They say future is unpredictable but creating the best out of it is what is in our hands!
Any kind of work demands dedication and commitment. If we’re expected to walk in any other experienced person’s shoes merely because he/she succeeded in life by opting for a particular strategy, we may not even walk a step beyond. But if we’re provided the ways to more actively learn and explore the world, then hopefully and ideally, no matter what we ultimately decide to do, we’ll have skills, real-world awareness, and flexibility making us well-equipped for a constantly changing environment. And no matter where you push such a person, he/she will survive!

I believe, somewhere we’ve restricted ourselves behind the frontiers of evaluation and social acceptance so much that we barely see the power of knowledge. If we instead work on building on our knowledge and experience we can illuminate the world around us. But building on the experience is as important as it is to follow our passion or dreams. Instead of restricting ourselves to what every other person is doing, if we open our vision to a finite learning experience, we can positively impact others, beyond our classroom walls.

Gone are the days when books were the bible to success. Indeed they play a vital role in enhancing our knowledge but in this constantly changing time, if we’re asked to seek a wish for better tomorrow. What more can we ask for than advancement in technologies and people with hybrid skilling? While the future of work can be a threat to human employment by the rise of dependency on machines and evolving technologies, it can pave way for us to be more skillful and change with the changing times. It is clear that the future demands a system of Education that is as dynamic and adaptable as the technologies around which our lives now revolve. There is a huge scope for us in this challenge-driven learning, with innumerable problems that we’re facing today, providing new opportunities for meaningful integration of education and work. It is high time for us to comprehend that education can no longer fill a stagnant box that we then use for the rest of our lives. It must instead give us the wherewithal to constantly refill our own box of skills and knowledge required by the work of tomorrow to understand problems and develop creative and actionable solutions.

Today, I’m going to write about a person who’s the artist of my footsteps, the ‘Aap’ to my conversations while addressing someone, the reason I lower my gaze, out of respect  for my elders and also the one who taught me when to raise them against any form of injustice and oppression.

‘Maa’ a word that that no dictionary in the world can define perfectly. She isn’t just a person to talk about. She’s a feeling, a beautiful one that just cannot be personified into words.

There might be people out there who’re ashamed of showing their scars and struggles but you, mama are the reason because of whom I feel proud of speaking them out.

Yes, I have lived a perfect life but that’s only because you protected me against all the storms and hurdles which came our way. From protecting me when I was just a mass of cells in your womb and nani wanted you to abort me, to selling your jewellery for my treatment when papa wasn’t in town and I was hospitalised. I owe you a lot Maa!

Whenever I find people praising Superheroes & Superwomen, I find myself lucky for not relying upon those fictional characters to keep my world alive. Because I’ve you Maa and you’re no less than a Super Lady to me, who filled my life with magic and glee. Just for my knowledge, do you’ve a magical wand like sonpari with which you fill all my imaginary wishes into reality?

To be honest, when I was kid, I thought you were just too harsh with me. I was just 2.5 years old when you sent me to School. The way you scolded me for not going to school or scoring less marks in a test, sometimes made me wonder, which dustbin was I picked from? I still remember how I used to sleep in the classroom and Ali Mohd Sir, our Principal always carried me to his office and made me sleep on his sofa. “So kind of him”

But now I realise the true value of those lessons you taught me. I surely wouldn’t have become the person I’m today without your strategically beautiful upbringing.

Apart from that, I always wanted to spend some more time with my family but I didn’t have the audacity to say it then because of the apprehension my heart was filled with. I know this very well that you & papa have always given me the best life possible & I’ll forever be grateful for that. But you remember how I used to sing that song, ‘Papa jaldi aajana saath samandar paar ke’ over the phone and then run away? They weren’t just words to me. I really wanted us to be together like all my other cousins and friends. But at the same time, I do realise how important it was for us to stay apart back then, to live the life we’re cherishing today. Even then Maa, the way you held our family together and managed to be a flawless mother, an Ideal Teacher and an even more perfect home maker all together is commendable.

I remember how you used to get phone calls from home when you were at work and you still managed to be at both places at the same time. Why didn’t you ever complain Maa? Growing up and realising all that you’ve done for us really makes me perplexed and wonder as to which special material did God use while creating you. Whatever it is. I’m sure It must something ‘stronger than Iron, yet softer than cotton.’ 

I won’t take much of your time reading this, I know you’ve a lot of work left in the Kitchen. So Lets make this short and sweet…

Dear Maa,

Its been 22 years since you brought me to this world and the best thing I’ve been blessed with so far is being your daughter. Happy Birthday prettiest Lady!

‘Aapke bina sab La-hasil hai

Aapke saath sab muqamal’

My words won’t do justice to describe the masterly perfect personality of yours. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me and remember that I love you for who you’re!

Love,

Your not so perfect daughter

When i was a kid, i was told that police station is not a place for girls. I grew up thinking that maybe its just the bars that separate the good from bad.

Well! Sitting here today under quarantine makes me wonder, what wrong have i done?

Are these fences holding the world behind them or is it me who is being isolated from the world out there?

The answers i’ve for these questions raise numerous back questions to me.

Let’s not make it ‘philosophical.’ I never dreamt of unicorns, neither have i planned to conquer the world. I’m just another ordinary person who dreams of a colorful garden with flowers of happiness and thorns, which won’t bleed me to death.

Wondering what that means? Let’s go back to the time i started dreaming for the things i’ve now…

When i was a kid all i could dream of was either a box of gulab jamuns (something i still love today) or maybe some materialistic things which would fascinate me for a moment. But if i look back now, they all seem a trash to me. The things that could enlighten my face and fill my heart with glee, no longer make me happy. It makes my wonder, what is that i want from my life?

The enthusiastic student inside me might answer, becoming an extraordinary Scientist. Who’d do things for the society that no one ever did. But is that it? Will my life be over after that?

The child who’s survived the raging storms at every stage of life may answer, ‘serenity.’ But sometimes even peace can be suffocating. Isn’t that self explanatory through this quarantine?

The survivor inside me retorts and i quote, ‘I dream of a colorful garden with flowers of happiness and thorns, which won’t bleed me to death.’ Is it a foolish plea from a desperate little heart who doesn’t even weep anymore?

I’m not asking for a life full of luxuries or a smooth path to lean on. In a world full of infinite colors, all i need is a few to decorate my garden.

Well, i know it takes a lot to get anything from your life and I won’t be a byproduct either. I’ve always tried to be a major product of an endothermic, forward reaction. Even if life gave me steric hindrance, I always chose to be the favourable resonating structure, one who has a decided fate. But as they say, rearrangements can always switch the reactions! Maybe, i need to work a little harder to hold on to my valencies and that would lead to a colored precipitate I’m looking for?

One thing that i’ve learnt from life is, not all the reactions are instantaneous nor is it a single step fast reaction. Life demands a slower, smoother and laborious rate of reaction for the products that are unique and precious.

As with a diamond, which is nothing more than a clump of carbon, that refused to give in to pressure and heat and that’s exactly what decided its fate to be so intriguingly beautiful than simply transforming into coal, life’s upheavals bring our true worth and strength to the surface. And its only then that we illuminate the world around us.

The intense pressures we face in the times of crises are actually God’s blessings to help us get rid of the impurities within us and become the better versions of ourselves. When we bloom from the very darkest experiences in our lives, that’s what makes the flower more vibrant and precious, denoting the victory of perseverance over hardships.

Its never a fixed goal that makes you a perfect human being. Its the little dreams for today and tomorrow that shape you into a beautiful masterpiece. I believe, life is like a garden. The beauty of which is the reflection of the patient labor and expended efforts of a gardener. You can never expect the garden to be in a perfect condition. As you grow new plants and sow new seeds, the old ones start ageing and finally die. Life is all about enjoying the smell of little saplings growing in the soil, getting wet with the sweat of hardwork you’ve put in and finally taking some time to cherish the peace and share the beauty with people around us. 

 ~Misbah Khan

• 

Behind the doors of Manjunath Ladies hostel dwell hundreds of hearts with unknown stories.

Today someone asked me a simple yet strenuous question, How’s hostel life?

Do you know the fact, ‘Roses have thorns?’ i retorted.

The world went silent for a moment, till another thought hit me. Did you understand? I asked.

Let us talk about it, he replied smiling at my reassuring thoughts.

Always excited about living independently, far from home under the roof of a rented room, little did she know the difference between her thoughts and reality, i added staring at his puzzled face.

Who’s that person you’re talking about? He asked.

A single voice speaking out hundreds of hearts from behind the door labeled 303A, i replied.

As a kid she grew with an ambition, a dream to die for. While struggling with her thoughts of what to do next and bearing constant pressure from the society, she made her mind to leave everything behind and go forth with her perspective towards life.

Blessed with the umbrage of Almighty and ever supportive parents, she made it to a prestigious Institution, 3000 KM away from home!

The skyscrapers amazed her while the city lights filled her heart with glee. ‘Mom, the world around looks beautiful,’ she said over a temporary phone call.

Once the conversation ended, she sat alone at the terrace, looking at the starry sky and waiting for someone to call her for dinner.

 After a while a voice came, had your dinner? it asked.

Not yet. You? She replied in a soft voice.

They went for the dinner together and reluctantly spoke about themselves, keeping in mind that ‘strangers ain’t to be trusted.’

But time changes people, you know! It has been a year since then and the two strangers, (more like sisters now) share their pajamas more frequently than their secrets!

The group became larger, as time passed and so grew the family in a new town.

From sharing the home made khakhras and achaar to fooling the warden for late entries, the mischievous family now shares an everlasting beautiful bond.     

Isn’t it beautiful to feel the sisterly emotions from non biological sisters? Not only do they hold a special place in your heart but they stick to your bed like histones on DNA!

But…. there are dark sides of the journey too.

There are times when all you need is someone to whom you can speak your heart out. But as they say arduous times show you the true colors of people! So do the hard times at hostel. Sometimes paper has more patience than people. There are friends who support you like a family does and there are foes always waiting for an opportunity to bring you down.

There are times when you can no longer feed yourself the same taste of idli vada and you incredibly miss, Maa ke haath ka khana!

Then there comes a time when the sky scrapers don’t amaze you anymore and the world doesn’t seem to be as beautiful as you thought it to be. The thought of just sitting under a blanket and telling day long stories to your parents brings ease to your heart.

There are times when fighting with your siblings seems more cherishing than going out with your friends.

But just like the happy times, these moments too pass. And this is what life is all about! A stellar hue, filled with colors of joy and sorrow. Making us stronger and mending us for a better tomorrow. 

Heads or tails, both sides of the coin are equally imminent and contribute to each other. From different colors of people in varying situations to always holding on to our faith in the beautiful verse, ‘Verily after difficulty comes ease,’ the little heart became much stronger, learnt the power of patience and the importance of staying audacious under the shield of honour circumspect of every situation!

So yes! Roses do have thorns or rather thorns have roses!

                                                                    ~Words from a seasonal guest at her own home.

Was her dress way too short for you to lower your gaze or is a diaper more tempting to you now? Shall we blame a mother for not covering the body of her three year old ‘properly’ or rather a dress code that doesn’t dazzle your eyes no more? Or is it a hijabi’s fault who walked proudly down the streets without thinking that she’s just another girl meant to satisfy the needs of a MAN!?

Women don’t get raped because they were drunk or high on drugs. They don’t get raped because they weren’t careful or properly dressed. They get raped because someone RAPED them! I’m talking about women but today, on my land it’s about a little innocent girl, Aiman Zehra who was brutally raped by a 24 year old beast at a village Trigam of Bandipora District, Kashmir.

Unfortunate part of the episode is that a principal is issuing fake DOB certificate to the culprit in order to cover the criminal and declare him as a 19 year old minor!

Such incident is enough to estimate plight of the women in Kashmir. Women are not safe neither outside nor now at home.

No wonder you must feel proud of yourselves, your holy brains and sacred bodies!

 I’m gripped by shame, not because the beast had it’s prey but due to the fact that we’re hiding ourselves behind the curtains of silence. What is this pride for? What if we or our families would’ve been the victims of what happened with her?

A dirty fish in a sea doesn’t mean the water is contaminated but it does lack something needed by the fish. I won’t flaunt about our education systems or our so called ‘social ethics’ but what about our basic etiquettes? What about the tag, ‘Human beings’ we’re wearing? Are we even worthy of beholding this title? I guess not.

Before calling ourselves the saints of our religion, we need to understand our religion first.  

#justiceforAimanZehra #justiceforwomen #hangtheculprittilldeath

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton