Human ear is an organ with detailed structure and the designer has taken care to protect it from damage. One such protection is secretion of ‘cerumen’ or Earwax. This yellowish, waxy substance assists in cleaning and lubrication, and also provides some protection from bacteria, fungi, insects and water. However, excess of most things is bad. One morning, engulfed in hangover of sleep, I pushed index finger in the right ear to scratch as I do quite often. The next moment, the ear blocked and air tight sensation took over. Continue reading →
ياايها الذين امنوا كتب عليكم الصيام كما كتب على الذين من قبلكم لعلكم تتقون
البقرہ آِیت ۱۸۳
O Believers, fasting is decreed for you as it was decreed for those before you; that you may become cautious. (Al-Baqarah verse 183) Continue reading →
Located in Lahore’s cantonment, the ‘Royal Artillery Bazaar’ is an old dwelling housing general bus stand, markets, residential area, mosques & seminaries, civil defense centre and post office. History says that this bazaar was meant for soldiers of the then Royal Artillery of Indian Army. Continue reading →
The lips of the night dyed in black;
The flicker of distant stars;
The rise of the false morning;
The dwindling sight of the moon; Continue reading →
I belong to the Provincial Civil Service of Punjab. Our service association has been quite active in the recent past and held a general body meeting at PC Hotel on 10th July which was attended by over 1000 civil servants from all over Punjab. Continue reading →
One day, I overheard a serious conversation between two women sympathizing with someone. The conversation actually focused a scene from STAR Plus drama. In good old days, television dramas had story, quality dialogues and classic acting for the audience. Continue reading →
Poverty is a killer for the middle and lower middle class who have to keep a minimum lifestyle or sufaid poshi ka bharam, as we call locally. So, one day in Lahore, a rickshaw driver oppressed by poverty finally reached the threshold of endurance and crossed it by swallowing poisonous pills along with his family. Continue reading →
The murderous, barbaric attack by Israel on freedom flotilla, a ship carrying humanitarian supplies, leaves me without appropriate words to express anger, helplessness, and exasperation at world’s cold, meek, muted and muffled response to the actions of Jewish state. Continue reading →
My father hated noisy ceiling fans, disliked watching television for extended period of time and seldom used car air conditioner. He cycled till his last few months and would walk to near by market instead of driving. Continue reading →
It is unfortunate that a bunch of psycho-cum-neurotic extremist have ridiculed sentiments of over a billion muslims in the name of freedom of speech. No sane person needs lecture on respecting sentiments of fellow humans. It is indeed a shame to see some idiots insisting on defiling Islam. Continue reading →
I came across this good write-up by Shanshak Joshi on India’s cold start doctrine.
India and the Four Day War
The Indian military is caught between preparing for conventional war against neighbouring powers, Pakistan and China, and reorganising as an asymmetric deterrent against cross-border terrorism. It seems they are struggling on both counts. Continue reading →
Sometimes circumstances force you in having new experiences. My daughter’s school starts at 7.00 a.m. I drop her and then proceed to Lawrence Garden, a sprawling place full of gigantic trees, flowers, water falls, jogging tracks, tennis courts, cricket ground and a library to name a few. Continue reading →
It is expected that a high profile marriage generates media interest. And when our cricket zero (overnight hero) slipped and fell in the tennis courts of Hyderabad, it created a storm in media. At least in Pakistan, everyone for a short time forgot 18th constitutional amendment, war on terrorism, suicide bombings and power outages. The youth danced on the drums and celebrated the news like a victory. Relentless media coverage focused every aspect of the tailor made juicy, spicy story. Continue reading →
In one earlier post, I wrote on importance of reason. A useful comment on the post indicated the importance of emotions. A human is a body and mind made up of feelings. Indeed, emotions are fuel of faith. A faith without emotions is a lifeless mass; and without passion it is a dead soul. Both are critical for sustainability & growth of faith. While I reiterate that emotions must be moderated by rationality, I would now focus on Qur’anic view on faith in context of love, passion, feelings & desire. Continue reading →
To begin, you will find an unkempt, unshaven and morose looking person at the wheel. As soon as you climb the tight canopy behind him and before you settle on the slippery seat, the driver jerks you back with his flying start. From now on, you are his property as he flies the rickshaw at terrifying speeds on the narrow, bumpy and dusty roads. You hardly get time to orientate as you are thrown up and down violently. Gush of polluted, dusty air pepper your face. Continue reading →
