Allama Iqbal

Allama Iqbal

When truth has no burning, then it is philosophy,
when it gets burning from the heart, it becomes poetry.

Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal

Books on my to-be-read list

I recently asked my ‘Uncle’ Mr. Gary Alexander Azerier, a delightful writer and author, to recommend some books to read. Uncle Gary and I have had a lot of interesting conversations before on many enlightening subjects, so I was sure that his recommendations would indeed be very commendable.

I haven’t as yet read the books, but these post is to show my determination to read these books.

According to Uncle, if you want an education, then these books are the way to go. 🙂 And education IS the thing we are looking for.

1. ‘Nosebleeds from Washington Heights’ and ‘Pineapple Grove and other Short Stories’ by the man, Gary Alexander Azerier, himself.
2. ‘Crime and Punishment’ by Dostoyevsky
3. ‘You Can’t Go Home Again’ by Thomas Wolfe
4. ‘Alexandria Quartet’ by Lawrence Durell. (‘Justine’ and ‘Clea’ are recommended)
5. ‘Roads of Freedom Triology’ by Jean Paul Sartre. (The first book ‘The Age of Reason’ is especially recommended).
6. ‘The Stranger’ by Albert Camus
7. ‘The Magic Mountain’ by Thomas Mann
8. ‘Night Soldiers’ by Alan Furst
9. ANYTHING by Alan Furst

Uncle Gary recommends anything written by Alan Furst. He, himself has read all of Furst’s works and he’s read some twice.

Good luck to everyone who’s planning to read the books. I am. 🙂

Do let me know your opinion. It’s already appreciated. If you want to know more about Mr. Azerier, read some of his work or message him at Gary Alexander at Storywrite.

— Myra

Shashca–Youth Ka Newspaper

I have recently joined “Shashca – Youth Ka Newspaper” as a news editor and columnist. The newspaper was introduced to me by my good friend Zubaria Fakhar who is also affiliated with the organization, and a member of the core team.

Shashca is an online newspaper for the youth. It covers all subjects of interest. But the thing that makes it different from other youth newspapers or even newspapers in general, is the language it’s in. Shashca claims to be the world’s first newspaper in the language of the youth: the slang language. Yes, this online newspaper is actually in Roman Urdu script speaking Urdu slang.

Recently having a discussion with the Ed-in-chief, the versatile but highly commendable Mr. Ali Suleman, one realizes that unlike the name, this organization isn’t all fun and games, a fact that I got to see for myself during the recent events.

Although my affiliation with Shashca is not long-lived, I was immediately swept off my feet by the amazingly warm atmosphere of the whole group and my “co-workers”. The core team (the heads and bosses of various departments) is co-operative and nice, always ready to welcome new comers and make them feel at home. The general atmosphere of the Shashca Family is like that of a good class at school: always ready to have fun and jokes, no hard feelings but work at work time.

Shashca was founded on 18th October, 2011. Although it is not yet one-year-old but its ongoing climb to success is evident. In less than a year, Shashca has gone on to support many events as media partner, win awards and shields, and was a finalists in m-Billionth Award 2012 South Asia in New Delhi, India, competing against big firms like Vodafone, Yahoo!, Google and Docomo to name a few.

For me, the kind of warm welcome and feelings of acceptance and new friends that Shashca has given me are priceless. I wish it all the best in its future endeavours and may it rise to the heights of success. Ameen.

— Myra

Links: Shashca – Youth Ka Newspaper

Dil Dil Pakistan Global Effect

A Video created by my cousin Sheheryar Ahmad (@sheriahmad90). It’s a mashup of different people singing Dil Dil Pakistan at different times in different places. A really amazing video and he also makes a shy appearance.

FUN FACT: Dil Dil Pakistan, according to a recent magazine article, is Pakistan’s national song.

Pictures from Tanzania

A dear friend of mine, Maria, living in Tanzania sent me these beautiful pictures about the country. She is a photographer and a fellow poet. The United Republic of Tanzania is a beautiful country in East Africa, bordered by the Indian Ocean on the East.

Can you believe that there are such beautiful places in the world? Click on the Pictures to enlarge them.

— Myra

Books: A part of who I am.

Every single book that I ever read made a part of who I am. My personality, views and expressions are all that I have read and seen in life. That’s why every book is important and why good ones even more so.

 – Myra Ahmad

I was just reading somebody’s blog on which they talked about how reading had affected them. As a bookworm, I can relate to it. Reading books has changed the way I see life. And I am thankful for it.

My mother and grandparents (maternal and paternal) are major bookworms. We spend days reading. That’s where my interest in reading trickles down from. But unlike them, my interest is solely novels.

My mother introduced me to reading. As a child, she bought me children’s books with stories in them and I loved it. The first “thick” book that she bought me was the Audio Treasury Volume One. I must be in Prep or Grade I then. It had short stories in it. Even the book looked valuable. I have it still.

I have treasured that book so much. It got the place of honour on my bookshelf. Before my younger sister and some nasty kids (seperately) got their hands on it. It’s still on my bookshelf, though. I’ll show it to you when you come over Anoushia.

I remember that the first “thick” novel that I ever read was “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”. A friend had lent it to me. I was in 3rd grade then, I think. I was so hooked to it, I read it for 3 days straight. That was my record and I am proud of it! At the end of the book, I remember being afraid of Voldemort. I couldn’t sleep that night. Then I reminded myself of Harry and how brave he was. (Of course, he was older than me but that shouldn’t count). That gave me the strength.

I still have some of my very first books. All of them are in good condition, except some. One day I didn’t know and some very very nasty kids came to our home, and took scissors from God-knows-where and found my precious books … That day I cried. On the spot. My sister was so touched when she saw me, she went and told the kids’ father and mother all about what they had done. She asked to give those brutish kids a spanking. They agreed, if my sister would hit the kids hard. Oh, if my parents hadn’t interfered that day, those kids would have had the lesson of their life…

Sniff.

Mental note: I must not get emotional. I must not get emotional.

Sigh.

It seems a bit strange but I read “adult” fiction before I read “Young Adult”. Though, not the bad adult fiction.

I read my first “Adult” novel in grade sixth. My teacher made me. Because I had read all the books in the library for kids. It was called “Pride and Prejudice”. At the time when I didn’t even understand what “prejudice” meant, it was a big step. I did eventually search what it meant, in a dictionary but I still didn’t understand the concept. (For the record, looking up words in a dictionary is against my dignity. It means I don’t know what something means.)

I like to mention here that I don’t belong to the TV culture family. My family doesn’t watch any ‘dramas’ or ‘soaps’ (why is it called that?). So I didn’t belong to the group of people that I see many youngsters belonging to, discussing who’s match is for whom, and who looks ‘cute’ with whom and all that nonsense. I would rather play Prince of Persia, Street Rage, The King of Fighters, Mortal Kambat, TMNT and other cool games on the computer with my uncle.

So, reading “Pride and Prejudice” was a drag. I didn’t like it a bit. I had no clue what was happening, and why the writer wouldn’t stop. It was an overly embarrassing experience. I refused flat to write a review on it. I told my library teacher I would sooner write a book, than the review. And that’s been the case.

Last year I had to read “PnP” again, along with other Jane Austen work. Needless to say, my opinion doesn’t change, only I have no sympathy for the character’s heart-breaks.

Back to good things.

I love Children’s Classics. They are the best out there. I love “The Secret Garden” and “Heidi”. I owe my interest in novels to Enid Blyton. She made my world.

I talked about them sometimes back.

I have been rambling on. I have read detective fiction. Agatha Christie is my favourite. I read fantasy. Rowling and Tolkein get hats off.

I have even (accidently) read books that perhaps I was not ready to read yet. There have been a few books that I haven’t finished (a rare thing), and some that I would never read again. One has been locked away. I can’t give it away, I’d be ashamed to do that. That book deserves to be burned.

Growing up with these books and more, there were times when I was overwhelmed, deeply depressed, overjoyed, hopeful, and sometimes, I was just forced to stop and think. Some of these were disturbing.

They taught me what greed, maliciousness, jealousy, crudeness, murder, prejudice and coldness were.

But more important, they taught me what righteousness, kindness, bravery, honor, loyalty, friendship, dignity and nobility is.

They taught me the difference between right and wrong.

They taught me what my ideals should be, what I have to stand up for, how I should lead my life.

These books made me appreciate life, the better things in it, the people in it that makes it so beautiful.

Kudos to the books that changed us and will continue to change us.

— Myra

Photo Credits:
“books” by vintageanchor.tumblr.com
“Pride and Prejudice” by g-pop.net
“Hope” by Jacatra.com
“Harry Potter” by ovrelia.blogspot.com

The First Page of My First Diary

I started ‘writing diary’ when I was in grade 3rd. I recieved a diary for my birthday. It was beautiful and it was the first one I had that had a combination lock. Of course, I loved it. I used to record my activities on it daily, and let me say this for myself, it was a wonderful idea. Of course, my mother put the idea in my head, and of course “Mother knows best”. 🙂

Here is the front page of my diary. The writing is my mother’s. And I think so is the drawing.

— Myra

P.S. I refuse to call it a journal. That would be more fitting if it had a leather cover and rough pages, which it does NOT.

Some of My Favourite Books

I am a bookworm. Here is a simple statement, and I feel a certain pride in saying it. In my opinion,, books are the best things in the world. You can’t deny that. You can get all the information from movies, documentaries and websites, but you cannot replace books.

Here is a list of my all-time favourite books that I sincerely hope that you would read someday (Hurray if ou already read some of them)

Heidi

Heidi is among the first Children’s Classics that I ever read and it was love at first reading. Even years later, I borrowed it from my college’s library and read it in one day. It’s beautiful. The characters of Grandfather, Heidi, Peter and that girl in the wheel chair, they are just amazing. My favourite character, however, remains the doctor and Heidi.

The story revolves around an orphan Heidi, whose aunt leaves her with a non-meeting, gruffy eye-browed grandfather when the aunt gets a job in the city. Grandfather lives on the mountains, and here Heidi, a little kid, grows up among fresh wind and flowers, befriends the shepherd boy, Peter, and his goats. It is a simple but beautiful story about young Heidi who finds a special place in the hearts of all whom she meets.

The Secret Garden

One of my class fellows said that she loved this book, and that day I was in the seventh heaven. The Secret Garden is a beautiful book by Burnett. Another Children’s Classics, The Secret Garden is about a ‘white’ girl in India, who is sent to live with her uncle when she is orphaned. The uncle lives in a lonely mansion, and seldoms sees her. The kid is rude and bad-tempered but soon learns to brighten up as she explores the gardens and the house and reluctantly makes friends with the servants and their families. But the house has some secrets: a locked garden, a quiet uncle and a hidden cousin.

The Secret Garden is a beautiful book that showed me to value every thing in life.

Anne of Green Gables

An old bachelor and his old sister decide to adopt an orphan boy (anybody notice a pattern here?). But to their surprise they find that it is a girl! Anne of Green Gables is a remarkable story about Anne who has been adopted accidently instead of a boy but she soon makes a place in the heart of her guardians. A read-headed comical child who attracts trouble and mischief, this story is about how Anne grows from a day-dreaming child who accidently dyed her hair greento a sensible girl with a bright academic career and scholarships to her name.

Black Beauty

Black Beauty is the narrated story of a black horse from the time it grows up, how it changes masters and to the time till it finds its last home. Black Beauty, so named because of its black colour and white star on head, is a very well-groomed and patient animal, who bides his time with different masters. It is a beautiful story, which also portrays the way that people treat animals. From high mansions to damp stables and more, Black Beauty covers an extensive journey.

Bedknobs and Broomsticks

I had heard a lot about this book and when I actually bought it, I loved it. It is a story about three siblings who deal with a friendly witch to give them a magical bedknob in bargain to keep her secret. So everynight, the bedknob is turned on the bed, and the bed (and anybody sitting on it) are teleported to anywhere they wish to go to.

Googling the web, I found out that it’s also a Disney movie. Never heard of it before, but then I wasn’t even born in 1971. I am a mid-90’s product. But I’m certainly going to watch it now.

Little Women

Little Women is a classic about the lives of some sisters who grow up away from their father in times of war. From girls to women, this is a beautiful story about their transformation and offers remarkable and real characters.

The Borrowers

Every wonder where all your little tid-bits go to? This book offers an explaination. Under the loose floorboard in the kitchen, there live very little people called the borrowers. They borrow your small things that you mysteriously misplace. But they are quiet and are never seen. But what happens if they are seen and actually befriended? This book finds out about that and more from the lives of The Borrowers.

The Hobbit

Consider it a prologue written for the Lord of the Rings series. It explores the journey of our favorutie Mr. Bilbo Baggins, uncle of Frodo, who mysteriously vanish one day and when people have given him up as dead for good, suddenly returns with more valour, zeal and zest and lots of money. Where did he go?

I never really got around to reading Lord of the Rings, but I love The Hobbit. And gandalf. Especially gandalf.

The Hounds of Morrigan

Think about Harry Potter, with more Dumbledore character, a special link to mythology and genius fun. Here is what you get: The Hounds of Morrigan. It is a story about Morrigan, the goddess of war, who is one and three at the same time, who goes out to take over the world. The Dagda, the good god, comes out against her. But it’s not war. Two kids are sent out by The Dagda to find the blood drops of Morrigan, and Morrigan sends out her hounds to chase the kids, but not yet to hunt them. Any wrong step and the chase could become a hunt… A hooking story with original characters and genius take-on, this is a must-read.

Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle – A Whole New World

When my brain starts to think….

There is one fact that I don’t deny: My brain is most productive during exams. During that golden time, ask me to write as many poems, stories, draw pictures, mend handicrafts, make paper models, creatively waste time on the internet or my netbook, and I am ready to do it. But there is, after all, a limit to my genius. Ask me to study, and … well, that’s the limit of my mental capability.

These days I am suffering from a disease called exams. It is a chronic disease and it comes every year around winter (when I would rather be in bed, and not outside) and spring (when I would rather be outside, and not in bed). This year it is hitting a little too close to my heart, because I, the weary warrior, am not quite recovered from previous wounds.

My public statement, as stated above, is time and again proved. Most of my blog posts are written around exams. So these days I am looking for something to dedicate my not-so-but-still creative juices to. Any ideas? I am googling stuff and joining websites.

Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you guys. I just installed an OS in my computer for the first time! And all without any body’s help (the internet doesn’t count)! I am now using Ubuntu along with the Windows 7 that my netbook came with. Come Ubuntu, and I am already losing my patience with W7. This post is being written from Ubuntu.

My sister has already (sarcastically) commented that my exams must be ending, although today was third exam. Pray for me.

These days, all I care for is to bring a positive change in my country. But again, at loss at what to do. We can blog and tweet all about it, but do our words matter?

Food for thought.

— Myra

Picture courtesy: http://www.grampianspyreneespcp.org.au