A hospital alone shows what war is. Erich Maria Remarque We have been in this war for the past year or so. God willing it will end soon with the doctors and their staff notching up and garnering victory. During this period we were fortunate to encounter a large cross section of dedicated and humble… Continue reading Leaves Fall, People Don’t
Ya Ali Madad!
Masjid Al Haram, The Sacred House, the first House founded for mankind (the word ‘house’ referring to a place of worship) at Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Al Aqsa Mosque (the farthest Mosque) at Jerusalem (Picture by Jafar Shameem) ("Glorified by He [Allah] who transported His servant [Muhammad (saws)] by night from Masjid al-Haram to Masjid al-Aqsa… Continue reading Ya Ali Madad!
Vasant Panchami
The Tiananmen square Beijing in its present condition (Picture by Jafar Shameem) The Arab Spring demonstration at Tahrir Square Cairo (The first image is the peak of the demonstration at the square! The second image is the present day state, it is a traffic square!) Two historical events identified by uprisings in two different… Continue reading Vasant Panchami
A Delightful Treat!
My son Baqar, (Faizi domestically) stays in Hockessin, Delaware, USA and his next door neighbors are Tassadaq Uppal and family. They are US citizens of Pakistani origin and no imaginary boundary line divides us. Their Punjabiat is no different from those of my very dear friends back in India; I feel the same resonance and… Continue reading A Delightful Treat!
Are We Really Faithful?
My ancestral home at Faizabad is around 6 Km from Ayodhya, the birth place of Sri Ram. The last I and my wife visited Ayodhya was in 1973 when we went to most of the Mandirs and the Babari Masjid. It was an interesting and expensive experience, as we were asked by the pandas to… Continue reading Are We Really Faithful?
Faith and Knowledge
Barukh Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha`olam... (Budhism) In the name of the father, the son and the spirit. (Christianity) Om Hari Om. (Hinduism) Aum Mani Padme Hum. (Judaism) Wahe Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Ji Ki Fateh. (Sikhism) Bismillah Hir Rahmanir Rahim. (Islam) All faithfuls invoke the blessings of their Lord Almighty before they start anything. I have… Continue reading Faith and Knowledge
Playing the Game
My School's motto was 'Play the Game' and most of us (me in particular) were everyday on the playing fields, playing hockey, cricket and soccer (football we called it) and so on. As I grew up, I soon understood that our motto had a larger and wider connotation. Over the period many interpretations clouded my… Continue reading Playing the Game
Mourning The Martyrs
By Ariana Husain (The culmination of the ten days mourning period is most difficult, penetrating and heart rendering to the lovers of Imam Hussain Alaihis Salam. On the first day of Muharram the adherents of latter day Wahhabism and Salafism ideologies, with their predilection for that is proscribed in the holy Quran and the greed… Continue reading Mourning The Martyrs
Pride and Arrogance
The new World Trade Centre lighted up. Arrogance destroyed the twin towers; the City now radiates with pride with its new building. Picture kind courtesy Jafar Shameem Is there a line between pride and arrogance? Arguably there is really a very thin line between the two. Listen to those who radiate, are happy to talk… Continue reading Pride and Arrogance
A Hero’s Journey
By Abbas Ali Husain As metal clanged Jack parried and side stepped and pointed his sword at his mentor Arthur. “HAHA!” Jack yelled “got you!” But he realized he wasn’t able to move and felt he was paralyzed. “No!” Arthur said holding his sword close to Jack’s neck,“I got you!.” He smiled and put down… Continue reading A Hero’s Journey
Impressions, Perceptions and Views. 