On Compromising (or the lackof)

Two types of people in this world (Reminds of Bunty aur babli). Those who will compromise. And those who won't. That's all it boils down to. It is the justification for everything. The justification for family. The justification for beliefs. For values. For making another country.

In the end whether or not you would compromise is mostly also about how sincere folks have been with you during your impressionable years. And how are folks sincere? Its when they ensure they communicate the values with you at a level such
that you can think like them. So that a part of them is always with you. You do what you think they would do. And you refrain from what you think they would.

An extract from Ivo Tenant's "Imran Khan" quoting a comment from Lulu Blacker a "platonic friend" of the subject:

"In Lahore you stay two paces behind and respect their country. They can fit into our society and yet English people can't fit into theirs. They are the overdogs, not the underdogs - the purest people I know. I would rather see my Pakistani friends than three-quarters of the people I know in England."

If you connect with what is said here, keep your head high today, and walk with that little sprint in your step.

Salute to the people who do not compromise.

Making my money's worth (Part II)

Ken Livingstone was visiting today. The event was called "London Conference" and it wasn't in one of the main lecture theatres but in a secluded seminar room in the library top floor. Most folks were from outside. Journalists and committee members. The event wasn't much publicised either.

Fortunately I had a break at exactly the same time Ken Livingstone was to address the conference. Dashed off with MAS to the library. We find out the way to enter the lifts for the "secluded" seminar room. And hey! Right there in front of us, in a light brown suit and a back-pack was the mayor himself! With two members of staff. So we got to travel in the same lift.

Interesting to see his objective, detailied analysis on specific issues pertaining to the city. There's a huge gap between political systems of the east and west (along with the social, economic and information systems).

Making my money's worth.

So George Galloway was on campus 2 days ago. Makes a lot of sense, and has a whole lot of attitude while doing so.

An example:

"At the national conference of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, on June 30, 2003, he apologised for describing George Bush as a "wolf", saying that to do so defamed wolves."

- Wikipedia on George Galloway.

First man who made me wish I were British (and could sign on that enrolment form for his Respect party). I guess we can only wait and hope someone like him comes up in Pakistan.

The earthquake

A lot has been said on the quake everywhere. Kudos to the Pakistani media. For the news channel first that were able to finally show the difference they have brought. Qouting from an article by Qasim A. Moini in Dawn's Images:

"If, say, this tragedy had struck 10 or 15 years ago, all this would have been largely unimaginable as PTV would most likely have been airing slides of ministers and other mandarins ‘helping’ in the relief efforts. "

Also concur with him when he says:

"Why do we need a concert, play, funfair or other similar activity to raise funds? It is our moral duty as human beings to do our utmost to help those in need, so why the need for entertainment extravaganzas to get us to loosen our purse strings?"

Ayaz Amir has by far made the most sense in his columns since the quake. In his column this week he threw up a challenge to the same people who he accused of importing "bullet-proof mercedeses" while we had to wait for a rescue team from Britain to start rescuing people under the rubble of a fallen skyscraper in the capital city. He says:

"how about turning the vast acres of the Defence Housing Authority, starting from Rawalpindi and going all the way to Rewat, into a temporary housing colony for displaced Kashmiris and Hazarawals?... Defence Housing Authority in Islamabad turned into a Kashmir village: the spirit which led to the birth of Pakistan aroused all over again."

Now that is a real challenge.

Interesting also to note that Kuwait pledged 100 million dollars to the relief fund while keeping in mind that 500 million dollars "in oil" were announced as relief to the US after Katrina. Not bad, eh? I can imagine a New Orleander dad announcing to his family, "Huray folks, our house was destroyed, but we get a barrel of oil!"

The mind wanders and wonders whether the relief effort would have been better had Kashmir been an independent nation with its own airport, road system, and no Islamabad for its administrators to run to when calamity struck?

For all the people who lost their lives: May their souls rest in peace.

A son's plea

When you trembled all over,
when your features weaned,
when your skin ruptured,

when all rushed down.

When your pillars gave up,
when the roofs fell down,
misery struck,
destruction knew no bound.

When your houses collapsed,
when your children so many of them,
lost life or parents,
all dreams in a moment drowned.

When your sons perished,
when your daughters were buried,
when death or despair,
knew no city nor town.

When where once there was life,

there was no sound,
when hospitals became morgues,
schools levelled to the ground.

Forgive me mother,
forgive your son,
for when you needed me most,
I could not be around.

Central London's Infectious Power

The Power of Central London.

Today is my last night in what I call the heart of Central London - at least for the time being. For the past seven days St. Athans Hotel, Travistock Place, Russell Square has been my home, my sanctuary from the fast life around. Its dining room with complimentary breakfast has prepared for the hectic day ahead and the sight of its neon lights in the evening has provided solace after a tiring day of long walks and tube hopping. Tomorrow I move to Notting Hill. Atleast for the next two weeks. I haven’t seen the movie, but the name does ring a bell. I guess I should see it soon.

Lots of ideas have been coming to my head the past few days. In fact my room in St. Athans has been the venue of a couple or so very interesting debates with ex- and current university mate Samad. There’s something very powerful about being in Central London. The city has held significance as a major role-player in the world’s affairs and arguably still does. (A case in point being the large number of people at the helm of political, judicial or economical affairs of various countries of the world having had associations with London). That coupled with the fact that Central London is the very heart of the city has a psychological impact of a rush of ideas to the head. It is truly an amazing feeling.

Another late evening. Another filling 1 pound pizza from Leicester Square

The "lights" of Piccadily Square.

The green dials in the center are of Big Ben.