A Random Day-Off from Work

Taking a day off from a busy schedule has a lot of positives. Our daily busy routines consumes more than just our time. It includes health, family time, social life, and other important aspects of life. While going through the same stuff daily causes us to overlook important details embedded. It’s like our minds get frozen in time and our brains stop telling us from right to wrong. This goes on for a while and then we become oblivious from the fact that we might have turned into robots. 

A daily work routine starts from getting up early in the morning at the same time, driving to work on the same route and vice versa. I think this routine gets so mechanical that we could precisely predict how long each one of these items would take us to accomplish our work. The driving back and forth to work also gets so mechanical in nature that we don’t miss a beat with the route that we take to work.

However, taking a random day off from work gets us out of this mechanical routine. The day starts with not waking up at the same time in the morning. This out-of-routine itself has a soothing affect on mind and body. The mind first tries to adjust to the daily routine mode and then relaxation takes over. Sleeping for an hour or two extra on these days off also relaxes the body. The sleep-deprived brain and body does not function to its capacity. Therefore, it is essential that once in a while, we do get a chance to sleep for extra few hours.

The day runs with breakfast late, relaxing our moods, doing our favorite chores and once in a while, lowering downs our guards. These out-of-routine activities help the mind get the bearings back to zero. That way, the mind gets to work in a natural way, the way it is supposed to, rather than a mechanical way. Playing and talking with the kids, spending quality time with the family, reading and finishing the books, and just taking it easy the good ol’ fashioned way, really helps in getting out of the rut.  

Getting to work the next day does not seem old after that day. The work itself looks new after the mind and body are rested well. Spending time in the office does not get on the nerves. And dealing with co-workers gets better too. 

It is important to maintain a balance between work and life. The work should not consume our life. That is why there are normal working hours. We are responsible for work between these hours only. Also, this work was going on before we were here and this will go on after we have left this place. Therefore, we should only worry about to an extent. The kids will not remain kids forever. Once they grow up, they will get busy in their lives and they won’t have time for us, like we don’t have time for them now. Our health will not remain the same if we didn’t take good care of it. So try to take advantage of all these luxuries while we have them. Think outside the box. That way we will function better and outputs will improve if we maintain a healthy balance between our work and life. And keep our priorities in order too.

Positive Change in the Society

There have been quite an extensive discussions going on in Pakistan in terms of change these days. People are quite determined to change themselves in many ways. There is a big talk about political change. Our social fabric, communication systems, media, judiciary, public and private sector and most importantly, our mindset in general are experiencing change.

Generally speaking, as a society, we have been stagnant and accepted status quo as a chosen way. There was a student revolution back in the 70’s which brought us many changes. There were a few things which changed including our political system, and to some extent, media got its feet firmly on the ground. Then came the 80’s and freedoms of expression and speech were discouraged and any discontent and resentment were fiercely handled. In the 90’s, things slowly back tracked to the 70’s level, when politically people were free to voice their opinions. But that was still the period of infancy for our society. People were trying to learn to balance their opinions and not to step overboard too much. There could be several reasons and one of them could be to protect this luxury back in the society. 

Either way, the society needs a way to express itself. This is like a pressure cooker. The cork of the pressure needs to be loosened if the pressure builds itself up. Otherwise, the pressure cooker will burst open.

Then came the new millennium decade, and things were still tight but media came around. This was again a slow process. Along came mobile phones and internet communications. Things moved along with time. It seems like, besides political parties, the society has again found its voice in the form of media. There are still certain things which are out of bound for media to express freely on the electronic media. The society also shows its support for media by taking keen interest and participation. The society has always been very involved in the betterment of the country. But it was hard to take command of the destiny of the country.

This time it seems like all the branches of the administration have submitted to the authority of the people of this country. That is why everybody is trying to please and wooing the society. I think this is a big change for us. The vibrant and dynamic media has made it possible for us to decide what is better for the country. The society shows it’s pleasure or discontent right away with text messages, SMS, phones, internet, live phone calls and several other ways to participate whether the authorities made the right decision or not. I think this is a very positive change. 

I am positive that as we move along with time, we will see things happening for the better for the society and our country. We will make progress in our political system and other important branches of the administration. People will come around to see how much power they yield and what laws exist in our constitution for us. That is why, the realization of the fact that, the public, is the real authority in our country, will change things for the better.

Community Developing

Back in good ol’ days, the villagers would gather around a fire in the winter on charpoys, with smoking sheesha and talk about their daily activities, issues, concerns, and discuss anything from local or international topics. They would talk about anywhere from where to get a good fodder for their calves to how the second world war is being conducted in Germany. Many of their internal feuds, problems and concerns would be resolved right at that place amicably. Also, many of their concerns were answered and they would leave that place with satisfaction.

Even though many circumstances have been changed since, however, the villages still try to gather around in the evenings to talk about different things. These evening gatherings serves more of an institution to learn and resolve complex issues. Second, these gatherings also provide a venue for these villagers to vent out any frustrations and irratants in their lives. No wonder the villagers have longer life span than city dwellers.

The issues which are discussed and talked about in these groups also help them to stem out any differences among them before the issues can become ‘real’ problems. 

One of the dillemas with living in the city is that city dwellers don’t find time to gather in the evenings. Time is a precious commidity in the city. Everybody is pretty occupied with various things. There are other gadgets which keep them busy too. Plus the city life is so much busier than the village, that even the weekends are  planned ahead. Therefore, the communities don’t find time to share and discuss any emerging news, updates, issues, concens and don’t get to learn anything different other than being pre-occupied with their lives. 

In my opinion, the communities should work out a plan to have common gatherings and make it essential for everybody to attend these meetings. These small meetings can serve as a foundation stone for a common stand on an issue. These meetings would also show that the communities care about each other. Their children would get a chance to know and grow up together. Their families would know who to turn to for help. And more importantly, the communities would benefit as the proverb goes, “two heads are better than one.”

A Maverick I Know (iii)

Since Makhdoom sahab had moved into Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), people from both sides of the aisle have contacted me to either express their pleasure or hatred of the decision. Some people, especially the younger lot, is quite confident that he has made the right choice at the right time. Some older hands severely reprimanded this choice. Both sides have a valid reason to support their argument. Both sides are very charged up to show their love or displeasure. But both sides love this man. The reason they are all expressing their opinions about him is because they care about him, no matter which party he joins. 

There were several times when Makhdoom sahab mentioned to me that he had been sidelined by the party for good. The party leadership does not give him his rightful place in the ranks. He could have easily retired from the politics and nobody would really care about it in the party leadership. But the only reason, he is still given importance in the meetings and a seat right next to the top leadership is because the party workers demand that for him.

I have been contacted by people not only from Kot Addu and Multan but also from abroad. Some of his class and prison fellows have also contacted me to express their opinions in this regard. I am truly touched and humbled by this huge following. 

I know Hashmi sahab has spent almost all of his adult life in politics which spans over 40 years. He started his politics back in the University of Punjab as a student leader. And he has seen all kinds of ups and downs in his career. And he has been in the news on and off for all these years. When I was getting married, he was in Kot Lakhpat prison in Lahore. I had arrived from the U.S. just a couple of days before my wedding. He called me the next day and told me that he is really happy for me and really wanted to be part of the wedding. But, he continued, he would not be able to attend the function because he does not want to request the dictator for attending the wedding ceremony. That is why he won’t be joining us but his prayers will be with us all the way. I know certainly that I would have been much happier if my father-in-law would have been attending the ceremony but I also did not want him to bow down and lay down his principles for this. So I said that I totally understand what he was saying and I am with him on this. 

The following day, as we approached Multan with barat, we were informed that Hashmi sahab had been released on parole and will be arriving at Multan airport for this function. The rest is history that many of the journalists, media persons and politicians from all kinds of backgrounds joined us to show their solidarity with Hashmi sahab for standing his ground in respite of all kinds of hardships.  

The history will be a better judge of the decision that he took of joining the PTI. When he asked my opinion, I told him that I was sure that he would have thought on all angles before coming up to this decision. Both way, I understood and I am with him on this all the way.

A Maverick I Know (ii)

On my wedding day, Mian Hamza Shahbaz, son of Mian Shahbaz Sharif offered Makhdoom sahab Rs.100,000.00 as a ‘salami’. Makhdoom sahab plucked Rs.1000.00 out of that bundle and returned the rest to Mian sahab. And he added that I have taken only the amount which I am able to pay you back.

Over the years, I learnt how he operated on different levels in terms of relationships, politics, and various other affairs of his life. We are all muslims and we all believe in the conviction of our religion. I am still trying to grasp the extent of conviction of Makhdoom sahab in Allah. I have seen him time and again taking a bold decision first and believing that Allah will definitely succeed him in his endeavors. And Allah has always helped him to withstand the extreme pressures of this life. 

During the last few years, I have been surprised by his quietness and trying to put on a brave face in difficult situations. I must admit that I can be a cruel questionnaire some times. On various occasions, I asked him hard questions pertaining to him, his political party and the party leadership. He always tried to defend his party and the leadership. Like one time at the wedding of my younger sister-in-law, I inquired him if he had invited the party leadership? He said that he had extended the invitation to them. But he did not insist on them to be there since they were quite occupied by other important affairs of the province and country. You see, for a political layman like me, I would not understand why the party leadership could not find a few precious hours for a party worker who had spent several precious years of his life in prison for them. But I had a hunch that something was really killing him inside. 

Another time, when he had suffered brain hemorrhage, and was in ICU of General Hospital, Lahore, Mian Nawaz Sharif visited him. I could see how keen he was to receive him. It had been a few days for him that the hemorrhage had affected his speech badly. He had tried to speak earlier but could not utter a single word. And when Mian Nawaz Sharif showed up, for the first time since his hemorrhage, he uttered several words to show Mian sahab how glad he was to see him. Even the doctors present in that room were quite surprised with that effort. 

At a different occasion when Mian sahab spent a few days in Bahawalpur for hunting, I had a chance to visit Hashmi sahab. It was after he had suffered the hemorrhage. We talked about different things and I mentioned to him that Mian sahab was staying in Bahawalpur, which is hardly an hour and half drive from Multan. He tried to ignore the presence of Mian sahab in the adjacent city and moved to a different topic quickly, not giving me a chance to ask him the obvious question. Nonetheless, I could see he was hurt.

A Maverick I know

I met him the first time when I was in fifth class. His mother-in-law had passed away. My female family members wanted to visit their place for condolences. Every able man in my family was busy to accompany them. So they took me along with them for this visit. I guess at that age, you don’t have any choice.

Once we got there, I paid my condolences to a close relative for passing away of their family member. As we were waiting for my family members, we were informed about ‘his’ arrival. I was taken to meet with him. When I was introduced to him about who I was, I remember his words. He said, “I know him.” I was stunned. I thought to myself, how could he possibly know me? I have met him the first time in my life and I am hardly ten years old. Anyways, after spending a few more minutes with him, we departed their place.

The next time I met him was on my wedding day. In fact, I was marrying his daughter. As mentioned above, we had only one meeting in my life. But he still took this bold decision to trust his instincts. And this time when someone asked him, “have you known him before?” He said, “Yes. I know him quite well.” 

He is no other than Makhdoom Javed Hashmi. To begin with, we both are Qureshi Hashmi, so we are both connected there. But more recently, there have been very close marriages between our families. But in our culture, people do take keen interest in people and families where their daughters are getting married. Like all his daring political decisions and moves, and practically living on the edge, he didn’t even try to do his ‘research’. Now that I have known him for a while, I know for sure that he couldn’t have researched even if anybody would have asked him to conduct one. Once he makes up his mind, he does not go back on his words, no matter what. 

Second, he is a very straight-faced and forward person. He does not mince his words to put a rosy picture. He will tell you in direct words to make you aware of the situation. I remember that when I was thinking of moving back to Pakistan, I thought of discussing with him too. He told me that the decision would not be an easy one. I would have to make some sacrifices. May be life would not be exactly like the U.S. There will be a few difficulties on the way too. And your lifestyle graph will be zero, maybe negative, before you get somewhere. But once you make that leap and come out of the adjustment period, you will come out of that cycle with flying colors. 

And so far things have been exactly how he predicted. There were many individuals who told me otherwise and showed me gloomy and depressing picture that nothing works in Pakistan and all is bad here.

I don’t write politically-motivated articles in my blogs, and this one is no different. But I am guilty by association this time. And Makhdoom sahab has joined Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaaf officially recently. So more on this in the coming days. Stay tuned.