Three Tales by One Traveller: Tale One

SUPPORT

The life is never easy. That we all know but it is even more difficult for those who are bent on making it less easier for themselves. I was the one who always shied away from the most obvious paths (they may not be the easiest but undoubtedly were the most obvious). Consequently, I have tasted quite a fair share of disappointments in my life. And I can't claim to be the all conquering hero of fantasy land who takes all these disappointments in his stride and continues moving towards the ultimate aim. I must confess...I was quite a broken man when I joined National University, FAST. And a quite hopeless broken man on it...so life was tough as they say.

and it will live on....always a survivor

But then we don't know what fate has in store for us. I tried my level best not to enter this campus which was like a horrible dream for folks like us who shied away from hard work. It was elite, it was focused, it zeroed in on rewarding only hard work, it was proud.....it was not for me.

But again the fate brought me here. And I toiled here like I never did before. I learned and succeeded in realizing many of my dreams here. I eventually passed out from this wonderful place completing my doctorate studies. I was given due recognition, respect and sense of self esteem. But those are not the things this blog is about. This blog is about my lessons that I learned about what "support" actually means.

Here, I learned what it means to be a true teacher. There were teachers who left options abroad to come here and teach us the way anyone can imagine the best teacher in the world to deliver. They never expected anything from us in return. That was the support for me. Here I got my mentors. The ones who understood me, realized me, nurtured me and taught me. They not only taught me what I paid to the university for, they also taught me the real essence of being human. They taught me qualities like dedication, commitment, honesty, dignity and honor. They taught me to shape me as a human. They protected me. I can never forget those who sacrificed their nights for my mornings. That was the support for me. I am indebted for that to my mentors like Dr. Aftab Maroof, Dr. Anwar M. Mirza, Dr. Rauf Baig and many others. That was support for me.

And then there were friends. The folks who helped me when I was desolate. The ones who stood with me when I was standing alone. Who made me work. And who worked with me on my work. Who helped me getting my first job. Who helped me getting my first algorithm understand. Who laughed with me and wept with me. That was support for me. People whose number I cant count but some among them include Dr. Arfan Jaffar, Dr. Ayyaz Hussain, Dr. Amjad Iqbal, Dr. Abdul Basit, Dr. Sajid Anwar, Muhammad Nazir, Naveed Iqbal, Dr. Hassan Mujtaba, Dr. Abdul Rauf and countless others. That was a support for me.

And yes....the university taught me that ultimately, it is fun to work hard....it pays when you need the most. That was the support for me. My lessons in support were learned. Support is not to hide your crimes. Support is not to close your eyes on every negative that your friend commits. Support is not the omission and commission. Support is the strength that you give to a person to become a "human" worthy of its existence. I am proud to be FASTian to have learned this lesson.

اک سفر تمام ہوا....اک حیات باقی ہے....If only I could Tell You

کیونکہ اب میں بھولنے لگا ہوں

وقت کی ایک اپنی رفتار اور اپنا رنگ ہوتا ہے.زندگی کے ساتھ چلتے چلتے کئی سنگ میل اے اور گزر گئے. وقت نے ان میں سے کئی پر اپنی گرد اسس طرح سے چھوڑ دی ہے کہ اب خود بھی پہچاننا مشکل ہونے لگا ہے. شاید وقت نے اپنے اثرات ہم پر چھوڑنا آخر کار شروع کر دیے. اور میں شاید خوش قسمت بھی ہوں کہ ان اثرات کا ادراک ہونا بھی شروع ہو گیا ہے. آج جب ایک بار پھر حکم سفر جاری ہونے لگا اہے تو سوچا کہ کچھ تصویر بتاں، کچھ حسینوں کے خطوط اپنے ماضی کی پٹاری سے نکللوں. کچھ مشفقین، کچھ دوست، کچھ خوشیاں اور کچھ رنج ، جو مل کر وہ سب کچھ بناتے ہیں جو میں آج ہوں یا کل ہوں گا. یہ یادیں کسی اور کی نہیں بلکہ میرا اپنا عکس ہیں. گزرتے وقت کی دھندلی پرچھائیوں میں اپنے عکس کو پہچاننے کی ایک کمزور سی کوشش. کیونکہ اب میں بھولنے لگا ہوں. وقت مجھ سے آگے بڑھنے لگا ہے

So I am going to start a three part series. "Three tales by one Traveler". This series has three themes; Support, Courage and Hope. This series will chronicle two of my past journeys; One through FAST National University, One Through UIIT at Arid Agriculture University and an upcoming Journey; through Foundation University. During this upcoming journey through the hazy alleys of my past and my future, I shall attempt to chronicle the events that made me what I am and the events that I hope will make me what I shall be tomorrow.

So let the journey begin with a melody from Yanni, "If I could only tell you". Because

تمام عمر وہی قصّہ سفر کہنا

 کہ آ سکا نہ ہمیں اپنے گھر کو گھر کہنا

Steve Jobs: A life lived well....a job accomplished to perfection

Jobs...A job to perfect

Steven P. Jobs, the charismatic technology pioneer who co-founded Apple Inc. and transformed one industry after another, from computers and smart phones to music and movies, has died. He was 56.

Apple announced the death of Jobs — whose legacy included the Apple II, Macintosh, iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. He had resigned as chief executive of Apple in August, after struggling with illness for nearly a decade, including a bout with pancreatic cancer in 2003 and a liver transplant six years later.

Few public companies were as entwined with their leaders as Apple was with Jobs, who co-founded the computer maker in his parents' Silicon Valley garage in 1976, and decades later — in a comeback as stunning as it seemed improbable — plucked it from near-bankruptcy and turned it into the world's most valuable technology company. Jobs spoke of his desire to make "a dent in the universe," bringing a messianic intensity to his message that technology was a tool to improve human life and unleash creativity. "His ability to always come around and figure out where that next bet should be has been phenomenal," Microsoft Corp.co-founder Bill Gates, the high-tech mogul with whom Jobs was most closely compared, said in 2007. In the annals of modern American entrepreneur-heroes, few careers traced a more mythic sweep. An adopted child in a working-class California home, Jobs dropped out of college and won the title "father of the computer revolution" by the age of 29.

But by 30 he had been forced out of the company he had created, a bitter wound he nursed for years as his fortune shrank and he fought to regain his early eminence. Once out of the wilderness of exile, however, he brought forth a series of innovations — unveiling them with matchless showmanship — that quickly became ubiquitous. He turned the release of a new gadget into a cultural event, with Apple acolytes lining up like pilgrims at Lourdes.

This brief video chronicles the life and history of a man whom generations of IT professionals will remember as beacon of vision and strength. A life lived well....a job accomplished to perfection

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