Adil Najam
Today, October 8, marks the 2nd anniversary of the tragic earthquake hit Northern Pakistan, Kashmir, and parts of India and Afghanistan.
But we want to dedicate this post not only to the memory of what happened, but also to the reminder that much more still needs to be done. This post today is dedicated to Zalzala Khan. A little child born in the village of Pore, in the heart of the earthquake-hit region on October, 2005.Last year, marking the first anniversary of this event we had written (other ATP posts on the earthquake here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here):
This is a moment to simply pause, pray and ponder. To think back on what has been done and what still needs to be done.
The same is true today. But, memories fade, new calamities happen, people move on. As the poet says:
Reh gaya Mushtaq dil mein rang-e-yaad-e-raftagaaN
Phool mehngay ho gaye, qabrain purani ho gaeen
But the fact is that qabrain purani nahiN hoeeN. The wounds are still there and they still bleed. The reconstruction has been slow. Children are still without parents. The houses still need to be rebuilt. The villages have yet to be rehabilitated. Much has happened because of the good work of many. But not enough has happened. What remains to be done is much more. Its just that our attentions have been diverted.
There are, of course,many other claimants to our attention and to our generosity. Earlier this year, in July, we at ATP had announced a small donation to the relief effort in Balochistan for those hit by Cyclone YemYeni. We sent half of our gift through Edhi Foundation and the remainder directly to small NGOs working in the cyclone area. Today we have decided to donate our advertising revenue since then to the earthquake relief efforts that are still going on. What we have to offer is not much. But as any one who has been to the area since the earthquake knows, even ‘not much’ can go a long way.
Maybe ours is just a symbolic gesture. But symbols are important. We at ATP hope that what you will read into this small gesture from this small website is that we all can do something. Even if only a little. And if we all do a little, it will soon add up to a lot.
(P.S. Other posts today on Pakistani blogs on the earthquake include: Islamabad Metroblog, Karachi Metroblog, Lahore Metroblog, Teeth Maestro, Micro Pakistan, Chowrangi, Buzzvines, Mera Jehaan, Help-Pakistan. Please add yours in the comments section.)
Well done Pakistaniat.
Your gesture is a good one. I think this spirit is the right one. Let each one ask what he can do and lets do it. Too many people talk to much and do too little.
Thank you for setting a good example by your generosity. We saw a lot of Pakistanis opening their hearts after the earthquake but as you say let us not forget that our support is still needed.
Is there a way we can also help you in thsi good work?
Rafay Kashmiri can you let me know how can you term such a thing as Allah’s wrath? If He is the most merciful how can he test us by killing innocent children in huge numbers? Is there an explanation for this?
Most of all, what about those children who are impaired for life and loose all their future and parents? Why would the Almighty do such a thing? The “He is testing us” theory is false and does not make any sense to me.
Heard it at a khutba ….
While we are reflecting on the earthquake anniversary and reminiscence on our Ramadan, it might be better if we also contemplate and reflect on our weakness in the face of the forces of nature, the insecurity of our lifestyles and the temporary nature of the material world ….
Take note, O people of insight
[Quran 59:2]
It’s good to hear every survivor has adequate shelter this winter.
Ayesha,
Earthquakes, like many other natural disasters
are direct geological “Action / reaction” based facultative phenomenon, now, since we are not prepared to
confront them, therefore, vulnerable to a very disaterous
consequences because of lack of comprehension, we react
accordingly, i.e our disarray and grief.
It can only be defined as a wrath unless a
massive, collective mischief is comited by the whole
nation. It is indeed a warning to our conscience and
a reminder to our collective memory in this ordeal as
well as a TEST.