Postive Side of 16th December
My last two posts about fall of Dhaka made me cynical, reading and discovering about the things happened 35 years back did remind me the things which our elders would have faced at the time of partition. Adil Najam’s Hum Key theray Ajnabi reminded the fall of Dhaka in a very different way, an attempt to extract something positive from the darkness of the tragedy. Frankly speaking, it happened only thrice when I felt that tragic incident. First when I was in college and used to read Suspense Digest and Jasoosi Digest. I read a story by Dr.Sajid Amjad which was actually a love story between a Bengali student and a non-Bengali professor. Second time when I heard ‘Hum k Therey Ajnabi’ sung by Nayarra in a TV drama by Dr.Anwar Sajjad. Third time when I spent 3/4 days to know the real story behind this fall so that I could make a post for this blog. How much I am successful to find out truth, only Allah knows.
16 December of this year was a different than past. Our cricket heroes tried to give smile to their fellow Pakistanis by defeating their opponents. Yesterday Pakistan National Cricket Team defeated West Indies by 7 wickets and won the series by 3-1 but the more sensational news was that Pakistani Blind Cricket Team defeated their rivals India in World Cup final and retained their first position. This is really great news, infact more than great! The picture in Today’s Dawn did bring smile on my face that our both cricket teams have given a wonderful gift to our nation on 16 December which might be helpful to heal old wounds.
First of all I hate this term “Blind” for cricket team. I don’t know why but it sounds offensive to me. For me they’re not blind, it’s just everything is black for them and black is also a color. Who says they are blind? Unlike people who can see, they are able to light a candle of determination and self-believing. I think they are much better than those who have eyes but still unable to see anything and keep following the path of ignorance and arrogance. I wish someone come up with some respectable word for “blinds” just like we use “Special people” for disable person.
The success stories by both teams make me realize that if they can achieve something on 16 December then why not me, why not you? Is it not possible that instead of regretting whatever happened in past which caused the lost of part of our homeland, we try to give SOEMTHING to our remaining homeland by doing something for its people? Khalil Jibran says something very classic in Sand and Foam:
Forgetfulness is a form of Freedom
Remembrance is a form of Prison
If we try to forget the negatives of this tragic incident and move on then what‘s the problem? I don’t say you just IGNORE that incident because those nations who don’t learn from their past always whine and blame others hence they get failed. Our own nation is one of the biggest examples of such mentality. If I try to interpitete the first statement then it reminds me Japanese nation who just didn’t give up after the nuclear war neither they forgot. Instead of they used that accident as a motivational factor and utilized all of their strengths to develop their country. The world witnessed that how same Japan ruled over the world and made USA dependant on their products. So Instead of whining about past and others mistakes, if every Pakistani gets determined to do something on 16 December which could make difference in someone’s live then I think it would be the best way to pay Kuffara [price] of our past mistakes. It’s not necessary that you achieve something in your respective fields; you can do various things which could result something good for your fellow Pakistanis. For Instance don’t like on 16th, Work hard and with sincerity in your office. Help some old person to cross the road, cleaning your area roads etc etc. You can do various things which you think would be easy for you; the main objective should be ‘I have to help Pakistan, I have to help Pakistani’ so that you can also give smile to your fellow Pakistani(s). What’s wrong in it? When our blind Pakistani fellows can give smile to a person like me who is able to see then why can’t we do something for those who are sad, leading miserable life and disabled?
Since I am talking about blind people, it also reminds me that what have we done for special Pakistanis? I myself is in field of computer engineering and I personally don’t see much development or work for blind people who are willing to join I.T Industry. I always read posts by Dr. TV Raman who is associated with Google and unable to see. He’s the live example of courage and his efforts told the world is that “SEEING IS not BELIVING”. He often shares his experiences about his daily life usage of computer and related technologies. Few of his posts can be read here and here. You can also see a video by him that how Google could be handy for blinds.
We’re already far behind in the field of I.T. Working for blinds and special people in the field of I.T sounds something impossible in Pakistan. I can’t speak on the behalf of other professions but yes in I.T there is a lack of interest to use IT skills for the betterment of Pakistanis or Muslim Ummah. Here guys work hard to earn money or just act like Lakeer k Faqeer that they don’t bother to try something on their own, in short, there is no concept of R&D in Pakistani IT Industry. My attempt to make MSN based Quran is a recent example of what I actually want. I would be several time less talented than you and would be earning infinite times less than you but it doesn’t matter here, the thing which matters here that how you can use your skills to help your people, after all it’s your responsibility and duty to utilize your skills for the betterment of your country men otherwise you’re just being a selfish soul. Now one could say that I am being nationalist by discussing Pakistan or being a Muslim fundamentalist to work for Muslim Ummah only. My friend, if I am able to do something for my own people then I will also be able to do something for outer world. When you cook something new, you first share it with your family members rather outsiders because you know that if something goes wrong, they would still appreciate you and give you courage for 2nd attempt. If you just try your dishes on outsiders then there are chances that they curse you for bad cooking and you give up.
Anyways, back to the topic that we have to bring this tragic day a brighter day for ourselves and for our people. In short we should follow what Jews do today. They work hard in their respective fields but they also don’t forget to contribute for Israel. I really love such attributes by Jews. They do what was ordered to us by Allah and you see the results, they rule over USA. A Jew regardless of his location tries to contribute for Israel cause. They do follow modern trends, infact they set trends for others but they also have not forgot the message given by their rabbis thousand years back. On other side, we try to become modern and come out of pajama.
I hope my scattered words have made some sense, If not then ignore them. I also expect that overseas Pakistanis who have NO such excuse of limitations they could face in homeland could utilize their skills for the betterment of Pakistan rather earning dollars and being a preacher for Western society for people back in home. Look sending lots of remittances is not like helping people of your country. Even a jahil village man can send money back to his mother after working hard. You need to be a different then them. I wish some intelligent person try to understand my message and try to implement it. I would try my best that I would also follow what I just said and will be a helpful soul for my country and for my Ummah.
Image Credit: AFP via Dawn
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