Shatranj

Ummatic diasporic nationalism - Bullshit!

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:38:00 +0000

Without a doubt, I have always been a Bengali nationalist. At times, it's been a difficult thing to explain to people, especially to good Pakistani friends of my generation. There may be differences of opinion between the both nationalities, where - seated side by side - we would wonder - as the current generation - whether the East and West Pakistan split was really worth the ummatic divide? I know for sure there will never be a general consensus from the wounded souls of both sides.

I read a book recently, and it helped me understand matters better from the 1971 dimension. Some might think it was overly exaggerated and propagated by East Pakistan's hunger for power. To have suggested that East part with West Pakistan, it would seem - as Muslim Bengalis - we were going against the will of God to divide the Ummah. Yet there was more to than just religion for Bengalis... our identity also encompasses our heritage and the economic sense of well-being. Bengal has and continues to lament since 18th Century from the fall of Siraj-Ud-Daula but, by the grace of pure economics, we knew better this time. Things needed to be fundementally re-structured by West Pakistan in the administrative sense; a faction would ensue given that revenue generated had unevenly been allocated across geographical parts of Pakistan, especially with more preference towards the West of Pakistan. The guerilla uprising from the East was inevitable.

Some might ask, are we as Bangladesh any better off than when we were with (West) Pakistan? All I can say is that I'm not sure which side I would favour had I witnessed the 1971 war, yet the brutality and torture suffered by many in the name of keeping unity is enough to remind me that I am glad to have come from the dented part.

Conversation Log

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:03:00 +0000

Date: 24th August 2009
Professor G: Athiest
S: Monotheist

Time: 9:30 AM
Location: Corridor in Department of Immunobiology at Guy's

S: Hello (Prof) G, how are you today?

Prof G: Very well, thanks. How do you do?

S: Good good... a bit hungry; i'm fasting today, it's Ramadan.

Prof G: Oh, you stupid girl, religion's not worth it!

Time 12:30
Location: S's Office

Prof G: [comes over to S] I have a delicious chicken sandwich in the kitchen.

S: Are you going to rub it in any further? or do I just say to myself it's not worth breaking my fast for?

Prof G: Ha ha ha... the things you people do in the name of Holy Trinity!

Ponzi Prince and the Jewish Princesses

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 07:36:00 +0000

Once upon a time,
there lived a filthy rich swine

When times were good,
he was better than Robin Hood
When times were bad,
the Jewish Princesses were mad

How could he?
the sheer audacity, to rob the rich and then try to flee
He was no ordinary Madoff;
tell his foes, they will bite my head off

But no doubt he was clever,
That is why the damned say, Bugger!
They gave him money because he was a Jew
Alas, that money went to a handful of few!

Unravelled to become a classic tale,
this is the fate of one Alpha Male
You may think such thoughts are crude,
suffice to say, this man was shrewd.

Indira

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:10:00 +0000

After one month, and some intense practice in verbal reasoning (result - moderately improved), I have found a topic worthwhile to write on Shatranj. Indira.

Yesterday I was asked about my political stance on the independence of Bangladesh. Despite being pro-liberation, I was unable to articulate my argument to the degree Indira has done so in this interview with BBC. This interview amused me a great deal, to a degree where I felt the controversy stirred by Indira Gandhi - at the time - could potentially be compared with the likeness of a present-day political government (reclusive to the actual motive) intervening in support of the causes presented by The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The Guerillas.

To this date, many Bengalis state that Indira Gandhi and India's intervention in this war was solely to hit back at Pakistan. It is plausible, yet what does appear vague is whether East Pakistan was capable of fighting it's own war in 1971. Indeed, it wasn't a new war; the struggle for self-governance was one which was spewed out from the day when East Bengal fought for the language movement in 1952.

Though my knowledge of Indira Gandhi is severely limited, including instances not knowing as to why she was known as the 'Lady Hitler' and the storm revolving around the forced sterilization programme, I have tremendous respect for her. Surely she was a lady of substance who was absolute for the sake of argument? A rarity of a politician, she was passionate. Her profound legacy has left me indebted, in the name of identity.

Baby, where's my counter gone?

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:51:00 +0000

it disappeared. can't find it

Raw nerve

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 21:19:00 +0000

No more blogposts until I improve my Verbal Reasoning.

Twisted Nerve

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:30:00 +0000

One thing that needs to be stressed more than ever before in modern times is the distinction between forced marriages and arranged marriages. However, before opening 'Pandora's Box', we ought to evaluate the recent media frenzy surrounding the other "Abedin", with particular focus on interfaith relationship.

Whilst the stricture on interfaith relationship in Asian culture mystifies many people from this part of the hemisphere, it helps to take a look at the history of 1947 India before saying, "What's the big deal, man? we live in the 21st Century!!!" The point is, why such restriction? Why is she the victim? Are her parents not the victims? and more importantly, So what are the cultural norms in Bengali Muslim society?

Starting with the last question, first. Cultural setting in a Bengali Muslim society. It varies. In most cases, members form an inclusive relationship within a family where there is a strong bond. I find this difficult to articulate because cultural settings of Bengalis cannot be defined in two short sentences nor can it be defined elaborately, and unless an individual lives in this part of the society, he/she will surely fail to appreciate aspects of this society that seem nonsensical the Western world (and I do apologise for using the taboo 'W').

What does outrage me is, in Humayra's case, I believe her parents' are the victims. Which now takes me on to tackling my question on the victims' issue. Now you may disagree with me on this matter since it was Humayra's parents who locked her up. Firstly, I strongly doubt they would have slaughtered her. Putting aside their actions over the last couple of months, are they not the same two individuals who gave her life? There is no history of them having abused her as a child. Hence, we cannot assume two psychotic twisted individuals to be the parents of a trainee doctor. They have not restricted her career aspirations. Moreover, and secondly, perhaps the only thing they could ever desired from their daughter is for her to marry someone who is from the similar background (Religious/Cultural/Education/Status Quo). Most likely, and obviously, this was in the best intention for Humayra's long-term wellbeing, as it is what any right-minded parent would wish for. Although not all parents in Bangladesh are fussy to this extent, Humayra's parents have stressed on compatibility, and surely, Humayra was aware from a very early age.

Where I do feel empathetically for Humayra is that she was not on a similar level of thought to her parents' wishes, and loved a man as a human being without creed. She may well have been aware of the consequence of this disparity of thought between herself and her parents. In which case, where overwhelming love could not reconcile with parental expectations, she could surely have been emancipated from her parents ??? On the other hand, her parents' could have disowned her instead of creating this embarassing saga.

While it may not be a sin to love someone of another faith and while it is not impossible to show affection as a human being, we must bear in mind that it is a greater sin to knowingly hurt others be it feelings or using violence.

Emon Deshti Kothao Khuje Pabe Nako Tumi: AlieNation

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:22:00 +0000

On coming 16th December, Bengalis (of Bangladesh) will remember the 37th year of independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan. It may seem monotonous to religiously recall this day; a bit like Christmas with recurring Christmas jingles throughout the month but without the presents to compensate for. However, the event of Bangladesh marks a significant day in the history of Bengal and the end to a sad 9 months prior to establishing a proud and a patriotic nation. Yet after the same 37 years, we continue to strive as a nation, unable to put our differences aside and work collectively. A certain portion of us (Bengalis) take shelter under our orthodox beliefs, perhaps sometimes to save our backs for our misdeeds.

A short telefilm, based on the same name given for this blog post, inspired me to write about my fragmented country of origin. When an expatriate (of native ancestry) visits the place, it is of course far from utopia. Initially, there is not so much of a sense of belonging. But eventually, some may even love this country. It’s like Hajj for a culturally-deprived Bengali. Although, individual experiences will probably differ.

My subject is more on the ranks of diversity, based on one colour, and yet many degrees of thoughts. The best example I can give to you is about the mullah (Religious man) who lives next door in Bangladesh. This guy is rather amusing; he refuses to stare at women whilst speaking to them, is pretty orthodox, and has an interest-free current account at Standard Chartered (An elitist bank in Bangladesh, which many of you may know, charges interest on other account packages) as opposed to having one in an Islamic Bank (which does not accept interest per se). In this instance, the secular individuals would be ultra-critical of Mr Mullah. Then again, on the other end of the spectrum, is the Bengali who flies off on a honeymoon to another Islamic nation – Malaysia. I would like to quote her humorous conversation with the Malay waiter, as she placed an order for two, “Excuse me. Can we order items that do not contain Pork/Bacon because we’re Muslims? And can we have two bottles of beers, please?!!” On this note, Mr Mullah will be ultra-critical of Ms Honeymoon. But neither Mullah nor Ms Honeymoon hold a monopoly over what it is to be a Bangladeshi. Heritage of Bengal goes a long a way back, and thus, identity should not be confined to a mere 37 years.

Both Mullah and Ms Honeymoon are Bengalis living in a nation that comprises of a cosmopolitan and religiously indigenous population equally, but it is a nation that is not defined by multiculturalism as is Britain. When in Bangladesh, it seems okay to be different. Whilst the definition of being a Bengali might be loose, it is in that definition, Bangladesh – a kedgeree nation – has its own unique spot on the world map.

If

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:02:00 +0000

"You'll never get anywhere if you go about what-iffying like that... would Columbus have discovered America if he said, 'What if I sink on the way over...'" - Willy Wonka (Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator)

Autopsy

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:43:00 +0000

"You must philosophise
But why must you bore me to tears?
You're red around the eyes
You tell me things no one else hears
You spend all your time crying
Crying the hours in tears" (Fairport Convention)

A little more educated, yet none the more wiser. If past mistakes had to be learnt, it would be easier to say that the world is a better place. But no. It doesn't work like that. The complexities, and burnt holes in the pocket are self-inflicted, and the price is paid for by the (un)fortunate few who aren't in the boat of the 2 million unemployed in this forsaken country.

We could do well with an autopsy in the morgue of 2m. Instead, some further errors are made. The best examples are Dick Cheney endorsing McCain, and Palin as McCain's running mate. It amuses me that we still have abundant room for mistakes. Flattering as it may be to a Dog, it's a shame they can't rule the world!

Lady D'Arbanville

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 22:47:00 +0000

Pareto's Law - the 80:20 principle

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 19:00:00 +0000

It is not possible to determine whether the 80:20 rule applies to the ratio of, 'the number of people who are familiar with this economic law to the number of people who aren't.' Nevertherless, Pareto's law is just as intriguing and absorbing as Adam Smith's free market economics when confronted with in the first instance, and probably as contrary to free market dynamics.

And it is even inspiring that one UK company has established itself as Pareto Law: "Pareto Law takes its name from Vilfredo Pareto’s 80:20 principle. This economic law stated that 80% of Italy’s wealth was owned by a mere 20%. Putting this theory into business practice, Pareto Law believe that 80% of a company’s business will be generated by 20% of the sales team."

In business terms, the theory is precise if taken from a relative perspective, and not so much absolute. Say - for example - if you were look at the proportion of power (by that, I refer to control) in a company, you might find that 20% are top-level management who have 80% control, whilst 80% company labourers (including mid-management) may possibly have a 20% influence over that respective company. The amusing thing is that disproportion could not have been more optimal and even more of a paradox in the case of Pareto. While the numerator may have more influence than the denominator, it changes under a totally different scenario. Now take tangible output in a company; the workers will be responsible for 80% of tangible output, while the top-level will constituate for the other 20%. It can be refined over and over and that's the beauty of 80:20...

Still, 80:20 is not confined to business. Look around you, when you see disproportion or inequality, you might think of Pareto.

Foreign Language ad

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:14:00 +0000

After an idea session with a good friend (Arthashasthra) earlier today, I thought to post two Bengali adverts. Both were directed by Mustafa Sarwar Farroukhi - a new-age director who has revolutionised "video fiction" - and amidst the depressingly global "character crunch" (as Bremner puts it), we need some fun entertainment!

Citycell Zoom (Internet) advert is a very clever (/irony) advert for the following reasons:

It was shot in Bangladesh, where nearly everything in day-to-day life seems to be uniquely chaotic. Thus, the happy-go-lucky foreign woman (Stella) decides to swim across the river after encountering an incomplete bridge.
She is going to Rup Nagar (The town of Beauty)!!!!
She meets her sweetheart Masud Rana (twisted tale from the classic Bengali version of 'James Bond', and is a popular read in Bangladesh; Masud Rana often has foreign girlfriends)

Now for the second ad - Freshgel (Mukh Safai)

Freshgel is humour/parody of melodramatic asian daytime soap operas. Some points to consider:

Materialistic Choudhury (the old man) is not happy for his son to wed the daughter, and has a filthy mouth for that matter
The mother of the girl (old woman) retorts, saying Choudhury needs to clean his breath before he splurs out any further jibberish
Freshgel does the trick ;-)

Shishuna Kal Gelo

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:35:00 +0000

Lalon and Baul songs have been in the Bengali music scene for many centuries. Historically, this type of music was sung by Fakirs/Sufis. The songs are often extremely crude and unrefined. In recent times, contemporary musicians have revived the Bengali musical heritage, and it continues to be sung.

The beauty of Baul is that - like Sufism - the words are mystical. The interpretation comes with the depth of understanding, while the music is simple. Baul transmits shallow vibes as much as it conveys depth through words.

420

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 21:35:00 +0000

For those of you not familiar with the term "420" please click on the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_420

And if the definition is not suffice, watch the video above. Skip the first 5:30 minutes, and then start watching when the young lady holds a flip flop. The script is in Bengali, and you will notice that she repeatedly says, "Bhatphar". The term 420 is also known as "Bhatphar".

It may seem ironical that the lady is as unfortunate as much as she is lucky. Many victims of 420s may not be able to do the same.

Suicidal depression

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:32:00 +0000

This issue has been lingering on my mind for a while now... I was meaning to write something on the matter and post it last week. The only factor being that the media has presented alot of speculation on the state of the economy. Most people - who are not directly affected by the current economic situation (i.e. professionals in sectors other than finance) - may feel dismissive and callous, claiming the media is feeding us "exaggerated cr*p". Indeed, the whole issue of the eroding financial system of the West is well over-publicized. But I - myself - am in a state of panic, and would declare this sovereign nation to be experiencing "suicidal depression".

Firstly, when Lehmen Brothers collapsed, some professor at Imperial College stated that UK will not experience a severe/direct exposure by the fall. Merely for the reason that the US mortgage market is directly hit by this loss, as opposed the the UK market. In my opinion, it is severe and has - as subsequently witnessed with Lloyds Halifax - allowed room for speculation on the trading floors.

Namely, SPML and Preferred were the two subsidiary mortgage firms in the UK owned by Lehman Brothers (LB). This is just a strand of the impact of LB in the UK. And even if 5,000 job losses may not sound so much, the effect will take in the form of a "spill-over"/"knock-on" effect. This means that there are 5,000 more jobseekers in the job market, far more experienced than a graduate with the same competencies, with the likelihood of competition for a secure position going up. The effect also implies, the amount of tax per working head increasing (and that includes the callous people mentioned in the first para :P). If the redundant workers do manage find a similar position to that of their former employment, chances for a fresh graduate (of an equal calibre) are slim in the niche job market, and thus, unemployment will rise together with state benefit for those who seek it.

However, it is not only LB, or the recent acquisition of Lloyds that solely distort the demand-supply side of job cuts. If we were to open a copy of a generic newspaper, we would still find that many organisations are cutting back owing to the "credit crunch". This brings me to my next area of focus - recession. When the "credit crunch" took its toll earlier last year, it was anticipated that the gloomy economy is susceptible to remain the same for another year. Unfortunately, with institutions disintegrating or being nationalised, the inclination for the reversal of gloom to bloom will roughly take another several years at the best.

In a nutshell, we are living through bad times if not as brutal as living in countries experiencing war. If ex-fed man Alan Greenspan (BBC) can be shocked at the intensity of the current economic crises, we are sure to be witnessing a well-documented story for the books of timeless history.

Retreat - Wall Street 2: The sequel

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 22:39:00 +0000

Back in 1987, in Wall Street, Gordon Gekko - in defence of capitalism - delivered his most memorable proverb, "Greed is Good."

Twenty one years later, after the nationalisation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the two largest financial institutions the world has ever known), should Gordon choose to be wiser, will he re-evaluate what he meant by "Greed"?

Under the assumption that free market is far more commercially effective than a planned economy, it would have been almost unthinkable to question the free market dynamics. This has now turned into a harsh reality. We now question capitalism to the core; and indeed the new synergy "Sociocap" (allowing the state to combine two extreme political/economic systems: Socialism + combining it with Capitalism). Is there such a thing?

I am a little disappointed. Capitalism builds dreams and skyscrapers. Sociocap, on the other hand, pick up the pieces when the dreams shatter. Under Capitalism, we have aspirations and we strive to outperform. Under Sociocap, we are a mere bunch of failures, stretching out for every penny that is dropped.

Going back to the original point of thought, this is the most crucial time to bring my friend and foe 'Gekko' on the big screen. Think. Try and imagine how he could guide us to a contemporary set of virtuous sins by delivering another memorable speech in a sequal to 'Wall Street.'

*Inspired by "We are all Capitalists now? Not any longer" - The Times newspaper (12/09/08)

Humble hunger and humility

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:30:00 +0000

In the month of Ramadan, when one has to forsake the taste of sumptuous delights in order to find the spiritual greater inner-self, throughout the day it becomes a challenge to remain tolerant on an empty stomach. This month tests those adherents with their generosity, their understanding, their empathetic nature - and further - their ability to control their temper.

I believe this is summed up by Hazrat Ali's saying - "No belief is like modesty and patience, no attainment is like humility, no honour is like knowledge, no power is like forbearance..."

Not in my domain

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0000

You are probably better off calling it 'blog standard', the latest call to censor web content is now referred to as the 'Streisand effect', named after the self-deprecating stunt pulled by singer Barbra Streisand who unsuccessfully sued to block personal material that she disliked from appearing on the blog dimension of the internet.

An illustration of the "Streisand effect" is best described with an axiom from John Gilmore - one of the pioneers of the internet: "The Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it."

Sidelining all the celebrity-frenzy attention the web is credited to give in its amorphous world, the curious question lies as to whether a government is entitled to its privacy from the blogger's space. When the web censorship scenario sets on authoritarian countries such as China and Saudi Arabia, it seems plausible for the state to intervene for sensible reasons. However, infringement of the blogger's right has been a hotly-debated topic where it appears, contents in blogs can put the ordinary - and potentially influential - blogger behind bars.

In the next election, for any government around the globe, bloggers can perhaps boycott the free publicity (be it infamous or good publicity) given to that state.

Unwanted guest - musafir

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:23:00 +0000

In Islamic terms, a guest should always be made feel welcome, irrespective of prejudice. Yet if we were to count the number of unwanted intrusion and compare it to the number that we genuinely would welcome, it would be exceptional to find that the latter number is higher than that of the former.

Frankly speaking, prejudice does take precedence in different forms. Postcode-orientated discrimination is nothing new; nor is it unusual to find a community who holds prejudice against those classified as 'benefit frauds', and furthermore, it is common to despise a "chamcha" who unwittingly lives up to his bestowed name.

Although it is a grave injustice to be indifferent to the children who have had his name since birth. After all, these children are innocent of his misdeeds.

Today, a little boy's reaction provoked the thought that there is an element of dignity which all human beings deserve, despite instances where - on one scale - 'dignity' may possibly remain imbalanced with the other scale weighing more.

"I am always ready, sweetie"

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 11:36:00 +0000

"...His armoured division and two infantry divisions were deployed elsewhere. To shift them would need the entire railway network, so the grain harvest could not be transported and would rot, bringing famine. And of his armoured division’s 189 tanks, only 11 were fit to fight."

In reality, Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw was hardly ever ready. He was the army chief during the independence war of Bangladesh, who recently passed away on 27th June.

I have mixed feelings about this guy. On behalf of the Indian army - Sam Manekshaw tried to liberate Bengalis under Pakistani occupation. Although, on the flip side, Bengalis would enounter another drastic famine partly because of Sam. Yet famine was not quite close to the greatest controversy of this man's career; it was suggested that he sold war plans to Pakistan during the 1965 war.

What adds to the amusing history is the fact that though modern-day India lacked to appropriately honour the cheeky man who once assured apprehensive Mrs. Indira Gandhi with, "I am always ready, sweetie", Bangladesh acknowledged the role Sam played towards the nation's foundation by paying a grateful tribute when he passed away. All in all, very fair to pay repsect to those who were doers. In this instance, however, we will continue to wonder if the tribute itself was just another 'one-up' game to India on Bangladesh's part.

Objective illusions

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:36:00 +0000

Sometime ago, a wise blogger posted an article called 'Mathematics manifesto' on his blog (Objective Illusions). Unfortunately, in a recent visit to the domain, it no longer remains a site for the intellectual perception feeds, but more so the site has had its contents(and perhaps ownership) changed and is now a place to go to for cinema listings & pyshic clairvoyance.

A written piece of this blogger's work was archived in hardcopy; here is an abstract recollection of his musings:

Raymond Smullyan, a Mathematician, Philosopher and author of several outstanding books of logical puzzles, tells, in one of his books, a revealing story. A friend invited him for dinner. He told Smullyan that his teenage son was crazy about Smullyan's books and could not wait to meet him. The friend warned Smullyan not to mention that he is a Mathematician and that Logic is a part of Mathematics because the young fellow hated Mathematics.

A person abhors reading in general may be suspected of lacking in intelligence, but otherwise, in the absence of further personal data, would likely be judged "normal." A rare person would dislike music as opposed to the one who dislikes a particular kind of music (classic, chamber, pop, country, etc). You would probably be surprised to meet a fellow who feels indiscriminately dizzy at the sight of a painting. Why then has it become an acceptable norm to confess a dislike and misunderstanding of Mathematics as a whole?
If you are a mathematician you surely know what I mean. If you are not, pretend you are, and next time when making a new acquaintance suggest as much. Chances of a response in the spirit of "Oh, really. I have always had problems with math," or "Math was the most difficult subject I ever..." are overwhelming. Somehow I feel that a biologist would not hear (at least not too often) complaints about biology, an a chemist about chemistry. I am sure of this because the term "math anxiety" has gained a respected position in our vocabulary long ago which may only compare to the position afforded to a more recent "computer illiteracy." But whoever heard or confessed of "biological anxiety" or "chemical illiteracy"?
Two attributes (real or perceived) of Mathematics place it apart from other subject and sciences. Mathematics is the only deductive science, and Mathematics is pervasive. It is pervasive and fundamental in the sense that more human activities require at least some math skills than is true of any other field of knowledge. I believe this to be a standard perception. Why is it then that so many people (after having troubles with math in school and learning very little or next to nothing) live their lives happily without missing Mathematics in the least?
The answer is simple. You cannot build an engine without good knowledge of Calculus. Still you can drive a car without any understanding of the internal workings of the engine; much less of the mathematics needed to design or build one. In pragmatic terms, we need mathematics very rarely, and, when we do, the mathematics we need is mostly trivial. Coutning the change in a supermarket, mortgage cost, interest on a loan, the best time to start a driving trip, frequent flier mile count, and what else? However, thinking along those lines is a great simplification and injustice towards both Mathematics and the avarage person. I know for sure Mathematics may be beautiful. Judging Mathematics by its pragmatic value is like judging symphonia by the weight of its score.
What is a pragmatic value of music or literature? Yet would you rather do without either? Few among us attempt to or practice writing music. Most are just happy to be able to appreciate it. Appreciation of music enhances our lives. Likewise, the ability to appreciate Mathematics enhances the lives of those who possess it.

"me no speak in english"

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:51:00 +0000

Rant mode: On
Sympathy mode: Off

It is dreadful to find a customer in KFC, push in the queue, place her order, and react (when confronted) with "me no speak in english."

Fortunately for the woman, she knows how to enter her PIN (numeracy is fantastic!); knows exactly what she wants (no mistake with the fried Chicken pieces); and furthermore, is an expert on condiments ("just mustard please, no mayo, and can I also have ketchup in a small container?"). Regrettably, etiquette jumps through the loophole with queuing.

The thick skull should consider incorporating 'queue' in her English vocabulary.

Chirag...

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:07:00 +0000

Literally referred to as 'Lamp'(/fire torch/light), yet somewhat metaphorically, it is divine inspiration/ray of hope, and a bit like an invisible blinking idea bulb over the head.

The burning chirag is attractive, it should continue to burn. Albeit slowly, this noor inside us will diminish with age. We feel helpless in our moments thereafter.. And yet - somewhere lurking - there will be another youth where another powerful chirag burns. They will remind us of our yesteryears; by then, we would only be capable of offering our knowledge in return of favouring their noor.

So while the chirag is burning, let us learn further, and develop the knowledge which others will seek.

For the two Jahans: Ishrat (Affection) and Nur (Light).

Woman like a man

noreply@blogger.com (samia) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:09:00 +0000

"You wanna be rich,
you wanna be kitsch,
you wanna be the bastard of yourself
woman like a man, woman like a man, like a woman, like a, like a man"
(D.R. - O)

Dignity is the frame within which an individual is considered creditable, and deserves esteem. Pride is quite the contrary... it is mere foolishness that drives the individual to a superficial belief that he/she is an honourable person.

In an unrestricted society with context to gender and work, a lady would endeavour to reach the same heights as a man (who has long-established his position in this governing structure). It is an achievement if that lady reaches such height, and furthermore dignified of the lady to be humble of her success. Yet, if it is pride that gets the better, the lady leaves nothing but displays herself as a fool. Dedicated to a naive baroness.