Dedication to social development

The Agha Khan Rural Support Programme

A journey through grassroots development

By Shoaib Sultan Khan

Published by: Oxford University Press

No: 38, Sector 15, Korangi Industrial Area,

PO Box 8214, Karachi-74900

Price: Rs725.00 Pp: 502

The Agha Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) is a story of 'service with sincerity and dedication' and thus the success element has turned it into 'how determination pays-off.

In Pakistan, most of the rural areas are under developed and lacking in even basic amenities like, clean drinking water, healthcare, education and a number of essential facilities without which a survival struggle carries on.

The AKRSP is a people-centred development programme with elements of sustainability in times to come. Participatory development in the rural areas has shown success all round and stands as an example for areas that need development. The author, Shoaib Sultan Khan has spent some fifty years of his life, working, understanding, implementing and enhancing the work, its concept and laying the structure for other organisations to follow.

In the Preface, he states, "In 1978 at Nagoya, Japan I gave a presentation on the Daudzai Project at the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRI). In the audience was Prof. R.P. Misra of the Institute of Development Studies, Mysore, India. I responded, who would be interested in reading the book? Besides, who would print and publish it? Professor Misra persuaded me to leave that to him. I should only concern myself with producing the manuscript, he said, and he would take care of the rest. The tremendous demands of the ten Rural Support Programmes (RSPN) hardly gave me time to think about writing a book on the AKRSP.

In the finalisation of this book, selected NFRs which threw light on the concept, approach and methodology of the AKRSP besides including all the NFRs which I had personally written were included. I am grateful to all those who wrote the NFRs, which proved to be a rich resource for this book.

Ultimately, it fell to the lot of Dr Virginia of NRSP to give the material its present shape. She worked hard and long before achieving a coherent and readable document. I am greatly indebted to her for editing, re-arranging chapters and organizing the material into a book for the consideration of publishers.

Reflections

An anthology of wandering thoughts

By Lt Col Ashraf Faiz

Published by: Paramount Publishing Enterprise

152/O, Block-2, PECHS

Karachi-75400

Price: Rs495 Pp:261

Seldom one comes across a beautiful book in terms of its literary excellence. The book 'Reflection' fills that gap which literary minds keep craving for. The book is of 'wandering thoughts' moving from one domain to another – life and its intricacies dealt with in a manner where the past and present both come to meet at various junctures. From politics to political philosophy, from Sufism to day and day – affairs of dealing with life and to face whatever comes ahead.

The author, a soldier of fine intellect and with love of literature has dealt with many interesting issues. Major Arbab Safdar Hayat in his foreword says, "They say old soldiers never die, they fade away. A good solider by virtue of his training, moulding and psychological make-up is as clear, clean and transparent as diamond. I knew the intellectual background of Col. Faiz already, yet I discovered his flair of writing and literary pursuits when he presented me a copy of his maiden work 'The Parachgan'. I cannot describe how impressed and proud I felt to read the scholarly efforts of my pupil –more of a younger brother.

The author in his 'Preface' says, "I have often wondered what urges me to observe, reflect and be sad that I earned the sobriquet 'gloomy face'; perhaps it is inborn."

The book does not reflect this character but rather reflects on his in depth understanding of social and political issues and the philosophy of life.

The chapter-1 deals with an emotional relationship with his mother and he pays tribute to how she managed to help him become what he ended up with. The chapter-2 deals in some detail with aspects of love and human involvement in the finer feelings born in relationships.

He moves on to deal with 'prayers and faith' and finds out that both are interlinked. Step by step he takes up various topics and goes into it at time lightly and at other, deeply and with emotions.

An interesting book by all accounts and should be read by people interested in some good literary reading where the purpose is to enjoy intellectual arguments.

Contemporary reflections

Bam-e-Andeshah (Ghazaliat)

By Amin Rahat Chughtai

Published by: Gulrez Publications

258, St 1, Allama Iqbal Avenue, Gulrez 5,

Rawalpindi.

Price: Rs 400 Pp: 368

Amin Rahat Chughtai is by far the most a seasoned Urdu writer who wears many caps. He is a senior journalist, renowned poet, astute literary critic and erudite research scholar. By now he has written seven valuable books on poetry, criticism and Moghul miniature painting. His latest book, under review, is "Bam-e-Andeshah" (A point to ponder). It consists of 175 ghazals which reflects the socio-political problems of the country.

The deeper study of the book reveals that it is the poetry with contemporaneous spirit.

The poet passionately says that we are moving in a vicious circle and presumes to have traveled a long distance. But the destination, still not being in sight. The common man remains as an undefined species of the land. He is shape without form, shade without colour. The exploiters are the same lords who have been trampling upon the dreams of the people since time immemorial.

Nevertheless Chughtai emerges as an optimistic poet and conveys his message to the readers that – (tr.) "The beauty of faith helps melt the darkness. When the night falls it does give the message of dawn too."

The diction of his poetry is simple and lucid but couched with fresh symbols and metaphors. His restless inquisitive temperament provokes him to explore new horizons of truth and reality. Whereas he expresses himself with ease and facility, he is bold and dauntless to give vent to his feelings. In the background of current judicial crisis, he boldly speaks out against the tyranny and injustice – (tr.) "Don't' be proud of smashing the ringing bells of justice. The masses shall come out with louder protests from every nook and corner of the country.