inspirated1973

“Baby, you and I have everything, just like in the song: cities, airfield lights, blue snowstorms and thousands of kilometers between us.

“But I feel that you are near me every second, and I love you more and more.”

This was Russian opposition leader, Alexie Navalny’s last post, dedicated to his wife Yulia. On February 16, he breathed his last in the Arctic Penal colony, where he was serving a 19-year prison sentence.

When the world woke up to the news of this man’s death, shock followed by enormous grief was collectively felt. Him and his family lived a life of struggle in the face of the most brutal oppression: incarcerations, intimidation, assassination attempts, awful cases, you name it.

Mr Navalny was Russia’s most prominent opposition activist; what makes him particularly extraordinary is that he had a choice to have done it differently but he chose to stand by his
principles, unwavering in his resolve to not have it any other way. He could have lived the life of a celebrity in exile but did not.

Throughout all this, it often seemed that he was un-beatable; he survived a poisoning attempt, called people who were supposed to assassinate him and in his last video (Feb 15) during a hearing, he was seen joking with a judge, asking him to send money from his salary to him, because he was not in a position to pay all the fines they kept imposing on him.

“Your honor, I will send you my personal account number so that you, with your huge salary as a federal judge, can send me money,” he said, laughing.

“I am running out of cash, and thanks to your decisions, it will run out even faster. So send it!“

He was most known for speaking up against corruption and autocracy, with his intellect, humour and towering resolve to promote democracy.

His wife, Yulia was in Munich, to advocate for his freedom, when news of his death reached her. She still went on to speak with remarkable composure and eloquence. The days leading up to his death, he hardly was in contact with other people except through his lawyers and through his social media posts. His outdoor walking space was just another prison cell adjacent to his own, without a roof. He was not allowed to read much under harsh conditions in prison.

He commented about the place he was jailed, saying that a dead horse would probably “freeze to death in the region”.

During the past decade, he confronted the formidable power of one of the world’s most oppressive regimes and the wrath of its tyrannical leader. However, his commitment was unwavering: he vowed to surpass them and guide what he envisioned as the Russia of the future. One that was not just free but happy.

Navalny was an intelligent lawyer, who loved reading and constantly improving himself. His political agenda was mostly centered around uniting the people and creating more space for their voices to be heard in matters involving governance. Over time, he transitioned from a civic nationalist to a democrat. He was continuously evolving, learning new languages and innovating, as he broadened his focus beyond political power, aiming to touch upon social welfare. In numerous court hearings, he was seen expressing his views to create a better healthcare system in Russia, reiterating the importance of equitable wealth distribution.

What made him particularly charismatic was the words he used to portray his rivals, successfully diminishing their power: as weird men with bad taste. Even if this was a move to popularize his political philosophy, it seemed to work because people grew to love him, not just in Russia but all over the world.

Amid the difficulties he faced, the solace he seemed to find in his love for Yulia, which he never shied away from displaying publicly, added to his popularity. His gestures of affection
towards her in the courtroom, heartfelt expressions of love for her, mixed with humor and vulnerability, added a humanizing dimension to his public image. On her birthday in July, last year, he wrote,

“You know, Yulia, I’ve made several attempts at writing the story of our meeting.

But every time after I write a couple of sentences, I stopped in terror and couldn’t keep going.

I am terrified that it could have not happened. I mean, it was a coincidence. I could have looked in the other direction, you could have turned away.

The one second that determined the
course of my life, could have turned out differently. Everything would have
been different.

I probably would have been the saddest person on earth.

How awesome is it that we looked at each other back then and that now I can shake my head, drive away these thoughts, rub my forehead, and say, “Phew, what a weird nightmare.”

Despite the seriousness of his political activism, following his social media accounts often felt like reading a Shakespearean rom-com.

His story, I believe, will continue to serve as a reminder to the world that to partake in politics, must come with a responsibility towards providing relief to the people often accompanied
by self-sacrifice rather than self-enrichment.   

May his soul rest in peace!

Sometimes, waking up to the problem at hand is crucial. Telling our brain instantly: “Okay, XYZ needs to be addressed as soon as possible!”

This is so because our immediate response to such a message is automatically this: “What can I do to fix the problem or how can I contribute towards coming up with a solution?”

So…

Problem at hand: Pakistan, as statistics present, is one of the worst governed countries in the world today.

Solution: What can we do to address bad governance and how can we make it better?


As echoed by scholars and policymakers, the nation’s development trajectory is intrinsically linked to the effectiveness of its governance structures.

Governance is directly linked
to institutions. According to a World Bank study, governance is defined as “all aspects of the exercise of authority through formal and informal institutions in the management of the
resource endowments of a state”.

Therefore, weak institutions lead to poor governance, which leads to poor economic growth. An IMF study found that governance had a statistically significant impact on GDP and income per capita.

Similarly, more reports reveal that economic and social reforms will not have their intended effect unless they are preceded by institutional reforms.


When I say bad governance in Pakistan, what do I mean?


I mean poverty, disease and illiteracy for instance are areas that require urgent attention by those who come into power. These above mentioned problems trickle down into other areas plaguing the country’s development at the local, regional and national levels.


Despite significant investments and interventions by international bodies, nongovernmental organisations, and market forces, meaningful progress remains elusive without concurrent improvements in governance.

In examining Pakistan’s governance challenges, it becomes evident that the root causes of underdevelopment lie in institutional deficiencies, systemic corruption, and a lack of political will to implement necessary reforms.

Reforms are so important at this point and the cycle of underdevelopment, I pointed out in my last piece, exacerbate social inequalities.

Pakistan’s per capita income trails behind its South Asian counterparts, and human development indicators such as education and healthcare paint a grim picture of the nation’s progress.

This is in stark comparison with Bangladesh, a nation once economically inferior to Pakistan. Despite facing similar challenges (possibly worse), Bangladesh has surpassed Pakistan in various socio-economic indicators, attributed largely to its focus on governance reforms, population control initiatives, and investments in education and healthcare.

This juxtaposition serves as a sobering reminder of the missed opportunities and unrealized potential resulting from Pakistan’s governance failures.

This unrealised potential that we are not capitalizing on because our heads are so far up in our *you-know-what*. Despite significant budget allocations, Pakistan’s education system continues to grapple with low enrollment rates, inadequate infrastructure, and poor
learning outcomes.

Bangladesh, despite having a land area comparable to Sindh, faces geographical challenges with half of its territory submerged underwater. Additionally, it contends with a governance system marred by authoritarianism. At the time of its separation from Pakistan, East
Pakistan’s income per capita was merely half of that in West Pakistan.

However, in a remarkable turnaround, Bangladesh now outpaces Pakistan across various metrics including income levels, exports, education, population management, and life expectancy. Conversely, Pakistan finds itself trailing behind in terms of per capita income, ranking lower than every other country in South Asia except Nepal.

Moreover, its performance in key human development indicators such as
education and infant mortality is even poorer, lagging behind the average for
countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Time is of the essence and must be because with each passing second, hopes continue to dim. Why is that not urgent? Why is that not factored into every policy discourse? That people out there need something to count on, a future to foresee so they can rely on it. Honestly, in every conversation I have with people of all ages, I hear so much disappointment and grievance piled up behind words even if they don’t say it.

Maybe hidden behind political outbursts on streets, lie roots of these grievances. Maybe people are just angry about the fact that they deserved so much more than what they got. Maybe its fading hopes and a collective catharsis related to it that never happened.

Who is responsible? Is it the state, establishment or both combined? Or are they one entity altogether?

This is where accountability and transparency factors in. If we are to foster an environment of good governance in the future, those serving the people must be held accountable and people’s participation in the governance process is a must. But
until now, has a participatory culture been encouraged? I am not sure, but if
it was, would we have ended up in the same place over and over again?

I doubt it.

Our governments put off resolving problems and, in the process, exacerbate them. From population planning to illiteracy to extremism to budget and trade deficits to local
autonomy to privatisation to growth to income disparity — our governments have been unable to fix any issue. 

In every nation, including those facing dire poverty, there exists a segment of wealthy elites primarily concerned with preserving their substantial portion of the economic wealth. Their focus often revolves around maintaining their privileged position rather than fostering overall economic growth.

Conversely, it is the lower-income and middle-class citizens who stand to gain the most from economic advancement. When a country experiences rapid economic growth, the benefits are typically distributed among the majority of its populace. Examples from countries like Japan, Korea, and China illustrate this phenomenon, where significant income increases over a couple of decades facilitated the transition of many from poverty to the middle class. While the affluent segments also saw their wealth
expand, it is the vast working class that reaps the greatest rewards from such
growth.

Pakistan is confronted with one of the swiftest population growth rates worldwide, contributing approximately 5.5 million individuals annually, surpassing even the combined populations of Rawalpindi and Faisalabad.

Despite this alarming trend, successive governments at both the federal and provincial levels have failed to address this issue adequately. Surprisingly, effective population control measures do not necessitate exorbitant financial resources but rather demand unwavering determination and competency from policymakers.

The wing-all-challenges-with-a-magical-spear-against-all-odds kind of competency.

We do not have the option to be lazy or lag behind or just sit back and not make a move. You know like just dive into the ocean looking for something you lost
that was more beloved to you than anything else and not giving up until you find it. Or thinking fast to save someone’s life as a surgeon in the operation theatre.

That kind of grit and commitment towards the people, I believe, is what will steer Pakistan towards growth. Real growth.

It can be a reality.

We just need to put our heads in the right place.

Thursday’s election was expected to mark a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s ongoing struggle for political stability, a journey fraught with historical challenges.


Since its inception in 1947, Pakistan has grappled with frequent political upheavals, including military coups, civilian unrest, and contentious electoral processes. The legacy of political instability, coupled with socio-economic disparities, has hindered the nation’s progress and perpetuated a cycle of uncertainty and unrest.

Let me put it another way: this irksome instability, coupled with uncertainty and an enormous amount of macroeconomic challenges, is not what the nation needs right now or can afford to deal with.

Real problems that people on the ground face every day and are forced to sort of just slide on the side in the midst of this circus-like tussle in politics.

Why is our politics so marred by lies, inequality and unfairness?

No one is ever happy or content. Now, allegations of rigging and violence in some constituencies continue to create this unpleasant shadow on the incoming set-up’s credibility.

This shadow in Pakistani politics echoes historical patterns of corruption and power struggles that have plagued the country’s governance structures.

From the early years of independence, political leaders have often prioritized personal gain over the welfare of the populace, leading to widespread disillusionment among the masses.

The cycle goes on, for some odd reason. We are just stuck but thing is, how long can this go on? Every loop, as history loudly testifies, breaks apart.

Allegations of electoral rigging and violence in recent elections evoke memories of past electoral controversies, highlighting the persistent challenges of ensuring free and fair elections in Pakistan’s democratic (but mostly the contrary to it) history.

Instances of vote manipulation and coercion have deepened public distrust in the electoral process, undermining the legitimacy of successive governments.

No, that is not what anyone wanted to hear after enduring this exhausting journey that led to this election happening in the first place.

Everyone had something to lose to even get to this point, some of us, sadly lost a lot more than others.

Arrests, attacks, violence, character assassinations, social isolation and livelihoods destroyed. Although that is not new for us, is it? Even my nine-year-old and her lot can vouch for this one.

How unfortunate is that? I cannot even begin to express in words how shameful that is for people in authority. That through their collective lack of sensitivity, they have successfully overturned the hopes of those who they continue to place reliance on.

“Ji, ye mulk jawaanon ka hai!”


“Ye humare ustaad banain gai! Humari umeed hain!”

On and on they go in jalsas, often quoting Iqbal and Jinnah, with little to no foundation to these empty claims.

I have one thing to say to them: “Karne aur kehne main bohat farq hota hai!”

One can choose to turn the other way and ignore to see these realities for the sake of sanity but denial or dissociation will not magically erase unpleasant truth(s).   

What seems to be on the cards now? A coalition government, most likely.

Will these people, from whichever political circle, they come from, be able to put their personal differences aside and give the people of Pakistan a brighter future; one that is inclusive and inviting for everyone rather than putting up the sorry-old redundant us-against-them front because we all know how this one ends.

We know it too well. Pakistan’s history is replete with missed opportunities for sustainable growth and development, as political discord and institutional shortcomings have stymied progress.

The lessons of history underscore the imperative for political leaders to prioritize national interests over partisan agendas and work towards a shared vision of prosperity.

I say this because the economic and social reforms Pakistan desperately needs for sustainable growth will never be possible with another political dance party gone wild in the Parliament that leads to more chaos, making a mockery of Pakistan at the global stage.

Everyone is a contributor to growth; government, judiciary, bureaucracy, army and most importantly: the people.

All of us have something at stake and if we cannot be on the same page with a clear goal – the one of growth and perfecting harmony with each other – we will fail our future generations again.

What do we need then to move on with grace?


Difficult conversations? Certainly.

More work, less talk? For sure.

Compassion? Most of all.

Acknowledgment atleast, of those that stood by us when we were attacked from all corners at personal costs that we can never possibly compensate.

Acceptance? By all means!

To get over ourselves and make a move if we really want things to work.

Those that can’t because life weighs down on them, gham na karain and let others take charge.

Since the past few days, I have been thinking of my governess and her immaculate taste in music. Go back to Lata Mangeshkar tracks from the 80’s and 90’s.

She was this strange woman with a determination stronger than a diamond but still so gentle. I have yet to meet someone as kind as her.

She was strict but not the kind that would raise her voice.

Unki aik nazar hi kaafi hoti thi. If we (me and my brother) ever did something that did not meet her standards of how a person should conduct themselves, she would just sort of stand up, toss her braided hair around and raise her head up like Queen Victoria making a face at her butler for adding too much salt in her soup, and walk away.

Just like that!

The most intense version of the silent treatment the world has ever known.

Oh god and it felt neverending sometimes. What made it even worse was this crippling pressure to figure out what we did wrong and fix it. Otherwise, there was no maafi. She was not going to talk to us. No sifarish from my mother was going to break her resolve to discipline us. Almost as dramatic as Jaya Bachan going, “bas keh diya na!” or Akbari going, “Ap se poori tamana hai ke aap apne rawaiye pe ghaur-o-fikr karain ge aur hamain mazeed mayoos nahin karain ge.”

Only, she said all this without using words. With her peculiar body language that now makes me feel like I was in a silent black and white film.

Also, that’s how she actually talked.

I am not kidding.

She referred to herself as “hum” instead of “main.” Matlab the woman, perpetually lived in a Perveen Shakir poem. Urdu adab ke greatest characters ko bhi peeche chor daiti theen kabhi kabhi.

Unbelievable, I know.

Always poised, no matter what. Dunya idhar se udhar hojaye, her hair was never ever out of place.

She was an absolute romantic … the kind that loved hand writing letters and the smell of rose petals in antique books.

She had these long self care rituals that she’d teach me.

I am yet to reach that level of devotion to my hair.

Kya baat thi unki.

She was a strong believer of going with the flow but more importantly, acceptance, you know. The iss khudaayi main aik tu kya hai type of acceptance.

Of whatever came and went.

That’s some way to live!

Don’t fully agree with it but to each their own.

Nevertheless.

Best wishes for her!

Alexander Pope once observed, “To err is human, to forgive is divine.”

The power to forgive, in my opinion, is a transcendent and often elusive force that possesses the extraordinary ability to mend the frayed edges of our souls, fostering healing and reconciliation in the wake of grievous wounds. It is a beacon that guides us through the labyrinth of resentment, offering the promise of liberation and renewal.

Why do I call this a power?

Surely, we have all been wronged at some point in our lives, in the worst of ways, by people who are not even sorry and probably never will be. Is that not infuriating as it is?

“Where do I find the strength to forgive someone like that?”, we find ourselves thinking. Honestly, I don’t know the answer to that. I am not sure where one finds that strength when one is reminded of the hell one was made to go through because of someone’s frivolous, irresponsible and arrogant ways.

It could be someone brainless for instance, that spread lies about you without thinking of the effect that would have on your life and your future. Or some lady or gentleman at a gala who ruined your day by saying something stupid. Or someone who snatched your home from you. Or someone who took the life of someone you love. Or someone who deliberately isolated you because of your beliefs or opinions. Or someone who you trusted, betrayed you and made you feel small.

These are all grave crimes that go against the very fragment of our collective consciousness as human beings. Some of these people, go on living like saints but their actions eventually catch up to them. No matter what heights you reach, there is never a justification for hurting another person by your actions or lack of them.   

Never!

But keeping score of all the wrongs that were done to you, also, eventually weighs you down. You can choose to remain bitter but that is a choice, right? A choice between letting this bitterness consume you or letting it go and setting yourself free. Free from the anger and hatred so you can centre yourself around what really matters to you.

Leo Tolstoy said that forgiveness is not merely a transactional act but a profound journey that encompasses both vulnerability and strength. This reminds me of a small but special moment from my own life when a friend – who will always hold a high place in my heart – took out the time and wrote to me from another part of the world (let’s call it the North pole), years ago. This person apologised for something very childish and insignificant that had happened between us and caused a misunderstanding. I found this act to be so noble and learnt so much from it. I can’t ever forget their humility and the extra mile they went. People like this are one of a kind and deserve love in the best of forms.

When we forgive, we do not condone the actions that caused us pain; rather, we free ourselves from the burdensome weight of carrying the past into our future.

To forgive, I have found, is an act of self-love, an acknowledgment that our well-being deserves precedence over the persistent ache of past grievances. As we extend forgiveness, we become architects of our own emotional landscape, sculpting a sanctuary of serenity amidst the chaos of life’s tumultuous journey.

This ripple effect, then, extends far beyond the individual act. It has the power to mend the fabric of fractured relationships, to bridge chasms that once seemed insurmountable. It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and when this becomes the cornerstone of our interactions, it lays the foundation for empathy, understanding, and authentic connection, in a world often marred by discord.

William Shakespeare, (I mean come on, I had to bring him up in this discussion somewhere) wisely said, “The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath.” It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity for growth that resides within each of us.

The power to forgive is not a sign of weakness but a manifestation of profound strength – the one we often do not realise we had all along.

A suggestion at the end: just say sorry if you feel you have wronged someone and forgive, if you feel you have been wronged.

Be free 🙂

How does one determine that the decision one is about to make is right or wrong?

I gather it involves an introspection of our past and present circumstances, and how this decision will affect our life as it is, for years to come.

Whether we can see ourselves in this future that hasn’t happened yet.

But most importantly, does this future align with our values and how we originally wanted it to be and whether the changes that this future will bring, will make us happy. Truly content.

Isn’t that the desired goal behind all that we set out to do or achieve in our lives?

If there is even an inch of doubt in our head and heart about something that we are about to do, then there might be a problem, albeit unconceivable at the time, but this doubt sprouts from the instinct trying to communicate with us about possible complications.

It must not, at all costs, be ignored.

You know what though?

At times, everything about a decision we are about to make, makes us feel strange and anxious. It does not feel right and we know it. Maybe not why, but we just know that something is not right.   

Yet, we still go ahead with it. Only to find out later, that the fear was not out of context and there was a reason for it after all.

There is one essential point to be taken into consideration here: some decisions, even if they turn out to be mistakes, are a necessity. To redirect us towards our original path. The one that was there right in front of us and we were too occupied by useless things to see it and when we finally did, it was too late.

It does appear almost always. That is the beauty of life and its intricately woven narratives that connect us in the most profound ways.

Not that I am a saint who has not made mistakes. I certainly have, like everyone else, and plentifully. Some were awfully stupid but some I would say, were essential because without those I could never have learned and known all that I do now. All of which – this knowledge – I carry with me now is precious.

May we be granted the wisdom to do what is best for us and our loved ones!

Bomb blasts in Khyber Pakhtunkwa and Balochistan in one day.

Again.

Why?

What goes on in the mind of someone who perpetuates such attacks? A collective hatred of others? Dissatisfaction with their own life? Or some sense of purpose that the murder of others will fulfill? Murder of people who they probably had nothing to do with. People, whose family members will keep wondering what their loved ones had done wrong that their lives were snatched away from them.

How detached from their innate humanity does someone have to be to carry out a brutal attack like this?

Terrorism has become a word that is tossed around into conversations like it’s a piece of candy.

“Yes. There was a bomb blast today. People died. Something must be done. I hope it gets better. Moving on then…”

That’s it.

Oh and ofcourse there are antics on live television where senators are being slapped by lawyers now. I mean, seriously guys, pull it together.

Instead of moving forward onto the road to development, education, progress and research, we seem to be going backwards, to some dark and dangerous pit; where violence is common and people constantly live in fear. They cannot say much or do much.

Are we at war with ourselves and where did this violence come from, wherever in the world, forms of it exist today?

Most importantly, under such circumstances, where does growth fit? There is never enough space for it. No wonder, as a nation, we struggle to barely stay above the surface. We have become so used to barely surviving that the thought of living, really living and thriving may have become an alien concept.

This a harsh reality to realise, but isn’t it so?

Acts of violence make pre-existing divides deeper and more pronounced in Pakistan. There is crippling inflation, back bending poverty, severe uncertainty when it comes to governance, painfully inhumane social inequalities, the horrors of environmental disasters and then there is this cancer of violence lurking in small corners, like a malevolent dark shadow.

The people of this country deserve better than to have its fathers, mothers and children thrown into adversities, one after the other. The value of each life lost is far more than petty differences turned larger than life by radical ideas and people who inject them into vulnerable minds, adding fuel to the fire.

Disgusting traitors!

How dare they take matters into their own hands, creating chaos and destruction! How dare they think it is up to them to decide the fates of others! How dare they shed the blood of the innocent! How dare they encroach upon the dreams and aspirations of the mother who will never see her son return home! How dare they steal the shield of a father’s love from a daughter! How dare they not think about all this and let violence win!

These attackers are pitifully lost.

Like sheep in a vast plain.

Finding pleasure, in the most mundane, otherwise unnoticeable, apparently futile things is grossly underestimated, in my opinion. It takes work because it requires getting off the high horse one imagines oneself riding and well, being.

Not being big or small.

Just existing. Amid the worrying, whining and pressure of countless expectations, needlessly.

The simplest, smallest things end up making the biggest difference, don’t they? Stuff that we conveniently sometimes ignore or pay the least attention to.

Having a cup of tea for instance.

With Sooper biscuits.

Now that’s something. This is one of those prized go-to snacks that you can take outside to the garden along with your favourite book that you can’t get enough of. It never disappoints. Even better, if you are catching up with an old friend after months of not being in touch and sharing the most delectable gossip.

Witnessing sunrise, every day.

We are so involved in this exhausting tug of war between being of importance and doing something big. I guess it’s this time we are a part of. Its noble to have a goal and work towards it but with all that, it’s equally necessary to pause for a few seconds. To feel and observe things. To recharge and dwell in the silence of the earliest moments of dawn and hear one’s deepest thoughts loud and clear.

Writing for yourself.

Go buy a dorky journal today and start writing in it every night before going to bed. It’s the most intimate kind of catharsis. There are some things you can’t say out loud even to yourself or your closest friends. That’s where the journal steps in. Pick up a pen and drain away days, months and years in there.

Listening to two-hour long albums.

Not just one track. I am talking about the entire album in one go, consistently. You could put it up while driving, or reading the newspaper at breakfast, or while just preparing a nice cosy meal on a quiet Friday night. I don’t understand why listening to music and discussions around it are still not considered an important area in schools today. Such a loss for us. Music has the power to calm and create better connections between people but most importantly, it helps us understand ourselves so much better when we feel like there is absolutely no one that can relate to us. I could go on and on.

Going on walks at night.

It cleanses the mind of the unnecessary. Sharpens it!

Why at night, you ask?

Because no matter what heights you reach, there is something magical about looking up at the stars, isn’t there? Don’t they just fill you up with this fascinating sense of wonder and other-worldly familiarity? Or maybe it’s just me. Call me old fashioned or more cheesy than the Cheesecake Factory but I still find myself in awe of the night sky. It gives me hope, for some reason, of possibilities as infinite as the number of stars, both visible to the eye and invisible.

Drawing.

Despite planning since a long time, to buy myself a pocket sketch book and charcoal pencils, I still haven’t gotten around to doing this one. It enables one to rejuvenate one’s observational skills and perception. You know, how you look at a pot from the right, it seems yellow but that’s just because of the shade of light falling on it at that particular moment, and later you realise its actually brown. Kind of like that wise man (or woman) said, “Things are never as they appear to be.”

Sitting in silence with your favourite person.

Sharing space, and being comfortable enough to remain separated, for as long as it is required. Not being under an obligation to say something just for the heck of it. Just existing and securely so.

Talking with your favourite person.

It can be about absolutely nothing but having a conversation with someone you love, is better than the best pain-relieving medicine. It is everything, actually. You could find solutions to just about anything in seconds. Who knows? You could even come up with a plan for world domination. Point is, honest expression and the right kind of affirmation of it is a necessity.

Some maybes are too good to be true.

This combination, the one of truth and good, doesn’t usually amount to favorable dividends.

There is a little bit of tragedy in this, as is the case with all else.

No matter what, some maybes will never turn into realities. That’s okay. If for some time it is not, then it eventually will be. At least one can hope that it will be, even if chances for it being okay are bleak.

If one is to aim for achieving any kind of contentment in living, then an effort must be made to make peace. I mean what is the point of testing untouched boundaries and measuring out values that could trigger ripples lasting longer than the great flood or the ice age or I don’t know, the great depression!

You know like Faiz famously wrote, “aur bhi dukh hain zamane main…” telling his beloved that the things he had seen; the injustice, death, violence, inequality and oppression, changed him from the inside. He could not be the same person that he was or thought he would be because of ugly realities he could never turn away from.

Isn’t this true and isn’t everything about it far from good? If anything, it is real.

I keep coming back to this distinction, through humour or whatever form, in most of my writing, ever since I can remember. Maybe because, like Faiz and so many others, my mind cannot un-see all that it sees and experiences.

There is a special component in our manufacturing, I believe, to never give up, perhaps to our own detriment sometimes. To keep going against all odds. Even with the uncertainty and fear. Even if we cannot see far beyond the haze. And isn’t that what being here is supposed to be? Navigating through treacherous waters, storms, rainy days and flowery springs.

Isn’t the journey more important than the destination? It very well may be. Maybe the destination is this diamond crown in our heads but really, there is no such thing. All there will ever be is now.

Right here.  

Maybe the hows, whys and why nots are a deviation. A distraction. A cover up of deeper histories and complexities that are not for everyone. Truth pills that are maybe too hard to swallow.

After all, who knows what lies hidden behind uncomfortable pasts. Likely that there must be traces of truth mixed with shades of grey.

But this cocktail is not for everyone to digest, is it?

Certainly not.