Siliconstani is an identity representing Silicon Valley denizens or those associated with the High-Tech "Stan" (persian for land or place), though it could also refer to the SiliconValley-Pakistani ...
It was a great honour to have been invited into the Bar Room of the Sindh High Court Karachi earlier today. Upon entering the Bar Room there is a huge plack listing past and present presidents and secretaries of the Sindh High Court Bar Association. There were many familiar names amongst whom were Barrister Hassan Ally A Rahman and his younger brother Barrister Tufail A Rahman who also served as Chief Justice for Sindh and Balochistan, and also presided upon the the Hamidurrahman commission post East Pakistans succession from West Pakistan.
It was an awe inspiring moment to walk the halls of the Sindh High Court, step in to the Bar Room where normally only advocates of the court are allowed to enter. This room has been witness to history as it unfolded way before the formation of Pakistan. Then to read the names of my maternal grandfathers on the plack further brought the whole experiece home.
Lincoln --the movie -- an apt portrayal of a democracy's inner workings -- messy as it may seem -- through compromise righteousness ultimately wins -- benefiting the nation and its citizens in the long run.
A befitting movie to watch on the eve of when the first democratically elected government in Pakistan gets to complete its 5 year term by constitutionally relinquishing power to a caretaker government on the 15th day of March 2013.
President Lincoln had a bloody civil war -- today in a manner of speaking Pakistan is engulfed in a bloody idealogical civil war -- similar in meaning to the American Civil War.
Merry Christmas to all and Happy Birthday Mr Jinnah - deeply sorry to how "we" have ruined and misconstrued your vision of a secular Republic Of Pakistan. A nation where the interests of all faiths, ethnicity, and cultures are secure under a single federated national umbrella. Hope someday, soon we can get it right! RIP Sir.
Cross-posting from my Facebook Status dated 25th December, 2012, Karachi
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You'd imagine someone from a poor background earning barely enough (~$100/mon) to support a family of 7 would be glad to have access to a decent and free Government School near his home. But no, the attitude that kids will only go the best or not go is prevalent at all levels of Pakistani society.
There is one individual with 6 six kids who go for private tuitions to learn Quran. But are not going to school as the tuition and admission fee is to high. Whereas the Government School near his house is free. I cited an example of another boy who just got his Metric through that same school, and now is en-route to doing his Inter.
Seriously, makes me wonder. Here you are with an opportunity to get your 6 kids educated - okay fine it's not the best school in the world, but it's decent enough for them to atleast become literate and maybe pass their Metric, more than what you had.
Government Schools, whatever one says about them however horrible the conditions do work - kids can get an okay education, enough to help their families out of poverty. And these schools are FREE.
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Muj Se Pehli Si Mohabat Merey Mehboob Na Mang: This is a famous ghazal by Faiz Ahmed Faiz. It is one of my favorite songs/poems by Faiz. Typically most of us have heard it sung by Madam Noor Jahan's. However recently via a friend's Facebook wall I heard it sung by a somewhat unknown artist, or perhaps she is unknown to me named Sheelo Khan.
Mujhe Se Pehli Si Mohabbat
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Maine samjha tha ke tu hai to darakhshaan hai hayyaat Tera gham hai to sham-e-dahar ka jhagra kya hai Teri soorat se hai aalam mein baharon ko sabaat Teri aankhon ke siwa dunya mein rakha kya hai
To jo mil jaye to taqdeer nigoon ho jaye Yun na tha maine faqat chaha tha yun ho jaye Aur bhi dukh hain zamane mein mohabbat ke siwa Rahatein aur bhi hain wasl ki raahat ke siwa
Jism nikaley hue amraaz ke tannuuron se Peep behti hui jaltey hue naasuuron se Laut jaati hai udhar ko bhi nazar kya ki jiye Ab bhi dilkash hai tera husn mager kya ki jiye
Aur bhi dukh hain mohabbat ke dukh ke siwa Rahatein aur bhi hain wasl ki raahat ke siwa
Mujhse pehli si mohabbat mere mehboob na maang
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Don’t Ask Me Now, Beloved
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Don’t ask me now, Beloved, for that love of other days When I thoughy since you were, life would always scintillate That love’s pain being mine, the world’s pain I could despise That your beauty lastingness to the spring would denote, That nothing in the world was of worth but your eyes; Were you to be mine, fate would bow low before me. It was not so; it was only my wish that it were so; Other pains esist than those that love brings, Other joys than those of lover’s mingling. Dark fareful talisman, come down the centuries, Woven in silk and damask and cloth of gold; Bodies that everywhere in streets sold Covered with dust, all their wounds bleeding.
Bodies that have passed through the furnace of ills With putrid ulcers which their humours spills. How can I but turn my eyes sometimes that way? Your beauty is still ravishing, what can I say?
Other pains exist than those that love brings, Other joys than those of lovers’ mingling. Don’t ask me now, Beloved, for that love of other days.
Siliconstani is the blog name that emerged out of the concept of representing the Silicon Valley Pakistani and representing a global community whom are professional rooted in Silicon Valley, yet ethnically and ideologically have roots in the regions in and about Pakistan. Siliconstani was founded by Abdulrahman Rafiq in February of 2006 with the first post on social innovation.
