The Woes of Pakistan- Part 1

To me Pakistan is a lonesome,rebellious child on the sorry map of Asia.Constantly bickering with India,turning to the US for every small whim and fancy and trying to subdue its half mongreal subjects.Truly a country bessotted with in-house politics and international conspiracies.But one can't totally blame Pakistan for this sad affair.Its long standing position in Asia as an intermediator of organised terrorism and a safe haven of terrorists has further aggrevated its problems.The actual problem lies in its civil administrative and foreign policies.The whole Bhutto-Zia -Sharrif-Musharaff-Bhutto fiasco has further broken Pakistan's administrativate chain.Even Musharaff now with his ties with the US can't heal the cracked mirror of multiple failings.

What has saddened me most is the unfortunate assasination of Pakistan's most charismatic leaders- Benzair Bhutto.Rightfully called the Shehzadi,she had single handedly changed Pakistan's orthodox thinking into the new age modern ideaology that the country needed to make its position on the map.But she is now no more and Pakistan has once again in turmoil.For me nothing could be worse be that.Crying over her death won't make any change in Pakistan's ideology.Spiralling out of control defence expenditures and the heightened political instability.Its constant fear of Indian policies has caused it to become paranoid beyond the usual scale of international knick-knack.The recent crossfire from Pakistan is truly saddening and is concrete proof of its loose control over the infamous ISI.What is truly surprising is that Pakistan's domestic political woes are now rivalling its international problems.Uncle Sam is bending over quite a few times but the moment its back would begin to ache............rough times ahead,surely.

Powering the Underpowered

I look at my country and feel a profound sense of loss and elation,difficult to imagine but surprisingly easy to write.People say that the country is going to the dogs,I say it is being ruled by them in sheepskin.There are statistics to show that the country is rising,pshaw.There is no governance of any sort to facilitate growth on equal levels.The middle class income groups have risen and the upper middle class is thriving as usual but question will always come back to the lower segment of the society,the ones who losing the most yet gaining the least.They seem to be losing on all aspects namely:-

1) Loss of jobs due to rampant industrialisation on almost all fronts.
2) Automatic new age industries cutting down jobs on lower end.
3) Increasing prices.
4) Language being an important tool for any job.

The issue at hand is not whether India is rising but is it rising equally on all fronts?To ignore this problem would result in catastrophic end in terms of socioeconomics and humanitarian aspects.To give away all benefits of arising economy we must learn to prepare a database of equality and understanding.

Reading-essentiality defined

The love of reading books cannot be described in mere words not because words have failed me but because I simply cannot express the feelings I nurture for my passion of reading.Reading for me is not just a simple hobby,it is in fact a part of my very existence.To live life without reading books is like living life without a ray of sunshine.For many of my readers this may seem a bit on the exaggerated side but to feel what I feel is simply not possible for others to understand.The fact is that reading has become such an integral part of my life that I seem to have become addicted to it.Even if I don't have any book worth reading,I'll probably exercise my reading abilities towards the ever faithful newspaper.For me reading is as important as breathing itself.

In the next article my likes and dislikes about books

Characters,perception

Arrogance, Pride and Vanity
The girl has some audacity
What does she know, how is she so sure
Just who is she to judge me?

Arrogance, Pride and Vanity
Roll them up, you'll get Darcy
Where has he lived and what has he seen
To think he can judge my country?

The smile from her eyes is ravaging
Can't find a thought to which she might agree
Rip me to shreds, over jokes she won't get
What a waste god had to make her so pretty

A fish out of water to say the very least
Scared to walk on the street, dirty his feet
Tries to fit in, it's a game that he won't win
He can wear our clothes but lets see him beat the heat

She'll point at you and laugh openly
Can't turn down a dance gratefully
She has her own mind, can be a bit unkind
Just try saying anything about her dear country

Why is he here, always staring at me
Never looking in deep to really see
He has made up his mind, we are poor and behind
And thinks we should behave accordingly

Arrogance, Pride and Vanity
The girl has some audacity
But why to I care, how this matters to bear
This desire to show her the real me

Arrogance, Pride and Vanity
Roll them up, you'll have Darcy
but why do I care, have this mad need to share
the centuries of magic that made me

The above words signify the conflict between Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet,the main protagonists of the acclaimed novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.Lyrical aren't they?The conflict between the two is as ethreal as the one between Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler.The two novels are connected in such a subtle manner that for the casual reader my words may not be more than nonsensical gibberish but I having read both of them about a hundred times or so seem to have discover the underlying connection.
What seems quite interesting is the parallel contrast one can draw between both Elizabeth and Scarlett.Both are charming,witty and most importantly have a mind of their own.Such traits are hardly seen now.The power of these characters are beyond human comprehension not simply because such characters have somewhat ceased to exist but even if they did,they would'nt be able to equal their fictional counterparts.Having said that it is probable that Scarlett and Elizabeth might exist somewhere but the proabablity of actually finding them is too less.
The streak of arrogance is present in all four characters,all are equally accomplished people and this in fact suits them.
A truly accomplished person today would be a union of Rhett Butler and Fitzwilliam Darcy.Believe me people,I am trying.....I am trying.

Dark Musings

The fact of the matter remains that I am confused beyond reason.The void is endless and I am not.It is infinite while I stand as a mere mortal.The pain is too much to bear,the fight endless and I seem to have exhausted my resources.The only thing driving me is the maddening optimism which I am destined to carry,for it is the only place I can dream of shifting my weight to.

I have a sense of profound internal conflict in me.The fight continues,I see no end in sight,The battle is tiring and history never sheds tears upon fallen warriors.I am not a fallen warrior nor intend to be one.The irony of the matter is sometimes course of events take a turn for the worse making you susceptible to the common man's sphere of life.It does bore you for a while to live life like a commoner but that too has its own uses(to be discussed later).I have often questioned myself on the kind of life I lead and the kind of values I believe in,there seems to be a major contradiction yet i am not surprised for I am always at the crossroads with myself;To be or not to be,eh.Yet I am not one of those whom you would associate with the term faint hearted.I endeavor constantly to set new goals for myself and fail without any shame.You would tend to call me a shameless jackass but that would'nt change my outlook towards life.I am what I am.

Middle East And OIL

Seen from a Middle Eastern perspective, the present global oil situation can be summarised within five major and inescapable trends:

1- The world's super giant and giant oil fields are dying off

2-There are no more major frontier regions left to explore besides the earth's poles

3- Production of non-conventional crude oil has been initiated at great costs - in Venezuela's Orinoco belt, Canada's Athabasca tar sands and ultra-deep waters

4- Even OPEC's oil production has its limits

5- No major primary energy rival can possibly take over from oil and gas in the medium term.

Adding up these five trends, one can envision a global oil crunch at the horizon most probably within the present decade. Unfortunately, however, the general public will not heed such a rational vision. And, even if it did, it would be loath to respond to the implied threat. In its defence, it should be said that many actors are constantly and consistently reassuring it: the press (even parts of the specialised press), most politicians, some international institutions, a couple of major oil companies and naturally OPEC. But this can only last until petrol stations post 'empty', natural gas supplies are suddenly shunted and, eventually, the lights go off.

Giving it more thought would probably burn more neurons than I can handle so I leave it the Princes and Politicians of the free world.

Foreign Policy

The new world order is changing and that too in every sphere of thought.But what is intriguing is the socio-political scenario,the sole factor why I am writing this article.To tell you the truth I am actually addressing the issue quite late.

America is stagnant with its pro radical views,Europe is making progress but that too cautiously,Asia is moving with great speed and Middle east is making commercial friends.Truly the world is changing.In addressing the issue from India's viewpoint I must confess that I may not be accurate in my writings but am surely well versed with our international standing.

India stands at crossroads today,as usual,either we go along with our commercial interests or we seek our political destiny.Either way half the world will stand against us.i think our safest bet would be too align ourselves with China and the Middle east.One grants us economic stability and the other financial.The Middle east needs someone in Asia and we need someone in middle east,best bet being Kuwait or Saudi Arabia.Saudi Arabia being a dominant controller will be difficult to win over but is entirely worth the effort.

India has various options in hand now but the question remains what shall it choose and how will it affect us in the long term?I don't give any answers but rather seek them.

Violence,Anger,Hate

Counteract Violence with Knowledge...educated yourself about the situation at hand and seek out peaceful, collaborative and empowering alternatives. Violence spawns from an attempt to recover what one believes was pilfered. Whether this was money, land, dignity, etc—violence is only a temporary fix to secure these lost assets and rational, intelligent avenues to make the self whole yield the most sustainable results.

Counteract Anger with Understanding...pause, listen and truly hear the angry voice. Anger is frustration and becomes louder because no one will listen. Often anger can be diffused significantly when given a passive audience. You do not have to agree with the position to support the human behind it.

Counteract Hate with Love...hate is toxic. And perhaps my answer is cliché, but in my personal experience...it is the only way. Every individual is human (with good parts and not so good parts) applying this ideology inhibits the reciprocation of this hate. Hating the hate gives it an excuse to hate more, but by loving the hate...the diseased cycle is starved.

Some Social awareness

The political system in India is slowly evolving to a vast exodus of bureaucratic power and ministry hounds.The Nehru-Gandhian philosophy has faded away and any speck left is surely gonna be gone by end of this decade.Not that I am spending sleepless nights over this but it is a disturbing piece of news.We talk of emergence of a new nation,of rising economies and (ha ha) of global standards while the majority of India is still lurking in dark shadows.The only bit of india that is actually rising is the intellectual elite--the real driving force behind an emerging nation.True the percentage is a small one and the situation is bleak yet the change is evident,Infrastructure in india is on a high,global brands have entered the indian market and lets not forget that in India,crore is the new lakh.

But sadly what about those states where famine and floods are still at large and farmer suicides are rampant.What is the government doing about that?Are government officials during the time of their induction told that "Make hay while the sun shines"?Guys fill up your tijoris but do spare a thought for the impoverished.The country's economic condition cannot stabilise unless we remove the disparity that is spreading between the classes and the masses.The situation will only worsen if money and power remain in the hands of select few.

The country should remember Gandhi's words-'True India lies in villages".It is essential we follow his principles or else we will be just a shiny metallic but a hollow ball.

God and I

The gods have a gala time ruling me.They tinker with my emotions,my passions and my destiny.They make me worship them,throwing my existence into the meaningless warp of dark voids,forcing my cocky self to finally bow.

The blue gods are my favourite - one surrounded by gopis and the other symbol of truth.Both command a flurrying sheet of dark clouds over our heads.Imaginative no doubt,their command is charismatic yet humble.Few can achieve this exalted status and even fewer can inspire faith which is so assuring in its own self,like a phoenix's song.

The God of War and Weather fails miserably here.But he too is no less.His description,I must confess did capture my imagination.

"In Indra are set fast all forms of golden hue."

At the swift draught the Soma-drinker waxed in might, the Iron One with yellow beard and yellow hair."

"Fair cheeks hath Indra, Maghavan, the Victor, Lord of a great host, Stormer, strong in action.

"May the strong Heaven make thee the Strong wax stronger: Strong, for thou art borne by thy two strong Bay Horses. So, fair of cheek, with mighty chariot, mighty, uphold us, strong-willed, thunderarmed, in battle."

He no doubt cuts an impressive figure yet he falters

“...the image of the Lord had been replaced by a mirror.”
The irony is that he indeed is a lord in his own way,yet even they are denied vanity.
Where dost I stand?