Sammilogger

https://epaper.tribune.com.pk/DisplayDetails.aspx?ENI_ID=11202001250425&EN_ID=11202001250141&EMID=11202001250051

https://sammilogger.blog/2019/09/07/from-victim-to-partner-in-holocaust/

First is reference of an article authored by Farrukh Khan Pitafi published in today’s Express tribune.

Second is refernce of my blog date 7 Aug 19.

Both are strongly recommended for reading and cross reference. It shows how realpolitik is endangering the world. There is a 1963 English movie titled, ‘Its a Mad Mad Mad Mad World’. I feel inspite of human growth in knowledge we have transited from madness to craziness. In 21st century it could be titled as, ‘Its Crazy Crazy Crazy Crazy Wrold. Men of knowledge like Stephen Hawlking, predicted that the world is in danger because of Brexit, Trump and AI. Modi can also be included in this list. There was a time when a scornful US’ Secretary of State Madeleine Albright called, Pakistan as ‘Global Migraine’. If asked today she may term India as, ‘Global Piles’ because actions of Modi government are defying all elements of civility. Mr Pitafi feels that the world is waiting for another Churchill who can call a spade a spade. I have repeatedly felt that Modi is a blessing is disguise for Pakistan. He is doing to India what enemies of India might have on their wish list.

Harry and Meghan took a decision; which to most of us, may seem to be bordering on insanity. The time will tell wheter it augurs well for them or not.

For quite some time I have been trying to find a comprehensive definition of success. Success has to be defined by the person pursuing success. Success will always come with a cost. A particular cost for a kind of success may be unacceptable for one person but acceptable for another. I feel real success is to achieve an objective without compromising on one’s values or principles. If so, does it mean the person not accepting the cost and forgoing success should be seen as unsuccessful. In my view no, he is successful in guarding his value. He is successful in attending to his conscience. I came across a very good definition of success by John Wooden,

“Success is peace of mind that is the direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”

This definition implies that, some one who seems to be successful might have compromised on a principle, call of conscience or value for which he may still be lacking ‘peace of mind’ and ‘self-satisfaction’. Based on this analogy, I shall term Harry and Meghan as highly successful. They took a bold decision in pursuit of peace of mind and self satisfaction. Giving up on apparent successful life needs strength of character. Breaking the norms needs courage. He has emulated his mother. He has preferred his family over artificial life. I bid the couple the best of luck and foresee that the decision will augur well for them. Like Diana became ‘princess of hearts’, he will also stand tall for displaying right priorities, courage and strength of character.

The US is waning and China is waxing. Indeed it’s happening. Its matter of time, may be a couple of decades or a little more to reach the tipping point. The transition is becoming fraught with risks as anticipated by Thucydides. An established power always sees an emerging power as a threat. Out of 16 such transitions 11 times there have been wars. This is called Thucydides’ Trap. The world is holding its breadth to be amongst 5 such cases where this trap was successfully averted. Couple of days ago there were drum beats of 3rd World War. I never thought it will go that far, however the danger did exist. Stephen Hawking predicted before his death that the world is in danger due to Brexit, Trump and AI. All three are there as a stark reality and Modi is also putting in his bit. In the process of waning, the US is becoming increasingly agitated and frustrated. I thus feel that, “An agitated, frustrated and reactive sole super power led by a mercurial leader is highly dangerous”. Hillary Clinton also predicted the same. We pray that sense prevails.

Pakistan is surrounded by three countries facing instability. In the East, US’ strategic ally – India is confronted with self created chaos by annexation of Kashmir and Citizenship Amendment Bill. India is in turmoil as protests, agitation and sectarian strife are brewing. In the West, in Afghansitan US’ presence is causing instability. US is struggling hard to find a face saving exit. Notwithstanding, desperation of the US to leave Afghnaistan, mercurial leader of the agitated, frustrated and reactive sole super power has opened another front. Droning of Gen Qassem Suleimani has fomented instability in third neighbour of Pakistan. Pakistan: a country that has faced perpetual conflict since late 70s is yet again faced with dreadful scenario. Conflict of US and Iran is that of unequals. Iran being the weaker side, in my view will opt for asymmetric warfare; a choice of the weaker. It appears US hasn’t picked up right lessons from Afghanistan or vested political interests have outweighed to create situation of BFO (Blinding Flash of the Obvious). Situation of Iran has created a linkage between instability of Afghanistan and Iran. Afghanistan may become yet another proxy of Iran to bleed the US. Apparently exit of US from Afghanistan has become more improbable. Pakistan which was craving and struggling for stability, growth and development has once again been surrounded by “Arc of Instability”. Balochistan, a strategically important province of Pakistan (in view of CPEC) facing instability due to neighbouring Afghanistan will now face Iranian instability. In all three surrounding unstable countries around Pakistan, the US has a role to play. In greater perspective, instability surrounding Pakistan can endanger smooth execution of CPEC. Pakistan will face impact of sectarianism incase of showdown between Iran and US (supported by KSA). Pakistan will have to play a balancing act to keep insulated. Allah may help Pakistan and Islam.

Inspite of having been blessed to enter Kaaba and also go to its roof, this was first time I, along with my sons climbed Mt Alnoor to visit Hira Cave on last day of 2019. The experience was outlandish. Saudis have obliterated memories of the Prophet (PBUH) with reasons best known to them, however Cave is the only site still intact in it’s original from. Whereas Holy Prophet (PBUH) tops the list of most influential people of the world, Hira Cave is the most captivating site which transformed the most influential personality of the world. The uniqueness, secludidness, solitariness and arduousness (of the climb) is amazing. Selection of site for the most revealing truth of the world is thought provoking. Prophet (PBUH) retreated to this cave for meditation. Some time his stay spanned over a month. Its here that truth began to be revealed. It started with dreams and on the Night of Power Angle Gabriel ascended with first revelation. The climb to the cave is a bit tough but strongly recommended for able bodied Muslims. It can take 30 to 90 mins (we took 22 mins). After reaching the peak one has to descend approximately a score of stairs. The most interesting part is access to the cave. There are two narrow alleys between rocks. One is so narrow to raise concerns of getting stuck. One has to do jugglery of bones to get through. The cave is not closed at other end. It’s rather a narrow space between rocks with openings at both ends. Wind flows freely through the cave due to venturi effect. Its awe inspiring to enter the place where Muhammad (PBUH) became a prophet. The relationship between site and person is amazing. Allah chose the most rugged, secluded, tough and challenging site for the person He loves the most. May be owing to it’s original form it gives very strong feelings to be there at the site. Allah may bless all to be at the place.

https://sammilogger.blog/2018/09/09/withering-away-of-muslim-ummah/

As corollary to my previous blog on, ‘Withering Away of Muslim Ummah’, I feel Ummah is now dithering from withering. Developments preceding Kuala Lumpur summit make me feel like that. One is at loss to understand, why Muslims on the whole are so low on certain essential attributes? These attributes include, knowledge, collective thinking, unity, vision, discipline and harmony. At the individual level as well as collective level, we fail to look beyond our nose. Vested interests, self interests and myopic thinking are serving us well. In spite of all the bashing the Muslims are getting, the unity remains a far cry. Efforts for unity in Muslim world are betrayed by Muslims themselves. As existing divisions were not enough amongst Muslims new divisions are being set in. Besides Sunni and Shia discord we will now witness, discord between progressive Islamic countries and regressive countries. How unfortunate and deplorable. I once read,

“In this world we are getting bashing because we are Muslims and in the next world we shall get bashing because were not good Muslims”

Discrods and divisions in Muslim world are fomented and instigated by the powers who want to keep Muslims low. But most ironic is indifference and callous attitude of Muslims themselves, who prefer to stay in their clutches. No option but to look upto Allah for His blessings. Alas, even in this case He, Himslef has injunctioned that He doesn’t improve the state of people who themselves dont want to improve.

https://sammilogger.blog/2019/08/18/bjp-a-blessing-in-disguise/

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kargil-war-veteran-mohammed-sana-ullah-declared-foreigner-sent-to-detention-centre-assam-nrc-1538097-2019-05-30
I have written many blogs on BJP, Modi and the way India is heading under BJP.
While writing these blogs I never visualised that my thoughts will be vindicated so early. Policies of Modi are unravelling the union of India. Secularism which has been considered as centre of gravity of India is being torn apart by Modi. Modi is turning out to be a blessing in disguise. Ultimately, he may be Gorbachev of India. Junaid Ahemd in his book, India: An Aperthied State, has claimed that India is bound disintegrate sooner or later. It is happening much sooner than later. Thanks Modi, keep it up. May you have long life and tenure.

Yet, once again our national modesty, decency and civility has been betrayed. Yet, once again its proven that there is no fear of law in our society. Yet, once again its proven that our education isnt real education. Educated lot becoming beasts leaves us shamefaced. It seems the custodians of various fields are themselves exploitors of same very field. Teachers are exploiting education, clergy is exploiting religion, doctors are exploiting field of medicine, politicians are exploiting people and lawyers are exploiting the law. Societies are driven by shame, guilt or fear. Shame and guilt are individual’s call of conscience whereas fear can be instilled by the state. Shame and fear have since long evaporated. State is also shying away from asserting itself. Every incident gets hushed up on illogical and bizarre grounds. Why we are failing to prevent recurrence of such shameful incidents? We fail to condemn to the least and punish the culprits to the most. Attitudes after incidents bespeak of our callousness. There are people on media justifying these acts. Our views are poles apart. Unless we agree on basics our responses will not be unified. We have good examples infront of us. How Australian society reacted to a mundane issue of cheating by cricketers on the field and how New Zealand society responded to act of terrorism? These serve as shame instilling acts from down- and-under for up-an-above. A chaotic society needs iron hands to mend its ways since education is failing. Even in developed world its fear of retribution which prevents crimes. After incident attitudes, response, discussions and analysis are bigger cause of shame.

https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/all-humans-will-not-have-the-same-future-yuval-noah-harari-1.67929367

Found an interesting read which resonates with my thoughts expressed in a blog written on 14 Jun 19 and cited below

https://sammilogger.blog/2019/06/14/the-future/

Human civilisation is definitely treading a course. This course is dictated by human intelligence and abilities bestowed by nature. However, mother nature holds all plans up its sleeves. Humans inadvertently or advertently might tread a course which is preordianed by mother nature. The evolution of humankind has picked up pace. The life of technology, ideas and concepts has shrunk from 50 years to less than 10 years. Production has over taken trial. Yuval Harari is genius and so was Stephen Hawlking. Both predicted a dangerous course humankind has taken. Both suggested appropriate management for better future. Besides technology I find chaos increasing in every sphere of life. Chaotic politics, chaotic world, chaotic information, chaotic attitudes are to name a few. I am certain wise men will make corrections and mankind will get to the course which spells better future.

I have written a lot on our societal decay. I may sound hyper critical of our social behaviours and attitude but incidents are indeed mind boggling. A teacher being mauled by students is unthinkable. Delicate children being molested by adults is unbearable. Crimes against women are unethical and unmanly. My heart bleeds seeing these clips. I am at loss to understand what has gone wrong to our national character. These attitudes can only be displayed by animals. A reasonably well groomed adult will never resort to these things. Hazrat Ali (Karram-Allah-u Wajhahu) said, “I am slave of the person who has taught me even a single word, he can enslave me or set me free”. How far have we gone from civility and teachings of Islam. Punishments aside, as a society we shall have to realise how badly are we grooming our children. Turkey celebrates 24 Nov as Teacher’s Day. They send bouquets, flowers, gifts and messages to their teachers. Look at what are we doing. Intolerance, animal instincts, bigotry, obscurantism and so many ills have crept deep into our society. Every other day our conscience and soul is shaken by despicable and deplorable events. All parents, teachers, religious teachers, intelligentsia and law enforcement agencies must brace to reform our decayed society. Allah may bless us.