Short essay on Earthquake in Pakistan 2005

Essays on Pakistan

Although various parts of the countries receive jolts throughout the year their magnitude is not much to cause any severe damage to the infrastructure or the people. However there was one earthquake which jolted the entire nation and it was the earthquake of 2005. An earthquake with magnitude 7.8 recorded on the rector scale, hit the Muzaffarabad District, Azad State of Jammu and Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkwa. This earthquake was the strongest one traced in the area during the previous hundred years. No other calamity before this catastrophe had such a disastrous effect on the country. Atleast 73000 people were killed while 70000 were left injured. Half of the people in Muzaffarabad lost their homes. Even the larger cities of the country including the capital Islamabad and Rawalpindi came under the spread of the destruction caused by the earthquake. Margalla Tower which was a ten story residential building crumpled and most of its inhabitants died in the collapse. Various road routes were blocked because of the debris, power loss was recorded for a period of several weeks, water supply and telecommunication services were hampered in the earthquake affected Northern Areas of the country. There was large scale land sliding in the area which was a major feature of the earthquake. The earthquake had a severe economic impact as the revenue generating Tourism Industry almost collapsed. Regions of the country like Swat, Naran, Kaghan, etc were lost somewhere in the midst as it seemed that these areas never existed. People from all around the globe used to come to visit these beautiful sites but these sites were no more. With the collapse of the tourism industry millions became unemployed. In such severe circumstances the people of the country who never seemed to be united before got together to help the country and their brothers and sisters in the Northern Areas of the country. Their relief efforts were worth watching as students and even people from the elite class got forward to contribute. Not only did they make contributions financially, they also provided physical help in the form of setting up camps and then loading items onto the helicopters so that they could be delivered to the needy. Such a huge catastrophe had to receive media coverage and the media played an important role in bringing together popular personalities from all over the country on their channels so they could directly appeal to the people for collection of funds. While the locals were busy helping the earthquake victims, other countries in the world did not hesitate in providing Pakistan with help. Pakistan organized a donor's conference in which $6.2 billion were promised by nations present during the conference. A large proportion of the help came in the form of providing Pakistan with the services of International NGOs. Natural calamities are events which could not be stopped however certain precautions could be taken by countries. The earthquake of 2005 taught Pakistan few lessons in this regard. While constructing buildings and homes certain codes need to be enforced to ensure that proper earthquake proof material is being used. Earthquakes occur and they would continue to do so but it is necessary that Governments accept responsibility and take precautionary steps to deal with such extraordinary situations.

How do makes Pakistan

Pakistan is a nation that has suffered chaos, anguish and pain and yet it is still alive and surviving despite the diseases it has been plagued with. Its economy is crippling, in the world's eyes it is losing its respect as a nation and what this nation needs is a strong president. Mr. Zardari the current president of Pakistan has managed to keep the country together, which for his qualifications is a large achievement. However it is unreasonable for a President to be gone abroad for some treatment that the civilians are unaware of in times when the memo gate scandal is taking place and the issue of NATO strikes is pending. The common man has every right to be notified where their President is. The citizens need to be told how and where their tax payer money is being spent and they need to be shown that this democracy is not just an illusion filled with empty promises. Pakistanis today are frustrated and they are always searching for an outlet to vent their frustration out, with little employment opportunities, the empty mind of civilian is always plotting against the politicians who fail to fulfill their promises. Politicians need to realize that they should know when their end is near as nowadays, in 2011, the citizens are getting smarter and they want to see improvement, they want real leadership. Things have changed and the popularity of Imran Khan is proof of this change, people want to be led by someone who can actually not just promise to bring about reform but who actually has the potential to bring about reform, leaders who get treated on the soil of Pakistan. Imran Khan seems to be a better leader for the Pakistanis today because he pursues national interests rather than provincial or sectional interests. He never preaches about how great it is to be a Pathan or how great Punjabis are. He never shows hate for Muhajirs and Sindhis about unjust Punjab etc. A leader should be above all that, he should unite all sectors within a nation, not create reasons to fight. A leader should know the weaknesses of its nation and more importantly know how to overcome them. Pakistan is not just Punjab, Baluchistan, KPK or Sindh. Pakistan is only Pakistan from the 2nd largest peak in the world K2 to sea view in Karachi. A state should not be put its provinces and a leader should not create a want for provincial autonomy. Same way the Quaid or Allam Iqbal never supported any one province. However this provincial autonomy and provincial promotion is a method used by many political parties to make their own constituencies stronger. This at time is done at the expense of Pakistan. The party and ideas of Imran Khan, Presidential candidate are said to be a solution for Pakistan, he represents the change that the people want in their nation and in their leaders. However citizens should become smarter by now, they should question their leaders and leaders standing up for elections on their policies and how they plan on bringing the change they promise to bring. If the citizens become smarter and ask the right questions, the leaders elected would be ones that can actually make Pakistan a better nation.

What is the Two-Nation theory?

The Two-Nation theory was propounded by Muhammad Ali Jinnah at the Lahore session of the All India Muslim League. The moot point in the Two-Nation theory was that the Hindus and Muslims were, according to Jinnah, two separate nations. And it was pointed out that the two belonged to different religions, social customs, etc. In fact, the Two-Natidn theory end the Lahore Resolution led to the foundation of 'Pakistan'. But the Two-Nation theory was put forward by Jinnah in total falsification of the history of the Indian people for; it is not unknown that long years of Hindu-Muslim co- existence led to mutual influence. The Two-Nation theory was also unhistorical from the aspect of language, literature and the social manners and customs of the Hindu and Muslims in India. Indeed, this communal approach of the Muslim League was opposed by the nationalist section of the Muslim community

Essay on Time Past and Time Future What Might Have Been
Essay on Time Past and Time Future What Might Have Been Introduction: The time present has greater importance for the living society than the time that has gone by or the time that is to come. Yet the past and the future are deeply linked with each other through the present. Development of Thought: Present is in actual fact the sum total of historical knowledge, achievement and accumulation of the past. A community, or a nation or a world without knowledge of the past would be a chaotic one, devoid of civilization.

The seeds of the present lie in the past; similarly the fruits of tomorrow lie in the seeds of today. On present actions will lay the foundations for the coming generations. The past, present and future are thus interrelated. Conclusion: Since the future depends on present action it is imperative that we sow a good seed today to reap a better crop tomorrow. For the people who are living today the time present has the highest importance. For them life has value only if it gives them the best opportunity for self-realization, self development and happy living. Man is a social animal. He cannot live in isolation. His happiness depends on the happiness of his fellow beings. The social structure of the present era is important for the optimum contribution of each individual to the well being of the society. Whatever may have been the state of affairs of the world in the past or whatever there may be in the future, it is the present condition of society that matters the most. Yet what is that we call present? It is in actual fact the sum total of historical knowledge, historical achievement and accumulation of past. What is the use of historical knowledge? Is an acquaintance with the events, the men, the ideas of the men, the ideas of the past of any real value to us in the present? Has it any practical bearing upon happiness and conduct in life? Very different answers may be given to these questions. Some thinkers hold the view (hat historical knowledge is of no use at all. We are, they would say, the mature age of the world; with us lie the gathered wisdom of ages. To waste our time in studying exploded fallacies, in reproducing worn-out forms of society or in recalling men who were famous only because they lived amidst a crowd of ignorant or benighted barbarians, is to wander from the path of progress and to injure and not to improve our understanding. On the other hand philosophers are agreed that history has many different [uses. According to them, it is amusing to hear what curious things men did in Bygone times. Again it is very instructive as a study of character, the working of the human mind and its will. In history we see the blunders statesmen committed in past days, history is thus a store of moral examples and of political maxims. We learn from history how humanity grows or decays, how civilizations rise and fall. A study of the past enables us to be prepared for situations whenever they return. To know history means knowing well the past-to be familiar with some of the finest examples of elegant behavior and action. Between the two extremes of the uselessness and utility of history there is not much to choose. We must thoroughly disagree with them both and take a via media position. In rejecting all connections with the fact and ideas of the past, we are likely to cut the ground from under our feet.

For, the cause of progress in the present or in the future lies in the extension of the past civilization or for a change for the better. It is not a sure presumption that if you are interested in politics or if you are a democrat you will vote definitely in favour of freedom. To understand the meaning of freedom, will it not be worthwhile to know about Magna about American War of Independence or the non-violent movement for liberation of India from British rulers. Nor is it true that we show no consideration to the men of the past or are not guided by their ideas and do not wish to dig into their lives and works. History has produced characters and personalities which have revolutionized the thinking and the action of the societies over large parts of the world. No serious politician can fail to recognize, however strongly he may repudiate antiquity and rebel against the tyranny of custom that he will himself like to act freely and consistently when he follows the path trodden by earlier leaders or works on the current tasks initiated by his predecessors. Thus it is not true that we reject all common legacy or tradition of history that has passed before. It is only a question of selection or degree. To some we cling the rest we reject. History is, therefore, useful whatever the field of our career or profession. It is both profitable and enjoyable. No doubt the utility of what we do at present is more proven. It will be worth-while to use the ideas of former ages and carry out principles established by ancient (but not forgotten) thinkers. If we study geometry, we will certainly find that the first textbook that we always refer to is one written by Greek 2000 years ago. In fact the moment we take a warm interest in anything politics, education, science, art or social improvement the moment our intelligence is kindled and our mind begins to work the very moment we seem to be throwing ourselves into the stream of some previous human effort, of identifying ourselves with others and trying to understand and follow the path of our future progress which is prefaced by us from the history of that subject. Thus wisdom of the past is the basis for the wisdom, of the present and of the future. Only if we wish to struggle afresh and belittle the purpose of abstract value, can we afford to dispense any reference to the past. The moment we begin Let us imagine for a moment a community which lies succeeded in sweeping away from it all the influences of the past ages and everything that they did not by themselves discover or produce. Suppose that all the knowledge of the gradual steps of civilization, of the slow processes of perfecting the arts of life kind of the natural sciences were blotted out; again imagine we completely wash off all memories of the efforts and struggles of earlier generations and of the days of great men who are gone, what would happen? Suppose a race or a city from which the past was eliminated in entirety, what would the present of that community be like? Suppose for a moment all the books of the traditions, the buildings of past ages, were to vanish off the face of the earth and that the institutions of society political or economic all principles and theories of science, of systems of thought in different branches of life, of daily

customs and familiar arts were exterminated, what would the world be like and what will be the humans inhabiting it. At the best, they would be like animals devoid of civilization bereft of purpose in life except physical subsistence. Suppose a race of men whose minds have been suddenly deadened to recollection by the paralytic stroke of fate; suppose for them the whole world was new, would not the condition of such a race be one of utter helplessness, chaos and misery? Its men might retain their old powers of mind and of activity or even if both might be increased manifold, yet it would not be of any use to them. It would be impossible to conceive such a race acting together, living together for even one hour? Not any two of them would agree to adopt the same customs or live without any. They will have to struggle afresh to discover or reconstruct all the arts or sciences of life anew. Even their manifold intellect will fail to help them. Then the world would present one vast chaos and they would fall back exhausted from the task of reconstructing and reproducing everything around them, We cannot help being indebted and indissolubly bound to preceding ages. Our achievements of the present and hopes of the future depend on a sound understanding of the past. In fact no knowledge is more important than the knowledge of the way in which present civilization has been built up. The destiny of our race and the daily action of each of us are completely directed by the knowledge of the past. Useful existence of each of us depends upon the right estimate of the knowledge which has constant influence on us. Our destiny will be advanced as we work to carry forward the civilization with us and around us. If any of us opposes this march of civilization, society will check him from making mistakes so as to keep due harmony and social relationship among the members of society. History of man offers one unbroken chain of constant evolution or revolution in which no single situation is ever reproduced. The story of (he world unfolds itself like a drama in many acts and scenes and not like successive games of chess in which the pieces meet, combat and maneuver trial and the pieces are replaced in their original position. The present is greatly influenced not only by the history of humans in the past but also by the literature they have left. The literature exhibits characters which show the working of the human heart. The literature of the past can be studied best in the fictitious creations of the great masters like Kalidas, Shakespeare, Milton, Fielding, Scott and others. There is also literature to show how civilizations have risen and fallen. Men on the battle field or in their study by the labour of their brains or of their hands have given us what we have and made us what we are now a grown up civilization-who have conquered barbarism and nature to some extent. We cannot help reciting the story of the long march and many victories of the humans and to avail of the lessons history provides us. History teaches us something of the achievements of human progress, it tells us of those nightly spirits who have left their mark on all times; it shows the nations of the earth woven together in one purpose lit up with those great ideas and purposes with which they kindled the conscience of mankind.

As regards knowledge in its abstract form, it is hardly useful or desirable. History is less important for the facts it gives but for the basic impressions and lessons it leaves about the progress of civilization in different times and climes. > We need the essential qualities of civilization and our own social nature so that we can understand the general course in which civilization moves. The more closely we look into the past, the more distinctly we see that present and future move in a clear and definite path. The development of man is not casual or arbitrary motion, it moves in a regular and consistent plan. Each part is unfolded in due order the whole expanding like a single plant. More and more steadily we see each age working out the gifts of the last and transmitting its labours to the next; more and more certain is our sense of being strong, only when we wisely use the materials and follow the track paved by the previous efforts of mankind. Just as our daily life, our industry, our politics, our laws, our customs, and modes of living are controlled by the traditions and materials of the past, our thoughts, or habits, our mind, our peoples, our moral sense, our ideas of right and wrong and aspirations are formed by the civilization in which we have been reared. We are always intending to transform it and to develop them to give it a new life and action. New life and action depend on our total understanding without which the understanding of our efforts, reforms and revolution would be in vain. It is not without history that our present civilization has reached the technocratic stage Recent achievements in different fields of civilization science, technology, arts, Communications, space and the like have been possible by the accelerated knowledge we are imparting to larger number of humans throughout the world with the help of all that our predecessors gave us. So long as the world does not destroy itself or some super-natural catastrophe does not end the civilization, and so long as the era of peace and stability national and international continues, there is no reason why our march to progress should be obstructed. How can we try to remodel existing institutions from the point of reformation without knowing how they were originally formed in the past or how they have grown up? To know the past requires study of the books written in the past on each subject. It is possible to know for everyone man's social nature from the study of civilization. We must understand something of the character of the great races, and systems of mankind. Let us dig into what the long ages of the early empires did for mankind whether they established or taught anything whether 50 centuries of human skill, labour and thought were wasted like an autumn leaf? Let us know what was the strength, weakness and the meaning of different revolutions that have hit mankind from time to time. Let us know about these revolutions by going through the lives of the great men who were responsible for such revolutions or movements. To know the present and to anticipate the future, it is worthwhile to sketch the outline of human story, link century to century, continent to continent, and judge the share each has in the common work of civilization.

Unless we know how man has developed to present advanced states of civilization and what factors have thwarted or accelerated the pace of progress since the earlier ages, we will not be able to peep into the present or the future. The past, present and future thus cannot be isolated or separated in watertight compartments. They are interrelated. The past, present and future constitute one continuous rhythm of life, although the unheard melodies of the past and the future generally sound sweeter than the real tones of the present. Yet, the present throws a challenge of its harsh realities and riddles whereas the past may be lagging behind like a shadow and the future with its glare may show ahead. Just as the past generations laid the foundations for the present and our present civilization is the fruit of their labour, our present actions are going to lay the foundation for tomorrow and the life of the coming generations depends on what we leave as the legacy for them. If we sow the seeds of peace and prosperity, they will thank us when they enjoy the fruits of that peace and prosperity. If, on the other hand, we, by our mutual recrimination, disputes and national animosities, lay the seeds of disruption for tomorrow, they will certainly curse us when they see the disintegration of humanity, in which they get lost. The seeds of distrust sown by us among ourselves will bring about explosion humanity during one of the next generations. It is, therefore, imperative that the knowledge and wisdom accumulated the present civilization continues to thrive, unite the heterogeneous elements this planet, bring about greater and greater understanding among different nation ever-increasing human Endeavour to bring equality among humans, so that the material and spiritual endowments of the civilization get equally distributed an there is no scope for mutual jealousies and animosities among the humans. The best vision of tomorrow should be to aspire for not only the unity of the universe but the unity of mankind based on equality, justice and fairly Distinctions based on race, religion, nationality, history, etc. should be brought to their natural culmination. Only a good present will bring a good future