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Interview with Dr. Razi Azmi

Would you please introduce yourself?

My name is Razi Azmi, sixth of eight brothers and sisters. My father migrated in 1948 to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) from Uttar Pradesh in India. He was a station master in the railway and worked at various locations until his retirement in 1970. Beginning in March 1971, our entire extended family (including myself) gradually moved from Dhaka to Karachi due to the turbulent situation and violence there.

You have spent considerable time in both the then USSR and USA. What was the major difference between two superpowers?

I consider myself very privileged to have lived both in the Soviet Union (1973-77) and the United States (1983-87, 1989-90). At the time I lived there, the USSR was a superpower at the pinnacle of its military might. Similarly, during my time in the USA, it was a confident and resurgent superpower under President Reagan, having recovered from the debacle in Vietnam.

These two global superpowers were not just different countries, but different planets. The Soviet Union was a land of scarcity, while the United States was a land of plenty. In the USSR the Communist Party totally controlled people’s lives, censured information, banned political parties and outlawed any form of dissent. The United States was characterised by freedom of choice, thought, movement, association and expression.

You spent your early years in erstwhile East Pakistan. Did the Bengalis always want a separate country or did this sentiment develop overtime?

As late as in 1965, during the war with India, East Pakistani political parties, intellectuals, students and the people all strongly denounced India and supported the war efforts of Pakistan. I witnessed it myself being a student of class ten. There was a growing feeling of neglect and second-class treatment of East Pakistan by the Pakistani State among the people of East Pakistan but the thought of secession was not on anyone’s mind. Think about it yourself: East Pakistan had 55% of Pakistan’s population, but the country’s capital, as well as the headquarters of army, navy and air force, as well as the State Bank of Pakistan and National Bank of Pakistan, were in West Pakistan.

The refusal of the Pakistani government to hand over power to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his Awami League despite it winning 160 out of 300 seats in the National Assembly in the general elections held in December 1970, followed within weeks by a brutal military operation on 26 March 1971, totally alienated the people of East Pakistan, leaving them with no choice but to fight for their own independent state of Bangladesh. It is true that India took advantage of the situation for its own strategic gain, but the problem was not an Indian creation. Pakistan has only itself to blame for the alienation and secession of a majority of its population.

Would you please tell us about your recently published travelogue “A World Unveiled: Joys and Jitters of Many Journeys”?

I have been to 96 countries but this book does not cover all. It has two chapters each on India (Amritsar to Assam, Delhi to Kanya Kumari, and everything in between) and Africa (24 countries), and chapters on Central Asia, Afghanistan, China (including Tibet), Russia (Trans-Siberian Railway), Mongolia, USA and Canada (about 17,000 km by road).

My travelogue has many elements: personal stories, adventures, social encounters, historical facts, geographical descriptions, anecdotes and more. I share with readers not just the thrill of my journeys but also the frustrations and annoyances that come with them, including the vagaries of visas and border crossings. It was published by Folio Books, Lahore.

Who is your favorite travel writer and why?

Ryszard Kapuscinski. He makes his subject, the people and places he writes about, come alive. “The Shadow of the Sun” is a gripping account of Africa by this Polish journalist based on forty years of reporting from the continent.

What’s your best and worst experience so far during your travels?

This is no doubt the most difficult question to answer. Excuse me for mentioning more than one in each category.

Worst: My train overturned although I emerged without injury (India), a road accident which broke my sternum (Indonesia), I collapsed from a drop in blood pressure fracturing two ribs (Russia), high altitude sickness in Tibet (China), came close to being crushed by crowds in Tibet and Gambia, detained under guard for a few hours at Orly Airport (France), a long-drawn visa glitch at Abidjan Airport (Ivory Coast).

Best:  Mumbai to Goa on Konkan Railway over the Western Ghats (India); driving Adelaide to Perth through Nullarbor Plain (Australia); driving on the Big Sur coastal road in California (USA).

How did you develop this passion for traveling?

As a teenager, I was fascinated by maps, mountains, tribes and exotic places. Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation published beautiful coloured maps and brochures of both East and West Pakistan.

What has been your biggest challenge as an international traveler?

On Pakistani passport, getting visas was number one challenge, followed by finance. On Australian passport, getting enough leave from work, some of which had to be spent on family visits to Pakistan.

What is a common misconception people have about your travel passion?

People often ask how I can afford to travel so often, so far and wide. I tell them that travel is my highest priority. I choose to spend money on travel, rather than on expensive parties, repetitive rituals, brand clothes, shoes and watches, new furniture and curtains, and expensive cars. I arrange my itinerary itineraries in such a way as to utilise every trip for maximum destinations.

Do you have any favorite travel destinations where you would like to go again and again?

Argentina, Chile, Peru, Mongolia, Vietnam, Siberia (Russia).

What’s your favorite song and movie?

I listen to songs in Urdu/Hindi, English, Bangla, Russian, French, Farsi, Spanish and Italian. One doesn’t necessarily have to know the language and understand the lyrics to enjoy the tune and the voice. Listen to Ahmad Zahir, “Man Randa Ze Maikhana Ham” (Dari Farsi), to understand what I mean.

I have seen very few movies recently. I found “Chernobyl” (TV mini-series, produced in 2019 by HBO), which I watched on an international flight, absolutely gripping. The movie that left the greatest impression on me was Ben Hur, starring Charlton Heston (1959, won 11 Oscars).

Do you have any unfulfilled fantasy you would like to share with the readers?

Yes. To be a musician.

What advice would you offer someone considering traveling to international destinations?

Just do it. Don’t plan too long or too far ahead. Grab every opportunity. Create opportunities. Travel light. Do research on the Internet beforehand.

Note: Readers may contact Dr. Azmi at his email raziazmi@hotmail.com or at his blog at raziazmi.com

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Interviews

Interview with Tweep Nouman @mnqadir

Please introduce yourself in a few words?
My name is Nouman. I am a GP/Family physician and live in Geelong VIC Australia. I graduated from King Edward Medical College, Lahore.

What is your biggest accomplishment so far in life?
Bringing up 2 amazing human beings.

What is one thing you cannot do without?
Family

What is your favorite food?
Any food which I can share with others

Your favorite tweeps?
@therebelrise, @aasimnawaz, @zohaibqazi, @istiaqchaudhar, @wisevenus, @satueedelephant, @madwomanoflahore

Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram?
Twitter

What are your healthy habits?
Running. I have been running at least 2000 km every year for the last 5 years

Your all-time favorite movie?
Lord of the Rings

Your all-time favorite song?
Love me tender

Do you have any fantasies you can share with us?
I wanna go back 100000 years in time. I want to see, feel and smell the untouched world.

Favorite holiday destination?
Queenstown. Skiing, hikes, camping, adventure, and beauty.

How do you handle stress and pressure?
Just soldier on

Your message for readers of http://pknama.com?
Just be kind to others, it’s the easiest and most rewarding thing.

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Interviews

Interview with Tweep Imran Shafqat @simranshafqat

Please introduce yourself in few words ?
I find myself as a dreamer , idealist and a lazy human

What’s your biggest accomplishment so far?
I don’t consider anything this big so far . Therefore still waiting

What’s the one thing you can’t do without ?
Friends and family

What’s your favourite food ?
I am a food lover and literally i can eat all sorts of delicious food

What are your healthy habits?
Walking , Movies , Gym

Your all time favourite movie?
Pianist

Your all time favorite song?
Kabhi Kabhi mery dill mayy khyal atta ha

Do you have any fantasy you can share with us?
I want to travel through out my whole life

What’s your favourite holiday destination?
Any place with mild temperature, I don’t like summers

How do you handle stress and pressure ?
By sleeping

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Interviews

Interview with Tweep Y@SiR @YsOSeriousYY

Please introduce yourself in few words?
I am not the most humble guy around , I have a constant drive to learn new stuff and i love problem solving. ~Plus i have an extremely low tolerance towards stupidity!

What is your biggest accomplishment so far in life?
I see my parents and my wife are proud of me and that feels great , i am a self made guy, have been working since i was 18 from selling cigarettes to call center to now a consultant at the highest level i have come a long way.

What is one thing you cannot do without?
My wife and parents – i owe everything to them i was a no one until she gave me an objective & direction & supported a young boy aged 22. Also parents backed me when almost everyone used to tell them that i am an ill disciplined child and wont make a successful man.

What is your favorite food?
Long list , though biryani or a good wagyu steak sits on top of the pile. Plus i am crazy about desserts.

Your favourite tweeps?
Quite a few of them

  • introspection31 – professor is always very friendly and a foodie like me plus shes as real as it gets on twitter
  • TheRebelRise – elly is always very classy
  • FarhanRavian – tweets good stuff specially around pakistan political space
  • Lady_Says11 – crypto expert and a healthy food advocate
  • Fake_character – one of the best writers plus a highly intellectual personality
  • AtifRajaEhsan – my most active follower !
  • marryam aka alexa – though not on twitter currently but shes a good kid , energetic & cute
  • shutuuuuuppp – my first friend on twitter, a good hearted young brave girl.

Facebook, Twitter or Instagram?
Twitter all day long !!

What are your healthy habits?
I play soccer and squash regularly and can take a good picture or 2 if in a good mood Smiling face with smiling eyes. Key to a good health is a good sleep and i am lucky in that regard i sleep early and get up early as well plus i usually dont give a f*** of most people opinion about me hence that helps me staying healthy mentally.

Your all time favourite movie?
Dark knight

Your all time favorite song?
Again Long list , though if it has to be one then “divide – linkin park” is an all time favourite Along with NFAK’s – Hai kahan ka Irada

Do you have any fantasy you can share with us?

  • I would like to travel the world
  • built an escape center in pakistan specially for domestic ladies who cant go out and are restricted to roti and boti all day.
  • Most important one lf i ever had a child, i would like a daughter and raise her to be as badass as possible!!

What’s your favourite holiday destination?
London & Lahore. London have got so many memories and my favourite team chelsea, lahore is my hometown plus my parents / friends are there.

How do you handle stress and pressure?
I am not very good at this , but playing sports or online gaming takes my mind of stuff , a good song collection with a beach walk is another brilliant piece of therapy or some good dessert works best in my case.

Your message for readers of http://pknama.com?
If plan A fails then there are still 25 letters to go, keep striving to be a better person then you are today. You only get one chance of a life make sure its worth remembering, be a ray of light for People around you.

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Interview with Tweep @1SamPk پنجابی چِڑا

Please introduce yourself in few words?
میرا نام غضنفر احمد ہے لیکن ملنگی نام سے ٹویٹر پر لوگ زیادہ جانتے ہیں

What is your biggest accomplishment so far in life?
پانچ سال پڑھائی چھوڑنے کے بعد پڑھائی شروع کی اور اپنی والدہ کی خواہش کے تحت ماسٹرز کی ڈگری حاصل کی

What is one thing you cannot do without?
اعتماد۔ جانے انجانے میں اپنے پرائے پر اندھا اعتماد کر بیٹھتا ہوں بہت بار اعتماد ٹوٹا لیکن باز نہیں آتا میں

What is your favorite food?
جو مل جائے الحمدللّٰہ

Your favourite tweeps?
جن کو فالو کر رہا ہوں وہ سب فیورٹ ہیں

Facebook, Twitter or Instagram?
ٹویٹر

What are your healthy habits?
پیدل چلتا ہوں روز جتنا ہوسکے

Your all time favourite movie?
A Few Good Men

Your all time favorite song?
I Do my crying in the rain

Do you have any fantasy you can share with us?
نہیں ایسی کوئی خواہش نہیں

What’s your favourite holiday destination?
مکہ مدینہ

How do you handle stress and pressure?
خاموش ہو جاتا ہوں مکمل کسی سے بات نہیں کرتا

Your message for readers of pknama.com?

خوش رہیں خوشیاں بانٹیں
عزت کریں عزت کروائیں

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Interviews

Interview with Tweep Safi Saheb @nawab_safiullah

Please introduce yourself in few words?

I’m name Shahzade Hazrat Muhammad Safiullah Jah Bahadur but friends & family mostly call me “Nawab Sahib”. I like to speak/write/debate about Timurid, Islamic and Pakistan’s history.

What’s your accomplishment so far in life?

My biggest accomplishment so far is I’m trying to follow some Sunnahs in each & situation of my life.

What is one thing you cannot do without?

That thing is chrome app of my mobile. No matter where I am but I always make sure to have internet so I could search about anything which I find interesting.

What is your favorite food?

Food having meat is like heaven for me but I think I have some special relation with Saji and Kabuli Pulao.

Your favourite tweeps?

Tweeps by mean Twitter handles? If yes then Huzaifa Nizam and Tequieremos are some of my favourite people on this website.

Facebook, Twitter or Instagram?

Facebook & Instagram are not for me.

What are your healthy habits?

In my opinion the number one is “fact check”. Whenever I read about some thing, my next step is to verify it and get to know more about it by different sources.

Your all time favourite movie?

Many including Titanic, Mah e Mir, Sanju, etc

Your all time favorite song?

Pardardari & Maikada

Do you have any fantasy you can share with us?

Want to preserve architectural assets of Pakistan & Timurid-Mughal dynasty.

What’s your favourite holiday destination?

Globally my favourites are Samarkand, Greece & Rome but locally I’m in love with Kashmir & Gilgit.

How do you handle stress and pressure?

I strongly believe love, divinity & spirituality are basically for us to find out answers of those questions which aren’t available in books & stress is one of them.
But it also doesn’t mean I’m denying the importance of medications.

Your message for readers of pknama?

Try to associate yourself with the true identity of Indus Valley and Islamic history of our region. And for this all you have take interest in reading books & identity shaping of our nation.

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Interview with Tweep Farwa Naqvi @farwanaqvi_

Please introduce yourself in few words?

Maulayi, mast malang!
To define is to limit. Dr sajid rahim has been generous to say this couplet for me I’d choose to answer this with;

تیرا حق ہے کہ لکھی جائیں کتابیں تجھ پر
حرف دو حرف تری نذر بھلا کیسے کریں !

ساجد رحیم

What is your biggest accomplishment so far in life?

Ziarat Imam Hussain asw, azadaari, healing, hepling & saving lives everyday. Loving, sustaining myself in every way & having in me to make my dreams come true.

What is one thing you cannot do without?

Independence of thought & in all its forms is one the of the greatest blessings I’m grateful for.

What is your favorite food?

Chocolate & pasta. If you’re reading this, you have to send me some snacks or desserts!

Your favourite tweeps?

Thanks to Twitter I met such amazing friends here & I’m grateful to call them my friends

@nazranayusufzai, @110HussainRizvi , @AsliBinLaden, @DrSajidRahim & many more!

Facebook, Twitter or Instagram?

Twitttterrrr

What are your healthy habits?

I prioritize my mental, emotional and spiritual health along with my physical health. Stay active, drink a lot of water and have my time with nature. Check in with myself, love, nurture and heal myself religiously every day. Try to balance all sectors of my life, at least try.

Your all time favourite movie?

I don’t get to watch a lot of stuff anymore due to lack of time & energy & am more of a reader. The last movie that I liked was this movie called ‘Her’. It’s just as weird as I am so I like unconventional stuff & art cinema. Also, liked the eternal sunshine of a spotless mind, the lunchbox & Talvar.

Your all time favorite song?

I am big on music so can’t choose one from my diverse taste but since this is pknama.com, I’d take this opportunity to express how I’m obsessed with Abida Perveen & meeting her is one of my dreams. Also, I love Sajad Ali.

Do you have any fantasy you can share with us?

Love, peace, justice & equality seem like fantasies to me in today’s world, sadly. When I was young, I fantasised about authoring a book & winning some highest recognition award, now I work towards making my dreams come true.

What’s your favourite holiday destination?

Karbala & Najaf are my only destination. Holidays, I am yet to go to.

How do you handle stress and pressure?

Well, I am blessed and privileged to be a psychotherapist so my mental health is constantly in check. Otherwise, I won’t be able to work effectively so I am always in therapy and supervision. I am very spiritual and have a great connection there so it helps me. I think if you have explored and are aware of your inner true self, you always have a guide inside that helps you seeing clearly as to what you want. I have curated a life for myself in a way that I do stay align with myself, peace and meaning. A lot of things in life are choices for a lot of us. Also, boundaries & being true to ourselves hold utmost importance.

Your message for readers of http://pknama.com?

Mental, emotional, spiritual health are all physical health forms as well so prioritize them. Take up your space that you have come with in this world with. You are in this world to just be, so try to be the human being that you are and not a human-doing that you have been constructed by people and introjects here. Have a loving relationship with yourself and don’t settle for less than you deserve. You deserve your love and you are worthy and enough. Also, be mindful of your impact on others. Life is now & too short to fret.

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Interviews

Interview with Tweep @Ayshaaaa_syeda

Please introduce yourself in few words?
I m Syeda Aysha a Master’s Student

What is your biggest accomplishment so far in life?
There is no such huge achievement in this life but little little achievements which I am proud of

What is one thing you cannot do without?
Health , I cannot manage life accurately while being sick so health is my first priority and my first pray

Your favourite tweeps?
@rumii_elia , @Khurram_zakir , @Main_kahil

Facebook, Twitter or Instagram?
Instagram is more interesting I guess

What are your healthy habits?
Struggling and making efforts are my healthy habits

Your all time favourite movie?
Not interested in movies as such

Your all time favorite song?
It’s an Arabic song

Do you have any fantasy you can share with us?
Yes , I have charm towards gaining success

What’s your favourite holiday destination?
Murree is best so far

How do you handle stress and pressure?
Firstly with namaz dhikr and then discussing with family

Your message for readers of http://pknama.com?
Please do live modestly in this era of shameless social media do not exploit yourself in this nude world of social media it will destroy you and will make you cry with blood tears

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Interview with Tweep Rum¡ @rumii_elia

Please introduce yourself in few words?
This is Rumi, in mid 30s, father of two beautiful and genius sons. I love to collect old book (sometimes I read too, life’s too busy). Cricket is life.

What is your biggest accomplishment so far in life?
I am yet to accomplish anything as yet. Just trying to survive the difficult thing that we call life and striving to do something significant to boast about, but currently, no accomplishments.

What is one thing you cannot do without?
Love

What is your favorite food?
Biryani, Haleem, Nihari, Gulab Jaman

Your favourite tweeps?
@narcissistvibes, @BlunderWoman_, @khatmal23, @QudratUzma, @AsadSultan18, @NotSoWiseMan, @gulraizkhan .. Long list

Facebook, Twitter or Instagram?
Past: Facebook, Currently: Twitter, Never: Instagram

What are your healthy habits?
Reading, all other habits are unhealthy

Your all time favourite movie?
Casablanca

Your all time favorite song?
There are many but in Urdu: Zindagi Men to Sabhi Pyar Kiya Kerte hen hits on a different level. Punjabi: Paar Channa De by Noori in Coke Studio (it changed my music taste drastically), English: Afterglow by INXS.

Do you have any fantasy you can share with us?
Millions (or billions) of dollars, Millions of books, huge mansion somewhere up-north in Pakistan, time, space and mental peace to read and just read.

What’s your favourite holiday destination?
Never been to anywhere other than Islamabad and Swat. Liked them a lot, but I would love to visit Fairy Meadows more than any other place.

How do you handle stress and pressure?
I procrastinate, hibernate and go inside my shell.

Your message for readers of http://pknama.com?
Read, read and just read. Urdu, English or your mother tongue, whatever. Fiction or non-fiction, anything. Also, please promote your mother tongue, be it Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi, Pushto or any other language. Write in your own language, don’t just let it die.

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Interview with Tweep Aamer Iqbal @DrAamer

Please introduce yourself in a few words?
I am Dr Aamer Iqbal, and I help individual reduce their risk of chronic disease by making relevant lifestyle changes. I graduated from King Edward Medical College, Lahore and later trained in chest medicine at the National Heart and Lung Institute and its associated hospital, the Royal Brompton Hospital in London. After decades of clinical practice, I have now shifted toward prevention of disease.

What is one thing you cannot do without?
Something to read.

What is your favourite food?
Greek cuisine is my favourite, though no particular food item.

What is your biggest accomplishment so far in life?
Nothing of headline material, but I am pleased with having coached a few young people to emerge from the dumps and make something of their lives.

Your favourite tweeps?
Everyone has their unique genius. The list is long.

Facebook, Twitter or Instagram?
Twitter, followed by Instagram.

What are your healthy habits?
Choose my food, choose my thoughts, choose my friends, and physical activity.

Your all time favourite movie?
More than one.

Your all time favourite song?
Prefer jazz and classical, no particular favourite.

Do you have any fantasy you can share with us?
I’ve been very blessed and I don’t think I have many left. I would like to see people more in control of their emotions and tolerate different opinions.

What’s your favourite holiday destination?
The Lake District in England.

How do you handle stress and pressure?
Avoid knee jerk reactions, breathe, this too shall pass, take relevant action.

Your message for pknama.com readers?
Choose your friends, choose your thoughts, you’re okay as you are. Celebrate your onlyness.

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