This is NOT funny !

Since past few years, emergence of a new trend has been observed—formation and forwarding of SMSs according to every new occasion and situation. Let it be any new advertisement, new announcement or the prevailing situation. However, what should be kept in mind is the difference between things that can be made fun of, and those that are not funny in any way.

The current disturbance and the alarming situation fall in the latter category, a state that is extremely serious and has no margin of being made fun of. Every time I pick up my cellular phone to see a few text messages regarding totkas and parodies and slogans referring to the recent killings in Karachi, I just wonder the extent to which we have gone numb. We, as a society have no feelings for those who are suffering and no emotions left in us to understand what should be made fun of and what should not. There are no moral ethics left behind to make us feel the severity of the situation.

This is not to suggest that each and every individual should start mourning, but at least out of respect for those who are losing their lives or their near and dear ones, such text messages should not be forwarded. This is not only a peaceful way of empathizing with the sufferers but is also our moral and ethical responsibility to behave properly if we can’t do anything else.

Refurbishing mindsets

Let’s take a trip down the memory lane and rewind the same Pakistani society about 10 years back. Everything would suddenly seem quite different, as at that time there was lesser ‘westernization’, communication wasn’t that easy and frequent, children used to spent more time in outdoor activities than on computer and TV, modes of entertainment were quite different, even trends were not the same and so forth.

The planet Earth now seems to be the exact implication of the term Global Village coined by Marshal McLuhan in 1962. Cultures and societies are slowly losing their identities to be dissolved in a global culture, and all this has happened within a short span of time- thanks to media.

All the changes that we observe around us are all part of that global changes being brought about by media that is undoubtedly the most powerful product of modern technology. Not only has it alter the thinking of people, but also has tendency of changing mindsets and bringing about a shift in attitudes and behaviors.

Recent history has several examples of the power of media and how it has brought changes in the approach of public by merely suppressing or promoting a particular issue.

Take trends for instance- you come to know what is ‘in’ and what is ‘out’ through media. You realize that an incident is serious when it is repeatedly broadcasted on all the TV channels and the newspapers give special coverage to it.

Who tells you what to wear, what and where to eat, what to talk about, whom to condemn and whom to support, what looks fashionable and what looks odd- it is all done by media these days. This product of technology is now exercising its full powers over the hearts and minds of people.

Media holds the ability to make and alter public opinion, public’s outlook and to play with their sentiments and feelings. It is media that is controlling our lives in the truest sense of the word- through its vast influence.

However, as the idiom goes: uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. Same implies to all the media of Mass Communication. It holds great responsibilities towards the society and towards its audience. The major duties of media are to Inform, Educate and Entertain people. It is up to the media professionals to provide all of them in a positive, constructive manner so as to allow the audience to be benefited from it.

It is the most powerful social tool available these days that can either lead to the destruction of a nation or its progress, and keeping in view the scenario of Pakistani society, it HAS to be used in a progressive way. It should be used to inculcate some etiquette and mannerism in the society and show them the right approach to life.

It is how a country like Pakistan, with literacy rate of less than 40%, can move towards a civilized form of life. Majority of the population is now dependent on media for getting educated, both formally and informally, as it has the aptitude to carry out mass education programs. All that needs to be done is the constructive use of media for ‘refurbishing mindsets’, so that the dreams of a better Pakistan can come true.

To express or not to express

Most of the times, I think about doing something, saying something to anyone, asking for some help, sharing something or telling how I really feel, but always end up thinking- 'it won't really matter, nobody cares, so just keep it to yourself'.
This decisions sometimes payoff, while at others it makes me curse the time I thought about it. I just keep wondering whether it is right or wrong to be an introvert, but never do I get an answer, neither can I stop being one.
This situation mostly misleads people, especially my friends (and some of the family members), and they end up thinking that I do not have any emotion for them, am not interested in anything that they say or do, and nothing matters to me.
Actuality, however, is exactly the opposite.
I do care, I do love, I do feel, the problem is- I just don't know how to express or not to express.
Whenever I am about to say it all out, something stops me from inside and tells me that there isn't any need to put your feelings on display.
So, I always end up keeping it to myself and then spend hours and hours wondering what would have happened had I said it out. Would it have made anyone happy? Or it would have sounded like those formal statements uttered by everyone around. There is no solution whatsoever, and I guess I would remain the same for the rest of my life.

However, no one knows what would be more soothing at the end of it- the unsaid words or all the things well expressed ...

An ending and a begining

So, this day marks the end of another year. Nothing news, this happens every year :P. However, things never remain the same, at the end of each year, I just think about how things have changed- circumstances were totally different when I wished Happy New Year to my friends last year. There were a few people who aren't there anymore, some of them 'appeared to be' so important that there was no concept of leaving them, breaking up with them was simply not an option! It happened anyway, and nothing changed, life went on smoothly.
Then there was a particular mindset that I had, it hasn't changed completely though, but a lot of ideas have evolved. Certain things have moved from 'not to do list; to 'must to do list'.
Last year, I used to think differently about people and many of them are now have a different image.
In short,e as life moves on a lot of changes take place and end of the year is the best time to think about it it gives you a very clear idea of how things have changed.
Happy New Year!

Same stories... Everywhere...

A few years back, I used to think that I am a unique being and whatever is happening in my life has never happened to anyone any time. This was perhaps because of the fact that I was never too close to anybody, or, being too young to express properly, people around me were quite inexpressive. So, everyone kept his experiences, feelings, emotions to himself and I continued to think that I am really unique, with no similarity with anyone.
Anyways, after remaining in my own shell for a long time, I slowly realized that things are not how I suppose them to be, they are totally the other way round.
I realized that same stories are there everywhere. Everyone goes through more or less the same experiences, same situations and same circumstances, one time or another.
Every individual is unique in some ways, true, but there are a number of aspects that all of them share.
Whenever I talk to my best friends (whom I can share each and every thing with), I realize that they feel the same things that I feel sometimes, they react in the same way, turns in their in life are very similar to mine.
And it is not ONLY about those two people, whenever I talk to anybody and someone shares his/ her experiences with me, I feel like I am hearing about my own self, with just a little variations.
So, what I have concluded is: we all are the same. It is our own attitude and our thinking that creates the difference, otherwise life treats us all in the same manner (obviously not in all aspects, but in some, it does) ...

Abide by laws (If others allow you to)

Living in a country like ours, it is not easy being a law abiding citizen. Whenever you try to be a good citizen and do what you should do (not what most of the people are doing), you immediately recieve lots of comments and 'advices' from 'well wishers' and critics around you, telling you that this is not the ways things are done.
Take the example of traffic rules. Everybody knows that you are supposed to stop your car as soon as the signal turns red, and stop it before the zebra crossing, not right on it. However if you try doing so, every car that joins the line after you will generously blow horn to let you know that you are a fool, you 'ought to' move ahead and go as far as you can go on the road.
Similar situation arises when the signal turns Yellow- people start blowing horns reminding you that one is not here to stay, you should move and let others go too, no need to wait for a few seconds till the light turns green.
And if you 'dare' to stop for a red signal when the road is empty, you are sure to get stunned looks from drivers of all the cars that swift pass you, with expressions clearly questioning you mental health.
Obviously, this does not end here. The list goes on and on- including cars blowing horns and forcing you to move ahead when you are there at a turning on road, and waiting for traffic to slow down.
Same goes for all the other matters. As soon as you start looking for a dustbin to throw garbage, someone will always be there to tell you: Throw it right here. You can't be silly enough to carry it with you!
Or try making a queue at a canteen, try telling people that people in a bus that those who want to get off should be allowed to do so first, then others can get in- and you'll know what is meant by 'if you are allowed to'

Karachi University, Exams and the inevitable delay

Just a few days back all of my class mates (including me of course) were mourning over the fact that it is all over, we wont be able to live this all again, most of us will never even get a chance to see each other one more time, we would now be Ex- KU students, wishing it would never end and we continue with the same routine, the same friendship and same people.
And yet, soon after the exams started, majority can't wait to get done with the exams and leave KU forever. However, there prayers have already been answered and exams have been postponed till God knows when. Now there is no way out other than remaining in touch with all the friends, enjoy the feel of being a KU student and going through all the discussions we have been since the beginning of University life, no matter how much one despises it now :D
This is our eighth semester, and there has been not a single semester in which exams went according to schedule and ended on the due date. Every time, there was a different reason but the result remained same- exams being postponed.
This time, in fact, I was secretly waiting for exams to be delayed for two reasons:
1: It saved the tradition
2: It gave us some extra time for completion of our Final Assignment (Magazine Production) that is due around 10 days after exams.
Therefore I am alright with this interval, I wish though all this violence had not taken place at campus and there were some other peaceful reasons for this.
No one has the idea of how long all this would continue, but this sure will be, along with lots of others, memory of a lifetime. We will forever keep telling others Hmare to har semester ma exams postpone hoe hain! :P