Transit Media 1 (Symposium Leaflet)

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneur; everywhere these days, this word is used as a sort of reference point to describe a person who has gained success at a very young age. To be described as an entrepreneur is an accomplishment in its self; be it a function, seminar, or a conference. Being classified as an entrepreneur sets one apart from the riff raff of the society. It is like being member of a select club where membership is the ultimate goal of one’s life. A few years back, self made was the norm but nowadays like the west most of us would want to known as an entrepreneur.

“Entrepreneurship is the act of being an entrepreneur, which is a French word meaning "one who undertakes an endeavor". Entrepreneurs assemble resources including innovations, finance and business acumen in an effort to transform innovations into economic goods. This may result in new organizations or may be part of revitalizing mature organizations in response to a perceived opportunity. The most obvious form of entrepreneurship is that of starting new businesses; however, in recent years, the term has been extended to include social and political forms of entrepreneurial activity. Intra-preneurship an internal organizational entrepreneurship includes corporate venturing, when large entities spin-off organizations.

Thus we can easily gather from this definition that an entrepreneur is a person who endeavors to go beyond borders, is willing to take risks; financially and otherwise and knows to strike while the iron is hot. This new genre of innovative individuals is slowly and steadily taking the world by storm because globally the recession has made people sit up and find out new avenues of income generation which is why we see all around us new ideas taking concrete shape and becoming successful. The acceptability by the younger lot to take risks in their stride is an important factor to consider because instead of taking the slow, steady and safe path adopted by their predecessors, this new generation of open-minded innovators is willing to go where no one has gone before, even at the cost of suffering emotionally, physically or financially for a few years. Until a few decades ago, all around the world parents used to set a safe future path, for their kids by choosing a profession which would guarantee a steady income and retirement benefits. Even in Pakistan the trend prevalent was to either consider the medical profession or the engineering side for their children. Suddenly this trend changed and MBAs become the profession and nowadays the independence of media and its lucrativeness has made Masters in Mass Communication the norm of the day.

This shift in preferences and slight rebellion from set age-old rules has made the younger generation explore new and exciting paths of income generation which provide them with job satisfaction and stability all rolled in one. The West because of its early industrial revolution has seen thousands of entrepreneurs come and go; leaving behind a legacy of successful endeavors to be emulated.

Pakistan, being a developing third world country, slowly making a mark on the world economic map has to go a long way but in the recent few years one can see a cadre of young, energetic an optimistic entrepreneurs willing to go against the wishes of their elders and become successful against all odds.

The one thing going in the favor of this new lot of professionals is the new banking system. These banks have started to dole out large amounts of loans just like the west, to give them a stable start.

So anyone who has something of value that can be classified as collateral can easily secure a loan and set up shop. All around us we see success stories of individuals seemingly just like us but bold enough to venture into unknown territory, willing to suffer along the way but bent on achieving their dream.

Pakistani youth after the revolution in communication technology and becoming part of the global village were introduced to a new world where every dream could become a reality. Regular doses of programs like The Apprentice, interviews of people like Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Warren Buffet and so on and so forth rags to riches stories, awakened a desire in the local population to join the elite club of successful individuals.

Pakistani young professionals are the new force that can inject energy into an ailing economy if proper measures are adopted to help these risk- takers in their undertakings. As a nation we have to change our mind-set and be ready to accept that to bring about radical changes in our current dependent economic scenario suffering personally is a small price to pay for the long term benefit of the whole nation. Entrepreneurship also helps to bring diversity in an otherwise stagnant pool of preset professions and creates new job markets which can accommodate newly graduated individuals on the lookout for jobs. This new lot of entrepreneurs is willing and open minded towards accepting new ideas thus very different from the approach adopted by their predecessors in making their subordinates feel as if they are part of any new venture being undertaken resulting in guaranteed success of the project because everyone involved gives their absolute best.

Now is the time to sit and take notice of the fact that this is indeed the way for the future because if we as a nation want to develop economically, tapping hidden and unexplored resources through entrepreneurship should be the mantra for the new millennium. Hats off to all the young individuals who in their own capacities have tried to set a precedent for newcomers and become successful in their own right by toiling night and day to turn their dream into a reality. These Pakistani entrepreneurs have made the world sit up and take notice of their achievements because staking their claim in international markets has been the most innovative and enterprising step undertaken. These international markets provide them with a showcase to project their personal as well as national interests, which in turn is income generation for them.

There are some segments of the society who oppose anything which tends to clash with their preset norms and notions but in my opinion entrepreneurs are here to stay with all their pros and cons, ups and downs. These young individuals deserve to be credited for at least trying to push the boundaries of opportunities by creating new ones. Because after all “Entrepreneurs are risk takers, willing to roll the dice with their money or reputation on the line, in support of an idea. They willingly assume the responsibility of the success and failure of their venture”. (Peter Drucker-Founder of Modern

Management)

(Publication Date: April 2010

Publication Name: RCCI Business Vision)

Pran Nath Neville

Sitting across Pran Nath Neville, in my parent’s drawing room, made me realize that he seemed so much at home; considering that our two countries are daggers drawn at the political front. But his seeming at home can also stem from the fact that he was and is a blue blooded Lahori to the core: Lahore being his birthplace and where he studied during his formative years. His ease of manner soon had us all engaged and we had a lively evening together: he reminiscing about his childhood memories and we asking questions about whatever came into our heads at that time.

Now I know you all must be wondering what Pran sahib was doing in our house? It so happens that he was my maternal grandfather's (Saeed Ahmad Khan) best friend in college (Government College, Lahore) and their friendship transcended the boundaries erected by partition. Pran Sahib, told us that he had always wanted to write a book about his memories of Lahore and whenever he visited Pakistan, he always bypassed Lahore and instead went to Karachi so that his memories of the city he remembered remained untainted for the time he could write a book on it. In the late 1980s he heard from somewhere that his friend my grandfather had died so this spurred him to write Lahore, A Sentimental Journey, which he dedicated to his late friend (nana). But as luck would have it was not my grandfather who had died but his younger brother. After the book got published Pran Sahab visited Lahore and asked an old friend that he wanted to meet Saeeds family; still thinking that his friend was no more. The mutual friend located nana and informed him that his old friend was coming to meet him in a few minutes. Pran Sahab couldn't contain his excitement and the friendship eventually culminated in an epic reunion. He presented nana with a copy of his book but not before tearing the dedication page. This episode has been immortalized in the recent edition of this book, published by Oxford University Press.

Pran Neville was born in Lahore and took his post graduate degree from Government College. He had a distinguished career in the Indian Foreign Service and the United Nations. During his tenure he was posted in Japan, Poland and Yugoslavia, former USSR and USA. He was also Director of the State Trading Corporation; and in-charge of 7 countries in East Europe. His last posting was Consul General of India in Chicago. He also did a six year tenure as Program Coordinator with UNCTAD in Geneva looking after East Europe. His Specialization has been in trade with Commonwealth Countries that include East Europe and former USSR. After retirement, he turned a freelance writer and specializes in the study of Indian art and culture.

His particular fascination with the performing arts inspired him to spend nearly seven years researching in the libraries and museums of England and the U.S.A. to enable him produce the sumptuously illustrated 'Nautch Girls of India' in 1996. Highly acclaimed by the media it was considered to be a pioneering work on the subject of dance and music as well as their practitioners through the centuries. Neville has written extensively for Indian newspapers and journals. He is the author of other well known books such as 'Lahore - A Sentimental Journey', 'Love Stories from the Raj', 'Rare Glimpses of the Raj', 'Beyond the Veil - Indian Women in the Raj', 'Stories from the Raj - Sahibs, Memsahibs and others', K.L. Saigal - Immortal singer and superstar and lastly 'Marvels of Indian Painting - Rise and Demise of Company School'.

He has been invited by several institutions in India and also universities in England and U.S.A. to speak on themes related to Indian art and culture. He has also acted as a consultant for two BBC documentaries on the Raj viz. 'Ruling Passions' and 'The Land of Kama sutra'. Pran Nevile is the

founder and convener of the 'KL Saigal Memorial Circle, which is dedicated to remembering Singers of yesteryears.

We had heard a lot about him from our grandfather and were in awe of his personality always secretly cherishing a desire to meet him one day. I remember our Lahori cousins bragging that they had met him in person before us. So it was a dream come true when suddenly out of the blue my younger sister got an email from his great-granddaughter-in-law that he was in Pakistan and he wanted to meet us. He had been invited by the Pakistan Academy of letters, to read a few papers in the Sufi conference held in Islamabad a few weeks ago. We were so excited and started preparing a feast for him: haleem, egg sandwiches, chicken bread forgetting his religious belief but thank god the dahi baras and samosas saved the day. But being the perfect gentleman he did not offend our sensibilities even once.

Being a learned person that he is it was so easy talking to him because he has that natural flair to put the other person at ease with his charm and affability. He talked about his childhood, his friendship with nana and how he missed his birthplace with so much feeling that it was hard to imagine that he was a visitor from across the border. It was a pleasure talking to him and it felt as if time had grown wings that day. He had missed his luncheon appointment to meet up with us but he could not miss his dinner engagement because it was with an old friend.

His personality exuded so much warmth and he was so happy to meet all of us because we were the offspring of his late friend that we felt overwhelmed by this once in a lifetime encounter. Promising to keep in touch by writing letters (because he likes the idea of snail mail rather than email) he left us with memories of a memorable evening spent together.

(Publication Date: September 2010

Publication Name: Life with World Call)

Saeed and Pran

A friend ship that was forged on the first day of college and lasted a lifetime, braving the trials and tribulations thrown its way by partition but stood the test of time are only words that describe the bond between Pran Nevile and Saeed Ahmed Khan. Pran Nevile the great Indian writer and S.A. Khan my late maternal grandfather met and became friends in Government College Lahore in 1937 and remained so until my nana died in Nov 2000. When they met in 1997 nearly fifty years after their last meeting it felt as if they had never been apart. Pran uncle mentions the details of his meeting in the revised edition of his book Lahore, A Sentimental Journey, published by Oxford Books accompanied by photos of his reunion. For those who will not be able to read the book here goes: Pran uncle had always wanted to write a book about his memories of Lahore and whenever he visited Pakistan, he always bypassed Lahore, instead went to Karachi so that his memories of the city he remembered remained untainted for the time he could write a book on it. In the late 1980s he heard from somewhere that his friend, my grandfather had died so this spurred him to write Lahore, A Sentimental Journey, which he dedicated to his late friend (nana). But as luck would have it was not my grandfather who had died but his younger brother. After the book got published Pran uncle visited Lahore and asked an old friend that he wanted to meet Saeeds family; still thinking that his friend was no more. The mutual friend located nana and informed him that his old friend was coming to meet him in a few minutes. Pran uncle couldn’t contain his excitement; the friendship eventually culminating in an epic reunion. He presented nana with a copy of his book but not before tearing the dedication page. This episode has been immortalized in the recent edition of this book, published by Oxford University Press.We had heard a lot about Pran uncle from nana when he used to come and stay with us in

Rawalpindi but never had the honor of meeting him. He was a respected writer and we just derived pleasure from the fact that he was nanas best friend.

On Saturday 14th of March my younger sister suddenly announced that Pran uncle is in Islamabad for the Sufi Conference arranged by Pakistan Academy of Letters and we are going to meet him at his hotel. Unfortunately I had university so I asked my sisters to invite him for dinner at our place. They met and invited him and he very kindly agreed to come over the next day by missing the afternoon session of the conference. It was a very happy evening that we enjoyed in his company because of his affable and charming personality. He exuded such warmth and love feeling overjoyed to be in the company of his late friends offspring talking of his past with fervor. Hearing him air his views on just about every topic under the sun made the evening a very entertaining one and how time flew.

Overjoyed that we were at his coming over we made a foolish faux pax that day: forgetting his religious belief we made haleem, egg sandwiches, chicken bread but thank god the dahi baras and samosas saved the day. But he being the perfect gentleman did not make this mistake obvious. The evening ended on a high note and we promised to keep in touch by the age old method of letters because he does not like the idea of email. He told us how he and nana exchanged letters until his death; letters he has saved till today. Remembering his friend he recalled how nana had planned a trip to Delhi with another friend but sadly death did not give him a chance.

One remark he made about Pakistani women being more liberated than their Indian counterparts quoting Asma Jahangir and Madeeha Gauhar (whom he holds in high regard) was very encouraging. Sitting across him I kept thinking that if the common people of these two countries can sit and converse with each other without drawing swords how come issues at the government level remain unresolved. The great divide created a wide chasm between families, friends and relatives which people try to cross whenever the borders and communication lines are opened. I have met many people in Pakistan who yearn to see the land of their birth which they had to leave because of partition and it is now part of India; just like Pran Neville who yearned for Lahore.

Reaching an agreement acceptable to both sides can take decades but at least the people on both sides of the LOC make efforts to keep the lines of communication open. Even after the death of his friend Pran uncle has tried to keep in touch with us and his birthplace; not categorizing us as Pakistanis (fingers crossed the enemies) but part of Saeed, his friend.

The question that arises now in spite of cross-border relationships between friends and families, is it a bridgeable divide--- when we are locked in battle on so many fronts?

(Publication Date: 16TH June 2010

Publication Name: The News)

http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=245237&Cat=14&dt=6/16/2010

Book Review "All The President's Men"

All the Presidents Men, set against the backdrop of the Watergate scandal, is a political cum investigative expose. Relentlessly pursued by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the Watergate scandal resulted in the resignation of a sitting American president Richard Milhous Nixon and amendments in the Freedom of Information Act. It brought the corrupt practices adopted by the Nixon administration for reelection into the public eye and set a precedent of true journalist ethics for years to come. The book is a must read for working and aspiring journalists alike because it teaches the foundations of the journalism profession in face of the good, the bad and the ugly.

At 2:30a.m on 17th June, 1972 five burglars are arrested inside the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee inside the Watergate Complex. The five men are Frank Sturgis, Virgilio Gonzalez, Bernard Barker, James W. McCord, Jr and Eugenio Martinez. At their preliminary hearing Bob overhears one of the defendants state his profession as CIA operative; already perplexed by the fact that the defendants have retained their own counsel, he embarks on an investigation with the help of Carl Bernstein to uncover the clandestine activities of CRP (Committee to Reelect the President) involving top White House aides H.R.Haldeman, John D. Erhlichman, the ex Attorney General John Mitchell, top CRP officials Maurice Stans, Jeb Magruder, Herbert Kalmbach, former FBI agent E. Howard Hunt and former CIA operative G.Gordon Liddy. These officials are the ones who controlled the secret hush fund to sabotage the Democratic campaign.

Uncovering these activities in the national press brings the whole saga to the attention of the senate and two official investigations are initiated. Alexander Butterfield brings to the notice of the senate investigation the presence of a secret White House taping system which is subpoenaed by Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox, which is refused by Nixon citing presidential privilege. In retaliation Nixon orders AG Elliot Richardson to fire Cox; he refuses and resigns. The responsibility now falls on Deputy AG William Ruckelshaus; who refuses and is fired, next in line Solicitor General Robert Bork wants to resign but is persuaded by Richardson and Ruckelshaus to stay and he fires Cox. This chain of events is known as the Saturday Night Massacre.

Despite all the efforts of the Nixon administration to mislead the public and official investigations, Bob and Carl’s efforts to uncover even the tiniest bit of information keeps the whole investigation on the right path. They are helped along by sources, the most famous being Deep Throat. Before publishing any story or lead they confirm it from 3-4 sources and also from the person about whom the story is. They were blessed to have understanding editors and publisher behind their backs who supported them throughout their investigation.

All along the arduous two year journey they faced a lot of criticism but believed that there is more to the whole scheme of things not what the White House initially dubbed as “a third rate burglary”.

(Publication date: August 2010

Publication Name: Life with World Call)

Every Woman Counts

A Tribute to Women on International Women's Day

Napoleon Bonaparte, once said “You give me good mothers, I will give you a good nation”. Mothers the important part of a society ……the nurturers and the caregivers. But is it so in our country?...rather the truth of the matter is that this species can now be classified as endangered; facing risk of extinction, at the hands of the medical practitioners, their families and all those who somehow play a role in the nine month period of their lives or on actual D-Day itself.

Pakistan, a third world developing mostly illiterate country, faces a tough situation in the medical sector where the rural and urban population is affected more or less in the same way. It does not matter if one can afford medical care or not, women are not properly taken care of before or after giving birth. Carrying a life-form for nine months, wreaks havoc on a woman’s physical, mental and emotional state, but the dearth of information available for the relatives and caretaker, likens a woman to an animal, that can be impregnated repeatedly without concern for her stability or safety. Repeated pregnancies, after-birth bleeding, and infections after C-sections are some of the common dangers a woman faces nowadays. Hospitals not properly equipped, doctors overburdened, nurses harassed, families ill-informed and women themselves too weak to have any say; results in a catastrophic situation where a woman has to bear the brunt of everybody else’s shortcomings.

The situation now calls for extreme action where the government alone cannot do anything. The public and private sector have to work hand in hand to take serious measures to protect women. The government can establish separate Natal Care Clinics countrywide, where women should be taken care of before, during and after pregnancy. Proper record maintenance, record shifting from city to city, proper tests, organization of classes to familiarize the woman and her family members of her delicate situation: are some of the basic functions these clinics can perform. Another step is proper legislation, to keep all medical practitioners under check e.g. when gynecologists’ opt for C-section, just to earn an extra buck. The general public can help the government initiative by being a bit more receptive to new information and developing a caring attitude towards women. The private sector i.e. the NGOs can help the government in this regard by applying their world class expertise, in establishment of these clinics as they are better equipped to handle this situation because they have a proper system of checks and balances which 98% of the time guarantees success, plus they are more aware of the ground realities because of the way they carry out detailed situation analysis in the rural areas. They can succeed where the government has failed because they more or less get the job done.

As Rudyard Kipling aptly defines a woman’s worth “God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.” We as Muslims are duty-bound to respect women and their needs regardless of caste creed or financial stability.