A life too short with dreams too many.

Arfa Karim Randhawa (Feb 2, 1995 - Jan 14, 2012)

By now, everyone in the country and many people around the world know about the demise of the tech-genius Arfa Karim Randhawa – the name that won laurels for the country. A befitting symbol of pride of a nation; her demise shattered us all.

Arfa – the name speaks for itself. I first heard about her when she made the world record by being the youngest MCP in 2005. I watched her PTV interview with Tauseeq Haider and I was in a state of awe when I looked at the way she spoke with the anchor so confidently and even cross-questioned the anchor at some points. The first impression – this is not an average kid. I saw her about a couple more times after her big feat when she received some civil awards, etc. It was not until late December, 2011 when the news started circulating about her deteriorating health.

I have never had the honor of meeting her but I wish to do so now when it’s not possible. Go on and call me whatever you want to. But the truth is I never knew much about her remarkable personality. Now that she is gone, I’m sure she has inspired not only me but thousands of other youngsters in the country and around the world.  My curious nature did not spare me. I read every article about her on the internet and watched interviews after interviews to get a hold of what her personality was like and what made her so successful in life not only academically but in so many other aspects of life. After all that jazz, I understood that ‘being a genius’ was not the only factor; multiple factors came into play and helped Arfa where she was today.

She was a girl who achieved so much when she was barely nine years old. People several times her age aren’t able to do even a fraction of what she did. I agree that she was a genius mashaAllah and there is a clear difference between a genius and a hard-worker. It is a God-gifted ability and only a few are blessed with it. But this shouldn’t let you down. It’s not about making world records; it’s about your ability to do something that you’re best at selflessly for the benefit of your country and the people around you. Arfa took more pride in being called a Pakistani hailing from a village near Faisalabad and in being able to present a positive aspect of Pakistan internationally than making a world record. She was more interested in making IT labs all across Pakistan so that more Arfas could be produced in the country who will participate actively in the development of a better Pakistan.

She was equally good in cooking, playing guitar, singing, socializing, being the head-girl of her school, as she was in Computer Science. From understanding Iqbaliyaat to reciting a poetic piece at the right time during a conversation, she was the paradigm of a successful human being. Not only was she down-to-earth even after winning national awards and being recognized internationally, but she was also a helping hand to anyone and everyone around her.

In short, she had all that we should strive to achieve. All it needs is a spark that is within you. Like she had the curiosity for everything, we need to develop that thirst for knowledge to attain our goals. Arfa in her last email to Dr. Ata-ur-Rehman expressed that she wanted to opt such field at university level in which she could explore and discover things to satisfy her inquisitive nature as Pakistan Observer mentions. We need to trigger that spark, develop that inquisitive nature and keep it alive so that we can accomplish much more and do something that the country could be recognized for. This motherland has produced sons and daughters like Ali Moeen Nawazish, Ibrahim Shahid, Sitara Burooj Akbar, and many more who have so many hidden talents that if we start displaying them in the international fora, we will rise from this state of hopelessness immediately.

I hope that through the Arfa Karim Foundation that will be headed by her father, we would be able to reach many more Arfas who have the will power to do anything for the benefit of their country.

Indeed, people like Arfa Randhawa are born in centuries and we won’t ever be able to replace this unbearable loss. May Allah bless her soul and give her a higher rank in Jannah. Ameen! Arfa has recited this Iqbal’s shair at numerous events and I would like to end my piece with it:

Faza-e-badr paida kar farishtay teri nusrat ko,

Utar saktay hain garduu’n say qataar andar qataar ab bhee!

Part IV: Sun.

maysamaag on Deviantart - Sunset at Clifton Beach, Karachi.

7.

Because it’s a whole different feeling of joy and contentment, when you stand at a beach (or your balcony if it faces west :p) at sunset and see the sun going down the horizon while the rays hit your eyes and body. Surreal. Remember everything has it’s time of peak, and so does everything faces the time of downfall, just remember to praise your Lord whatever state you’re in.

 

 

 

Life ain’t a chocolate.

It’s been raining in town, lately. It’s like those monsoon rains which never stop for days, once they start. But it gives me a chance to enjoy this moment as it won’t last long once winters take over the season. I even got soaked in rain many times during the past weeks but it’s a new experience each time. A soul cleansing experience.

I have been away for a while from this blog and the sole reason was that I had nothing to talk about. But then I was listening to this ghazal of Jagjit Singh: Ye daulat bhee le lo which made me think out of this confined box and go beyond it. And so what the ghazal taught me during those 8 minutes is that life can only be summed up into three words, as someone once said: It Goes On. It was just yesterday when you were born, enjoyed your worry-free chidhood and then came upon the teenage years when you were rebellious and then the post-teenage years and so on and so forth. You meet new people and you loose some on your way – all comes with this jumbo life package. Like the good times, bad times also come and go; what we need to do is believe in the fact that whatever is happening is happening for our best.

The saddest part of life, I think, is that when we don’t get the desired results, we stop hoping. We stop hoping that things would turn the other way around and it will all get better once again. We stop hoping and rest our thinkings upon the fact that things would never be the same again. We get manual books on how to drive a car, how to run a computer, etc, but we don’t get manual books on how to live a life that will give us the desired results painlessly. We sometimes have to struggle through what we want whether it be persuading someone or choosing a career. But then again, if we had manuals for everything, your life and my life would be pretty much the same. The only difference will be that you will be born into a totally different family and I in an another.

Sigh. Life is simple, it’s just not easy.  - Author Unknown

Khush raho, Khush rakho, Muskurao, kya pata.. Kal ho na ho!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be Pakistani, be very Pakistani!

Dear Pakistan,

You are 64 years old now. During 64 years of the lifetime of an everyday man, he has seen the ups and downs and has already been through the peak of his time and is now well off to settle down quietly and observe life as it moves. But your case is a bit different. When you were born on 14 August, 1947, people threatened you and even said that you won’t be able to stand for more than 6 months. But here you are today celebrating your 64th birthday.

The green flag (Sabz Hilali Parcham)

On this independence day, all I saw around me was green - from virtual world to real world. My twitter feed, the facebook newsfeed, hence, every social networking site was looking like a freshly mowed lawn. Green, everywhere. The spirit that we get to see on the streets of Karachi and Lahore and numerous other cities of Pakistan is applausable. We even made an anthem record today in Karachi where 5800+ patriots gathered in a stadium and sang your anthem together to show solidarity to the world and to send out a positive image of Pakistan. I wish we work for your betterment with the same zeal and passion all year long but we seem to lose it after your birthday. But even this one day does wonders. Whether it be a Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi or a Pathan, everyone unites under the flag of Pakistan (note: not a political flag). We may face a thousand problems everyday and we may see bloodshed on the streets of Karachi everyday, but we don’t lose hope. The only solution to all this mayhem and chaos is our Quaid’s rule – Unity, Faith & Discipline. 

The world might call us foolish for believing in you optimistically but where there is hope there is a way. You fell, lost hope and stood up again with all your glory. The youth of Pakistan will bring you out of crisis. If people like Ali Moeen Nawazish can postpone their studies and reject the job offers of companies like Google only to come back and work for you, then O Pakistan! believe me there is still hope. There is hope because your people are struggling for your progress and they will do all they can to make you one of the greatest nations.

Candle Lights

Today, on your birthday, I lighted candles and prayed for you in silence. I even adorned my room wall with the only flag I have. I prayed that may peace prevail in my Pakistan and may you come out of these crisis with flying colors. Pakistan, we represent you and you represent us. We were proud of you, we are proud of you and we will forever be proud of you and for being Pakistanis at heart. No matter which continent we are on, you will forever be in our prayers. PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!

Yours,

A Pakistani.

Be Pakistani, be very Pakistani!

The new breeze

Ramadan by A-Focus on DeviantArt

After trashing this post twice, I thought to write it finally. The past two days have been busy due to Ramadan and the Photo Fest which I’m really excited about. You will witness shades of life from my lens – a fancy way of saying that I will be photographing during this month and will be updating the page everyday. YAY! Infact, capturing moments in lens allows you to expand your horizons and for once, look at life from a different lens.

There is nice cool breeze outside as the sun is rising. Today will roll by silently as last week did. But I’m glad July is over which was packed with too much work but it feels good that it’s done now and out of sight. August carries a new silent breeze – a fresh start. The early morning breeze at Sehri is so satisfying and listening to the wind rustle by the trees early morning is so serene.

I hope this month brings peace in Pakistan especially our lovely city, Karachi. News have been crammed up with Karachi’s worst scenarios this month. I hope that, atleast, there is some stillness in the city during the month. Please do not forget our beloved country in your prayers.

Also, don’t forget to check  out the Photo fest project.