Memories Of Iranian Revolution And Ayatollah Khomeni

Long time back,my mind wanders. I used to be in People's Medical College, Nawabshah hostel ,in my teens. I used to listen to Ayatollah Khomeini on Paris radio and did not really know what it was all about but then I was always interested in current affairs,history,world politics. I remember my roomate, a Bahai student who lived in Karachi, telling me about the Shah locking up Mullas in Iran and street demos in Teheran. Then came the revolution. By this time I had struggled for a migration to Karachi and was in Karachi.The revolution seemed like a far fetched adventure story. No sides taken. Really could not understand anything at the time.Then the Khomeini magic took hold for some time as his speeches became available in Karachi with urdu translations.I used to read the pamphlets in cheap ,low cost paper. I was always fascinated by his speeches. So many years on I look at the fascination to revolution,maybe youth was the driving force. Now revolutions seem such a waste of human energy! No need for bloodshed,then again do humans really understand the futility of imposing their experimental ideas on others!

How true when Allah says in His Book " Do not force religion or righteousness, it is only We Who give guidance" ( contextual qoute). when I look at these self centered power hungry,ignorant so called religious scholars I am amazed at their arrogance ! The Ayatollah was never like that. He was truly a great man, a leader who could judge the mood ,the pulse of the people.The Shah was despotic, who had made himself king, thinking as if this was really true. went out at the last minute.

So many years later the other mullas of Iran have become like the Shah, despotic, thinking that they have a right to hold on to power no matter what the cost. Iran has to move forward. The students have to study. The dogmatic,tyrranical edicts have to go!

Iran found Ayatollah and moved to a new aspiration and way. It will find its own way . It is a beautiful, dynamic nation. It will find its own momentum. No Mullas or Shahs can hold it back and it will find its own glory,does not need western civilisation to dictate it any way!

Achieving Goals ;one step at a time

I was always so frustated when things such as mobile snatching,purse snatching,physical violence,sexual harassment,sexual assault happened to people,especially women,but they could not find any help or even a "listening ear".I first worked towards becoming a member of WAR, an organisation which is working in the field of assault,sexual violence,rape and domestic violence for the last twenty years.As I live in defence area of Karachi, I always wanted that there should be a crises center for such complainents and victims here as happens in Canada, where you can contact support groups and crises centers.This opportunity arose ironically and unfortunately, After the white toyota criminals went beserk and were finally arrested by police. the police called a meeting with residents and it was seen that the ordinary folks even when they are so influential ,rich and also powerful are totally helpless in facing such crimes as they have no confidence in police and there are no crises and support centers.I have worked on this for the last one week and managed to form a crises and support core group for defence residents.I have had a meeting with the home minister in this regard, thanks to a political PPP MPA,whom I met at a a rally against these criminals. So if you really want some thing done for an honest purpose,people will help you, whether they are political or non-political.I managed to form this group and spread the word through to the residents via a newsletter.This will be a crises core group of its kind, unlike the commitees appointed by government which never work.I will keep you posted on its formation,activities,aims and objectives,teething problems.Today I have managed to enlist four activ women who will work in this group, as I was the only one yesterday.
The idea is appealing to the residents but they had no idea as to the mechanism. I have to stick to the goals and Godwilling will be able to proudly show you the work in near future.

Cognitive training can alter the biochemistry of the brain

Cognitive training can alter the biochemistry of the brain

New Year Resolutions...climbing up the peak!

Hey guys, just wanted to all the young and young at heart older ones! Buck Up! I had an accident and the hidden injury surfaced after months. Then I was bed ridden for one and a half months . When I got up, could not even stand for 20 seconds and could not even straighten my back. Thanks to my new year resolutions , I started excercising, including water excercises and lo and behold....I can stand straght, without stick! So enthusistic was I that I took part in a protest by women yesterday for giving security to women by police and administration in Defence ,Clifton ,Karachi. So, all you guys and gals get up and start excercising. Get yourself fit.Start making daily chores,priority list.
Stick to your short term goals and keep doing things to achieve long term goals. If you are sincere, God will help you. And never forget those in need. Always learn to lead a fulfilling life. If you are a housewife and cannot give much time,look after the poor people working for you. Give charity in regular ways,kidney center,TB center, Educational foundations. SADA welfare in NICH Karachi is one such project working with TB, blood bank, medicines for very poor and deserving children. If you cannot give large contributions always save and give small ones.
Pakistan Education Foundation is another such project. Always find out on internet about the institutions you are likely to give charity to. See that they are registered. You can give zakaat too.
The patient's welfare association of DOW Medical College is also a deserving association. The Imran Khan Cancer Hospital is also deserving.
One thing one needs to understand that nothing big needs to be done, always start small,something you can do and if you have enough passion and commitment ,things will grow.

In the end keep smiling!

The Ostrich Attitude

The Pakistani society is amazing in its variety of prejudices,dogmas,stigmas,and most of all ostrich like behaviour.Here we take pride in ignoring the weakness, tyrranies,injustices and always try our best to brush important issues which make or break  a society under the carpet. By burying our heads under the sand, we think no one will see us.Here are some issues we especially love to hide ;

• Rape,incest,sexual abuse.These are taboo subjects, if it is happening then just ignore and avoid. Never help a victim. In fact ,shun and ostracize the victim. Take doppatta on heads and start reciting the holy book and nothing will happen to us. The victim and her family if it is poor are especially not likely to be believed. God is only with the holy, virtous, not with poor, depending on your alms and help. I especially despice these nowadays typical upper middle class ladies of defence, who have started the religious teachings as a fashion, yes  I say a fashion .Their mentality of Ostrichism ,deriding the disadvantaged,passing judgements without knowledge and magnanimoty,will never change. Their half baked ideas about religion,badly read opinions, and un- knowledgable fatwas reek of ignorance and arrogance,which The Islamic God so hates.Their male counterparts are a confusing, despicsable mix of pretentious religiosity,virtuosoty,confused modernism, yet rightist behavior. Usually these guys will do adultry,incest, rape at the first instance.
• Then there is the nouvau rich or in pakistan fuedal ,landed bastards. They are ace actors in rape, incest ,sexual abuse and physical violence. for the religion, education, morality, nothing seems to work. They are truly Maader Pidaar Aazad or in other words bastards of the worst kind. They roam about freely on roads with blackened windows of their Prados,Corrollas,their servants and guards pimping for them ,supplying girls, kidnapping people for ransom, raping and looting freely,unscared of the police or administration. These people usually become more active when elected governments come into power, thinking that nobody will catch them as they are in power. Usually they do not understand that the martial forces are around the corner when things get bad.And God is watching.
• Then there are ordinary folks who do not know where they stand , they think that the issues which evolve public debate ,legislation, solving are not to be discussed and if any NGO is working in this field, they are unIslamic. As if the prophet( peace be upon him) did not stand for the rights of the oppressed, the poor, the underprivileged,the needy, the mazloom(oppressed) and especially women. They think that by compromising we can pass this life in peace. Oh how ignorant and stupid they are.When the boat sinks everyone sinks!
  

The society in general made these issues redundant ,accusing the persons who discussed or brought them out as Pariahs. In the end we have these  issues eating up our entire fabric and we do not know what to do.I think it is high time we put our cloaks aside and take our heads out of the sand and discuss these issues threadbare. Only by discussing,debating,finding solutions,sympathising with the victims, and empowering the vulnerable groups through legislation and laws will we be able to be counted as civilised. So far we  are worst than PIGS. God only helps those nations or people that are fair and just, those who treat its old,infirm,disadvantaged and women and children with fairness love, care and respect.