Hoop rolling

Courtesy: Tai-Wiki-Widbee blog

Let me tell you how I was then.
Gan is where I was born.
Things happened to be seldom then.

Though no cars and motorbikes then,
I owned an old bicycle rim,
Propelled by a stick which is thin.

Though a game for many,
Hoop rolling and trundling,
More than an ancient game for me.

Though no cars and motorbikes then,
I owned a large rotating disk like lid of a can,
Pivoted at its centre by a stick long and thin.

I pushed and bowled as hard as I could,
For I was the engine that ran,
Both the lid and the rim.

As odd as it sounds,
Good and satisfied as if a ride,
Was what i felt then.

Fast and furious were the changes.
Rim and lid-a scene in the past.
Cars and motorbikes seldom glimpsed.

Though not chirpy and music to the ears,
Roaring engines with hissing tires that spinned,
Drove me as if for a melody distant.

For the smell of burning fuel with dust.
A smell as sweet as musk.
A scene as good as a dusk.

Though odd and dangerous,
I smelt the trails on my knees,
As if a flower that blossomed.

How odd and monotonous it sounds,
Though fun and craziness is what it reminds,
This is a part of my childhood that remains.

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Too much emphasis on oblivious recitation, rather than understanding and following the book - Quran

Courtesy: Readquran

For us to believe and understand something, we must have proper knowledge of it. If you want to know about a scientific discovery, you will have to read articles and books written on the subject matter in such a way that you understand it. If you are a young mom, you may be familiar with the Contented Baby series parenting books of Gina Ford since they explain in detail how you should routine and make better choices of motherhood. When you buy a sophisticated gadget for the first time, I am sure you will thoroughly go through its manual to make sure that you handle it the way it is supposed to.

Likewise Muslim’s holy book - Quran is the ultimate source of the religion – Islam, containing the most authentic and accurate knowledge of the religion. Quran is a guidance for mankind containing the revealed criterions of good and bad (Al-Baqarah 2:185) from Almighty Allah. Muslims are required to believe, read, understand and act upon the teachings of the Quran. But what atop our list seems to be melodious recitation which shouldn’t precede over conceiving or understanding the book.

The last sermon of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) stressed on following the Quran and his example (Sunnah) so that we will not go astray. We were taught this in our secondary education which is also available in many hadith books. However, nationwide Quran reciting competitions aimed of increasing adherence to religion or melodious reciters are conducted among people who don’t have a clue of what they are reciting. It is very likely that such competitions where the winners are granted with huge prizes expose the reciters to the danger of show off and affectation which makes recitation useless in a religious point of view. I wonder if it is the right thing to engage people in such contests where a form of worship is the one we compete against each other. If it is the right thing, why don’t we have contests to choose the best prayer, or the most punctual prayer from each mosque or man of the Ramazan?

Many parents are seen to undergo a hard time in preparing their kids for such competitions, but not to make them understand the book or mold their life according to Quran which in my opinion is pure perversion. I am not going against those commands of Quran (Al-Kafh18:27, Al-Ankaboot 29:45) and Prophet Muhammad (SAW) where we are asked to recite Quran. But certainly it can’t be a guidance if we fail to comprehend the message of the book. It may be just dishonoring the book if we keep on reading Quran blindly when we have got the capacity to understand it which may finally take us to the extent where the punishment for ignoring the meaning and message of the Qur’an may exceed the reward for reciting its text.

So, let us not only make calculations and preparations to complete reciting the whole Quran once or twice during the month of Ramazan, but understand and ponder upon the message of it so that we may acquire the guidance mentioned in the Quran. We don’t have to be scholars to know this much.

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University Orientation……

IAP 2012, University of Sydney (Courtesy: Marlyn, FB group AusAID Students &  US)

“Do you think this is useful?” Referring to ASAS, a friend of mine asked me indifferently while we were waiting for the train at Redfern. Instead of giving her a direct answer, I shared a personal experience I had undergone in University of Tasmania (UTAS) in 2009.

After completing a diploma in a Malaysian University college, I transferred my credits to UTAS (an affiliated partner of the University College in the course I was doing) to complete the final 1.5 years of my Bachelor degree. Although I was advised to arrive late February for the University orientation I skipped it. The futility of the orientation I had in Malaysia which was my first such experience has given me a totally wrong impression of what orientation means or how Australians might conduct it. Moreover, my wife gave birth to our first kid around mid-February which also made me reluctant in leaving the country early.

By the time I arrived, study has already begun. Within no time, I got my assignments which included academic essays as well. Just before I submitted my first essay I presented it to the lecturer to ‘comment on it’ as we had such a system. Alas, I was bombarded with questions. “Where are the references and citations? How many peer reviewed academic articles did you read?” I was kind of blank. Words like ‘reference’, ‘citation’ and ‘peer reviewed’ were new to me in that context. I was not instructed to build such an academic foundation in my previous institution. Even though I was presumed to know academic writing as a precondition to University education, the lecturer was really nice in showing me the way to open the ‘academic door’ which I had not opened by then. Indeed, things would have been smooth if I had gone through the University orientation.

We, the AusAID students at University of Sydney went through a remarkable academic program named Advanced Skills for Academic Success (ASAS) which lasted for 3-4 weeks, as part of our compulsory Introductory Academic Program (IAP) which also includes University orientation. It enlightened, fortified and equipped us with the necessary armors for the battle ahead. Lecturers/teachers involved in delivering the ASAS were friendly and nice. I request the University to find a way to preserve the unique rhythmic laughing styles (sometimes resembles a rattling roof due to strong winds) and the husky, jolly, jelly (couldn’t get a suitable word to describe the spell in Stephen’s teaching) behavior of some of the teachers of ASAS so that the humor of this program can be maintained and carried to coming generations.

You might have studied in a world top ranking University, but orientation is University specific too. You have to be orientated the way your University, faculty and school want, for you to progress in your studies. Moreover, orientation week or period is the one and only time you get during the academic year to know and explore the university’s resources to its uttermost which is not only limited to academic stuffs. You will get to know and indulge in groups or societies run in the University that best fits to your interest, you can socialize and make new friends and on top of all, many events will end with free drinks or meals which arguably are a must to have since most students will be on a very limited budget. Orientation gives you a glimpse of what you are up to and how heavy is your study load going to be. Having undergone thorough orientation means you are nothing less than a fully loaded fighter jet.

I like the IAP (ASAS and the University orientation) at Sydney University. Never miss the orientation, especially if you are a freshman or a first year beginner or a new comer as they call it in different parts of the world.

(NOTE: Not for critical review)

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Political dilemma

Words and statements of some prominent figures of MDP gives the feeling and impression that they have broken the bond of trust that has to be maintained in religious matters whose consequences seems to be beyond emotional grasp. For some of us, we are being betrayed to our dedication made in the last presidential election which gave us the liberty and freedom of choice. But I don’t regret the choice I made for a change since it was the best i could do at that time. As said in the statement, “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions” (Stephen R. Covey), we don’t know how far things would have gone if we elected Maumoon instead of Nasheed. For me his era is not to be acknowledged every time Nasheed or his government officials goes out of bounds.

For some, the prevailing challenge has been the absence of a leader who can be trusted to take us to the heights we desire, not saying ‘NO’ to MDP. May be this is how the country was purposely shaped by the previous regime so that it will always be one man or one family holding the ultimate power.  This is evident from the speech given by the Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik on November 21, 2011 at the reception hosted by the Australian High commissioner to congratulate the 2012 AusAID recipients of the Maldives and to honour Maldivian AusAID alumni. It included statistics that evinced that the young generation of this country was devastated.

A part of the speech went as follows. “......These 1100 students are in multiple-year degree programmes including bachelors and masters level courses. Therefore, we estimate that about 300 students are entering degree courses in national institutions. Just imagine, you have 24000 student completing … secondary and only 300 students are entering national degree courses. It is like 1.25%. Although we are a middle income country our higher education enrollment ratio is about the same as that for countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Compare this figure to other relevant social sector statistics. While 300 students start degree programmes, there are 3000 students waiting for drug rehabilitation. 300 students enter university and 300 teenagers got pregnant last year. About 600 I assume go to prison. I suppose the choice is very clear- we can build more schools or more prisons.......” Alas, this show how creamy is the cream of our nation at the end of the so called ‘golden age’. I can’t believe that a nation can be deteriorated this much within 3 years. How on earth are we going to trust them back?

I feel it is insane to believe that 30 years is not enough for a leader to rule/run a country. If a leader still seeks to gain power or remain in power after so much time, it definitely is not patriotism that pursues him.

Father of modern Singapore - Lee Kuan Yew retired after about 30 years of service as a prime minister which represents his admission that 30 years is enough for a leader to mould and develop a country.  He was contented and satisfied for his contribution to Singapore which most people accept and admire. Mahathir bin Mohamad was the prime minister of Malaysia for 22 years after which he retired. He brought tremendous developments to his country before he stepped down in 2003 such as the development of Putrajaya within 3-4 years. But Maumoon chose to end up like a …………….. (Fill up as you desire).

Despite the extravagance policies and unfavourable decisions on religious matters, I wonder if we can trust PPM or DRP over MDP. Although the situation is seen as a political dilemma, according to some, it is likely that MDP may lose the coming election if “SOME OF ITS PROMINENT FIGURES” are not brought down to their size soon.

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