Dance

There’s a yearning to dance

And thus create a whirlwind

Yet the beloved is not around

To partake of the ecstasy

Because the only time given is the present

I did and do dance

Albeit intermittently

When I pause for breath

There’s agitation

That time is limited

In the sea of timelessness

So I asked the beloved

What next

Where do we go from here?

I know not what it might mean

This dance of communion

Yet I know it is the union I seek

I know that this union exists with no other

But within myself

One day, I will dance alone

In an ecstasy that is mine

Between me and the energy which binds me

To the Universe

That is everyone’s

Yet no one’s

Mine, yet not for me

Or of me

About the Poem: Co-authored by Alya Mian, a psychologist in Karachi, Pakistan, and Asad Mian, a pediatrician in Houston, TX. The poem is an alchemy of thoughts generated in two different locations and time zones, yet in the same space, sharing the same energy – the energy that binds us all. Alya & Asad are on the Editorial Board of BBfC.

Painting & photography by Nausheen Khan, in Houston, TX. You can see her work at the following links: Captivate & Cynosure. Nausheen is part of the Visual Art Team of BBfC.

Editorial Comment: We acknowledge the South Asian and Pakistan Chronicles for publishing this poem.

Biloongra – Books for Change © 2013. All Rights Reserved. All characters and concepts that appear on this website and any publications are protected by copyright. Please read our Disclaimers, Terms & Conditions when you visit our site.

Inhibitors, Journeymen & Poets

In my interactions I have come across three types of people – inhibitors, journeymen and poets. Each type evokes a particular emotion and a subsequent reaction.

Inhibitors provide stimuli to awaken our worst primordial instincts – fear, self-preservation and calculus. They get us to focus on the material being, and all that is associated with mere physical comfort. Fear is aroused to get one to obsess about protecting one’s wealth and physical being. Inhibitors inevitably see the world in narrow static terms where all interaction is a zero sum game. These are not particularly nice people and generally destroy one’s vitality and shrivel the soul. Such people are best avoided unless one needs to design a pension plan, life insurance policy, or a diet plan. Not much good will come from any other form of social interaction with them.

Then there are the journeymen. They will generally not cause much harm but not much good will come from them either. Their lives are lived in prose. They are most useful for house plumbing, dental works, and managing our bank accounts. Some are exceptionally boring while others slightly less so. Our interaction with such individuals has to be on a needs only basis. One should try to make it as entertaining as possible despite the obvious limitation; else boredom will take a severe toll.

And finally there are the poets. They inspire us to see the universe in poetry. They elevate our souls. They lift our sights beyond the ordinary. They make us dream. They might even move us enough to create new life. Such people are few and far apart. If lucky we might get such a teacher, boss, or friend. We must cherish and thank providence for the happenstance which brings them in our contact.

About the Poet: Javed Hasan is currently a banker in Karachi, Pakistan. Over the past 20 years he spent the majority of his career life in UK and Hong Kong. He may be a banker by formal training, with considerable experience of dealing in various forms of monetary assets, his heart knows that the only thing of value is the many connections we make through our lives. Here are links to his previous work: If you were told…, Mad man, Sloop.

Picture Credits: Oscar Nuño loves academia, the arts, photography and interacting with Houstonians of all backgrounds. He did his undergrad at Houston Baptist University and is planning a graduate degree in the Space City.

Biloongra – Books for Change © 2012. All Rights Reserved. All characters and concepts that appear on this website and any publications are protected by copyright. Please read our Disclaimers, Terms & Conditions when you visit our site.

The Green Saints

A hundred crowded souls glide towards me,

through mountainous plains to escape hidden grief.

Weary of the sun they find my home,

and I listen to them silently.

Beige colored soft carpets, prickly views, rusted sky cars.

Giant lovers, clothed by cottonwood clouds.

The cowboy winter is brave, the valley has sinned;

Yet remains innocent.

Aimless I wandered with these gliding preachers.

Emptied into earthen pots, some colorful prose.

Selflessly with profound patience, they tell,

the story of love, of lands lost, of dreaming mystics.

Parched summer thoughts, crispy memories.

The disguise does not fool the naïve heart.

Love sacrifices all, but how long will the snow last,

gone in a glance, the sun laughs.

Man comprehends only the need.

Justifying the deed to crown the shallow King.

Does not joy quench the dry mouth?

Or will only wars clear the air, feed the hungry?

They move like saints, bleeding feet, smiling.

Peace is not a mission, but a prehistoric foot print,

destined to be re-taken.

Shall we walk with the green saints?

Copyrights Dr. Ansul Noor, author & photographer for Soul Fire – A Mystical Journey through Poetry.

About the Poet: Ansul Noor is a dermatologist in Arizona. She is also part of a Green Peace movement in Asia, hence most of her poetry hovers around nature and conservation. Through her poems she also conducts ‘poetry therapy’ as part of a healing process. You can see more of her work at:

www.ruhaatish.com
www.treesouls.com
www.soulfreedom.in

It’s not just about swapping Espresso with Starbucks!

It is 1:00 in the afternoon and my mind’s wandering. I am not really concentrating on the buzz in the local café I am sitting in, because my mind is nagging me to meet the dean at my university. Well, the dean at the university that I used to attend. I am not sure when I made that transition from being a carefree medical student to a doctor, but I know I did. The fact that I no longer go to medical school and instead go to the library for USMLE study (a 9 am – 9 pm ‘job’), shows that I have made that transition. And with that transition comes uncertainty. Transition, change and uncertainty, seemingly terrible at the moment, are probably good in the long run.

While the clock is ticking, my mind is clinging to the thought that I am in yet another transition. This transition is, perhaps, a bigger one than the simple one of graduating from medical school. This involves physically moving to another town, city, country….well, frankly, to a whole new continent….America. I know that entire ‘doctrine’ on how life has to change and we have to move on, and I believe I am trying. But I am not sure how much peace I’m getting from trying to accept that I must leave my birthplace, Karachi. So this thought has firmly planted itself in my head. Of course, the decision is already made: leave I will, but it is a matter of how certain am I about coping with imminent departure.

Karachi is my life. It does not get any simpler than that! And just like any ‘normal’ human, I ask myself: how can I just get up and walk away from my life? Karachi has given me everything today… home, a beautiful family, friends, and education. So this transition becomes exceedingly difficult for me because I have everything I need and want right here, except ‘Forever 21’ maybe?

When people say that Karachi is without a future, or ‘they’ (whoever they are) fear that Pakistan will ‘not be on the map’ in a couple of years, it stuns me. I know that things are a little overboard here versus the rest of the world. Politics tends be dramatic and social issues problematic. But having travelled around the world and having observed my peers elsewhere, I don’t think that what we go through here is much different than what the West or any other country goes through.

On my last visit to Houston someone was shocked when I answered a question in English. When I probed further, she simply asked, “How is your English so good? Aren’t you from Pakistan?” Well, I am – a Pakistani through and through…and most of us are strongly articulate in English (or otherwise). I understand and value the fact that I can afford to and am privileged to sort out a new life for myself in America. Although I am leaving to become a more competent physician, I do so with a firm promise to myself that I will return. That thought provides solace.

That brings me to Espresso, the cafe I’m in now. If for nothing else, I will come back for this cafe in Karachi. The coffee here is far superior to Starbucks. Don’t get me wrong, I love Starbucks. When I am in America I don’t think I can function without it, just like all of America seems to breathe it rather than oxygen. Espresso comes with the comfort of a perfect hang out, ambience and wifi to write this essay.

For now, while I ponder this temporary move from Karachi, I will embrace change and I am going to stay strong. Because that is what Karachi has taught me: to be strong and to stand up for myself, no matter what happens and what the odds are.

And I will rejoice for the few more months that I get to enjoy the cappuccino double shot from Espresso – before I transition to the house blend at Starbucks.

[from the Karachi – Houston Diaries]

About the Author: Anum Saeed, MD, is a recent graduate of Ziauddin Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan. Since the writing of this essay Anum secured a residency position in Internal Medicine at Memorial Hospital Rhode Island, Alpert Brown Medical School, in the U.S. The author acknowledges Asad I. Mian, MD, PhD, a pediatrician – researcher in Houston, TX, for reviewing & editing this essay. Both Anum and Asad are working on a global child literacy effort through Biloongra, closely affiliated with Bookgroup (www.bookgroup.org.pk), an educational research organization based in Karachi, Pakistan.

Editorial Comment: We acknowledge the South Asian and Pakistan Chronicles for publishing this essay.

Only Once In A Year?

Children have been busy for weeks making secret plans for Mother’s Day, arguing with siblings on which flowers Mummy would like to have, or whether they should give her a box of her favourite chocolates or the perfume she loves to use. This is the day they would tell Mummy how much they love and cherish her and try to pamper her by doing (or trying to do) all the chores she carries out daily.

In 1870, an American woman Julia Ward Howe, distraught by the futile loss of life in the American Civil War, called for an international day to celebrate peace and motherhood. But it was her daughter, Anna M. Jarvis who after much campaigning, succeeded in fulfilling her mother’s dream and in 1914, the American President declared the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day.

Until a few decades back, Mother’s Day was never heard of in our part of the world. I admit that I did not even know about a special day being dedicated to mothers. Thanks to the huge strides in all fields of science and technology and advances in communications, the world has become a global village. Though the day may vary in some countries, within the span of a century, Mother’s Day celebrations have spread to all over the world. This day has gained universal importance and is also celebrated by most children inPakistan.

A mother is the multi tasking wizard who moves around the house with her magic wand! Cooking, cleaning, washing, as well as attending to the door bell and the ever ringing telephone, keeping an eye on the errant maid, consoling the crying baby and seeing to his needs (may it be a feeder or a change of nappy), she seems to do many chores at the same time. She never tires (or so it seems to her children who come to her with their endless demands). She is the one who bandages their wounded knees when they fall, holds them tenderly when they are scared and wipes away their tears when they are distressed. If she is a working mother, she has a tougher life as she juggles her time between her job, her children and home. A mother is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days of a week with no days off. And she actually loves and enjoys her job!

A mother is the most important person in our life and our earliest memories go back to her loving face. She is a pillar of strength for us and her mere presence gives us a sense of security. Even when we grow up, her importance does not become less. A saying goes, “No one can take the place of a mother, while a mother can take the place of all others”. She is a teacher, advisor, friend and care taker all blended into one and cemented with the bonds of love, patience and sacrifice. For most people, their mothers are the greatest inspiration in their lives. As George Washington, the firstUSpresident so beautifully said, “All I am, I owe to my mother!”

Although we all love our mothers a lot, we can never repay them for all their love and care, for the nights they stayed up because we were sick, or the way she slept on the edge of the bed to make more room for us. Or the times she refused to go out for shopping, or to attend a party or a friend’s gathering, because she preferred to stay back and help us out for our exams? Or the long hours she spent toiling without a word of complaint to make us comfortable and happy? Or the times she gave up her dreams, her aspirations for our sake.

But it is sad to say that consumerism and marketing tactics have hit this most important relationship in the world. Like most people I believe that this day has been largely commercialized. Flower vendors, card shops, gift shops, supermarkets and restaurants encash on our emotions to make a hay day. Children are carried away with the way media gives importance to one particular day in the whole year, and think that celebrating Mother’s Day with fervour and enthusiasm is the only way they can show their mothers that they love them. What most children do not know is that the woman who is regarded as the founder of Mother’s Day, Anna Jarvis, vehemently opposed the commercialization of this important day, declaring that she wanted it to be a day of sentiments not profits!

I fail to understand how we can repay our mothers’ love and sacrifices and the pain she has born for our positive upbringing? Hers is a love of a lifetime and nothing we can do or say can be enough to pay back all she has done for us! Presenting her on a particular day, once in a year, with a box of chocolate, a bouquet of flowers, her favorite perfume or a thank you card, cannot and should not be enough! All her life she has toiled for us and now it is our turn to make her feel loved and wanted, not only on Mother’s Day but each and every day of her life.

About the Author: Yasmin Elahi considers herself a typical Pakistani woman – just a face in the crowd. Writing is a hobby for her, something which she does randomly and enjoys thoroughly. She is full time employed as homemaker, mother and grandmother… a job that she finds more fulfilling than anything else in the world. She started experimenting with her pen (and keyboard) as a home based writer about five years ago. She usually writes for the Dawn newspaper (Pakistan) in-page magazines, ‘The Review’ and ‘Young World’. She has also published a book ‘Follow the Light’ (Ferozsons Pvt Ltd) that received 1st prize in The National Book Foundation (Pakistan) Competition for the Promotion of Children’s Literature. She blogs at yasminelahi.wordpress.com. You can read more about her at facebook.com/yasmin.elahi.5 and facebook.com/yasminwriter.

I feel, I write, Therefore I am?

The confusion arose when I came across the following by Tennessee Williams:

“If the writing is honest, it cannot be separated from the man who wrote it.”

“Well said Mr. Williams…”, I said to no one in particular, “..but might it not be of benefit, if prior to writing, one sorts out a working definition of ‘honesty’?”

I was thinking about any material that one writes; let’s say you think about something, feel passionately about it and then write about it ‘from the heart’…is that honesty, or being too transparent?

Are honesty and effective writing intimately connected? Why write at all?

I remember asking a friend what he thought about my pre-writing dilemma. He launched into a somewhat academic tirade. According to him it was important to decide whether one was writing with a readership in mind or for oneself. “If you’re just writing for yourself, to clarify an experience or go through a specific thought process, then being honest and just putting down thought on paper may be exactly what’s required because it helps you to understand yourself”. He then went on to highlight the importance of resisting the urge to edit one’s writing even if it felt too naked or unevolved, as that may actually be a hindrance to one’s work. Somewhat unconvinced by the argument, I approached another friend. She said that although it was important to keep the audience in mind to ensure the uptake and retention of material in the reader, a writer owed a certain degree of honesty and vulnerability to the reader. Hence, staying true to what the writing is intended to communicate – its unedited intent in other words.

I think, as in other matters of the heart, the truth lies somewhere in the middle of varying opinions about honesty in writing, either for oneself or for an audience. Although I have to admit I’m unsure as to whom I’m writing for! Myself for the most part, but also being a spokesperson for a team gave me the impetus to keep up with writing for others. I decided to keep editing to a minimum since I wanted to share somewhat raw emotion, feeling and experience with those interested in ‘listening’ and providing their own views.

But, why do I really write? Simple answer: I don’t know. I can speculate, though. I feel my words are my way of resolving my inner struggle or conflict – words that represent to some extent my own attempts to make sense of life. I’ve realized that via writing one can process various ‘things’ in the head (and heart?). Writing allows an ‘exploration and expression’ of one’s inner and outer worlds, one’s ins and outs, and those of others near and far. And thus, for me, it has become one of the most potent means to live my life to the utmost.

When I asked another dear friend why she wrote, she said, “My thoughts, my companions (of old and far and near), create a more harmonious chorus once placed on paper. These ‘voices’ are different, their expression varied. Yet, together, when they compose their music, it is but one perfect melody – lilting and lifting the soul with the natural rhythm of living. Nature’s rhythm exists in each one of us. We aspire to bring it to the forefront in the written space – a microcosm of our universe.”

The words above might be prosely poetic. ‘Prosefully poetic’ or ‘poetically proseful’ material can generate an understanding of life, that goes beyond admiring the aesthetics of the writing, only if one seeks the deeper content. If we delve into this more, my dear reader, we might be taken off on a tangent better titled “I feel, I read, therefore I am”. And that’s a story for another day.

[for Alya]

About the Author: Asad Mian, MD, PhD, is a pediatrician & researcher in Houston. The author acknowledges the following for critically reviewing and editing the essay: Anum Irfan Khan, public health researcher, Toronto, Canada; Bushra Khan, lawyer, San Antonio, Texas.

Editorial Comment: We acknowledge the South Asian and Pakistan Chronicles for publishing this essay.

The Gift Of Failure

I’ve been afraid of failing for as long as I can remember. Perfectionism was always the ultimate overarching goal. Perfect daughter. Perfect sister. Perfect colleague. Perfect friend. Perfect fill-in-the-blank. The desire to outshine consistently has been inscribed and integrated itself into every aspect of my life. And frankly it isn’t a terrible aspiration to want to do well in our every endeavor – both personally and professionally. Perhaps the question I should be asking is whether the quest for perfection inhibits our ability to take risks, innovate, inspire and create. In my path towards achieving perfection, have I lost sight of what was most important – to make mistakes and to learn from them; to accept and acknowledge that failure is what has driven society to move forward in every aspect of our growth as a civilization; to revel in the fact that failure is in fact a catalyst for progress.

As someone who has hero-worshiped perfectionism for much of my quarter century of existence, this growing realization (and appreciation for failure) has caught me somewhat by surprise. As I stood in a room full of PhD’s critiquing my research proposal earlier this week, I couldn’t help but feel a little beat down every time I wasn’t able to field a question appropriately or when they pointed out a weakness in my project (the bane of my existence these past 6 months). I could feel the “I should have known the answer to that”, and the “why didn’t I think of that before” creeping up gradually as the proposal critique continued. The presentation ended, the project was approved, and I heaved a sigh of relief. It was only on the bus ride home a few hours later when it came to me. The ‘weaknesses’ they pointed out were my biggest opportunities. The critiques they offered were a celebration of differences in our perspectives; these were my teachers committed to my progress, offering their insights in order to improve my aptitude and scope as a researcher. The sting of the critique slowly turned into a warming sense of gratitude.

Perfectionism has been a good friend to me for a long time. As a high-achiever it has offered me purpose, a platform on which to orient my efforts around. But it has also made me weary and risk-averse. It has bred a deep and sometimes crippling fear of failure. I am now beginning to realize that failure is not the enemy. Rather it is a reminder of the progress to come. I’m trying to be more cognizant of what my mistakes offer me rather than the toll they take on my desire to be perfect. I’m realizing that I have learned far more about myself in my failures than in my successes. I have a long way to go still. It took me a few months to commit to a blog post for Biloongra because I was worried about not having a post that was thought-provoking or relevant enough to a wider audience. Given the high quality of contributions this platform receives I wanted my entry to be in one-word – ‘perfect’. I recognize now that I can’t define perfection in creative expression. It is free to take any form, in fact that is what is perhaps most beautiful about it. Sharing my insights and reflections with other readers and writers would only be as liberating and cathartic an experience as I would let it become.

So this is it. My first post. My first attempt at acknowledging that what I am sharing isn’t perfect, and I’m okay with that.

About the Author: Anum Irfan Khan is a public health researcher in Toronto, Canada. She is on the editorial board of BBfC.

Picture Credit: Rizwana Ashraf is pursuing a dual degree M.D. / M.P.H. with a passion for social service. She also holds a degree in mass communication from Houston Baptist University. She’s grateful to James & Susan Loesch from ‘Houston Archery Lessons and Range’ for allowing her to do the photo shoot there.

Editorial Comment: We acknowledge the South Asian and Pakistan Chronicles for publishing one version of this essay.

Then and Now, Here and There

Rayaan, my 11-year-old son, a 6^th grader, gets bored easily. “Baba, I’m bored!” That’s a frequent sentiment that I am unable to fathom at times because I’m unsure whether it’s a question or a comment. If a question, then am I supposed to get him something that will fix his boredom or is it a mere comment that I should not mull over? If I ask him a ‘why?’ type of question, that elicits a rather consistent litany of lack of exciting things in his life to occupy each minute of his spare time.

His reasoning for his ennui, for the most part, is lack of new games for his Play Station III (PSIII) or Wii. He is apparently less privileged, per his demeanor, since his friends have video game systems in addition to those mentioned above. He has already read all his books, so buying him more or picking up a few from the local library might not be a bad approach.

Track two is to tell him and Noori, his 6-year-old sister, to go play outside. The options of playing in the backyard, biking out on the street or playing in the neighborhood park could be considered healthier ones versus playing any video game or watching cartoons on the telly. One issue with playing outdoors in or out of the backyard that my kids bring up, in muggy, hot Houston, is the mugginess and heat. However, the major problem with playing in the great outdoors, I think, is the morbid parental fear of something bad happening to one’s child – an abduction or child molestation, for instance, are worst case scenarios that cross a parent’s mind.

It would seem then that neither the indoors nor outdoors are optimal playing areas for our young children. Could it be that we are a hyper-anxious parental generation? What options does that leave us with?

While growing up in Karachi I hardly remember staying indoors to play. It was all about running around outside, at times like ‘wild injuns’. Playing cricket on the street, biking into construction sites or along the beach, playing hide and seek in the neighborhood itself, and such. My parents were neither fearful of what their kids were doing nor where. All was good as long as kids were returning at dusk to complete homework, have dinner and then watch a bit of telly prior to hitting the sack.

If going outside the house to play was too much of a hassle then playing in ‘the garden’, the counterpart of the backyard, of my home in Karachi, would do. Games with names such as ‘pakrum pakrai’ (tag), ‘oonch neech’ (high and low), ‘chupan chupai’ (hide and seek), ‘baraf paani’ (ice and water), and ‘teelo express’ (Teelo express) were played with a zest without need of parental permission or supervision. They were resourceful games that stimulated a child’s mind and body.

Being a child of the 80s in Karachi, boredom did not enter the equation, or if it did I would rapidly process it into meaningful expression in play – undifferentiated, random and disorganized child’s play ruled the day and night.

They say the Karachi of today is no longer what it was while I was growing up there. Although a beast, and a violent one, perhaps that urban jungle has become wilder and meaner in certain ways. Therefore, it’s possible that the kids in Karachi no longer play outside with the kind of wild abandon that I experienced while I was there. As my family is in the process of transitioning from Houston to Karachi, I wonder what objective views I can present to my kids so that they feel fairly optimistic about the move. All they tend to hear nowadays, either from people around them in Houston or family in Karachi, is how bad the ‘halaat’ (conditions) of the city have become.

I don’t know what the right approach is, but for now I have figured that I will tell them more and more about my wonder years in Karachi. I will teach them pakrum pakrai, oonch neech, chupan chupai, in the off chance that they will befriend other kids in Karachi with whom they will play those games. Although I wonder if the current generation of kids in Karachi even remember those games? Time will tell.

[from the Karachi - Houston Diaries]

About the Author: Asad Mian, MD, PhD, is a pediatrician & researcher in Houston. He is interested in sustainable global child literacy efforts. The author acknowledges the following for critically reviewing and editing the essay: Anum Saeed graduated from medical school in Karachi and is about to start a residency in internal medicine in the U.S.

Picture Credits: Rizwana Ashraf, is a proud Houstonian and Karachite pursuing a dual degree M.D. / M.P.H. with a passion for social service and love for kids; Faiz Kazi [www.fb.com/fazzkazi] is an independent photographer in Karachi, also learning and looking forward to film making in the future.

Editorial Comment: We acknowledge the South Asian and Pakistan Chronicles for publishing this essay.

A Ghostly Consideration

A Ghostly Consideration

It’s the night where I will think,

Of moody ghosts blue, green, and pink.

Is it a thought worth many a penny,

Or a moment, slightly halloweeny?

Really real or a trick of the mind,

Ghosts can be tricky, I often find.

A sweet, kind ghost who likes baklava,

Must only visit the gentle Dalai Lama.

And the scary, unmerciful, ghoulish specter,

Did it come from the likes of an evil jester?

Children, pets, friends, and foe,

Living in bottles, Tribe Boo-Boo Joe.

So the thoughts gather, in a reflective night,

Perhaps they’ll make a ghost, dark or white.

About The Poet: Rayaan Mian is an 11-year-old, 6th grader at the Awty International School, Houston, TX. He’s interested in reading (but not too much writing), soccer and the piano. You can see his previous work here: Me, myself & I, Tolkienisms.

About The Illustrator: Anum Tayyab is a 9-year-old, 4th grader at Shadowbriar Elementary school, Houston, TX. She enjoys drawing, reading and writing. You can view her previous work here: Life in the sea, Biloongra at the beach.

Tolkienisms – the Reality in Fantasy?

“One Ring to rule them all,
One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all
And in the darkness bind them.

In the land of Mordor, where the shadows lie.” [The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien]

My fantastical imagination kicked in, all over again, when I bought a plaque for my garden. It said, “Not all who wander are lost”. If you looked closely at the small print you realized that this was a quote by J.R.R. Tolkien. For the ‘Tolkienians’ out there, I needn’t expand on the greatness of the epic ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit’. I read those, for the first time, when I was in 8th grade. If I were to tell you the year I would be (carbon) dating myself. My father’s old tattered copy of ‘The Hobbit’ triggered it all.

Needless to say I became a lifelong Tolkienian. With all due respect to the Trekkies out there, my Trekkie neurons had to create some harmonious living quarters with the Tolkienians.

History repeats itself. Not surprisingly Rayaan, my son, upon the insistence of his old man picked up the trilogy. Proud to tell you that he stuck to his guns and read the over 1000 pages of the tome, cover to cover, over a 4 month period. He was only 9 then. Much younger than I was when I first read it. Paternal pride aside, I wondered if he really enjoyed reading it or was he only, true to his gentle nature, trying to appease me?

So I put him to the test. “Sweetheart, would you draw for Baba any ‘creature’ from ‘The Lord of the Rings’?”

And he gave me this illustration. Then I re-tested him. “Do you want to watch the movie together?” He was in from the get go! Passed the test with flying colors. These results were much more gratifying than what he had ever given me earlier, even more so than the ‘A’s he had attained in the various standardized tests for public or private schools that he was preparing for.

While watching the 1st part of Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ for the umpteenth time, the following happened. “The more I think about the trilogy – books and movies included…”, I said to myself, “…the more the realization that Middle Earth is no different from the world that I inhabit. There are elves, dwarves, mythical and magical figures or creatures around me and in me – yet the beauty and evil, light and dark, of that human entity is paramount.”

Heavy thoughts? Perhaps…

I would like to call upon the Tolkienian in you to recall the conversation between Gandalf and Frodo, in the 1st part of ‘The Lord of the Rings’. Trapped in the mines of Moria they are surrounded by all sorts of evil and Frodo is extremely disillusioned. He wonders why Bilbo Baggins, his well travelled uncle, did not kill the mean, somewhat schizophrenic, Gollum when he had the chance. At that point Gandalf reminds young Frodo not to be too eager to deal out death and judgment and instead to focus on this: “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”

I think the above is strongly reminiscent of my current understanding of my reality: in the final analysis, we ourselves are responsible for our ‘destinies’, our ‘journeys’; in life there is no ‘what if’ only ‘what is’….

[for Alya & Rakhshee]

About The Author: Asad Mian, MD, PhD, is a pediatrician & researcher in Houston.

Reviewed By: Anum Irfan Khan, public health researcher, Toronto, Canada; Bushra Khan, lawyer, San Antonio, Texas.

Picture Credit: Rayaan Mian 6th grader in Houston TX.

Editorial Comment: We acknowledge the South Asian and Pakistan Chronicles for publishing this essay.

Adopt Your Partner’s Relatives – By The Relationship Guru (Part 3)

It is illogical to believe that your partner would break off with his blood relatives just because of you. You ain’t that pretty. Being nice to each other’s relatives just promotes a harmonious relationship. There is a Persian saying that if you love Laila, then you should love her dog too. It is so simple yet people just don’t understand it. How can anyone expect their partners to suddenly cut off or ignore those people who have loved and cared for him or her for decades. You would not want to ignore your own family so why should your partner. It is neither right nor possible nor advisable.

When two people decide to spend their lives together they add on a new family to their own. If you treat your partner’s family as your own, it would be a source of great satisfaction to your partner and will increase the love between you, many fold. Obviously, a joint life has its own dynamics and things will automatically change. As time goes on, more and more time will be taken up by activities with the partner, children and other joint issues. To expect things to change overnight, to expect that now that we are together, all his or her time is mine, is to sow seeds of misery, for both the partners and their families.

This job is made difficult, usually by the man’s family, who probably feel that the woman has taken away someone, who until then ‘belonged’ to them. They therefore try to put the woman in her place and control her. Once at a post marriage dinner, I noticed that the new bride was finding it difficult to get food for herself. I suggested to her sister in law to make a plate for her. I was amazed by her refusal and her contemptuous attitude toward her brother’s newly wedded bride. Now this woman is not a nasty person. I have found her to be very friendly, helpful, sophisticated in all her other dealings. So why this attitude towards someone who was recently brought into the family with a lot of love and fervor? What changed?

I know it is difficult, if the in-laws are bloody minded. Still life is not going to become better by having further bad blood. If one keeps the long term perspective in mind, things become easier to manage. After all, relatives are not going to remain so close forever. Ultimately, a couple has to spend life with each other and that will happen. Moreover, if you are not on good terms with your partner’s relatives, it just creates tension for YOUR partner. Tension results in sickness and an early death. If that is the aim, then go for it, otherwise try to develop a loving relationship with the in-laws.

[Part 3 of 'the relationship guru']

About The Author: Sohail Kizilbash was born in Agra, India, and then moved to Pakistan. He studied in Karachi and London. A chartered accountant by profession he worked in the banking industry. He is currently retired and travels between Pakistan, UK & USA. He is a loving husband, father and grandfather (latter, to 5 little ones). He had this to say about his contribution: “Upon encouragement from my nieces Kishwar and Sambreen, I am starting this page. If it is popular with my friends, I will continue. I do not profess to be a qualified counselor or a psychologist. However in my over 64 years of life and almost 36 years of marriage, I have gained some experience which I can share with my younger friends. I would like you to comment, for or against my advice or give another angle, so that we can all benefit”. You can read the other parts here: Part 1; Part 2.

About The Reviewer: Alya Mian is a psychotherapist in Karachi, Pakistan. She is a reviewer & writer for BBfC.

To Private or not to Private? That is the question!

“It’s time to put our kids in private school”, is Ayesha’s favorite mantra. My companion and much better half of over a decade would have me believe that private schooling is exactly what the doctor ordered for our young kids. I, being somewhat twisted in logic, have a hard time coming to terms with that.

I understand, thus believe, that the private versus the public school dilemma is not new and that it is faced by many people across a wide spectrum of our nation’s populace. I also feel that it is of particular interest to the über-competitive desi (South Asian) Diaspora in Houston. The reason being that the issue makes for much conversation whenever there is a meet and greet, typically at a birthday party, baby shower, bridal shower, or even the fashionable GNO (girls’ night out).

The argument for private school goes somewhat like this: better teachers, better curriculum, more motivation, and more inspiration. If infected with the parasite Privatorum skoolosum, linear thinking becomes your forte, and you might get into this pathway: Private school > Better college prospects > Better jobs > Better incomes > Happier lives. Are these correlations or causations? Do keep in mind that a correlation does not prove causation. Should the questioning be more along the lines: Is college for personal growth or for developing a career? Is it a means to an end, the end being a well paid job, which you may or may not like? Nowadays, for most people, that is immaterial, as long as much money is generated —and the same thought process is then transplanted to one’s children. Should a good college education be a goal in itself? Can it be a tool to achieve an outcome such as success in life? What is success? How should it be defined?

I don’t know whether compelling data exist that, compared to public schooling, private schooling is indeed more in favor of the child’s trajectory as defined by the above linear pathway. If we feel, in either situation, that we might be pushing our kids too much, and thus nudging them towards an unhappy adolescence / young adulthood, then it’s best that we reassess and revise our strategy. The same goes for when we don’t push our kids enough and that runs the risk of not helping them realize their full potential. In either situation, the kid should declare his ‘happy medium’. We can make good choices for our kids, whether private or public schooling, if we are well informed: not intolerant of either choice.

What about extra-curricular activities? Let’s take music as an example. The perception is that music lessons are better accomplished in private school settings. What’s more likely is that if your child has the aptitude, then she will learn the instrument equally well, given a good teacher (which might happen in either setting) and motivation to practice. Have you ever felt that you might be making your kid pick up an activity (academic, sport, music, or other extra-curricular related) because of something that you are lacking in yourself? That you might be living vicariously through your child. I’m guilty of that: I made my son ‘like’ the piano from an early age because I had always wanted to play it. After a few years of struggle he started enjoying it himself. And the icing on the cake: he went to public school! Overall, I think it is much more important that whatever we choose for our children it should be in their best interests: and that is equally likely to happen at either school type, private or public.

The high quality of public schooling in the United States allows for the foregoing discussion. When I think about my own schooling in Pakistan, it is not easy to extrapolate the private vs. public school debate to that country. There is a huge dichotomy between the two, based on my personal experience: I am a product of both public and private sector schooling. Private school education, though elitist at that time, by far served me a lot more. There is an inherent assumption that private schooling in Pakistan has come of age…that is debatable. However, the chasm between the two can be narrowed by education reform initiatives. Pakistan, like other developing countries, is in dire needs of high quality child education. Thus, a public-private partnership for improving the quality of education along the whole spectrum of schools, not just government-sector ones, in Pakistan, might be a move in the right direction. Imagine a day, in the not so distant future, when public sector schooling will be at par with private schooling, and we will have the Shakespearean conundrum being repeated for Pakistan as well.

Whatever the school setting or the country under consideration, once you’ve made that decision (choice) about schooling for your child then simply going on from there needs to be the focus. Avoid double-guessing yourself and retrospective regret. If sanity calls for accepting one’s spouse’s instinctive feelings where the offspring’s schooling needs are concerned, so be it…I’m sold to private…it certainly makes for a happier life.

[from the Kindergarten Diaries]

About The Author: Asad Mian is a pediatrician in Texas, USA.

You can read the other parts of ‘The Kindergarten Diaries’ here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6…and ‘The 1st Grade Diaries’: Part 1; Part 2.

Picture Credit: Asad Mian and Enaya Mian.

The author acknowledges Bushra Khan for critically reviewing this essay.

Editorial Comment: We acknowledge the Pakistan & South Asian Chronicles for publishing this article.

Shoot the Ghost between you and your Partner – By The Relationship Guru (Part 2)

I think that most of the serious problems in a relationship arise due to third parties. Couples fighting because his mother said such and such or her brother did so and so. Okay so my mother told you off for no reason. So what do you want me to do? Go and scold the woman who brought me into this world and looked after me for decades before you ever arrived on the scene. Shall I take your side and break her heart or take her side and break your heart. There is no good solution.

Couples should keep their relationship as one to one only. I told my wife early on in our married life that nobody should come between us. If my relatives are bad to you, you will have to solve the problem yourself and the same goes for me. I will not let any third party come between our relationship.

However, if my wife has a problem with me, my attitude or whatever, she should fight it out (read, discuss logically and coolly) with me and not reflect it on her relationship with my mother or sisters, and the same goes for me.

This is not so easy because most people cannot compartmentalize their relationships in such a manner. However, I have found this to be a very useful policy in eliminating ‘fights’ or reducing them to a bare minimum. Result: We have no broken crockery in our home.

Some couples find it very satisfying to ‘fight’ all the time. They feel life is boring without some dish dash. So go ahead and fight but do it on your own account and not because of third parties. Because if you do it on your own account it is unlikely to get very serious but when other people get involved, it can get nasty.

[Part 2 of 'the relationship guru']

About The Reviewer: Alya Mian is a psychotherapist in Karachi, Pakistan. She is a reviewer & writer for BBfC.

Learn The Language Of The Partner – By The Relationship Guru (Part 1)

Most people go through life without realizing that men and women speak two separate languages, especially when they are in an amorous relationship. They keep thinking that their partner does not understand them, is insensitive, and is illogical or just pig headed. They don’t realize that the same word, phrase or sentence has different meanings in each language. Therefore, early in a relationship or even before getting in a relationship, one should learn the language of the other sex. Otherwise misunderstandings can develop very quickly and a relationship which could have been very successful goes sour.

Examples of such a difference could be, when a woman says, “ You NEVER take me out anymore” and if the man replies, “But I took you out last week or month…or I am not made of money”, she gets more upset, because in her mind, he is not understanding the point. What she meant was that, “You do not give me as much attention as you used to”. Now if he understood her meaning and had replied, “I am sorry darling, I get so tired these days but yes we have to spend more time together”, she would not be so upset anymore.

Or when a man says, “You are bugging me all the time”, he doesn’t mean it. All he is saying is, that “Give me half an hour to shower and change. I have had a long day and just need a little time before I can focus on your or the children’s problems”.

There can be many such examples and every couple may have a different vocabulary. The important thing is to realize that we have separate languages. If you try to understand the sentiment behind the words you are on your way to better communication and a better relationship.

I have benefitted a lot from reading, “Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus” and I think it should be compulsory reading in the syllabus of High Schools.

[Part 1 of 'the relationship guru']

About The Reviewer: Alya Mian is a psychotherapist in Karachi, Pakistan. She is a reviewer & writer for BBfC.

Pakistaniat – A Feeling In The Diaspora

When one hears the word Pakistan on CNN, BBC, or even FOX news for that matter, there’s that sinking feeling, “Oh no, what now?” Reflexively one expects another story of doom and gloom to unfold. One might rush to Pakistani newspapers and TV channels hoping that they might provide a somewhat objective viewpoint. Alas, they too, at times, tend to obfuscate reality and create an alternative one that is a better fit for conspiracy theorists.

Perhaps it is time to move past political punditry and journalistic jingoism.

Before reaching that semi-conclusion, I felt I had arrived at a crossroad – I could either delve in apathy and antipathy for Pakistan, or write about a potential way out of my dilemma.

I choose to write since that is my comfort zone.

I will try to describe the problem first. What’s happening in Pakistan is complex. ‘Corruption’, a common buzzword, is rampant. The life of an ordinary citizen, urban or rural, is cheap. Mob mentality is high; when the frustrated citizens become judge and jury and ‘justice’ is meted out by tacit approval of all. The list goes on, but you get the gist. However, I can either feel sorry for what’s going on there or attempt to become a part of the process of change that is possible, individually as well as collectively, irrespective of the road being hard and tenuous with little chance of success. Perhaps I’m an idealist, but I happen to believe in people’s power.

Feeling somewhat restricted by distance and the immensity of the Pakistani predicament, I initially wondered what could I really do as an expatriate? One answer was that I had to get away from any mentality that would force me to turn my back on the country that gave me the principles to work forthrightly in the West. For that I had to stop mulling over the travesty that the country had become. In retrospect, overcoming the sense of helplessness about the country’s ailments was the first and the hardest step; but with it came awareness and the reserve and resilience to keep going. I then sought out credible organizations involved in social restructuring and institutional reform in Pakistan. I also had to refrain from simply ‘donating to a good cause’. As has been oft cited in the past, if monetary donations alone could have salvaged the situation then Pakistan would have been on top of that list given the huge amounts from ‘well wishers’ that have poured into ‘reform’ of all kinds (education, health, to name just a few).

I wanted to play an active role in whatever work that I was going to be involved in. Only by due diligence to selection of the organizations on the ground was I able to understand that there was quite a lot of good work ongoing. It had been my assumption that, in Pakistan, all was lost…

In tandem with the above work, I understood the need to detract from opulence and materialism. It was logical to do so once I figured that life might be other than the unending fête as I had made it out to be. I also had to look past misplaced nationalist and religious pride in being the paragon of virtue and piety, self-righteousness, and other such delusions, because in those self-serving situations I could never look past my own greed. Greed stemming from religion was greed all the same, no different from greed for money, fame, wisdom, or advancements in career. I changed my behavior by becoming less turned on by material, money, fame, (pseudo)religiosity, emotionalism, literalism, sensationalism, and ritualism – all within the framework of contemporary 21^st century living. And thus, I turned into a real citizen of the world; a world that is volatile and violent, yet still worth preserving.

In terms of an ‘action’ item, I decided to focus on child literacy in Pakistan. I felt that my training and expertise in child health would help me develop, with ample help from like-minded young and old fellow citizens of the world, something interesting, exciting and sustainable for under-privileged kids in Pakistan. I embarked on a path that took me from just making token gestures of charity to setting up fruitful long-term collaborations. An overarching realization of many people working on the child literacy effort alongside of me was that one did not have to be a physician, academic, social worker, teacher, student, or even Pakistani. You could be anyone. It was exciting given that we had a direction that was open to many possibilities.

So I propose the term ‘Pakistaniat’ as a feeling in the Diaspora, that encourages one to ‘do something’ sustainable for the country. Perhaps for the ‘right’ reasons.

Love and light to y’all (the last bit since I am in cowboy country)…

….And peace; that has to be created – it just doesn’t descend from the heavens above.

About The Author: Asad Mian is a pediatrician – researcher in Houston, TX. The author acknowledges the following for critically reviewing / editing the essay: Alsha Khan, student of journalism & pre-med, UT-Austin, Austin, TX; Bushra Khan, lawyer, San Antonio Texas; Kishwar Khan, editor, reviewer & writer, Houston, Texas; Jawaid Hassan, banker, Karachi, Pakistan.

Photo Credit: Riaz Khan, MD, is a physician and professional photographer based in Houston. On his blog, NEVERMINDTHERIZZRAZZ, he features local artists and musicians and documents daily life.

Editorial Comment: We acknowledge the Pakistan Chronicle & the South Asian Chronicle for publishing this essay / article.

Life In The Sea

I live in the sea. I am a jellyfish. I live with my mom and brother but my dad is usually traveling everywhere so he is not home often. I barely have any predators because I have stingers, so if anybody tries to eat me, I will sting them and they will spit me out immediately.

Every morning I go to the coffee shop called ‘Sea Paradise’. I mostly eat small fish eggs and drink coffee. My best friend Octopus works there. He makes me the best boiled fish eggs.

I love to explore the sea and I see lots of new things around me. I went to the toy store and saw this amazing box full of figures called ‘Sego’. It was two dollars. I was so lucky that day because I found eight quarters in my pocket which was equal to two dollars! I got the change from Octopus. I bought the Sego and felt so good. When I came home, my brother Joe started annoying me, so I had no other choice but to share my Sego with him.

At exactly 6:00 PM, my mom called us for dinner and we sat down to a delicious meal of clown fish and coral bits.

Mmmm….Life is good!

About The Author: Anum Tayyab is a 9-year-old, 4th grade student at Shadowbriar Elementary school in Houston, TX. She enjoys drawing, reading and has always longed to illustrate childrens’ stories. Now that she is actually doing it, she’s thrilled beyond words!

Editorial Comment: We are grateful for Anum’s interest in writing and illustrating for BBfC. You can see her prior work here.

Promoting Child Literacy Through The Written Word – The Biloongra Editorial Board

Asad I. Mian

“Can books change lives? Perhaps rhetorical, the sentiment at the essence of that question was experienced with the first child’s book that I worked on along with my team. Since then I have not looked back. Several new manuscripts later I can safely venture that each kids’ story has had a resounding impact on me, and I hope, on my team. My outlook on child literacy and education has changed. The potency of creative exploration and expression via the written word is a strong motivator for me, and thus I keep at it. I hope kids experience as much joy from these stories as I have had developing them.”

About Asad: Asad is a pediatrician / researcher, and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. He is a medical graduate of the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. He is intrigued by a version of the chicken vs. the egg paradox: is a healthy mind and body needed prior to any hope of education, or is an educated mind needed prior to a healthy state being achieved? Therefore, his quest is to utilize child health literacy as a tool to improve child health outcomes globally.

Alya Mian

“What better way of sublimation than to pass on what one has received so it may carry on. Books have nourished and nurtured since they existed, whether crafted as images on cave walls, wood or paper. Books live and enable lives to thrive. The glimmer of light and sparkle in the eye of a child’s discovery through books is inspiring. Their fertile minds absorb and reproduce in so many ways. The opportunity and joy of being a part of the Biloongra team is humbling and one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. There is irrefutable evidence that education is the key indicator underlying development of a nation or society. While food, clothing and shelter remain core needs, unless education is intrinsically woven into the fabric of a people, their long-term survival is threatened. The earlier this process is initiated, the greater the chances of prosperity and health. Biloongra begins at the beginning – therein lies our future.”

About Alya: Alya is a practicing psychotherapist. She has a background of teaching, publishing, qualitative research and nationwide community based interventions for behavior change in health development. She believes imparting education is the best way to attaining education. In serving are we best served. Working with children and young adults is true faith – akin to planting a seed and tending to it today, believing it will become a tree. Knowing you may never see the tree, sit under its shade, or eat its fruit. Hoping the world will be a better place because of the tree and for the tree.

Bushra F. Khan

“My philosophy is simple: if even a single child (anywhere in the world) benefits in some way, however small, as a result of my efforts to better his/her life, my existence has not been in vain. There are many ways of helping children who are perhaps less fortunate than others in terms of access to education; the written word is one of those ways. Story writing as well as reviewing and editing for Biloongra has allowed me the valuable opportunity to make my small contribution to the foundation upon which our future generations will stand, and I hope thrive.”

About Bushra: Bushra is mother of two young girls and a lawyer who makes Texas her home. After completing a dual Hons. LL.B. in Law and Business Administration from Keele University, Staffordshire, she qualified as a Barrister from Inns of Court School of Law and Lincoln’s Inn, London, England. She is a licensed attorney in Texas and Nevada with a primary practice background in child support enforcement and state welfare services. Her work as a government attorney taught her that there are children in need everywhere, poverty crosses all geographical and ethnic boundaries, and children from all backgrounds (particularly young girls) desperately need a strong educational base to empower them in this cut-throat world.

Kishwar Khan

“Focus on impact! My recent association with Biloongra Books for Change in Houston TX has been a positive learning experience. As a mother I feel fortunate to be able to provide my children with a valuable education. Regrettably a vast majority of women in developing nations are not as privileged. It is the bigger picture that drew me towards the very diverse and dynamic group. Our major objective has been to promote, through Bookgroup, improvement of the existing government schools in Pakistan and hopefully to be able to offer the reform solutions to other developing nations. It is my dream to see all children have the opportunity to a quality education, which will not only provide an income for themselves and their families but be in a position to give back and contribute towards a progressive society.”

About Kishwar: Kishwar is a full-time mother of three wonderful boys ages 18, 12 & 9. Although a thoroughbred Karachiite, she has travelled extensively and lived in New York, Hong Kong and Houston, in addition to Karachi. She has lived away from Pakistan for over two decades now, but she maintains strong ties with the country, visiting every summer as she is keen to expose her boys to Pakistani culture, cuisine and hopes to give them a sense of pride about their roots. Kishwar is an avid reader, enjoys art, interiors, politics, music and sports. Now that her children are slightly older and independent she is looking forward to starting a career, either in business or teaching, two fields that she has past experience in.

Anum Irfan Khan

“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world – Nelson Mandela. The pursuit of truth in any and all facets of life are born out of a desire to learn, to seek and to share, which serve as central tenets of educational inquiry. Every child deserves to have the opportunity to acquire knowledge and actualize their potential as learners, teachers, and contributing members of society. If the desire to seek knowledge is the key to a changed world, then books are the foundation for the movement to inspire that change. By playing a small part of this broader movement I am able to give back to the educational sector what it has given me: the desire to exercise freedom of expression, the ability to partake in creative thought and innovative thinking, and most of all an insatiable desire to learn.”

About Anum: Anum is a public health researcher and advocate dedicated to promoting and influencing improvements in population-level health outcomes. Her academic training and work experiences have led her to commit to identifying and understanding the social determinants of health, including education and literacy, and their role in influencing health status across communities and populations. She believes that systems thinking and policy-based interventions are the key to leveraging and capitalizing on the role that education plays in shaping health status, particularly in the areas of maternal and child health.

Editorial Comment: This is the 10th (& last!) post in a series dedicated to child literacy and child education. You can read the other parts here: Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7; Part 8; Part 9.

Promoting Child Literacy Through Art & Photography – The Biloongra Image Creators

Riaz Khan

“Affecting child literacy at a grass-roots level is empirical to bringing about a sustainable change in education reform and institution-building. The visual medium of photography has always been dynamic and it’s reach has been endless. Developing visual content (digital and otherwise) as part of a concerted effort with educators and publishers will help immensely in getting a child to relate to the written word.”

About Riaz: Riaz was born in Essex, England. He is a medical graduate of the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. Currently he works as a freelance photographer in Houston, TX. He describes himself as a ‘devoted student of the human condition’. He blogs at nevermindtherizzrazz.tumblr.com.

Sara S. Iqbal

“Contrary to the written script, which may need translation into a native language for contextual understanding, art and photography only need interpretation. Interpretat ion only seeks the eye and mind. It does not discriminate a naive viewpoint from the worldly. Art does not need to be memorized. It’s not dependent upon the rules of comprehension and grammar. Before the Latin and the Arabic alphabets were the cave drawings and hieroglyphs in their purist form of communication. What better than an illustration to narrate a story to a child who is yet to learn the ‘letters’, form ‘words’ and ‘sentences’. Ideas arise out of scribbles and drawings. Photos speak a thousand languages and narrate innumerable accounts. Art is an indispensable way to promote literacy – it does not stop at the tongue but penetrates the mind.”

About Sara: Sara has been residing in the U.S. for 25 years, primarily in Houston, TX. She has a BFA in Graphic Communications with a minor in Art History from University of Houston. She’s a mom, wife, sister, and fan of the “Twilight Zone” and “Perry Mason.” She’s a creative geek and works for herself at ZOQ DESIGN (www.zoqdesign.com) of which she is also creative director.

Nausheen Khan

“Ensuring children’s health and nutrition is our first duty, but we cannot neglect their education. Along with healthy food and environment, children should experience good early learning programs. I believe we can make their books more attractive by simply adding colors and pictures. With visual art children’s skills will develop naturally. Art can express any aspect of literacy from how we communicate in society, our social practice, and relationships, to knowledge, language and culture. Pictures and illustrations also help a child to understand the text better. Art brings out creativity and encourages thinking outside of the box.”

About Nausheen: Nausheen was born in Lahore, Pakistan. She graduated from the University of Houston with degrees in Marketing and Management. She has been a senior manager at Wal-Mart, for which she has worked for almost seven years now. She avidly paints and photographs in the Houston and suburban areas. http://www.facebook.com/#!/CreativeImagesByNausheen

Alina Nusrat

“In order to understand how child literacy can be raised, it is important to look at child development. Art can play a great role in a child’s development by stimulating the mind into being more expressive and creative, both of which are useful skills to have. Through art a child gains self-confidence and when combined with learning, there are exceptional results. Art is a positive approach in improving child literacy. The illustrations that are included in children’s books are enriching for the child, inviting them to put the words and images together, and thus creating a great interactive experience that will enhance their mind for the future”.

About Alina: Alina was born in Karachi, Pakistan. She is currently a student at the University of Houston, majoring in Graphic Communications, and minoring in Psychology.

Zainya Khan

“Working with Biloongra has been a wonderful experience. Bringing education to under-privileged children is a great cause and motivates you to reach out and help. I am a graphic designer and the illustrations I make for the scenes of Biloongra books, help children animate the characters in their minds. Knowing that my skills can bring life to Biloongra stories and characters is an exciting experience.”

About Zainya: Zainya is a student at the University of Houston and on the road to becoming a graphic designer. Being brought up by Pakistani parents, she feels great love and pride for the culture. Her interests include anything related to art. Often in her own art work, she likes to show a relation to her culture either literally or with a deeper meaning. Her future plans include becoming a successful designer and somehow serving the Pakistani community in the U.S. and beyond.

Editorial Comment: This is the 9th post in a series dedicated to child literacy and child education. You can read the other parts here: Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7; Part 8.

Child Literacy Through Community Effort – The Biloongra Support Network

Team Biloongra

Youth Advocates

Alezeh Rauf

“As a high school student privileged enough to have an almost unlimited number of educational resources at hand, but also extremely aware of the lack of these privileges for the vast majority of the world, I feel like it’s my duty to give back somehow. Writing and editing Biloongra and participating in the Phase II book writing gave me a sense of satisfaction. Even if these books only benefit a few children, I have somehow helped. I am a firm believer in education as a road out of poverty and as a channel to social change. Getting my friends, American high school children, involved is another important part of my work, as it exposes them to an almost unknown culture.”

About Alezeh: Alezeh is a high school junior at St. John’s, Houston, TX with plans to major in political science in college. She interns at Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s office and has been a part of the Biloongra-Books for Change effort since it’s inception. The exposure she gained from these experiences strengthens her belief that an education is essential to not only financial success, but to a greater and more stable society at large.

Mayank Aranke

“Education is the only sustainable route to change, and children are the drivers of the world’s future. Thus, I believe that any worthy initiative for change should focus on children at the grass-roots levels. Providing good health care and health monitoring for children in their early years has a tremendous impact on their health in their teenage and early adult years. Being exposed to a good health care system can also create an expectation of a health care minimum within these children, and in tandem with public health education, can provide them with a model to emulate in other communities in need.”

About Mayank: Mayank is in his final year as an undergraduate student at the University of Texas- Austin. He is pursuing a degree in Public Health and a minor in Biochemistry. Outside of biomedical and public health research, and his job as a market analyst for a pharmaceutical firm, Mayank is an avid music enthusiast and currently directs an a cappella group at UT-Austin.

Website Developer

Yong Kwon

“Creative expression through various means such as computer graphics, photography and illustration, is my profession and passion. Child literacy and education can be markedly enhanced through internet-based visual media. My expertise as a website developer gave me the opportunity to put together the Biloongra website and blog. This 2-in-1 WordPress platform enabled our team to reach out to a broad readership and audience much beyond Houston, TX. My interest in photography and art has also been channelized in a photo-blogging effort that potentially goes beyond child literacy and education initiatives. This is the way we are connecting people far and wide.”

About Yong: Yong is the President and CEO of ykcreative an award-winning full service digital communications group providing web, graphic design, logo and branding, online marketing services. She is a graduate of the University of Houston Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design.

Advisors, Patrons & Well Wishers

Sonya Sloan, MD

“As the founder and Executive Director of ‘ME&WE Inc.’ (Motivating and Empowering Women to Excel), I have been closely involved in youth mentorship. Child education and literacy drives are of great interest to me. When I first heard about Biloongra – Books for Change I thought that this initiative might be a superb learning experience for my students. Through this effort two young girls, Madyson and Chelsey, were able to write creatively and imaginatively for less-privileged children in Pakistan. This small effort on our part can have potentially large impact on American children working on these projects and hopefully on the children in the 3^rd world for whom the books are intended.”

About Sonya: Sonya is a native of Denison, Texas. In 1992, she gained national attention as the first African-American Homecoming Queen at Texas Tech. She then repeatedly made history as the first ever African-American female surgical resident as well as orthopedic surgical resident at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. Sonya is also the First Lady of The Luke Church in Humble and is involved in the implementation of a Faith-Based Health Initiative for her church and community. She is an active community speaker for youth and women at area schools and churches. She is a recipient of the YMCA Outstanding Minority Achievers of Houston and recognized by the Harris County Empowerment Center for outstanding contributions to the community.

Gul Afshan Ahmed

“`I breathe books`….is a lesser description of how I would like to introduce myself for having worked in a publishing house for 25 years. The reason for joining the publishing house was my passion for books and remains so till today. I wanted books to be in the hands of everyone – my family, my daughters, my helpers in the house, their children, the children running on the streets, the wealthy, the underprivileged – in cities, towns, villages…in fact I wished to encompass all…and I was fortunate to do that to a good measure. I helped in developing books for children and adults for education and leisure – in Urdu and English. Biloongra came along when I attended a meeting at Asad Mian`s residence in Bellaire, TX, during the third quarter of 2011, and it has been with me since then. Biloongra`s commitment to child literacy and Asad Mian`s passion to take it to greater and more meaningful heights led me to be part of this very dedicated team.”

About Gul: Gul recently moved to Pearland, Texas, from Karachi, Pakistan. Mother of 3 daughters, Gul Afshan graduated from the University of Kanpur, India. She worked for 25 years in the Karachi office of Ferozsons (pvt) Ltd, Pakistan`s oldest publishing house established in 1896. She loves reading, writing and painting.

Frances Allday

“One of the reasons I started a newspaper was to give people a forum to express their issues and concerns, and to get publicity for projects which are important to them. When I heard about the Biloongra project and Dr. Asad Mian, who has led the effort from its inception, I realized that this was an effort that would interest our readers. The manner in which the project has been advanced – by a dedicated core of volunteers, without major funding – has been interesting to learn about and might perhaps inspire others to replicate. The creative expression in prose, poetry and photography which is also part of Biloongra is noteworthy, and some of the posts on the Biloongra blog that are of general interest have been published by my newspaper.”

About Frances: Frances is the publisher of the Houston Inner Looper Newspaper which offers news, events, and feature articles for the greater inner loop area of Houston. She is a native Houstonian and graduated from the University of Houston with a B.A. degree in psychology. She also attended Texas Womens’s University in the Medical Center for post-graduate studies in Occupational Therapy. She was a social worker for the State of Texas and was later employed by the federal government as an importing specialist for the U.S. Customs Service.

Anum Saeed

“Is there anything better to be given to a child than a book? Perhaps, it is even silly to ask that question. There really is no other answer to that question than a crisp and confident “No, there isn’t!” How do I even begin to write a few lines on the importance of what reading means and does for the brain of a child or even an adult…it is equivalent to saying how do I summarize my life which has been shaped by the innumerable amount of texts I have read since the moment my first story book was handed to me. Books build imagination. Reading quality text moulds the raw mind of a young one and shapes him into who he will be twenty years down the lane. That is why I believe in Biloongra. With its initiative to raise the literacy rate of children around the world and encourage free thinkers, Biloongra will set the code of life for thousands of adults of tomorrow.”

About Anum: Anum, hailing from the heart of Karachi, Pakistan, is a doctor in transition. Brought up in a liberal Pakistani family with cultural and core values instilled into her, she attended St. Patrick’s High School for her A’ levels and later graduated from Ziauddin Medical College with an MBBS degree. Now an MD, she is a medical writer at a major university in the U.S. and is in the middle of her quest for a residency in Internal Medicine. Spending quality time with people whom she loves, chai, tennis and writing remain close to her heart. Anum is a firm believer in the benefits of natural herbs and in the power of books and writing as a major tool for developing the creative supremacy of a human mind.

Fatima Mujahid

“I believe education is the key factor in the success of any nation. A child’s mind is a clean slate, and it is our duty to help fill those minds with colors, awareness and proper education. Books tell stories – they carry messages that are unique in their own way. We as adults should make these books imaginative, colorful and meaningful in order to keep interest alive in young children. And THAT is what Biloongra is all about!”

About Fatima: Fatima was born and raised in Lahore, Pakistan. She has been in Houston, TX, for the past 11 years. She graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Finance. She is currently a risk manager in an oil and gas company. During her free time she volunteers for child advocacy groups in the greater Houston area. She’s a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister …. and a supporter of global child literacy.

Burhan Javed

“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” This quote by Frederick Douglas left me thinking. What freedom is he referring to? I haven’t answered my question entirely but what I have figured out is that the ability to read is miraculous. The idea of helping children to read seems very generic but the innovative approach by the Biloongra platform to take on the challenges of improving children’s literacy is astonishing. The product, a bilingual book with colorful illustrations, is simple but seems very effective. A venture like this gives you some sense of altruism and I am glad to be a part of it.”

About Burhan: Burhan was born and raised in Pakistan. He is a computer scientist by profession. Although he has Biloongra figured out (for now), he is still trying to figure himself out.

Azra Rauf

“I first became involved with Biloongra because I wanted my kids and their peers to be connected to their roots in Pakistan. Always an advocate for education, this project seemed to be the perfect way to bring awareness to the opportunities my kids should take advantage of here in America.”

About Azra: Azra first came to America as a college student and has lived here ever since. She has two kids: a junior and a freshman in high school. She likes traveling, listening to music and watching foreign films, and works hard to give her kids the best education possible.

Editorial Comment: This is the 8th post in a series dedicated to child literacy and child education. You can read the other parts here: Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7.

Biloongra – Time To Take Another Step, Maybe?

In the last few months I have had the pleasure of reading multiple blog posts regarding the admirable work being conducted by Bookgroup (BG) in Pakistan, the last of which was: “Reforming School Curricula in Pakistan – Books as Instruments of Change”. The hard work and dedication that defines BG is clearly evident through these posts and one can only wish them well in every respect.

I strongly believe that the ‘Biloongra’ series of stories can have more of an impact than it might already be having. I feel that thus far (in terms of books) BG’s primary focus has been development and enhancement of Urdu child literacy and literature. In my view, future generations in Pakistan, whether urban or rural, must be extremely proficient in both English and Urdu to have any chance at succeeding at home or globally. If my understanding is correct, the current English language curriculum is comprised mainly of textbooks from Oxford University Press and such traditional publications. I would suggest that one consider either developing or enhancing an early childhood/primary level English curriculum that is specifically designed with the aim of giving the disadvantaged, an advantage (i.e. making a second language an almost first). If a similar plan of action is already in motion, the Biloongra initiative can at the very least, supplement it.

Let me attempt to clarify. As a child, I was forced to study multiple levels of Oxford University Press’s English language books as these were the standard textbooks used in most private schools at the time. In retrospect, these books are perfect at a higher level but of little use and dare I say, discouraging, when an Urdu/provincial-language-speaking child is struggling with the basics. Unfortunately, in my experience as a child (and this was at a private elementary school in Karachi), the teachers utilizing these textbooks failed, abysmally, in giving me a method of learning a second language that worked. It was only when I reached middle school, at yet another private institution, that the gaps in my learning were covered by some brilliant mentors who utilized their own methodology even though they used the same series of books. So yes, I feel that the flaw lay in both the teaching and the curricula at the elementary level. In that, Pakistani elementary school teachers, unless they have received specialized training in teaching English as a second language, cannot circumvent the standard texts to which they are limited. Additionally, the traditional English stories/textbooks bear little or absolutely no relationship to the socio-economic and cultural environment in which they are being taught. In other words, not only are the current foreign textbooks difficult to absorb for the average child, he/she really needs to be fortunate enough to find a teacher who can patiently drill the concepts into his/her head.

In short, I feel that from an educational reform perspective, one’s mindset needs to change. If English language storybooks/textbooks are carefully designed for young Pakistani children (as opposed to keeping with tradition and using universally acknowledged textbooks), teaching English to these young ones will become easier and with time, learning this arguably difficult language will no longer be a challenge for the majority (young or old). In this idyllic time, English will cease to be considered a second language- it will seamlessly blend into a first language along with Urdu.

To that end, my thought would be to introduce the English Biloongra books by grade level or reading level, whichever method is organizationally easier to accomplish, given the vast difficulties inherent in long distance coordination. As an example only (and some different approaches in this area might prove more workable), books could be geared for pre-KG, KG, Grade 1 (aka Class 1), then Grade 2 (aka Class 2), and so on. Each level must steadily improve on the child’s basics, slowly increasing in challenge and intensity.

Right now, it looks like the current set of Biloongra books being written in English by our team are randomly intended for children 8-12 years of age. Let’s remove the randomness; let’s direct and categorize the texts based on the suitable grade or reading level. This will ensure that an 8 year old is not struggling with a 10 year old’s reading material, for instance; or a Class/Grade 2 student is reading something better suited to a kindergartener. The process cannot take place in a vacuum though, and will require educational research on Biloongra’s part as well as BG’s input and cooperation. If approved books have already been channeled to the appropriate levels in Pakistan, the Biloongra initiative ought to find out what those levels are and cater to the gaps, in a truly focused fashion. This information is of particular significance to writers of future books, including the creative team of Biloongra that comprises many school going children, so that they may tailor the stories appropriately: subject matter as well as characters can evolve accordingly thereby sustaining and growing children’s interest at both ends of the spectrum. The end result should ideally be a complete and organized set of reading texts for a primary school.

I’m not claiming that the task would be easy, or that it would not encounter opposition and setbacks. Essentially, my point is that these books remain an asset which could theoretically be employed to give early childhood and elementary learners something unique that many didn’t get, and actually without them even realizing it: an advantage.

Just a thought folks, just a thought…

About The Author: Bushra Khan is on the editorial board of Biloongra-Books for Change. She’s a mother of two young girls and a lawyer who makes Texas her home. She is a licensed attorney in Texas and Nevada with a primary practice background in child support enforcement and state welfare services. Her work as a government attorney taught her that there are children in need everywhere, poverty crosses all geographical and ethnic boundaries, and children from all backgrounds (particularly young girls) desperately need a strong educational base to empower them in this cut-throat world.

Editorial Comment: This is the 7th post in a series dedicated to child literacy and child education. You can read the other parts here: Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6.

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