tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38254568167221128822024-03-05T05:54:09.530-08:00Change the FramePinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-75570874805211792192020-11-29T08:49:00.002-08:002020-11-29T08:49:34.931-08:00Hold <p>Night shall pass</p><p>Day cometh next </p><p>Hold dear to the song</p><p>We sung when sun and moon both hail high</p><p>Disturbance is a passage </p><p>Wastage uses the same vein </p><p>That oxygenates the blood</p><p>Walk along firm in belief</p><p>Firmness no wall can bring</p><p>Sway along to the silent tune</p><p>All music arisen from there</p>Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-18060928313375795222020-05-10T08:31:00.000-07:002020-05-10T08:31:04.859-07:00Happy Mother's Day <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Your views your
thoughts <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Have nourished our
minds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Your belief in
goodness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Made us cherish our
hearts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">You see differently <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">That makes you You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">You speak your mind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">That brings shine in
you <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">As the mother you
are<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">So tender so loving <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">As the concerned you
are<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">So upright so
courageous<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Mummy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">You balance the two
You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">So succinctly so
beautifully <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">The fears you hold<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Holds you not<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">The love you hold<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Holds you soft <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">You reckon the
energies <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">So different among
your loved ones<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">You patiently
persist <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Navigating each
energy at its pace <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Mummy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Your smile is
powerful <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Your warmth is
bountiful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Your presence is
precious <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Your excitement is
contagious <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">We Love You :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-23620076518160697322020-05-09T07:58:00.000-07:002020-05-09T07:58:49.111-07:00THIS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This is about this!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Not that... </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">and</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Not the one you are thinking about</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">But this...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Moving straight or moving forward</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Does not matter unless it is
this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Are you sure this is this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;">Because if you are not</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;">Then that is not this</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And what is this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;">Cannot it be that because that was once this!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Don’t confuse this with that <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Because this is only this <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This has a character</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Which that cannot imagine</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It is the now </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">That that </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Can only wave at or cry for <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This is what it is </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;">not</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;">What is hoped for or what is
decried</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Experience this</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And you wont need to</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wish for that or that!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-54868668766369650092020-05-09T07:48:00.002-07:002020-05-09T07:48:37.873-07:00Seeker<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<br /></h4>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">The dust on my hands</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
pain in my thighs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
restlessness in my throat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
sweat on my face<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Clouds
hugging the mist<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wind
blowing its trumpet <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Heat
clenching its fist<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Breadth
sensing its chord<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
echos of my sound<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Bouncing
back to where I stand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sun
playing with the sand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Scribbling
lines long and wide<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Minute
lasts an hour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Thirst
awaits every drop of gold<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Seek
not what you sought yester<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Pain
and pleasure now walk together<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Reason
bequeaths its throne <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Shelter
drops its guard<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Logic
crawls behind faith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Seeker
becomes the sought <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-56705395494536034272020-05-09T07:35:00.004-07:002020-05-09T07:38:39.486-07:00Path Taken <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b>Cento</b> </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Drive slowly<span style="mso-tab-count: 7;"> </span></span></i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(1)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Into a daybreak that's
wondrously clear <span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(2)<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With the windows unrolled<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span></span></i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(3)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Confusion, like the heart, gets left behind<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span></i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(4)<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Whispered the heart <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With who, how and what<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If I must worry about how<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I would be without dreams now<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span></span></i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(5)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For what are space and time but the inventions<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span></i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(6)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How much - how little - is within our power<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span></i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(7)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Looking into the heart of light, the silence<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span></i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(8)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You breathe; new shapes appear<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span></span></i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(9)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In this short Life that only lasts an hour<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span></i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(10)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I took the one less traveled by<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span></span></i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(11)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Reminded by a child who a drew a circle sky<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Because the sky</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">has no edges<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span></span></span></i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(12)<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So do I<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>…<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>A great wagon – by
Rumi<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Still I Rise – by
Maya Angelou<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Hospital parking lot, April – by Laura Kasischke<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Death - by Donald
Revell<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Allow Me – by Chungmi Kim<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Death - by Donald
Revell<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>In this short Life that only lasts an hour – by Emily Dickinson<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>The Burial of the Dead – by T.S. Eliot
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>A great wagon – by Rumi<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In this short Life that only lasts an hour – by Emily Dickinson<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The road not taken –
by Robert Frost<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Artist Child</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> - by
Dunya Mikhail<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-56553161229169621622020-05-09T07:27:00.001-07:002020-05-09T07:27:34.973-07:00When Deception and Freedom Walk Side by Side <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Hushhhshsh … At Last now it is
safe <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Safe as a bird in its hatch<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Safe like the string in its
sacred place in the guitar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Safe as a song unsung <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Isn’t it quiet!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Yessss ..ssss At Last it is
quiet <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Quiet as the lake in the winters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Quiet like the leaves at midday<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Quiet as the night undisturbed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Ohh.. it’s not moving! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">For heavens, it is still <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Still as a mountain in its place
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Still like a memory restored <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Still as a breath unobserved <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Don’t you want to ….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Want to what?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Let it be .. Let it free?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Free you say <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Free as a haunting dream spree<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Free like the dishonor awake<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Free as a havoc unchained<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">See not as you see<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Be not as you be <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Free .. yes Free <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Free from the stillness so rigid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Free from the quiet so sorrow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Free from the safety so insecure<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Free .. yes Free<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Free as the singing nightingale <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Free like the breath
unrestrained <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #555555;">Free as it must be<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-26372660144457293082020-05-09T07:24:00.004-07:002020-05-09T07:24:56.915-07:00Smashing my fist on the wall <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #44546a; mso-themecolor: text2;">The wall
was rough<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #44546a; mso-themecolor: text2;">I felt I
was tough<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #44546a; mso-themecolor: text2;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #44546a; mso-themecolor: text2;">Smash went
my fist<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #44546a; mso-themecolor: text2;">Didn’t feel
an earthquake on my wrist<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #44546a; mso-themecolor: text2;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #44546a; mso-themecolor: text2;">Went again,
like in the films<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #44546a; mso-themecolor: text2;">Imagining
the heart heals after the pain swims<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #44546a; mso-themecolor: text2;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #44546a; mso-themecolor: text2;">Who says<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #44546a;">It didn’t
matter then who says</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #44546a; mso-themecolor: text2;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #44546a; mso-themecolor: text2;">Anger was
meant to be addressed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #44546a; mso-themecolor: text2;">Became
the medium for internal grievances to be suppressed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #44546a; mso-themecolor: text2;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #44546a; mso-themecolor: text2;">It doesn’t
work that way<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #44546a; mso-themecolor: text2;">Have to
stay with it till the time gradually takes it away <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-60781620849533443262020-05-09T07:19:00.000-07:002020-05-09T07:19:22.569-07:00I Wonder Why<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">My
guardian My beloved<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">My
friend for 12 years and more<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Moments
of pressure moments of joy<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">You gave
us all <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Today I
wish to register a complaint <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">By me ..
and by many others <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Who feel
like me <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Life is
meant to be uncertain <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">You know
and I too<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">And with
Covid you really do!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Then I
wonder why<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">You walk
so certain each day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">In the
12 years passed on to me <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">As if
black and white<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Hold
nothing between the two<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Tales of
explorers continue to remain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Your
best themes told<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">And my
best bedtime stories <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">For
times ebb and flow <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Letting
my dreams and imagination<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Ignite
the creative halls<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Then I
wonder why<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">When
testing moments of decision<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Come to
fall <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">When
faith demands you and me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">To hold
our heads tall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Why fear
of unknown <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Acts as
a winning case<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Celebrated
by all <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 177.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-86790447698105321412019-08-12T01:37:00.001-07:002022-03-07T09:43:07.520-08:00Jaantay ho Kaun hai Turbat?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS1rGGZQHcWeQZfJnRRv66l6tuE-j9r2QPVl0my2Zm5oWQt8Jgn0V__oH7ldmVVu-ZY6MMxVpvtqQQ73V3Q5O0TD5y9S9i0DghMPjsLUCVvUkiamUuw3Nz8JxndBZlfLUBUfaqmWUhxy-Bnq-lgOs_CCF1pu0eItprFH-T0ibYo0EKjrabg151vc0C=s618" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="618" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS1rGGZQHcWeQZfJnRRv66l6tuE-j9r2QPVl0my2Zm5oWQt8Jgn0V__oH7ldmVVu-ZY6MMxVpvtqQQ73V3Q5O0TD5y9S9i0DghMPjsLUCVvUkiamUuw3Nz8JxndBZlfLUBUfaqmWUhxy-Bnq-lgOs_CCF1pu0eItprFH-T0ibYo0EKjrabg151vc0C=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />881,913 square km of land constitutes Pakistan, out of which 44%
is demarcated within the province of Baluchistan. With my educational travels
to outskirts of Punjab and the hill station schools in the adventurous mountains
of Gilgit Baltistan, I often boast I have experienced sprinkles of education
across Pakistan. When advert for workshop in Turbat appeared on Facebook, I
googled and was surprised at my ignorance that it is the second biggest city in
Baluchistan housing an international airport. Opportunity to volunteer for the
camp excited me to explore the unfamiliar terrain, experience an infamously
labeled province and decrease some % of personal ignorance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">When 46 degrees does not limit
your excitement, it is the desire to walk the unfamiliar territory and thrill
of meeting some students somewhere that becomes the source of joy and
enthusiasm. A traditional beginning it was; amphi seating - girls on one side,
boys on the other - chief guests in the front, words of appreciation and so on.
The fun started the guests made their way out and the word 'fear' was thrown in
the air. Initial hesitant responses soon converted into courageous and bold
expressions by boys and girls alike: 'zamanay se dar lagta hai, ghar waley
naraz hotay hain, khud se dar lagta hai', and experiences of day to day
struggle started pouring in, receiving permission for the summer camp,
included. At the same time we observed a pattern - after every 5 - 6
expressions of fear came a bold response that the panacea to the fears lie in 'self-belief,
self-motivation, faith and personal courage'. Those interjections altered the energy
in the room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We the facilitators from rather
privileged backgrounds were amazed to see how conscious these students are.
when day to day acts of waking up without electricity, struggling to reach
school, accessing fuel, water and food due to security concerns, and connecting
with the larger world through internet becomes a struggle and a stimulus to act
courageously, children grow far too soon, and traditional pen and paper
educational systems hardly keep up the pace. As one participant shared her
experience, given that females completing middle school is a privilege,
imagining a participant resisting her parents' decision to pursue arts instead
of medicine is tantamount to bringing a revolt in the system. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Now we felt somewhere confident
where to begin from, and the next three days of 'design thinking' were driven
by their raw experiences and our desire to weave them piece by piece into an
unfamiliar cloth of connection. We had three guiding principles from the Acumen
journey - 'stay present', 'step into the discomfort' and 'trust the process',
along with our host co-facilitator - former Acumen Fellow, Granaz Baloch. She
is a fearless mentor for students who intervened intermittently with inspiring
narration in Baluchi. The power of mother tongue was profoundly evident when
she spoke; unfortunately most students in Pakistan are bereft of the space to
express and experience learning in the language they best understand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Granaz allowed us to make the
learning space co-educational. A completely unfamiliar experience for the
students, we learnt. From the amphi seats we moved on to the floor, where
students gathered in a non-chaotic yet in-orderly seating arrangement of 4 and
5 together. The students came from 10 different schools across grade 8, 9 and
10, both public and private, along with selected fellows who represented the
diverse departments of Turbat University. All with mixed bag of experiences
shared common systemic challenges, and those were used as pretext to walk
through the different stages of design thinking. Water, transport, health,
education and sports were contextualized by their personal encounters, which in
mix gender groups were identified as alive systems with numerous individual and
institutional stakeholders, and their respective roles. Inevitably students
found themselves and their community one among the stakeholders, and thus a
contributing factor with an agency to act. Many stereotypes also surfaced,
especially towards the opposite gender - 'nahin socha tha larkay bhi kuch
serious sochtay hain'. It was heartwarming to know that students found this
space safe enough to share their misconceptions and allow themselves to be
vulnerable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">In the process we shared many
delightful moments; making stories, role playing situations, discovering actors
and singers among the participants, allowing our bodies to move with balloons,
and bursting them bidding farewell to at-least one fear for today. In four days
strange faces became familiar friends, and bond of laughter, cry and care was
born. Realization resurfaced that a 'no-go area' is only one where heart was
not at the driving seat. Once the self-created perception of the 'other' is
broken, a beautiful 'us' takes birth. Thus we have an 'Ask'! Children across
the unfamiliar terrains are awaiting such encounters. Crawl if not walk, as
Martin Luther says, but step towards and not away from these distances. </span> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-32245972907615327942019-06-16T02:20:00.002-07:002019-06-16T02:20:55.002-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Unsettling Or Settling</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> - Day 3 Journal</span></h2>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
25 April 2019; Acumen Seminar 2 in the Hills of Murree </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98w8bYTNCuruOk2vj4qxDp7gi6TyxJx0mf9MdrjQPVYgRw4KF9COUSQ8EY4ZOiSRcxtLPUdGI_0p4a45tBAvUt8blrPOvvPmzmi2KMQvdGN7KRBknzNo4FYngRHp3GBiGyCEs2mdncQo/s1600/pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98w8bYTNCuruOk2vj4qxDp7gi6TyxJx0mf9MdrjQPVYgRw4KF9COUSQ8EY4ZOiSRcxtLPUdGI_0p4a45tBAvUt8blrPOvvPmzmi2KMQvdGN7KRBknzNo4FYngRHp3GBiGyCEs2mdncQo/s320/pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Buhat socha buhat samjha<br />
<br />
Kuch us ka qisa<br />
Kuch apna qisa<br />
<br />
Khayal kayi uljhanein kayi<br />
Suljhanay ko kahaniyan kayi<br />
<br />
Sulajh na paye ek bhi<br />
Shayad suljhana inhein hai hi nahi<br />
<br />
Sawal kayi jawab kayi<br />
Khubsoorat khayal kayi<br />
<br />
Hawaoon ki tarhan inhein udnay do<br />
Suraj ki tarhan inhein jalnay do<br />
<br />
In ke beech kya mehsoos karte ho<br />
Un ehsasat ko ubharnay do<br />
<br />
Woh khamosh thay ab tak<br />
In kison ke peechay<br />
<br />
Shayad un ko ubharnay ki jaga dena<br />
Bhi hai ek naye kissay ko dawat dena </div>
Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-34758276476173972912018-08-07T11:17:00.001-07:002019-08-03T23:22:31.730-07:00A eulogy to the 12 burnt schools in Chilas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"Aik Paigam Aaitish Bazigaron Ke Naam"<br />
<br />
Aik school mein hota kya hai<br />
Woh aatish nazar ho gaya to khota kya hai?<br />
<br />
Padhti hain yahan bachiyan, bola kisi ne<br />
Tauba Tauba - Jalado inhain! socha kisi ne<br />
<br />
Raat ke andharay mein kar dala unhein aagh ki nazar<br />
Raakh ho gayi - woh table, woh kursi, woh rang barangi soft board jis pe kabhi, bachiyon ne seencha tha ek khoobsoorat manzar<br />
<br />
Aik school mein hota kya hai<br />
woh aatish nazar ho gaya to khota kya hai?<br />
<br />
Sochtay hain woh - kitabon mein hai taleem<br />
kursiyon mein, imaraton mein hai taleem<br />
<br />
Band ho jaengi yeh imaratein<br />
To rastay school ke tham jaengay<br />
<br />
Ek chotay school se<br />
Nikalta hai ek baray school ka raasta<br />
<br />
Jis mein tum bhi ho<br />
Aur mein bhi hoon<br />
<br />
Woh school hai - taaron ka, chaand ka, sooraj ka, parindon ka, darakhton ka, baadalon ka, pahadon ka, nadiyon ka, khuli fiza aur hawaoon ka<br />
<br />
Jin ko dekh kar - poochta hai dil, mein kaun hoon, kahan hoon, kaise hoon, kyun hoon<br />
<br />
Aatish nazar kar sakte ho in sab ko<br />
To kar do<br />
<br />
Warna sawal ubhartay rahenge aatish ban ke<br />
Is school se us school tak <br />
<br />
Aik school mein hota kya hai<br />
Woh aatish nazar ho gaya to khota kya hai?</div>
Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-81860487304986244842017-04-15T02:50:00.000-07:002017-04-15T02:59:52.759-07:00Gilgit Baltistan Diaries March 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
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<div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTgT-r7K0B8bbgtQFutxotScSGa2m9n-AuUb2chXvhAHHZRCZ844uP2c5lRxD3VUiQePxhr0yvar2RF3fumN-UojxoDLvUACJcY6Rd_ATtaHG_6CG6d6hCqaRmfU08ezfseg4mGE0Xzg/s1600/Badar+Ali+Ajay+Road.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTgT-r7K0B8bbgtQFutxotScSGa2m9n-AuUb2chXvhAHHZRCZ844uP2c5lRxD3VUiQePxhr0yvar2RF3fumN-UojxoDLvUACJcY6Rd_ATtaHG_6CG6d6hCqaRmfU08ezfseg4mGE0Xzg/s320/Badar+Ali+Ajay+Road.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Once again this road has called on to me but thankfully i have my team with me for a crazy ride 🎶<br />
I always cherish how <span class="il">travel</span> brings up in in depth conversations around every topic alive - educational landscape always being the centre! Reaching Gilgit Baltistan is in itself an introspective educational experience one must venture upon 😊<br />
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Firyal's first ever flight !! Or i should say first and a stretch of consecutive flights to the north most part of Pakistan and the world, and back to the sea level :) Traveling with Teacher Development can be highly invigorating ... Welcome on Board !</div>
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And we met these mountains too.. At night they reflect a dark and ruthless personality or a firm and strong one - perspectives!</div>
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When educators across age, region and professional positions hold balloons 🎈and engage themselves in activities of using space and pitch, there is strong hope that these RSDUs will visit the middle schools they supervise, with a rekindled spirit and enthusiasm :)</div>
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When a traveler from Karachi confuses desi butter with boiled potato 🥔 and takes a wholesome bite throat reminds of the stupidity :p Visited Badar's immensely polite and hospitable parents and a serene house :) Ate Pako, Shuwanchal and Desi anda !!</div>
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Badar's mother Zareen Nama is a symbolic gesture to the struggles mothers undergo to dream for the prosperous future of their children. Originally from Hundur, Yasin she arrived in Gilgit after marriage as her husband Zarb Ali Khan joined the army. His army <span class="il">travel</span> took him to UN peace keeping force in Congo, and across the country of Pakistan, while Zareen was left with 5 children, and a job of Grade 1 Govt position at Public School Gilgit. The school gave her a medium to channelize her dreams and her children were enrolled .. she learnt subjects with them and acted as a teacher, mother and father to her children. As time passed so did the hope and struggles strengthened. Today they have a beautiful house of their own, all 5 have excelled in their respective fields and their own third son - Badar, is traveling to Zareen's home town Hundur with Aga Khan University Examination Board to strengthen their Middle Schooling Programme :)</div>
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Its a door way !!</div>
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It was always a dream to run 🏃 down to the people playing cricket in the mountain fields .. and so Badar and I did :) It was a semi - final match played between players from Somal and Yangal - near by villages to Gupis. The air was freezing but with 22 to score in 12 balls both teams were heated in their cheers and silence. Yangal won on the second last ball with a six !!!</div>
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Sometimes the beauty is so spellbound and magnanimous that eyes spark with excitement and a smile of calmness appears on the face :)</div>
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A morning tea with Ali Jan, receptionist at PTDC Gupis for past 17 years, strengthened our purpose to be here!! He is a resident of Gupis and his three children study at Diamond Jubilee School Gupis. The conversation started with the stories of tourists flowing in and out through the years, and then went into the lives of his children and how after encouraging conceptual learning in the middle years his son Ahtasham Ali who is in 10 grade has to appear in a local board lacking quality and accountability thus causing frustration. He was glad to know that his daughter who is now in grade 7 Neelum Ali will undertake project based learning with AKUEB and hopefully when she enters grade 9 will appear from Aga Khan Univ Examination Board. We shared a couple of hearty laughters when nature of projects were discussed including the one on endangered animals, as a body of Ibex was sitting in the reception area. Ali Jan also spoke about his younger son Tanweer Ali who studies in Grade, sometimes Ali Jan sneaks into his books and gets surprised how much they already learn at this age, which he did not experience till very late.<br />
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It is amazing how a systematic change can positively affect so many lives in so many ways - and the role we individuals play within it :)</div>
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Gupis PTDC. Its a chilly morning - socks are up, muffler is tightly locked on the throat, ears are packed yet the wind finds its way and shivering begins !! Balance is what my mother has always advocated for. But what is 'balance' i continue to search. So when i do yoga in this serene and solid ambience, i do find an expression of balance - when the breathing clears within and the parts of the body crack open, the body and mind find a way to connect with the fresh air outside. Its experiential Its amazing 😊</div>
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We lost him and then we found him :p Lengths residents hop for fishing the unique Trout !!</div>
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Diamond Jubilee Gulagmoli - at the height of above 3000 meters above the sea level. Met Naveed Hayat - SST teacher and Rustam Khan, English teacher from another DJ school. This school has 380 students enrolled who come from 10 diff villages, and many students walk for about 40 minutes in snow and cold!</div>
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PTDC Phander - This is the view from my room 😇 It was the most cold night i have ever experienced. The last i stayed in a snowy night was in Boston but houses had a heating system. Here i had a small one rod electric heater - good for warming hands if i made an effort to bring them near the rod. After two layers of clothing, throat tightly locked with the muffler, double socks, woolen cap, ear cover and 3 blankets, the frozen lake gave me a tough time. They say, if sub comes then you can take a bath otherwise ... i was lucky to see the shining rays of the sun whitening the snow at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_71582112" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ"><span style="color: #222222;">7 am</span></span></span> and Naeem bhai, the care taker was on time with a bucket of sizzling hot water. Shaving and taking a bath was another feat altogether 🎶 I wonder...What a feat it must be, day in and day out, for students from 10 different villages who walk 40 minutes to reach the DJ Gulagmoli School every morning!</div>
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Teacher Development Team has reached different heights - Gulagmoli 3250 meters above the sea level - enroute to Chitral via Shandoor Pass</div>
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Had the pleasure of meeting Javaid Hayat at his 200 year old residence in Gulagmoli. His family like many others in the village, migrated from Swat and Chitral region. They are Pakhtoons who accepted Ismailism and speak the language Khawar, a common lingua franca of the northern Ghizer and Chitral region.</div>
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Javed Sb.'s family belongs to the Kaka Khel community, majority of whom are in the Swat region, and consider families like Javed's outsiders yet insiders. Insiders because they are from Kaka Khel, outsiders because they dont speak Pashto anymore, are Aga Khani and non-rigid in many ways of practicing religion and life. We laughed at some of the anecdotes shared regarding this :)</div>
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Javaid Sb. like his father and his son Naveed Hayat is an educationist at heart. He served Aga Khan Education Services Pakistan for 30 years as a primary school teacher. The school her served most was DJ Gulagmoli, which was initially a government school, then incorporated within AKESP, and now also affiliated with AKUEB for Middle School Programme.<br />
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We had some wonderful conversations over a hot cup of tea, potatoes, boiled eggs, fried chicken and fresh water coming directly from a chashma :) I also had the honor of listening to a few couplets from Javaid Sb's to be published book of poetry in Khawar, called Gurzen or Garden.</div>
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<span class="m_-6986212322098076203s1">Met students at Al Amin School Gulmit. The traditional beautiful caps are a part of their uniform, connecting them with the Gulmit culture. Our interaction started with a quiz of where am i from - from Islamabad to Iran to Afghanistan, all were guessed :p<span class="m_-6986212322098076203Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="m_-6986212322098076203s1">The students had experienced the project of Border Demarcation a</span><span class="m_-6986212322098076203s1">nd when they acted as the boundary commission body, they took the map of Gulmit itself and drew administrative borders along the lines of people speaking different languages: Wakhi, Shina, Brushaski ... Each administrative block received equal access to river water, mountains, land area and other resources. The overall purpose of borders and its possible benefits and consequences were also briefly explored, raising many unanswered queries :) <span class="m_-6986212322098076203Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="m_-6986212322098076203s1">This feels like January in Gulmit, says Qasim - a resident. One foot snow in the month of April is quite uncommon here, thus i accept this snow fall as a welcome for me :p<span class="m_-6986212322098076203Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="m_-6986212322098076203s1">Students unprepared for the snow, in shalwar kameez and spring shoes walk up hill 30 min and more to their respective villages - some making a snow man, others throwing on each other, cheerfully tread this common path :)<span class="m_-6986212322098076203Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-90833474656202046992016-05-17T11:45:00.001-07:002016-05-17T11:50:35.443-07:00Waving Hands<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Meet Ms. Khushi Pinjani!<br />
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The trip reminded me of the question I asked the teachers in Hunza a few months back, "what connects Hunza and Karachi?" Travelling from an altitude numbered zero to a grandeur height of 4800 meters, one feature traveled with us all along - the mighty Indus River. What a Geography 101 it has been; topography of the entire Earth encapsulated in a 4000 km journey south to north.<br />
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This country is not yet favored for its topography but despised for its intolerance and turmoil. Domestically too, people clamor under one national identity yet independently share many associations, that have been interpreted in a way sowing seeds of distrust and animosity. The bearded hate the pant shirt, the urbanites despise the maulvis, and the women go without a voice. In this air and smell of distrust and doubt, what difference can a 11 year old dimpled girl with a waving hand bring?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4fFiz6aW9OcpujkEjnv4mm5mmPuy_Sw6YM3hhaF2Q8XGTZXQeloOuE0qBZd1LiufIfoiiMYnsJorfkxLlguDXg5u-VDpbcIMMYsoXAe4tYr0eqIwvSc9x3s-jnOUEts2iXrlrjDn1Lg/s1600/waving+hand.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4fFiz6aW9OcpujkEjnv4mm5mmPuy_Sw6YM3hhaF2Q8XGTZXQeloOuE0qBZd1LiufIfoiiMYnsJorfkxLlguDXg5u-VDpbcIMMYsoXAe4tYr0eqIwvSc9x3s-jnOUEts2iXrlrjDn1Lg/s200/waving+hand.JPG" width="133" /></a>Let's meet Khushi Pinjani. Fighting with her 7 year old brother, faking stomach ache, she clinches on to the front window seat of our 27 seat coaster to experience a path she has never treaded before. But Khushi is not a silent explorer; she carries with herself a magic - a magic that saint Kabir says, is endowed by all of us yet seen only when one sees within and explores the veiled potential. Manifestations of that magic can be many, and for Khushi that is a simple waving hand.<br />
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Use of hand is a language in itself; when waved to a distant observer it signals a hi or bye. Whichever Khushi's audience assumed of the two, the wave became magical when it was complimented with a smile of innocence, that within seconds energized the air and traveled straight to the softest corner of the person receiving.<br />
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The hand was waved to all; the young and the old, men and women, domestic and foreign, similar and different.<br />
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Fortunately Khushi has not been bogged down by fixed perspectives that might limit her gesture to only the Familiar. It was wonderful to see how a simple hand and an honest smile could bring a smile on to so many faces, escaping, though for a moment, the barriers that often stop us from valuing humanity regardless of faith, color and creed!<br />
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Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-81456563769564669662016-03-20T02:48:00.004-07:002016-03-20T02:48:51.871-07:00LETTERS FROM KHUSHAB<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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14/03/2016</div>
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There is no network. I feel it’s
a blessing in disguise. And a wonderful excuse for me to write to myself. </div>
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This place is so quiet, soft and
peaceful; I can hear even the slightest of the voice from my surrounding. I am
sitting in a cozy room wrapped in a blanket. The room is attached to a
Victorian style lobby with a frame hanging on the wall of an early 20<sup>th</sup>
century army general. Outside this villa stands a gorgeous view of the Soon Sarkesar
valley – 360 degrees of lush green lands and tiny hills!!</div>
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The Khushab Cadet College hosts
50 students and 10 teachers along with several staff members at this beautiful
location placed at a height of 3000 feet above the sea level, geographically
placed amidst the famous Salt Range. The salt range is a unique place where
though mountains from outside look the same as those in Gilgit Baltistan and
elsewhere, but inside they are gigantic pieces of salt, hiding their identity
behind brown and green camouflage. The pictures you saw were from the Khewra
Salt Mines (British mined it in the 1800’s and since then salt makes its way
from this wilderness to our kitchen and meals).
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Lt. Col. Safdar Kazmi is the
Principal here. He is a retired army general who has served as the Principal of
several cadet colleges. The time he enjoyed most was the four years he resided
in Skardu. Over dinner we had many fruitful conversations, flowing from our
personal lives, to role of degrees and contrasting role of education, to how
professional class of Sindhis have migrated leaving behind a great vacuum, to
Zia’s intolerable political rule and the imprints it has left on our society.
For a moment I forgot I was sitting with an army general and if should think
before discussing my views. He is a fine gentleman, very courteous and well
intentioned. </div>
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I also befriended the guards and
the chef – interestingly whoever works here is either a retired policemen,
rangers personnel, or soldier. </div>
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15/03/2016</div>
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Good Morning!! It is a fine
morning now, with the sun shining bright and its light is not being hindered by
any human made structure. Though when I woke up (at 6:15), the morning was not
as pleasant. I was supposed to wake up at 5:30 – the over enthusiastic Ajay had
committed to the Physical Trainer that he will join the students for the
morning exercise. The P.T. teacher is retired army soldier and has trained many
soldiers in his life, some of whom are also serving as brigadiers and generals
today. I WAS LATE so I ran, brushing my teeth in less than a minute and quickly
wearing my tracks. Luckily my watch was 5 minutes ahead of time, hence I did
not disappoint the trainer. </div>
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Back to the school days – it was,
with a few differences of course; I never had such a majestic view to see and fresh
air to breathe. The exercise went well in the beginning – a few rounds of
jogging and running, and then the real things started. My daily yoga dose
helped me get through 30% of it :p rest included crawling on the floor,
juggling up and down, and walking across the filed in murga position – hehe. I
came last several times and could here from behind – “Karachi wake up”. Unlike
in Cyprus and India, I today represented Karachi! </div>
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The day ahead was also very
productive. The flush did not work, and hands shivered with cold water but thankfully
these were not highlights of the day:P Teachers hailed from different parts of
Punjab and KPK. They were active and had many questions to ask. The Sargodha
Baord, they have been previously affiliated with gave them rote learning but
did give them marks. They feared if marks will become an opportunity cost for
students in return of conceptual learning. There fear was right but so was the
significance of learning – in life. So in short, the session was filled with
discussions, examples from life and the supporting system AKU Examination Board
provides at every step to ensure teachers, students and the school is provided
continuous support. The Principal felt really convinced towards the end of the
day, and wrote a positive email to AKU EB staff in Karachi. I bonded with
teachers and got to know a wonderful Shair who with his philosophical insight
gives a very different perspective to everything!! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
……… </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
16/03/2016</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I have been playing for two days
very briefly and my hand hurts so much. It is a wonderful game, especially when
played in the mountains!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Yesterday night there was a grand
dinner in the college garden, all students and teachers were invited. There was
a rostrum and I was invited to speak to the students. Students asked me
interesting questions – how did I choose this profession and did I ever fail.
They were surprised to know I had failed several times. It was conversing with
them – I left them with a question. How did we know the Earth is round and not
flat as early as 300 BC? One student brought me an answer to that question
today evening. He searched the library and located a text written about that in
a book .. and that text led us both to a few other questions – it was amazing <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The Principal attended the entire
workshop with teachers as well as with students. He wrote an email to the
Examination Board that he wanted not only 9<sup>th</sup> grade but also 10, 11
and 12 grade to affiliate with us! It has been a very humbling experience – majority
of the students here wish to join the armed forces of Pakistan but when asked
why, their purpose is vaguely limited to words like courage and love for the
country. It was a tough call to disregard my personal opinions and connect
their desire to join army with the need to develop skills like decision making,
critical thinking and comprehension. Thankfully they seemed motivated and
themselves connected the worth of conceptual learning with their desires :) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The more people I meet across the
country and the world the more this thing hits me, that if only people met each
other in an environment of trust and acceptance, I doubt one would call other
his/her enemy. An the fresh air in these majestic mountains and valleys, make
our mind reflect and get rid of the corruption installed my restraining
thoughts and ideas. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The Physical Trainer has promised
me a serious exercise tomorrow morning before I leave – I am a bit scared what
his ‘serious’ means :p</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
HOOOOF … This was something Big
and a bit scary too I must say. Some students invited me to their room. Then
the topic of religion was introduced and questions began – who is a Hindu? what
do you believe in? which book do you refer to? And as I started responding to
some of the questions the room filled from 7 students in the beginning to 30
towards the end. Yea it was risky waters and I could see their eyes glued to
what I was saying. Analogies really helped lighten up and introducing Hinduism
as a philosophy made some sense. I know these were the questions they had in
their mind for so long, so I did not want to inhibit those today but seriously had
to beware not to come across as blasphemous as well as an atheist since both
are considered devious crimes here, especially in Punjab! Thankfully the
conversations tilted towards extending our horizons and acknowledging different
perspectives be it history, religion or otherwise. I don’t think the
conversation would have concluded so soon if the dinner bell would not have
rung. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But I must say, I could really
feel the power of education today and also its’ potential to tread risky
waters. Education is a dangerous tool if not handled carefully – I truly hope I
was balanced. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Fingers crossed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
… </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I did not know this was not the
end of highlights for this evening. After having dinner with Col. Sb., I was
invited to a teacher’s room for gup shup. This person (Mr. Amjad) is an amazing
personality. He like students started with the question “how Hindus view the
origin of human life on Earth”, and then the conversation went to a completely
different dimension – to the very basis of education, its purpose and how it is
caught up in systems today. He is a shair and introduced me to Iqbal’s shairi
in a completely new light – one that I was totally unaware of. Using Shaitan as
a metaphor for capitalism, Iqbal in his Persian poetry written in early 1900s
narrated significant events in human history along with his analysis of future
with such depth, sarcasm and power. What I loved about Amjad Sb., was his
command over Persian and more than that his ability to translate the couplet in
such simple and clear language that any lay person can understand and
contextualize. It was truly amazing. I have spoken to Col. Sb. and he has
agreed to allow Amjad Sb. to have poetry sessions with students – and Amjad Sb.
has also agreed to send me the written translation of Iqbal’s poetry as well as
in his own voice. There is just so much talent in Pakistan and I am sure around
the world, waiting to be revealed! </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-87067320934659797802016-02-09T06:12:00.001-08:002016-02-09T06:12:18.642-08:00Why compete thyself<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This thought came to my mind while I was playing football today (for only the third time in my life).<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As I am growing old, accepting making mistakes is becoming a struggle within myself. I know it is easy to blame the system in which we reside that says school is over and thus manyatimes learning too when we complete academic education, or to blame myself for finding an excuse. Be it what it may, both blames will not work in my favor.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then a question came to my mind. What could be the source of this fear of making mistakes. Among others, certainly one possible reason is the fear of losing in comparison with the other or feeling low or embarrassed if I don't perform at a standard that has been defined. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Since childhood, the system we live in has somehow fueled the idea of competition with classmates, neighbors, siblings or society as a whole. If for a moment I presume that i teach myself to compete Only and Only myself, how would life become for me? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The measure of comparison then would not be what 'other' has scores or how 'other' has performed, but how I performed the previous time. It is common to feel low when compared to another but when compared to my previous self I feel hard to think that I will feel low or embarrassed. Yes I would feel the need to push myself but with a positive insight and feeling!! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Let's presume another scenario. If one has attained first position, but the national standard or even the international standard was low, then may be that individual has been deceived to feel that the first position implies that scope for improvement is less. On the other hand when I compete solely thyself I am encouraged to not only grow my standards gradually higher and higher but with also a never ending downward or stagnant slope of learning. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Hence learning shall continue for Life, and more importantly with neither distaste for 'other' or for 'thyself' :) </div>
</div>
Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-64543272774631639412015-10-04T12:35:00.001-07:002015-10-04T12:36:05.921-07:00A New Beginning ... Self Learning Initiative<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CvhBWMG_Kn0/VhF-75QzfPI/AAAAAAAAB_I/6I1S1IQ-KcI/s1600/IMG-20151003-WA0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CvhBWMG_Kn0/VhF-75QzfPI/AAAAAAAAB_I/6I1S1IQ-KcI/s320/IMG-20151003-WA0013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There was a spark! Sindh felt awakened just for that moment; because its children knew they were the ones who lit the candle.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Computers were placed, walls painted in green and while, and a ribbon tied waiting to be split apart. This was the inauguration ceremony of the Self Learning Initiative [a project launched by RETO Foundation] at the Community Based School, Tando Jam - a town placed at the outskirts of River Indus in the province of Sindh. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fiUjvZjkxYg/VhF-8IRvilI/AAAAAAAAB_M/N9pzkE2xATw/s1600/IMG-20151003-WA0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fiUjvZjkxYg/VhF-8IRvilI/AAAAAAAAB_M/N9pzkE2xATw/s320/IMG-20151003-WA0012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
Our young hosts Iqra and Baakh [students at CBS] introduced the program with couplets from Shah Latif's poetry. The entire launch was celebrated in the language of the Indus - Sindhi, and students as well as members of Shades [youth led community development initiative] performed dances on music that brought forth the embedded cultural and pluralistic values of Sindh to the audience of parents, teachers and educators of the Town. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
What stood remarkably outstanding was the vigor and passion with which some of the speeches were made by the young and enthusiastic participants. The dilemmas of Education System of Pakistan and alarming figures such as 25 million children out of schools, were eloquently shared, vilified and deliberated upon. Dur e Shahwar's [second year medical student] pitch made the audience deeply reflect on the multifaceted picture of education in Pakistan, demonstrating the disparity not only in class, but also clothes, medium of instruction, structure of assessment, and the curricula and its implementation in their entirety, Questions were raised and pockets of hope were shared with humility. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"<i>Computers will do no magic, unless they are introduced in the spirit of learning</i>", quoted one participant. So true was this observation, and what followed was an enlightening discussion on the value of curiosity, exploration and the role of teacher as a facilitator - who guides the students into the unknown with motivation and encouragement.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For me, this event was a walk back into Sindh - a place that has historically and to-date been exalted for its cultural wealth and humane philosophy, but lately remembered as a region that has made headlines only to show the debilitating state in which the future of its children lies. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;">I believe the latter part of the picture will change - and when I see these young students communicate so passionately, I am truly hopeful that this will happen very soon! </span></div>
</div>
Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-69196690457712442732015-07-05T10:04:00.004-07:002015-07-05T10:04:59.805-07:00SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF SCIENCE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
"<i>Is there something smaller than a proton?" </i>a curious student
asks. And the reply is '<i>you find out'.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
"Practical is what is
practiced!" one wise person told me. So I am happy to be in this lively
place right now, where although heat is trapped in the room of 40 and sweat is
pouring from all four-heads, but learning science is not considered boring and
blowing balloons to build rockets is not deemed as impractical.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I am here in Tando Jam, a town
known for its agriculture university, located 25 km from Hyderabad; attending a
session organized by RETO Foundation (Reach Engage and Transform the Outreach)
under its summer Smart Study Program. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It has been observed that grade
11 and 12 are highly stressful years for students; exams become an entry or
exit door to universities and performance is measured by the monetary gains
expected to be retrieved. But this room appears very different. The students
are preparing for a new life ahead yet eyes are not dimmed by boredom and burden,
instead they are curiously trapped on to the experiments they are conducting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I see Ms. Lala (as students call
her) running around the room, using chemicals playfully and dancing with her
hands to make daily used resources a medium for inspiring inquiry. While
traveling to Tando Jam from Karachi in the early hours of Sunday, Lalah Rukh
tells me about her exciting experience with students in Norway. For the past 5
years she has been working with students across Norway celebrating science
education. In her words '<i>I want to see
everyone speak the language of science</i>'. Her enthusiasm and passion brings
her to Pakistan now. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Without doubt everyone in this
room spoke the language of science. I have never experienced learning Newton's
law with a balloon racing across a piece of thread, or studying molecules by
mixing calcium tablets with water and see them exploding in front of my eyes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
We were also fortunate to be
accompanied by Mr. Kaleem Durrani, a peoples person who is enthusiastically
committed to social work. He shared his experience working with the IRTIQA
Institute of Social Sciences, and stated '<i>every
destruction brings an unprecedented opportunity to create anew, it is us who will
decide how our education system now is recreated</i>'.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
RETO brings a new platform; I
hope one, that thrives to channelize exploding creativity from such rooms into
meaningful innovations that make our society a self sustainable and sharing community
to live in. </div>
</div>
Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-70842996814346998382015-01-13T08:37:00.001-08:002015-01-17T09:25:57.526-08:00READY TO SHINE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
We all admire the things that
shine. Our eyes are first attracted to glowing lamps, dark polished shoes,
glittering dresses, sparkling stars and articulated speeches. But the real
shine is only tested with the pigment of time. Education is a wonderful mixture
of ingredients, which if absorbed in accurate proportions and patiently cooked
at a balanced temperature, can produce one of the finest recipe that is ready
to shine at all times. Rajwanti is one of the few girls from rural Sindh,
Pakistan who I feel is enthusiastically treading on this patient path. She is a
first year student at Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS),
aspiring to become a doctor and serve her community. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Rajwanti's grandfather was the
first from the family to migrate to Tando Jam and pursue education in
Engineering, thus bidding farewell to the family profession of farming. The
story of her grandfather and encouragement by both parents, always instilled
the eagerness for learning, and made Rajwanti face all obstructions with
optimism. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Women education is not very
welcome in rural Sindh, where traditional understanding of women's role
restricted to four walls is profoundly embedded. Like majority families in
Sindh, ties with cousins were strongly knit for Rajwanti as well. Therefore
interaction with them would always be a discomforting reality. To this,
Rajwanti's response remains "<i>I
always feel, when I achieve something, my extended family will value education
and understand the wonders it can achieve</i>." </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The second obstruction for
Rajwanti was quite unique. While most of us struggle to learn, speak and
academically perform in English, Rajwanti transited from English to Sindhi in
grade 5. With change in father's income, the change in address and school followed.
A position holder in her erstwhile English medium primary school, Rajwanti
faced a two pronged struggle - learn a new language and maintain the hard-won status
of being the 'First'. She failed to do so in the initial years, and as a result
was not awarded yearly gifts by her father and underwent a phase of reflection:
"<i>If someone has a position, only
then they are awarded and recognized otherwise ignored. I must study more and
more</i>." From a beginner to a proficient academic performer in Sindhi,
Rajwanti met the demands of her family and self, and by grade 9 again acquired
the first position. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Eagerness to learn and compete do
make Rajwanti a skilled and determined individual, however that is not the
reason for her uniqueness. It is her ability to perceive the complexities of
life and form web of connections, that make her grow into learned individual.
Because of her father's habit to challenge, Rajwanti became more competitive,
as a result of her oscillating relationship with co-mates she observed how competition and
friendship unevenly interplay, and due to societies positive response to rank
and fame but narrow thought on women education, she recognized the
contradictions of life and the mixture of individual effort and inequality of
opportunity, that collectively result in ones growth and another's demise. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
RETO's intervention in the form
of "Career Opportunities Program" in 2010 followed by community led
leadership program - "Shades" was effective in shaping Rajwanti's
holistic perspective towards life. In her words, "<i>Sir Shahzad was very thought provoking - he always demonstrated and advocated
for multiple perspectives at the same time</i>." After having enrolled in
the workshops conducted by Shades, Rajwanti excelled academically in her higher
studies, optimized the opportunity to prepare for and apply to erstwhile
unheard of Pakistan's finest medical institutions like Aga Khan University, and
finally secured her place in LUMHS. Today, she also serves as a campus
ambassador for the Aao Parhao Campaign, led by the Express Tribune. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Rajwanti's story is on one hand,
an example of commitment and perseverance by an individual, and on the other, a
case study that demonstrates the wonderful opportunities out there for
individuals if the society together upholds and invest in the promising
enterprise of education. There are many more girls in rural Sindh who have all
that it takes to shine, and await patiently for organizations like RETO and the
community at large to step ahead and invest for a better tomorrow. </div>
</div>
Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-8080146647705959212014-11-20T23:23:00.002-08:002014-11-20T23:23:46.966-08:00ETHICS IN AN UNETHICAL ENVIRONMENT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
I have just returned
from the examination hall at the Narayan Jagannath Vaidya College aka
NJV. It was a Matric Board examination and I was provided to write
the cherished ethical principles prophesized by some of the most
enlightened and respected men among the entire humanity, including
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Prophet Moses (A.S.), Gautama Buddha, Shri
Krishna, Zarathustra and Guru Nanik.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
The difficult part
was not to memorize their teachings but was to write them in a
building which once stood tall as a symbol of enlightenment it self –
when it was erected as the first government school in Sindh in 1885,
but today, leaving aside the awe-striking architecture, words like
enlightenment and spirit of knowledge had completely disappeared. The
scenes of open cheating and authority immersed with pride and
impoliteness were prevalent and it was an experience filled with
shame and disgust.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
The more dismal
reality was that, these were the few privileged members of the
Pakistani youth who could even access education but no one seemed to
recognize that it was not education that was being delivered, instead
ignorance was being furthered, that too with pride. For anyone with
the slightest of foresight and value for education, stepping in there
would have been a distressing reality.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
If we are to
implement the Right to Free and Compulsory Education - enshrined in
the Constitution Article 25 A, anytime soon in Pakistan, we must
debate and re-conceptualize what we mean by Education!!
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<br /><br />
</div>
</div>
Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-11544652292859972262013-12-02T06:15:00.001-08:002013-12-02T06:15:13.152-08:00LET US UNITE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
LET US UNITE !!<br />
<br />
Let Us Ignite<br />
Not the vehicles and industries outside<br />
But the passions hidden inside<br />
<br />
Let Us Torch<br />
Not the homes and possessions of our depressed fellows<br />
But the broken hearts that desperately wait for emboldening hope<br />
<br />
Let Us March<br />
Not into the towns and villages of our self-created enemies<br />
But into the dwelling within, that misses its lost companion in its quest for peace<br />
<br />
LET US UNITE !!</div>
Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-7112938818259016362013-05-20T02:25:00.010-07:002013-05-20T02:25:40.808-07:00FINDING MY SPACE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last three days have been very eventful and interesting.
It began with several Good Bye’s and hugs and kisses on the 16<sup>th</sup>
morning to submitting my visa document at the immigration and flying across the
border in less than two hours. Two hours might be enough to change
jurisdictions, alter the weather and time but the mind goes slow I guess; it
needed time to adapt and leave behind the fond moments spent which now will become
memories that I cherish !! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was received by my Maa and cousin Kabir and was in no time
on the wide roads of Karachi leaving behind the trafficked and hustling
bustling Mumbai. Meeting everyone at home was nice but somewhere I felt I am
still not with my physical presence... That vacuum passed by especially the
next day when early morning I was up for my duty – drive Bhabi and Priya to college.
That felt nice, I got time to chat with them and then </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
go and meet other
relatives as I always do <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pakistan is experiencing a new phase at present – “The
Historic Elections” and somewhere I felt I need to be a part of that and so I
did get the opportunity to join a talk show discussing the questions by the
youth for parliamentarians. The questions revolved around change and so did the
answers yet not many questions were asked and answered as to how that desired
change will be brought -> a culture of blame that has so deeply become
embedded in our society was reflected recurrently. But I must say, amongst all
of them there was one independent candidate who did make sense and was well
rooted in context when answering questions posed to him. I also asked a
question --- in respect to the misuse of Blasphemy Law but the answers fell
again all over the place. Post the talk show I got engaged in a deep discussion
with a lady about Islam and Pakistan !! I didn’t know if I should or should not
discuss the socially censored topic as this one but I went with the flow and it
felt nice somewhere that at least in some space this discussion arose and one
could share his/here views. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In some parts of Karachi re-polling was scheduled for the 19<sup>th</sup>
of May due to accusations of rigging. The area in which the civil society rose
against the unfair polling was majorly the elite residential units of Karachi
who for the first time gathered in favour of change and dared to challenge the dominant
party in Karachi that is armed to its teeth. Its’ a positive change in that
light however the grass is not green on the other side either. It is the formally
educated, well dressed, well spoken Imran Khan’s party PTI they vote for – who speaks
of Change but the vision is somewhere blurred and the facts speak for it – in Lower
Dir, one of the districts in Pakhtunkhwa where Imran Khan’s party won, a contract
was signed with the tribal elders a day before elections debarring women from
voting in the elections. If the road to democracy starts with a compromise of
fundamental rights I don’t know what change to expect. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next day I decided to experience the elections for
myself and chose to become the polling agent of one of the independent
candidates. In the evening I attended a briefing for the same and was excited
to be in the field the next morning. Same evening late at 11 pm a breaking news
flashed – breaking news comes every next 15 min in Karachi however some are of
more importance than the other. This one told about a senior most member of the
PTI being shot dead just in front of her house that is in the same area where
polling was to take place the next day. At 7 in the morning next day I was
ready to leave but met my father on the way out who shared his concern and
asked me not to go. It felt bad cause I had promised but situations sometimes do
alter your decisions – I chose not to go after discussing the many incidents my
father shared with me depicting the state of lawlessness and fear under which
Karachi stays a-live today. I don’t know the distinction between stupidity and
bravery – may be the line is too thin or may be we need more words in between
to fill in the grey area. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Amongst all the fears I fear most ‘the state of helplessness’
cause I feel that makes me feel unworthy and that’s not true !! So I accompanied
my father to the nearby park where he interacts with a nice group of senior
citizens who walk and do yoga together. That was fun – it was a mixed group –
Sindhi, Punjabi, Hindu, Muslim and may be Shia and Sunni also. The sects and
caste don’t matter when we are friends and may be that gives hope for a better
tomorrow. I also chose to pick up all the trash that came my way and hope to do
that everyday ... may be that’s my way of not feeling helpless and feel good so
that I can do more and contribute to my best... </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is lots more to learn, unlearn and understand here and
I hope I do that with a a calm and focused self --- and enjoy being in the
present as Shardamma says <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>
“Do not lament over the past or be anxious of the future – stay in the present”
</div>
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<br /></div>
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Lets’ Hope for the best !!!!! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
</div>
Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-87697405503001436802012-10-30T04:49:00.000-07:002012-10-30T04:49:05.503-07:00V for Vote not Van<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
1st Day at work: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reached the office around 10:00 am (fortunately its located
close to my house), met their team. Most of them belonged to Quetta and were
here for a short visit. Had a brief interaction; they asked me about TISS and
my field setting, earlier experience, etc. After that, they told me that today
after an hour their team will drive to Baluchistan to visit their centres. They
asked me to come along. I was confused and did not know what to do especially
after the conversation I had with my father yesterday. I had the opportunity to
meet each of the team members separately for info, hence I took this
opportunity and asked each of them whether I should come along or not. One said
you can, other said you should not, another said it is insecure but you decide.
I was still confused, so I spoke to Dr. Bakhteari and asked her the same. She
responded, "it is as insecure for us as for you". I think that answer
was satisfactory, or so I thought - called my father and told him that I am
going to Baluchistan (the closest city from Karachi) and will be back by night.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The journey was 2 hour long; yes when we reached the border
of Sindh and entering into Baluchistan there were quite many army men around
but it was nice, fresh air, outside the city and luckily no one stopped us, so
we reached the IDSP (Institute for Development Studies and Practice) Centre.
The journey was really informative, asked a lot of questions about Baluchistan.
I remember, we as a family often used to drive to Baluchistan a few years back and
used to travel into the north of this province - it was beautiful. But since
the conditions got worse, we haven't traveled in this region. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the centre everyone was really hospitable. We ate lunch
together - biryani :) They have two programs that they run from this centre
under the project ZAANTH (a Balochi term that means knowing). One is District
Professional Centre. The training is divided into three parts: computer skills,
English language and secretarial work; including skills like mobile repairing
and other. The purpose is to facilitate especially the drop outs and provide
them opportunity to work in the administrative section within companies and
organization. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The most interesting is their second program; Community
Learning Centre. These centres are
loacted in the villages within the community. Each district has 20 such centres
(10 for each gender). It works on the lines of the philosophy imbibed by IDSP;
critical pedagogy, influenced by works of scholars like Paolo Frère. I remember
study Frere and also including his work in my graduation project; but the
entire challenge is how does one use that in a creative manner. Hence I really
looked forward to visit the centre and interact with them. We went to a village
nearby and met the facilitator as well
as around 14 students. The teacher is selected from the same community, trained
for 6 days by IDSP and then conducts a 6 months course with the children of
that community. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The method of teaching is the most crucial part of the
entire program. Please Note: none of these kids have ever been part of any
formal education - age between 12 and 16 yrs old. The alphabets are not taught
they way they are in schools (A for apple and B for Banana). Instead each
alphabet is represented with a picture;
for example A for agriculture, N for Nasha. To come up with these words (called
as codes), the IDSP team had collected 1500 such codes from five districts of
Baluchistan via creating district literacy resource groups, comprising of
youth, committees, education department, politicians and social activist, who
suggested what is most crucial to the lives of these children. Each work comes
with a picture (code) (e.g. A for agriculture depicts an old man farming on a
land). Now the purpose of the facilitator is to facilitate children in decoding
this code. To decode this there are five steps:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .75in;">
1) Describe what you see in the
picture</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .75in;">
2) Have you seen it or
experienced it</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .75in;">
3) Why it happens (raise
concerning issues)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .75in;">
4) Identify those issues and
discuss and deliberate over them</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .75in;">
5) Outline an action plan
(awareness campaign, etc) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All these questions are asked keeping in mind the purpose to
highlight the social, economic and political significance of each term. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We visited a village in the vicinity, Ghot Gulsher (approx
20 km from the centre). There we sat in the CLC and interacted profoundly with
the facilitator Mr. Saddam Hussein and around 12-14 boys (age 10 - 16 yrs). The
interaction was about how the class is facilitated, what is taught, how long is
the course duration and how is the response. The seating was on the floor;
courses taught include mathematics and critical learning through alphabets. The
ZAANTH literacy book is used to facilitate where by students are asked to
decode each word. During interaction students were asked to share which code
they like the most and were countered with questions inciting their creative
capacity to respond from their experience. The students responded with
confidence and shared their insight; one student shared how learning about weights
made him aware that the shopkeeper cheats him by putting his hand on the weight
machine, hence increasing the cost; another students spoke about the code V for
Vote, explaining how vote is an important tool of power and taking the
minister's name said that if we vote we can hold him accountable if we do not
receive electricity in our village; another said U for urea, explaining the
benefits of organic farming and harmful effects of using pesticide. Also after
students learn, they then share their knowledge with the community at large by
visible representation and use of other mediums like telling jokes to first
attract attention. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This all happened in 6 months: It was wonderful to see these
kids speaking with such confidence and responding to our counter questions with
a critical mind. Amazing - I was really happy.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The same night I visited my cousins place - he studies in
8th grade in a private school. He had a test for elocution of a poem the next
day. So he was learning the exact words of the poem and reciting them
without understanding a word. I was
astonished hence I asked: What will happen in the test. he said we will be
asked to stand up and speak out a poem we have learnt. I asked him will you
have tell what teh poem says. He said no, the test is for elocution hence that
is not required. I asked him, if he had a similar test in the past. He said
yes, and told me that he scored 2.5 out of 3. So i requested him to tell me
that poem and the meaning. He knew the entire poem word by word but had no idea
what it meant. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Its' ridiculous if children do not know what they are
speaking and marked an A grade. We did practice the entire poem understanding
word by word ... but i really dont understand how they are teaching kids.
Especially after visiting that village where I witnessed how much capacity
children have and can learn if facilitated correctly. </div>
</div>
Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-67281392604482211402012-09-09T05:16:00.000-07:002012-09-09T05:16:25.614-07:00Fear Within<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today an incident took place when I was walking towards the
station in Byculla after visiting the Byculla District Prison. Outside a school
gate on the footpath (only for pedestrians) I witnessed a scuffle between a mid-aged
woman and a young man on his bike. The woman stood in front of his bike
restricting him from using the footpath asking him to use the road if he wishes
to ride the bike. The young man refused to obey her request and responded with
rage ordering her to get out of his way or else he will not be responsible if
she is hurt. The argument heated up with constant exchange of words. The woman
was a teacher and her students were standing nearby including other bystanders;
school watchman and I.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She requested her students to come support her and stand
next to her reminding them to be courageous and do what is right. Many faced
their head down and none of us came ahead!! At the same time the young man on the
bike continued to threaten the teacher to hurt her if she refuses to move and
exhibited anger by pressing the accelerator and moving the bike an inch back
and fro. A few students were standing next to the woman, fearing the man would
run over the bike, they moved. The man tried to use that space but nothing seemed
to hinder the woman’s assertion and she held the steering and stopped him.
Thank fully the drama ended when two mid-aged men walked towards the young man
(he knew them) and asked him to use the road. The woman asked her students to
promise not to do the same when grow older and said to the guard and others, “this
is the respect you give me after teaching here for 15 years”, and walked away. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was standing right there but acted just like any other
bystander and did not have the courage to step ahead and support her cause.
Many thoughts went by, I knew what was the right thing to do but my body
seemingly was handicapped by the fear of unknown or unexpected. I study social
work in a reputable institute, day in and day out talk about individual
responsibility and how change can come if we act. Somewhere I feel I and many
others have got so used to analyse situations, rationalize them and use
politically correct words to escape responsibility. Maybe analysing is good and
vital and what TISS is teaching is profoundly essential however only reading the
laws and pointing out the loopholes is not enough unless I rid myself of the
fear lying within me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I looked back at this incident a video (PSA) came to my
mind that I had recently viewed. It depicted a traffic jam in Mumbai when it
was hard hit by rain. But the traffic jam was not due to the rain, it was
because a huge tree log had fallen out of it place restricting the traffic from
moving. On the other side of the road a police car was stationed with police officers
resting their head on the steering wheel. While everyone sitting in the car
caught in traffic was abusing the state authorities, a child wearing a school
bag on his back walked towards the log and tried to single handedly push it out
of the way. Witnessing this act of courage many stepped out of their vehicles
and supported – mission accomplished, advertisement ended with a melodious song
praising nationalist feelings. I remember I and many others liked this video,
shared it with friends and it spread like a viral on social networking sites.
We all discussed about it and felt good !!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But today I knew when I should have acted I refused to do
so. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope I overcome this fear within me the next time!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
</div>
Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-59110534640818797502012-06-03T09:36:00.000-07:002012-06-03T09:36:44.018-07:00A New World<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has been an amazing week working for the project “Deaf
Reach”. I volunteered in an organization that teach the deaf and mute
children mostly from the underprivileged background. The deaf world is a
completely different world that needs to be experienced more than learnt about.
Although I did not get an opportunity to interact with them much, yet since a
classroom was situated next to the office, whenever I stepped out through the
back door I had a dazzled look on my face watching in front of me a class going
on of over 25 students with Pin Drop Silence. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was taken onboard to plan out activities for their
upcoming Summer Camp. My past volunteer and workshop experiences came out very
handy helping me plan different kinds of creative activities including theatre,
dance and ice-breaking exercises. However the major inhibition I felt was to
modify these exercises and create new ones to meet the needs of the deaf and
mute. Sound plays a vital role in my life and its’ difficult to imagine a life
without it be it in the form of music or normal conversations. I started off by
throwing random questions at the co-mates working in the organization: “how do
they introduce themselves or call out a persons’ name”, I asked. The response
was: whenever they meet a new person they create a sign for him/her keeping the
first alphabet constant and making a sign that is most appropriate to the
person’s personality trait. Very interesting !! So whenever you meet a deaf
person for the first time be sure you act nice cause your name’s sign will be created
keeping your personality trait in mind <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Planning exercises for them was a lot of fun and we as a
team delved into many thought provoking discussions sometimes imagining a world
where deafness was normal and hearing was not. The word ‘abnormal’ is so
commonly used by us to prohibit undesired actions and to frame a section of
society as disabled however if one ponders through, it is only a matter of
perspective and the majority (whoever it may be) has always endeavoured to
legitimatize their actions as norms. The history of deaf is no different than that
of other underprivileged sections of world society who had to experience many pains
before they could unleash the shackles of their imprisonment. Deaf persons,
like the indigenous in America, untouchables in India and women throughout the
world, had to face the consequences of being so called ‘abnormal’ until they
empowered themselves by introducing their own language, their colleges and
universities and associations at the national level in states like the US to
lobby for their rights and ensure that suitable laws were passed and
implemented. This fight continues today in many countries (including Pakistan) where
to date deafness is made fun off and words like ‘dumb’ are associated with
stupidity. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Recently most of the workshops I have attended focus a lot
on body movements enabling the participants to make use of their body as a tool
of expression. In that regard planning
theatre exercises for the deaf kids was not too difficult. Mime is quite a
challenging task for actors since there is no use of sound and the expressions
have to be really loud. However I realized that these children are socially
conditioned to use their body to communicate in daily lives hence for them
communicating their message via mime is like a natural talent they possess. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All in all, in this limited time I was fortunate to be
introduced to the ‘deaf world’ and I am sure the volunteers for the Summer Camp
would learn much more from the kids than vice versa. </div>
</div>Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825456816722112882.post-35952637943271102402012-04-01T01:54:00.000-07:002012-04-01T01:54:52.994-07:00Khula Aasman Band Kamre Mein<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <title></title> <style type="text/css">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Reflecting on 'self' rather than 'others' is the new mantra; all motivational speakers be them religious or agnostic, have used this mantra as a guideline to unveil the secret of happiness. Although listening to such inspirational speakers is a liberating experience it is seldom manifested in practice. Kolkota Sanved commendably managed to fill this vacuum by encouraging participants to use the best resource humans are bestowed with – the body.</div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sanved is a prestigious organization that first used this therapy with rescued victims of trafficking and sexual abuse. These individuals were abandoned by society and stigmatized with various names. They lead their lives in destitution, hating their body since each part of it was assaulted not once but many times. In such circumstances this group of young dedicated individuals successfully helped them break the stigma and relive their bodies. </span></span></span> </div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The two day 'Dance Movement Therapy' workshop was conducted in the Common Room, TISS Main Campus, organized by Khula Aasman. Akin to all other workshops the day began with mild gestures, short conversations and eyes searching for resemblances in the surrounding faces. This awkward situation ended soon - an ice breaking exercise was conducted where all participants had to call each person’s name one at a time. The participants included teachers, counsellors, professionals and students. All in their routine chores were either used to command or in the latter case obey orders from their superiors. To such a disciplined group who was used to structure and form, if asked to move their body the way 'they wish' was certainly a challenge. At first instance, all stood staring at each other waiting for some kind of lead / instruction however to no avail.</span></span></span></div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It took time but soon all participants succeeded in letting themselves go free and allowing their bodies to submit joyfully to the different beats of music. Starting with an exercise of shouting deafeningly 'Ja Ja' to let go of the fears and negative thoughts that restrict them, followed by many exercises that energized them. And once exhausted, the helplessly lying bodies on the floor were treated with meditation accompanied by the exquisite poetry of Rabindranath Tagore in the voice of Indranil Sen.</span></span></span></div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The first day ended with a writing session where each participant was asked to share their views. This was what I shared:</span></span></span></div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"> </span> </div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Space is not what I look for</span></span></span></div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> It is the free space I search for</span></span></span></div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> And surprisingly so, I can't find it in the so called 'public space'</span></span></span></div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Where I can find it is in a 10" by 10" feet classroom</span></span></span></div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Where doors and windows are robustly shut</span></span></span></div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.27cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Where no one can enter to enslave me, discipline me, teach me humanity and deprive me of my very 'self'</span></span></span></div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Only behind these closed doors can I breathe fresh air</span></span></span></div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> As if that air was concealed within me waiting to break the shackles of discipline</span></span></span></div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.27cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Only then I find myself, who neither wishes to be good nor bad, right nor wrong but just 'myself' </span></span></span> </div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This blissful experience made me realize how much we have neglected the role of music, dance and other forms of art when educating ourselves. Our identities today have been carefully formulated around region, race and faith which then strictly observe our actions and set norms as to what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’. In this unprecedentedly politicized era, religion and nationality have been deeply manipulated to serve the interests of few and alienate the masses from their own natural self. Music and dance are such beautiful platforms to express emotions and convey messages that reach masses and leave a strong imprint. It is but natural for a child to move his/her body when music plays, then why inhibit this emancipatory exercise in the name of ‘God’. </span></span></span> </div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is ironic to observe how each one of us fears his/her neighbour knowing not how they will judge them. Due to this concern the facilitators had ensured that there were no observers hence no one felt threatened of being judged. Also realized how easily feelings have been undervalued in the name of rationality; preconceived notions of right and wrong have restricted each one of us to express ourselves freely.</span></span></span></div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The secret of happiness is not hidden in a treasure box but is within. We all need to explore that child within us who fears not and enjoys the process of every task rather than worry about the end result.</span></span></span></div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br />
</div><div lang="en-IN" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This workshop was an enriching exercise where I got the opportunity to learn from all the participants. Each one of us brought with themselves a unique package of experience and learnings and thanks to the conducive environment we were able to share our thoughts and more importantly 'fears' with each other. By the end of two funfilled days, one feeling was common amongst all – We Felt Free and Good !!</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div></div>Pinjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808539025547209660noreply@blogger.com0