Beneath My Tomb!!

Listen, the music of my silent tomb

Beneath the soil, amid the frozen bones

Lay my poisoned, yet cozy bed

And many insects, for my time be passed

Forget me brothers, and my loved ones

Though many had already forgotten

If blessed some time, come here and sit

Or else, snakes or worms, continue your speak

Ah! There lies my wife, let her lie

There she is at rest, so am I

And far lays a man, yet again is cursed

Lies beside his wife, stops never her tongue

Passers remember me as you pass by

As you are now, long once was I

As I am now, so you will be

Though Death is out for free

-Sameer Ahmed Khan

A Heart that Questioned an Angel

A Heart that Questioned an Angel

 (23^rd/December/2008)  

Oh! Heavenly creature, do you wish to care?

And answer my doubts that I declare

Where are humans that once were born?

And those who ruled with love and not by hatred among?

Come whisper the truth if you wish to care

And be the light through darkness I fear

Lost I stand amid the many men

And reached the path from where I began

Will you not answer my plights and come down;

And wipe my tears and say, “It’s all right, son”?

Will you not ease my pain dwelling for so long?

Or walk my path and say, how it feels being all alone?

Oh be blessed the sky who taught me well

To hide my tears and cheerfully smile

I only joke, for I wish to hide myself from all

And laugh from fear of being left abandoned by all

For how long will you stop, stare and smile?

Not forever, but come down for a while

This night in sleep when I saw an angel bright

That night my soul left this world in fright

In world of heroes then, I found myself to be

Where the birds sang and danced the happy wind

And from far, an angel glanced and smiled

As if to say, that world was never meant for me!

-Sameer Ahmed Khan

Silence Shall Speak

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Peace!

Shattered in the silence...

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Peace!

Minutes before death

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(PS: First poem written)
Peace!

Forgiveness My Lord!

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Peace!

Battle field

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Peace!

A New Leaf

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Peace!

The Darker Sides of Karachi University

How much longer should we wait for appropriate decisions? How many more deaths would be needed to initiate the transportation system for evening students? Could they too use the facilities provided by the University of Karachi? Or are they all provided just for the sake of name?
It seems like yesterday a student of Karachi University got crumbled under the truck just before our eyes. I reached the spot 10 minutes after the incident happened and witnessed many police men being gathered around the truck inspecting it. Much fear and tension was found in every student standing their, awaiting for their respected buses! Few students were even sobbing at that moment. The blame could all be put upon Karachi University’s Transportation system!
It’s not about fighting for one life, or just creating a havoc of this situation, but when I put my place before her, and have no choice but to stand at the very bus-stand every single night, I do have the right to rebel then. At the point she died, it could be me too, or anyone from the Karachi University
Thousands of applications have been submitted to the head of Evening Department for starting proper transportation system, both by us and by the previous batches, but as it’s usually found in Pakistan, everyone keeps blaming others for not providing the approval and piling thousands of ridiculous excuses before us. This is what Dr. Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, The Vice-Chancellor of Karachi University had done!

Moreover, the transportation that runs for the evening students for picking them –only comes whenever they wish too. Even if the slightest news of some protest is heard by them - anywhere, our transportation would be the first one to close down, while we would be waiting its arrival at the respected points –restless.

Is this how the transportation system of one of the world’s famous University of Karachi should be? I would like to request the authorities to take action as swiftly as possible; the students need points to pick and drop them near their homes, I sometimes feel that running transportation system in the night is more important than in morning! Buses are not easily available at night, and the tension develops more as well. The authorities should know how it feels when a student leaves his class at 8:30 and reaches out of the university gate at around 9 and awaits for his bus, and finally reaches his home at 10 pm! This is just my story. Every time I leave university towards home and pass through the Al-Asif building by ‘G-17’ bus, just to reach Sakhi Hassan in 1 hour, I find myself in constant fear and tension, thanks to the atmosphere near that area which even worries my mother at home –praying!
Even at 3:30 inside the university the transportation system is not sufficient. One would always find students waving hands for lift near the Maskan Gate, to the private vehicles entering University. And went I noted the time, it took me 45 minutes of walk, just to reach my U.b.i.t department on foot.

We, the students of Evening Programme of Karachi University hardly can enjoy any facility given to us. The Main Central Library closes at 8:30, can anyone ever expect a library to close down. And besides that, our classes that run from 3:30 without a break end at 8:30 (Only 10 Minutes gap is given to offer prayers) How can we ever visit the library if we don’t bunk our classes in between?

Next we have no sports facility either; the Gymnasium closes at 8:30 too. And mostly all the facilities given to students end around 8:30!! It seems as if every luxury is meant for the morning students –only. And the last main problem we face is the lighting system of University at night, where all seems dark!

Now, when so many problems are being faced by each and every student in evening classes, why doesn’t the University take some action? Why can’t it initiate the transportation system for picking and dropping as well? Why couldn’t they extend the library timings, or on those street lights in university. They could also start classes a bit early so as to give us gaps between periods as well!

I hope my letter reaches the appropriate desks and soon we would hear something helpful. Surely we don’t want this letter to be neglected as enough protest had already been done within the university boundaries for the sake of initiating the transportation system for the evening students, but the respected authorities remained as numb as they could. And therefore, the students have decided, that if the transportation is system is not yet provided by the University of Karachi to pick and drop them regularly, the students would not pay the fees of one semester, and with that money, run their own buses, so as to stop more deaths, which seemed quite worthless to some respected authorities for not taking any action and just building one flyover bridge, and closing the case!
Peace!


-Sameer Ahmed Khan, 18, Student of Karachi University

From Last Letters of Bertrand Russell

(Okay, this was't published in magazine, but since I wanted to share this, I prefered it this way)

The tragedy of the people of Palestine is that their country was "given" by a foreign power to another people for the creation of a new state. The result was that many hundreds of thousands of innocent people were made permanently homeless. With every new conflict their numbers increased. How much longer is the world willing to endure this spectacle of wanton cruelty? It is abundantly clear that the refugees have every right to the homeland from which they were driven, and the denial of this right is at the heart of the continuing conflict. No people anywhere in the world would accept being expelled en masse from their own country; how can anyone require the people of Palestine to accept a punishment which nobody else would tolerate? A permanent just settlement of the refugees in their homeland is an essential ingredient of any genuine settlement in the Middle East. We are frequently told that we must sympathise with Israel because of the suffering of the Jews in Europe at the hands of the Nazis. […] What Israel is doing today cannot be condoned, and to invoke the horrors of the past to justify those of the present is gross hypocrisy.

—Bertrand Russell, 31 January 1970

Peace Shall Come…

YT dated: January 16th 2008


Don't get discouraged, my friends. There will certainly come a day when we can breathe in fresh air, when there will be no more worries for money, no more fears of being dead.
No matter how hard the enemy tries to bother our feelings, we should fight them all. Not with weapons, but merely by calming ourselves. We should not become the victim of anger and havoc, but will hold ourselves still and silently await the end of evils. What if our leader was shot? What if those culprits weren't caught? We still wouldn't ruin ourselves by the chaos the enemy created. Peace shall find its way, it always does.
Certainly, there will come a day when no mortal will fight for the unspeakable land, or will discriminate himself from others. There will come a day, when no nations will exist, only one planet known as Earth will, and we will merely be its dwellers.
And there will exist such an environment where the cursed green goblin will never be invoked into the hearts of men. Yes, my friends, jealousy shall never find its way to us. But yes, there shall exist one kind of jealousy, jealousy for doing more virtue than the others. There, if one helps the poor by providing them 10 kilograms of wheat, other men will stand up and provide 20 kilograms of wheat. Such shall be the kind of jealousy they will hold.
Don't get disheartened by the fact that peace won't come. But hold a firm belief in it, such a belief that will shake the angels from Heaven. Only then can peace be attained. I believe God not only doubles the rewards, but returns them by multiplying it with 10. No matter how much money you have, help the poor, give to young ones or gift them to your parents and then you can feel the blessings showered upon you. It would be in such numbers that you might not be able to count them. At least once in a while look down on the fellow child begging for alms and give him a smile while helping him, or at times, feel the happiness and pleasure in providing one-time food for the poor and see how your deed brings a change in you, an eternal change. If such deeds are done, peace shall be and must be born.
No matter what it takes, one should never move away from the light of hope. Hope, I believe, is like a light that adorns and cheers our way, and as darker grows the night, it still emits a ray of light.
Peace shall come, and for it, I shall continue to hope. Though I have no the gift of prophecy, I shall continue to hope till it remains beneficial.

Caged!

(Published on YT dated: October 10th 2007)
So, its copyrighted!


I often see many charming and beautiful birds being locked up in some cage. Moreover, to hurt that poor bird more, what people usually do is keep his dungeon (cage) beneath the open sky making his every second more sorrowful and painful. That poor creature keeps looking up at the sky and at the free birds flying and chirping happily. I am sure at that instance, the bird prays to God to have some mercy. And that very sound the bird makes becomes our delight. But still the bird tries to learn different tunes hoping that one day that cruel per­son will understand what the bird and shall let him free.
I know most of you wouldn't agree with me because of your utmost love for your parrot or any other pet bird and can't bear the pain of losing it. But the fact is, one should sacrifice his own wishes and desires in order to fulfill others' happiness. For, there lies his real greatness.
I remember that once I had 10 Gould's Finches and one great parrot which I had since childhood. But we kept their cage in our store room so that they would never know what freedom was like or they wouldn't get jealous of the free birds flying. As I grew, I kept the parrot outside the cage, and it usually sat above the cage glancing here and there. One great thing about the parrot was that it never bit anyone. And that made it an extra-ordinary creature to me.
But as time passed, it made a great mess by flying throughout our home and crashing into any object that came in its way. And as he did so, I went straight to each and every window or door of the house and confirmed that it was closed. Then, cau­tiously, I would lead it back to his cage. But I never put him inside the cage. This used to happen for about four times a week.
Later, it grew so worse that my mother decided it was time to free the parrot. It was like snatching my childhood friend. The situation grew worse when the parrot managed to imitate the tune of our door bell. Often, at midnight, my father used to wake up due to the sound. This made him decide that it was high time all the birds were freed.
Now I had very little time left to spend with my parrot. I really can't remember what I spoke to the parrot, but one thing was sure, I let a silent tear flow while patting him.
After some real tough time, my father firmly picked up the cage and took it outside to our lawn. And there he opened the cage. Instantly, seven finches flew away, and after some seconds the rest three, too, flew away.
Strangely, the parrot did not fly away. But as my father cajoled the parrot, it darted straight back into our house. Now, that act made me extremely happy. But my father took it to the nearest tree and left it there. The parrot still did not fly away, but stayed there the whole day.
When I woke up the next morning, however, I found that the parrot had left. That night I couldn't sleep I wept silently, for I had lost my oldest friend.
But after two days a strange thing happened. The parrot along with two finches were found sitting on the cage, which was still kept on the lawn. I was delighted, and my father allowed me to keep the parrot. My happiness knew no bounds. But time changed everything. I had to return to my home country, leaving Qatar. And, I had to leave my parrot, my school friends and all the peo­ple I was familiar with. And this time, no magic occurred.
Now, when I wake up in Pakistan, I cannot find my parrot. But a hope which fires in my heart cheers me. One day, I believe, I will get all that I have lost.
The reason for writing such a long incident is to tell Young Timers never to torture or inflict pain on those creatures who can't speak. If you love those beautiful creatures, let them free and see if they come back. Just like we let go of our friends we have to do with birds like parrots, too. If they come back, you are blessed, but if he doesn't, he never was meant to be yours.
Those who are blessed should treasure every moment of life, for treasures are often lost as time can change everything. Time has two sides, at one instance it can be your greatest friend, but on the other, your greatest foe.


Peace!!

Respect Elders.

(The very first article I wrote and got published..........!)
YT dated: November 14th 2007,
So, its copyrighted!

What really has happened to our society? Why are parents fearful of sending youngsters outside on their own? Why are they scared that they will get spoiled? Why is it that a 10-year-old child who is raised with much love and care yells and shouts back to his parents, believing that he is always right?
Parents raise their children sacrificing everything for them. No matter how hungry they are or how ill they are, when it comes to their child the parent will disregard every problem and live for his well being. Yes, what I have said is true. If you don’t believe me, visit your nearest hospital and just sit back and look at the many thousands of anxious parents carrying their sons and daughters waiting in the long queue –waiting patiently. At that time, the child does not understand what is happening. He is lost in his own world, neglecting every aspect of life engaged in his very own angel world.
The very first spoken word by the child, the very first day of school – all these are dreams of every parent. But as the child grows in the society, he fails to understand what really is right for him and what is wrong. For him, his friends become every thing to him -his icon, his idol, and sometimes even his god.
According to me, friends play a very important role in establishing or ruining the personality of his mate. Finding good friends is also a tough job. Sometimes it can take three to four years to discover a good friend.
As the child grows from infant to a teenager, with utmost love - I suppose from everyone -he tries to visualize his greatness. Very little does he know or does he try to know at what critical stage of life he is in. He ignores his career, his future and does not give a second thought about his life. And when his parents, like always, try to steer him along the right path, he considers himself to be more experienced and will try to teach his parents. This will end in a big argument. The child gets so involved in the argument that he forgets what he is, what words he speaks. He even forgets whom he is talking to. He becomes like a wild beast captured in the human body.
The chaos is increasing day by day. I fear that a day will come when a child who gets punished by his parents, instead of saying sorry, will complain to the police.
I believe that these days, parents and elders are not being respected in the way they used to be. Do these children forget who their parents are or what dignity they hold? Or do they believe that it is obligatory on the part of every parent to raise their children properly? Do they think it is their right?
My dear young YT readers, do remember to respect your elders in the same way they brought you up. And forget the mistakes committed by others, because this is where quarrels arise. Remember never to forget your religious values and cultures, for they will protect you from social sins. And, do keep in mind that western culture looks good only on television. Do not wreck your life by blindly imitating it.
You people might think I am nuts talking about culture and religious values. You would have listened to the same words from your grand parents and those much older than you. But believe me, if these very cultures and values were not present, we would have been completely ruined and would have been lost in the world of dark ages.
It does not matter to me if any of you after reading this, still disrespects his parents or shouts back at them, for I believe that a day will surely come when your very own offspring’s will give you more pain than you gave your parents. This is a world of pay back, what you give is what you get.
But after reading this, if at least one person looks back at his parents with a little smile and love on his face, then I believe the purpose of my writing is accomplished. And I surely don’t believe that this article will completely change a soul, but I do believe that this article will at least rekindle the long dead voice of right and wrong in you.
Trust me, if you gain blessings from your mother, you will surely do well in life. And if you gain blessings from your father, you will succeed in this present world. If you don’t believe me, just try it.
So, Young Timers, please do respect your elders and most importantly your parents.


Peace!!