No rules: Just walk.
Labels: Chasing Life
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Friday, January 31, 2025,
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Mir Chakar Rind
Wednesday, 29 January 2025
An old, sleepy and tranquil village Satghara lies about 80 kilometers from Lahore (20 minutes drive away from Okara) in the quiet backwaters of the Punjab. The coins found at Satghara prove that the place was inhabited at the time of the Kushan dynasty. The rule of Kushans was one of the most decisive periods in the history of the Subcontinent. At the height in the second century (A.D.), Kushans ruled from Oxus to Ganges and yet their influence spread beyond even these frontiers. On the southern bank of the Ravi, it is a typical Pakistani village where farmers live like rustics in the face of urban attractions. Though off the beaten track, it has never been out of limelight. Besides heritage conscious travelers from all over the world, Baloch leaders and contemporary historians visit the hamlet. Reasons: it is a "Tukia Nawab Chakar Ki" - last resting-place of Mir Chakar Rind. I see part of our history buried here whenever I have a look at it. And when I was stationed at Okara Cantt, I did it often.As per one account, Mir Chakar Rind came to this village with seven families, hence the name. Another legend has it that the village was named Satghara because it was destroyed seven times by floods. Shah Abul Mo'ali, descendant of sixteenth century saint Muhammad Ibrahim Daud-e-Sani Bandgi in his book 'Maqamat-e-Daudi' maintains that Satghara was known by the same name even before the arrival of Mir Chakar Rind. In Baloch history, the sixteenth century was a very eventful period. Baloch fought series of wars amongst themselves. The result of these tribal conflicts not only caused large-scale bloodshed but also resulted in their mass migrations to the Punjab, Sindh and Gujrat (India).
Labels: Baloch, Mir Chakar Rind, People, Punjab
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, January 29, 2025,
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Note to Self - 2025
Monday, 27 January 2025
No complaints.
No expectations.
No explanations.
No emotions.
No opinions {just observable facts}.
No assumptions.
No self-pity (playing victim).
No unsolicited advice.
No gossip (that is backbiting).
No small lies.
No big lies.
No narcissists and negatives
Walk more than 10,000 steps every day.
And limit screen time (and online discretion).
Who can live within these boundaries?
Labels: Chasing Life, Real Life
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, January 27, 2025,
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Imam Musa Kazam (A.S)
Sunday, 26 January 2025
Labels: Chasing Life
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Sunday, January 26, 2025,
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"When you part ways, part tongues."
Labels: Chasing Life
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Sunday, January 26, 2025,
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Romantic Gujrat
Saturday, 25 January 2025
This article appeared in the Daily The News
Pass the River Chanab and one starts thinking of romantic folklore Sohni Mahiwal, the last and decisive battle fought between British and Sikh forces. These saints left their marks in this part of the world, micro encephalic children called 'Daulay Shah k Choohay' (rats of Shah Daula) or world class industries that are Gujrat’s claims to fame. But what you see while travelling on Grand Trunk Road passing through Gujrat is the nerve jarring rattle of auto rickshaws, tangle of tongas and donkey carts vying for space with mechanical transport, vendors and shoppers and second hand cloths (landa) hung on the walls. Even the lately built bypass is as crowded and encroached upon.
Read more »Labels: Gujrat, In Print, News, Travel
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Saturday, January 25, 2025,
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Mothers are alchemists, all of them
Friday, 24 January 2025
Mail to a mother after she attended a parent-teacher meeting...
I know today's teacher meeting was tough to hear, and it's natural to be worried about your daughter's performance. But please don't be too hard on yourself or Emaan. Children learn at their own pace, and A levels can be challenging.
You know that setbacks are a part of growth. Emaan is lucky to have a mother like you who cares deeply about her education. I am saying this sentence knowing what your grandmother (totally illiterate) did to me and all your uncles. I could sail through, whereas my brothers could not. Do you know what my mom used to say until her last day? I should have done more. I should have done more.
Instead of focusing on the current grades, let's work to create a plan to support Emaan in improving her studies. You could create a study schedule and make her sit in front of you and make her study. Everything is possible. Yes, everything is possible.
Remember, your daughter's success is not defined by one set of grades. She has so much potential, and she can achieve her goals with patience, guidance, and support.
Be an alchemist, a mother, and a role model, Let me once again be proud of you.
Love you, Father
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Friday, January 24, 2025,
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I don't care who I lose anymore, as long as I don't lose myself again. I'm good.
Labels: Chasing Life
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, January 23, 2025,
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Shared applications
This article appeared in Daily the Nation
The advent of shared applications is a new way to meet some or almost all aspects of information technology (IT) needs. Concept of application service provision has come a long way since it first came on the scene in the late 1990s. Hi-tech developments and changes at a fast rate are moving towards convergence of the software, information, technology carriers, and computer engineering. Result: IT structural designs are shifting from desktop and mainframe environments towards Internet based structures. Similarly, software applications are altering from made to order and separately owned solutions towards pre-packaged and Web based solutions. It is in this context that ASP business model is getting more interest as a hot trend.
IT business model that offers end users – small and large businesses, government organizations, non-profits, and membership organizations even individuals -- an access to applications and services over the Internet is known as application service provider (ASP - not to be mixed with Active Server Pages. It also is an abbreviation of as soon as possible). It is sometime called software-as-a-service, on-demand computing, apps-on-tap or utility computing.
Read more »Labels: Business, In Print, Information Technology, Nation, Technology
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, January 23, 2025,
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Shifting Lahore
Wednesday, 22 January 2025
Once the best address in Lahore was “the Lahore Fort,” now it is “the Defence. Only in past few decades, Lahore has grown rapidly (doubling in size in last ten years) to become an impressive cosmopolitan metropolitan. From a walled city — the posh locality of the time when Mughal Kings, Princes and Princesses used to roam about there, Lahore has grown into new localities like Defence Hosing Society and beyond. Though promenading along the canal, between the Mall Road and the Jail Road, shining in pristine glory at night through the heart of city,Main Boulevard or the Mall gives an idea of architectural style, prosperity and aesthetic sense of its citizens but it does not give all.Lahore’s urban expanse has expanded into adjoining suburbs and has consumed many villages and agricultural land. The expansion, unplanned at that, has converted Lahore into a city where all civic amenities are over burdened left with no more carrying capacity. And a plethora of city development agencies, LDA, WASA, TEPA, WAPDA, PTCL, the Lahore Horticultural Authority, the Cantonment Board, the Model Town Society, the Defence Society, MCL, and District Administration (and more) with overlapping and ill defined roles and no body to oversee and coordinate their work, seem helpless to do any thing for the worsening plight of its residents. The officials of different departments blame every thing on lack of funds and lack of co-operation from other departments or accept the problems as hazards of urbanization,” say a political activist.
Read more »Labels: Lahore
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, January 22, 2025,
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Socially yours
Tuesday, 21 January 2025
In the first place, why do I register on different websites on the Internet, and why should you do it too? To stay tapped into what is happening in the cyber world and also what is not and to do some more things. Internet users want to access Websites to browse, post their own random or focused thoughts in weblogs, subscribe to a couple of USENET newsgroups of interest, avail of required services on offer, posts resume on a job, or maybe bio on matrimonial services sites, shops online or simply use Web-based email services. All users must do is register and cough up some personal information in the process. Not a big deal!
Big deal is that personal information spread fast on the Internet. Result: email Inbox privacy that is one of today's most sensitive and intricate issues affecting nearly everyone – individuals, businesses and Internet systems alike. Clued-up users who are in know of the matters want to protect their email inboxes though beginners or those who have lots of free time on hand usually do not care until later. Majority of the Websites first ask users to register and give some personally identifiable information including email address so that they can reach out potential customers and people with particular interests. "Over 90 percent Websites ask visitors to register," as per an estimate, for those 'great benefits' -- full use of the Website, membership to certain services or communities, subscription to newsletters and alerts and more.
Read more »
Labels: Social Media, Social Networking
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Tuesday, January 21, 2025,
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Where I Get My Supply of Salageet (Shilajit)
Monday, 20 January 2025
Some places are so peaceful and unspoiled that it is almost unbelievable. One such locality is the picturesque, tranquil, and pollution-free (and undeveloped) border village Arrandu in district Chitral. The very sound of the name is musical. This village is located 'on' the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Dir-Chitral Road bifurcates near the village Mir Khanni and a jeep-able track along Kunar River leads to Arrandu through Domail Nisar and into Afghanistan.
Gateway to South Asia, the Chitral valley has been the center of activity since ancient times. Macedonians advanced through this region in the fourth century. In 1338, Timur subdued the area on his way to the plains of Punjab. Mughal King Akbar garrisoned here in 1587 and the British in 1897 in Chakdara on Dir side of Lowari Pass. Young Winston Churchill was among the soldiers who served here in Chakdara, who later became Britain's Prime Minister. So far about the past importance of the valley, the little hamlet got international fame during Soviet occupation in Afghanistan. It remained in the news and was commonly called as 'BBC Baby'.
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, January 20, 2025,
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Good manners, strong ethics, and gracious silence are essential virtues that bring dignity and respect to any individual.
Labels: Chasing Life
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, January 20, 2025,
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Emoticon impact
Friday, 17 January 2025
This article appeared in Spider.tm
The idea of graphically depicting human emotions is not new. BBC claims that “the original smiley was created in 1964 by commercial artist Harvey Ball.” Russian writer Vladimir Nobaokov, who authored Lolita, answered a question in 1969 and was quoted by Scott E. Fahlman as saying, “I often think there should exist a special typographical sign for a smile—some sort of concave mark, a supine round bracket.”
Labels: In Print, Information Technology, Spider
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Friday, January 17, 2025,
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Texting
Thursday, 16 January 2025
We are living through texting times. It is time when the surgeon performs a life-saving surgery in Africa with instructions texted from a friend in London, the trucker crashes into a pool because he was texting while driving, the 15-year-old girl wins 50,000 for texting – in a championship, the Finnish author writes an entire book in text messages, the teenager girl falls in a manhole while texting, the Brit woman sets the record for world's fastest SMS texting, the man sets the world record for the most text messages sent in a month – over 180,000, the two men get a $26k bill trying to set a text messaging record, the girl sends 200 messages to help Haiti, the mobile company tries to set the record for world's fastest texting while skydiving and more, when Christian Lander, author of Stuff White People Like predicts that “there is a good chance that all great stories in the twenty-first century will be told via text message and when books like Texts From Last Night: no one remembers sending are creating waves.
Share your revealing, funny, substantial, and engaging text messages in the comment section here. I will publish them while concealing the identity of the sender and or receiver.Read more »
Labels: In Print, Nation, Technology, Texting
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, January 16, 2025,
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Abbas Khan in Sabaq-e-Urdu
Tuesday, 14 January 2025
Labels: Abbas Khan, Books, Fiction, Literature, Urdu
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Tuesday, January 14, 2025,
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Fading romance of writing letters and greetings
Saturday, 11 January 2025
The sense of financial, social or personal insecurity has blemished the traditional joy and excitement associated with Eid ul Fitr this year. The series of terror attacks, skyrocketing inflation and the sluggish economy have changed even our cultural landscape. Result: Like many cultural hallmarks of festive days, the old tradition of buying greeting cards and sending them to friends and family member seems to be fading away.
Exchange of greeting cards plays an important role in display of love, affection, emotions and nearness. In our society, it has been an established tradition to send greetings on Eid days as well as on occasions like birthdays, marriages, charismas, New Year, on passing exams just to name a few.
Labels: World Post Day
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Saturday, January 11, 2025,
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Let things be, don't force anything.
Labels: Chasing Life
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Friday, January 10, 2025,
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Reliving Memories
Thursday, 9 January 2025
This article appeared in Daily The Nation
There are lessons in the first landscapes of every one's life. Mine is a vista of green paddy fields, smoking with Salt Range mist, against a setting of ribbon of River Jhelum which from distance looked like a shore of another land altogether. The rough, rugged hill range appears very inviting against a sky withering with the morning, interrupted by the dawns’ red and blue brush strokes. My first learning in life is also rooted in my village.
There are lessons in the first landscapes of every one's life. Mine is a vista of green paddy fields, smoking with Salt Range mist, against a setting of ribbon of River Jhelum which from distance looked like a shore of another land altogether. The rough, rugged hill range appears very inviting against a sky withering with the morning, interrupted by the dawns’ red and blue brush strokes. My first learning in life is also rooted in my village.
In rural areas, people still live without accessible roads or other civic amenities of this modern age that are taken for granted in the urban areas. No telephone or the Internet, (in our village) even electricity is a recent phenomenon; so many villages are still without it. You see one village and you have seen all. This was the setting where I spent the first twenty years of my life savoring the freedom of adulthood. It is where I decided what (and how) I wanted to do with life. It is where my mother, brothers, and friends live. It is where I return whenever my active life allows me to. It is where I want to settle and spend my future.
Read more »Labels: In Print, Nation, Traditional Culture
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, January 09, 2025,
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Forever doesn't exist...
Labels: Chasing Life
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, January 08, 2025,
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Khalid 4 and beyond
When I joined 55 PMA Long Course, I landed up in K-4. Rest is all history. And good thing is that Brig (Retd) Jalal Hameed Bhati has documented the history and published it – a yearlong hard and meticulous work. Result is that I am reliving history (and contemplating why I did what I did and how life took me on unknown path). I feel as if it is all about me. I am sure other platoon mates will be feeling the same way.
I will offer my comment after I read the book that I got today (Thanks to Nauman Siddiqui). Let me add that this is not military history but personal memorabilia that reflects upon comradeship and association of about four decades. Also, this kind of work is first of its nature in the history of the Pakistan Army. No other platoon or even a course has been documented this way. This will give a lot to the family of 55 PMA and the next generations.
Thanks Jalal HB, tuse waqiae great ho.
Labels: 55 PMA, Men At Their Best
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, January 08, 2025,
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Hari Yupuya to Harappa
Research by Sonia Saleem
Harappa or “Hari-Yupuya” as mentioned in the “Rig Veda” marked the height of urban development of the Indus valley civilization at 2600 B.C.E till 1900 B.C.E. for 700 years. Harappa is located in the present day province of Punjab, near Gogera, and in its full glory was the perfect prototype of a fully developed city of the Indus valley civilization. It was the perfect reflection of the kind of organized thought which the Rig Veda emphasized. [Wheeler, Kenoyer].[go over page 25 at the end].
Harappa has the same humble beginnings as any other large city. It began as a village settlement, gradually growing over the centuries to accommodate renowned craft industries, world accessible markets, and clean residential areas and cemeteries. Harappa is 128,800 hinterland, and 150 hectares in area. Harappa city was so developed and central to the Indus Empire that the name Harappa became synonymous with the dominant culture at the time, followed by all the other cities in the Indus region, right down to Kutch on the coast in present day India. [Rehman, Kenoyer].
Read more »Harappa or “Hari-Yupuya” as mentioned in the “Rig Veda” marked the height of urban development of the Indus valley civilization at 2600 B.C.E till 1900 B.C.E. for 700 years. Harappa is located in the present day province of Punjab, near Gogera, and in its full glory was the perfect prototype of a fully developed city of the Indus valley civilization. It was the perfect reflection of the kind of organized thought which the Rig Veda emphasized. [Wheeler, Kenoyer].[go over page 25 at the end].
Harappa has the same humble beginnings as any other large city. It began as a village settlement, gradually growing over the centuries to accommodate renowned craft industries, world accessible markets, and clean residential areas and cemeteries. Harappa is 128,800 hinterland, and 150 hectares in area. Harappa city was so developed and central to the Indus Empire that the name Harappa became synonymous with the dominant culture at the time, followed by all the other cities in the Indus region, right down to Kutch on the coast in present day India. [Rehman, Kenoyer].
Labels: Travel
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, January 08, 2025,
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Celebrating Abbas Khan – a story writer
Tuesday, 7 January 2025
Abbas Khan is one of the moist celebrated story writers of our time. His other published work includes three novels and seven short story books (Zakham Gawah Hain, Tu Aur Tu and Mein Aur Umrao Jan Ada (novels), Dharti Binam Akash, Tensikh-e-Insan, Qalam, Kursi Aur Wardi, Us Adalat Men, Jism Ka Johar (short story books) and Reza Reza Keenat and Pal Pal (afsancha -- shortest story books) and a philosophical compilation Din Mein Charagh.
Though there are many in Pakistan, both in English and Urdu languages, with claims to be masters of the fiction writing, what makes Abbas Khan the standout by a distance is that his is no ordinary story writing. One only calls it such as a matter of convenience, or perhaps for wan of an expression capable of summing up his piece in one work. In effect, what Abbas Khan gives you is substance that goes far beyond a fiction piece, for he just doesn’t write about social issues and society. Each of his story is a free flowing specimen, with most knowledgeable description of dreams, wishes, culture, vision and yes, love woven into the story - and in language that is fluent and crisp, and also at places containing a fair dose of humor and sarcasm. The work that he presents turns most of his work into literary masterpieces.
Read more »Labels: Abbas Khan, Books, Fiction, Literature, Writers
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Tuesday, January 07, 2025,
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Anything a man loves, he takes care of. Remember that.
Labels: Chasing Life
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, January 06, 2025,
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Almost famous
Excuse me, Jalal HB writes this:
My friend SAJS is very nostalgic about his past – his childhood days when he would jump in the canal flowing next to his village, like all others kid of his village did in the summers. He would watch children playing pebbles, a favourite game in the villages, or perhaps he also joined in and bagged all the pebbles from others (or perhaps lost all of his own and went sobbing home).
When he grew up, he was put to the village school that was the day when a writer was born far away in a small village near Mandi Bahauddin. He would often write small words on the sand, which probably made a theme for him to write a book later in his literary life. He had a passion for reading and writing since his childhood, I would say and this is what reflects from most of his posts. Perhaps for this reason, he loved writing letters and sending eid cards to his friends and family when he moved out of his village for higher education. In one of his recent posts, he has expressed his love for these greeting cards and has also displayed a greeting banner I once drew and posted on the notice board of our academy where we both happened to be undergoing training.
Read more »
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, January 06, 2025,
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Fog in Lahore
Winter in sprawling Lahore spells horror for thousands of residents. Not because of cold but due to the phenomenon of smog. Let your gaze roam over the cityscape while standing on top of the Yadgar-e-Pakistan and one finds how the skyline of the minarets and domes looks dark and sad against the clouds of thick smog.
The fog is triggered by temperature inversion -- the formation of a static layer of cooler air close to the ground as the nighttime temperature drops. Normally, air closer to the ground is warmer than the air above it, and therefore rises. Inversions are frequent on winter nights after the ground has cooled down so much that it begins to chill the air closest to it often causing mist to form as water vapor precipitates on dust particles. Normally the morning sun swiftly breaks through the mist and heats the ground, which warms the air above it, breaking the inversion.
Read more »The fog is triggered by temperature inversion -- the formation of a static layer of cooler air close to the ground as the nighttime temperature drops. Normally, air closer to the ground is warmer than the air above it, and therefore rises. Inversions are frequent on winter nights after the ground has cooled down so much that it begins to chill the air closest to it often causing mist to form as water vapor precipitates on dust particles. Normally the morning sun swiftly breaks through the mist and heats the ground, which warms the air above it, breaking the inversion.
Labels: Environment, Lahore
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, January 06, 2025,
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Going back to nature
Saturday, 4 January 2025
This article appeared in Pakistan Armed Forces' Monthly Magazine Hilal (Urdu section) in July 2011 issue.
Labels: Environment, Hilal, Housing, In Print, Urdu Blogs
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Saturday, January 04, 2025,
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‘Blogocracy’: Tri-city UnConference Lahore Camp
Pakistan blogosphere is growing fast. Thanks to the Second the Annual Pakistan Blog Awards and the series of tri-city UnConferences aimed to bring leadership to Pakistan’s New Media voices that the awareness is also growing. Pakistani bloggers now have a very loud voice in this din. Latest, presentation of awards and UnConference session (last of the series ths year) held in Lahore on Jan 4, 2012 in FAST is a testimony to how blogs have become mainstream. In the UnConference, the group of able panelists, who seemed to be in know if the new opportunities being presented by social media - highlighted the role of blogs in all fields of human activities while most of the audience live streamed every thing discussed there. Here are my suggestions for effective and intelligent blogocracy (read democracy) in a very local context:
Labels: Fine Art of Blogging
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Saturday, January 04, 2025,
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The Decline of Urdu Newspapers
Friday, 3 January 2025
Urdu newspapers have long been a staple of Pakistani media, but their quality and relevance have been declining in recent years. While the majority of Pakistani readers still consume news in Urdu, many newspapers struggle with poor design, cluttered layouts, and a lack of engaging content.
One major issue is the excessive use of advertisements, which often dominate the front page and inner pages. This makes it difficult for readers to find the content they are looking for, such as opinion pieces or feature articles. Additionally, the ads themselves are often poorly designed and cluttered, further detracting from the overall reading experience.
Another problem is the lack of innovation in the design and layout of Urdu newspapers. Many newspapers still use traditional formats and styles, even though digital technology has opened up new possibilities for more engaging and visually appealing content.
Urdu newspapers need to change if they are to remain relevant in the modern world. Editors and designers need to prioritize quality content and user experience over advertising revenue. They should also embrace new technologies and formats to create more engaging and visually appealing newspapers.
Ultimately, it is up to readers to demand better quality newspapers. By expressing their dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs, readers can encourage newspapers to make the necessary changes.
Urdu newspapers have a lot of potential, but they need to modernize and improve their quality if they are to survive in the long term. By working together, readers and publishers can create a new generation of Urdu newspapers that are both informative and engaging.
I urge all Urdu newspaper readers to take action and demand better quality newspapers. Let your voice be heard and help to bring about the change we need.
Labels: Print Media
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Friday, January 03, 2025,
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Hazrat Ammar Bin Yasir (RA)
Thursday, 2 January 2025
Labels: Companion of the Prophet (PBUH)
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, January 02, 2025,
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Blog in haste, repent in leisure
The Internet is a newer platform characterized by a large, open, public network where people interact with people worldwide without any barriers like geography, culture, age, social class, or gender. It is unlike the real world, where people with their own identities come together face to face. Online, users are a little less perceptive about their identities.
Labels: Fine Art of Blogging, Information Technology, Online Identity, Privacy
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, January 02, 2025,
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