I write this post as there is exactly an hour left of the year 2008. Its been an eventful year as years go, and I shan't try to summarise it into one post. However, there were certain parts of the year which particularly stand out for me - and I shall reflect upon those.
The year began well in terms of academic life for I was on track for that 2.i that I needed, and I was actually beginning to enjoy the course at its fag end (something which couldn't be said for 2007, unfortunately). All too soon, Easter was upon us with the early dates this year, and it was dangerously close to exams. The study overdrive was in full swing - with all us final years knowing that our life depended on these three hour torture sessions. The exams went as well as they could have gone given the amount of studying that we'd done, and out came the results in June which left us all pleasantly surprised. July arrived, and we graduated in baking heat, looking like medieval monks. The spring also saw the departure of General Musharraf, which meant that my last visit in 1999 was months before the General took over, and my subsequent visit was months after he left!
September was the month of the year for me - I jetted off to Pakistan for research and meeting the family. It was the most enjoyable holiday I've had for years - despite the heat for that time of the year. It was Ramadan, which meant that the people and streets had a different feeling going on, there were more displays of public morality and spirtuality than usual, but amidst all that, I still managed to see the family, get significant amount of ground work done, enjoy myself and lay my hand on some very handy books for dirt cheap. I also visited Lahore for the very first time in my life, and it was absolutely stunning. If you want to see beauty in Pakistan, go to the Punjab (and to NWFP, I'm reliably told).
The year gradually drew to close with the inevitable essay deadlines and pressure that goes with doing a masters (as well as having the stress of the PhD application in the mix), but it was alright enough in the end. As I speak though, Israel and Hamas are up to it again. Hamas firing in the rockets, Israel responding disproportionately with no care for civilian casualities. We can only pray that the leadership of both countries sees sense and puts an end to this senseless violence which will only lead to destruction, hatred and instability throughout the region.
And with that, here's to hoping that 2009 will be better than 2008, and that I get my PhD offer as well as getting a decent Masters result. Resolutions are made to be broken, but I resolve to study a teeny bit harder, and spend less time on the internet.
Wednesday 31 December 2008
Tuesday 27 May 2008
No longer an undergraduate
Only yesterday it seems was I queuing up to get enrolled at university, staring at my shiny card and marvelling at how far away 2008 was, when my card was to expire. And here it is; at 1pm today, I completed my final undergraduate examination, and in about two months time from now I will officially be a graduate of the University of London, being allowed to put BA (Hons) (London) after my name.
So, university? It went so fast to be honest; even faster than my A levels, it seems. Time goes fast when you're having fun, or so they say. I must say I've had fun at university, thoroughly enjoyed the experience and am glad that my parents, teachers and friends were all so supportive both of my choice of university and course. I started off the course thinking I wanted to enter practical politics; I end it thinking it is the last career choice I would make.
It has certainly changed my life - it makes me more employable for a start, now that I have a degree - it has also changed many of my perspectives on life. I'd like to think I've become more open to and tolerant of other people's views, more articulate, more argumentative (didn't think that was possible!) and certainly more informed. I'm under no illusion that life's challenges still lay ahead, but certainly one bridge has been crossed; the rest will be crossed when we get there.
People have been put off university since they don't know what to expect; some people feel they won't fit in, others think they aren't clever enough, still others feel that working instead of studying is better. Having now become a grumpy old graduate, the one thing that I didn't know (or knew but didn't appreciate) and now do, is that you don't have to be overly intelligent or have an IQ of 140 to go to university. What you do have to be is hardworking, motivated and organised - I freely admit I was none of these things and hence will be achieving a degree that is decent (2.i) rather than excellent. There are friends of mine who aren't as intelligent as others, but because they are hardworking, have achieved better grades than the clever ones - because university isn't like school, where the class whiz knows all the answers.
I think I've ranted enough for now - but the message: go to university if you were thinking not to. It will, quite literally, change your life.
So, university? It went so fast to be honest; even faster than my A levels, it seems. Time goes fast when you're having fun, or so they say. I must say I've had fun at university, thoroughly enjoyed the experience and am glad that my parents, teachers and friends were all so supportive both of my choice of university and course. I started off the course thinking I wanted to enter practical politics; I end it thinking it is the last career choice I would make.
It has certainly changed my life - it makes me more employable for a start, now that I have a degree - it has also changed many of my perspectives on life. I'd like to think I've become more open to and tolerant of other people's views, more articulate, more argumentative (didn't think that was possible!) and certainly more informed. I'm under no illusion that life's challenges still lay ahead, but certainly one bridge has been crossed; the rest will be crossed when we get there.
People have been put off university since they don't know what to expect; some people feel they won't fit in, others think they aren't clever enough, still others feel that working instead of studying is better. Having now become a grumpy old graduate, the one thing that I didn't know (or knew but didn't appreciate) and now do, is that you don't have to be overly intelligent or have an IQ of 140 to go to university. What you do have to be is hardworking, motivated and organised - I freely admit I was none of these things and hence will be achieving a degree that is decent (2.i) rather than excellent. There are friends of mine who aren't as intelligent as others, but because they are hardworking, have achieved better grades than the clever ones - because university isn't like school, where the class whiz knows all the answers.
I think I've ranted enough for now - but the message: go to university if you were thinking not to. It will, quite literally, change your life.
Saturday 3 May 2008
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London
Well, well, well.
The people of London have registered their protest against the incumbent Labour government, whose problems have been increasing day by day. The local election results reflected the voters desire for change; the Mayoral election was the final nail in the coffin.
Ken Livingstone made some important changes to London. Some good; others not so great. Being in office for eight years is a long time. His visits to Venezuela and trying to appease some not so great characters did not go down well with a significant number of Londoners. It also did not help Ken that voters in the suburbs voted in large numbers - the largest turnout ever at a Mayoral election - and they voted for Boris.
Now for the man himself. Now, I'm usually the kind of guy who is telling my fellow bretheren to tone down their criticisms of people like Tony Blair and the like, who while waged a moral dubious war on Iraq, was essentially a sound prime minister. However, when it comes to Boris, his words speak for themselves, in the Spectator (2005, backdrop of 7/7 bombings):
The Islamicists last week horribly and irrefutably asserted the supreme importance of that faith, overriding all worldly considerations... the problem is Islam. Islam is the problem.‘
To any non-Muslim reader of the Koran, Islamophobia - fear of Islam - seems a natural reaction...‘
Judged purely on its scripture — to say nothing of what is preached in the mosques — it is the most viciously sectarian of all religions‘
The trouble with this disgusting arrogance and condescension is that it is widely supported in Koranic texts, and we look in vain for the enlightened Islamic teachers and preachers who will begin the process of reform. What is going on in these mosques and madrasas? When is someone going to get 18th century on Islam’s mediaeval ass?’
http://archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.com/2008/04/boris-accused-of-smear-on-islam.html
Now if Boris supporters (or even the man himself) are reading this, they might say, it was three years ago that he said this, and he was probably very angry etc. Well, here's a bombshell for you guys, I was very angry. Moreso than perhaps the rest of the people in London, because these four young men - British citizens of Pakistani descent - had acted in my name. And as a British Muslim of Pakistani descent, I felt disgusted at their actions, because they had villified both Islam and Pakistan as well as the UK. Some of the reaction that appeared in the US (as well as the UK) media was absolutely horrendous.
However, bearing in mind the multicultural diverse city of London, a mayor should be the one bringing the communities together, not dividing them further apart. If Boris Johnson is serious about tackling extremism in mosques and in the Muslim community as a whole, he is clearly going the wrong way about it. Alienating even the moderates is a bad, bad idea.
I am hoping that I am wrong, and Boris is not an Islamophobe, in the sense that he does not think that Islam is the problem. Especially because he's now the mayor of my city. The jury is out on Boris Johnson but I'm not holding my breath.
The people of London have registered their protest against the incumbent Labour government, whose problems have been increasing day by day. The local election results reflected the voters desire for change; the Mayoral election was the final nail in the coffin.
Ken Livingstone made some important changes to London. Some good; others not so great. Being in office for eight years is a long time. His visits to Venezuela and trying to appease some not so great characters did not go down well with a significant number of Londoners. It also did not help Ken that voters in the suburbs voted in large numbers - the largest turnout ever at a Mayoral election - and they voted for Boris.
Now for the man himself. Now, I'm usually the kind of guy who is telling my fellow bretheren to tone down their criticisms of people like Tony Blair and the like, who while waged a moral dubious war on Iraq, was essentially a sound prime minister. However, when it comes to Boris, his words speak for themselves, in the Spectator (2005, backdrop of 7/7 bombings):
The Islamicists last week horribly and irrefutably asserted the supreme importance of that faith, overriding all worldly considerations... the problem is Islam. Islam is the problem.‘
To any non-Muslim reader of the Koran, Islamophobia - fear of Islam - seems a natural reaction...‘
Judged purely on its scripture — to say nothing of what is preached in the mosques — it is the most viciously sectarian of all religions‘
The trouble with this disgusting arrogance and condescension is that it is widely supported in Koranic texts, and we look in vain for the enlightened Islamic teachers and preachers who will begin the process of reform. What is going on in these mosques and madrasas? When is someone going to get 18th century on Islam’s mediaeval ass?’
http://archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.com/2008/04/boris-accused-of-smear-on-islam.html
Now if Boris supporters (or even the man himself) are reading this, they might say, it was three years ago that he said this, and he was probably very angry etc. Well, here's a bombshell for you guys, I was very angry. Moreso than perhaps the rest of the people in London, because these four young men - British citizens of Pakistani descent - had acted in my name. And as a British Muslim of Pakistani descent, I felt disgusted at their actions, because they had villified both Islam and Pakistan as well as the UK. Some of the reaction that appeared in the US (as well as the UK) media was absolutely horrendous.
However, bearing in mind the multicultural diverse city of London, a mayor should be the one bringing the communities together, not dividing them further apart. If Boris Johnson is serious about tackling extremism in mosques and in the Muslim community as a whole, he is clearly going the wrong way about it. Alienating even the moderates is a bad, bad idea.
I am hoping that I am wrong, and Boris is not an Islamophobe, in the sense that he does not think that Islam is the problem. Especially because he's now the mayor of my city. The jury is out on Boris Johnson but I'm not holding my breath.
Wednesday 30 April 2008
So, blogging
Its rather ironic, I think, that in an age where everyone's up in arms about civil liberties and governments (and others) selling off our information to unscrupulous individuals and companies, that blogging should be in fashion, where you are basically opening up your life to the whole world. And as a civil libertarian (if not an economic one!) I should perhaps be even less inclined to do so.
However, I've relented, and have become a blogger. So first a little about me. I'm Zafar, a 21 year old third year student (believe me its a rarity here!) in Politics and History at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (or SOAS as its more commonly known). I've also got a conditional place for a masters in South Asian Studies next year, if I'm a good boy and get a 2:i for my degree, which is fairly challenging since I didn't have great results last year, but hey, nothing's impossible.
This time next week, I'll be sitting my first of my last three undergraduate exams, for which I should be revising perhaps a teeny bit more, so that I do get that masters place.
Ciao for now. :-)
However, I've relented, and have become a blogger. So first a little about me. I'm Zafar, a 21 year old third year student (believe me its a rarity here!) in Politics and History at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (or SOAS as its more commonly known). I've also got a conditional place for a masters in South Asian Studies next year, if I'm a good boy and get a 2:i for my degree, which is fairly challenging since I didn't have great results last year, but hey, nothing's impossible.
This time next week, I'll be sitting my first of my last three undergraduate exams, for which I should be revising perhaps a teeny bit more, so that I do get that masters place.
Ciao for now. :-)
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