Childhood itself describes the conception of responsibility, loyalty and liberty. The journey from childhood to youth is so much imaginative that one embraces spirit, vigor and aspiration. The golden era of youth expand the sense of aggressiveness and productiveness. One may enjoy the highest degree of self-reliance through determination and devotion. The professionalism contributes toward the personality development and inculcates the spirit of service. The end result of the whole long endeavor appears in occurrence of marvelous achievements. Thus, the dreams come true.
 
One may believe that youth of Pakistan today is imaginative, more enthusiastic and able to contribute toward reconstruction of our country – Pakistan. We see the fervor, passion and dedication among today’s youth of Pakistan. The youth of Pakistan is quite visible through their talent, vigor and energy for doing their mite for Pakistan.
 
Youth of Pakistan today experiences the remarkable examples of progress and momentum, and we have plenty of practical success stories already. Ali Moen Nawazish, made a world record by bagging “21” A Grades in A Levels examination. Likewise, Ammar Afzal made a world record in winning a software course. Flying Officer Hina Tahir made a record by being the First Female Fighter Pilot in Pakistan Air force.
 
We also see today our scientists relentlessly working and testing advance technologies which provide an exemplary track in order to bring awareness in the minds of Youth of Pakistan. Getting motivation from all these, today’s youth of Pakistan will move forward in such a direction which gives hope for a brighter and better Pakistan in future.
 
There is a well-known quote “TODAY’S YOUTH, TOMORROW’S LEADERS”. Our youth today is moving forward in a direction, which gives fortune for a shining star. This is a matter of great pride to mention that youth of Pakistan today is on the way to explore their destiny and has the capacity to emerge as the future leaders of our great country.
 
However, it is also a fact of irony that there are numerous obstacles and impediments, which the youth of Pakistan is facing today. It is also sad to state here that the vast number of youth energies and potentials have never been put to better use.
 
I think building the over all character of our youth, their quality and knowledge should be the basic agenda. The youth should be involved in our national affairs. We must conduct conferences and workshops where the youths should be offered opportunity to come out with their vision for a new and progressive Pakistan.
 
We must benefit from the teachings of both poet and philosopher Allama Iqbal and our great leader Quai-e-Azam. Allama Iqbal has shown the way to our youths via his vision of poetry and the Quaid has done so by his foresight in his various speeches to the nation. Allama Iqbal symbolized the youths with Falcon and has given them the inspiration to have their own vision, the flight, the character and the attitude to that of a Falcon.
 
I hope and pray the youths of Pakistan are able to rise up to the occasion and bring about a turn around for our great country – Pakistan.
 
Finally I would like to draw attention of all our youth to the following poetry lines of Allama Iqbal to draw some inspiration and motivation and come out in full force for taking out country out of this morass that we unfortunately find ourselves in today.
 
Allama Iqbal poem, entitled “Advice” (again by an eagle to its young one), is found in Bāl i Jibrīl, p. 412.
 
The eagle said to its youngster:
 
May the heights of the lofty sky be easy your wings
Youth means burning in one’s own blood
It is hard work that turns life’s bitter into sweet
The delight of swooping on the pigeon, my son
Is perhaps not found in the pigeon’s blood itself

Published first on the Dawn News Blog

After going through the Herald magazine’s annual issue, which this year included a survey on Pakistani youth, I was compelled to write about the identity crisis plaguing the youngsters of this country today. Pakistan’s turbulent history has widened, rather than resolved, the contradictions present in our society, leaving society as polarised as ever. The young generation is still searching for the answers that previous generations of Pakistanis have failed to provide.

This prevalent identity crisis is spurred at an early school-going age. Text books are written to pursue expedient policies and internalise certain notions of ‘national interest,’ which may come at the expense of imbuing the children with ideologies that promote hate and intolerance. For this purpose, history is twisted and turned to suit petty interests. Few individuals are revered, others are demonised. Accounts of events from history are printed with knowing distortions and glaring omissions. According to a report compiled by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), which examined text books for grades one to 12, most text books “[encourage] or [justify] discrimination against women, religious and ethnic minorities and other nations.”

War is glorified in the process, while peace is not given the emphasis it needs. War is a breakdown of diplomacy, an utter failure of humanity, one that is often branded and disguised as an expression of bravery and courage in our books. This practice reminds me of a Stephen Fisher dialogue in Alfred Hitchcock’s Foreign Correspondent (1940), when he says, “they combine a mad love of country with an equally mad indifference to life, their own as well as others. They are cunning, unscrupulous, inspired.”

One may argue that this kind of text book perversion is a standard practice in order to promote nationalism and patriotism. The troubling effects of this ‘standard practice’ are pretty much evident in the increasing social turmoil in our society. If our youth are not aware of our historical follies, how are we planning to ensure that we do not end up travelling down the same cul-de-sac again? Is it really due to our ‘security interests’ that findings such as the Hamoodur Rehman Commission report never see the light of the day? Young individuals, who get the opportunity to read beyond their text books, are increasingly questioning the biased versions of our historical narratives. Others, who are not lucky enough to read widely, have formulated views which are far from the truth.

Many recent surveys, like the British Council’s ‘Next Generation Report’, have also highlighted an alarmingly high ratio of youth that have no faith in democracy and would prefer a totalitarian regime under military rulers. This is not just about the large Facebook following of a former military dictator; rather, it’s about the rampant disillusionment among today’ youth with the present system, which they believe has failed to deliver on countless occasions due to inept policies and politicians.

Moreover, many young people feel that reaffirming their national identity comes at the cost of losing their provincial identity. Concepts such as unity in diversity or multicultural coexistence are very much needed today. In a country like ours, until the voice of every ethnicity and minority is not heard, until their due concerns are not addressed, a true consensus – which is indispensable for a federation to show progress – can not be forged. For instance, it does not amount to lack of patriotism or treason for a Baloch to ask for more provincial autonomy.

This brings me to another disturbing trend. The intricate issues in which we are caught are often very frustrating for the youth. While groping for solutions in this dark period, the youth are exploited by certain individuals who with their oratory skills present a simplistic answer to complicated dilemmas by urging them to focus on a common external enemy. They spit venom, blabber about conspiracy theories, and preach jingoism in the media.

This strategy works, and it is nothing different from our flawed policies of looking at everything through a security prism, which we have already been doing at a larger level. Well, when the rival countries of Europe could be brought under a single banner by highlighting an external threat of communism, many believe same effect can be achieved with the diverse population of Pakistan by the use of a single external enemy. So manipulative minds use a bit of warmongering to unite the nation. Of course, in the process, our own inefficacies can be brushed under the carpet as well.

In the words of Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi, an Islamabad-based youth activist and the founder of the Pakistan Youth Alliance, “we are a nation of 170 million, confused about our ideology, our very basis, our culture and sociology, our religion, our priorities and our enemies.” He points out that it is easier for most Pakistanis to condemn atrocities committed by a Jewish state thousands of miles away, than to raise a voice against extremism which may have claimed more lives in our own backyard. The point is not to underscore Gaza atrocities, but to highlight the reluctance on our part to identify our own failures as well. To do that, our youth will have to rise above bifurcations to call spade a spade and will raise their guard against the chicanery of hate-preaching demagogues.

Husham Ahmed is an engineer, youth activist, and freelance writer. He blogs at USF and tweets at twitter.com/hushamahmed.

The most eager amongst the english poet was Farah, she is 18 years of age and she contacted us again and again, asking when would we announce the winners.

The message she  delivers in the last two lines of the poem is the crux of the entire piece. Congrats Farah! WORDS FOR  CHANGE!

“Words Of Our Tears.”
 
As he thinks of the time he spent in here,
In a land which promised more than words…
It was euphoric when he heard the people cheer,
When their leader gifted them the land of pure.
 
Remembering how so many lifes were given,
To achieve this land blood has been driven.
And today as he sees the present state of his land,
Tears fill his eyes, this is not what was planned.
 
This land was made to breathe the air of peace;
Alot was hoped,alot was dreamed…
Crime and corruption was never its aim,
A land of terror was never its name.
 
Enemies of love, lovers of cruel…
Liars,false claimers..our leaders who rule.
Evil disguised in every flower that blooms,
Nights of the people dunk in terrific gloom.
 
Murders and crime cover this land;
All this seems like beginning of the end.
Frightened we breathe,our fearful inhales…
Another bomb blast,and sadness prevails.
 
And the winds may halt,the air might stop…
But giving up is not the answer we’ve got.
The blood of our people will not go in vain!
Together we’ll fight through the weathers of pain.
 
We’ve slept alot,only words what we claim..
We’ve pointed on others,when we are to blame.
On the name of God,this land which we’ve earned,
It has to be saved, tables have to be turned.
 
Now its time to show how stronger we are;
We’ll smile through our sorrows, We’ll shine like a star…
United We’ll fight through inhuman bizzare;
With harmony in this place, with peace spread far.
 
Lets search for the answers,in ourselves which are hidden..
Lets spread pure love, and make this land an Eden.
Lets stop this war, like a dream which may feel…
But We’ll show to the world that Pakistanis never kneel.

Arifa Batool has been judged as the runner up for IDPC 09, category “English”. She will be awarded by collection of Iqbal’s Poetry

Crescent Nation’s Adversity Times – By Arifa Batool

The following entry was unanimously decided as the runner up for category “urdu”.

The poet Arsalan Abbas will be awarded with collection of iqbal’s poetry

The following entry was unanimously decided as the winner for the IDPC ‘09. The poet Asmarah Khan would be awarded with Rs. 10,000.-

Read the beautiful poem below. ” Utho Loogon “