Dr. Tariq Mufti

12/05/2023

https://youtu.be/l6bniUA6QDI

An explanation on Retinal Detachment in Urdu/English

16/01/2023

An explanation on Retinal Detachment in Urdu/English

13/09/2020

Earning Turnips seems harder than getting education for your children:

It is no surprise that our educated, intellectuals and mature community is busy mostly in discussing petty non-issues or forwarding messages on social media nearly all the time available to them .
The political governments are busy in carrying out their own agenda. One very highly propagated item of every government since inception of Pakistan, is educating children by providing universal free schooling.
All good, but!
When I went to buy turnips to make one dish lunch I was shocked to know that it will cost PkR 120/- per kilo.
I was Shocked, because , TURNIPS were considered to be cheapest of all food items or were available free till recent years. Domestic Donkeys were often fed on this.
A senior beaurocrate friend ( Late now) was kidnapped and kept in cellar somewhere in tribal area. During all his captivity he was fed with nothing but turnips; he told me.
Worthlessness of turnip was expressed in Pushto quote as:

“ ٹیپر لا بد مہ وائیہ۔ ٹیپر خدائے نعمت دے”

The saying means
“do not talk bad of turnips, the turnips are great blessings of God.”
I queried my self that for poor majority of my country what will be the priority; to earn turnip through joint earning of a father and son or sending him to free government school?
A food for thought.

30/08/2020

Virtual classroom : perils

Our recent experience with virtual class is so revealing of trash worth efforts by some teachers of elite schools that vigilant parents have started proxying for their children in online classroom without the teacher knowing about it. There was a time when teachers in the class were monitored by headmasters for the quality of pedagogy.
Virtual learning has added advantage that the classroom proceeding are recordable by admin. Teacher can be exposed to their consious or unconscious slips and aught to be advised provided the headmaster or other mentors themselves are educated in imparting education. The other issue being special classes on weekends for needy children. Without motivating, compensating or remunerating , why a teacher be interested to impart whatever she know of the technique? Example of poverty of school systems of even very high rated schools is exposed in the following story:
Some foreign educated school children with no Urdu background joined a GIANT school, who arranged easy Urdu special learning class over the weekend.
First the mother could not access to any responsible for info on class.
Second on school phone Attendent responded by telling “ BAJI, it’s weekend and MUHARRAM, so there will be no class : it was his self assumed declaration misguiding the parent.
Third the class teacher started class 10 min earlier than time. Only two of many students checked in.
Next, the class teacher without pre-test or evaluation and even identification of children wrote Urdu Alphabets on board. Pronounced it, Gave selfstudy instruction and winded up the class. No reinforcement or multiple angled learning was tried to ensure outcome based learning. Ironically one child’s mother took the class for her child; teacher not bothered to confirm who is actually taking the class . The parent inquired about some of these issues. She was not satisfied so she concluded loudly:
“ I now understand why the parents have to teach and make there children learn the next class in advance”
Bravo

29/08/2020

Corona pandemic while causing tremendous disaster has proved challenge turn opportunity for some enterpenures in fields of work from home and virtual learning. School facilitated by learning online tools turned media culture of disapproval to most desirable in the hands of students and faculty.
While it hides a number of school related physical short comings & adversities, it simultaneously has exposed the teaching learning techniques of all but more so of the so called high profile elite schools charging colossal tuition fees.
Online teaching put tremendous economic, educational strategical and cultural pressures in the community. Attemp to adopt school environment in your home requires unbelievable psychological pressures on child and parent. Teachers are exposed to learning new technology that leaves recorded evidence of competence on screen which creates consequential intimidation of being thrashed and bashed.
Pakistan’s educational environment changed rapidly. Children exposed to unaccustomed world of expansive tablets screens in their laps and teachers with sugar coated didactics marathoning in finishing courses are making records to leave supersonics behind.
Wise parents have been observing shameful demonstration of horse-racing, course finishing attitude in teaching rather than outcome based methods and patience in pedagogy; for the first time parents witness such poverty of teaching techniques in the schools whom they would not stop adoring and taking pride previously.
Rote learning is our deeply rooted pedagogical culture. Super elite western written book follower school systems distorting the future generation direction is now so much visible leaving evident. Recorded classroom teaching will hopefully lead to reprimand of the school with poor performance in addition to appropriately constructed assessment .

IK is requested to peruse the prevention and cure of identified educational epidemic in Pakistan to save next generation from ruining.

The king is dead: Long live the King!

28/08/2020

HAZRO the town:

CHAMAN DAS was a very close friend of Irshad - Brig(R) Muhammad Irshad Arshad; a resident of Jinnahabad, Abbottabad, now. They were buddies in primary classes one, two and three of a private school; owned by a muslim philanthropist, which was located outside walled city of HAZRO town. These were preceding years before partition of India in 1947. Chaman Das lived inside walled city; almost exclusively inhabited by Hindu and Sikh community. Hari Mandar was famous for its hight. Muslims lived outside & surrounding the wall. Their community was ever increasing by influx of migrating rural inhabitants. Very few Hindus owned buildings outside walled city.

HAZRO was than a central town for 84 villages of CHAG - district ATTOCK having a population of approximately 10,000 people (assumed ). According to a narration the city was founded by Ameer Hazar Khan, a Durrani, about 900 - 1000 years ago. Six out of his sons inhabited here. TUZAK JEHANGIRI acknowledges Izzat Khan belonging to 6th descendent generation of Ameer Hazar. In early 20th century the city was described to have lots of date trees and mosques.
It’s Hindko language is closest to Peshawari hindko and best known for clarity as well as syntax. Pushto is the other prevalent language.
Hindu population was scared, but were never intimidated by local muslims. Before the partition time many had already left for India.
During and following the exodus of Hindus their (possibly) buisness contacts and other rural intimidators looted the whole city brutally for valuables though no killing is cited. Most local muslim population remained away from the acts.
Known for its peacefulness and evidenced by the small children like Chaman Das and Irshad’s friendship (and such like many others) is a witness to harmonious life lead by two ideologically divergent communities under one leadership and municipal council raises a question; why mass massacre of thousands & millions on the name of religious disparity? ( Text developed in the backdrop of Brig (R) Irshad’s narration.

24/08/2020

Following lines are written In Commemoration of Prof. Dr. Mazhar Ali Khan ( captured in Black and white photo Posted below), Ex- Chair English Department University of Peshawar.

Myself and a dear friend Brig. (R) Muhammad Irshad Arshad, MA English (Literature) who is kicking well at the age of 80 ( Captured in picture given below) were together recently.
A cherished memory of Prof. Mazhar Ali Khan, perhaps the pioneer & legend Chairman of English department, University of Peshawar (UoP) cropped up during conversation. Brig. Irshad shared some of his memories that are inked and shared.

Mazhar Ali khan after migration to Pakistan at partition of Indian Sub-continent joined PMA, Kakul, Abbottabad in early 50’s as Chair, English Department. Later, on inspiration of Khan Abdul Qayum Khan the then Chief Minister NWFP he joined as Chairman ( ? Pioneer) English Department of newly established UoP. Brig Irshad has remained his student during his masters in English course. Faculty of the english department included Ms. Margaret Herbottle latter joined by Mr. Daud Kamal, Dr Samad and others.

All along my training in Khyber Medical College and to-date, I have witnessed reverence and remembrance of Mazhar Ali Khan by relevant quarters. His repute of being chair of the english department scoped beyond National and International intellectual horizon.
He inspired his pupils to learn Persian and Urdu literature as proemial to understand english literature. He used to hold ‘Qawali’ events by singer Javed Akhtar. Famous poet (late) Qamar Jalalvi would participate in ‘Mushairas’ that very often were held at Mazhar Ali Khan’s residence. His colleagues and students were encouraged to join the occasions.
His eloquent, focused, integrative, imbibing, mutational and interactive presentations remain unsurpassed.

He was younger sibling of Legendary Allama Rashid Turabi. Their father was an ICS officer. It was a news to me that he never married.
Regrettably, in spite of all my media search I failed to get any details on Prof Mazhar Ali Kan of UoP, even on UoP website. However, a famous Journalist Editor of ‘Dawn’ Pakistan with the same name is well published in media.

It forces one to think that how come we are so unthankful not to find him in media.

Unacknowledged journeying to eternal aboad of worthy teachers and other intellectual proprietary personalities is bitter to digest for all those who benefited directly and transformed by his influence through his follower pupils who in turn became remarkable mentors.

I urge all those having his memories and pictures to share as evidence of his contributions or forward these to to me.
Regards to all viewers and readers.
TM

17/08/2020

My apologies for publishing this appalling video that has been forwarded.
Whom should one blame for these acts of intolerance, frustration and commissions except the culture?
It is not limited to the community visible in the video but is known to be witnessed in modest and elite classes, too.
Sociologists May root it to the ignorance and lack of education or grooming. Sure that could be one major cause, but, it has other etiological and precipitating factor as well.
Shared living in poverty!

14/08/2020

Preparing for 74th Independence Day while Pakistan has aged 73 years at 77 Jinnahabad; our residence at Abbottabad, is a yearly recurring excitement. The query of when exactly to cut the BIRTHDAY cake, has been debated since midnight last night when army centres and some other venues opened fireworks. Consensus arrived for late evening today the 14th of August.
This reminds me of the contention of legal Independence Day as The British Indian independence Act declares it 15th August, postal stamps printed mention August15, 1947. But ceremony of Vice Roy happened on 14th August for Pakistan . Celebrating on 14th August was ordered by Qaid e Azam MA Jinnah, the Governor General, Pakistan as well. Lately High Court also diclined to hear a case for 15th August midnight as ligitamate date of sub-continents’ partition. So it only remains to get the date corrected in the British parliamentary Act. Named Indian Independence Act (1947 c. 30 (10 & 11. Geo. 6.)).

By the way this year, it’s been the only occasion of public participating festive evidenced by gleam of excitement exhibited by bikers waving flags, kids inflating green and while balloons and some others wearing Independence Day bracelets.

Is it the demonstration of “LOVE PAKISTAN” in real sense or grabbing a chance of rare recreational event by a gloomy nation?

12/08/2020

Covid-19 lessons include necessity of protecting physicians from infected patients; harm. Working with PPE on is a combursome and tiring business. Video published here exhibits not only the comfort of easy geared environment but also to fulfill professional demand of clinical assessment and examination of the patient.

12/08/2020

14 August Message 2020
Yom Azadi Mubarak

73 years ago this day or midnight British RAJ in India finished and two independent states naming ‘Pakistan’ and ‘Bharat’ came into existence. They were still to remain as Dominicans For awhile.

Both the countries were supposed to get free from British rules and laws and to run countries as per their desires.
Hindu and Muslims or ,for that matter, Congress and Muslim league were equally determined to do away britishers as masters, and their rules. But, as the events developed Hindu & Muslims turn against each other to the extent that they forgot the basic cause.
They adopted British legacies still more firmly while opening their volcanos fire on each other. Hatred developed as a consequence that soon was converted to religious ethnicity.
Hindu & Muslims living peaceful with each other for centuries in common day to day life became dagger drawn. Violent mass actions spreaded bloody carpets all over.
Political leadership played poisonously antagonistic role which further enhanced derogatory avulsion between the secs.
In Pakistan elite immediately filled the vacuum of British masters supported by bureaucracy who were actually the new masters in strict sense while Babu classes were so comfortable and secure under them subordinated. This painted a very strong rosy picture of the then “NAYA PAKISTAN”.
The poor and uneducated masses made to drink and drown in wine of Muslim Rule for Muslim slaves ( public); resultantly they carried on bearing multi fold hardships than before. Notion & Slogan than and today is the same

‘ POOR TO STAY POOR FOR A WHILE’
That ‘ a while’ still remains ‘a while’.

Long Live Kings of Pakistan