Reliving Memories
Tuesday, 27 May 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 @ Tuesday, May 27, 2025,
,
Be alone. It's peaceful.
Labels: Chasing Life
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, May 26, 2025,
,
If wishes were horses
Bola Rehre Wala
Setting eyes on Maqbool and his mule cart for the first time, one could be forgiven for thinking that he belongs to a working class endeavoring for survival. His shabby dress and toes peeping out of slippers too large for him, do not project an image of a contented and happy man who is fond of good animals and racing.
I first met Maqbool, commonly known as Bola Rehre Wala, at the Multan Railway Station where he works from 6 am to 9 pm every day, no holidays. He takes all the newspapers and magazines arriving at Multan Railway Station from all over Pakistan to various newspaper agencies in the city. He also takes with him any other load he may find on the Railway Station if he is free and his mule is 'willing'. He earns six to eight hundred rupees daily out of which two hundred rupees go to the diet and care of his mule.
Read more »
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, May 26, 2025,
,
Pain shapes character; it can either silence the soul or roughen the edges.
Labels: Chasing Life
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Sunday, May 25, 2025,
,
Chakwal: Capital of Salt Range and Potohar Plateau
Discovery of fossils, tools, coins, and remains of ancient archaeological sites give enough historic evidence about Soan civilization and its continuity in Salt Range and Potohar Plateau
. The people, colourful landscape, lakes, hill ranges, flora and fauna are sufficient reasons to explore the land that is largely off the beaten track and one does not see many backpackers in the area.
. The people, colourful landscape, lakes, hill ranges, flora and fauna are sufficient reasons to explore the land that is largely off the beaten track and one does not see many backpackers in the area.
Some of the world history has started from this region. The first residents of the land we now call home were Stone Age people in the Potwar Plateau. They were followed by the more urbane Indus Valley (or Harappan) civilisation which flourished between the twenty-third to eighteenth centuries BC. Some of the earliest relics of Stone Age in the world have been found in the Potohar region, with a probable antiquity of about 500,000 years. The crude stone implements recovered from the terraces of the Soan carry the account of human grind and endeavours in this part of the world to the inter-glacial period. The Stone Age men produced their equipment in a sufficiently homogenous way to justify their grouping in terms of a culture called the Soan Culture. Around 3000 BC, small village communities developed in the Potohar area and began to take the first hesitant steps towards the formation of society.
Labels: Chakwal, Salt Range and Potohar Plateau
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Sunday, May 25, 2025,
,
Fear is only a thought.
Labels: Chasing Life
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Saturday, May 24, 2025,
,
Mandi Bahauddin
The name Mandi Bahauddin originates from two sources: Mandi (market) was prefixed because it was a flourishing grain market and Bahauddin was borrowed from the nearby old village Pindi Bahauddin, which has now become part of the town. After the partition, thousands of refugees from India were rehabilitated on the evacuee property of Sikh and Hindu landlords. Lately, after the construction of Rasul Barrage, people from the belt along the southern edge of Salt Range up to Pind Dadan Khan and other areas across the River Jhelum have been settling in the town. Due to migrations and an increase in business activities, the town has expanded in all directions. The result is that more than half of the population is living outside municipal limits without any civic amenities. More unplanned localities and kachi abadies are coming up every day. The tendency to move from rural areas to urban centers is on the increase.
Labels: Travel
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Saturday, May 24, 2025,
,
"If you don't know AI, you're going to fail. Period, end of story," Mark Cuban (Entrepreneur, Investor, billionaire)
Labels: AI, Chasing Life, Information Technology
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, May 22, 2025,
,
Salt Range
The Salt Range derives its name from extensive deposits of rock salt. It stands as remnant of forts with bastions and temples. Exceptionally, this region maintains an almost continuous record of history that can define the evolution of society. Forts and temples surviving along the range are a reminder of how untouched many of the ancient remnants are. Alexander from Macedon came to this range twice: one from Taxila and later once his forces refused to go any further from the banks of the River Beas. From here he marched towards the Arabian Sea on his way to Babylon. And, now an NGO is constructing the monument of Alexander near Jalalpur town in the foot of the salt range in district Jhelum.For those who take their first chance to the area, the landscape all along the Salt Range is rock-strewn, lacking in softness and loveliness. In many parts, it becomes barren and uninviting. But, in truth the range is dotted with historical wonders, romantic legends, archaeological remains, and varying geological formations. Surroundings are very quiet. Urial is also found in the range though facing extinction. A journey along the range is exiting as well as informative.
Labels: Jalal Pur, Salt Range, Travel
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, May 22, 2025,
,
“Hostility towards Pakistan is the quickest route to national unity in India,” Barack Obama.
Labels: Chasing Life
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, May 21, 2025,
,
Calling Abdalians
Comfortably tucked in green hills north of Islamabad, Hasan Abdal is situated right on the Grand Trunk Road. The town's claims to fame are Cadet College and temple of Panja Sahib. This small and clean historic town neat is sacred for Sikhs.Hassan Abdal is famous for its cadet college and also serves as the gateway to some most stunning sites in Pakistan. It is from here that Karakoram Highways turns towards Northern Areas. It is a convenient halting point of Grand Trunk Road (G T Road) from where one can go to places like Abbotabad and Northern Areas, Peshawar, Taxila, Wah, Rawalpindi. Coins of the Greco-Bectrians kings discovered from the adjoining tract suggest that the area was inhabited in first century B.C. Accounts of Xuan Zang, a seventh century Chinese Buddhist traveler tells us that the place was also sacred to Buddhists. However, presently the town is associated with Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion and Baba Wali Qandhari, a revered Muslim saint.
Labels: Hasan Abdal, Panja Sahib, Travel
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, May 21, 2025,
,
"This sin is enough for you (that) you are always arguing."
Labels: Chasing Life
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, May 19, 2025,
,
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ العَظِيم
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Saturday, May 17, 2025,
,
Changing Chitral
{This is an old article when I was stationed in Mirkhanni, Chitral} Picturesque Chitral town sits up in Pakistan's northwest district, walled in by the Hindu Kush range. During winters, the only way in is by air (weather permitting) as the two passes, the 3118-meter Lowari from Dir and the 3810-meter Shandur from the upper Gilgit Valley are closed to road traffic. The Fokker Friendships drone for 50 minutes and burst through clouds on descent to reveal on mountains covered with whitecaps and red tin roof houses.
This is Chitral. On the small airfield, the cold wind thrusts you to shiver. The remoteness of the district has left it undeveloped in spite of its grand natural beauty, hospitable people, and ancient history. The town is a base camp for tourists, adventurers, and researchers from across the world. And, people seem to be living there in peace.
Read more »
This is Chitral. On the small airfield, the cold wind thrusts you to shiver. The remoteness of the district has left it undeveloped in spite of its grand natural beauty, hospitable people, and ancient history. The town is a base camp for tourists, adventurers, and researchers from across the world. And, people seem to be living there in peace.
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Saturday, May 17, 2025,
,
Anything a man loves, he takes care of. Remember that.
Labels: Chasing Life
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Tuesday, May 13, 2025,
,
Gogera Sadar
Situated on the bank of river Ravi on Okara Faisalabad Road, Gogera (Sadar) was once an important and dignified town in the plans of Central Punjab. It is reduced to a shabby and sleepy suburb of Okara today. Town still boasts its importance when it was British power centre and district headquarters from 1852 to 1865 and the part played by the resilient people of the area during War of Independence in 1857. The stories of the war that was fought around Gogera echo in the pages of history books.
The only historic building — a British court — that reminds of the colonial period has been converted into a school. The verandas of the old building with round arches have been clogged to create additional rooms and red thin bricks are covered with coats of whitewash. It was much better if the building could have been conserved in its original shape. That does not seem possible now.
Labels: Gogera, History, Travel
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Tuesday, May 13, 2025,
,
Blessed are those who find a life partner with whom they can be their authentic selves, sharing their thoughts, feelings, and lives openly and without reservation.
From whom they don't need to hide anything.
Labels: Chasing Life
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, May 12, 2025,
,
The Decline of Urdu Newspapers
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 @ Monday, May 12, 2025,
,
اَللّٰهُــمَ صَّــلِ عَــلَى مُحَمَّــدٍوََآلِ مُحَمَّــدٍ
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Sunday, May 11, 2025,
,
Abbas Khan in Sabaq-e-Urdu
Labels: Abbas Khan, Books, Fiction, Literature, Urdu
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Sunday, May 11, 2025,
,
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 @ Saturday, May 10, 2025,
,
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.
Labels: 55 PMA, Men At Their Best
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Saturday, May 10, 2025,
,
Timeless Tribute to Potohar's Rich Heritage
Thursday, 1 May 2025
Heartfelt congratulations to Naeema Arshad and Arshad Awan on the launch of their remarkable book, "Forts of Potohar." This labor of love, born from seven years of meticulous research and exploration, is a testament to their unwavering dedication. By visiting 20 forts and uncovering centuries of history, they've crafted a masterpiece that celebrates culture, civilization, and art. All credit to this dynamic duo for their teamwork, from writing to organizing a memorable launch.
With inspiring words from Dr. Shahid Amjad Chaudhry, Rector, Lahore School of Economics, Dr. Shahid Siddique, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Media Studies, Arts, and Design, and Rabia Nadir, this book launch became truly special.
The forts of Potohar hold a treasure trove of history, brimming with architectural brilliance and strategic ingenuity. During my service, I was fortunate to visit some of these historical strongholds (a cross-country walk from Tilla Jogian Field Firing Ranges to Rohtas is one of the best and most picturesque), and I remain captivated by the brilliance behind their locations. These fortifications, strategically scattered across the Potohar region from Attock to Jhelum, showcase the ingenuity of their builders, who skillfully utilized natural defenses, elevated terrains, and tactical advantages. Each site was meticulously chosen, guided by critical factors such as natural barriers, river crossings, defensive postures, and the need for surveillance. This combination of considerations rendered these sites ideal fort locations, offering both strong defenses and control over trade and commerce.
The elevated positions of these forts were pivotal in their effectiveness. From commanding heights, defenders gained clear vantage points to detect enemy movements early, giving them ample time to prepare for any threats. The rugged terrain, marked by steep slopes and rocky outcrops, posed significant challenges for advancing adversaries, deterring siege equipment and rapid assaults. From these heights, defenders could unleash projectiles with devastating precision, enhancing their defense and resilience.
Beyond their defensive roles, these forts played a vital part in shaping the socio-economic fabric of the region. Situated near key trade routes, like Attock Fort on the Indus River, they regulated commerce, collected taxes, and ensured safe passage for merchants and travelers. Overlooking fertile lands, these strongholds secured agricultural resources and contributed to regional prosperity. Forts such as Rohtas and Rawat served as symbols of authority, maintaining law and order while sheltering surrounding settlements, thereby strengthening governance.
These elevated structures also formed an essential communication network. Through smoke signals, beacons, or messengers, forts communicated warnings and coordinated defense strategies swiftly and effectively. This system facilitated rapid troop mobilization and enabled a unified approach to regional security, interconnecting the forts into a cohesive network.
The fortifications of Potohar, exemplified by Nandna, Rohtas, Rawat, and Attock, embody a profound understanding of the region's geography and security needs. These structures were far more than defensive outposts—they were pillars of stability, ingeniously designed to create a secure and interconnected landscape.
Once again, I extend my warmest congratulations to Naeema Arshad and Arshad Awan. May their literary journey continue to flourish, and I eagerly look forward to their next masterpiece.
When is the next book coming off the stone?
Labels: Books, Forts of Potohar
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, May 01, 2025,
,
Fading romance of writing letters and greetings
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 @ Thursday, May 01, 2025,
,
