federations like Ch. Shujaat is heading the Kabbadi Federation without any prior knowledge or being a player. According to him it is very cheap sport and everybody can play easily and that during kabbadi matches the stadiums are full with crowed and kabbadi lovers. Ch. Shujaat further maintained, “Imran Khan is stepping forward successfully as a politician but it would be better for the future of the Pakistan cricket if Imran gives his precious time to cricket. He urged that sports federations should be run by an honest, capable and competent person rather than politically influential ones.”

He deplorably said that Ijaz Butt is still working as the chairman of PCB despite humiliating defeat of the Pakistani cricket team during their tours of Australia and England. He further said, “He is still the chairman because of his strong political affiliations with the President of Pakistan. This practice should be an end.”

Ch. Shujaat revealed old secrets of General Zia ul Haq’s regime when he appointed General Safdar as the Chairman of WAPDA and later as the Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board. But Safdar refused to accept the PCB position stating his lack of experience regarding cricket, but then Zia reminded him that he did not have to know about WAPDA to run it. The same approach of politicising sports has been continuing since decades. This approach should come to an end and the politicians should not run sports federations of the country.

During the show Ch. Shujaat showed his keen interest in the promotion of women tennis. But Senator Dilawer Abbas sadly expressed, “Within the country nobody is ready to sponsor tennis while everybody is ready to sponsor cricket. Cricketers can easily earn millions of dollars annually while tennis players just earn $2500. Government has allocated only few hundred thousands to Pakistan Tennis Federation contrary to its hefty monthly maintenance of the single tennis stadium.”

He said that Prime Minister preferred to allocate Rs.50 millions to the Hockey Federation because of his preference towards President Qasim Zia. He deplorably said that Ijaz Butt is also misusing the powers because of his strong political backing. He further added that one should willingly surrender their powers and separate themselves from the power corridors.

Dilawar further said, “I wish I could construct tennis complexes in the same passion I serve the federation.” He revealed that when he was nominated for the presidential post of the tennis federation, then he asked his contender about tennis. But as his contender did not have enough knowledge, he agreed not to take over the federation.

“The political appointments of ineligible people have destroyed the Pakistani sports. Because of them sports are heading towards a decline.” Senator Dilawer Abbas was of the view.

For donations and contribution in to Pakistan Army Relief Fund , following are the account numbers for Pakistani Rupee and foreign currencies.

ROUTING - PAKISTANI RUPEE

All branches of ASKARI COMMERCIAL BANK IN PAKISTAN

ACCOUNT NUMBER 0028010121825-8

ROUTING - US DOLLAR

Please remit proceeds to JP MORGAN CILASE BANK,NEW YORK USA.SWIFT BIC CODE: CHASU33 for the credit of Askari Bank Limited, Karachi Branch, Account number: 001-1-1678273 SWIFT BIC CODE : ASCMPKKA for onward credit to Askari Bank Limited, GHQ Branch, Rawalpindi, Pakistan A/C # 28- FAVOURING

ROUTING - POUND STERLING

Please remit proceeds to : STANDARD CHARTERED BANK , 37 GRACE CHURCH STREET , LONDON, EC3V ORX , U.K. VIA SWIFT BIC CODE : SDBLGB2L for credit of Askari BAnk Limited , Karachi Branch Pound Sterling Account number : 01-249443401 SWIFT BIC CODE : ASCMPKKA for onward credit to Askari Bank Limited , GHQ Branch , Rawalpindi , Pakistan A/C # 28- FAVOURING

ROUNTING - EURO

Please remit proceeds to : DRESDNER BANK AG , CORPORATE AND INTERNATIONAL DIVISION, ASIA/ AUSTRALIA DEPARTMENT , FRANKFURT 60301 AM MAIN GERMANY for credit of Askari Bank Limited , Karachi Branch EURO Account number 812781500 SWIFT BIC CODE : ASCMPKKA for onward credit to : Askari Bank Limited , GHQ Branch Rawalpindi , Pakistan A/C # 28 FAVOURING

Major General Agha Farooq

AS RUSSIA burns to a crisp, thousands of kilometres to the south-west torrential storms visit unprecedented flooding on Pakistan. Both events can be attributed to the same large-scale pattern of atmospheric circulation. They are also both the sort of thing climate scientists expect more of in a warming world.

The upper atmosphere (the part through which the jet streams run) is gently rocked by what are known as Rossby waves—movements of air towards and away from the poles. These waves usually travel east or west, depending on various conditions. But they can also stand still, trapping the weather beneath them.

According to Brian Hoskins, a climate scientist at the University of Reading, this year’s anticyclones in the Atlantic have produced just such a gridlock in the world of the Rossby waves, with persistent troughs of low pressure over western and central Europe, a ridge of high pressure over Russia, and lows again farther east. The air itself doesn’t necessarily sit still, but the pressure patterns which dominate the weather persist. The troughs have seen rain—producing serious floods in central and eastern Europe and catastrophic ones in Pakistan. The pronounced and persistent high over Russia has seen record temperature after record temperature.

Like many atmospheric processes, heatwaves have a tendency to feed upon themselves. High pressure makes it hard for clouds to form, and thus for rain to fall. Under cloudless skies, the surface gives up its moisture, making the ground level hotter and drier while not increasing the chances of rain. As things get drier, fires start and spread. The still air keeps the smoke close to the surface, exacerbating its effects on health. The soot heats the air further. This is what has been happening in Russia for the past two months.

According to Geert Jan van Oldenborgh of the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, a straightforward comparison of the temperatures seen in European Russia this summer with those of the past 60 years suggests that a lot of the country is experiencing temperatures which might be expected only once every 400 years or so. For parts of the patch, it is hotter than might be expected over several millennia.

If you take into account the warming trend of the past half century, however, the extraordinary heatwave starts to look less improbable: a once-in-a-century event, perhaps. As the warming trend continues in future, the chances of such events being repeated yet more frequently will become higher still.

Peter Stott, the head of climate monitoring at Britain’s Met Office, says that a change in the jet stream, which is part of the bigger pattern of gridlock in the upper atmosphere, has allowed more warm, moist monsoonal air to flow north to Pakistan. At the same time, says Professor Hoskins, cold air has been entering the region in the upper parts of the atmosphere, flowing south from Siberia as part of the same persistent pattern that is keeping Russia hot. The influx of cold air on top of warm, moist air favours the sort of deep convection that creates powerful storms, turning moisture in the air into water on the ground very efficiently.

How might the complex relationship between jet streams and Rossby waves change in a warmer world? At the moment, no one is sure. Climate change will shift the patterns of circulation in some ways, but there is no strong reason to believe that it will lead them to seize up more often. Yet the effects of these persistent patterns may get more unpleasant because the world will be warmer and have a more vigorous hydrological cycle.

Both heatwaves and heavy precipitation are more common everywhere than they were 50 years ago. Reflecting the latter trend, the Indian monsoon has been seeing more of its rainfall in extreme events than it did in the past. No single one of those events can be directly attributed to climate change; nor can Russia’s heatwave. The pattern of increases, though, fits expectations—and those expectations see things getting worse.

The Economist [and thanks to Pervaiz Alvi for pointing out]

Rao Dilshad Hussain

Pakistan has faced various disasters since its birth till date and contemporary floods is one of them. It is the worst disaster in the history of Pakistan in which more than 13 million people have become homeless while more than three thousand have perished. So far Pakistan has lost trillions of rupees in terms of property, crops and livestock. With this emerging state of affairs it was the need of the hour to help the flood victims. However, in the beginning the process of collecting donations was slow but gradually it gained momentum when the organisations and nation on the whole came forward to help their dear brothers in time of calamity.

If, we remember the horrendous earthquake which shook the roots of the country in 2005, people came out of their houses massively and contributed whole heartedly. Women of strong families donated gold and their precious items just, to save the need ones. At that time people of our nation contributed generously for the cause with a passionate dedication but now that drive is missing.

Now the urge to help flood victims seems to be ‘missing’ somewhere. This time the flood has destroyed the lives of many and the efforts to help them constructively have taken a back-seat. Recently, Sunday Plus of Daily The Nation had a chance to visit several relief camps that are being set up by the different NGOs, political parties, religious and welfare organisations in Lahore.

As per directive of the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, PPP Lahore has established the central relief camp outside of the Masjid-i-Shohda at Regal Chowk, the Mall. “We have sent more than twenty trucks of dry food, mineral water bottles, clothes and old shoes to flood victims. Apart from collecting goods, people have approached us for donationsm stated Zahid Zulfiqar PPP activist.

He further emphasised that media has been reporting in a bias manner and doing its best to defame President Asif Ali Zardari. He also made an appeal to Pakistani nation to contribute generously in these difficult times.

Camps have also been organised by Pakistan Muslim League (Q) with an aim to support the nation in terrible times. They have arranged relief camps in various parts of the city but central camp has been placed outside the Masjid-i-Shohda at Regal Chowk. “The camp is collecting dry food edibles, flour bags, tents, cash and numerous items of daily usages under the super vision of Ahmad Faran Khan Chief coordinator of relief camps Punjab and Zahid Choudhary President PML Q Youth Wing, Punjab.

He further commented that, in the beginning people did not realise the disaster. They didn’t know whom to trust or not as government has done nothing to win the trust of the people. According to him, the people of Pakistan are always ready to sacrifice every thing for their fellow beings, but there is a need to mobilise them. Gradually people are becoming aware about the worst flood which has hit the country and donating money also. “We have people coming from all strata of society even beggars are passionately donating their money,” stated, Ahmad Farhan Khan.

“PML-Q has sent more than eight trucks of relief goods to ruin areas of Muzzafargarh, Rajanpur, D.G Khan and Layya,” told President PML-Q Ch. Pervez Elahi who personally preferred to go with these trucks. He is spending many days over there with the flood affected areas for monitoring the relief works rather than leaving the flood victims alone while government is providing the relief goods through helicopters and various goods are being wasted.

“Leaders are prone to make speeches only but practically do nothing. Every day we are collecting more than sixty thousand rupees which are being spent to purchase the dry food edibles, new clothes, all pulses, first aid medicines, shoes and tents as well. PML Q will not leave the victims alone and keep the spirit of support alive,” Ahmad Faran Khan added.

Minhaj-ul-Quran Foundation, is a renowned religious organisation. It has always stood by the people of Pakistan in disastrous hours. They have set up a relief camp at the Regal Chowk. “We are providing dry food, pulses, dates, flour bags, medicines and tents to the flood victims on daily basis. The Foundation also provides cooked food to more than two lakhs people every day in areas of south Punjab, Sindh and Noshehra. We have proper tenting system in which Minhaj’s medical camp is treating thousands of patients on the spot,” A.D. Haider an activist told the media.

Pakistan Tehrik Insaf, is also seen in action in this regard and it has established relief camp at the Regal Chowk. “We are gathering more than fifty thousand rupees regularly and now people are willingly coming to support flood affected people, earlier the response was not so good. Most of the people are donating cash,” stated, Sh. Arif PTI Vice President Youth Wing Lahore. The party has arranged 15 funds generating camps across the Lahore.

The Traders Wing of the Mall Road of Pakistan Muslim League-N has done brilliant job under the super vision of political activists Shahbaz Haider, Naeem Mir and Mian Shafqat Saeed by handling over the cheque of rupees 10 millions to Punjab government. They have also established a relief camp at Chairing Cross in front of Punjab Assembly and Hall Road as well.

Personally, they are collecting relief goods and have sent loaded trucks to the affected areas. They have set the targets of forwarding four to five trucks of relief good and cooked food as well.

“This time the spirit is there but it needs backing up. If you remember people donated widely in 2005 earthquake but it wasn’t used properly, so this time reservation is there but spirit is moving on,” stated, Iqbal Haider and Mian Shafqat Saeed.

Falah Insaniyat Foundation, Lahore is also working to provide the relief goods to the flood affected areas. “We are generating funds and collecting relief goods from everywhere. We have sent five trucks to Peshawer and Charsadda and more than twenty trucks to Layya, Mianwali, D.G Khan, Rajanpur and other areas. Peoples’ response is not very good this time,” Kashif explained.

Alkhidmat Foundation of Jammat-i-Islami has set up 20 relief camps in Lahore. “People mostly are donating cash and dry food edibles. We are sitting here for the last ten days and people have started coming out for donations. In fact people are suffering from having price hike and this is also main reason due to which they are not coming forward to help the flood victims. Now the situation is improving and common man is donating. We are providing medicines, clothes and food edibles to affected areas, said, Amir ul Azeem.

Shazia Saleem from Pak Generation Development Foundation is also collecting the relief good for the flood victims. She is collecting goods for one week and wants to continue the relief camp till one month. Only five percent of people have contributed this time.

Renowned dress designer B.G and actress Sheeba Butt are actively raising funds. They participated in the campaign of ‘Waqt News’ Relief Camp in which they appealed to the nation for donating their budget of entertainment and new clothes for the flood victims. B.G has already established relief camp out side her home in Gulberg and she is committed to go the affected areas with many trucks of relief goods.

In a 'market' economy, the highest status belongs to those who have acquired the most. In a Gift Economy, the highest status belongs to those who have given the most. But important is that the gift must always move. This idea was recently popularized by the terrific little movie called Pay it Forward. Every gift is its own reward, but that reward is multiplied, without limit, when the gift, or any gift, is passed along to others. A story is a gift. Blogs are gifts. Ideas and insights and teaching and counsel are gifts. Conversations are gifts, Hugh MacLeod.

The concept of a giving and receiving gifts is as old as society itself. It has always been there in one form or the other. People in all civilizations have been having the pleasure of exchanging gifts in order to establish social relationships and strengthen existing ones or rulers would give away large amounts of goods to their followers (still do in some monarchies) or rich people give away things of value for the collective benefit of the public. Only the forms have kept changing over time.

When people give to one another, freely and without conditions, sharing their blessings with others and bearing each other's burdens, the giving multiplies and we receive far more than what was given. Even when there is no immediate prospect of return, Allah Almighty keeps accounts of all the giving, and in the end blessing will return to the giver, multiplied manifold. All religions advocate that humans should participate and give (back) some of what Allah the exalted has bestowed upon them, in what ever way possible. Have you heard the famous proverb, "Give till it hurts."

Another reason perpetuating giving is that human beings have an instinctive drive to vie for social status; it is wired in by our evolutionary history. For the major part of the history that ran before the invention of agriculture, our ancestors lived in small nomadic hunting-gathering communities. High status individuals, those who were more assertive and could persuade others to follow them, got the best of every thing, and provided more for the followers.

The drive for status expresses itself in different ways, depending largely on the degree of scarcity of goods. "Defining success by what one gives rather than what one has" is neither a new practice nor an overly idealistic view. It is rooted deep in history and human nature, and is more basic than wealth or money. Remember, in hunting societies of the past, the hunter's status was not determined by how much he killed or how much of that he consumed, but rather by what he brought back for others. Lewis Hyde in his book 'The Erotic Life of Property,' writes, "In a gift economy, status is accorded to those who vie and give the most to others."

This phenomena gives rise to a discipline called Gift Economy. As per the definition, "Gift economy is an economic system in which participants give away things of value to the shared benefit of the community." In the present era, the scientific research, intellectual and creative work and the Internet are practical forms of gift economy. A scientist produces research papers and gives them away to other scientists, through research journals and conferences. The other scientists freely refer to the earlier scientists' research findings. The more citations the scientist has, the more standing and respect he has. All of the scientists benefit from an accumulation in the body of knowledge anywhere in the world. Although research is being increasingly commercialised these days, giving away of findings still remains the most efficient method of solving common problems within a particular scientific discipline.

Similarly, intellectuals, philosophers, creative writers and artists spread their work across the world. Despite the obscurity of the modern version of the gift economy, every one benefits from the original work and the creators earn credence in return.

Coming onto the Internet, the open source software is best example of a gift economy in this cyber age; with information being one of a major resource. Programmers make their software as well as source code available to the end users and programming community and anyone can use it as well as modify and or improve the code. Individual programmers gain prestige and respect, and the community as a whole benefits from better software. The open source has been one important factor for the Internet to grow over about three decades. Now what millions of Internet users are doing? They are giving each other information and that is the nature of transaction on the Internet. The Internet is moving towards more than a new kind of marketplace and a new medium for exchanging money. The medium may lead to a radical change in the nature of money itself one day. Many researchers and economists have already predicted that money as we know today is due for a sweeping change. Concepts like alternative currencies and local money are being researched and propagated. Though some of these efforts predate the Internet, but modern Internet aficionados see the Internet as a vehicle for accelerating the changes that earlier have only been predicted as a fancy idea.

Gift economies co-exist with command economies, market economies and barter economies. Given the practices, next may be the move toward sustainable business and to make the business itself a gift to society. The first step toward a sustainable sense of success is taking pride in the value of contributions to others rather than taking pride in the value of personal possessions. This means striving for quality in the use of whatever power we have rather than working to get more power over others as an end in itself. In this view, economic profit and affluence may help us to contribute, but they do not themselves amount to be business success.

While the exchange economy may have been appropriate for the industrial and post industrial age, the gift economy is coming back as we proceed through the information age.

Tags: Gifts, Society, Economy, East

Besides sharing the wrenching loss of loved ones, homes, possessions, farms, livestock, livelihoods, and businesses, many of Pakistan’s millions of flood victims also seem to have another loss in common: their faith in government and its ability to help them. More than a score of those displaced by the raging flood waters in the hard-hit northwestern district of Nowshera, some 90 miles west of Islamabad, told Paula Bronstein today that they had received no aid from the government, nor any visits from officials in the more than two weeks since they were driven from their homes. Read the story here.

By MARTHA C. NUSSBAUM

On February 27, 2002, the Sabarmati express train arrived in the station of Godhra, in the state of Gujarat, bearing a large group of Hindu pilgrims who were returning from a trip to the purported birthplace of the god Rama at Ayodhya (where, some years earlier, angry Hindu mobs had destroyed the Babri mosque, which they claimed was on top of the remains of Rama's birthplace). The pilgrimage, like many others in recent times, aimed at forcibly constructing a temple over the disputed site, and the mood of the returning passengers, frustrated in their aims by the government and the courts, was angrily emotional. When the train stopped at the station, the Hindu passengers got into arguments with Muslim passengers and vendors. At least one Muslim vendor was beaten up when he refused to say Jai Sri Ram ("Hail Rama"). As the train left the station, stones were thrown at it, apparently by Muslims.

Fifteen minutes later, one car of the train erupted in flames. Fifty-eight men, women, and children died in the fire. Most of the dead were Hindus. Because the area adjacent to the tracks was made up of Muslim dwellings, and because a Muslim mob had gathered in the region to protest the treatment of Muslims on the train platform, blame was immediately put on Muslims. Many people were arrested, and some of those are still in detention without charge — despite the fact that two independent inquiries have established through careful sifting of the forensic evidence that the fire was most probably a tragic accident, caused by combustion from cookstoves carried on by the passengers and stored under the seats of the train.

Living in the fat lane life, everyone (OK almost everyone) needs to know  how to drive. You just can’t move around much without this skill that has become a  ‘basic need’ in this age.  In addition to lifestyle and a need, learning driving is a freedom. Wise thing is to learn driving at early stages (in life when law permits), pass the test and have a license.

Thanks to Driving School in Calgary that they offer  different driving programs and refresher courses including Class 5 Basic Driving Course (15 hrs of in class training and 10 hrs driving training), Insurance Reduction Course (15 hrs of in class training and 6 hrs driving training) and Brush Up Course (2 Hrs or more, if required).

Those who are in Calgary and Airdrie and are looking to start driving training must have a look at Canadian Professional Driving School and see what they are offering and how. Best thing is the professional approach of the expert trainers at Driving School in Calgary that can instil diving sense  required for safe driving. Approach them (Call : 403 984 3344 Email : info@canprodriving.com) and leave rest to them. They will make you safe and efficient driver in a short time.

I was in my village where I saw what flood is doing to people living on the bank of River Jhelum. Here are some images collected from all over by my friends Pervaiz Alvi and Zafar Iqbal Durrani. (thanks to both) They tell some of the stories what flood is doing to the people of Pakistan, particularly those living along the rivers. As per the reports, some 2.5 million people are affected by flood 2010. There are no conclusive estimates of the loss of property and lives yet. 

By Rao Dilshad Hussain

Today Pakistan is suffering from worst floods in decades in which millions of people have affected and still they are missing while hundreds among them have lost their lives and business. It was the right time to look after the flood victims by the government and other effective welfare organizations. Politicians should mobilise the nation for helping the victims but unfortunately politician whether they are from the ruling parties or opposition parties are seeming very busy in point scoring regarding the President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit of Britain because of having floods in the vast parts of the country and the Prime Minister David Cameron’s derogatory statement regarding Pakistan during his visit to India.

After Cameron’s statement not only opposition parties but also government’s major ally Altaf Hussain also suggested to the president for abandoning the UK’s visit. As a matter of the fact the President Zardari’s had to visited France and UK that both tours were decided earlier as it’s not so easy to manage the trips of the heads of the states. It was the need of the hour he should have to call off particularly UK’s visit.

So in fact there was no need to criticise his UK’s visit as it was done. Particularly those like Nawaz Sharif who has great many assets in UK. Firstly he should bring back his money back to the country then he should boycott the UK and he should never go there but actually after every two or three weeks Nawaz Sharif frequently visits to UK to look after their business and various other matters as well while Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also has to go there for medical treatment once in a month.

President Zardari always faces criticism and has to victimise if anything happens in the country. This time also critics behave in the same manners. He just started his official visit to France the critics once again seemed in action and both tours were highly criticised and political leaders and critics started blame game and many baseless allegations imposed on him in terms of expenditures. So after receiving criticism he decided to visit UK privately.

Sunday plus strived to analysed President Asif Ali Zardari’s dual visits in which prior he left the country for France and then he arrived London on 3rd of august and started his five days private visit.

Comparatively in his official tour to France President Zardari was received zealously. He reached there few entourages like Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Bilawal Bhutoo Zardari. During this visit Zardari met his counterpart President Nicolas Sarkozy in which Zardari had talked to enhance the cooperation in every sector particularly bilateral relations, Defense and Economic assistance as well.

As a matter of fact that France is a prestigious ally of Pakistan and it always provided financial assistance to Pakistan even during humanitarian crises. Now French Foreign Minister has assured that Pakistan always would be on the top priority to assist in flood like situation and various economic issues were also resolved.

While visiting France President Zardari urged the western world to make the economic assistance possible because Pakistan’s economy had to suffer a lot due to war on terror and floods. He stressed that world should focus to empower the people of Pakistan then would have to watch out from the non state actors. He emphasised that should step forward to make the possibilities of activation of civil nuclear agreements with Pakistan to meet the energy crises.

Ultimately it was a successful visit and zardari was managed to achieve set objectives. The visit was achieved milestone when Pakistan and France were both agreed to establish the Joint Economic Commission that would be addressed the issues of food, agricultural, economical and under this commission France will train the nurses and Pakistan would be able to export them to the UAE.

During this visit France also assured to expedite the pledged payment that was promised in Tokyo‘s meeting of friends of democratic Pakistan’s platform. The establishment of the joint economic commission was really a milestone for the country because right now nobody including America wants to empower the people of Pakistan but huge amount of money is being wasted for accomplishment of the their own agendas by the western world.

Everybody trusts on India while Pakistan has to take the loss of hundred of lives and billions of dollars. But everyday many more speculation present as Pakistan is assisting the terrorists but in fact Pakistan had to bear great many losses due to so called war on terror. Pakistan has paid a huge price for this war. During this visit President Sarkozy promised to visit Pakistan in near future.

After the successful visit Zardari left the France for UK on 3rd of august for his five days private visit despite the reservations of the opposition because of the Cameron’s gaffe statement in which he said that Pakistan would not be allowed to export the terrorism while visit of the UK was already decided months ago but because of the Cameron gaffe that he made during his visit to India and because of the derogatory remarks of the Cameron everybody including opposition parties are criticising President Zardari’s trip to UK and they all urged that this visit should be cancelled because Pakistan is suffering from many crises and despite of sacrificing a lot of lives and finances during the war against terrorism even then world leaders are not acknowledging the Pakistani services for this war. Everyday Pakistani spy agencies have to face baseless allegations and that is why in protesting one of the influential spy chief Shuja Pasha had to abandon his trip to UK.

Zardari wants to address the people party’s activists in Birmingham where bilawal also had to addressed his maiden speech. This was the main reason to keep the tour continue and zaradri sab wants to get popularity at any cost. He addressed to more than seven thousand activists. This is the mind set. So this tour proved that he wants to prolong his party politics and keep alive himself in the minds of the activists. During his joy trip he also met the cabinet ministers and many other legislators.

It is the gravity of the time that at this moment every official should have to be here in with the flood victims and the trips could be shortest and may be arranged next time. .But seeing the non serious attitude of the rulers during floods it seems that the people of Pakistan are not the priority of the rulers. Rulers always have the sympathy wave for the people but just in the speeches particularly during election campaigns.

After getting into powers they don’t want to address the masses’ issues then they just focus to strengthen their political heirs as President Zardari did in his visits. Millions of public finances are being wasted during the joy trips and organising political shows but for helping the flood victims rulers are looking down upon towards the donors. Though it is too difficult to meet the floods but presence of the rulers among the masses can be over come their grievances.

To-ing and fro-ing, at time zigzagging, in Punjab introduces to wonders and legions of what may be called middle ground of cultural fusion of the present Punjab. The area is gold mine for history seekers, spiritual and curious travelers. You may find much more than what you hear or read. It pays to get out into the countryside and talk to ordinary people. People of the area are eager to help – on their own expense - when you ask anybody. One finds volunteer 'guides' who were forth coming with wealth of information.

Situated near Mong, Chillianwala is a historic village that played an important role in the history of the South Asia. It was a battle ground where British and Sikh forces fought one of the decisive battles in the history of the Subcontinent in 1849. The quiet village has not changed much since then. Only slowly old agricultural methods are changing and tractors and wheat threshers are seen in please of bull driven ploughs. Painted double story houses are coming up where used to be conventional mud houses. Land is excellent with record carrying capacity and the display of seasonal crop is very powerful.

The Battle fought in the fields of Chillianwala (not to be mixed with Jallianwala Bagh massacre) was possibly the turning point for the British. Had the British lost to the Sikhs on January 13, 1849, it is difficult to see how they could have sustained their hold over the Subcontinent.

Oddly, both the British and the Sikhs consider Chillianwala as their victory. The Sikhs say it was their victory because they broke the British force and the myth of them being invincible, who were forced to retreat. The British did retreat, but three days after the battle. The British admit that had the Sikhs realized they had the advantage and continued the battle after fighting ceased at night, they would have overrun the British who were exhausted, seriously depleted, and in unfamiliar terrain. As it was, six British regiments lost their standards at the battle. The Sikhs instead celebrated victory; three days of incessant rainfall prevented them from crossing suddenly-flooded irrigation drains and streams, and the British, picking themselves up, marched away in reasonable order. Since the Sikhs appear to have disengaged first, the British claim the victory.

Of the Sikh forces, history knows little, except that the British estimate of 30,000 enemies was significantly exaggerated. The Sikhs had little if any superiority to the British force of 13,000. The artillery was about equal, 60 guns to each side. The British handling of their artillery was much better than that of their opponents, and this was a winning factor in all the battles for the Punjab. The Sikhs were led by Sher Singh Attariwala, and were deserted by some of their allies such as the Rohillas, and the Dogras under Colonel Stienbach, a former employee of the Sikh government, who turned coat to fight for the British.

The British were led by the 70-year old Lord Gough, a fiery fighting general who was replaced despite the victories. Blame for the high casualties seems to be one reason. The list of military disasters which the British suffered in India is long, but most of these were rationalized by British military historians by highlighting situational factors which made British defeat certain and inevitable and was in many cases due to circumstances involving overwhelming numerical inferiority, excessive battle exhaustion, adverse weather and terrain.

The Battle of Chillianwala is, however, one odd exception and stands out as a battle in which the British failed to defeat their opponents despite having the advantages of weight of numbers, ideal weather and terrain and superior logistics. A succession of British military victories since 1757 barring few exceptions like Battle of Pollilore (September 10, 1780), Siege of Bhurtpore (1804-1805), Monsoon's Retreat (1804), Kabul Brigade's Retreat (January 1842) which were dismissed as exceptions (to the general rule of "European Superiority) by virtue of exceptional numerical or other odds; it was assumed that no native army of India, Nepal or Afghanistan could stand a determined bayonet charge by the Red Coats. A feeling of superiority was produced accompanied by the natural attitude of over confidence and rashness, and most British commanders felt that simply a direct march to the sound of guns and a simple frontal assault using "Cold Steel" was enough to disperse any native army however tough or well trained. The use of maneuver and the fact that a British army could ever be surprised was dismissed as impossible. Thus once the British suffered a rude reverse accompanied by heavy casualties despite having all the advantages; public opinion in Britain was shocked.

British Army despite a high European troop component, sufficient artillery, and two heavy cavalry brigades to ensure that no one could surprise them, little campaign exhaustion having fought no major battle since assumption of hostilities, winter weather negating the possibility of heatstroke and cholera the worst killers of white soldiers in India, failed to defeat the Sikhs. Which is why Chillianwala stands out as a battle which changed Indian perceptions about British military effectiveness? The damage done at Chillianwala to the prestige of British arms was enormous and played a major role in changing Indian attitudes about the British. Though defeat at Chillianwala was forgotten soon enough and Gough again became a hero. Thanks to "angling" by the British historians.

In fact, the Sikhs did ask for a ceasefire and for terms after the battle, because they could see their end was near. Their requests were rejected; thirty-nine days later, the Battle of Gujrat was fought. The Sikhs lost. Those who were captured were killed; those who still refused to surrender were hunted down and killed. Of course, what happened to the defeated Sikh army was nothing compared to the wholesale atrocities inflicted by the British on Muslims during the war of Independence of 1857 and the civilians who happened to get in the way, but that is another story. After Gujrat, the vast area passed from the heirs of Maharajah Ranjit Singh to the sons of John Company, and ten years later, to the Imperial crown. At Chillianwala the Sikhs offered the fiercest resistance; yet, once defeated, they willingly entered British service, becoming, along with the Gurkhas, among the Empire's most faithful servants.

Nothing is left of the history on ground now. The only sign right on the Kharian-Mandi Bahaud Din Road side is a British cemetery, commonly called Gora Qabristan, outside the village. Among the dilapidating graves, stands tall memorial Obelisk, like an obelisk built at Killa Kohna Qasim Bagh in Multan, and a Cross in the memory of those British who were killed in the Battle. The boundary wall of the cemetery too is falling apart and is used by the villagers for drying dung cakes. The children are seen playing Gulli Danda – local cricket in the parameter.

Nearby, there is an ancient banyan tree where busses plying on the route stop and from where villagers, oblivious of the past history of the place, board the overloaded busses to go to the town for exchanging commodities. The Union Council can hardly be expected to take care of the memorial or the historic graveyard. May be some one should think of preserving the past relic. It is part of our history.

The ionic counter point is the lack of attention in maintaining the bits and pieces of unique heritage. The neglect may be attributed to lack of awareness, education, coordination between authorities, economic constrains and or simply the natural hazards. There is a need for information in the form of travel guide writing, pure travel journalism, travel book writing and geographical description in form of maps. No ordinary coldness of phrasing can express the surprise and delight, with which one makes acquaintance with the sites. Their perspective gives you a wonderful sense of being there.