What now?

Bol, keh lab āzād haéñ tayray?

Now UFOs are REAL

Click here

A few people think it could be China. Others think it could be another country. They believe that testing these amazing UFOs is being done until the Crafts are perfect … and then they will declare a world war and conquer the world.

Others, like most people I have asked or have seen in the Press, agree that these are Alien crafts. They have been happening well before China or USSR or any country could have existed.

One of the reasons that many people stated was that it could lead to a general panic. In fact they think the Governments were aware of that and chose to refuse the facts just to stay safe.

I doubt that!

When have we ever been so wonderfully close?

Many people thought news like this would lead to a religious panic. Who would God be? Allah, Jesus, Bhagvān, Zeus or many other gods people have believed in?

I doubt that, of course!

After all a larger number of scientists are atheists?

Would they care?

Imagine the number of people from all walks of life who saw this. From Police people to Army Officers to well-known citizens who were accepted in high positions. Also a couple of US Presidents. They were called Liars,  Schizophrenics, Hoaxers (Yes. There were many fakes, of course!) and even more by the Press. This was because the Governments had said so about them. Now they are all sane! We need to reinterview those that are available.

What's your view?

Read (and hear) this — and tell me what you think

I am not a believer in supernatural things

but I had to write this … and play two audios for you.

•

Perhaps you can tell me what you think is wrong.
Or right.

•

I had a maid that we employed.

Her name is Zahida.

She has a husband and several children.

The children include a married daughter … who has 5 children.

This daughter had terrible anaemia

and has been given blood several times.

•

But that did not cure her 'actual' problem …

A few months ago Zahida took leave to go to a Pir Sahab's Dargaah because her daughter was now speaking in a lisping voice and made strange noises. The girl said in a pseudo-masculine voice: "I am a 'Hindu' who has taken possession of this girl".

Every time there was a Qavvaali she'd listen for a bit and go into a Dhammal (a dance that happens at every Pir's grave) and would fall flat on her back by somersaulting really high. No hurt, though. She'd get up and do it again. And again. Until she fell asleep. Then the 'Hindu' would go away and she'd wake up and speak normally for a bit. Then the 'Hindu' would be back.

I told her, "Pir to mar gaé haéñ. Voh küchh naheeñ kar saktay. Doctor kay pass jaao." (The Pir is dead. He can't do anything. Go to a Doctor.)

My wife also set an appointment for her to visit a Psychiatrist. But Zahida said that Doctors can't help. "Yeh to 'andar' ki cheez haé." (This is an 'inside' problem.)

Zahida's husband had been well and used to drive a borrowed Motor Rickshaw. He had suddenly stopped eating - except for very small things - about 7 months ago. He was getting weaker. He left the Rickshaw and refused to work, lying in bed all the time. Made the family even poorer. That was another thing that the 'Pir Sahab' had to 'cure'.

Zahida left and came back.

This is what she said.

A few days later she brought her daughter to my house. She spoke with a childish lisp. Often it was difficult to understand. I said at one point , "Tüm zameen par baéth jao, baytee". (Sit down on the floor, girl.) She yelled, saying "Maén 'Hindu' mard hooñ. Baytee kyooñ kah rahay ho?" (I am a Hindu Male. Why are you calling me a girl?)

An hour later Zahid came up and asked me to play Qavvaali music as the girl wanted it and was shouting in the kitchen. I went down and put on my iPod. Within minutes she started trembling and then started to jump. I saw her do this three or four times. She'd somersault really high and land on her back … and then would do it again.

I came up (also feeling a little scared that she'd damage hair back). After 20 minutes Zahida came and said I should shut off the music as she was asleep. I did. In a few minutes she woke up and held her mother and said "Chalo". (Let's go!)

A month later Zahida went back to the Pir with her daughter.

When she came back, this was her story.

I am still sure that this is not really possible.

The beatings and the cruelty that the daughter received at Pir Sahab made her scream … but the Pir said (and Zahida thought) that it was the 'Hindu' that was screaming. Imagine being beaten with your hand twisted behind your back. Constant pushing and thumping on your head and back. Hitting.

The chimgaada∂ story is a figment of Zahida's imagination (as it was for the attending team). That's obvious. But was the girl putting all this on? Was the father putting all this on, now that he is well again and has got a job?

Sounds so strange.

•

As far as I am concerned, Zahida firmly believes everything that has happened … and says so. The Pirs are tricksters, there is no doubt. Nothing will help the girl in the long term, I am sure.

Unless she is somehow part of the trick.

•

FOUR MONTHS LATER UPDATE

Zahid says her husband is well.
So is her daughter.
The Pir Sahab's Chayla (Student!) has done his work.

•

I await your response!

Climate Changed: A graphic book you must read!

I just got this two days ago and can't put it down.

If you have an interest in this topic,

you must get this book.

If you have no interest in this topic,

you must get this book.

The book has Science and Facts

made easy for you to understand.

Its also a great graphic faction.

Covers the matter from the beginning of time

till now … and the future.

Features the leading figures in the area.

Well worth a read!

The Tomb of Mian Ghulam Husain Kalhoro

I met Marvi Mazhar, a young Architect, via Sabeen Mahmud. She phoned me to say there was an event at Mian Ghulam Husain Kalhoro's Tomb in Hyderabad and I should go there with her. Its been a long time since I went to Hyderabad so I decided to go.

The trip was really amusing, specially seeing the expanse of Bahria complexes built via Malik Riaz. Huge. And a Funland area that has the Seven Wonders of the World repeated through large scaled constructions. No one lives there, yet, for it is all under construction. But on the way back we saw the place lit up by thousands of lights. Wow. I wish Malik Riaz would add some of his lights on to the highway, too, and make it a lot easier for the traffic.

It was a really great visit, not counting the driver sleeping on the way back and hitting a truck — but that just delayed the drive back after some 'adjustments' to the car :)

•••••

Just in case you don't know who the Mian Ghulam Husain is, let me give you a brief background — taken from the works of S. Z. Lari, H. Cousens, and a few other documents:

Once this was the Tomb of Ghulam Husain

Ghulam Husain, one of the most powerful heads of the Kalhora Dynasty, ruled Sindh, which, at that time, was a part of Ahmad Shah Durrani's Afghan empire. His rule started in 1762, when his position was confirmed by royal decree. He was awarded the Title of Shah Wardi Khan.

Between 1762 and 1765 he led three decisive campaigns against the Maratha Rao of Kutch and received the Title of Samsam-ud-Daolah (The Sword of the State). He was also given a portion of Dera Ghazi Khan for his role against the rebellions of of the Derahs in the North.

In 1762 Ghulam Husain built the Mausoleum of the famous Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, a Sufi poet and the Patron Saint of Sindh. 

He also established the city of Hyderabad, built upon the foundations of Neeron Kot, and set it up as the new capital of the Kalhora Dynasty. It is marked by Pacco Qillo (The Strong Fort) that became one of the largest military garrisons in the region.

Pacco Qillo

•••••

Ghulam Husain's tomb is supposedly one of the oldest surviving buildings in Hyderabad and is part of a large collection of the graves of various Kalhora rulers.

For more info about him, please read this section.

•••••

Having thought that many people would have come there often, I was surprised to find that there were a number of people in Hyderabad who had come there for the first time to attend the event that was arranged by EFT (its full name being Endowment Fund Trust for Preservation of Heritage in Sindh).

Here are some pictures from the place

Hamid Akhund opening the event

Looking out

Looking in

The Front

A closer look

 The right side of the tomb

A piece from the tomb

The Women's Graveyard

One of the graves outside the tomb

Hamid Akhund introduces the event and invites guests

Marvi Mazhar speaks to the audience

All the board members were there, with Nafisa Shah heading the ceremony. There were many architects, bankers, financiers, and students who spoke. All the speeches were in Urdu, except one that was in Sindhi. Among guests was another friend and Architect, Zain Mustafa.

The board has a lot of money and is trying hard to renovate all the marvellous sites in Sindh. Its a long process. Very difficult, too, to remove the stuff that's been painted on the old stuff, graffiti to be removed, things brought back - as far as it is possible - to the old style again.

Take a chance.

Go and see this, and lot of other places in Sindh.

Oh … and there were Public Toilets (in Pink) near the Tomb.

We were finally taken to Iftar/Dinner at the Commissioner's house. He is the youngest Commissioner in Pakistan. The house was a bit of a bore (built 1950) after the marvellous site we had seen, but the Sindhri Mangoes were great at Iftar.

The Future

Years ago, when I was in the Merchant Navy, I had two experiences:

The first one happened in a camera shop in Hong Kong. I saw a couple buying a camera and the salesman was telling them something that the camera could not do. I had had that model before. The couple looked Indian so I told the man in Urdu/Hindi that the camera didn't do what he wanted to do and the shopkeeper was cheating him. I left. The couple came out a few minutes later and the man thanked me. I asked him if he was a tourist and it turned out that he was the Indian Ambassador to Mongolia.

Mongolia? The last time I heard of it was in school, I think. In Pakistan's newspapers we rarely see the country mentioned. But it is there. With an Indian Ambassador.

The second experience was going to Kenya - which had fallen from grace. It used to be a beautiful place once. I had friends in Government College, Lahore, from Kenya.

Now, shops after shops remained empty. One large department store had only one item: One single brand of toffees in a corner. A large restaurant had very few dishes but could cook anything you wanted, if you were look for a bad version of its taste.

In both cases people lived. Their countries existed.

But - for all our purposes - they were as good as dead.

I can't remember anything great about it

except Gengiz Khan from Mongolia.

•••••

Apart from these two experiences there were two more:

We went to Athens. Greece had lived as the centre of civilisation for centuries. In modern Greece, there are a few ports, a shipping industry that breaks all records of honesty, and tons of tourists that arrived each day.

I remember one American tourist standing near the Acropolis and telling his wife that this was where he stood in the war and had his picture taken. She asked him why the building was famous. He said it was the oldest school in old Greece.

We also went to Rome. Again the centre of civilisation for centuries, it is now just a major city. Tourists love it. However it is no longer a world power. The old buildings, like those in Athens, are there for all of us to see … and it has the Vatican.

•••••

But from Greece and Rome - the great powers that they were - we still remember many great philosophers, mathematicians, kings, poets, writers, and even gods.

These are some Greeks

Socrates (c.470/469 – 399 BC) was a classical Greek (Athenian) philosopher credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy. He is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon and the plays of his contemporary Aristophanes.

Plato (c.429-327 BC) - He was a brilliant student of Socrates and later carried on his work. He gathered Socrates' ideas and wrote them down in a book. Plato founded the world's first university. He wrote down his teachings and people all over the world, even today, study the Greek philosophers

Aristotle (382-322 BC) - discovered many things in science and biology. He wrote books about physics, poetry, zoology, biology, politics, governments, and more. His father was the personal physician of the King of Macedonia. When Aristotle turned 17, he went to Athens to study with Plato.

Parmenides - watched an eclipse of the Moon in about 470 BC, and noticed that the Earth's shadow was curved. He worked out that if the shadow was curved, then the Earth must be round.

Archimedes - was a mathematician and an engineer. He designed a machine, called the Archimedean screw, which could make water flow uphill. His design has been used for almost 2,000 years, to take water from rivers to the fields. Archimedes was able to tell fool's gold from real gold.

Pythagoras - was a mathematician. Can find out about Pythagoras' theorem on right-angled triangles.
Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great - born in 356 B.C. in Pella, Macedonia, the son of Philip of Macedon, who was an excellent general and organizer. He was called 'the Great' because he conquered more lands than anyone before him and became the overall ruler of Greece. He also travelled to areas that are now part of Pakistan.

And here were some of their gods and goddesses: Aphrodite, Apollo, Artemis, Athena, Hades, Hera, Poseidon, Zeus.

These are some Romans

Gaius Marius - the man who organized the army into the most effective fighting machine on earth. At times it appeared nothing could withstand the mighty legions of Rome. It was Marius who changed the way the army organized itself.

Julius Caesar - no doubt the most famous Roman of them all! He conquered Gaul in a brilliant campaign which is still used in studies for training generals today. His victories in Gaul brought into the empire what should later become one of the most important new territories to the empire. (See the movie with Marlon Brando).

Nero - the most notorious Roman of all times. It is most likely that Nero was insane. He came to power because his mother murdered his step-father emperor Claudius. During his rule much of Rome burnt down in the Great Fire of Rome. Helpless to stop the fire, he is supposed to have sung as he watched Rome burn. (A great movie, Quo Vadis, has Peter Ustinov play him. Well worth a watch).

Cicero - “Gratitude is not only greatest of the virtues, but parent of all others.” This timeless quote, and many others that tell us about the essence of living our lives, and that we may have heard time and again – all of them came from the famous Roman philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero. Widely considered as one of the greatest orators and prose stylist to have lived in the ancient Rome.

Spartacus - Without a doubt, the most famous gladiator in the entire Roman history, a Thracian by birth, he was a soldier caught in war and then sold in slavery to fight in the-then famous gladiator battles. But as history has proved time and again, even though you may take away a soldier’s freedom, a warrior’s fierce will for independence can never be easily given up. (Don't forget to see the movie and the 4-part TV series about him. Both are called Spartacus).

And here were some of their gods and goddesses: Apollo, Aura, Aurora, Bacchus, Cupid, Diana, Genius, Juno, Jupiter, Lucifer, Luna, Mars, Nemesis, Pluto, Saturn, Venus, Voluptas, Vulcan.

•••••

When Cancer comes to a person s/he dies. Just like the others who have not had Cancer. It will be painful … and s/he could live longer and worry more. But s/he dies.

When Cancer comes to a country, sadly it doesn't die. It lives on and on. Sometimes of no use, like the first two. Sometimes as a City that people visit and even care for, like the last two, but without the power they once had. And people remember their names. Read about them. Study about them in schools. Look at them as planets. See films about them.

•••••

India 'died'. We called it Partition of 1947. Pakistan came into being as part of it. Pakistan 'died'. We called it Partition of 1971. Bangladesh came into being. Soon these countries will die. But differently.

What will we remember about them? I don't know about the other two, but Pakistan will die fairly quickly - specially at the hands of the small group of fanatic extremist Muslims that are becoming larger and larger everyday as a group. How long before they get their hands on or produce a nuclear weapon?

I know that when it is dead and gone, and people read about it years from now in their history books, there'll be Professor Abdus Salam who will live on.

In his conclusive remarks after getting the Nobel Prize.

instead of taking any credit for himself,

he said "Pakistan is deeply indebted to you for this". 

Alas Pakistan forgot and betrayed him.

•••••

And in the 'cultural world', maybe, Faiz Ahmad Faiz. Here's a translation of his poem (written in August 1947, at the birth of Pakistan), Subhé Aazaadi.

Dawn of Freedom (August 1947)

(Literal Translation: V G Kiernan)

This stain-covered daybreak, this night-bitten dawn,

This is not that dawn of which there was expectation;

This is not that dawn with longing for which

The friends set out, (convinced) that somewhere there we met with,

In the desert of the sky, the final destination of the stars!

Somewhere there would be the shore of the sluggish wave of night,

Somewhere would go and halt the boat of the grief of pain.

By the mysterious highroads of youthful blood

When (we) friends set out, how many hands were laid on our skirt's;

From impatient sleeping-chambers of the dwellings of beauty

Arms kept crying out, bodies kept calling;

But very dear was the passion for the face of dawn,

Very close the robe of the sylphs of light.

The longing was very buoyant, the weariness was very slight.

 It is heard that the separation of darkness and light has been fully completed,

It is heard that the union of goal and step has been fully completed;

The manner of the people of suffering (leaders) has changed very much,

Joy of union is lawful, anguish for separation forbidden.

The fire of the liver, the tumult of the eye, burning of the heart, --

There is no effect on any of then of (this) cure for separation.

Whence came that darling of a morning breeze, whither has it gone?

The lamp beside the road has still come no lessening,

The hour of the deliverance of eye and heart has not arrived.

Come, come on, for that goal has still not arrived.

RIP Najma

Photo by her daughter, Deneb

Najma Sadeque

A great friend

A brilliant writer

A fabulous feminist

A fantastic researcher

Medic[p]aid

Some people are arguing about Medicaid in the USA.

Democrats and Republicans differ.

But that is too far away from us.

•••••

Here, however, is an example of what Medic[p]aid looks like.

•••••

On the 20th September, at around 3pm I started a rising pain in my stomach. It got worse and worse until 5pm when I was in tears and called Dr Shamim who gave me an injection. The pain remained for a while and stretched now to my back. Nuzhat arrived, too.

The pain abated … but very slightly. Shamim told me to go see a doctor. I was taken to NMC (DHA - Karachi) by Nuzhat and him. Injections and medicine and more injections followed and the pain disappeared in about half an hour. I went home.

We all thought I should get an Ultrasound Test done and on the 21st I went again. The results arrived the next morning.

The report concluded with this: Gall bladder is slightly thick walled and distended. Multiple calculi are seen. One of them measures 1.0 cm. Sludge is also seen. These findings could be secondary to acute cholecystitis. Clinical correlation would help.

I checked on the Internet for what Gallstones really were

… and the effect the surgery would have on my diet.

Oooops!!!

The sites I visited said after surgery I could not have Ice Cream, Cream, Butter, French Fries, Burgers, Steaks, Sweets, Cheese, … and, much much much worse, no Coffee or Espresso

Of course the site holders live in the Glorious West and didn't mention Bundu Khan's Kabaab, Paratha, Tikka … or the Burns Road Sheermaal & Kabaab. And heavenly Mangoes!!! Obviously, those were not allowed, too.

I decided that this was it. No surgery! You can't ask a man to go through the last year(s) of his life like that! Jehan Ara visited and said Rukhsana has had the surgery and eats everything. A friend's daughter said she eats her usual meal. I was still not convinced.

Rather surprised, I phoned Shamim. He said you can eat whatever you like. He knew a couple of Doctors (Professors Aziz and Asad) who specialise in this and sit together at NMC. He phoned them up and made an appointment for me.

Shamim, as is usual for me to ask him to come along, went with Nuzhat and me. Dr Asad was not there but Dr Aziz saw me and the report and said you should get an operation. He gave me a prescription for being admitted to the hospital whenever I wanted to. His paper said Cholelithiasis. That's from the Greek: chol- (bile) + lith- (stone) + iasis- (process).

I have had a Quadruple Bypass 4 years ago and a Pacemaker put in a few days ago … so I asked if it was ok to have the surgery. Dr Aziz said I should check with my Cardiologist. Shamim spoke to him and he said it's fine. I can do a Laparoscopy and there is no need to for Cholecystectomy.

My next - and a much more important - question: What could I EAT after surgery? (Ohhh, of course, you CAN'T talk about DRINKING here.) Dr Aziz said, "Everything." I listed all my favourites and he said that's ok. I can have all of those things and get my wife to make a nice Biryaani, too. (I am not a Biryaani fan, but it helped to know this.)

Apparently those diets on the Internet are for the West! Don't you think some Pakistani or Indian Doctors should write about our diets, too?

I took the prescription home and thought I'd go into the hospital on Friday so that I could be out by Sunday. Shamim phoned me and said it'll have to be an open surgery as Dr Aziz's Cardiologist said that it would be risky. "Fine", I said. I will be in hospital on Friday.

3:00 pm was the time that NMC gave us after we phoned. Nothing to eat/drink from 1.30 pm. Surgery scheduled for 8 pm.

Now the show starts.

3:01 pm I am in the hospital.

4:04 pm I am in a room.

Or is my dead father in the room?

A young RMO (Dr Zohra Ghanghro) arrives. She is an extremely pleasant girl and is almost the main feature in this story. People take my Temperature. Blood Pressure. Blood is taken for checking if I have Hepatitis.

It's 5 pm. The Assistant Anaesthetist arrives. He is followed by the Cardiologist. Both say they will inform the surgeon before he starts the operation at 6 pm. 

Nuzhat calls Dr Ghanghro. Says I have eaten at 1:30 pm. Why has the surgery been brought forward. Doc goes out and phones people and says it could be 7:30 pm. At least that's what she thinks. I said that the Anaesthetist has not seen me yet. Nor has my Surgeon. She says she was told that the Surgeon had seen me. "Not at all", I say. And she rushes out to phone them both.

It is now almost 6 pm and the Assistant Anaesthetist arrives again. He asks me to sign a form that allows the Surgeon to go ahead. He says its a 'High Risk' operation. We ask him what 'High Risk' means. He says, "You might not come out of Anesthesia. Your age. Your previous operations. Your Pacemaker. Your Bypass. All that make the risks very strong. If you don't come out, they'll have to put you into an ICU. Maybe 1 day. Maybe 3-4 days. If that doesn't work, then they'll put you on a Ventilator."

WTF! All the doctors here have seen my reports. Why didn't they tell me this before I decided to have the operation? I was not going to take this risk for a Gall Bladder surgery. I'd rather have the pain and come back for medication. So I got up. Called Dr Ghanghro. Told her I am not having Surgery. Phoned Shamim and he said, "One shouldn't take such risks on a Gall Bladder or Appendix operation. Don't have the surgery."

(Later Shamim told me that it is the Anaesthetist's job to make sure that he gives the right amount of the right Anaesthesia and make sure I come out of it. There was no reason to think of the last part at all … unless the Anaesthetist had no confidence.)

Shamim phoned Dr Asad who said the surgery is due at 8(!) and he will get there by that time. Shamim decided to come there at 7:30 pm. We told Dr Ghanghro at 8:05 pm that I wasn't having the surgery. We'll inform the doctor when he comes in.

We waited.

And waited.

And waited more.

Dr Ghanghro said she'd get the blood reports ready. It was way past 8:20 pm. Had there been a surgery, the reports should have come in earlier. Anyway, she came back and said that the Hepatitis B report was here. The Hepatitis C would take a while. Right! After the operation, I guess.

My Hepatitis B report showed that the Max Count is 1.00 (One) but my count was 146 (One Hundred and Forty Six). Damn. I had a Hepatitis B problem. [Later at home I checked (Thank you, Google!) and in the USA the treatment was almost over a year and could go unto $25000 per year.]

Ohh … and I am now the w/o rather than s/o!

At 9:40 pm I decided to have a biscuit and water. Starving for 8 hours was making me (and my Diabetes) feel really bad. Shamim said he cannot believe this report to be right. I should check it at AKUH Lab the next day. Meanwhile Dr Ghanghro came back with the report on which she had added by pen that I don't have Hepatitis C. She found this out by phone since the report wasn't still ready.

Isn't that wonderful! I hope the Hepatitis C Report is OK.

We were now told that Dr Asad was in hospital and was operating another patient … after which he'd call me in if I agreed to have the surgery. I had, of course, said no to two people by now. So I was ready to go home. But I couldn't. Dr Asad had to sign the form before I could be released.

Shamim phoned him up and spoke with him. Do Surgeons use the phone and speak to the caller during an Operation? I guess in Pakistan they do. He asked Dr Asad to please tell Dr Ghanghro to speak with the Desk and release me. That was done … and I was finally home.

The next day I got checked for Hepatitis B at AKUH Lab.

0.361! No Hepatitis B.

••••••

I wonder where our 99% illiterates go with false reports.

They take the wrong medicine.

They die, I guess.

••••••

Thank you Nuzhat and a zillion apologies for all the trouble I have always caused you. Thank you, Sabeen, for being constantly in touch from UK. Thank you Jehan, for all your wishes and constant calls and visits. Thanks Ruhi & Misha for a short but delightful visit from UK.

Thank you, Shamim, for always being there.

Let's have more coffee tonight … and every night.

And thank you, Dr Zohra Ghanghro for being so helpful, full of energy, and being a good RMO. This is no place if your Professors are so faulty and unreliable. I am sure your mother will allow you to go abroad and study. C'mon. Press mom hard. Her UCLA background will make sure to let you go and become a great Doctor.

•••••

The above was written yesterday. But I have an addition to make. Nuzhat went to NMC to collect my report for Hepatitis C and was given it … as well as another copy of my Hepatitis B that they had given yesterday. Except that it now read 0.25 instead of 146! Wow!!!

•••••

Will write more about today … in the next day or so.

"… And there's one more thing"

Sorry, this post is not about Steve Jobs. Or Apple.

It's about my Pacemaker, fitted on

August 25th, 2014.

In case you (or someone you know) is going to get one,

this is what happens in Karachi.

As you can see, my Pacemaker came from Meditronics,

a world-famous firm that makes great stuff.

Yes, it works. Don't worry.

But "… there's one more thing". Or maybe even more.

The Cardiologist I went to was Dr. Zia Yaqoob (ZY) who was also my Cardiologist during my Quadruple Bypass in 2009. He works at National Medical Centre, which is just a couple of minutes from my house. Very convenient.

(You can read this and this, if you've missed out the past!)

I was admitted and was to have my surgery performed in the afternoon. ZY said he had asked the Vendor to supply the Pacemaker and it would be here in a while. A little later I was taken to the surgery and was being prepared.

Outside, my wife had someone who approached her with a package that she had to accept and pay for. It was the Pacemaker and parts. Pay? I thought the doctor had told us what it would cost and since we were paying the hospital they should pay the Vendor and bill us. But no. In this case you bought it separately.

Fine, said my wife. But could you please take it to the surgery and make sure its the right thing. No, said the Vendor. "You pay. You take it in." My wife gave the person the money (he left right away) and she handed the Pacemaker to ZY&c. It was, thankfully, the right one … but its awful that the Vendor doesn't hand it over himself. The receiver may not know if its the right item or not.

I came out of the surgery an hour and a half later and stayed in the hospital overnight. The next day I was asked to leave and was told that the Vendor would give me an Implanted Device Identification Card in two days. I should carry it with me all the time. I gave Sabeen my Visiting Card to make sure she'd call the guy up and give him the correct spelling of my name. She did. And he said in two days you'll have the card. I thought I'd wait another three days … nothing works on time here.

On the 29th I called him up again. No answer. We continued doing this for several days. No response. Finally, on the 5th September, I went to see ZY for a check-up and also mentioned to him that the Card hadn't yet arrived. He called his assistant and told him to phone up and get the card delivered to the hospital.

On the 8th September we phoned up the guy and he responded. He said he had sent the card via TCS Delivery Service. "Where to?", asked my wife. "I don't know. Could be your house … or the Hospital!", said the Vendor. Wow. Isn't that just great.

Three days later we went back to ZY without a card. He said he'd "chase the chap right away". Nothing happened. On the 15th September I visited him again and the chap at the Reception handed me an open Card and said someone had just left it there a little while earlier. No TCS. No envelope.

I thanked ZY and said I'd had to cancel my trip to Lahore because I could not have flown without this card. He said to me, "The Vendor is a nasty piece of work. There was another Vendor who was better but this chap had him removed. We have no choice. I have told the other doctors about your bad experience."

Got home and decided to scan the card and keep a copy.

Here is what had arrived.

Apart from an overtyping of my name and the Serial Number

there was Hospita.

Khaér. I scanned it.

Then I'd thought I'd check the boxes give to us.

Most people just throw them away.

And, in any case, with an English Literacy rate of 1%

they can hardly read anything.

Fortunately, I did open the boxes up!

The Serial Number should have been

NWS637799S

(Just a digit missing, right?)

Worse, the Lead Number should have been

LEP542478V

(Absolutely wrong on my card.)

Tried phoning the Vendor. No Answer.

I called up my neighbour and friend Dr Shamim Ahmad, who phoned up ZY, and got the address of the firm. We spent a lot of time looking for an office "above Scholl's". The Scholl chap said the building had a top floor. There was nothing there. The door was locked.

After more searching we went back to a small tailor shop at the other end of the building. He said, "Oh, the ACP store? Come through my shop. It's above us." Actually one could have seen the door from outside, too, but there were no Signs or Names to look at. This is what it looked like.

 On the right you can see a man opening the door and going up

A trip to the stair case took me to this entrance.

That's the Tailor Shop on the left.

After ringing a small bell that had the company's name badly written, I walked up through the door that was just opened by the man I had seen earlier.

What a bell!!! The company name is on it. So easy to spot, no?

There were hordes of boxes on the stairs all the way up to the office, with a couple of people pulling them up and stacking them. The boxes were from Turkey.

Of the two gentleman the senior one asked me what it was. I told him. He said Mr Waheed does the typing and he is "at the Cardiovascular Hospital. Can you wait?" 

The other person said I should come up and sit down. He'll call Waheed on the phone. In I went. Saw even more boxes piled up everywhere.

I am sure the Turks think this is a great company.

I also asked the person that the office must keep a record of what had been given and to which patient. There must be a record in the office. Accounts? Delivery challaan? Huh? Huh? No response.

Waheed came on the line. Was told what had happened.

Not even a 'Sorry' from him.

The gentleman said to me that Waheed had written on the last card they had in the office and sent it on to me. There were no cards left in office. I said it shouldnt't take more than a couple of days to print them here … but was told that they have to be from Medtronics in the USA.

Given the card that I had, it was on a rather poorly printed version with Medtronics in Blue. Easily printed here, I am sure. Specially by their Distributor. I asked him why Medtronics didn't send as many cards (plus a couple more) than the machines they sent here. I mean that seems obvious, right? "It's Amrika", he said "and they can do what they like."

Sad that in a country, with little or no literacy rate, a Pacemaker can be fitted and the card (with the wrong numbers) sent out after 3 weeks … with so much more worrying, and visits to the Doctor, by the patient. What if the patient happens to be a chap from the interior of Sind (and one who cannot even read what's on the card). He may be travelling to the UAE for a job, for example, and have an invalid card. If something happens to him, the Medtronics team will not be able to trace these boxes back, if called.

Although ACP wanted a TCS Delivery Address I have left my phone number, instead, with them and asked them to phone me when the cards arrive. Will go and pick it up myself. And make sure its correctly filled in.

#3K4T2F

Visit the Website

and watch this to see what people have to say about T2F

The Rage that is Ragni …

This is just a quote from the CUNY Newsletter

•••••

Rage M. Kidvai (’14) Awarded Equal Justice Works Fellowship

March 24, 2014

Rage M. Kidvai (’14) has been awarded a two-year Equal Justice Works (EJW) fellowship, starting in September, to work at the Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP), providing legal representation on asylum applications for low-income transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex (TGNCI) immigrants.

Kidvai pursued the EJW fellowship to address the “huge gap in providing asylum and deportation defense services to TGNCI people with criminal records.” This is especially important “where transgender and gender non-conforming folks of color and immigrants are disproportionately poor, policed, and incarcerated.”

Prior to law school, Kidvai represented survivors of interpersonal violence and trafficking on cases regarding public assistance, food stamps, Medicaid, and housing, and decided to pursue a law degree to be “better able to listen and serve” those facing transphobia, homophobia, racism and xenophobia in the forms of state violence caused by criminalization, incarceration and deportation.

During the EJW fellowship, Kidvai will file asylum, withholding of removal, U-Visa, T-Visa, naturalization (citizenship), adjustment of status and employment authorization applications on behalf of clients, and will also provide legal assistance to the Prisoner Rights and Survival and Self-determination Projects at SRLP, assisting clients with public benefits and name change applications.

While at CUNY Law, Kidvai participated in the Criminal Defense clinic, and interned with SRLP, Brooklyn Defender Services Family Defense Practice, Orleans Public Defenders (through the CUNY Law Mississippi Project), Brooklyn Defender Services Criminal Defense Practice, and The Bronx Defenders.

•••••

Lots of Love, Hugs, Kisses.

We are so thrilled!

Ummi & Abi

•••••

Dinner at Ming Court to celebrate her Fellowship

Marvi Mazhar, [Me], Jehan Ara, Nuzhat Kidvai, Hareem Sumbul, Sabeen Mahmud

This is where it's at …

A Personal Magazine

Let the court decide …

I put the earlier post up on my blog because several people told me they could not read the post on Shumaila's website that I had quoted on Facebook and Twitter. I am glad that many people have now read it … and also the letter by the girl in response that Amima posted. I think more people should read ALL the stories. Question them. Have views. Not be abusive. Write about what they think. But wait before the court's decision …

As far as I am concerned, I am neither for nor against the girl — I made sure never to mention her name anywhere on Twitter. I know it because of having seen her at ThinkFest.

Tarun (even though I do know him) has to accept what the court decides after looking at all evidence. I don't think I, or anyone,  has the right to pre-judge it, but people do. Again, I do not criticise them. That's their choice, I guess.

The Indian Media has gone haywire, just like the Pak media does. I hope they'll show the decency of not bringing his wife or his kids into this and writing articles. Yes, that I very certainly hope, as I would for my daughter in case I was being criticised.

A 'once-friend', which is how she'd now prefer to be known, has been overly critical of me for defending Tarun. I have done nothing but to retweet links that show that he must be given a fair trial, that the CCTV footage must be shown. There are enough media links favouring the girl, which maybe fine, but I think someone should get this out as a message, too. Whether it is bad for Tarun, I don't know. Both sides MUST be heard is what I want!!!

Sadly I am not too happy with most of the Indian Media which, at times, is worse than our own — and that's really something! Their bizarre handling of this is understandable: It sells papers/airtime. But its not the best way to approach this, in my opinion.

The BJP's extra-ordinary pressure was also disgusting, including Jolly's actions at Shoma's house. I haven't seen any Congress members come to the fore, but if they do, I'd hate that, too. Let the court decide!

I have been asked in email about what I would do if Tarun were my son. Nothing. I may be have been very fond of him, even cry at what has happened, but I'd have to let the law take its proper course and find out if he is true or not. Whether it is rape, molestation, murder, whatever. That's how I feel.

I have been asked by a chap (and again by the once-friend) on Twitter, who told me that I should not respond to her so I didn't, what would be my view if the girl were my daughter? Again, I'd hope the case was right and be helpful in all ways … but the final verdict would come from the court. Not me.

This is why we have courts. Personal emotions, however sad, cannot over-ride the court's finding — except through going to another court and so on. In the case of Talwars who have been given a Life Sentence in India (though there is little to say that they were guilty, since no evidence was found) there are several people who feel that they should appeal against the verdict. This is AFTER the court has made its decision, which I am in agreement with, too.

Finally, the once-friend says I 'censored' the girl's mailed response. I didn't. Someone called Amima posted it as a comment. If she did, one will have to ask her why.

•••••

Saturday 30th November. Shumaila asked me questions on the Facebook and I responded to all of them. Somehow (?) the responses got deleted … Shit! Here they are again, in the Comments spot, though not exactly as I had written them as I have no record of the originals. But the gist is the same.

Do read.