F a t h e r o f t h e m a n

ther-figure than a good father himself!

It used to be that children were wary of earning their fathers’ displeasure by any ill-advised activity on their part Now it is the fathers who are decidedly terrified of their children They cannot say No to any of their demands; they cannot reprimand them for silly (often outright harmful) behaviour for fear of their getting offended; they do not have the guts to educate them when they clearly cross lines of acceptable behaviour lest they happen to cause irreparable damage to their fragile subconsciouses

Wh e N William Wordsworth referred to the child as father of the man, he was alluding to the fact that the behaviour and attitudes adopted in childhood go a long way in building a man’s personality There can be little doubt that this is as true today as it was in 1802 when Wordsworth penned the immortal lines of ‘My heart leaps up’ however, the typical modern fathers by raising their children in a way that has been in vogue for a while now, have managed to give a very literal meaning to the phrase father of the man

So it is that an observer could easily be forgiven for thinking that it is the young ones who are fathers of adult men and not the other way around That is how spectacularly children of the brave new world succeed in having their own way While one must be careful not to be overly nostalgic for a past utopia one can do worse than occasionally take stock of one’s current circumstances by looking in the rearview mirror so to speak Not very long ago children were very clear about the fact that they would encroach the boundaries set by their parents, especially their fathers, at their own peril Provider, guide, protector, teacher – the father used to be many things to his children; but a friend was not one of those things It was only a few years ago that most fathers realized that it was impossible for them to swim against the tide Children gained friends as a result but lost their fathers – an unwise exchange because friendship (though precious) is extremely dearly purchased at such a high price

Again, the object is by no means to glorify the imaginary virtues of a past when the distance between parents and children was in many cases notoriously stretched to a degree that did no good to anybody It is also undeniable however that fathers are supposed to play a role in their children’s lives that nobody else can especially in case of their sons, for whom it is so crucial to have a role model around while they are growing up And who better as a fa-

It used to be that children were war y of earning their fathers’ displeasure by any ill-advised activity on their par t. Now it is the fathers who are decidedly terrified of their children. They cannot say ‘No’ to any of their demands

Today the belief prevalent among so many of the younger generation is that life is a party For the most part, this owes to ineffectual parenting on the part of elders who are guilty of shortchanging their charges, even if that is convenient for either side in the short haul Too often it becomes a matter of parents saying things that their children want to hear, as opposed to what they need to hear The resulting life-philosophy is that happiness is a birth-right, and that the surest means to achieving it is buying things and getting the most absurd of their wishes to keep coming true all the time Such a life fails to notice that an indispensable part of being happy is to be without some of the things the heart so desires; and that for a fulfilled life, failure and frustration are as necessary as success and exhilaration That is so because the means are as important as the ends, if not more so

By allowing their children to dictate to them the parents cease to be parents in the true sense of the word The results of this are devastating to say the least: The quieter joys of life are replaced with excitement of the worst sort, relationships with screens, physical activities with gadgets, and healthy entertainment with mere distractions The entitlement level among the average youngster today is unprecedented What is more, it is certain to scale newer heights with every new day Already a youngster owning up to his or her failing is headline-news worthy on account of its uncommonness As far as the youth is concerned, every setback must necessarily be on account of somebody else’s fault, never their own In the past, it used to be friends who typically reinforced such self-serving ideas by being equally childish and unreasonable The support now comes from much more unfortunate quarters: the parents themselves Unwilling to call a spade a spade, they keep telling their children what great specimens they are No wonder then that responsible adults have become such a rarity; and all one sees around is grown up babies – adults in outward appearance only, who are utterly incapable of taking responsibility for their lives What else would one expected when their parents have never confronted them with home truths at the breakfast table?

The author is a connoisseur of music literature and food (but not drinks) He can be reached at www facebook com/hasanaftabsaeed

Th e term “homesickness” has been in use for centuries and is thought to have originated in the early 17th century The earliest known use of the term has been found in 1688 in a medical text written by a Swiss doctor named Johannes hofer in which he described a condition he called “nostalgia” he described it as a physical and psychological illness that affected soldiers and travelers who were far from home hofer believed that homesickness was caused by a disturbance in the balance of the body’s four humors (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile) and that it could lead to severe physical symptoms such as fever and even death he also believed that it was more common in people from rural areas and that it was caused by a longing for the familiar surroundings and way of life of their home Over time, the understanding of homesickness has evolved and it is now recognized as a normal emotional response to being away from home, rather than a medical condition Nowadays, homesickness is considered as a normal emotional response and it has been studied by various fields of psychology, sociology and anthropology homesickness is a feeling of longing or longing for home typically experienced by people who are away from home for an extended period of time It can manifest as physical symptoms such as stomachaches or headaches as well as emotional symptoms such as sadness, anxiety, and irritability homesickness can be triggered by a variety of factors, including the stress of being in a new environment feeling isolated or disconnected from others, and missing familiar people, places, and routines

P o s i t i v e a n d n e g at i v e s i d e s: While homesickness is often thought of as a negative experience, it can also have some positive aspects Some of the positive aspects of homesickness include: a Increased appreciation for home: homesickness can make an individual appreciate their home and the people, places, and things that they have left behind This can lead to a deeper appreciation for the things they took for granted before they left b Personal growth: homesickness can be an opportunity for an individual to grow and develop as a person It can force them to step out of their comfort zone and learn to adapt to new environments and situations c Increased independence: homesickness can also make an individual more independent and self-reliant It can teach them how to take care of themselves and make decisions on their own d Increased empathy: homesickness can make an individual more empathetic and understanding of others who are going through similar experiences e Increased gratitude: homesickness can also increase an individual’s gratitude for the people places and things they have in their life f Greater appreciation of the present moment: homesickness can make one more present in the moment and appreciate the small things in life On the other side, the homesickness has a variety of negative impacts on an individual which include: a emotional distress: homesickness can cause feelings of sadness anxiety, and depression It can also make an individual feel isolated, lonely, and disconnected from others b Physical symptoms: homesickness can also cause physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, and fatigue c Difficulty focusing: homesickness can also affect an individual s ability to concentrate and focus on tasks which can impact their performance in school or work d Difficulty in sleeping: homesickness can also affect an individual s sleep causing insomnia or nightmares e Negative impact on social life: homesickness can also negatively impact an individual’s social life, causing them to withdraw from others and making it harder to form new relationships however, it is manageable with different coping mechanisms such as staying connected with loved ones engaging in activities that remind us of home, and finding ways to feel more comfortable and settled in our new surroundings

K i n d s o f h o m e s i c K n e s s : There are several different types of homesickness that an individual may experience, depending on their unique circumstances Some of the most common types include: a Classic homesickness: This type of homesickness is characterized by feelings of sadness and longing for home, often accompanied by physical symptoms such as headaches and stomachaches b Separation-individuation homesickness: This type of homesickness occurs when an individual is separating from their family and forming their own identity It can be especially difficult for adolescents and young adults who are leaving home for the first time c Reverse homesickness: This type of homesickness occurs when an individual returns home after being away for an extended period of time It can be caused by feelings of disconnection from the familiar surroundings and people of home, and feelings of being out of place d Trauma-induced homesickness: This type of homesickness is caused by a traumatic event that has occurred in the individual’s home, and can be accompanied by symptoms of PTSD e Culture shock: This type of homesickness happens when an individual travel to a foreign country and finds it difficult to adapt to the new culture It can be caused by feeling of isolation, difficulty understanding the new culture and language and a longing for the familiar things and people

R e s e a R c h e s o n h o m e s i c K n e s s : There have been numerous studies conducted on homesickness over the years Research on homesickness has covered a wide range of topics including the causes symptoms and effects of homesickness, as well as ways to prevent and manage homesickness Some studies have focused on the psychological and emotional aspects of homesickness, looking at the relationship between homesickness and depression, anxiety, and stress Other studies have focused on the physical symptoms of homesickness such as headaches and stomachaches Research has also been done on the demographic and situational factors that can increase the risk of homesickness such as age gender, and distance from home Studies have also looked at the role of social support and coping strategies in managing homesickness More recently studies have focused on the impact of technology on homesickness, specifically the use of social media and virtual communication to stay connected with loved ones while away from home Studies also investigate the impact of homesickness on academic and professional performance, as well as in the military and international students Overall research on homesickness has shown that it is a normal and common experience, and that there are effective strategies for managing and coping with homesickness It also shows that homesickness can have both negative and positive impacts on an individual, and that it can be an opportunity for personal growth and development

The writer is a freelance columist

HA D Turkey s President erdogan continued with his most impressive social, economic, judicial, and political reforms that he initiated and implemented during his first years in power, today’s Turkey would have been a great country, respected and prosperous while enjoying tremendous regional and global influence under his leadership Instead, erdogan reversed his remarkable achievements on all domestic and international fronts in pursuit of building an authoritarian regime that could satisfy his unquenchable thirst for ever more power erdogan will stop short of nothing to win the upcoming elections in June he certainly hopes to preside on October 29 over the hundredth anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Republic by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and to be recognized as the new Atatürk (father) of modern Turkey The Turkish people must deny him that honor because of his continuing horrific human rights violations

To put in perspective as to why erdogan does not deserve to preside over the anniversary and should be handedly rejected in the June elections, it is first necessary to provide a brief account of his relentless reign of terror and his unremitting campaign to harass and delegitimize the opposition parties to achieve his sinister objective

Following the failed coup of July 2016, erdogan arrested tens of thousands of innocent people, including hundreds of security officials, academics, and military personnel suspected of belonging to the hizmet (Gülen) Movement and charged them with participating in the coup he uses Article 301 of the Anti-Terror Act to crack down on dissent and even criminalize criticism of Turkishness he arrested hundreds of journalists accusing them of spreading anti-government propaganda, shut down scores of TV and radio stations, and imposed restrictions on the use of social media

Nearly 200 journalists have been imprisoned since 2016; currently 40 remain incarcerated in subhuman prisons which blatantly defies the convention of freedom of press, especially in a NATO member state Thousands of university graduates are leaving the country in the search for job opportunities and to free themselves from erdogan s shackles Leaving their country behind is causing an alarming brain drain which is affecting just about every industry

The Council of europe and the University of Lausanne reports that Turkey has the largest population of prisoners convicted on charges related to terrorism As Turkish journalist Uzay Bulut notes The report updated in April 2021 shows that at the time there were a total of 30 524 inmates in COe member states who were sentenced for terrorism; of those, 29 827 were in Turkish prisons” [emphasis added] As Leo Tolstoy observed in War and Peace One need only to admit that public tranquility is in danger and any action finds a justification All the horrors of the reign of terror were based only on solicitude for public tranquility ” To that end, erdogan proclaims to be a pious man, but he cynically uses Islam as nothing but an evil political tool to project a divine power to assert his dictatorial whims unchallenged

The World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) reports that erdogan conveniently uses Anti-Terrorism Law No 3713, which was enacted by his AK Party-led rubber stamp parliament to stifle freedoms and silence the voices of those who defend human rights The law allows him to label peaceful human rights defenders as ‘terrorist offenders’ OMCT states that “Official data show that in 2020, 6551 people were prosecuted under the anti-terrorism law while a staggering 208,833 were investigated for ‘membership in an armed organization,’” typically those involved with the Gülen movement erdogan continues his crackdown on his own Kurdish community which represents nearly 20 percent of the population, depriving them of basic human rights his systematic persecution of the Kurds seems to have no bounds, as he accuses thousands of being supporters of the PKK which he considers as a terrorist organization and which successive Turkish governments have been fighting for more than 50 years at staggering human and material cost he consistently demands that various Balkan and eU states extradite Turkish nationals whom he accuses of being terrorists to stand trial in his corrupted courts denying them due process and subjecting them to ferocious torture in order to extract confessions for offences they never committed he is preventing Finland and Sweden from joining NATO unless Sweden extradites about 130 political refugees mostly Turkish Kurds to stand trial in Turkey Sweden has rejected his demand knowing that once they reach Turkish soil, it will be tantamount to the kiss of death To be sure, the rule of law in erdogan’s Turkey has been effectively dismantled to issue a statement in support of his policies to help him in his bid for reelection when in fact he is at odds with President Biden on a host of critical issues including his egregious human rights violations, his refusal to allow Sweden and Finland to join NATO, his purchase of the Russianmade S-400 air defense system his money laundering, and his ceaseless corruption And in 2019, he tried to block NATO s plan for the defense of Poland and the Baltic states unless NATO identified the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces as terrorists

One would think that if he is so desperate to be re-elected come June, he would make significant concessions both domestically and in his relations with the US and the eU Why not offer amnesty to all political prisoners, free the journalists, stop harassing and jailing leaders of opposition parties and fully adhere to human rights and the rule of law?

Why not drop his opposition to Sweden’s admission to NATO? Why not rescind his purchase of a second batch of S-400s and decommission those currently in use, which are totally incompatible with NATO s air defense systems? Finally, why not restore the democratic principles which every member state of NATO is required to uphold?

As Turkey approaches its centennial anniversary this October, President Erdogan is stopping shor t of nothing to win the election in June to fulfill his life-time dream of presiding over the celebration.

S e n d y o u r l e t t e r s t o : L e t t e r s t o E d i t o r, Pakistan Today, 4 - S h a a re y F a t i m a J i n n a h L a h o re P a k i s t a n E - m a i l : l e t t e r s @ p a k i s t a n t o d a y c o m p k L e t t e r s s h o u l d b e a d d re s s e d t o Pakistan Today e x c l u s i v e l y

Kot Diji For t needs urgent attention

T h e dynastic rulers of Sindh over the years have left behind a rich heritage and majestic structures that have been a source of pride for generations When Talpur Mirs snatched power from Kalhoras to rule Sindh in 1783, they decided to distribute their power in three states; hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Khairpur hyderabad was considered the central state Mirpurkhas the southern state and Khairpur was the upper state under their rule Khairpur was called Sohrabpur named after Mir Sohrab Khan Talpur, who was the first ruler of Khairpur he was famous for having built several palaces and forts he is especially remembered for the construction of forts, such as Imam Garh in Thar region, Shah Garh towards Jodhpur, as well as Jaislmer and Ahmedabad at Diji One of them, the Kot Diji Fort, is considered the symbol of the Talpur dynasty Kot Diji means ‘the fort of the daughter ’ , and has also been known as the fort of Ahmedabad in the years gone by It was named after Ahmed, a Persian architect, who designed the fort The fort is dominating the town of Kot Diji The construction of the fort started in 1785 atop a hill at the edge of a desert in Sindh, and was completed in 1795

The fort is built on the top of Rohri hills at a height of 110 feet with walls 30 feet in height It was built on limestone hill with kiln-baked bricks to save it in case of a cannon attack

The fort is spread over an area of 1 8km with three strategically placed towers, and a mud wall on the outer side extending around 5km The wall of the fort has 50 segmental bastions This huge, majestic structure with its high walls and towers is seen from as far as the old National highway From the fort, visitors can also have a view of the Kot Diji settlement of pre-harappa period (3300BC)

A little while ago when my university teacher along with his guests from Karachi, came to visit my village, I accompanied them to some historical places of Khairpur We visited Faiz Mahal, Bali Jo Bungalow, Sheesh Mahal White Mahal and Madam Jo Bungalow and later we went to visit the Kot Diji Fort where we spent one whole day

I was deeply saddened to see the dilapidated state of this massive fort which today symbolises the apathy of the relevant authorities The walls are falling apart and one can see heaps of bricks lying around Bricks that were used to pave the streets are seen lying broken all over the place Turrets of the walls are eroding and serious damage is seen around the towers Is there no one to look after and preserve such magnificent piece of architecture? Will such glorious structures continue to decay? It is unfortunate that not only the authorities concerned, but the people, too, show careless attitude towards such a marvel of archaeology I saw people burning bricks and scaling walls Nobody seemed to care for the damage to the historical monument having a deep interest in archaeology, I urge visitors to take care of the place during their visits Also the Department of Culture Antiquities and Tourism should depute staff to guide the visitors, and engineers to preserve the heritage for the coming generations

HAMID ALI GADHI JAMSHORO

PSL in Gwadar

But then, erdogan’s obsession with absolute power has blinded him from seeing and feeling the plight of his own people, which only demonstrates his ignorance and shortsightedness As Jorge Luis Borges aptly observed, Dictatorships foster oppression, dictatorships foster servitude, dictatorships foster cruelty; more abominable is the fact that they foster idiocy

A number of years ago, erdogan’s former Prime Minister Davutoglu told me that by the year 2023, Turkey will have restored the glory, the global influence, and prestige that the Ottoman empire enjoyed in its heyday Needless to say, Davutoglu s prophecy has not come to pass To the contrary, today, Turkey’s economy, social and political order, and democracy are in complete disarray; Turkey is far from having “zero problems with neighbors,” and remains estranged from the US and the eU

T h e Pakistan Super League (PSL) is a professional Twenty20 cricket league that is played out during February and March every year by six teams representing six cities in Pakistan

The league is undoubtedly a source of entertainment for the citizens because millions of Pakistanis enjoy a good game of cricket, and crowds fill up stadiums in various Pakistani cities It is regrettable that not a single match of the PSL has been played in Balochistan since 2015, although the province is the largest, and has venues like Ayub Stadium in Quetta and the newly-built picturesque Gwadar Stadium

The stadium in Gwadar has been the talk of the town for months after it was showcased on social media, with many cricketers around the world mesme-rised by its beauty and the landscape One wonders why it is being ignored by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)

The purpose of building such a beautiful stadium at the cost of a huge sum of money is beyond comprehension if it was not going to be used for matches Conducting PSL matches in Balochistan will definitely provide entertainment to the citizens and the youth of Balochistan who will surely feel inspired by watching top-tier talent playing in the province

The PCB and other relevant authorities should consider holding PSL matches at Gwadar Stadium This will help the country and the government showcase the rather majestic landscape of Balochistan, and to portray the soft image of the province that, unfortunately, gets highlighted in the media for all the wrong reasons

GULSAMEEN HASSAN TURBAT

Smuggling of dollars

To improve his chances of being re-elected erdogan wants to ensure that the Kurdish political parties are denied representation in the Parliament he has incarcerated many of the 56 members of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (hDP) and removed its remaining members from the legislative process; he is determined to close the party altogether In addition, he arrested many members of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) accusing them of unfounded terrorism-related offenses and illegally replacing them through government-appointed trustees erdogan is asking the Biden administration

If erdogan manages to be re-elected through cheating and by disenfranchising the opposition parties, he will celebrate the centennial anniversary while presiding over a country in retreat with a disillusioned and despairing citizenry and diminishing regional and international stature he will not be the new Atatürk even though he so frantically wants to portray himself as a great reformer leading a constructive and great power on the world stage

Instead, erdogan will be remembered with scorn and contempt for having squandered Turkey’s huge potential while degrading the anniversary that could have been Turkey’s greatest celebration in one hundred years

Dr Alon Ben-Meir is a professor of international relations at the Centre for Global Affairs at NYU He teaches courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies alon@alonben-meir com

PA K I S TA N’S deteriorating economic situation is being blamed on the change of government and the increase in inflation in global markets The fact is that in doing so we completely ignore several other factors behind our economic woes, such as smuggling of millions of dollars from Pakistan to Afghanistan

According to the exchange Companies Association of Pakistan (eCAP), it is believed that millions of US dollars are smuggled to Afghanistan from Pakistan in the form of official and unofficial trade, misuse of Afghan transit trade and smuggling through the borders This is what is depleting Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves

While dollar smuggling is aggravating our economic situation, smuggling of wheat from Pakistan to Afghanistan has surely brought us to the brink of wheat crisis and food insecurity Owing to this illegal wheat trade, people in Pakistan are seen standing in queues to simply buy wheat flour owing to the shortage of the commodity in the country Making use of the situation, profiteers and hoarders have been cashing in on the crisis, adding an artificial layer to the scarcity

Pakistan must stop smuggling of dollars and wheat to Afghanistan to overcome the economic and food crises This needs to be done as soon as possible as the present situation can also lead to a law and order situation

AURANGZEB NADIR TURBAT