Malala!

Malala!

 I am proud and happy for your providence

Your struggle has shaken the world

Making all realize that ignorance is a curse and a great sin

While bullets stood mum against your bravery and,

How many opportunists will get credit in your name?

Though you got life by bullets

But what about those oblivion innocent girls

 Who, over the last 40 years, left my village?

For the sake of knowledge, hoisting their scarf as flags

{What they got?}

Indicts of infidelity, gifts of censures,

Stepped on fire of abhorrence….

But they were bearers of determination

Illuminated light of knowledge even in windstorms

By dint of their courage and resolve,

The light of knowledge keeps spreading in my town

But

Why no one dared to say

Those were also Malalas’

Yes,

There are king makers, whoever they want to promote

Otherwise who cares for TRUTH here!!!!

The sun is shining over the roof of the world

The sun is shining over the roof of the world

Peeping through an outlet of cloud, some rays as beam of gold 

In the frozen land of mind

Now the hopes are born with the melting ice

The ice is melting and hopes are born  

Feeling the warmth of care and love, got mold

Some feeble but wild violet s beneath the ice

Are shooting up through the ice, like sword

The fragrance and hues will spread over the vale

Will shine and

Hold, cold, gold, bold,

The sun is shining on the roof of the world

By: Nazir Ahmed Bulbul 

KASB GAH

KASB GAH

Mountain Women Quilt Center

Center of contemporary and traditional quilting

Protection of marginalized women

Enabling Vulnerable through quilting 

Introduction:

Quilting is not a new activity in Gojal, Hunza.  The tradition was a community activity where women and girls were involved to make warm bedding for the chili cold winters. With the passage of time and construction of the Karakorum Highway (KKH) between Pakistan and China, the practice slowed downed. Now, most of the bedding and quilts are purchased with expending a fair sum of money.

The Attabad (Hunza) Disaster, causing the blockage of KKH and Hunza River since January 4, 2010, taught the people of Gojal, Hunza, many lesson to preserve and reuse their unique traditions involving natural resources and community skills to have self-sufficient life.

In 2010, 15 marginalized women (most of them IDPs, and widows) felt demand of the time to survive when most of them lost their natural resources, submerged by the Attabad Lake. Some of the village women planned to start a women center where they could learn skills to craft their future and utilize the time that were used in agriculture and livestock.

Some of the women having sound sewing skills and traditional quilt making techniques were eager to work and learn further to help their family income for better education and health. They have wool, fabric scraps and clothing to recycle to begin quilting with less additional expense.

The KASB GAH (Women Quilt Center Gulmit) aims to serve the marginalized people in Gojal, through providing a center for activities of teaching quilting and patchwork.

The board of governors suggests a systematic business plan in the following steps as learnt in HiMAT training sessions: 

1. Assessing group readiness

A group of 15 marginalized women from Gulmit gathered and were ready to develop and manage a community quilt center with resources as; time, finance and materials (raw materials, sewing machine)

In early meetings enough time and resources were used to identify the personal qualities, resources and raw material and technology for the business. It was fond that the group possessed some personal qualities, skill and knowledge required with some raw materials to manage the business. Time was the main resource and it was known that most of the IDPs have enough time to spare. For finance, the members agreed upon contributing 2500 rupees per head, as initial investment. Further it was also agreed to contribute in kind (if with raw materials and sewing machines) for initial production.

2. The Business idea

Product and service

Business idea of the group is production of quilts and bedding materials. Living in the high mountains of the Karakorum range people spend large sum of money on fuel for energy, clothing and bedding materials to stand long cold winter. Investment in such activities could provide quilts and bedding materials at a reasonable price with usage of local materials and indigenous knowledge and skills. Most importantly, it will provide an opportunity for the marginalized and interested women to contribute to their family income.

The products include; quilts, bedding materials (pipr, teshek, yijin), pillows and baby envelops. The raw materials for the product will be wool from the villagers, used small pieces of fabric and clothing from their home and cotton from market. Small pieces of fabric and clothing would be joined together to make larger pieces with creative designs and decorative values.

Who will buy?

It was learnt through a survey that in population of 4500 people living in Gulmit and its vicinity villages are mostly using quilts, blankets and bedding materials imported from China or main cities of the country. If the same products are produced in the village it will cost them half of the price.

Who else is providing the service?

Currently, a community center in a small village (Hussaini) with a population of 700 people is producing such products and is popular among the local clients. But the demand is huge and the distance from Gulmit is 7 km through mountainous path. There are enough potential customers who want to reproduce or buy new quilts. 

3. Does our business product have a market?

Through survey of potential customers in the village and investigation of the only competitor it was learnt that the business could yield more if the changing needs of the customers were sensed and responded with new techniques, touch and technology.

Estimate the potential sells

Research marketing method

4. Does our business have the resources we need?

The members shared an amount of Rs. 2500 as start up investment. However this amount is insufficient to meet the operating cost and marketing cost. Therefore, the members are using their own resource (wool and fabrics scraps and clothing) and looking forward to hunt donors or acquire loan from Village organizations, Women Organization, Mountain Area Support Organization or banks. Looking at the current high interest rate by the organizations it seems sensible to relay on their own resources or hunt donors.

4. Is our business likely to be profitable?

The market survey seems very positive if start up investment is provided. The business seems with profit and could give better income. Through a workshop the tentative forecast of revenue and expenditure showed the business profitable not only in term of economical aspects but social and cultural too.

5. Can we manage the risks?

External and internal risks are obvious in any business and could be minimized by proper planning, terms and conditions and risk management techniques. The board of Governors will closely monitor activities of the center and give in time feedback to manage any shortfall.

6. Do you have every thing organized?

Following the modern business management techniques the center will follow the following organizational charts (see appendix)

Management and governance

With the boom in business, a business manager will be responsible to manage the day to day affairs of the center and will be accountable before the board of governors. The Governors will govern Marketing and customer relation (economic conditions in the region, action of competitors, changing expectation of customers) Ongoing improvement and development (change in technology and equipment, change in expectation and needs and reflection, what next for the business.

Currently, the secretary is responsible for the bookkeeping (financial record, financial transaction receipt, ledger, bank account) and maintenance of other records. Members have been given different portfolios for collecting raw materials, production, marketing and custom relation related tasks.

Profit will be divided among the owners on the basis of their shares after excluding the operational cost and depreciation.

The crazy English language

English is the most widely used language in the history of planet. One in every seven human beings can speak it. More then half of the world’s books and three-quarters of international mail are in English. Of all languages, English has the largest vocabulary, prepares as many as two million words – and one of the noblest bodies of literature.

Nonetheless, let’s face it: English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, neither pine nor apple in pineapple, and no ham in hamburger. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France. Sweet meats are candy, while sweet breads, which aren't sweet, are meat.

 We take English for granted. But when we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither a pig nor guinea. And why is it that a writer writes, but finger don’t fing, grocers don’t grocer and hammer don’t ham? 

Doesn't it seem loopy that you can make amends but not just amend, that you comb through the annals of history but not just one annal? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and you get rid of all but one what do you call it? If a teacher taught, why isn’t it true that the preacher praught? If a horse hair mat is made from the horses and the camel’s hair coat is made from the hair of camels, from what is a mohair coat made?

If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Some times I wonder if all English speakers should be committed to an asylum for all verbally insane. In what other language do people drive on a parkway and park in a driveway? Recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? How can the weather be hot as hell, one day and cold as hell the next? While quite a lot and quite a few are alike? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burns up as it burns down, in which you a form by filling it out and in which your alarm clock goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race (which of course isn’t really a race at all).

That is why, when stars are out they are visible, but when lights are out they are invisible. And why, when I wind up my watch I starts it, but when I wind up this essay I ends it……

   

Man power and business

Man power and business

Once in a town, there lived a man who had two daughters and ten sons. One day the man went to one of his friend who was a shopkeeper in the same town. The man shade tears and shared about his plight financial situation. He added that he has ten sons but they are good for nothing and always play or tease each other. Upon that, I am getting feeble and could not earn more to support my family. On the other hand, people are making fun of me for the huge family. What shall I do? He said with grief. Had you thought about this before the birth of the children, asked the shopkeeper.

The man nodded his head. The shopkeeper asked that what he posses further? ‘Nothing else, oh ya, a small piece of land’ the man replied. The shopkeeper inquired how many sons he has. Ten, replied the man. How many bread do they eat in a day asked the shopkeeper. Around thirty,’ said the man. Where all these breads go,’ again asked the shopkeeper. In the bellies,’ replied the man with astonishment. What the bread changes into, asked the shopkeeper.The man was mum. The shopkeeper added that it change into energy and of course some waste. Is this energy of any use, asked the shopkeeper again. The man gazed him vacantly and said nothing. Pointing toward a redawala, passing by the shop with carrying huge loud, the shopkeeper asked, how many breads do you think this man had today and how many hand s he has? Three of four breads and two hands, said the man with anger. How many hands your children have, he asked again. The man was in rage… the shopkeeper said they have 24 hands altogether. So, what… asked the man.

The shop keeper promised to help if he will gather some information about the market. He instructed him to observe “who do what”.

The man came back with information like; 3 shoe makers, 4 hairdressers, 7 redawala, 20 truck loaders many waiters and drivers etc. How much a louder and a redawala charges, asked the shopkeeper. Redawala charges Rs. 20 per 40 kg and 300 per truck by the loaders.

By that evening, the shopkeeper met the manager of the Goods transporting company and offered loaders on lowest rate of Rs. 250 per truck. The company manager was happy to hear that.

The shopkeeper asked the man to bring all his sons to his shop the next morning. The next day the man reached with all his sons at the shop. They were between 10 to 31 years and with good physic. The shopkeeper offered them some sweets and asked them to do him a favor. He further added that he will also gift them a cycle if they need one. The children were delighted upon hearing this. They promised to help the shopkeeper in unloading his goods from trucks. He took the children to the truck stand and they started unloading the truck. In the beginning it seemed fun but unloaded two trucks they were exhausted. Soon the shopkeeper refreshed them with a delicious meal. Upon unloading 4 trucks the man received 900 rupees along with the fine meal, by that evening. On the second day they unloaded 6 trucks and after 6 days they were able to gather a sum of Rs. 6000. by that time the shopkeeper gave them a bicycle too and encouraged them to work hard. After the first week they ordered to construct a bigger reda and the five younger ones were asked to pull that reda transporting 500 kg goods at a time on Rs. 15 per 40 kgs. Soon the ten brothers become very popular in the market.  The bicycle was shared and enjoyed by all brothers at different time. The wheels of the cycle and reda went round and round and on the second year they were able to bye a pickup  On third year they had a mini truck and after five years they had their own truck. Today after 7 years they have half of the share holders of the Goods transporting company.

The man was very happy with his true friend. One day he said to the shopkeeper that the Mullah was very right in saying that all children are born with their fate. The shopkeeper smiled and said that but the Mullah is mum to say that how to acquire the fate… both of the friend laughed.

Do they really not care about us?

Do they really not care about us?

They scold us when we fight. They beat us, when we quarrel among st ourselves. They punish us when we have a hand-to-hand combat. They instruct us not to fight, not to quarrel but what about when they do it themselves? There is the unspoken rule that whenever we are kids fight, we’ll get a good scolding or beating but what’s the penalty when the adults fight?

The action of children can be justify as they are immature, inexperienced and basically because they are kids. Any of their pranks or fights can be forgiven, and they can be taught to be better people in the long run. But what can we say about the older lot, the parents! How can their fights, their quarrels, and their brawls be justified? They are old enough to understand, have been through so much in life, have experience and know what’s right and what’s wrong, then what justifies their behavior?

Parents tell their kids not to fight but a child will never listen to you or accept whatever you have to say. It is but businessman’s trick. He/she will always pick cues from your actions. No parents would want their children to fight. Nor will they incite them to do so, then why don’t they understand that fighting with your spouse is the same as indirectly instructing your kid to fight? Why don’t they understand that fighting creates a very negative impact on a child’s behavior?  Why don’t they understand that fight between a mother and a father shears a child’s personality completely? And why don’t understand that fight hinder a child’s development, both physically and mentally?

The long term effect of constant arguments on a child’s head will be that either he/she will turn rebellious or will withdraw from the world. And, oh yes, after there has been an intense argument, parents do a double dirty tricks by talking out all their frustration out on their kids like scolding him/her on the slightest excuse, or, getting angry at him/her for no reasons at all. You may not realize this but a child may develop some kind of frustration feeling inside him/her and you would be the one solely responsible.

No parents would want their children growing up with any negative feeling inside him/her. The simplest solution is: don’t fight. Even if a single parent stops quarreling after reading this article of mine, I should have achieved my goal of pooling my courage and saying it aloud… 

GULMIT

Gulmit is the headquarters of the Gojal Tehsil, in the upper Hunza region of the Gilgit territory in the deep in the Karakoram Mountain Range. Gulmit is a centuries-old historic town, with mountains, peaks and glaciers. It is a tourist spot and has many hotels, shops and a museum. Its altitude is 2408m (7900 ft) above the Arabian Sea level. Small hamlets consist of Kamaris, Odver, Dalgiram, Laksh, Kalha, Shawaran, Khor Lakhsh, Chamangul Mangshi and Goze.

Gulmit is also a Turkish or Iranian word which means the "valley of flowers".

History

Before 1974, when Hunza was a state, Gulmit used to be the summer capital of the state. After the abolition of the state it became the Tehsil's seat of government. The oldest intact house in Gulmit is more than six centuries old. Most of the families have migrated from Ganishcentral Hunza), Bagrot and chaprot to this wakhi place.

People

People in the entire Gojal Valley have Central Asian ancestral backgrounds. The people speak Wakhi language and belong to the Shia Imami Ismaili sect of Islam. Population of Gulmit, according to 2003 census, consists of around 2500 individuals. Forty nine percent of the population comprises females

Events

Different cultural and religious events are celebrated each year. In March, the arrival of spring is celebrated known as 'Taghm'.Many local dishes are made on this day.People visit their relatives and wish each other good omen for the year ahead.11th July each year is celebrated as Imamat day. On this occasion all the people of the village gather at the polo ground. Skits, plays, songs and dramas are presented to entertain the audience. Similar programs are also held in the neighboring villages to show their devotion to the Imam. Other national events are also celebrated as a sign of patriotism with Pakistan.

Buildings

There are six Jamaat-khanas or religious community centers in Gulmit. One notices their presence in every ward of the village. The old Summer Palace of Mir of Hunza stands at the northern edge of Gulmit's historic Polo Ground. Old mosques, now used as libraries, also adorn the beautiful physique of Gulmit valley.

Among new buildings constructed by the government in Gulmit are Tehsil Headquarter, Federal Government's Boys High School, Civil Hospital, Diamond Jubilee Girls Middle School and Government Girls Higher Secondary School.

Al- Amin Model School, a community based organization, has a beautiful building standing next to the Health Center of Aga Khan Health Services.

Hotels

There are well furnished hotels in Gulmit valley. Some of these hotels are Silk Route Lodge, Marco Polo Hotel, Village Guest House, Gulmit Tourist Inn, Shutubar Inn and Horse Shoe Motel (not in running condition).

Village organization

There are as many as (twenty six)26 registered organizations working wholehearted for betterment of the village. . Most of these organizations work under the umbrella of Gulmit Organization for Local Development (GOLD).Some of the larger organizations, member-wise and activities-wise are the following:

·         Gulmit Educational and Social Welfare Society (GESW)

·         Counseling and Management Body Gulmit (CMBG)

·         Gulmit Arts Council

·         Gulmit Natural Resources Conservation Group

Apart from these social organizations there are other Ismaili organizations, working under the banner of the Shia Immami Ismaila Council for Gulmit. These ismaili organizations cater services to the entire Gojal Valley but Gulmit, being the headquarter, hosts their offices...