Jis dais kay parcham pay “Chand Sitara”

Pakistan

Waleed B. Khalid
Aug 26, 2017 · 3 min read

“I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience and compassion.” Lao Tzo

Yes, I’m a Pakistani and Yes, I study in Oxford but let me clear the clouds on both. In Oxford means Oxford Brookes University not at University of Oxford and Pakistani means peace lover not a terrorist.

This fable of me being a Pakistani and ending up in Oxford shares some similarities, although the magnitude of comparisons coming up will be hard to swallow but Hey, remember PATIENCE written on top So, let’s observe a little.

Long ago (Allahabad, 1930) a man (Iqbal) vouched by many as poet, philosopher, politician, academic, barrister and a scholar to name a few visioned a sovereign and independent state for muslims of sub-continent. The dream was embarked upon and eventually achieved thus creating my identity of Pakistani long before i was even born. 85 years later my mother (Bless her, she’s nice and sweet) dreamt something similar. She like Iqbal (patience) for her son envisioned an identity, academically, separate from the rest. Both Iqbal and my mother by the grace of Almighty got successful in creating that identity for a nation and a son respectively but now after recalling past events of Pakistan and my life, arises an interesting question “Am I sharing my fate with Pakistan? What has happened or is happening to Pakistan has any impact on my individual life?”

Like Pakistan I like cricket, music, politics(democracy), Imran Khan, and sarcastically all the desi biryanis but hey, what about terrorism, acid-attacks, poverty, feudalism, rape of 4 year old girl, Ghulam Hussain’s suicide…. Do I like that? Answer: I don’t. What about you?

One thing I’ve learned by being in Oxford is that it’s easy to sit around and point out problems, real heroes and she-roes go out there and solve them. To all the champion girls out there, Are you a she-roe? Arfa Karim was….

Dear countrymen, It’s been a while that we have lost the spark of “Solutionism” in our society. Let’s create that again. Through the medium of this blog I along with you will point out small problems in our surroundings and will collectively aim to eradicate them including the crucial financial ones. I encourage everyone to read the future blogs. I believe like Pakistan, like myself we have tremendous potential. Let’s unleash it and be the “Chand Sitatra”.

My next blog would be around “China Pakistan Economic Corridor and business opportunities for millennials”. Stay tuned…

With love,

Image Credits:

  1. Oxford City Aerial View by Oxford University
  2. Arfa Karim and Monument of Pakistan- Public Database
  3. CPEC by CPEC website.
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Waleed B. Khalid

Written by

an Artist, operating at the intersection of technology and business. Founder Acosity | OxfordInnovationLab | TEDxOxfordBrookesUniversity

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