Being (in)considerate

Source: http://hibiscusflorida.com/

After the first year and a half of my undergrad I moved out of students hostel and used to come to the university by the university operated bus service. Unfortunately (or fortunately), my bus stop was the one where the bus picked up first in the morning and dropped last on our way back. Four of my friends used to take the same bus as me. From playing cards, to making fun of everybody, to debating world peace related issues, to discussing business proposals (which now seem particularly naive), we've done a lot of things. One of those days when more than one of us was in a philosophical or trying-to-understand-all-that-is-in-life mood, one of them asked me what the 'most bad' (I intentionally avoided the use of worst) thing in the world was. From the tone of the question I was sure he had a better answer than anything I could think of for an instant reply. Atleast his confidence said to me 'Come on man just say anything and I'll tell you what I have come up with'. So I just replied with 'an unpious or a bad woman'. He then gave me the answer he was getting so impatient to say. His answer I believe is much better, it rather is the best answer possible. He said the 'most bad' thing in the world is "shirk" i.e. the deification or worship of anyone or anything other than Allah.

I don't know if everything can be classified on a scale of being bad as to which is worse and which is lesser of a sin but I felt that one thing among the next-most-bad things is being selfish. I thought about it again and again at various points in time and realized that there is no scale to quantify an act as selfish or not either. What you might consider as an act of selflessness may appear to me as my right and your obligation. I had to modify my opinion about this too. So I finally reached a conclusion that there is nothing as worse in the world as an inconsiderate person (after of course the answer put up by my friend mentioned above). Being inconsiderate, though, is also a shaky definition however I am certain that it is a direct result of selfishness. If everybody is considerate, we perhaps can do even without tolerance. I am not sure if I have been able to express what I wanted to as well as I would have liked to but it was worth a try. The message to be explicit is "Be Considerate".

Punjabi: a beautiful language پنجابی: اک سوہنی بولی

My  native language Punjabi is a language spoken around parts of Pakistani and Indian Punjab. One day during a conversation with friends I realized I could not find a Punjabi word for 'Sorry'. I came to a realization that my language was a rude language as I could not find Punjabi synonyms for other polite words too like 'Excuse me', 'Please' and even 'Thank You'. I can now recall that I was once told by someone, although as a joke, that if  I am the boss and I have to be strict with my subordinates, I should resort to using Punjabi as the mode of expressing anger. So the image of my own language has become that of a stubborn language somewhat incapable of expressing affection and praise, or any other of the softer feelings for that matter.

But this piece of Punjabi poetry that I am sharing here is just brilliant and it makes one feel that Punjabi is as lovely and romantic a language as any other. The following is a Punjabi song which is shared alongside its translation. It was sung by one of my favorite singers: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, but was later copied and slightly recomposed by some Indian composers to fulfill the long standing and now matured tradition of branding Pakistani music as Indian. Here is the video of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan singing the qawwali. He is awesome.

Nit Khair Manga Sohniya Mein Teri (I pray for your welfare my love)

hor ki mangna mein rubb koloun, ik khair mangan tere dam di
baaj sajan lajpal tere, mein kohjian kedhe kam di
pal pal maneya sukh ve hazara, ghari vekhe na koi alam di
badr hamesha maula rakhay dhola tain te nazar karam di


What more can I ask of God, my only prayer is for your long life
because without my guardian my true love, I am a worthless ugly wretch
I pray that you might be blessed and spared from every grief
I pray to God to keep watch over you

nit khair manga sohniya mein teri dua na koi hor mangdi
tere pairanch akheer hove meri dua na koi hor mangdi

I pray for your welfare my love, this is my only prayer
Let me die at your feet, this is my only prayer

tere gham lag jawan menu, tera val vinga na hove
nit khair manga sohniya mein teri dua na koi hor mangdi

Let me carry the burden of your grief and may God keep you from harm
I pray for your welfare my love, this is my only prayer

tere pyar ditta jadoon da sahara ve, menu bhul gaya mahiya jag sara ve
khushi eho menu sajna batheri dua na koi aur mangdi

When I was cut off from you my love, I felt abandoned from the whole world
Now it fills me with joy, just praying for you

tu milya te mil gayi khudai ve, hath jor akhan payi na judai ve
mar jawaan gi je akh mei to pheri dua na koi hor mangdi

When I found you I discovered the universe, I beg of you not to part with me
I  would not survive if you turn away from me, I only pray that it never happens