Those Radiant Eyes

I could see through those radiant eyes, the glee that was bursting through them. They were the little windows which allowed me to peek into the happy souls, emissions from inside took no time to brighten the outer world we all were in.  Yes, it was Students’ Week at The Citizens Foundation School, Qayyumabad!

Being in school for most students at TCF is hard earned. They defy dearth, dread and darkness of their dungeons everyday to make it to a building which means a world to them.  TCF School more than anything is hope and a promise of better future ahead! It unchains their limiting beliefs and allows them to dream.  If you ask any of the TCF students what they want to do in life, you are sure to have ambitious answers and it is TCF that gives them the strength to say so.

The chirp was louder this day, students were excited, energies were bouncing, rolling, fluttering and whooshing all around. Teachers were busy with their last minute settings, ensuring everything is in place whereas participants had nervy smiles on their faces as got ready to ascend on the podium to face the world.

It was debate competition between students of different house teams. As the contestants started stepping up leaving their premonitions behind, the confidence they trotted out took me over. Coming from communities where correct Urdu is hardly spoken let alone English, some of them did struggle with appropriate pronunciations of some Urdu and English words, fumbled in their speeches, fiddled with cue sheets, paused at wrong places which weakened the meaning, dropped and raised voices at inappropriate points, yet they did not fail for me.

As I saw and heard them one after another my belief in them strengthen, it made me love and respect them all the more. I realize that it’s not easy fighting despondency everyday and that too at such a tender. Childhood is freewheeling, time of life when worries don’t haunt you; your parents set the game for you to step in and begin your effortless journey of learning, exploration and enlightenment. But for TCF students this journey of education is not a cherry pie, they live in two contrasting worlds, one which is clutched in poverty and anguish and the other one is their TCF School which has everything to offer from quality education to smiles of hope, ambitious dreams and trust in the Creator and belief in oneself. 

TCF students defeat the confinements of their present everyday to step further for an assuring future that waits for them ahead!

Graciously Mugged!


My sister got mugged! Old story.... right? A recurring adventure episode that we Karachiites encounter every day.  The exercise has boosted the confidence of muggers like anything.  Now they don’t even bother to mask their faces. Been there, done that attitude they carry is just amazing! Strong affiliations puff them up even more. This perfect combination of practice and patronage allows them to spin around gallantly, looting composedly. Cool... isn’t it?


Coming back... the story I’m narrating has a startling twist! My sister drove to Bahadurabad to pick her friend up. As she waited for her to come down, the two unwelcomed guests opened the car door, coolly pointed the pistol up and asked her to ‘donate’ the cell phones. She being a charitable (frail) soul, without even a second thought handed over the phones tenderly (tremblingly) to the devotees (demons) as they roared to the unknown!


After all this, when her friend finally stepped out, got into the car and heard the story, she instantaneously took her cell phone out and related all this to her brother. The noble ‘Big B,’ being in familiarity with the neighborhood, part time scroungers graciously called the Bahadurabad base camp and requested a return. By early evening, there she was sending thank you messages to her friend’s brother! Tragic incidences can have happy endings, right? 


Moral: Do the right networking for surviving in Karachi, here ‘BROTHERHOOD’ works when law and order fails!

The Fuuny Thing About Human Beings

A man asked my friend Jaime Cohen: " What is the human being's funniest characteristic?"
Cohen said: " Our contradictoriness. We are in such a hurry to grow up, and then we long for our lost childhood. We make ourselves ill earning money, and then spend all our money on getting well again. We think so much about the future and we neglect the present, and thus experience neither present nor the future. We live as if we were never going to die, and we die as if we had never lived."
Excerpt from Like the flowing River- Paulo Coelho

Catalyst for Change...are YOU?

Let’s just face it, how did you feel when thousands and thousands of fearless Pakistanis flocked at the historical Minar-e-Pakistan, when numerous flags swayed to the tunes of hope and countless hands joyously clapped as to mark a new beginning?

For me it was a touching moment indeed. Tingling sensations of love, joy and pride travelled along my spine; there were moments when I silently cried and when I just proudly smiled. When Strings and Shahzad Roy sang, the aura of patriotism their songs created was phenomenal. I could connect to the togetherness, unity and harmony that took hold of everyone there. The air was filled with the spirits of nationalism. It was the re-awakening of Pakistan!

In a long time I felt that we acted as a nation for an event other than cricket, otherwise it’s just world cup and that too if our team decides to play well, that enlivens us. Though the questions remain whether this one display of the desire to bring change can practically lead to a real change, can Imran Khan deliver what he promises today, can things go better for Pakistan and for us? Time will answer them. But for now we can become a catalyst for change and to me one way is by voting for PTI!

Aur Sunao OR Jazba Jagao!

While streaming through youtube last night, I came across a favourite but forgotten ad of Mobilink Jazz featuring Fawad Khan, Wasim Akram, Ayesha Omer etc. I clicked the link, and instantly each word of the jingle came rushing through my memory and took voice! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fww0tn4OsLU&feature=related

It left me with comparing the Aur Sunao and Jazba Jagao campaigns. As I recollected, I found Aur Sunao ads to be more vibrant and enjoyable, having more elements of product recall as compared to the Jazba ads which to me seem quite mundane. They aren't built upon any striking concepts and mostly go unnoticed.

The recent animated Ali Zafar ad, though gives a break to this lame Jazba series but honestly even its execution is very typical and leaves much to be desired! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi7bQQ5fjRg

Your take on the headway of Jazz's campaigns is welcomed!

Let's Fail!!!

"The most successful people on the planet have failed more than ordinary ones."
Robin Sharma