Dance bring people of the world together, wherever I have been in the
world, hardly there has been a place where people were not moved while
listening to Pakistani Folk Music and together with me they all rocked
the floor:-) Happy International Dance Day!
The most significant and certainly the best known, image in
Iqbal’s poetry is that of the Shaheen. “Live in the world like an eagle, and
like an eagle die,” says Iqbal (Javâd Namah). An understanding of the Shaheen
motif in Iqbal’s poetry thus becomes essential to understand Iqbal’s thought
and message.
Iqbal wants Muslim Nojawans to stop living a life of
indolence and accept the challenges of life. Using the garden and the desert as
metaphors respectively, for easy and tough life, he tells Muslims to quit the
garden, reminding them that they have the power to fly like “the mountain
shahbaz”.
Iqbal says, addressing the Muslim:
“You are the eagle of Muhammad,”
“and angels and houris are your prey”
————————————
“If you are bareheaded, develop high resolve,
For here the crown is only for the eagle’s head.”
————————————
In a passage in “Pas Chi Bayed Kard”. Iqbal has this to say
on the subject (he is addressing those who advise Muslims to renounce the
world):
“This world of clay and water is game to the believer.
Are you saying to the falcon, “Let go of your game?”
I have failed to solve this difficult problem:
Why does the eagle shun the skies?
Pity the eagle that does not act like one,
And whose claws never caused hurt to a bird,
An eagle that is nest?bound, abject, crestfallen,
And does not flap its wings in the blue space!”
————————————
While Regretting on the state of Muslims of his time he
says:
“Alas! A hundred times alas that you did not become an
eagle!
Your eyes failed to catch the hints of nature:
The judge of fate has since eternity decreed:
“The crime of weakness merits instant death.”
The last line is also a neat summation of Iqbal’s
understanding of the workings of history.”
————————————
Quite naturally, Iqbal sees himself in the role of reminding
the eagles—the Youngsters—of their roots and their potentialities:
“Those who had been prey for long now have a new vision,
For I have divulged the ways of the falcon.”
————————————
Here are some Nazams of Iqbal about Shaheen:
THE EAGLE
I have turned my back on that world.
Where sustenance is called grain and water.
I like the solitude of the wilderness-
I was always a hermit by nature-
No spring breeze, no rose plucker, no nightingale,
And no illness of the songs of love!
One must avoid the garden dwellers
Their charms are too seductive!
It is the desert wind that gives effect
To the stroke of the brave youth in combat.
It is not that I am hungry for pigeon and dove-
Renunciation is the mark of an eagle’s life-
To swoop, to withdraw, and to swoop again
Is but a pretext to keep up blood heat.
This cast, this west is the pheasants’ world,
Mine is the boundlessness of the blue sky!
I am the monk of the kingdom of birds,
For the eagle is not given to making nests.
————————————
BEYOND THE STARS
There are other worlds beyond the stars;
More tests of love are yet to come.
This vast space is not lifeless?
In it there are hundreds of other caravans.
Do not be content with the world of colour and smell:
There are other gardens, and other nests, too.
What is to worry if you have lost one residence?
There are other stations one might sigh and cry for!
You are an eagle; your job is to fly:
You have other skies in front of you.
Do not get lost in this maze of day and night,
There is, for you, another space, another time.
Gone are the days when I was an isolate in the group:
Many here now are, confidants of mine.
————————————
THE EAGLE’S ADVICE TO ITS YOUNGSTER
“You know that all eagles are, of essence, one:
A handful of feathers, they have the heart of a lion.
Be of good nature, and of mature strategy;
Be daring, dignified, and a hunter of big game.
Do not mix with partridge, pheasant, and starling
Except if you should desire to hunt.
What lowly, fear?stricken group they are
That they wipe their beaks clean with dust!
The falcon that imitates the ways of its prey
Becomes the prey of its own prey.
Many a hunting bird that descends to earth
Perishes through mixing with pickers of grain.
Take care of yourself and live in contentment.
Live the life of one brave, strong, and rugged.
Leave for the quail the soft and delicate body;
Develop a vein tough like the horns of a deer.
Any joy that becomes the lot of the world
Is due to hardship, toil, and fullness of breath.”
Well did the eagle speak to its son:
“One drop of blood is better than pure wine.
Do not, like deer and sheep, seek out company;
Go into seclusion like your ancestors.
I remember this of the words of the old falcons:
‘Do not make your nest on the branch of a tree.’
We do not make nests in garden or field,
For we have a paradise in mountains and deserts.
To pick up grain from the ground is an error,
For God has given us the vastness of the skies.
One of noble stock, if he scrapes his feet on the ground,
Becomes more despicable than a house bird.
For falcons the rock is a carpet
Walking on rocks sharpens the claws.
You are one of the yellow?eyed of the desert,
You are noble of nature like the sâmurgh.
You are noble?born, one who, on combat day,
Draws out the pupil of the tiger’s eye.
Your flight has the majesty of angels,
In your veins is the blood of the k«fërâ falcon.
Under the humpbacked, revolving sky
Eat what you catch, be it soft or hard;
Do not take your food from another hand,
Be good and take the advice of the good.
————————————
"Youth means burning in one’s own blood:
It is hard work that turns life’s bitter into sweet.
The delight of swooping on the pigeon, my son,
Is perhaps not found in the pigeon’s blood itself.”
As a conclusion, In Iqbal’s eyes Youth is representative of
the nation, not only of the current nation but also of the nations to come, i.e
thay will set a stage for next generation. If Nojawans are True Muslims and
have Fourteen qualities of a true leader that are written in the verses of
“Surah Bakara” in Quran Sharif then nation can prosprous itself and if it is
other wise then nothing can stop them to be ruined. But Iqbal is optimistic and
says.
"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today"-Stacia Tauscher.
Back from fantastic evening at Sew view Karachi with students of Tauseef Memorial School. Thanks to the Pakistani Youth Organization for organizing this wonderful outing!
Love these kids♥
Markaz-E-Umeed is an incredible place with incredible students and no wonder I had an incredible morning there today! Markaz is providing a place for mentally challenged children where they could develop their abilities in every sense. It was my humble honor to be invited as the Chief Guest and Speaker at the Leadership Conference. Upon my return to Pakistan, I am inspired to see young volunteers caring for their society and that is why I am positive for our bright future ahead and I will continue to encourage the youth! Well done and keep shining! Thanks for the honor Syed Ali Asghar Shah and making me part of this amazing event!
'Experiencing China - Chinese Language and Culture Summer School' from 5th-26th July 2012 organised by Chinese Language Center of Nanjing Medical University and co-organised by Nanjing International Culture Exchange Center. Crossing Borders is one of the partner organisations for this event. Please find the attached brochure and application form for more details at Crossing Borders Pakistan website:
Orison Swett Marden said "Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them". Are You an OPPORTUNIST?
Thought to share this video for those who missed out to watch my address to the Pakistani Journalists visiting Denmark last year where I shared story of my experience in Denmark and the idea of launching Crossing Borders Pakistan and its objectives. A must watch:-)
It was my pleasure to take one more interview for Soliya Module 3 Project. Currently, I am a fellow of prestigious Soliya Network Fellowship on media, facilitation and community engagement.
I have been part of Soliya Network for more than a year. Soliya combines best practices for constructive dialogue with innovative use of new media technologies to shift the way societies resolve their differences from a confrontational & coercive approach to one defined by cooperation & compassion.
From Soliya's Connect Program to Soliya Network Fellowship, it has been truly a remarkable journey for me. This platform is indeed a unique one to deeper understanding for the perspectives of others around the world on important socio-political issues and why they feel the way the do; develop “21st Century Skills” such as critical thinking, cross-cultural communication and media literacy skills.
You can find more information about Soliya here: www.soliya.net
Interview:
Mr.Mohsin is a social media specialist and an activist in Karachi, Pakistan. He has also worked with hard to reach people.I talked Mr.Mohsin into a quick interview for Soliya Network, and he was kind to share some insightful knowledge on the role of social media in addressing some of the challenges of our society.
While this video is only little above 7 minutes long, Mr.Moshin shares his life experiences, and gives creative and thought-provoking advice for anyone who wants to enter the Social Media space for a better world.
He mentioned about using content such as videos/ documentaries, or other online platforms for bringing positive energy around.
Take note, because the video above and the blog post you are reading right now are both excellent examples of that very point :-)
Be sure to check out his interview above and follow this blog to know the latest from me. Your feedback about this interview and blog in general will be really appreciated and help me improve for future.
Back from Arts Council of Pakistan after watching my first Urdu theater ‘Pawnay 14’ with pack audience after more than a period of decade in the presence of the legendary writer of the play Anwar Maqsood. It was honor to have Fatima Surayya Bajia and VC NED University. A play intelligently written and passionately performed received standing ovations! Perhaps the best dialogue for me: Quaid-e-Azam counts the resources and beauty of Pakistan and Allama Iqbal interjects by asking if the Quaid was listing Pakistan’s blessings or reciting Surah-e-Rehman which talks about the bounties bestowed upon mankind by the Almighty. The Quaid, with moisture in his eyes, replies that Pakistan was indeed Surah Rehman itself! I recommend it to all Karachiites, if you have not seen it, kindly go and watch, it will go on till 4th of April, it is a play where simultaneously you would cry and laugh aloud!
