Around the corner I have a friend

Long time back, I read the famous book  'Papillon' - an autobiography of man wrongly convicted who then endured hardships in the most notorious prisons in terribly harsh and disgusting jail conditions. My heart moved as I read the autobiography. I even read Banco - the second part of the autobiography too and was amazed at the determination of the man for having endured so much for a crime he never committed.

Like Papillon, a friend of mine is in real distress, convicted for no sin or crime of his. He was there at the right place but terribly at the wrong time. When tides changed, the culprits made good with fortunes and ran out of the country, leaving this friend of mine to be convicted of their sins and got behind the bars.

Not much of a writer ever, but the captivity and utter loneliness has awakened a poet in him and he has started writing. He has sent me a poem he has written from his solitary abode, each word of which speaks of the anguish and pain he suffers all by himself when the world moves on under the free blue sky.

Here is what he writes:

Around the corner I have a friend
in this city that has no end

The days go by and weeks rush on
and before I know, a year has gone

I never see my old friend's face

now we are busy, tired man

Tired of playing to make a name

Tomorrow I say I'll call on my friend

Just to show that I'm thinking of him

But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes

and distance between us grave and grows

Around the corner yet miles away

Here's a telegram: sir, he died today

That's what we get and deserve in the end
Around the corner, A vanished friend.

JIMMY

These words are really moving and I sincerely pray may his anguish is over sooner than before and he walks free under the open sky - free as the wind once again. Oh dear God, do help him and grant him his freedom.

Read More

Gwader on the global chessboard

“Gwadar on the Global Chessboard” is a book on Pakistan’s Geo-Economics. This book is one of the economic alternatives for Pakistan. To replace its aid based economy with a trade – transit – energy centre based economy. Pakistan should capitalize on its pivotal geography, central position between multi regions. Pakistan is located –  between China and Gulf/Indian Ocean, Central Asia/Russia and warm waters, South Asia and Central Asia, West Asia and China – South Asia.  Pakistan as a state actor can provide a geographic, energy and demographic link up. 

The author of this holistic book on Gwadar, is also the moving spirit of the modern Gwadar Concept. For a detailed analysis the book is a must read, however as an introduction to the concept a brief pictorial introduction is presented here. 

The author emphasizes on the importance of the Gwader port as the converging hub of all future trade and transit routes emanating from the Central Asian Republics, China and even Russia as this is the shortest of all routes leading to the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean.

Look at the area of influence the Gwader port will have, if properly developed and organized into an effective economic focal point for some of the most important Asian and Gulf countries.

The author, Brigadier Nadir Mir (retd), is decorated with Sitar-e-Imtiaz (Military) for his outstanding abilities and devotion to the army. He had his high schooling from the Quetta Grammer School,St Anthony's and later the Aithchison and FC colleges Lahore. He is also a graduate of Command and Staff Colleges Pakistan and Turkey, besides the National Defence University. He is an authority on the military and economic strategy and has a vast experience of dealing with sensitive and important issues related to geo-politics. The book is being seen by many as an important document for the students of international relations and as substantial reference book.  The author after farewell to arms has dedicated his life for research and analysis and to further the cause of making Pakistan as one of the leading countries of the region. Presently he writing an elaborate book on the geo-politics of the region with special reference and emphasis on Pakistan.

The book, published by the Frozesons (pvt) Ltd, is available at the bookstalls for Rs. 295.

For any more information, the author can be reached at: nadirmir13@gmail.com

Read More

An expressive poetry

HUM NAZUK NAZUK DIL WALE

KABHI HANSTE HEIN KABHI ROTE HEIN
KABHI DIL MEIN KHAWAB PAROTE HIEN
KABHI MEHFIL MEHFIL PHIRTE HIEN
KABHI ZAAT MEIN TANHA HOTE HIEN
KABHI CHUP KI MUHAR SAJATE HEIN
KABHI GEET LABON OE HOTE HEIN
KABHI SAB KA DIL BEHLATE HIEN
KABHI KHUD AKAILE REH JATE HEIN
KABHI SHAB BHAR JAGTE REHTE HEIN
KABHI LAMBI TAAN KE SOTE HEIN
HUM NAZUK NAZUK DIL WALE
BAS APNE AAP MEIN REHTE HEIN
HUM KON KISI KE HOTE HEIN...

Read More

Remembering John Lennon

John signing his death warrent, 8 December 1980, as his murderer looks on

It was this day in 1980, when sitting in a remote area in the cold December night and listening to the BBC on my radio, that I heard the news of murder of John Lennon – one of my favourite singers and a Beatle. The news was really heartbreaking as John was all music all along his life – and with his death the music that the world loved died.

Born on October the 9th 1940, John had just forty years to live. And lived he did – something that made him remembered even after thirty years of his death today by hundreds and thousands of music lovers. The young boy from Liverpool paired with Paul McCartney to lay the foundation of the world famous pop group, The Beatles. Later joined in by Ringo Starr and George Harrison, the band played some of the best scores of all times. John and Paul were the main force behind the Beatles as they wrote the lyrics and composed music of almost all of their songs. Some of their best were let it be, the long and winding road, Hey Jude, She loves you, a hard day’s night and many more.

I remember the TV footage of the Beatles first arrival in the USA. Thousands of their fans thronged the airport and all venues wherever they played. Some even claim that the group overshadowed the American music icon Elvis Presley.

When the band broke in the 70s, John sang on solos. He married Yoko Ono and both contributed to music as much as they could. From 1975-80, John focused more on his family than music. His last album “Double Fantasy” came just three weeks before he was murdered. In fact he signed his death warrant as the man he gave his last autograph to, murdered him seconds after John gave his autograph. No plausible reason was given by the man who murdered John for his act except that he wanted to have John’s last autograph.

John is still very popular after three decades since his death. His sol album’s sales in USA alone have exceeded 14 million copies. John was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. But no amount of awards can undo the harm his death did to music. He will be remembered as one of the greatest singers of all times.

Related reading: John Lennon (Wikipedia)

Read More

Light from Heavens

Photo: Jalalspages (Flickr)



Iqbal Manzil stairs - the birth place of national poet of Pakistan Dr Sir Allama Muhammad Iqbal. The building is more than 150 years old and is part of National Heritage.

Read more about the building at: Iqbal Manzil (Pakistanpaedia)

Read More

Children (Khalil Gibran)

And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, 'Speak to us of Children.'

And he said:

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts.

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;

For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Read More

Congratulations All Things Pakistan (ATP)

Just yesterday, on a request from a friend, I ranked Top 10 blogs from Pakistan. And I put ATP at the top without knowing that ATP has been awarded with the Brass Crescent Award for being the best blog of the South Asia.

Well congratulations everyone at ATP, specially Owais Mughal and Adil Najam for the honour. I have always followed ATP for its quality substance and instant reporting of events that concern all of us.

When my elder brother and famous cricket analyst Gul Hameed Bhatti expired earlier this year, I was moved to find a befitting tribute by Owais Mughal. So it is my turn today to commend him and everyone at ATP for this singular honour, which also speaks of the quality at ATP which has won them and Pakistan this laurel. I wish ATP the very best of luck in their future pursuits.

I also take this opportunity to commend Dr Awab Alvi of Teeth Maestro for their award, a blog that along with ATP reamins part of my frequent reading.

Read More