"Thou should never get drowned by miseries, thou should adore relishing thy life appreciating the responsibilities" -Waqas Khan
:-)
£ive True!
£ive Original!
:-)
£ive True!
£ive Original!
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
A quote
An absolute state of my mind and Heart!
"Ba jurrat Qalb hai mera, Bahr-e-Ishq mai doobh Gaya;
Waqas Kh'an
Courageous is my heart, it drowned deep in the ocean of Love.
The Search is confined for that Oyster, whch will labour forth my pearl"
Let wind carry my words!
"Ba jurrat Qalb hai mera, Bahr-e-Ishq mai doobh Gaya;
faqat wo Kastoora talaash hai, ataa kare Jo Moti mera"
Waqas Kh'an
Courageous is my heart, it drowned deep in the ocean of Love.
The Search is confined for that Oyster, whch will labour forth my pearl"
Let wind carry my words!
Benediction for Muslim Ummah
Allahumman suril Mujahideen fil falasteen, Allahumman suril Mujahideen fi sheshan, wa fi khorasan, wa fi kuli maqaam.!
Allahumma anzil ala yahudu fil Israela ba'sa kallazi la taruduhu anil qaumil jabireena wal mushrikeen!
Allahumman suril islama nasran azizaa waftahlahu fatham mubina wa qareeba!
...
Allahummar ruzka shahadata fi sabilik!
Allahumma atina khilafah ala minhajin nubuwwah fil bakistani ma'a kashmir awwalan wa baadi kulli maqama minaddunya!
Ameen ya rabbal Alameen!
Allahumma anzil ala yahudu fil Israela ba'sa kallazi la taruduhu anil qaumil jabireena wal mushrikeen!
Allahumman suril islama nasran azizaa waftahlahu fatham mubina wa qareeba!
...
Allahummar ruzka shahadata fi sabilik!
Allahumma atina khilafah ala minhajin nubuwwah fil bakistani ma'a kashmir awwalan wa baadi kulli maqama minaddunya!
Ameen ya rabbal Alameen!
In Solidarity with Gaza
In solidarity with Gaza.
Oh cold puffs of vale, convey our painful tale.
To the earth of palestine,
Oh cold puffs of vale, convey our painful tale.
To the earth of palestine,
where Quds does shine.
There Gaza is bleeding peace,
and we too aren't at ease.
I wish I could share your bullets and pain,
Alas! My brother I am too tied in chain!
Labaik Ya ikhwan fil Islaam
Naseeruna Rabul kaabatul Haraam.
By Waqas Kh'an
There Gaza is bleeding peace,
and we too aren't at ease.
I wish I could share your bullets and pain,
Alas! My brother I am too tied in chain!
Labaik Ya ikhwan fil Islaam
Naseeruna Rabul kaabatul Haraam.
By Waqas Kh'an
Friday, 16 November 2012
For a teacher.
It is hard to introspect a girl through the eyes of a boy like me. Be it, a teacher, a friend or my siblings, as I have always taken this subject of quite meager concern. But, I find a persona of a teacher through my profound vision. I like the ways she glitters herself with her cheering nature. The way she speaks seems the pearls being taken out of the shells. The way she scents feels like the flowers perspire musk in the hot summer. The way she walks on surface seems so serious from her posture-so stalwart, but rarely successful in ignoring my glossy innocent catch. the way she stops, Wow! turns the air around to have a solid face. She looks so soft by heart yet strengthening others. She makes us to learn in ways she changes her attire.
Mine concern may not touch your life, but yours is making for me.
I must admit, "I like a teacher who gives me something to take home to think about besides homework"
Who is a human being?
Human being is titled as the “crown of
creation”. God created this creation with intention to represent his mighty
attributes in the world. A creation infused with two basic instincts; will and
Conscience. Creation that lives under the sun is the reflection of God’s
supreme might. It is the God’s representative and the partner of devil as well.
A human being is most complex creation on the surface of earth to define. The
creation questioned by the angel and envied by the devil. He is sometimes epitome
of cruelty and at times an ocean of forgiveness
Human
isn’t not mere a creation of flesh and bones. Talking human being as the bundle
of emotions and feelings; it is the only being that has got mental faculty to
understand, comprehend and judge between right and the wrong. This rarity of
status is only given to human beings. The six basic emotions a person possesses
are love, hatred, sadness, happiness, anger and fear. Hidden or expressed, man
always has some kind of emotions alive in him. Emotions can be negative and
positive as well. Negative emotions have an unhealthy impact on one’s life. It
can make him isolated and forlorn. If the emotions are positive, it plays a
great role to make human’s life peaceful and successful.
A creation, that plays a benevolent
for the world in shapes of prophets; and at moments malevolent in shapes of
Hitlers. It is a herculean task to expound a human being completely.
Understanding a human being through the eyes of relationship, we come to know
that a human being plays numerous roles. A mother is a human being who keeps
her child in her womb for nine months for the sake of that relationship which
is bonded with a feeling called love. The father, who fosters his child, makes
his child the prime motive of his life. We have numerous examples of the
bondage of relations that makes human peerless from others.
There
are essential elements that comprise the personality of a human being. The
major three can be said as-the wit, heart and soul.
Human is differentiated by another godly gift
from other creation-wit. It is the wit that has made him to conquer the world.
It is the wit that has enabled him to rule the creation mightier than him. It
is his wit that made him to play God at times. Humans have the ability to transform
the world through this robust wit.
The
heart is the dwelling place of the human beings. It is this heart which makes
him to receive the emotions. It is heart which is said to make human, a human.
The expounder and imbiber of emotions is the heart. The heart makes a man to
get accustomed with different emotions and feelings. If heart ceases to act
human, we can’t be human.
The
soul mainly refers to the two fundamental instincts or intuition that God infused
in a human- will and conscience. The ‘will’ powers and enables a human being to
be free to make judgements to distinguish between right and wrong. Conscience
is the other instinct that God induced in a human. It is the conscience that
pacifies a human on doing good and maligns him on doing bad. In crux, it can be said that human
being is the visualization of God’s supreme intellect and wisdom.
Synopsis of my next story ‘A Stone Pelter’
Synopsis of my next story ‘A Stone Pelter’
This non-fiction story
does toil to reflect the shift in the way of insurgency and upshot of its
exploited laborers. The story is about a boy, Burhan, born in 1990 in the month
of Mirwaiz Molvi Mohmmad Farooq’s assassination. Since his childhood, he grew
up with lullabies and tales of Azaadi,
in the core of Srinagar- Mujahid Manzil.
He has been passionate, as any other youth of Shahre Khaas-down town, about struggle of freedom. He has been all
agog for an occasion to bear out his passion since he put to think. Through a
peer, he starts visiting office of Tahreek-e-Hurriyat
(G) in 2006 and gets motivated and imbibed with the Pro- Islamic Ideology
for freedom struggle. The ideology would be so enthusiastic for a Muslim
teenaged boy, as to put his life on peril. He gets the opening in 2006 protests,
the agitation where people were protesting against Afzal Guru’s death penalty
by the supreme court of India. This was a time when armed struggle was at its
low ebb; and the era had reverted to stone pelting. Burhan commences his
activity in stone pelting in 2006 and sustains it, till he gets arrested by the
state police on 9th July 2010.-the year of new Intifada in Kashmir.
After his arrest, he gets barred in nearest police station at Maharaj Gunj
where from he is shifted to many other police stations for FIRs, investigations
and interrogations. Stone in his hand eventually makes his arrival at the
central jail of Srinagar. Although, he feels himself relieved from the torture
of state police; but is often haunted by the walls of the Jail which stands in
front of him like a leviathan. He meets many veteran Pro freedom leaders, his
contemporary stone Pelters, and Mujahideen
of Kashmir in prison. He comes across some non Kashmiri militants from Pakistan
and Afghanistan in jail, which makes him to feel proud about his being in jail.
The silence and solitude of jail puts him to think about his exploitation. He is
reallocated to Rajouri District jail from Srinagar, where he encounters many
criminals. His shifts become usual, for he is called by JICs and interrogated.
Eventually, he gets released on 31st May 2011.
Although, completing his imprisonment with so
much of agony, Burhan is still jailed with memories.
Media Culturalist theory
One
of the most influential sociological perspectives that define the role of media
that exists is Culturalist theory. The theory is to an extent an inter-mediation between its co theories. In contrast to Limited effects theory and class
dominant theory, it makes the audience an active role player in media. It
speaks and exaggerates the significance of audience or onlookers in media. As
it propounds that the spectators are free to carve and derive the meaning out
of the content provided by the media. It contrast with the limited effects
theory on the bases that media does provide an opportunity to audience to be
the opinion leaders.
Secondly,
it says one strand focuses on the audience and there form of interaction with
media; and other strand of research focus on the makers and stake holders of
media. Theorists also laid stress over the active role played by the audience
by their choice for the content, as they have large variety and options to
choose what to watch and how much to watch. They have easy gadgets through
which they can easily stop the utilization of media or access to it. Linguists
has also pondered and thought about the concept of theories and has expounded
that end users or the audience interpret and understand differently as per
their own pondering and interpretation of the content they choose to watch.
Media Audience and its power
‘I don't want to be above my audience; I want to be one with my audience.’ –Katy Perry
INTRODUCTION
The study of audience has been always a subject of concern and high
value in both psychology and sociology.
The audience has been an inter-disciplinary area related to sociology,
psychology, anthropology, communication studies etc. It is of great
significance to study almost all the branches of social science to understand a
very profound concept- Audience. Mid 20th century has played a vital
role in expounding us the concept of audience. If we go through the literal
meaning of audience, we will find numerous definitions and explanations. To
define this broader term in crux is not fully possible as the meaning of audience
differs with the addresser as well. For example, to a writer, a reader is an audience;
to a speaker, an onlooker is the audience; to a teacher a student is the audience.
In gist, we can say a group of people that witness something becomes the audience.
The general understanding of audience is complex. Its concepts has been
categorized and classified under different areas. As far as our field is
concerned, we are much related to the concept of Media Audience. The
understanding of the concept of Media audience must be followed by the strength
it gained or does possess. Though, if in certain areas Media has weakened its audience
but has strengthened in many ways. It is Media that has made its audience to
mould the type of content they wish to watch. Commercialization and competition
has also helped Media Audience in gaining power. The ideas of good and needed
content demand rose, determining the power of Media Audience. The bills been
passed for the content betterment can justify the power of Media Audience. The
access of many elements of Media also gave numerous benefits to strengthen the audience.
Convergence made Media Audience so powerful that even gave rise to citizen Journalism.
The interactivity of Media, which is still, in progressing approach made Media Audience
to achieve and imbibe a lot of strength. To do justice with the theme-Audience
(Media) and its power, I have tried to define the things under the subheads
mentioned and summarized below:
1.
Definition and
introduction of Media Audience
2.
Media audience
and public opinion
3.
Media audience
and Agenda Setting
4.
Media audience
and Culturalist theory
Definition and introduction of Media Audience
The definition of Media audience depends on one’s own perspective
of the role of Media in a society. For example, if we take Media as means of
selling commodities and products, then our Audience is no one except the
potential consumers or the end users of that product; and if we take Media as a
means of social good, a public resource and a public service, then Media Audience
would be a community which is much concerned about their rights, duties,
freedom and other social values. On the other hand if Media is serving a
society with information, education and entertainment then Media Audience;
would be that chunk of people who are mainly related to that. Further, if Media
is propagating the ideologies, be it political, religious or social, the ‘Media
audience’ would be that group of people who wish to get accustomed to such
propagation. Thus, the definition of Media Audience itself cannot be specific
unless the Media as a term makes itself specific.
A Media audience
is not parallel as the audience of a political gathering or a theatrical
performance. Sociologists define this audience as conventionalized crowd. Whereas,
Media audience is more than a conventionalized crowd because Media audience is
collectivity of readers, listeners, onlookers, spectators at one place and even
sometimes at one time. Convergence can be held responsible to specify this
definition of Media audience. Media audience can be further classified as:
a)
Potential Media
Audience
b)
Target Media Audience
c)
Mass Media audience
Potential Media audience
Potential Media audience can be defined as that Media Audience
which is capable of utilizing the means and source of Media Addressers. These
are the undone products of a Media Stake holder or owner. The Media owner is
much concerned about the conversion of this potential Media audience to Target Audience.
Its rise and lengthening depends on transforming this potential Media Audience
into Target Audience.
Target Media Audience
Target Media Audience can be defined as that Media Audience which
is loyal and statistically set Audience for a Media Stakeholder or Media owner.
It is that chunk of Media Audience on which the survival of the Media Company
or Media source is depending. Mainly, the changes and variations are meant for
this group of audience to keep them loyal and all agog.
Mass Media Audience
The large number of audience which is free and flexible to every
element of Media is termed as Mass Media audience. Though, the above two types
are actually the outcome of the Mass Media Audience, but is necessary to note
that some of the sociologist have classified it differently as a kind of Media audience.
Media Audience and public opinion
The strength and power of Media audience can be understood by the
power gained by them for expressing their public opinion on a platform. As Media
is termed ‘the Forth Estate of Democracy’ it is actually in regard of Media audience.
The most important and valuable thing in a democratic setup of government is
freedom of speech and expression. Mere citizenship of a nation won’t be able to
consolidated the freedom of speech and expression, it is the being of Media Audience
which makes a person to have, to practice or to fight for his rights and public
opinion on a larger platform.
Media Audience and Agenda Setting
The term ‘Agenda setting’ was coined by Malcolm McCoombs and Donald
Shaw in 1976. They went to argue that ‘audience not only learn about public
issues and other matters through the Media; they also learn how much importance
to attach to an issue or topic from the emphasis the mass Media place upon it’.
This also gave rise to opinion leaders. The concept of opinion leaders can be
well understood by an example. Suppose, we have a person in our locale who
remains much concerned with the happenings of world affairs, and there are
people who don’t know or know little about the world happenings. The person who
is source full about the world news is taken more like a leader to set opinion
over his concern to world affairs and thus becomes an opinion leader for those
fellow beings of his society who are unaware of the world happenings. Thus, it
can be perceived that how Media audience strengthened themselves- through
Agenda setting, with the power of leadership and rye-makers. Opinion leaders or
in broader vision the Agenda setters not only strengthens the Media Audience
but also work hard for making the public opinion significant. The power of
these opinion leaders can be taken introspected at the canvassing for an
election by a candidate. This can be taken as an example of the power
inculcated in the Media audience.
Media and culturalist theory
One
of the most influential sociological perspectives that define the role of Media
Audience is Culturalist theory. The theory is to an extent an inter Mediation
between its co theories- the Limited-effects theory and the Class-dominant
theory. In contrast to Limited effects theory and class dominant theory, it
makes the audience an active role player in Media. It speaks and exaggerates
the significance of audience or onlookers in Media. As it propounds that the
spectators are free to carve and derive the meaning out of the content provided
by the Media. It contrasts with the limited effects theory on the bases that Media
does provide an opportunity to audience to be the opinion leaders. Culturalist
theory has played a vital role in defining the strength of Media audience. In
early time of press, there was not such strength in the Media audience. The
reason was less technological inclusion or advancement. The elements were
limited and the audiences were also limited. The theory developed in 1980s and
1990s. The proposing of this theory was the result of technological advance and
diversity in Media elements. Therefore, culturalist theorists claim that, while
a few elite in large corporations may exert significant control over what
information Media produces and distributes, personal perspective plays a vital
role in how the Media Audience interpret those messages.
Secondly, it says one strand focuses
on the audience and there form of interaction with Media; and other strand of
research focus on the makers and stake holders of Media. Theorists also laid
stress over the active role played by the audience by their choice for the
content, as they have large variety and options to choose what to watch and how
much to watch. They have easy gadgets through which they can easily stop the
utilization of Media or access to it. Linguists has also pondered and thought
about the concept of theories and has expounded that end users or the audience
interpret and understand differently as per their own pondering and
interpretation of the content they choose to watch.
Conclusion
The
conclusion can be drawn simply by making a contrast between a fellow who is
detached from Media and the one who is accustomed and acclimatized by the Media.
In other words we can say that to see a difference between citizens of a nation
who are not informed about the happenings, surroundings, contemporary issues
and those who are aware about everything mentioned; who will make a good nation
or who have the power and strength to make a good nation or to develop it? The
answer is obvious. It will be those who know. Media audience has always been
the mobilizing factor for any nation to develop and progress. It was the Media audience,
in the pages of history, who by the initiative of James Silk Buckingham made it
possible to bring social reforms and later the mobilization and revolution for
the freedom struggle in India. The askers and fighters for true Public opinion,
freedom of speech, freedom of expression and freedom of press has been always
those who made themselves genuine Media Audience. I leave reader with this
quote to ponder over:
‘It
requires wisdom to understand wisdom; the music is nothing if the audience is
deaf.’- Walter Lippmann
CONTRAST BETWEEN ASHOKA, MUGHAL AND EUROPEAN PRESS
CONTRAST
BETWEEN ASHOKA, MUGHAL AND EUROPEAN PRESS
If
we go through the journey of history, the emergence of press or its
commencement is seen in the Ashoka period and basic changes for its development
and progress in the Mughal period and its whole revolutionizing in the European
period. To make a contrast between the press of Ashoka, Mughal and European
regime, we have to first analyze what factors were responsible to influence,
develop, progress or change a basic system of media or press to such highly
principled profession. I have classified them and summarized them as under:
1. Political
influence
2. Social
influence
3. Economic
influence
4. Technological
influence
Let
us now briefly make a distinguishing of Ashoka, Mughal and European press under
the scanner of the upper mentioned influences and factors. If we observe the
Ashoka period, we can say that it was only meant for Govt. and emperor to frame
out policies; and also for keeping its courts informed about public demands and
needs and further to keep a link between the emperor and the Govt to inform the
events about to happen in the kingdom. In Ashoka period, there prime sources of
information used to be spies, secret overseers, writ writers and information
gathered through socio-religious activities and the news or information were
not fully made available to the masses, but selected things of awareness used
to be done like awareness about certain events by hitting tom-tom or some moral
guiding through paintings etc. Whereas, we see in Mughal period, the
dissemination of information started to occur, there used to be a full record
of darbar movements and moments through Waqia Navis and Qafia Navis. Their sources
of information were numerous as compared to the Ashoka period. Further, the
inclusion of calligraphists and two wooden printing presses made it more
developed and progressed. This was an attempt of technological development by
the Mughal Regime. The information was widely circulated and disseminated and
the concept of news writers emerged. As in contrast of Ashoka period, that
keeping of information or its gathering was mainly meant for the Govt. and
Emperor, Mughal regime did allow the private news keeping as many capitalists
and landlords started to keep private news writers. The social influence was
about to change the course of history of press or Journalism. The developmental
traces, though, are seen in Mughal period and early European period as by the
bringing of printing presses more developed than earlier by Christian and
Danish missionaries and soon after by the east India company, but they were
primarily concerned with their own missions and vested interests, but its
revolution started in late eighteenth century by the unsuccessful attempt by
William bolt and a successful attempt through Hickey’s Gazette. There were also
external factors that created some contrast in between the three periods,
particularly, the Mughal and the European period. The revolution of Enlightenment
in Europe; which later spread in France, and America and had great influence
over the colonies of Europe. This ideology is said to be responsible for the
Renaissance, French Revolution, American revolution and American declaration of
Independence and European Revolution itself. It brought a sense in the elite
and intellectual class of the world to have the freedom of speech and
expression which was responsible to pace up the need and significance of press.
The social reformers and the co performers like Buckingham and Raja Ram Mohan
Roy are the key players of mobilizing and wholly differentiating and
revolutionizing the press in India. Importantly, James Silk Buckingham is
considered and titled as the Father of Indian Journalism by some of the
historians. An Anglo-Indian, has undoubtedly played a great role to uplift the
elements, principles and ethics of Journalism with his co partners in India. In
crux we can say that the Ashoka period was the period of baptizing the press,
Mughal period was mainly meant to stand the press and European period made
press to reach its supreme intellect.
Contrast between two pioneers of Press in India, James Silk Buckingham and James Augustus Hickey
Introduction
Before, we make the contrast and comparison between the pioneers of Indian press-James Augustus Hickey and James Silk Buckingham, let us briefly understand about the coming of the press (newspapers) in India. The newspapers came to India as an alien product, as one the benefits of British Colonialism. The initial strength and power for launching of newspapers was directly fostered in England. James Augustus Hickey has the distinction of starting the press in India. Later, James Silk Buckingham got the title for being called as the Pioneer of true Indian Journalism. I have tried in my writing to show the contrast between the pioneer of Indian press under the scanner: content and its influence
Content and its Influence:
James Augustus Hickey was an Irishman who is considered as the founder of Indian press. He started a newspaper called as ‘Hickeys Gazette’ or ‘Bengal Gazette’; it was aliased as ‘Calcutta General Advertiser’ which came into being on January 29th 1780. It declared itself as “weekly Political and commercial paper open to all parties but influence by none.” It is very important to observe the statement which implicates that the newspaper was not influenced by the Government or other party, but to the interest of people, which although proved to be a tool used by James Augustus Hickey’s personal contention with the British rule or its representative- East India Company.
If we compare and set a contrast between Hickey’s contribution to the contribution of James Silk Buckingham; there is no doubt that Hickey provided and initiated a platform for Indian press, but we can’t defy the fact that Buckingham’s contribution is more legendary and praise worthy. Buckingham was an Anglo-Indian who is titled as ‘the Father of true Indian Journalism.’ He in true sense can be termed as pioneer of ethical Journalism of India. It is said that in the early years of 19th century, Calcutta saw the emergence of a first real and outstanding journalist. Jawaharlal Nehru has described him as ‘the earliest champions of the freedom press in India’ and one ‘who is still remembered’ in this country.Although, he came to India as an editor of the ‘Calcutta Chronicle’, which was started by the Calcutta merchants to safeguard their vested interested, but Buckingham laid more emphasis and meant his content for uplifting the issues of common public, news of local conditions and purified his content from making criticism, fashion, advertisement, gossip and Anglo Social Scandals. He was more concerned about the social reforms and that is the reason, he was more liked by the public. He was also coordinated by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, as he became a pioneer of not only the freedom of speech and expression but a social reformer as well. The reason might be that he was more accustomed to the rituals, cultures, beliefs and values of Indian masses in particular and world in general. He was a prolific writer and was more successful in influencing the hearts of suppressed people of British India.
In conclusion, it can be said that James Augustus Hickey is the pioneer of Indian press; but the title of pioneer of true Indian Journalism, must be given to James Silk Buckingham.
Monday, 5 November 2012
"Aaeena e Dil"
'the mirror of my heart'
Jab talak hum qalam hua is zalim Qalb se,
tha garz e sail faqat waqt-e-khatmi iztirab.
Nazar pur ashq o gam ki dil-e-aaeen mai,
tabadal-e-rukhsar dekha sat mashuka-e-rubab,
Mai puch betha Nadan! nifaq hai tum main,
nafs hai tu maira, nakis gulam-e-shabab.
Istaad hu mai aaeen mai tere, kar koi faisla,
Aaqa hai tera gulam aaj, Muntazir-e-Jawab.
Masum bethay ho WAQAS', kar ke chak mera,
munsif hu Misl-e-waqt, shayan hai yahi hisaab.
'the mirror of my heart'
Jab talak hum qalam hua is zalim Qalb se,
tha garz e sail faqat waqt-e-khatmi iztirab.
Nazar pur ashq o gam ki dil-e-aaeen mai,
tabadal-e-rukhsar dekha sat mashuka-e-rubab,
Mai puch betha Nadan! nifaq hai tum main,
nafs hai tu maira, nakis gulam-e-shabab.
Istaad hu mai aaeen mai tere, kar koi faisla,
Aaqa hai tera gulam aaj, Muntazir-e-Jawab.
Masum bethay ho WAQAS', kar ke chak mera,
munsif hu Misl-e-waqt, shayan hai yahi hisaab.
Sunday, 4 November 2012
Present print Media in India
India is known as one of the few countries in the
world which is thriving in the field of print media. It is one of the nations
in the world which has a great reverence for print media. India as compared to
other countries is intensifying its percentage in newspapers, readership, reach
and access of print media. There are an estimated eighty thousand individual
newspapers in India and growing. We have an example of ‘Times of India’. It has the daily circulation of four million three
hundred thousand, largest of any English newspaper in the world. The other
example can be taken of ‘Economic Times’.
It is the world’s second most widely read English-language business newspaper,
after the ‘Wall Street Journal’. We
can not deny the fact that India is growing in this element of Mass
communication. It is of great significance to understand that why is print
media in India thriving with such a pace? Whereas the developed countries like
USA is losing the race of percentage in growth print media.
There are number of reasons which
are responsible for the growth of print media in India. Some of them are as
under:
1. Reliability
on print media
2. Growing
literacy rate
3. Historical
influence on psycho-social set up
4. Commercialization
in print media
5. Content
diversification
6. Poor
installation of advanced technologies(2G
3G)
7.
Multi lingual Nation
Reliability
on print media
The trend of reliability on print media is the prime
reason for the well development of print media in India. Newspapers, books and
magazines are still taken as the ‘Gospel
of truth’-authentic source of information and reference.
Growing
literacy rate
Another reason can be drawn as the growing literacy
rate in India. Every year, twenty million more Indians become literate each
year. In contemporary times, English is considered as Lingua France- a language commonly understood by people. Learning
English language has given a new rise to print media in India.
Historical
influence on psycho-social set up
The active participation of newspapers in social
reforms and India struggle for independence has developed a sense of respect
and reverence in minds and hearts of people. This is playing a great role in
advancement and development of print
media in India.
Commercialization
in print media
In media commercialization is usually considered
very pejorative, but it cannot be defied that it has widened the areas of
development in print media. Newspapers in India follow a managerial strategy in
sales of their newspapers. They sell their newspaper on reduced costs. They
mainly make their revenue from the advertisers. This strategy was first adopted
by ‘Times of India’ and later
followed by others. The system of paid news and mouth piece coverage has been
other managerial actions done by the owners for maximizing their profits. It is
the hard core reality of the growth and thriving of print media that it has
been commercialized and turned the print media as a corporate.
Content
diversification
Content has
been diversified in print media particularly in newspapers and magazines for
making it more peachy and illuminating. Contrasting with the past, newspapers
are manufacturing content reader oriented. Not restricting itself to hard news
and editorials, it has made different inclusions like global news, sports
column, page3, classifieds, matrimonial, economic news, Media-net etc. The
diversity and reader orientation has helped print media to great extent to
bloom.
Poor
installation of advanced technologies (2G and 3G)
There has been a substantial threat to print media
by online media. In USA, the decreasing rate of newspapers has been a reason of
involvement in online media by readers. It is possible for other countries as
well. India is a developing nation and a third world country. There has not
been an excellent practice from the government in installation of the new
generation of technologies (2G and 3G), which resulted as a benefit to print
media. The breakage in the technology has hampered the complete development of
online media and has also stopped the creation of online culture of readership.
Multi
lingual Nation
India is a
multi-lingual nation. 85% of total newspapers are published in the local
language. It is one of the significant
reasons of the full swing development of print media. Besides, it is a
herculean task to transform the whole texts of different languages to publish
online. It can be said that it safeguards the print media from the substantial
threat of reducing rate of readership by the influence of online media.
In
brief it can be said that print media is one of the thriving and self
sustaining element of mass communication and also India has been successful in
retaining the value, reverence and culture of print media alive and growing.
Love costs Life
LOVE COSTS LIFE
WAKAS NAZIR KHAN
Till last year I would be mesmerized by the soothing and pacific music of the flute at evening which would end around 11pm- often following the notes from old romantic and sad songs of Kishore Kumar and Mohammad Rafi- the legendry playback singers of Bollywood. Sometimes, it used to tranquil me so much that I would drowse off before I knew it stopped. The sound would come from the adjacent house of my neighbor. The house belongs to Khwaja Habibullah Khan. He is revered in our locality and is known as Haej Saib. Haej Saib has two sons- Mohammad Yaqoob and Farooq Ahmad. Farooq is my father‟s childhood chum. I call him Gashu. I still remember the time-when I was in 7th. It was the time when I was given my personal room which was on 3rd storey of my house and I first listened to the melodious music of flute from the window of my room-so peaceful and clear it used to be from the backside of my house as it has no houses from there but a big graveyard. It didn‟t bother my mind to know why he is grooved to play flute every night with so much passion and perseverance. I often would answer my mind thinking this might be his only hobby. But when this talented man would come in daylight, it would shock and sad be everyday. He was insane. I just knew one thing that time that he wasn‟t like such from his childhood rest was still a mystery for me. He was nicknamed by „Farooq Pagal’. The locals would tease and pester him often and God knows what fun they used to take from that. I would feel so bad every time witnessing their
2
inhuman behavior. I would always feel pity for him- not really for others like him; May be he was one who had built a relation with me through those magical and musical strands.
Farooq was very sure about his cleanliness and would wear good clothes as any other normal man. He was a good man. Gashu was so loving for children and very decent for old men-as he never would make his presence disturbing for them. Farooq was offering five times Salah. He was a carpenter. My father would take him very often for help at some of his carpentry contracts. The only thing that would reflect his state of madness was his non-stop and spot spitting; and his muttering to himself –sometimes to walls and non-human articles. This would make everybody aware that he is moonstruck.
Till 10th class-when I was 16 and had developed my sense of observation, the state of my mind for Gashu was same. One day I dared to ask my father about his life. My concern was mainly confined to that part of his life which turned him imbecile. It was December- the core of winter and we would take our Dinner at 8pm or around –after the Isha Salah. My father would often talk about his childhood and youth during the dinner. I thought this could be the right time to start knowing about Gashu. I knew that my father would come to that part as well. Dad was quite talkative about his adventurous youth.
“How was your friendship with Gashu, Dad?”I asked
3
“Best Friends, we were like brothers, son. People would envy us.” Dad looked at me strangely and replied.
“He was so smart and handsome that we used to call him Rajesh-nicknaming him as Rajesh Khanna, as he would dress and style just like him” Dad said with so much enthusiasm, as if going back to Gashu‟s and his youth.
“We would go to Firdous cinema every night for last show of Bollywood movies; and we would even dress like the actors. Sometimes, on return we used to play some mischief and enter as uninvited guests with Baraat to have Groom‟s feast; as if we were belonging to Groom from Bride‟s sight” he said and laughed out loud recalling his teenage.
After recollecting those days of his youth in mirth, he wept and tears trickled down from his eyes and said “kam kam Shahzad tche Zaye gachan- countless princes get ruined in its hands-LOVE”.
After that Dad took a sigh and said, “Its fate my son. True love cost him his life”
“How did it happen Dad? Did Love made him insane?” I asked him so desperately.
My mother tried to ignore my questions for my Dad‟s sake. As Father was to talk about the time he never wished to get back to; but, he wanted me to know how it happened. It seemed to me as if he was trying to convey to those inhuman locals that
4
his friend wasn‟t like such and in his sight he is still the most handsome Guy. I felt that for my eagerness, I licked his old wounds up. But he continued.
“Zohra –a paragon of beauty, was a girl who lived very near to our Locality. She would often come to Islam yarbal (Jehlum) to wash her clothes and dishes. We were habitual of swimming. We would often go there and watch Zohra. She was daughter of Ghulam Mohiuddin- who was notorious for weighting less on his spice shop. After some weeks of minor encounters of Farooq with Zohra, He would often tell me to go for bath in Jehlum-sometimes twice a day-quite against our routine; I never noticed that Farooq and Zohra had fallen in love. One day I saw them together-hand in hand at Shahi Majid Park and this was First time when I came to know about their affair. I was happy for my peer. He was happy. He would flute for Zohra on the banks of Jehlum. This used to be the token of love and call from his beloved for her- as she used to live near the river.
It continued for three years. By these years, we both started to work. We were learning Carpentry from an elderly person Shafi Shora. Your Gashu had confined himself to Zohra‟s love. She was his priority. He was in deep love with her and she was also helpless in the hands of young man‟s love. Everything was going good. But, one day Zohra was insisted by Farooq to watch a movie together-which at that time was like committing adultery, but being committed in love she accepted the proposal. They watched movie together-perhaps „Jeene Ki Rah’. When they left the cinema one of Zohra‟s relatives, who was a constable in Kashmir Police stationed outside cinema
5
for curbing black-ticketing caught them red handed. Though, he didn‟t say anything to Farooq, but complained about Zohra to her father. Without giving a second thought, her father decided to marry her with her Cousin-a Carpet Weaver, who those days were revered in terms of wealth. Zohra couldn‟t move outside home. She was often taunted by her mother. Farooq was losing hope. He would just cry and play flute near the same place where he first saw Zohra. There was no way of communication.
It was Eid-if I remember when we three met at Khankah(shrine) of Hazrat Mir Syed Ali Hamdani(R). Farooq knew it that Zohra will come to Khankah for offering Eid Prayers. It was her routine on eves of Eid. They were to meet after 2 or 3months. I still remember the tears of my friend when he saw her in white kurta and shalwar wearing two golden bangles in both arms offering prayers. He said to me. “Nazir, I‟ll either die or loss my mind if she‟ll leave me”. Zohra saw him and came near doing a ruse to her mother. Tears were in her big eyes. Farooq made her to stop crying. Zohra said to him, “I am going to get married to my cousin. Father has tied me in nuptial knot. I can‟t do anything but to pray. I am helpless in hands of my destiny. I love you and always will do. ” I remember the time son when she left. It broke my friend down. He cried bitterly. It seemed that the world and the charm in it ended for him. We both didn‟t notice, but her mother was witnessing it all secretly. Her aunt was accompanying her mother which we later came to know. Farooq was deciding to take some step as he couldn‟t live without her. He couldn‟t see his life ending. He thought of telling his father about all this so that he could talk to her parents for their
6
daughter‟s hand for his son. Just after the Eid-6th Shawal it was when my chum started vomiting blood. He had a high fever and his palpitation was going beyond the normal. We were all frightened- his family, relatives, me and my family as well. We took him to state hospital, but doctors couldn‟t recognize the disease. The condition was getting worst. His head was severely aching. We thought of taking him to Moulana. We had a firm belief on Molulana Ghulam Nabi. His holy water would cure un-curable patients. His parents and I went to him. When we came near Moulana, he looked in his eyes and said to us, “he has been tied up in black Magic. This black magic is turning his heart and mind restless. It will make his body to bleed and he will be sleepless always. You need to know who has done it. Unless and until the things used in this magic will be taken out, he won‟t be completely alright. And if this black magic will pass its time, he won‟t get well fully.” I thought of every person who could benefit himself by making my friend or his family to suffer. I thought of Zohra‟s mother and her aunt but I didn‟t reveal it in front of Moulana. Moulana gave us an amulet and also some water for Farooq and sprinkled some water there on Farooq‟s face. After leaving from there, I revealed everything of Farooq to Haej Saib. They went to Zohra‟s home and asked them about the black Magic. They didn‟t affirm it. Just after three days, Farooq stopped to vomit. His body was in better condition but he started talking like an imbecile. Everybody at their and our home was tense and scared about him. Zohra‟s cousin Shabeena after a week came to Farooq‟s home where I was present and said, “It is Zohra‟s mother and my mother who did the black Magic to Farooq, so that she could be married without any trouble. They went
7
to a sorcerer Gul Peer and asked him to do the black magic. They have done it on sheep‟s heart stabbed by a dagger and a fish pinned in its head. You must do something to rescue Farooq.” After she left, we went to the sorcerer who was belonging to the adjacent area of our locality. Haej Saib knew him and sorcerer would respect him more than any one. He later admitted that he would never have done such a thing if he knew that Farooq was Haej‟s son. He immediately freed Farooq from the knots of Black magic. Farooq was getting well, but he was sad and mute. He would play flute to soothe himself and hope that Zohra would come back to him one day which was impossible. After few months, Zohra got married to Aslam-her cousin. Farooq witnessed the scene. He didn‟t cry that day but took his flute and played near the bank of river for whole night. I was there with him. I was scared as I saw him losing his mind. He would talk very less to me and to himself, to river, to flute, to sky and things around him more. Since that day it has been like such my son.”
It was 11 pm when my father ended the replies of my questions. The agony and pain in his heart is still the same. Gashu doesn‟t play flute now, as last year he was abused by other neighbors for they didn‟t want him to disturb their sleep and their children‟s studies. Father was right- Love cost him his life.
WAKAS NAZIR KHAN
Till last year I would be mesmerized by the soothing and pacific music of the flute at evening which would end around 11pm- often following the notes from old romantic and sad songs of Kishore Kumar and Mohammad Rafi- the legendry playback singers of Bollywood. Sometimes, it used to tranquil me so much that I would drowse off before I knew it stopped. The sound would come from the adjacent house of my neighbor. The house belongs to Khwaja Habibullah Khan. He is revered in our locality and is known as Haej Saib. Haej Saib has two sons- Mohammad Yaqoob and Farooq Ahmad. Farooq is my father‟s childhood chum. I call him Gashu. I still remember the time-when I was in 7th. It was the time when I was given my personal room which was on 3rd storey of my house and I first listened to the melodious music of flute from the window of my room-so peaceful and clear it used to be from the backside of my house as it has no houses from there but a big graveyard. It didn‟t bother my mind to know why he is grooved to play flute every night with so much passion and perseverance. I often would answer my mind thinking this might be his only hobby. But when this talented man would come in daylight, it would shock and sad be everyday. He was insane. I just knew one thing that time that he wasn‟t like such from his childhood rest was still a mystery for me. He was nicknamed by „Farooq Pagal’. The locals would tease and pester him often and God knows what fun they used to take from that. I would feel so bad every time witnessing their
2
inhuman behavior. I would always feel pity for him- not really for others like him; May be he was one who had built a relation with me through those magical and musical strands.
Farooq was very sure about his cleanliness and would wear good clothes as any other normal man. He was a good man. Gashu was so loving for children and very decent for old men-as he never would make his presence disturbing for them. Farooq was offering five times Salah. He was a carpenter. My father would take him very often for help at some of his carpentry contracts. The only thing that would reflect his state of madness was his non-stop and spot spitting; and his muttering to himself –sometimes to walls and non-human articles. This would make everybody aware that he is moonstruck.
Till 10th class-when I was 16 and had developed my sense of observation, the state of my mind for Gashu was same. One day I dared to ask my father about his life. My concern was mainly confined to that part of his life which turned him imbecile. It was December- the core of winter and we would take our Dinner at 8pm or around –after the Isha Salah. My father would often talk about his childhood and youth during the dinner. I thought this could be the right time to start knowing about Gashu. I knew that my father would come to that part as well. Dad was quite talkative about his adventurous youth.
“How was your friendship with Gashu, Dad?”I asked
3
“Best Friends, we were like brothers, son. People would envy us.” Dad looked at me strangely and replied.
“He was so smart and handsome that we used to call him Rajesh-nicknaming him as Rajesh Khanna, as he would dress and style just like him” Dad said with so much enthusiasm, as if going back to Gashu‟s and his youth.
“We would go to Firdous cinema every night for last show of Bollywood movies; and we would even dress like the actors. Sometimes, on return we used to play some mischief and enter as uninvited guests with Baraat to have Groom‟s feast; as if we were belonging to Groom from Bride‟s sight” he said and laughed out loud recalling his teenage.
After recollecting those days of his youth in mirth, he wept and tears trickled down from his eyes and said “kam kam Shahzad tche Zaye gachan- countless princes get ruined in its hands-LOVE”.
After that Dad took a sigh and said, “Its fate my son. True love cost him his life”
“How did it happen Dad? Did Love made him insane?” I asked him so desperately.
My mother tried to ignore my questions for my Dad‟s sake. As Father was to talk about the time he never wished to get back to; but, he wanted me to know how it happened. It seemed to me as if he was trying to convey to those inhuman locals that
4
his friend wasn‟t like such and in his sight he is still the most handsome Guy. I felt that for my eagerness, I licked his old wounds up. But he continued.
“Zohra –a paragon of beauty, was a girl who lived very near to our Locality. She would often come to Islam yarbal (Jehlum) to wash her clothes and dishes. We were habitual of swimming. We would often go there and watch Zohra. She was daughter of Ghulam Mohiuddin- who was notorious for weighting less on his spice shop. After some weeks of minor encounters of Farooq with Zohra, He would often tell me to go for bath in Jehlum-sometimes twice a day-quite against our routine; I never noticed that Farooq and Zohra had fallen in love. One day I saw them together-hand in hand at Shahi Majid Park and this was First time when I came to know about their affair. I was happy for my peer. He was happy. He would flute for Zohra on the banks of Jehlum. This used to be the token of love and call from his beloved for her- as she used to live near the river.
It continued for three years. By these years, we both started to work. We were learning Carpentry from an elderly person Shafi Shora. Your Gashu had confined himself to Zohra‟s love. She was his priority. He was in deep love with her and she was also helpless in the hands of young man‟s love. Everything was going good. But, one day Zohra was insisted by Farooq to watch a movie together-which at that time was like committing adultery, but being committed in love she accepted the proposal. They watched movie together-perhaps „Jeene Ki Rah’. When they left the cinema one of Zohra‟s relatives, who was a constable in Kashmir Police stationed outside cinema
5
for curbing black-ticketing caught them red handed. Though, he didn‟t say anything to Farooq, but complained about Zohra to her father. Without giving a second thought, her father decided to marry her with her Cousin-a Carpet Weaver, who those days were revered in terms of wealth. Zohra couldn‟t move outside home. She was often taunted by her mother. Farooq was losing hope. He would just cry and play flute near the same place where he first saw Zohra. There was no way of communication.
It was Eid-if I remember when we three met at Khankah(shrine) of Hazrat Mir Syed Ali Hamdani(R). Farooq knew it that Zohra will come to Khankah for offering Eid Prayers. It was her routine on eves of Eid. They were to meet after 2 or 3months. I still remember the tears of my friend when he saw her in white kurta and shalwar wearing two golden bangles in both arms offering prayers. He said to me. “Nazir, I‟ll either die or loss my mind if she‟ll leave me”. Zohra saw him and came near doing a ruse to her mother. Tears were in her big eyes. Farooq made her to stop crying. Zohra said to him, “I am going to get married to my cousin. Father has tied me in nuptial knot. I can‟t do anything but to pray. I am helpless in hands of my destiny. I love you and always will do. ” I remember the time son when she left. It broke my friend down. He cried bitterly. It seemed that the world and the charm in it ended for him. We both didn‟t notice, but her mother was witnessing it all secretly. Her aunt was accompanying her mother which we later came to know. Farooq was deciding to take some step as he couldn‟t live without her. He couldn‟t see his life ending. He thought of telling his father about all this so that he could talk to her parents for their
6
daughter‟s hand for his son. Just after the Eid-6th Shawal it was when my chum started vomiting blood. He had a high fever and his palpitation was going beyond the normal. We were all frightened- his family, relatives, me and my family as well. We took him to state hospital, but doctors couldn‟t recognize the disease. The condition was getting worst. His head was severely aching. We thought of taking him to Moulana. We had a firm belief on Molulana Ghulam Nabi. His holy water would cure un-curable patients. His parents and I went to him. When we came near Moulana, he looked in his eyes and said to us, “he has been tied up in black Magic. This black magic is turning his heart and mind restless. It will make his body to bleed and he will be sleepless always. You need to know who has done it. Unless and until the things used in this magic will be taken out, he won‟t be completely alright. And if this black magic will pass its time, he won‟t get well fully.” I thought of every person who could benefit himself by making my friend or his family to suffer. I thought of Zohra‟s mother and her aunt but I didn‟t reveal it in front of Moulana. Moulana gave us an amulet and also some water for Farooq and sprinkled some water there on Farooq‟s face. After leaving from there, I revealed everything of Farooq to Haej Saib. They went to Zohra‟s home and asked them about the black Magic. They didn‟t affirm it. Just after three days, Farooq stopped to vomit. His body was in better condition but he started talking like an imbecile. Everybody at their and our home was tense and scared about him. Zohra‟s cousin Shabeena after a week came to Farooq‟s home where I was present and said, “It is Zohra‟s mother and my mother who did the black Magic to Farooq, so that she could be married without any trouble. They went
7
to a sorcerer Gul Peer and asked him to do the black magic. They have done it on sheep‟s heart stabbed by a dagger and a fish pinned in its head. You must do something to rescue Farooq.” After she left, we went to the sorcerer who was belonging to the adjacent area of our locality. Haej Saib knew him and sorcerer would respect him more than any one. He later admitted that he would never have done such a thing if he knew that Farooq was Haej‟s son. He immediately freed Farooq from the knots of Black magic. Farooq was getting well, but he was sad and mute. He would play flute to soothe himself and hope that Zohra would come back to him one day which was impossible. After few months, Zohra got married to Aslam-her cousin. Farooq witnessed the scene. He didn‟t cry that day but took his flute and played near the bank of river for whole night. I was there with him. I was scared as I saw him losing his mind. He would talk very less to me and to himself, to river, to flute, to sky and things around him more. Since that day it has been like such my son.”
It was 11 pm when my father ended the replies of my questions. The agony and pain in his heart is still the same. Gashu doesn‟t play flute now, as last year he was abused by other neighbors for they didn‟t want him to disturb their sleep and their children‟s studies. Father was right- Love cost him his life.
TORMENTED, BUT LONGING; I AM A MOTHER
TORMENTED, BUT LONGING; I AM A MOTHER
WAQAS KHAN
Abra Begum’s hope is still
alive, as she is waiting for her son to take her back in his life. She is still
praying to heavens for the good being of her unfaithful son. She is longing to
forgive him, for his acts that tormented her life and others, before she dies.
She belongs to a hamlet- Rajpora in Baramullah district-the north
of Kashmir near Uri, around 130kms far from Srinagar. Abra Begum is an old
woman-perhaps in 70s. I saw her near a grubby place from Bund side of Lal
chowk. She was wearing Pheran. The pheran was having Qorabs-
folding of the sleeves; this cultural attire indicated to me that she belongs
to a good family. There was a dust on her face, looked as a slum woman. Her accent
seemed that she dwells near to Gujjar community. Though, I became sure that she
is not a Gujjar; by her clear rural Kashmiri language. Her husband Mohammad
Shareef Mir died, when his son Ashfaq was 6 years old. She sacrificed her life
for her son. She didn’t marry then after, as she thought that it will affect
Ashfaq’s life. She faced every odd to foster him. She would go to forests to
gather wood and feed her family. She would work in others fields to make some
earning. She was eager for her son to get education. She never looked for her
comfort. She troubled herself at all times to ease her son’s life. Ashfaq
passed his matriculation, but afterwards he hampered his education by involving
himself in some immoral activities. He had become a bellicose and a hooligan in
his village. Abra was often being called up by the sarpanch of village for
Ashfaqs mischief and immoral acts. Abra thought of getting him married. She
thought that the marriage knot would make him responsible and serious about his
life. Abra was still a lone earner of the family. She had always kept him as
her only purpose of life. She was living a life where everything was confined
to Ashfaq. She was losing her strength to work. She had to bare the expenses of
Ashfaq, which was getting tough for her to manage now. She was in 40s. She was not in situation to
look for a relation of his son which would cost her much. She thought of
getting her son married to her niece Noor Jan. Ashfaq got married at the age of
17. Abra took credit for Ashfaq’s marriage. She was in a big debt now; but she
was very happy for her son. Ashfaq started to work as a conductor of a bus. He
was managing the expenses of his family. It looked that marriage changed him to
responsible person.
Abra said to me, “Those years were full of happiness and comfort
for me. Ashfaq Jan was working. Noor Jan was handling domestic affairs. I was
in complete rest, but then, I don’t know which evil eye did kill happiness of
our family. One night, Ashfaq told me that he was going to Gulbagh-a village in
Sopore for some work. For a week, he didn’t come back. And one night, a crowd
approached our house with a huge hue and cry.
“Your son has eloped with my daughter” said an old man.
It was the girl’s father. I felt like, I should be burnt alive that
night due to aversion I had to counter. Noor Jan felt unconscious. She had a
son and a daughter that time and was expecting a third baby. I resolved that day;
I would never forgive my son for such an act. After eight months, he came back
to Rajpora with her newly married wife Jabeen. Jabeen’s family had already
settled the issue with Ashfaq on a condition of living with her daughter and
divorcing Noor Jan. Ashfaq didn’t come to ask for forgiveness, nor was he
feeling his guilt. He didn’t ask about his daughter, who at his elopement with
Jabeen, was in Noor Jan’s womb. He came to ask for land that I owned. I gave
him the whole land, knowing that he is building a new house; where I, Noor Jan
and his kids would dwell together. Noor Jan set up her mind to live with Ashfaq
and his second wife for her childrens' sake. But, Ashfaq didn’t let us to live
in his new built house. Years passed, but he didn’t look for once to us. He had
become reckless for his children. Noor Jan and my Grand children are living
together now at Rajpora. Ashfaq has three children-2daughters and a son from
Jabeen also.The kids he had from Noor Jan didn’t go to school as he never paid
a single penny for them. I couldn’t give them education; as I was striving to
manage the bread and butter for family. Noor Jan wasn’t divorced, nor did she
ask for that. She wanted to live with me and even I found a new purpose of my
life to live for my grand children. Aamir, Rubeena and Rukhsana are my
grandchildren. They are living with me. Aamir is the first child of Ashfaq and
Noor Jan. He is feeding the family this time. He loves me very much; and I am
now trying to see my Ashfaq in him.
Ashfaq is happy with Jabeen. His kids from Jabeen are studying in
good school and they are living a good life. It is hapless kids of Noor Jan,
whose happiness was snatched, not by any stranger, but by their father. They
never went to any school. We have a small shed adjacent to his big house; but
he never visits us. He never asks about his children. I ask God to forgive him
for such injustice which he did to his children.
Son, if mother's womb gives a monster, it is still adorable. I have no hatred for my son. I will never have despair for him. I
still love him as I would always do. My eyes are still looking for his arrival.
My heart still wishes happiness for him. My mind still feels perturbed for him.
I am a mother! I am a mother” tears trickled from her eyes and ended on wrinkled face, when she ended her agonizing tale.
These days, she has come to live with her cousin Wali Mohammad Mir to
help him and her grandson Aamir, who is also staying there. Aamir is running a
tea stall on Bund. Wali Mohammad treats Arba Begum like her sister and is very
careful for her grandson. Wali Mohammad is an octogenarian who is working as a
watchman for few shops near Lal chowk and earning his livelihood. He has taken a shelter
there in the burnt houses, which are desolated for a long time at the Bund. He has managed to make two squalid sheds, where he accommodates
five persons to live with him. Outside these small sheds, there was a stove,
where Abra was helping Parveen for preparing food for the members of this
merged family. Parveen is sister-in-law of Abra. She has a little kid Aabid. He
was playing near the filthy surroundings outside. Her husband has died in
a cross encounter between Militants and Paramilitary forces in Sopore. It
seemed there that the hearts were filled with miseries and somehow, Abra is trying to aid the anguished
souls.
When I bid adieu to Abra Begum, a clear reflection indicated to me
that she desires from every wayfarer to convey her longing to her son-Ashfaq Jan.
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