#Pashtun Punjabis in the west

[livelaughlovechai]

Things to keep in mind while writing a south asian character-

(Since I'm a mixed south-north indian and a hindu-sikh I've mainly included details about indian-hindu characters(ill try to include more abt sikh characters aswell)tho ive tried to include as much info as I can abt other south asian countries aswell !also ,if you want,feel free to add more details in :)

And please forgive my grammar in some of these places XD

1.The most common one,of course being that south asia is not all india.countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri lanka,Bhutan etc exist to.

2.Religion tends to be a big part of many south asian people’s lives , and If not a big part of their life,than most south asians are atleast religious in one way or the other.Different religions are in majority in different regions of south asia.For example,Sri lanka is majority buddhist, mainly in the sinhalese majority while the tamil minority there is majority hindu. But it's more than valid if ur character is atheist to tho!

3.For indian characters specifically ,it's is important to know what state they are from and that state’s culture . For example,most (or almost all)tamil characters won't wear a salwar kameez.(if they do then mostly muslim tamils)(reminder;I'm talking about traditional wear. Yes a lot of Tamil's could wear a salwar kameez if they want but it is not the traditional dress of tamil nadu)

4.India itself is very diverse,so don't make every character hindu.in some regions one religion is more in the majority than the others.If you decide to make a christian-indian character ,than they usually are from south-west india and north-east india.

5.If you decide to make a hindu-indian character as maybe a marvel/dc oc or something , its best to do some research on hindu stories and history.trust me,it helps alot. If not a hindu character than do research on the folk tales of that characters region,as that can help to.

6.NOT EVERY INDIAN SPEAKS HINDI.INDIAN/HINDU ARE NOT LANGUAGES.istg please . All it takes is one search of your characters state and the states description almost always mentions the state’s official language.while some character from non Hindi speaking areas of the country, for example a malyalee person could know how to speak hindi (most probably by living somewhere like delhi),they would still talk in malayalam with family and stuff . Also a pakistani character and Hindi speaking indian can almost always communicate easily since since the most spoken language in Pakistan,Urdu is very similar to Hindi in sound(also a lot of indians,specifically muslim indian’s have urdu as their first language.)Also punjabi Pakistani's and Indian's don't have any problem in communication(the script they write punjabi in is different tho)Also since a lot of people from the north had their ancestors migrate from pakistan to india during partition regional languages of Pakistan such as sindhi,multani,balochi etc can be understood by some people of such descent living in India.And a bengali speaking indian and a Bangladeshi can communicate just as well.Nepali speaking indians and Nepali people can also communicate with each other.But when it comes to Sri Lankan tamil people their dialect is different than the one of indian tamilians,so their tamil is better understood by malyalees,but they can still communicate well enough with each other.afghan people speak pashto and dari.pashto is also understood by a small amount of ethnic pashtuns who live throughout the sub continent.People from the Maldives speak the language of dhivehi.

7.Indians overall have many festivals that all people of usually a certain community celebrate regardless of religion,caste,etc.For example ,the people in kerela celebrate onam.Infact in alot of the state’s people from a specific region have their on festivities.

8.Physical features vary from area to area of South Asia.So there is no definite“south asian“look.

9.Sikh’s don’t cut their hair , that’s why most Sikh women have long hair and most Sikh men wear turbans. Although some do, like my uncle from my mom’s side and my mom herself and etc. Though socially it's more acceptable for a sikh woman to cut her hair then a sikh man. But a load of times sikh immigrants do have to sadly cut their hair and take off their turbans in order to get jobs and all.

10.-And Hindu’s don’t eat beef.Most Sikh’s and overall all Indians tend to avoid beef to.a lot of Hindus are vegetarians due to religious beliefs. Tho mallus and some people from the north east for example usualy do eat beef(mainly the non hindus)

11.-For characters specially from south india(that to mainly kerala and tamil Nadu) the naming tradition that is used most commonly is that the child and wife use the father’s name as their last name. Though I've noticed that outside of their states atleast they tend to use their family names, but very rarely caste names.

12.- Believe it or not, in a show( I'm not sure about the name) a pakistani character had the name“shiv reddy“.pissed me of sm.yes pakistani hindus exist but if I havent already mentioned before,CERTAIN LAST NAMES BELONG TO CERTAIN AREAS. Reddy is an indian telugu hindu last name.please do your research.

13.-This applies to a good amount of north indians and just overall non south indians.south india is not one state.madras was the OLD name for Chennai, which is just one CITY in one state of south india.There are 5 states,6(and more) languages spoken. Please do not confuse those cultures.

14.-As for a good amount of non punjabis...please.punjabis are not all “balle-balle“ sikh people.please. And they're not all angry people looking for a fight either.

15.-Talking abt north india,I need to mention bollywood and how they stereotype.bombay aka the film city is in Maharashtra.yet they still stereotype Maharashtrians as poor people.gujjus are always the rich snobbish ppl.bengali ppl are sweet shy people and nepali people are Chinese. Goans are always english speaking drunkards or high attitude aunties.rajasthanis all have a heavy accent and are royalty and Uttar pradeshis-biharis are poor illiterate people. PLEASE STOP WITH THIS STEREOTYPICAL BULLSHIT ISTG. See,stereotypes exist because they are true, but only a part of the truth and over exaggerated asf.

16.-India does have a poverty issue but we are far from a third world country.most indians are middle class,that to is split in between lower middle class,middle middle class and upper middle class.and until or unless you live in a rural area casteism really isn't a problem.but remember,while casteism is illegal in indian law,it still affects people.it’s just a little less prevelant in big cities. While india is the farthest ahead in south asia atleast the rest of the countries are doing well for themselves as well.

17.-hindu culture specifically has so much lgbtqia+ stuff in it.but the fucking brit’s and Mughals ruined it. The only transgender festival of Asia is held in tamil nadu.seriously, I advise you do research of your own on it and you'll love it to!♥️

18.-Btw, hindi is a language,hindu religion. (had to add this again)Your character prolly from some place like madhya pradesh,bihar,Uttar pradesh,Delhi,uttarakhand or himachal pradesh if they are hindi speaking. Some people have the same confusion with malayalam. Malayalam is a language, malyalee’s are the people who speak it or at from kerala.

19.-talking about food.curry is a wide ass term.wdym by curry?fish curry,mutton curry or is it paneer curry?is it more creamy or not?do you eat it by itself,with rice,a paratha/parotta or all?like seriously stop with “curry“ ITS ANNOYINGGG.again food varries alot area by area.even in a specific area food varries. For example,Kerala-Tamil nadu sambar is damn spicy but sambar from karnataka and telugu states tends to be sweeter.also food from Karnataka is much milder in spice then food from Andhra,but still capable of burning the mouths of most non south asians 😍😘🥰.also,we tend to eat most of our food with hands(THE best way.)famous delicacies vary from country to country in south asia and area to area of india btw. And our food is not ’smelly’, it's FRAGRANT.

20.ok so ive in total had 2 specific segments dedicated to language and this is the third one.India,while having only 22 offical languages(again;i remind you,we do not have a national language)actually has like thousands of languages. Native people from even just one state can have different mother tongues(for example-three people who were born and raised in karnataka and have families that are native to the state could have the languages of kannada,tulu and kodava as their mother tongues).And again,dialects also differ.For example,Bombay hindi and the hindi of a person from Uttarakhand would be different, and so would Bangalore tamil and a Madurai native’s tamil.Also,let’s say a telugu person has been living in mumbai for a while,very rarely will they ever have an ’accent’ while speaking hindi or english.

21.so above i mentioned that alot of people from the north have had ancestors move in from pakistan during the partition(and vice versa for some Pakistani's).Similarly,a good amount of people from west bengal had their ancestors move in from bangladesh(and vice versa again,but unlike the north india-pakistan thing indian bong’s and bangladeshi people don’t exactly have that ’divide’).Adding this in specifically not only because of how important this is but it can give more depth to your characters if they are from any of these areas.

22.Every state has different art forms.be it dance,music or just art,every state has it different.India has 8 classical dances(bharatanatyam,kuchipudi, mohiniyattam,kathakali,oddisi,kathak, manipuri and sattriya) and has countless many more.Music also varies and so does art as i said above.

23.our culture is super feminist but fucked by the brits and mughals again. We had so many queens and princesses that fought wars and also many female warriors.In the ancient times women only wore single drape saris and didn’t cover their breasts because they were not seen as sexual,but infact as a sign of motherhood(and there forth strength).If they were covered,it was for support.

24.Most people know atleast 3+ languages and almost everyone knows 2 at the very least. Sometimes they can even understand(which can range from basic to great) some other languages. For eg.- my dad can speak english,hindi,telugu,konkani,tulu,punjabi,urdu and multani+ he can understand malayalam,kannada,sindhi and tamil well enough.

That's it(for now):) hope this can help.feel free to ask questions!+random songs from my playlist✨✨✨

(ps,check this post of mine out cause y not lol)

#indian #desi culture #writing #south asia #desi character #hinduism #desi academia #desi aesthetic #desi tag #Spotify #desi tumblr #desi shit posting #Indian culture #writing advice #character #character writing #all is not well #desi #desiblr #desi shit

[noirblueeyes]

I'm Asian.

I've been thinking about this and pondering over this for a while and I'm now at a place where I'm just gonna own it now. I'm Asian. Granted I'm mixed, dark/brown-skinned black and Asian (blasian) and my Asianness has multiple identities and cultures-- East Asian (Korean, Japanese (w/ Ainu and Okinawan, Chinese, Taiwanese and Mongolian), Southeast Asian (Vietnamese, Indonesian, Filipino, Thai, Laotian, Cambodian and Malaysian), South Asian (Pakistani (Shina and Kashmiri), East and South Indian (w/ Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati), Iranian (w/ Pashtun), Bangladeshi) and West Asian (Armenian, Assyrian, Jordanian, Yemenite, Palestinian and Lebanese). I realize now that I'd been struggling with internalized anti-Asianness in terms of feeling like I didn't have any right to claim my Asianness, then internalized antiblackness and colorism in thinking that my dark skin and monolids meant that I couldn't see myself as an Asian woman because I wasn't light skinned with slender eyes and dainty Asian features and that's what I still have to work through. And I realize that next to my struggles of internalized antiblackness and colorism as well as internalized anti Asianness and colonialist orientalism that was hindering block to embracing my Asianness, I've had a few icky conversations with people in many racial circles that have identity policed me and invalidating my Asianness. I've dealt with this in black community that have outright said that because I was mixed that I wasn't black, or forcing me into a box of the threatened notion of racially and socially caricaturing me of being a self hater that just needed to say I'm black just because I'm dark skinned and not light skinned (concern trolling); and Asians or Asian Americans accusing me of race-baiting because I didn't bring up my Asian and Asian American heritage at a certain amount of time (🤦🏾‍♀️) making me a target of cyberbullying and harassment. And that's left some scars of self doubt and played a part in not just my struggles to embrace my Asianness and Asian American identity, but also with these monolithic notions of blackness and black culture I felt like I had to fit into. Thankfully I've slowly yet surely healed and just as I found confidence in embracing blackness as it pertains to and resonates distinctly with me as well as embracing and loving my dark skin and brown skin, I've developed a newfound confidence in embracing my Asianness/Asian American identity and seeing myself as a dark brown Asian.

I'm Asian just as I'm black and I'm proud of both sides of my heritage.

#Asian American #BlackLivesMatter #black americans #blasian #asian chick #lgbtq

[ask-pakistan]

Hey the guy from GB here I'm really glad u answered my question it was my first time seeing this forum. And yeah I'll be very happy to help to know about GB better. The only thing I can tell u right now is that GB is hella diverse and really influenced by Persian and Tibet culture the people from skardu and baltistan have mostly Asian eyes and language and culture is very similar to the peoples at tibet

-!!!! I look forward to you teaching me more about your culture and province!! :DD ahhhh this is so exciting. You can message me on tumblr directly and i’ll respond ^^

I see :0 I thought Gilgit Baltistan had central asian influence because of Xinjiang etc etc but your explanation makes sense too as the neighboring Tajiks and Wakhis also belong to the Iranic group. I can see why Baltistan is called “Little Tibet” though XD GB is indeed hella diverse because you have the dardics, baltistanis, gilgitis, Hunzais i.e Burushos, then you have the migrants from other areas like the Uyghurs, Tajiks , Wakhis etc etc. From what i know, the Hazaras also have that same mongoloid look, and their origin seems to stem from Karlugh Turks (Though they reside in the Hazara region of KPK, but they also look like mongoloid people.) Interesting interesting. Pakistan truly is a melting pot of so many cultures and people heh.

To be honest, when i first looked at the cultural attire of Baltistan (female), I wanted to make the representative of Baltistan female too, but then again the men’s robes are also equally adorable hahaha But sometimes i get confused because the clothes shown as “Gilgit Baltistani” also come off of as “Hazara” clothing and etc etc. Sometimes Kalash clothing is added into the mix too. Long story short, this all makes my brain short circuit and explode (=___=) As i’m sure yours must’ve done too while reading all of this. I am just so..so confused.

At first glance, you’d think Pakistan is divided along provincial cultural grounds. But if you look a little closer, you’ll realize that the provinces themselves have further cultural differences in themselves too. Look a little closer , you’ll find more divisions with people having origins from god knows where. This makes sense because this region as a whole has seen so many invasions and infighting x’D Making Pakistan’s character has been hell because i’m never too sure if i am portraying this diversity right or not. And, i’ve let my thoughts ponder on for too long-

Thanks for Asking!!

#ask-pakistan #aph pakistan #regions of pakistan #Gilgit Baltistan #Cultures of Pakistan #Answered ask #Thanks for asking!! #I am going to set his tone for medium #i don't want to create two different versions of Pakistan because i don't want to divide him xD #Also it doesn't helps that both Indic and Iranic versions of Pakistan would essentially bleed into one another #Because Punjab for example has many diaspora from other provinces #who have settled here for generations #so we have Kashmiri Punjabis in the north #Pashtun Punjabis in the west #Balochi Punjabis in the South West #Sindhi Punjabis and Saraikis in the South #Sindh i think tries to keep its homogenousness #but they are pretty close with the Balochis #Actually Balochis and Sindhis allow their provinces to bleed into one another #and so the similarities between them ensue too #And then again i want to make Pakistan relatable for myself too #because i think i know what true Pakistaniat is #and what the common Pakistani culture should be #This is why i largely try to keep a hold on my own Punjabi heritage (questionable as this varies too) #because i don't want to over power the other aspects of Pakistan #Which i think a lot of foreign observers too #And that personally irks me because i don't want the main representation of Pakistan be alienating for the people in other regions when #Punjabis are just barely 50% #and these punjabis themselves are very divided as i've told you above #Punjabis aren't a homogenous group

[jalebi-o-shir]

This Is Why The Term “Desi” Is Problematic

The term is Desi is as expansive as it is limiting and here is why. The term Desi can take on different meanings depending where you reside. In the diasporic community it refers to the countries Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. Back in the native homelands, the term Desi according to my understanding takes on a completely new meaning. Desi over there signifies that something is rustic, traditional, real. This can be compared to country culture in the U.S. I believe this is why Desi Ghee is termed Desi Ghee because traditionally the butter is churned. 

Here is why I find the term Desi confusing and even inappropriate. Even though the term Desi in the diasporic community is meant to bring us all together, it also signifies what we are not, the same. Traditionally, South Asians have always identified themselves with their ethnicities and the regions they belong to not internationally recognized borders. i.e. Punjabi belongs to undivided Punjab, Bengali refers to someone who is from The Bengal. The ‘i’ denotes the relationship between the word preceding it. Etymologically speaking the terms Desh in Sanskrit meant land, over time the meaning changed and got to the point where we are now, at least in the diaspora. 

Ethnicities in South Asia do not respect borders and can even “spill over” into other countries. Balochis are both present in Pakistan and Iran, the Pashtuns are present in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, Punjabis are both present in India and Pakistan, Bengalis are present in India and in Bangladesh, Tamils are present in India and Sri Lanka, and lastly Biharis are present in India and in Nepal. Now if you’re wondering about Kashmir, I will discuss that later. 

Now this is where the term Desi starts to get very vague. If being Desi refers to Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, what about the ethnicities that are not in those countries? All of these above mentioned ethnicities that spill over in Afghanistan and Nepal share historical, genetic, linguistic, and cultural ties with the other half that are part of the Desi countries.  Are they suddenly not included even though they’re the same people? Because they happen to be outside of these borders? What about those with dual identities like Indo-Tibetans. For those who do not know, India has a whole government in-exile, namely the Tibetan government. Surely the Tibetan governemnt is IN INDIA and Indo-tibetans are as Indian as anybody else, but Tibet does not belong to the three Desi countries. 

Now what about Indo-Caribbeans, Indo-Africans, and Indo-Fijians? Does the term Desi apply to them as well?  Because ironically Desi took on a new meaning because of the diaspora. They are part of the ‘Indian’ diaspora removed 200 years from their native homelands of mainly Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. We can expand this to the Romani people as well who are present in Eastern Europe. Their lineage is said to trace back to Punjab a thousand years. All of these groups are culturally, linguistically, and genetically still tied to Undivided-India even though they go generations back. How many generations does it take before the term does not apply to someone?  because Indo-Caribbeans, Indo-Fijians, Indo-Africans, and the Romani people are not considered to be Desi by the Desi community themselves even though they are part of the diaspora. 

This is why I believe that the term Desi actually limits itself to Northern-India, and more specifically Punjabis. This is because Punjabis from both India and Pakistan dominate the Diasporic community in both visibility and in representation. When you go to a Pakistani or Indian restaurant in The West, the cuisine is obviously Punjabi. It rarely serves dishes from other regions. When people think of Indian music, they think of Bhangra, a Punjabi folk tradition. When people think about Bollywood, they might think of the colorful clothes, music, dances, or actors, all which is focus on Northern Indian and Pakistani Indic culture in general. The Punjabis dominate the Bollywood industry and thus have left their mark on the Industry and the global audience that have inadvertently started associating “Indian” culture with Punjabi culture as a whole.

On to Kashmir. if the term Desi in the diasporic community refers to people belonging to Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh that were once part of Undivided-India, what about people who have always sought an identity separate from these countries? What about new South-Asian countries? To my understanding Kashmiris in general do not want to affiliate themselves with neither Pakistan nor India because they have always demanded a new country which is still in limbo. The Kashmir situation is rather unique in that it was actually proposed to be a self-governing nation free of Pakistan and India. Would Kashmiris identify themselves as Desi? Does this mean that the term Desi is as fluid as its ethnicities that spill into Non-Desi borders?

And this is why I find the term Desi problematic.

#southasia #indian #pakistani #bangladesh #desi #nepal #nepali #afghan #indianculture #desi tag #brown #indocaribbean #romani #african #history #southasian #bengali #bollywood

[aegon]

Are pakistanis really that fair though? I feel like they purposefully went with someone white-passing as kamala than someone with darker skin who look might look TOO “south asian” if you get me. I think that’s why some people might be annoyed light skin poc already have so much rep

okay so I see where you’re coming from, but I think you’re a little misinformed.

when you say “south asian”, you’re referring to an incredibly varied region with numerous ethnic groups.

pakistan is so, so diverse, it’s actually astounding. you’ll never find anyone that could possibly capture all the regions because they’re all so amazingly different.

quick crash course because it’s about time pakistan had some positive rep in media and a spotlight on its colourful diversity. this is by no means an exhaustive list but some of the major groups that make up pakistan:

the largest ethnic group in pakistan are the punjabis, the eastern most province, seen here:

they fall on the lighter side of brown. iman, our new kamala khan, is pakistani. she is also on the lighter side of brown. they are all south asian. 

in the north, you have the pashtuns and the kalash people: 

it’s not uncommon to have very fair, european features. they are still pakistani and are no less south asian than punjabis.

in the south, you have the sindh and siddi people:

very different to their northern counterparts but no less pakistani.

in the west, you have the baloch and the hazaras:

again, still pakistani. different, but still part of the whole. still part of south asia. this is what south asians look like too.

so you see, pakistanis come in all shades, and it’s wrong to dismiss a teenager for not being the right shade of brown that fits your picture of what a south asian should look like. iman is pakistani and pakistanis seem super stoked about it, so what’s the issue?

#anonymous #answered #long post #kamala khan #tagging for more visibility because people really need to know this before crying wolf #this turned into a very long post whoops #anyway #she isn’t white washed pls and thank u #and she looks like ur average pakistani gal #so like????? what is the problem here #pakistan

[mygreatpakistan]

6 Things to Know About Pakistani Culture

If you have to refer to a country whose culture is not in coherence with its international image, it is none other than Pakistan. Regardless of wherever they go, Pakistani’s have to struggle with explaining their culture to the rest of the world. Thanks to social media and the several modern news platforms, the world has finally started to read the positives of this nation. Although this country has struggled with democratic and economic issues, it has still managed to intrigue the audience with its beauty and culture. If you have been looking for some valuable information about the culture of this firm, you’ve come to the right spot. Here, in this feature, we will enlighten you about the rich culture of this country:

1. The Culture is Diverse

Long story cut short, the Pakistani culture is rich in diversity. This is due to the historical, ethnic and geographical differences. Not to forget, because Pakistan frequently engages with the rest of the world, it borrows inspiration from India, Persia, South Asia, Central Asia, China and the West. To add to your information, this country has over 15 different ethnic groups. All of them are different with regards to the dress, music, food, custom and the historic bloodlines. Secondly, the classification of people is very interesting. Some examples are of the Kashmiris, Punjabis, Sindhis, Pashtuns, Baloch, Makranis, Hazaras and Baltis. Each of these people are acknowledged because of the tribe, they come from.

2. People Are Friendly

Although the gender segregation is omnipresent, the people are friendly and welcoming. Because of the differences in education and culture in several parts, there is huge social inequality throughout the country. Luckily, with the advent of modern education, the concept of social equality has finally started to gain momentum. Today, several companies in Pakistan provide equal work opportunities to both men and women. The interactions between men and women are less intimate in public. Especially if you think of engaging with your partner romantically, it wouldn’t be wise enough to do it in public. Regardless of these minor issues, the people are friendly, warm and welcoming. In fact, they get excited to see visitors and love to engage with them.

3. This Country is Home to Several Languages

The current number of languages spoken in Pakistan lies between 73 and 76. As you travel between the different cities, you will come across intriguing languages. Secondly, as you interact with the different people, you will witness a unique touch in their accent. You might find it challenging to engage with new people but you must talk to them because they’re always interesting. If you want to magnify the experience of sifting through this beautiful country, we suggest you to learn some basic Urdu. However, English too, is a popular language in this country. With the literacy rate being close to 59%, Pakistan is the 9th largest English speaking nation in the world.

4. Food is Amazing

If you visit Pakistan and don’t munch on the local food, you won’t be able to make the most out of your experience. In simple words, Pakistani cuisines are amazing. Beginning from the local street food to the most top notch restaurants, this country has it all. To enjoy the cultural food, we suggest you to visit Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Multan. Once you sift through any of these cities, you will be rest assured about going through a typical Pakistani experience. Secondly, when you’ll visit the food street and other iconic places, you will be provided with a plethora of delicacies such as mithai, doodh jalebi, halwa poori, lassi, naan Haleem and a lot more.

5. Pakistanis Love Music

Luckily, in the last few years, Pakistani’s have slanted towards music exponentially. Now, if you go anywhere in this country, you will come across people swooning over music. Today, Pakistan’s entertainment industry is in its best form because the music factor has got uplifted. Especially since the inception of the iconic Coke Studio, the music industry has attracted the attention of millions of people across the globe. Not to forget, the nation has given some of the most iconic music stars to the world such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Atif Aslam, Abida Parveen, Madam Noor Jehan and many more. So if you’re a big fan of the folk music, you must acknowledge the importance of this art in Pakistan.

6. Pakistani Culture is Family Oriented

Regardless of what you’ve read or heard earlier, the Pakistani culture is family oriented. This means, regardless of wherever you go, you will eventually come across a closely knitted circle of all the people living there. In Pakistan it is common for the grownups to live with their parents and children. Although the privacy factor often gets compromised, still there is a huge reliance on living in a joint family system. For instance, if you visit a typical Pakistani family, you will be intrigued to come across several people living in the same house. Sometimes, the number of people living in a double story house often crosses 15. Secondly, if you plan to visit Pakistan and have friends there, you won’t have to stay in a hotel. Because the people are warm and welcoming, they will encourage you to stay with them.

#pakistani food #mygreatpakistan #pakistan #tourpakistan

[timespakistan]

NA-249 by-poll sees low voter turnout despite hectic electioneering Nominees representing major political parties of Pakistan had been involved in hectic electioneering in the run-up to Thursday’s by-poll for NA-249, one of Karachi’s most ethnically diverse constituencies. Voter turnout on the big day, however, was unexpectedly and disappointingly quite low. Thirty candidates vied for the crucial National Assembly seat, but the major contest was between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P). The voting process began at 8am and continued until 5pm without any break at the 276 polling stations comprising 796 polling booths established in the constituency. The NA seat had fallen vacant after the PTI’s Faisal Vawda had resigned following the casting of his vote in the Senate elections in March. The 2018 general elections had seen a close contest in NA-249, with Vawda securing 35,344 votes to defeat the PML-N’s candidate and former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif, who had polled 34,626 votes. The TLP’s Mufti Abid Mubarak and the MQM-P’s Aslam Shah had ranked third and fourth after bagging 23,981 and 13,534 votes respectively. The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal’s Syed Ataullah Shah had ranked fifth by securing 10,307 votes, while the PPP’s Qadir Mandokhel had polled a mere 7,236 votes to rank sixth in the competition. In the by-election, a major contest was witnessed between the PML-N, the PPP and the TLP. The PML-N had fielded Miftah Ismail, former finance minister and the party’s provincial general secretary, and managed to secure the support of the Awami National Party, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan. The TLP, which was banned by the Ministry of Interior for carrying out violent protests across the country this month, had fielded Mufti Nazeer Kamalvi. The PTI had fielded its district president Amjad Afridi. The PPP had again fielded Mandokhel, and succeeded in gaining the support of the Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen. Mustafa Kamal, former city mayor and the PSP chief, was also in the electoral fray, while the MQM-P had fielded Mursaleen Ahmed for the by-poll. Low turnout Despite strict security measures in place, the voter turnout was reported to be low. Political parties and analysts have linked the low turnout to Ramazan, the scorching heat and the rise in Covid-19 cases. According to Geo News, one of the areas saw a mere 10 per cent voter turnout, while it was reported to be between 10 and 12 per cent at some polling stations. To ensure a large voter turnout, the Sindh government had declared a public holiday for the NA-249 constituents. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had deployed special staff for the strict implementation of the coronavirus guidelines during the polling process. Expulsions During the voting process, the ECP issued expulsion orders directing the PTI’s parliamentarians to leave the constituency for violating the code of conduct by being present there during polling hours, and instructed the police to expel them. The parliamentarians, mostly provincial assembly members, included former PA opposition leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi, parliamentary party leader in PA Bilal Ghaffar, Raja Azhar, Saeed Afridi, Shah Nawaz Jadoon and Malik Shahzad Awan. No extension The provincial election commission turned down the request of the PML-N and the party’s candidate Ismail to extend the polling hours, Geo News quoted sources as saying. They said the electoral body was unable to find a solid reason to extend the voting process beyond 5pm. In a letter addressed to the provincial election commission, Ismail requested facilitating the voters fasting in the hot weather by extending the polling hours. He said the overall working efficiency of all the presiding officers and their teams had been “very slow” and affecting the voting process. “Concurrently, majority of the voters also arrived at the polling stations late in the afternoon due to their fasts and the hot weather conditions,” he said. Demography NA-249 has a population of 782,776, of which only 339,591 (over 43 per cent) are registered to vote. There are 201,656 (over 59 per cent) male voters in the area, while the number of female voters is 137,935. Ittehad Town, Saeedabad, Mominabad, Swat Colony, Afridi Colony, Qaimkhani Colony, Delhi Colony, Mujahid Colony, Rasheedabad, Turk Colony, Junagarh Muhallah, Kokan Colony and other areas of Baldia Town are included in the constituency, which is divided ethnically between Punjabis, Pashtuns, Hazarewal and an Urdu-speaking population. It also has a fairly strong religious vote bank. Two arrested No major untoward incident occurred during the polling process, as strict security arrangements had been made by the law enforcement agencies for the NA-249 by-election. Rangers soldiers and police officials were deployed to deal with any situation, with 1,685 police officials tasked with security duties in the West and Keamari districts. One hundred commandos from the Special Security Unit and 100 of the Rapid Response Force were also deployed at different spots. A suspect was arrested for trying to give cash hidden in a file to the presiding officer. At least one other suspect was taken into custody. Their political affiliations are yet to be disclosed. There was some tension at two polling stations, where workers of two political parties came face to face and shouted slogans at each other. However, Rangers and police officials brought the situation under control. A video circulating on social media showed some plain-clothes men in Baldia Town carrying weapons during the polling process despite the election commission’s ban on the display of arms. South Zone DIG Javed Akbar Riaz and Keamari SSP Fida Hussain Janwari also visited different polling stations to review the security arrangements. They met the police officials on duty and ordered them to ensure law and order. https://timespakistan.com/na-249-by-poll-sees-low-voter-turnout-despite-hectic-electioneering/17561/

[trekkinginpakistan]

New Post has been published on Trekking in Pakistan

New Post has been published on https://trek.pk/muzaffargarh/

Muzaffargarh

Muzaffargarh (Punjabi: مُظفّرگڑھ, lit. ‘Fort of Muzaffar’) is a city in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. Located on the bank of the Chenab River, it is the capital of the district with the same name. It is the 39th largest city of Pakistan by population.

History

The Muzaffargarh region was an agricultural and forested area during the rule of the Indus Valley Civilization. Then came the Vedic period, which was characterized by the introduction of Indo-Aryan culture from Central Asia into the Punjab province. Over time, several other civilizations came to power in the ancient town and surrounding district: the Kambojas, the Daradas, the Kekayas, the Madras, the Pauravas, the Yaudheyas, the Malavas and the Kurus. After the fall of the Achaemenid Empire in 331 BCE, Alexander the Great marched into the present-day Punjab province with an army of 50,000 men. The Muzaffargarh region was, during different time periods, also ruled by the Maurya Empire, the Indo-Greek kingdom, the Kushan Empire, the Gupta Empire, the White Huns, the Kushano-Hephthalites, and the Shahi kingdom.

In 997 CE, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi took over the Ghaznavid Empire, and, in 1005, conquered the Shahis in Kabul, which granted him power over the Punjab region. The Delhi Sultanate and later the Mughal Empire also ruled the region. The location of the present-day town became predominantly Muslim during this time because of the arrival of missionary Sufis whose dargahs still persist in the area.

After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Sikhs conquered the Muzaffargarh District. Later, in 1848, the British Raj assumed control of the area.

In 1794, the town of Muzaffargarh was founded by a Sarbani Pashtun of the Kheshgi Afghans, Nawab Muzaffar Khan, who was also the Governor of Multan at the time. The meaning of the word is “Fort of Muzaffar” because the “historic district” lies within the walls of a fort built by the governor. In 1864, it became the capital of the Muzaffargarh District.

The place was also referred to as Kala Pani (Black Water), as it is located between two rivers: the Indus and the Chenab. It was linked to the surrounding lands by bridges during the British era.

During the independence movement of Pakistan, the Muslim population supported the Muslim League and the Pakistani Movement. In 1947, after Pakistan gained independence, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in Muzaffargarh.

Geography and climate

Muzaffargarh spreads over an area of 8,249 km2 and forms a strip between the Chenab River to the east and Indus River to the west. Muzaffargarh was hit especially hard by the 2010 Pakistan floods, given its position between the Chenab and Indus rivers.

Muzaffargarh is located at almost the exact geographical center of Pakistan. The closest major city is Multan. The area around the city is a flat alluvial plain and is ideal for agriculture, with many citrus and mango farms.] There are also canals that cut across the Muzaffargarh District, providing water to farms. During the monsoon season, the land close to the Chenab is usually flooded.

Muzaffargarh features an arid climate with very hot summers and mild winters. The city has experienced some of the most extreme weather in Pakistan. The highest recorded temperature was approximately 54 °C (129 °F), and the lowest recorded temperature was approximately −1 °C (30 °F). The average rainfall is roughly 127 millimeters (5.0 in). Dust storms are a common occurrence within the city.

Transportation

Road

The town is linked to the rest of the district by paved roads that stretch for 983.69 km. Buses to Multan leave frequently, because of their close proximity to each other. There are also buses that travel to more distant destinations. The N-5 National Highway connects the city to the other parts of Pakistan. This highway allows for direct travel to Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Karachi, Lahore, and Bahawalpur.

Railways

Muzaffargarh is connected by rail with all parts of Pakistan, as it lies on the branch track between Rawalpindi, Multan, Mianwali and Attock. The main Peshawar-Karachi railway line passes through Multan District.

Notable places

Fayyaz Park Muzaffargarh is only one Park in the city. This is situated in the center of the city. This park was named after ex-Deputy Commissioner Muzaffargarh Fayyaz Bashir. Place of park was previously the residence of Deputy Commissioner.

[web4study-net-blog]

THE LAND OF PURE (PAKISTAN) | Essay for CSS and PMS

THE LAND OF PURE (PAKISTAN) | Essay for CSS and PMS

The name Pakistan means Land of (the) Pure in Urdu and Persian. It was coined in 1934 as Pakistan by Choudhary Rahmat Ali, a Pakistan movement activist, who published it in his pamphlet 'Now or Never'. The name is an acronym representing the "thirty million Muslim brethren who live in Pakistan-by which we mean the five Northern units of India viz: Punjab, North-West Frontier Province (Afghan Province), Kashmir, Sind, and Balochistan". The letter 'i' was later added to ease pronunciation. Pakistan was created, and achieved its independence, on 14 August 1947 as the result of a partition of British India. It consisted of the former provinces of Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa together with the east of Bengal and the west of Punjab. These were all regions with a Muslim-majority population. M. A. Jinnah, the leader of the Muslim League, was the principal advocate of Pakistan. Chaotic conditions at the time of partition also led to at least half a million people being killed in ferocious 'communal' violence. Since independence Pakistan has enjoyed a chequered history. Tensions with India have remained high and have led to three wars. East Pakistan seceded in 1971, amidst much bloodshed, to form the independent state of Bangladesh. Full general elections were not held until 1970 and democratic institutions have remained at risk from military coups. Pakistan is bordered by India on the east, the Arabian Sea on the south, Iran on the southwest, and Afghanistan on the west and north; in the northeast is the disputed territory (with India) of Kashmir, of which the part occupied by Pakistan borders on Chins. Islamabad is the capital and Karachi is the largest city. Pakistan may be divided into four geographic regions-the plateaux of W Pakistan, the plains of the Indus and Punjab rivers, the hills of NW Pakistan, and the mountains of N Pakistan. The plateau region of W Pakistan, which is roughly coextensive with Baluchistan province, is an arid region with relatively wetter conditions in its northern sections. Numerous low mountain ranges rise from the plateau, and the Hingol and Dasht rivers are among the largest streams. Large portions of the region are unfit for agriculture, and although some cotton is raised, nomadic sheep grazing is the principal activity. Coal, chromite, and natural gas are found in this area, and fishing and salt trading are carried on along the rugged Maler.an coast. Quetta, the chief city, is an important railroad centre on the line between Afghanistan and the Indus valley. East of the plateau region is extensive alluvial plains, through which flow the Indus and its tributaries. The region, closely coinciding with Sindh and Punjab provinces, is hot and dry and is occupied in its eastern border by the Thar Desert. Extensive irrigation facilities, fed by the waters of the Indus system, make the Indus basin the agricultural heartland of Pakistan. A variety of crops (especially wheat, rice, and cotton) are raised there. Advances in agricultural engineering have countered the salinity problems involved in farming the Indus delta. The irrigated portions of the plain are densely populated, being the site of many of Pakistan's principal cities, including Lahore, Faisalabad (formerly Lyallpur), Hyderabad, and Multan. Karachi, the nation's chief port, is located west of the irrigated land at a site accessible to oceangoing vessels. The higher parts of the plain, in the north, as in the vicinity of Lahore, have a more humid subtropical climate. In NW Pakistan, occupying about two-thirds of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a region of low hills and plateaus interspersed with fertile valleys. The elevation of the region tempers the arid climate. It is a predominantly agricultural area, with wheat the chief crop; fruit trees and livestock are also raised Peshawar and Rawalpindi, the largest cities of this area, are the only major manufacturing centres. In the northern section of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in the Pakistani-occupied sector of Kashmir are the rugged ranges and the high, snowcapped peaks of the Hindu Kush, Himalaya, and Karakorum mountains; Tirich Mir is the highest point in the country outside Kashmir. Pakistan has one of the world's most rapidly growing populations. Its people are a mixture of many ethnic groups, a result of the occupation of the region by groups passing through on their way to India. The Pathans (Pashtuns) of the northwest are a large, indigenous group that has long resisted advances by invaders and that has at times sought to establish an autonomous state within Pakistan. Baluchis, who live mainly in the southwest, have also pressed for the creation of a state that would incorporate parts of Afghanistan and Iran. Punjabis reside mainly in the northeast, and Sindhis in the southeast. Pakistan is an overwhelmingly (about 97%) Muslim country; about three-fourths of the Muslims are Sunnis (largely Sufis) and the rest Shiites. Urdu is the official language, but Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Baluchi, Hindko, and Brahui are also spoken; English is common among the upper classes and in the government. Read the full article

[amresh-mishra]

Kesari (केसरी)- Movie

Ever since the promos of Kesari were out, this movie had been on my must watch list.  The movie was released on Holi (21st of March) and, on 22nd of  March,  when I was checking the show timings on an app, I received a call from one of my friends who is a co-resident in our apartments.  He told me that he had a ticket booked for the next day’s show of Kesari but he will not be able to attend due to some personal issues.  He asked me if I would like to go and watch the movie against that ticket.  I was amused by this coincidence and obviously replied in affirmative.  However, after disconnecting the call, I realised one more coincidence.  I was going to watch Kesari, a movie about martyrdom of 21 Indian Sikh soldiers, on 23rd of March, which happens to be the death anniversary of the three most legendary martyrs of India- Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Hari Rajguru.  Could any day have been more appropriate to get introduced to the great martyrs of Saragarhi, courtesy Kesari!  

Kesari (केसरी) is derived from केसर, which is the Hindi term for saffron.  Hence, Kesari denotes saffron-coloured, a colour which symbolises fire, courage, sacrifice and dharma.  This colour is also strongly associated with two of the great religions in India, Hinduism and Sikhism.  Thus, the filmmakers make their mark from the selection of the title itself, which is integral to the tale and the message that the movie intends to deliver.  

This movie recounts the extraordinary valour shown by 21 Sikh soldiers of the British Indian Army in the Battle of Saragarhi, which was fought on 12th of September 1897 in the erstwhile North-West Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan).  This small contingent of Sikh soldiers was deployed at the Saragarhi post (a small fortress), created as a heliographic communication post between two other Forts under British control (Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan), which  were otherwise not visible to each other.  On 12th of September 1897, this post was attacked by around ten thousand Pashtun Orakzai/Afghan tribesman. When the Sikh contingent signalled to the officers stationed at Fort Lockhart about the attack, they were told that immediate help was not possible.  

The odds were stacked completely against the Sikh contingent.  Apart from the option of deserting the post, the only other choice before them was not ‘do or die’, but ‘do and die’.  But, as the epic lines in Sikhism go “चिड़िया नाल मैं बाज़ लडावां , गीदडां नू मैं शेर बनावां, सवा लख नाल इक लडावां, तां गोविंद सिंह नाम धरावां.” And, following the footprints of the great Sikh warriors before them, the contingent led by Havildar Ishar Singh chose to fight…to a certain death, knowing well that they had not as many bullets for their guns, as many enemy flags were flying before their eyes.  And, this decision of theirs made me feel like:

कौन झुका पाएगा भारत माता तेरा शीश 

दस हज़ार से लोहा ले लें जब तेरे इक्कीस !

The fabulous 21 gave the enemies one of the toughest fights in the annals of war history.  Another meaning of Kesari in Hindi is lion (सिंह), and all the soldiers (incidentally with the surnames सिंह) really fought like lions.  At least 180 enemies were stated to have been killed by the Sikh contingent in this engagement, before they were martyred.  All of them were posthumously awarded the ‘Indian Order of Merit’, which was the highest gallantry award, which an Indian soldier was eligible to receive at that time.  Unfortunately, this battle is yet to find its deserving place of pride in the curriculum of Indian history.  And, hence, it is very heartening to note that the Indian filmmakers are trying to initiate some correction in this regard. 

Akshay Kumar in the lead role of Havildar Ishar Singh is totally convincing.  Due to his patriotic sentiments, involvement with issues pertaining to welfare of soldiers & their families and Punjab connection, this role must have been very close to his heart.  And Akshay has utilised this opportunity to the fullest by leaving us with a performance which is as amazing as the tale itself.  The original ‘action king’ gets to do some spectacular stunts too in the movie.  The other cast in the movie also impress with their acting.

Director Anurag Singh, an established name in the Punjabi cinema, does a very good job in Kesari. Though some degree of dramatisation of events is considered acceptable in making of a commercial movie, the Director has tried to remain faithful to the historical records.  Some sequences in the movie are exceptional.  One such sequence relates to Sepoy Gurmukh Singh, who was the last one to fall.  At the age of 19, Gurmukh Singh was the youngest member of the unit.  He was the one responsible for sending heliographic signals to the other forts.  As his fellow soldiers were falling one by one, Gurmukh Singh was sending heliographic signals regarding their martyrdom to Fort Lockhart and, at the same time, he was writing their names on the parapet of the fortress as if it were an inscription on a memorial.  After writing twenty names on the parapet in this manner, he writes his own name as the 21st name before going all out against the enemies. 

The cinematography, visual effects and music of the movie are very good. The songs are situational and high on emotions.  See the following opening lines of one such song:

तलवारों पे सर वार दिए,

अंगारों में जिस्म जलाया है,

तब जाके कहीं हमने सर पे,

ये केसरी रंग सजाया है ।  

The movie conveys some very important messages.  If the enemy belongs to a particular religion, there is no reason for considering that religion itself as our enemy.  Humanity must transcend all such considerations.  The movie also serves to underscore the immense sacrifices of the Sikh community in the building up of this nation.    

As regards rating, I would happily give this movie 4.5 stars (out of 5).

India has faced so many onslaughts in the past from so many invaders, which were guided not only with the ill motive of territorial conquest but also of forcing a demographic change in this nation.  They might have succeeded, had not most of the times some Indian lion stood in between, like the lions of Saragarhi, with Kesari turban on their head and Kesari valour in their bloodstream.  Let these bravehearts be our beacon, our guiding star, our inspiration.  With a heart full of gratitude towards them, I wrap up with this little prayer to the almighty.      

तिमिर हट जाएगा मन का, ज़रा सी रोशनी भर दे,

सफल हो जाएगा जीवन, वतन की वंदगी भर दे,

हाथ जोड़े खड़ा हूँ मैं, मुझे तू बस यही वर दे,

केसरी तन, केसरी मन, लहू भी केसरी कर दे ।।   

- Amresh Kumar Mishra 

[mypakistan]

Balochistan - A Beautiful Province And Future of Pakistan

Balochistan has the largest area of Pakistan's four provinces, constituting approximately 44% of the country's total land mass, and the smallest population, being home to less than 5% of the country's population. Balochistan province is bordered by Afghanistan to the north and north-west, Iran to the south-west, the Arabian Sea to the south, Punjab and Sindh to the east, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas to the north-east. Quetta is the capital and largest city of Balochistan.

The main ethnic groups in the province are Baloch, Pashtuns and Brahuis, and there are relatively smaller communities of Iranian Baloch, Hazaras, Sindhis and other settlers, including Punjabis, Uzbeks, and Turkmens. The name Balochistan means "the land of the Baloch" in many regional languages.

#World #Pakistan #Beautiful Balochistan #Balochistan Province #Balochistan Pakistan #Balochistan #Baloch people #Baloch

[risingpakistan]

Balochistan - A Beautiful Province And Future of Pakistan

Balochistan has the largest area of Pakistan's four provinces, constituting approximately 44% of the country's total land mass, and the smallest population, being home to less than 5% of the country's population. Balochistan province is bordered by Afghanistan to the north and north-west, Iran to the south-west, the Arabian Sea to the south, Punjab and Sindh to the east, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas to the north-east. Quetta is the capital and largest city of Balochistan.

The main ethnic groups in the province are Baloch, Pashtuns and Brahuis, and there are relatively smaller communities of Iranian Baloch, Hazaras, Sindhis and other settlers, including Punjabis, Uzbeks, and Turkmens. The name Balochistan means "the land of the Baloch" in many regional languages.

#World #Pakistan #Beautiful Balochistan #Balochistan Province #Balochistan Pakistan #Balochistan #Baloch people #Baloch

[mrsrcbinscn]

Franny Robinson HC Infodump #5: Jazz

Nobody needed ths lmao

Jazz subgenres she works with:

  Chamber jazz (composes, performs)

Swing revival (composes, performs)

Vocal jazz (composes, performs)

Jazz manouche (composes, performs)

Dixieland jazz (composes, performs)

World fusion, focusing on combining Western elements with traditional Cambodian and broadly Southeast Asian instruments (composes, performs)

Jazz rap (collaborates with some friends of hers that actually are active in the subgenre by helping compose some of the music; she can’t rap lmao her one party trick rap song in college was Alphabet Aerobics and that is it)

Start of career

  Franny had gotten a steady stream of ‘no’s from every record label exec she’d auditioned for, be it with a jazz song or a folk/country/bluegrass song she’d written since she began auditioning during her junior year of undergrad. By the time she was in her final year of her two year masters’ program at Pride U, her resolve was fading. Was she really not talented? Was everyone who had ever met her in her life up until now lied to her? 

  That’s when British jazz singer and professor at Pride U, Howard Jennings Tailor, met Franny as one of his students. For one of her first assignments, she sang It’s Only A Paper Moon and Tailor was impressed with her voice, and as he observed her throughout that fall term, her skill with instruments was just as brilliant. He’d been working on his next album, an album of duets, and at the end of fall term he asked Franny to be the female singer on the album. The. Entire. Thing.

  Usually he’d collaborate with a different singer each track but he believed in Franny’s talent and wanted to be the one to have the bragging rights to jumpstarting her career. With her singing on on Tailor’s 2004 album, her name was put out there. After performing live with him a few times, she quickly rose to prominence in jazz circles in the UK and throughout Europe. It took until about 2007 for people in her home country to know anything about her, despite a performance to rave reviews at the 2005 Atlanta Jazz Festival.

  The album track list is as follows: [spotify link]

Happy To Make Your Acquaintance

People Will Say We’re In Love

You’re The Top

You Won’t Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart)

Dream A Little Dream Of Me

Oops!

I Get A Kick Out Of You (usually a solo song but done as a duet)

Somethin’ Stupid

Winter Weather

Fancy Meeting You Here

It’s Only A Paper Moon

Cheek To Cheek

  The reviews on the album were raving and noted that “Robinson, a 24-year-old unknown with a charming voice, pairs beautifully with Tailor, a 53-year-old crooner.”

  Some people thought it was creepy Tailor’s 24-year-old student was singing love songs with a man more than twice her age and some people to this day try to get Franny to admit there was a shady power dynamic going on. Franny gracefully swerves the question anytime. “I owe him a lot, I do. I wouldn’t be where I am without him.”

  (But yes, there was a bit of bullshit that Franny had to put up with in order to get her damn career going.)

  Career Notes:

Her wikipedia page describes her as a Cambodian-American singer, songwriter, musician, composer, author, and occasional actress, but Franny describes herself as “someone who makes stuff that people sometimes like.”

She really doesn’t mind being labeled as a jazz or a jazz and bluegrass-folk musician, but Franny really likes to think of herself as versatile. Because she is. She thinks most people are versatile, because music genres borrow from each other and mix all the time so there are similarities between many different styles and performers of one genre can easily blend into others

“Genre is a social construct”

To date, Franny has over 1,100 songwriting or composing credits to her name - only a fraction of the stuff she writes, she records and sings and releases herself

Franny’s work in jazz has been the most CRITICALLY acclaimed. However, her bluegrass/folk/alt-country work in Dara & Danny is the most commercially successful- a lot of their songs are used in TV and movie soundtracks. Her project Seoul Hanoi’d has the biggest fanbase

She also sang Fancy Meeting You Here by Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney with Michael Buble

Pretend this article says 9 Asian American Jazz Artists instead of 8 and that Franny’s included lmao

She’s been at the Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival before

Franny’s been at the Kongsberg Jazzfestival in Norway several times since moving to Europe

has appeared in several Postmodern Jukebox videos and many other similar youtubers’ projects

2019 recipient of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Founders Award for jazz

Recipient of the 2019 ASCAP Global Impact Award for Jazz

Has won jazz songwriter of the year four times from the ASCAP, including in 2019

Won the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, that she made with New Orleans-born jazz musician Nicolette Thompson

Recipient of ASCAP’s 2017 Vanguard Award for Jazz

Franny’s worked with master musicians of traditional Cambodian, Vietnamese, Thai, Lao, and Burmese music to combine Western jazz with traditional Southeast Asian instruments

Franny writes lyrics in English, French, and Khmer 

Has released an EP of 5 classic jazz songs she translated into Khmer -- with input from two professional translators, but Franny all by herself fit the lyrics to the music

Franny can sing in lots of languages and is recorded somewhere either in studio or in youtube or instagram videos singing in...she’s lost count how many languages, partly due to Franny does this thing across her YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter platforms Joss Stone’s total world tour; she just makes a point to connect and perform with musicians from all over

Franny speaks Khmer, English, Vietnamese, French, Italian, (less fluently) Portuguese, Spanish, (can understand some) Thai, Lao, (impressive tourist) German, Dutch, but with pointers can sing with excellent pronunciation in all of them and there’s lots of footage of her singing in all of the languages either herself (for Khmer through Spanish) and with friend fluent in the languages from Portuguese through Dutch

There’s also at least one recording of her on Youtube or Instagram singing with friends who speak the language properly, in Swedish, Norwegian, Romanian, Greek, Hmong, Indonesian, Irish, Korean, Mandarin, Mongolian, Arabic, Hebrew, Amharic, Russian, Polish, Swahili, Navajo, Hopi, Maori, Cherokee, Georgian, Tagalog, Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Pashtun, Tlingit, Malagasy, Wolof, Yoruba, and various other languages

Franny’s very active in signal boosting artists of color, artists not from the West at all, and indigenous artists so Franny’s learned songs in Lots of languages for jam sessions

Her husband and her very best friend and other half of Dara & Danny are both indigenous men, so like, along with boosting artist of color in general she really makes a point to highlight indigenous folks

In whatever BDRP’s version of Disney would be, like the big company that makes most of the animated musical movies kids’ watch, Franny is the singing voice for a main character in the Khmer language dub of whatever movie is as big as the Frozen franchise

#&&...hc

[marcusssanderson]

25 Malala Yousafzai Quotes That Have Changed The World

Our latest collection of Malala Yousafzai quotes that will inspire positive change.

Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani female education advocate and women right’s activist who became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Born on July 12, 1997, Malala developed a thirst for knowledge at a very young age. While a teenager, she spoke out on the importance of education at a time when the local Taliban had banned girls from attending school.

She received death threats and was shot by a Taliban gunman in an assassination attempt in retaliation for her activism. She survived and became a prominent activist for the right to education.

In 2014, Yousafzai was a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her efforts on behalf of children’s rights. She has received many other honors, including being featured by Time magazine as one of the most influential people globally.

Malala Yousafzai is someone who has clearly managed to tap into her Everyday Power. In her honor, below is our collection of inspirational, wise, and thought-provoking Malala Yousafzai quotes.

Inspirational Malala Yousafzai quotes about education and freedom

1.) “Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow’s reality.” – Malala Yousafzai

2.) “For my brothers it was easy to think about the future. They can be anything they want. But for me it was hard and for that reason I wanted to become educated and empower myself with knowledge.” – Malala Yousafzai

3.) “All I want is an education, and I am afraid of no one.” – Malala Yousafzai

4.) “Think life is always dangerous. Some people get afraid of it. Some people don’t go forward. But some people, if they want to achieve their goal, they have to go. They have to move… We have seen the barbaric situation of the 21st century in Swat. So why should I be afraid now?” – Malala Yousafzai

5.) “In countries other than Pakistan – I won’t necessarily call them ‘Western’ – people support me. This is because people they respect others. They don’t do this because I am a Pashtun or a Punjabi, a Pakistani, or an Iranian, they do it because of one’s words and character. This is why I am being respected and supported there.” – Malala Yousafzai

6.) “Some people only ask others to do something. I believe that, why should I wait for someone else? Why don’t I take a step and move forward.” – Malala Yousafzai

7.) “Some girls cannot go to school because of the child labor and child trafficking.” – Malala Yousafzai

8.) “I don’t know why people have divided the whole world into two groups, west and east. Education is neither eastern nor western. Education is education and it’s the right of every human being.” – Malala Yousafzai

9.) “The best way to solve problems and to fight against war is through dialogue.” – Malala Yousafzai

10.) “I will get my education – if it is in home, school, or anyplace.” – Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai quotes that inspire hope

11.) “Books can capture injustices in a way that stays with you and makes you want to do something about them. That’s why they are so powerful.” – Malala Yousafzai

12.) “And also I didn’t want my future to be just sitting in a room and be imprisoned in my four walls and just cooking and giving birth to children. I didn’t want to see my life in that way.” – Malala Yousafzai

13.) “Once I had asked God for one or two extra inches in height, but instead, he made me as tall as the sky, so high that I could not measure myself… By giving me this height to reach people, he has also given me great responsibilities.” – Malala Yousafzai

14.) “I believe it’s a woman’s right to decide what she wants to wear and if a woman can go to the beach and wear nothing, then why can’t she also wear everything?” – Malala Yousafzai

15.) “There should be no discrimination against languages people speak, skin color, or religion.” – Malala Yousafzai

16.) “Dear sisters and brothers, we realize the importance of light when we see darkness.” – Malala Yousafzai

17.) “I say I am stronger than fear.” – Malala Yousafzai

18.) “What is interesting is the power and the impact of social media… So we must try to use social media in a good way.” – Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai quotes that inspire positive change

19.) “Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.” – Malala Yousafzai

20.) “I don’t want to be remembered as the girl who was shot. I want to be remembered as the girl who stood up.” – Malala Yousafzai

21.) “When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” – Malala Yousafzai

22.) “In some parts of the world, students are going to school every day. It’s their normal life. But in other part of the world, we are starving for education… it’s like a precious gift. It’s like a diamond.” – Malala Yousafzai

23.) “The terrorists thought they would change my aims and stop my ambitions, but nothing changed in my life except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage were born.” – Malala Yousafzai

24.) “There are many problems, but I think there is a solution to all these problems; it’s just one, and it’s education.” – Malala Yousafzai

25.) “If you hit a Talib with your shoe, then there would be no difference between you and the Talib. You must not treat others with cruelty and that much harshly, you must fight others but through peace and through dialogue and through education.” – Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai Nobel Peace Prize Speech

Which of these Malala Yousafzai quotes was your favorite?

Malala Yousafzai has inspired the world to advocate for girls to have adequate, safe access to education. Despite receiving death threats and being shot, Yousafzai had the courage to grow her advocacy into an international movement.

Her words and actions offer inspiration and hope to people all over the world. Hopefully, the above quotes have inspired you to never call it quits.

Did you enjoy these Malala Yousafzai quotes? Which of the quotes was your favorite? Let us know in the comment section below.

The post 25 Malala Yousafzai Quotes That Have Changed The World appeared first on Everyday Power.

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Mohit Raina’s 21 Sarfarosh: Saragarhi 1897 will impress you with its performances and technical finesse

Discovery Jeet got launched last night and it was heartening news for many who love the channel’s format of story-telling. Obviously, the show that has been talked about the most is 21 Sarfarosh: Saragarhi 1897. The biggest reason being the comeback of Mohit Raina. One of TV’s most good-looking hunks, Mohit is playing Havildar Ishar Singh in the historical show. Last night, we chanced upon the footage of his entry sequence and it was one of the most stirring scenes we saw in recent times. The actor has the physical persona and the intensity to play an impassioned soldier. Here is our review of the first episode…

What is it about… The bravery of 21 Sikh warriors from the 36th Sikh Regiment of the British Indian Amry is one of the forgotten chapters of Indian history. Set in 1897, it talks about the Indian soldiers who defended a post against 10,000 Orakzai  and Pashtun tribesman. It happened at Saragarhi in the North-West Frontier Province  They were led by Havildar Ishar Singh, who was an excellent marksman and leader. It happened in September 1897. Produced by Abhimanyu Singh’s Contiloe Pictures Pvt. Ltd, it has Mohit Raina as the dedicated soldier who is ready to sacrifice his life for the nation. (Also Read: 21 Sarfarosh: Saragarhi 1897 trailer: Mohit Raina will finally make you get over his Devon Ke Dev Mahadev avatar with this historical drama)

What’s hot Since it is from Discovery, a lot of attention has been given to the detailing. They have shot in a location that resembles the rugged landscape of the India – Afghanistan border. The camerawork, background score and editing is top notch. The language used in a mix of Hindi and Punjabi, which lends more authenticity to the show. The art direction is very good. Abhishek Basu is the director of photography while writer Aseem Arora has done the dialogues. Amongst the actors, it is Mohit Raina who steals the show with his commanding presence. The scene where he guns down the young soldier from the enemy ranks after reprimanding him with stay with you for a long time. The last scene of the first episode is also a winning one. Any other actor would have looked silly but Mohit has delivered the monologue with so much conviction. Mukul Dev as the head of the Orakzai brings a certain amount of flamboyance and devilishness to his role. (Also Read: Mouni Roy disapproves Mohit Raina’s bearded look from 21 Sarfarosh: Saragarhi 1897 – watch video)

What’s not The dialogues spoken by the English actors are not upto the mark. There is a scene where an officer says security briefing, which was an unheard of term in that era. These are small glitches and we do hope that this show gets better and better.

Verdict If you love history, this show is tailor-made for you. And Mohit Raina fans, here is a role that does justice to the actor’s talent and charisma.

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Check Your Punjabi Privilege: The Hijacking of Malala by Non-Pashtun Pakistanis

When Malala Yousafzai won the Noble Peace Prize, Afghans and Pashtuns internationally rejoiced. A member of the tribe won!

But quickly, this state of joy and pride was robbed from us when non-Pashtun Pakistanis began to claim Malala as their own. To me, this is equivalent of a white American pretending to know or even understand the Ferguson struggle. Please – check your Punjabi/Muhajir privilege.

For those of you who don’t know what the hell I’m talking about, Malala is an ethnic Pashtun. She is from the Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, also known as KPK, which was formerly known as the North West Frontier Province. The changing of the name to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, or “land of the Pashtuns”, was a minimal demand by Pakistani Pashtuns, but even that was met with strong resistance from the Punjabi & Muhajir majority which controls the government and military.

This is a place where my relatives hail, and where my entire nuclear and extended family lived before their transition to America. This area is known as the “drone capital of the earth”, where my people, the Pashtuns, are “collateral damage”, and “casualties” in the fight against the Taliban.

The prevailing jokes of Pakistan culture are that Pathans (Pashtuns) are dumb and uncivilized Talibs. But all of a sudden, when an intelligent, educated and prolific Pashtun makes headlines, she becomes the symbol for the “Pakistani struggle”….fasho.

Let me tell you a little about our newly moved in neighbors to the south. The political and social structure in Pakistan is unevenly distributed, with Punjabis and Mohajirs (immigrants from India) at the top, and indigenous Sindhis, Pashtuns, and Balochis, at the bottom. Illiteracy, extremism, and violence plague the KPK, as the people suffer at the hands of both the Taliban and the Pakistani military.

In the east is the Punjab, where the Green Revolution of Pakistan boosted the economy. Lahore and Islamabad took off, while the Pashtun provinces struggled to even get a small benefit from the programs.

And even though Pashtuns are a major ethnic group within Pakistan, their language is overlooked and unrecognized, with Urdu and even English making the list of national languages.

Pashtuns are treated like second-class citizens in a place that’s been home for 6,000 years. My mother tells us stories from her time there, when she lived in Hangu and Peshawar, and how she was amazed at the differences between Pashtun/Afghan occupied areas compared to Punjabi areas.

Malala is an Afghan by ethnicity and a Pakistani by nationality/citizenship. And Afghans know much more of the struggle of being from the KPK and other Talib-controlled areas than anyone living in the Punjab would know.

Her name is even a testament to her heritage. She is named after Malalai of Maiwand, a famous Pashtun poetess and warrior woman from southern Afghanistan, who we consider our heroine, and the symbol of the Afghan struggle against Great Britain. Her last name, Yousafzai, is that of a large Pashtun tribal confederation that is predominant in the Swat Valley. Swat is a historic Pashtun land, and my family, being ethnic Pashtuns, would know how to navigate there much better than any Urdu-speaking Pakistani.

So when non-Pashtuns rejoice and revel in the fame of Malala, how can Afghans and Pashtuns not be annoyed? This cultural hijacking of the Afghan struggle in Pakistan is an example of Punjabi/Mohajir privilege going unchecked.

If you are a non-Pashtun of Pakistani nationality, please do not pretend to know anything of what it means to be an Afghan living in Pakistan. Don’t try to pretend for one second that you know what it means to be Pashtun:

Since 2001, Pakistani, Afghan, and NATO troops have rushed into Pashtun lands. US drones fill the sky. This year has been especially rough for Pashtuns in Pakistan, with more than 2 million forced to flee military offensives in Swat and nearby areas.

“It’s like a Pashtun genocide,” says Ayeen Khan, of Swabi, NWFP, echoing a phrase heard across the region. “In different areas a lot of Pashtuns are being killed. They need someone to stop the killing.”

Many who fled the fighting said they want neither the Taliban nor the Army in their lands. They say the Punjabi-dominated security agencies control both forces, with the Army periodically fighting the militants, then receding and letting the Taliban reimpose their terrorizing rule. Pashtun civilians say they are caught in the middle of this “double game.”

And even if Malala identifies with her Pakistani nationality, I think she would agree with my notion of Punjabi/Mohajir privilege.

When we ignore Malala’s Pashtun identity, we are denying her from thousands of little Afghan girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan who share her struggle.

She was targeted by what YOU created, not us.

She suffers from YOUR meddling, not ours.

The KPK is broken because of YOUR drones and attacks, not ours.

Her struggle is the Afghan struggle, not the Punjabi one.

When a Pashtun is a freedom-fighter, or when a Pashtun is a displaced refugee, he is “othered”. When he is portrayed in the Pakistani media, he is a savage, with an archaic culture and no brains along with it. I remember hearing that a group of young Pakistani-Americans, when finding out that my cousin was a Pashtun, said, “Oh, Pathans. Yea, we consider them the ‘blondes of Pakistan'”. Okay. Forsure.

But when a Pashtun makes a TIME Magazine cover, lets praise them and post it all over Instagram.

This is what bothers me the most. How we are exploited when there is a gain, but left to die when they’re done parading us.

There is no way for a non-Pashtun to know what Pashtuns in Pakistan go through. Even I can’t fathom it. I in no way want to take ownership of these people and pretend like I understand their struggle, because at the end of the day, I’m sitting in sunny Los Angeles.

But what I do know, as a Pashtun woman who has grown up in a Pashtun household, who only spoke Pashto until grade school, whose family lived in the KPK for years- is that any non-Pashtun claiming a connection or taking pride in the Pashtun struggle is just wrong. Just like a white guy in America can’t pretend to know what 2pac is rapping about, stop fronting like Malala is the champion of all Paki girls everywhere.

So please, do yourself a favor. Check your Punjabi privilege.