A very happy Eid to all

The times are tough...we as a nation are facing crisis after crisis. We are in the middle of some very unfortunate times due to our own wrong interpretations of life and due to the mindless, cruel and stupid follies committed by our leaders...But let us all pray that this passing month of Ramadan has taught us the true value of tolerance, humility, humanity and charity...and let us pray that this rising moon embodying the dawn of Eid ul Fitr brings with it countless blessings, opportunities and peace for all of us and our coming generations. I pray that, we in Pakistan live to learn with each other in harmony and tolerance. Many many congratulations everyone on this auspicious day. Eid ul Fitr Mubarak. Let us celebrate

Today is the day Steve: Unfortunately, that day has come

No words to describe what Steve Jobs means for many amongst us who live our life daily in the technology world. He has been our source of inspiration for whatever he did and whatever we do. Simply there are no words. You will be missed Steve for not being the chief executive of Apple inc. anymore.

Just look at how clear and vibrant he has been all his life and how thoughtful he was on this emotional day. This is the letter he wrote to the board of his company:

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

The legend, The Charmer, The ultimate DIVA of subcontinent...Nazia Hassan being remembered today

Nazia Hassan — an icon of the Pakistani music industry — rose to fame with the song “Aap Jaisa Koi Meri Zindagi Mein”, which she sang for an Indian film titled Aap Jaisa Koi. Hassan was introduced to Aap Jaisa Koi director, Feroz Khan, by Indian-British songwriter and composer, Biddu, and after that there was no turning back. Hassan won a Filmfare Award for the Best Female Playback for this film and later her association with Biddu enabled her to produce her debut album titled Disco Deewane.
From the 15-year-old in ponytails (as seen in one of the videos) to a girl with wavy hair and strikingly good looks in her later years, Hassan was the rising star of the 80’s. She and her brother Zoheb, produced phenomenal songs and out of the box videos; something that nobody had thought of in those early days of Pakistani pop music.
Hassan was a breath of fresh air during General Ziaul Haq’s time, when it was banned to screen women dancing and singing on television. Despite these hindrances, her very first album was a hit, turning her into a celebrity who soon earned the title of the ‘Sweetheart of Pakistan’. Uzma Mazhar, a journalist says, “Making a mark in the world of entertainment during General Zia’s era was not a very easy goal to achieve. Only Nazia Hassan’s music could do it.” She was able to release four albums titled Disco Deewane, Boom Boom, Hazan and Young Tarang during this time. Hassan was the playback singer for eight Bollywood films but it was Aap Jaisa Koi and Star that really added to her fame. Terming her as an extraordinary singer, Amna Raza, a banker says, “There was a time she played a pivotal role in our lives from making the best music to showing posh, youthful videos that served as catharsis in their own way.”
The theme of masquerade parties that she introduced in “Ankhen Milane Wale” was a completely new concept for the Pakistani audience. Whereas, “Dum Dum Dede” was based on the concept of fortune telling and fairytales, with Hassan portraying the role of Alice from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Alice was written under a pseudonym of Lewis Caroll). Both these themes were again very new to the media-deprived Pakistani viewers of the 80’s. Uzma Mazhar, a journalist says, “She positioned herself in such a way that today Pakistani music has gained recognition by working on those same lines.”
However, Hassan’s fifth album Camera Camera was not a hit amongst the masses and the brother-sister duo failed to receive the acclaim they were probably hoping for. It was after this that Hassan took a step back from singing and focus more on her personal life. She married businessman Mirza Ishtiaq Baig in 1995 and gave birth to her son Arez in 1997. The young star contracted cancer and passed away in 2000.
In 2002, she was conferred with Pride of Performance and in 2003 her family started a charity organisation under her name.
Hassan’s larger than life aura still looms over the music industry and is deeply embedded in her fans who can’t seem to forget the artist. Ahmed Haseeb, another one of her fans, directed and produced A Music Fairy: A Tribute to Nazia Hassan in 2007. The documentary was screened at Kara Film Festival in 2009 and won an award for the Best Documentary at the festival.

I once read this comment under one of her songs about a year back and I still have it written with me. It said while comparing legendary Hassan to modern day international pop divas " And it gives me real laugh that the world is listening to Mily cyrus and christina aguilera and Tylor swift etc. This lady was like miles miles ahead from them. And to every one's amazement, this is her real face. its not corrected with nose job or chin lilft etc. Pakistan is strange place. People just emerge from the dust and touch stars without any institutional support. May your soul rest in stars forever."

Here is this one for you Nazia. May you live in eternal peace. You gave our nation many reasons to smile.

جشن آزادی مبارک ..... میں بھی دیکھوں گا .... تم بھی دیکھو گے

ہم نے ہر سال اپنا جشن آزادی منایا ہے مگر شاید کبھی بھی یہ سوچ کر نہیں منایا کہ خدانخواستہ یہ ہمارا آخری جشن تو نہیں؟ اور یہی اسس قوم کی سلامتی کی نشانی ہے. ہمیں اس ملک پر، اس کے وجود پر، اس کے جواز پر یقین ہے اور یہی یقین انشااللہ اس ملک کو قائم رکھے گا. بلا شبہ ہم میں بہت خامیاں ہیں. ہم بد عنوان ہیں...سچ بولنے سے ڈرتے ہیں...طاقت سے خوف کھاتے ہیں...ہم نے اپنے مذہب کو اپنی پسند کے مطلب دے دیے ہیں اور آج ہم پوری دنیا میں اپنی پسند کے مذہب کے اکیلے ٹھیکیدار بن چکے ہیں. مگر ہمیں یہ یقین ہونا چاہیے کہ یہ خامیاں ہمارے خمیر کا حصّہ نہیں ہیں. ہم بنیادی طور پر ایک بلند مقصد کی حامل قوم ہیں. ہمارا عزم بلند ہے. ہماری نیّتیں صاف ہیں. ہم برداشت اور ترقی کے سفیر ہیں. ہم انسانیت کے عظیم ترین پیغام اسلام کی حامل قوم ہیں. ہم جئیں گے...عزت کے ساتھ جیئیں گے... اور سب کو جینے کا راستہ بھی دکھائیں گے. ہم نے مایوسی میں بہت وقت گزارا ہے مگر وہ بھی اسس لیے کہ کی گروہوں کے لیے ہمارا مایوس رہنا بہت منافع بخش ہے. مگر ہم مایوس کیوں ہو؟ اگر صرف ہماری صاف نیّت، عزم بلند اور یقین مستحکم ہو تو ہمارے مایوس رہنے کا تو کوئی جواز ہی نہیں رہتا. ہمارا سفر تو ابھی شروع ہوا ہے. بہت ٹھوکریں لگیں گی...بہت رکاوٹیں سامنے آییں گی... مگر...اگر ثابت قدمی سے چلتے رہے تو....میں بھی دیکھوں گا....اور تم بھی دیکھو 

گے....انشااللہ

Strings with "Mein to dekhoon ga" specially for this independence day...Many many congratulations Pakistan