tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91695585607234399332024-02-19T05:55:28.542+00:00My Pakistani AncestryA genealogy blog to encourage people with Pakistani ancestry to have fun researching their family trees.Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-45155699322540471502012-04-22T21:51:00.002+01:002012-04-22T21:51:29.005+01:00Moved to Word PressMy Pakistani Ancestry has moved to Word Press<br />
<br />
http://pakgen.wordpress.com/<br />
<br />
See you over there!Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-47019894229143745382012-04-06T22:57:00.001+01:002012-04-06T22:57:25.906+01:00Happy Blogiversary MPA<div><p>It is 3 years to the day I started this blog. </p>
<p>Wow. Who knew it would last this long? I'm actually quite aware of the fact that it's been a tough journey trying to write these posts (enjoyable as it has been). </p>
<p>Today, as I write this post using Blogger on my mobile, I'm reminded of how things have changed over the past year. I now spend less time than I used to writing about genealogy, about 'Remembering our shaheed', about sad events in Pakistan in general. My work life has taken over so I rarely have moments to devote to writing or researching but whenever the genealogy bug takes over I'm usually seen staying up late just to find that extra bit of info or trying hopelessly to write a blog post that people will want to read. </p>
<p>Lastly, I want to thank everyone who has read my blog and those who left comments. :)</p>
</div>Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-69451944413551507732012-03-01T23:33:00.000+00:002012-03-01T23:46:09.262+00:00Back up your data with Mozy?It seems this blog gets abandoned every few months, with life passing by and all that it involves making me forget about posting. It is nice to get back to it and I'm sure this blog is still being read as I receive comments on blog posts once every blue moon. I guess that's what brought me back. There are people still out there who are searching the internet for more information about their Pakistani ancestry. I can't promise my return will be permanent but I can say that I will be posting...<br />
<br />
As it's 1st of March, I will be backing up (some of) my data in accordance to <a href="http://www.geneabloggers.com/" target="_blank">geneabloggers</a> 'Data Backup Day'. I can't say I am very good at this but atleast I'm trying. The importance of having your data secured is only fully known when something tragic happens and you lose large amounts of information.<br />
<br />
Personally, I haven't backed up my genealogy software data in a long time so this is a top priority. Currently, I am using <a href="http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/" target="_blank">Legacy</a> 7.4 and will be backing up all information which includes 322 individuals and 90 families. Scanning old family photographs is one of those things that I intend to but haven't got round to doing. I still haven't bought a scanner for starters which many would say is a must for genealogists. Although, I do console myself that atleast I have protected my original photographs in some shape or form and that they are not cluttered in a mess somewhere. Also, there are birth, marriage, death certificates that need to be scanned and placed in archival containers. Additionally, I have a Word document that I need to backup as it contains lots of the data that exists in my database.<br />
<br />
This brings me to <a href="https://secure.mozy.co.uk/registration/choose_location?dest=%2Fregistration%2Ffree" target="_blank">Mozy</a>, an online back up site. Having not tried it, I'm unable to comment on it's good features or advantages but it's another option to think about. <br />
<br />
Let's hope my computer stays alive..Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-38098741705956198792011-11-11T23:20:00.000+00:002011-11-11T23:20:00.475+00:00One year on (15)
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Two unknown security men
<br />were killed in Orakzai and Mohmand tribal regions
<br />on 11th Nov 2010
<br />
<br />An unknown soldier
<br />was killed in Goak area of Orakzai Agency
<br />on 11th Nov 2010
<br />
<br />Burials: Unknown
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-8881081325620125872011-11-11T11:18:00.000+00:002011-11-11T11:18:00.780+00:0011th Day..Today we remember those who lost their lives in World War I and II.
I'm relisting the names of soldiers that were mentioned in a BBC
programme a couple of years ago called <a href="http://pakgen.blogspot.com/2009/09/muslim-tommies.html">Muslim Tommies</a>:<br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #006600; font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;">Amir Khan - 129th Baluchis, France 1915</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;">Subedar Muhammed Agia - 57th Rifles, May 1915</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;">Havildar Abdul Rahman - 59th Rifles, France 1915</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;">Juma Khan - 40th Pathans, France 1915</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;">Sepoy Abdul Ghani - 125th Napier's Rifles, France 1915</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;">Naubet Khan - 107th Pioneers, France 1915</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;">Mohamed Ali Bey - 20th Deccan Horses, France 1915</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;">Abdul Jabar Khan, Sep 1917</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;">Mahomed Mazafar Khan - 19th Lancers, France, Oct 1917</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;">Jemadar Shamsher Ali Khan - 34th Poona Horse, France, April 1917</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;">Dafadar Fazi Khan - 19th Lancers, France Oct 1916</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;">Havildar Ghufran Khan - 129th Baluchis, Aug 1915</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;">Abdul Ali Khan - 6th Cavalry, France Aug 1917</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;">Rajwali Khan - Brighton, Sep 1915 (at hospital)</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;">Raja Khan - 38th CIH, France Oct 1917</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;">Jemadar Hasan Shah - Hodson's Horse, France 1916</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;">Kesu Shah - Rouen, May 1916</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;">Rahimdad Khan - 19th Lancers, France, May 1916</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;">Fateh Ullah - June 1916 </span><br />
<br />
Someone, somewhere will have known these men...<br />
<br /></div>Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-2320026462692472742011-11-06T22:49:00.003+00:002011-11-06T22:54:58.497+00:00Eid ul Adha 1432<span style="font-style: italic;">Eid ul Adha (Arabic: عيد الأضحى ‘Īd
al-’Aḍḥā) is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims and Druze
worldwide as a commemoration of Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to
sacrifice his son Ismael for Allah. It is one of two Eid festivals that
Muslims celebrate. Like Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha begins with a short
prayer followed by a sermon (khuṭba). It is also called the bigger Eid
because it lasts a day longer than Eid ul-Fitr.</span><br />
<br />
<div id="yui_3_1_0_1_12899068141171216" style="font-style: italic;">
Eid
al-Adha is four days long and starts on the 10th day of the month of
Dhul Hijja (ذو الحجة) of the lunar Islamic calendar. This is the day
after the pilgrims in Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi
Arabia by Muslims worldwide, descend from Mount Arafat. It happens to
be approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan.</div>
<br />
Happy Eid everyone.Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-92095930856293997022011-11-04T23:40:00.000+00:002011-11-04T23:41:01.496+00:00What does your name mean?<br />
If you're Pakistani, you're most likely to have an Arabic name and as such there will be a meaning too. Most would have been given their names by parents or uncles or aunts or grandparents. Sometimes even having hidden reasons or stories behind the name being used. Muslims are given names with good meanings behind them in order to provide a good influence on their life.<br />
<br />
My full name means 'beautiful morning'.<br />
<br />
If you're unsure of what your name means you can look it up on this Muslim names website, <a href="http://www.names4muslims.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. Or, if you don't have an Arabic name then you can choose your very own Arabic name by using the first initial of your first name and surname. For example, '<b>T</b>homas <b>J</b>ones' might become <b>T</b>ahir (meaning pure, clean, chaste, modest) <b>J</b>alil (meaning g<span>reat, revered). </span><br />
<br />
So, go ahead and try it!<br />
<span></span> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-73600861330130909402011-10-31T22:59:00.000+00:002011-10-31T23:00:40.840+00:00Why More Pakistanis Should Be Using 'Find A Grave'<br />
Here is an online resource that should be on everyone's list:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLgtZC7FYUTwsvnBWFe_irCePtDD47E0bu89laByCxLDYwXzDZkfn5zzNqzX_OmfAgAAZStrj4OootS3UQvxuJnva3rokQZje269710ms3CqiavjsXcR5uwH0QIXmVGEPHHLg-3Tk2l2Z/s1600/find+a+grave.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLgtZC7FYUTwsvnBWFe_irCePtDD47E0bu89laByCxLDYwXzDZkfn5zzNqzX_OmfAgAAZStrj4OootS3UQvxuJnva3rokQZje269710ms3CqiavjsXcR5uwH0QIXmVGEPHHLg-3Tk2l2Z/s320/find+a+grave.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.findagrave.com/index.html" target="_blank">Find A Grave</a> is a website that helps genealogists locate their ancestor's graves. The above shows an example of a memorial and includes information such as death date and details about the person's life as well as the burial location. It has been added by myself (a volunteer) and can be viewed by anyone who visits the site.<br />
<br />
Find A Grave, therefore, acts as a genealogy research tool as it holds some cemetery records that might not otherwise be available. <br />
<br />
I've heard about a 'request a photo' button on the website but haven't actually seen one. If anyone could point it out to me that would be great. (yes, I can be dim sometimes -.-) Apparently, this is a way for researchers to ask a volunteer to take a picture of a grave stone/marker. <br />
<br />
You can even search for specific burial locations for example, Pakistan and England. Unfortunately, Pakistan is only listed as having 21 records on the site whereas England has 4,104. <br />
<br />
So, go forth all Pakistanis and explore this amazing website and perhaps even contribute!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-32227129009394941722011-10-13T23:29:00.000+01:002011-10-13T22:51:44.368+01:00Abbas' trip to PakistanI'm back to blogging after a short break that was due to a trip to Pakistan (again!) and work. My trip consisted of another marriage, another new member being added to the family and another family celebration that will be remembered in years to come :)<br /><br />Today we have a very special treat in the form of a guest blogger on My Pakistani Ancestry, a good friend of mine, who has been sharing with me his research story. His trip to Pakistan was his first and was exciting in terms of him visiting his ancestral country and learning about his family roots.<br /><br />Here is his own account:<br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> <w:usefelayout/> 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mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" >Both my ancestral lines – maternal as well as paternal – can be traced back to Pakistan. On my paternal side, my great-grandfather Bostan Khan had migrated from Campbellpur (present day Attock) to Singapore before the First World War. On my maternal side, it was my mother’s father who made the journey from Mansehra to Singapore. My maternal grandfather, Hayat Shah served in colonial police force like many other men from his country. He married my grandmother in 1950 – a second-generation Pakistani herself – and passed away in March 1969, when my mother was just thirteen.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" >This past June, more than 40 years since my grandfather passed away, I brought my mother to visit Pakistan, for the first time in all our lives!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="line-height:150%;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" >Rekindling family ties</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" >Years after he had somewhat established himself here, my grandfather was joined by his younger brother, Mohammed Younis Shah. Following in his elder brother’s footsteps, he too joined the police force and married a local here in Singapore. Yet three years after the death of my grandfather, my granduncle Younis Shah returned back to Pakistan, with his wife and four children. He used to correspond with my mother and her siblings until his death in 1994. After 17 years, we managed to renew correspondence.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" >It was a trip filled with much anticipation. For me, I had two very broad aims – to strengthen family ties and to learn as much as I could about our family history.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" >From the moment I head my name being called out by my uncle when exiting the airport in Islamabad, I just knew that the trip was worth the wait. It was a three-hour journey by road to Mansehra, and throughout the car ride, my aunt and uncles who had come to fetch us wasted no time in showering us with the warm Pakistani hospitality I had often read about. The cold night air was filled with warm chatter and laughter throughout.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" >Upon his return to Pakistan, my granduncle settled in Mansehra city, just a few kilometers away from his ancestral village of Hado Bandi. And it was in this house that my mother and I stayed in. On the first day, we were brought to visit numerous graveyards where we paid our respects to my granduncle, my great-grandparents as well as our forefathers who had first settled in Hado Bandi.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" >On the second day, we were brought to Oghi – a town about 30 kilometers away from Mansehra. Here, in the village of Bandi Sadiq, was the family of my grandfather’s only sister. She had been married off to a man from this village. Sadly, she passed away only last year. We were told that she often expressed hope that she would see the children of her eldest brother – my grandfather. It was a surreal feeling, to meet my cousins, who up to that point, had merely been an abstract idea in my thoughts. Again, like in Mansehra and Hado Bandi, we visited the graves of the departed and offered our prayers for them.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="line-height:150%;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" >Love and lineage, the common languages between us </span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" >The only languages I speak are English and Malay. Over a hundred years of cultural assimilation had seen us lose the ability to speak in our native languages of Hindko and Urdu.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" >I suppose you can say we were truly fortunate, because even in Pakistan, we continued to speak English and Malay! My granduncle’s wife was a local from Singapore who spoke Malay. Thus, upon migrating to Pakistan, the language was still used within the family. The use of a language known only to us made my mother and I feel more attached to our family there. There is no doubt that despite the years of separation, there still was a level of cultural similarity between our families.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" >In Bandi Sadiq, we were also fortunate that many of our relatives there had gone through various degrees of education and could speak English proficiently. For those who were unable to communicate with us, they did so through my uncle who acted as an interpreter. And when he wasn’t around, we will attempt to speak in each other’s tongues anyway. I think we barely made it, but the smiles that resulted were priceless. When we left after three days in the village, tears were shed, as a testimony to the love that had been forged in that short period of time.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="line-height:150%;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" > </span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="line-height:150%;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" >The research project – Pen, paper and photographs</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" >It was a genealogical researcher’s dream come true. I had prepared myself with a notebook and a pen, as well as a camera if I needed it. Most of my uncles and aunts knew of my intention to research the family history and they were ever so patient to sit down with me to draw up the family tree and answer any queries that I had. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" >Additionally, my aunt who had known of my research project had brought me to visit an elderly 72-year-old man who knew the history of the people in the village, but also of Pakistani folk who had migrated to Singapore! In fact, his wife was born in Singapore and moved to Pakistan when she was 12. My aunt patiently acted as the translator and scribe as I asked questions about my late grandfather, his family as well as some other personalities who had migrated to Singapore.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" >I realised one of the best things I did was to have printed the pictures of my family, my grandparents, as well as other relatives and people of Pakistani origin in Singapore. Though not exactly comprehensive, it had helped me a lot in discovering information I had never expected to find.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" >A case in point was when one of my aunts saw the photograph of my mother’s maternal grandfather. She asked who the man in the picture was. And when we told her that it was the father-in-law of my late grandfather, she surprised us by informing us that she knew of his origin. She told us that he was from Tilli – the Black Mountain of Hazara (Tor Ghar). This was a golden nugget of information that not a single descendent of my great-grandfather knew, but was communicated by my late grandfather (his son-in-law) to his sister. This was a bonus I had never expected to discover.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="line-height:150%;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" >Tips for genealogists visiting the ancestral land</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="line-height:150%;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" > </span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" >Never leave behind <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u>any</u></i> information back home. Though apparently painstaking, it may be worth to make copies, or back up of research you have done thus far, and bring the copy with you on your trip. You wouldn’t want to be in a situation where you stumbled upon a valuable lead, only that you cannot pursue it because some important information you require is sitting pretty at home, thousands of miles away from you. Even the most mundane of information can be frustrating to recall should you suddenly require it. It may be a name, an address, a relationship or a date.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN-US" >Another tip is to strike a balance between research and recreation. Sometimes you may need to be firm and decline invitations, in order to pursue a particular lead – like visiting a place or interviewing a person. On the other hand, you wouldn’t want to be completely immersed in research that you forget to enjoy the experience. Take the time to immerse yourself in the environment and imagine what it might have been like for your ancestor to live through it. After all, how often do we get to visit the ancestral land?</span></p><br />If you'd like to read more about Abbas' trip to Pakistan, then head over to his <a href="http://project-bostan.blogspot.com/">blog</a>.Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-64499369477996819462011-08-18T22:51:00.000+01:002011-08-24T23:14:45.311+01:00Remembering our shaheed .. 21I'm posting more announcements of our shaheed (martyred) who are fighting for our country, our people and our freedom.
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<br />Tuesday July 19th 2011
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<br />'<span style="font-weight: bold;">Four soldiers</span> were killed when rockets fired from Afghanistan hit a security post in South Waziristan on Tuesday. Two other soldiers were injured.<strong>..
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subaidar Shafiq, Lance Naik Shundi Gul</span> and soldiers <span style="font-weight: bold;">Irfan and Mohammad Ali </span>were killed in the pre-dawn attack.' (<a href="http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/20/afghan-rockets-kill-four-soldiers.html">Dawn</a>)
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<br />Friday August 12th 2011
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<br />'<strong></strong><span style="font-weight: bold;">An army man</span> was killed and three others were injured when five rockets fired from nearby mountains landed in the Quetta Cantonment on Friday evening...
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<br />The injured were taken to the Quetta CMH, where <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mohammad Shahid</span> died.'<strong> </strong>(<a href="http://www.dawn.com/2011/08/13/soldier-killed-in-rocket-attack-on-quetta-cantt.html">Dawn</a>)<strong>
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<br />Sunday August 14th 2011
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<br />'<strong></strong><span style="font-weight: bold;">Three soldiers</span> were killed and 25 others injured in a rocket attack on Sunday on Tochi Scouts fort in Miramshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan Agency.' (<a href="http://www.dawn.com/2011/08/15/rocket-attack-kills-three-security-men.html"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Dawn</span></a>)
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<br /></strong>Note: I can only provide you with names if I find them in the news articles I browse. If you think something needs correcting, please do leave me a message. I try my best.
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<br />We should all pray for these men and their families and recognise their courage and sacrifice for their country.
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<br />Are you related to a soldier? Do you have memories of a loved one dying in a war? Do you have a message for the soldiers fighting? Leave me a comment.Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-63264709601639603412011-08-14T23:32:00.003+01:002011-08-14T23:41:11.847+01:00Happy Independence Day..
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5-mAiOrhJ1jhle7bDgN-lBHScvlp5-sNhH0DSka-_AyfTw2n7K345yt3AhUvPKIPjwxKZQPZA9CaUoxQIEuR3DjYMxPKKnvt3akN3lqzsAk4nCrae5sYSIjj6NHZTHSjA70S3FCLRpcR/s1600/81741.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5-mAiOrhJ1jhle7bDgN-lBHScvlp5-sNhH0DSka-_AyfTw2n7K345yt3AhUvPKIPjwxKZQPZA9CaUoxQIEuR3DjYMxPKKnvt3akN3lqzsAk4nCrae5sYSIjj6NHZTHSjA70S3FCLRpcR/s320/81741.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640844799573063442" border="0" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">I'd like to wish a very
<br />Happy Independence Day
<br />
<br />to
<br />
<br />everyone in Pakistan and Pakistanis worldwide
<br />
<br />=)
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<br />
<br /></div>Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-87319017395106703552011-08-02T23:00:00.003+01:002011-08-02T23:16:49.958+01:00Who do you think you are? 2011My favourite program is back on our screens <span style="font-weight: bold;">August 10th</span> and I can't wait to see what revealing information we get to see about famous people that we all know. Once again, Wiki is providing us with upcoming celebs that are to appear on the show..<br /><br />Series 8<br />June Brown (Dot from Eastenders)<br />Richard Madeley<br />J.K. Rowling (Author of Harry Potter books)<br />Alan Carr<br />Sebastian Coe<br />Larry Lamb (Archie Mitchell from Eastenders, again)<br />Tracey Emin<br />Len Goodman<br />Emilia Fox<br />Robin Gibb<br /><br />It's to be broadcast on Wednesday on BBC One at 9pm (probably will be stuffing my face full of food as I watch since it is immediately after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iftar">Iftar</a>). Or you can choose to watch it on <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/">Iplayer</a> if you can't make it.Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-87076101437334083642011-08-01T23:45:00.003+01:002011-08-01T23:48:27.494+01:00Ramadhan Mubarak: 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1y1d7kgPi-1wNAx4I4cS2apq_le6ocqweQBFllJxvHPNYlxUo9HturbFn7FrBqEJ8ClqQZT_dy5QfcTsODCsQy9asaI9r55vuXKIsccfaXyyDXc4eu18JLO-EPB2sBXzAz7eYbwOdMrEV/s1600/1672-ramadan-mubarak.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1y1d7kgPi-1wNAx4I4cS2apq_le6ocqweQBFllJxvHPNYlxUo9HturbFn7FrBqEJ8ClqQZT_dy5QfcTsODCsQy9asaI9r55vuXKIsccfaXyyDXc4eu18JLO-EPB2sBXzAz7eYbwOdMrEV/s320/1672-ramadan-mubarak.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636022621913549602" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Ramadhan Mubarak to all =)<br />The holy month started on the 1st of August this year.<br /></div>Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-11686161021216404042011-07-18T22:43:00.000+01:002011-07-21T23:06:05.390+01:00Remembering our shaheed .. 20I'm posting more announcements of our shaheed (martyred) who are fighting for our country, our people and our freedom.<br /><br />Sunday June 19th 2011<br /><br />'At least 25 militants and <span style="font-weight: bold;">four soldiers</span> were killed in a clash in Wali Dad area of Mohmand tribal region on Sunday when troops, backed by military planes, helicopters and artillery, pushed in to take control of the militant stronghold of Soran Darra along the Afghan border.<strong> </strong>' (<a href="http://www.dawn.com/2011/06/20/mohmand-area-cleared-after-fierce-clash.html">Dawn</a>)<br /><br />Monday July 4th 2011<br /><br />'Dozens of Taliban from Afghanistan launched a pre-dawn attack on a security post in Bajaur tribal region on Monday, killing <span style="font-weight: bold;">one paramilitary soldier</span> and injuring another. Three attackers died when Pakistani forces fired back<strong>.</strong>'<strong> </strong>(<a href="http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/05/soldier-3-militants-killed-astaliban-attack-bajaur-post.html">Dawn</a>)<strong><br /></strong><br />Tuesday July 5th 2011<br /><br />'At least <span style="font-weight: bold;">five Frontier Corps personnel</span> were killed and six injured in a bomb attack in Mand town near the Iranian border on Tuesday.' (<a href="http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/06/five-fc-men-die-in-turbat-explosion.html"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Dawn</span></a>)<br /><br />Thursday July 14th 2011<br /><br /><strong></strong>'<strong></strong>At least eight security personnel and 15 militants were killed in fierce clashes in Chamalang area of Kohlu district on Thursday night and Friday.<br /><p>According to sources, 12 security men were injured in the clashes which continued till late Friday night. Two ‘commanders’ were reported to be among the dead militants.</p><p>But a Frontier Corps (FC) spokesman disputed the casualty figure and said: “Four of our soldiers and eight militants have been killed.” He said the assailants had attacked FC personnel whom were on duty in the area and firing continued till evening...</p>Five of the FC men killed were identified as <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ghulam Mohammad, Kashif, Faisal Tufail, Ahmed Nawaz and Rehmatullah</span>.' (<a href="http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/16/clashes-in-kohlu-15-militants-8-fc-men-dead.html"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Dawn</span></a>)<br /><br />Monday July 18th 2011<br /><br />'<strong></strong>Militants slaughtered an official of Frontier Constabulary in Peshawar district and killed two hostages in Kurram Agency on Monday night, sources said.<br /><br />“The body of FC man <span style="font-weight: bold;">Taj Alam Khattak</span> was found near Shaikhan police post,” sources said, adding that he went missing on Monday when he was on way to his post in Aziz Market area.<br /><strong><br /></strong>An official said that the FC man, a resident of Mian Wali, had been on leave since July 2. He was supposed to join his duty on 18 but he could not reach his post as militants kidnapped him in the limits of Badbher police station, he added.' (<a href="http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/20/nine-boys-hurt-in-khyber-mortar-attack-militants-slaughter-fc-man-kill-two-hostages.html">Dawn</a>)<br /><br /><strong><br /></strong>Note: I can only provide you with names if I find them in the news articles I browse. If you think something needs correcting, please do leave me a message. I try my best.<br /><br />We should all pray for these men and their families and recognise their courage and sacrifice for their country.<br /><br />Are you related to a soldier? Do you have memories of a loved one dying in a war? Do you have a message for the soldiers fighting? Leave me a comment.Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-50433627760850365182011-06-23T22:34:00.000+01:002011-07-20T22:41:14.311+01:00One year on (14)<div style="text-align: center;">An unknown paramilitary soldier<br />was killed in Djabori<br />on 23rd June 2010<br /><br />Burial: Unknown<br /><br />Hazrat Nabi<br />was killed in Lower Dir<br />on 5th July 2010<br /><br />Burial: Unknown<br /></div>Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-86233920582937467762011-06-19T17:22:00.001+01:002011-06-24T17:29:25.252+01:00Urdu word of the month - Post 12Again for this week's Urdu word, I'm asking you guys to make up a sentence rather than me providing one as I'm not familiar with the word (yes, I'm learning too).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >انتشار</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">n.m<br />confusion; dispersion; disorder<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Please feel free to provide any feedback for this theme. You can even introduce your own Urdu words or even make up sentences with the above word and blog about them on your own blog. Remember to post your links.<br /><br />Or email me if you're shy: pakistani_g[at]hotmail.co.uk<br /><br />The next Urdu post will be on the <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">17th July</span>.<br /><br /></div></div>Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-37568671397157217592011-06-18T17:06:00.001+01:002011-06-24T17:36:00.977+01:00Remembering our shaheed .. 19<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/6/3/1307092067679/Funerals-in-Upper-Dir-007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 460px; height: 276px;" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/6/3/1307092067679/Funerals-in-Upper-Dir-007.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Funerals take place in Upper Dir for Pakistani forces killed in clashes with Islamist militants. Photograph: Rohullah Shakir.</span><br /></div><br /><br />I'm posting more announcements of our shaheed (martyred) who are fighting for our country, our people and our freedom.<br /><br />Sunday May 22nd 2011<br /><br />'Armed militants stormed into a naval airbase here on Sunday night, destroyed three aircraft and killed at least five people — <span style="font-weight: bold;">four navy personnel</span> and a foreigner whose nationality could not be ascertained.' (<a href="http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/23/terrorists-attack-navy-airbase-in-karachi-destroy-three-aircraft.html">Dawn</a>)<br /><br />Thursday June 2nd 2011<br /><br /><strong></strong>'Islamist militants believed to have come from <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/afghanistan" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Afghanistan"></a>Afghanistan have fought a second day of battles with Pakistani security forces..<br /><br />The fighting began when militants crossed into Pakistan on Wednesday. By Thursday evening, <span style="font-weight: bold;">25 soldiers</span>, 35 militants and three civilians had died in fighting, according to the regional police chief, Ghulam Mohammed.' (<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/03/pakistan-forces-deadly-clashes-militants"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Guardian</span></a>)<br /><br />Thursday June 9th 2011<br /><br />'<span style="font-weight: bold;">Eight soldiers</span> and 12 militants killed at security checkpoint in Waziristan, according to intelligence officials' (<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/09/pakistan-soldiers-killed-rocket-attack">Guardian</a>)<br /><br /><br />Note: I can only provide you with names if I find them in the news articles I browse. If you think something needs correcting, please do leave me a message. I try my best.<br /><br />We should all pray for these men and their families and recognise their courage and sacrifice for their country.<br /><br />Are you related to a soldier? Do you have memories of a loved one dying in a war? Do you have a message for the soldiers fighting? Leave me a comment.Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-25542929075848014222011-06-11T22:57:00.002+01:002011-06-11T23:11:33.378+01:00Restoring Old Photographs and DocumentsHave you got some old photographs that are in need of some TLC? Here's a website that may be able to help:<br /><br /><a href="http://399retouch.com/index-a.html">399Retouch<br /></a><br />"We make people look good in photographs, and restore old, torn, damaged photos. We guarantee you will like your photo, or you pay nothing."<br /><br />Sounds good doesn't it? I've actually seen the restoration examples on the website and I must say they are pretty good. However, in regards with prices, they appear to charge depending on what type of work that needs doing and don't include any idea of what that may be.<br /><br />So, has anyone tried this service?Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-41919042157484858422011-06-09T23:39:00.000+01:002011-06-24T17:05:28.059+01:00One year on (13)<div style="text-align: center;"><br />Six soldiers<br />were killed in an area near Afghanistan<br />on 9th June 2010<br /><br />Burials: Unknown<br /></div>Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-22570835646621081742011-05-31T22:20:00.000+01:002011-05-31T22:20:00.037+01:00Tombstone Tuesday - Susan E. Pratt Attar (1948-1992)Here I have another photograph from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26343221@N08/">CM Fish</a> on flickr for today's Tombstone Tuesday. Thank you once again for letting me use the photograph. <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></span>It was taken at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Seattle, Washington.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpB0m9zqw9vWHr3Gdme4pDZnsdFEhMHNyZVZwM8BNOkKAtEbKOb9xBNBtdPsG530mZJmBoWU5gC_R-j3a_kz1iW6FB32UjDBYo2r2GH4BnWiLIHcxL4l2jwA5P-fLq1HW9VklD0YzS0rSj/s1600/attar.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpB0m9zqw9vWHr3Gdme4pDZnsdFEhMHNyZVZwM8BNOkKAtEbKOb9xBNBtdPsG530mZJmBoWU5gC_R-j3a_kz1iW6FB32UjDBYo2r2GH4BnWiLIHcxL4l2jwA5P-fLq1HW9VklD0YzS0rSj/s320/attar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609299009954890706" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">'[Arabic script]</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"> SUSAN E. PRATT</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"> ATTAR</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"> BORN IN SEATTLE</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"> 1948 - 1992'</span><br /></div><br />Unfortunately, I can't translate everything but the top line translates as "In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate" and above the name written in English, its the name written in Arabic script. However, the Arabic name says 'Susan Elaine Attar' which tells me the middle name that's been abbreviated in the English translation.Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-63457721144673401662011-05-24T23:03:00.000+01:002011-05-24T23:03:00.590+01:00Tuesday's Tip: Look for clues at homeMy tip for today is:<br /><br />Look through old pictures, letters, deeds, wills, military records, family data etc to find clues about your ancestors.<br /><br />Whilst looking through an old photo album, I came across this:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkITDE2QILXO1OAkiW92FzHRYo1U9rvX5XRNhAyX8dubVwRrWKlK0mPSodEz2O727_-4WKDjjnupMhGlsv_3eTVk3AzpVJKbpDMiomYadj6ljXFH925wcAQj9YNuwP9Z6LGKFXFC4Xy7o/s1600/b-w_great_uncle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkITDE2QILXO1OAkiW92FzHRYo1U9rvX5XRNhAyX8dubVwRrWKlK0mPSodEz2O727_-4WKDjjnupMhGlsv_3eTVk3AzpVJKbpDMiomYadj6ljXFH925wcAQj9YNuwP9Z6LGKFXFC4Xy7o/s320/b-w_great_uncle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609289018529938834" border="0" /></a><br />Now, I already knew about this relative as I had met him and been told stories about him by my Mum, but it's nice to be able to see a photograph of him in his uniform. QH<span lang="RU"> was the youngest of 7 siblings</span>. I was told he w<span lang="RU">orked in the Pakistan Army</span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB" lang="RU"> </span><span lang="RU">and went to fight in the war between Pakistan and India, where he was captured and kept prisoner for some time until he was returned.</span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"></span>Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-26787792854240647262011-05-22T17:16:00.000+01:002011-05-22T17:16:00.302+01:00Urdu word of the month - Post 11<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />For this week's Urdu word, I'm asking you guys to make up a sentence rather than me providing one as I'm not familiar with the word (yes, I'm learning too).<br /></div><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">آ رد</span><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;">n. m<br />flour; meal<br />'arad'<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Please feel free to provide any feedback for this theme. You can even introduce your own Urdu words or even make up sentences with the above word and blog about them on your own blog. Remember to post your links.<br /><br />Or email me if you're shy: pakistani_g[at]hotmail.co.uk<br /><br />The next Urdu post will be on the <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">19th June</span>.<br /><br /></div></div></div>Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-41218651228326071212011-05-18T23:07:00.000+01:002011-05-21T23:16:54.114+01:00Remembering our shaheed .. 18I'm posting more announcements of our shaheed (martyred) who are fighting for our country, our people and our freedom.<br /><br />Sunday May 8th 2011<br /><br />'<span style="font-weight: bold;">Two Frontier Corps personnel</span> were killed in a blast in South Waziristan`s Asman Manza area on Sunday morning.<br />Sources said that the FC personnel were going from Kaniguram to Laddah when they were hit by an explosive device. The deceased were identified as <span style="font-weight: bold;">Shan and Mashan</span>.' (<a href="http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/09/blast-kills-two-fc-personnel.html">Dawn</a>)<br /><br />Tuesday May 17th 2011<br /><br /><strong></strong>'<span style="font-weight: bold;">Two soldiers</span> were killed and another received injuries in a landmine explosion in upper tehsil of Orakzai Agency on Tuesday...<br />Two soldiers identified as <span style="font-weight: bold;">Basharat</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ajmal </span>were killed in the blast, they added.' (<a href="http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/18/landmine-kills-two-soldiers-in-orakzai.html">Dawn</a>)<br /><br />Note: I can only provide you with names if I find them in the news articles I browse. If you think something needs correcting, please do leave me a message. I try my best.<br /><br />We should all pray for these men and their families and recognise their courage and sacrifice for their country.<br /><br />Are you related to a soldier? Do you have memories of a loved one dying in a war? Do you have a message for the soldiers fighting? Leave me a comment.Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-82568074719712664312011-05-05T23:19:00.000+01:002011-06-11T23:37:06.278+01:00One year on (12)<div style="text-align: center;"><br />Hawaldar Gul Mohammad<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>was killed in Rownyal area of Matta<br />on 5th May 2010<br /><br />Burial: Rustam in Mardan<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Lance Naik Nooruddin and Naik Rehman Shah<br />were killed in the Safi tehsil of the Mohmand Agency<br />on 21st May 2010<br /><br />Burials: Unknown<br /><br />Two soldiers<br />were killed in Orakzai<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>on 29th May 2010<br /><br />Burials: Unknown<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></div>Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169558560723439933.post-35851463071180062992011-04-30T22:42:00.001+01:002011-05-09T22:46:53.702+01:00Jennifer Musa (1917 - 2008)<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />Have you been following the </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" href="http://www.theaccidentalgenealogist.com/2010/02/fearless-females-31-blogging-prompts-to.html">blogging prompts</a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> from Lisa Alzo's blog which celebrate Women's History Month by asking bloggers to write about their female ancestors?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Today's blogging prompt is: </span></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;">'<span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">March 13 — Moment of Strength: share a story where a female ancestor showed courage or strength in a difficult situation.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0); font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;" >'</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I'm sharing the story of a female who is not an ancestor but deserves to have her story told as she was a strong woman living in a man's world.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Jennifer Musa was unknown to me until I read a post at pakistaniat.com written by Adil Najam. It's an interesting read which I encourage you to read </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" href="http://pakistaniat.com/2010/01/12/jennifer-wren-musa/#more-11223">here</a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> fully. Here's a glimpse of it:</span></span><br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><blockquote><blockquote><p><br /></p><p>Jennifer Musa, who has died aged 90, was an Irishwoman of modest stock who took over from her husband as head of a tribe in the remote borderlands of Baluchistan; unveiled and uncompromising, she dedicated her life to the conservative Muslim tribesmen among whom she lived for 60 years until her death….</p> <p>Far from being a colonial figure who “stayed on”, and despite having been dubbed “the Queen of Baluchistan”, <strong>Jennifer Musa was a tough-minded, unassuming nurse who arrived at the parched fringes of the Indian subcontinent a year after Partition</strong>. When she arrived there, as she later recalled, locals believed that the British monarchy had gifted the “London lady” to their chief in return for killing a tiger.</p> <p>She was born Bridget Wren at Tarmons, Co Kerry, Ireland, on November 11 1917, the daughter of smallholding farmers. She had four sisters and two brothers and received a Roman Catholic education. Known as Bridie, she later changed her name to Jennifer and left for England to train as a nurse. <strong>In 1939 she met Qazi Mohammed Musa in Oxford</strong>, at Exeter College’s May Ball.</p> <p>Qazi Musa, who read Philosophy, was a ward of the Governor-General of Baluchistan and the eldest son of the prime minister to the Khan of Kalat, Baluchistan’s princely state. <strong>Jennifer took the Muslim name of Jehan Zeba and they married in 1940</strong>, despite some opposition from his otherwise “liberal” family.</p> <p>Qazi had been married off to his first wife when he was 14 years old amid fears that he would be killed, most likely poisoned, by clan rivals. The marriage produced four sons and one daughter. <strong>Jennifer and Qazi’s first wife, a member of the neighbouring Kansi tribe, remained neighbours and friends in later years</strong>.</p> <p>Qazi’s father had been a key figure in the Pakistan movement and the couple arrived there from England in 1948. The family stronghold at Pishin, a dusty, baked plateau 30 miles north of Baluchistan’s capital, Quetta, is a far cry from the banks of the Shannon. For centuries it fell under the suzerainty of tribes from the neighbouring city of Kandahar, where the Qazis once wielded influence before being expelled by the British. The area, which is hemmed in by russet mountains and tormented by dust devils and temperatures in excess of 50 degrees Celsius, was retained within the borders of British India after the Second Afghan War in 1881.<br /><strong>Jennifer donned the shalwar kameez, but without wearing a headscarf or the all-encompassing burqa, and lived the rarified life of the frontier sardars (tribal chiefs)</strong>.</p> <p>In a land of camels, her family owned the only car; despite the austere surroundings, they lived in relative security within the thick, mud-walled, colonial-era home that was festooned with daggers, tigers’ heads and photographs of her extravagantly whiskered in-laws.</p> <p><strong>Pakistan’s founder, <a href="http://www.google.com/custom?hl=en&safe=active&client=pub-6481471205515676&channel=4845079280&cof=FORID%3A13%3BAH%3Aleft%3BCX%3AATP%2520Search%3BL%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fpakistaniat.com%2Fimages%2FATP-new.jpg%3BLH%3A50%3BLC%3A%230000ff%3BVLC%3A%23663399%3BDIV%3A%23336699%3B&adkw=AELymgXPas89Ke_As4plwanhpw779vo2SfriDGVNMOxeb0nYDOoBK4q_10Z9zwOKm-MNuRw7DeX0WdqocrgEdf5qU1syfVl7oP3RAT6_0pEsodQmVEtplYY&boostcse=0&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&q=jinnah&btnG=Search&cx=partner-pub-6481471205515676%3Akg9dr0-m1ii" target="_blank">Mohammed Ali Jinnah</a>, stayed for several nights at the house, from where they often forayed across the border to the fashionable, Francophone court of the Afghan king at Kabul.</strong> But the idyll ended when her husband died in a motor accident in 1956. Despite her wish to return to Ireland, her husband’s family persuaded her to stay in Pishin with their 14-year-old son, <strong>Ashraf Jehangir Qazi</strong> <em>[later to become Pakistan's Ambassador to USA]</em>.</p> <p>Her independence of mind, often attributed to her “Irishness”, led her to enter politics. <strong>She joined the now-defunct National Awami (Freedom) Party (NAP) of the Pathan nationalist Wali Khan. At what are often called Pakistan’s “first and last free and fair elections”, in 1970, she won a seat in the national assembly.</strong> Her flaxen hair, grey-blue eyes and fair skin caused unease among its more bearded members.</p> <p>Jennifer served as a parliamentarian for seven years, during which time she demonstrated her empathy for the underdog. <strong>She founded the area’s first women’s association and its first family planning clinic. “You can’t liberate women until you liberate men,” she said. More famously, she resisted strong pressure from the overbearing prime minister, <a href="http://www.google.com/cse?cx=partner-pub-6481471205515676%3Akg9dr0-m1ii&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=bhutto&sa=Search">Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto</a>, to water down autonomous rights for Baluchistan.</strong></p> <p>Perhaps apocryphally, <strong>Bhutto was reputed to have mused whether she thought she was “the Queen of Baluchistan”. Then he added: “Fix that woman.”</strong></p> <p>She was <strong>a proud signatory of Pakistan’s 1973 constitution</strong>. But when Bhutto savagely crushed a Baluch insurgency <strong>during the 1970s Jennifer acted as a conduit for messages from the rebel leadership and jailed fighters to their families</strong>, because their women were cut off from public life as they were in purdah.</p> <p>Democratic politics in Pakistan, and Jennifer’s political career, came to an end with the imposition of martial law at the end of the 1970s, and she turned her focus on her family home and lands. She grafted a rose garden among its pomegranate and pine trees. <strong>During the 1980s she worked among Afghan refugees who flocked to Pishin due to the fighting in the anti-Soviet jihad; she set up and managed an ice factory in a land that lacks refrigeration and electricity; and - to the chagrin of the mullahs - she promoted literacy for women.</strong></p> <p>But it was in her capacity as a traditional tribal administrator that she made her mark. She dispensed favours, settled disputes and signed chits for tribesmen who gathered at her gate. “You have to be astute dealing with the Baluch,” she remarked.</p> <p>Her emphasis was on education, health and hard work. A local superintendent of police recalled how, when he was a schoolboy, Jennifer pinched his ear for missing class. In such a way she inspired a generation of local professionals who lived in fear of being “whacked”.</p> <p>It remained a mystery to her family how she managed. She had little grasp of the local language, Pashto. A family retainer was amused to overhear the somewhat whimsical explanation for the town’s name of Pishin that she offered to a visitor - she said, erroneously, that it was derived from the Pashto for “cat”. <strong>When angry, her smatterings of Urdu and Pashto gave way to pure English</strong>.</p> <p>Purposefully vague about when she “became Islamic”, Jennifer did not feel bound by religion, preferring to remark on the similarities of the various faiths.</p> <p>She retained a faint Kerry brogue, but said <strong>she knew more about Pakistan than Ireland, which she last visited in the 1960s</strong>. She was an unfussy Irishwoman with a twinkly sense of humour who felt “very much at home” at Pishin. In Ireland, she noted, the women did not mix much with the men.</p> <p>In her later years visiting foreign journalists mused about how the wild, tribal frontier, where women are in purdah and even goatherds carry Kalashnikovs, was an unlikely place to find an elderly Irish widow serving afternoon tea. The area has lately become a stronghold for the Taliban, and is generally out of bounds to foreigners.</p> <p>Jennifer died on January 12. <strong>Her funeral procession was attended by thousands of burly, turbaned Pathans (many of them allied to the Taliban) who raised cheers of “Mummy Jennifer!” in her honour as the cortège passed through a shuttered Pishin</strong>. She was buried at the Qazis’ ancestral burial ground near the tomb of the family Sufi saint, Sheikh Farid Baba. President Pervez Musharraf telephoned Jennifer’s son, a former Pakistani ambassador to the United States, to offer his condolences for <em><a target="_blank" href="http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?answer=42197">more</a></em>the death of a woman who, in one of her last interviews, said: <strong>“Mummy has had her innings.”</strong></p><p><strong><br /></strong></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Unfortunately, the link to the obituary that was referred to in the blog post, is not working. What an interesting life she led!<br /><br />Note: This is a repost from <a href="http://pakgen.blogspot.com/2010/03/fearless-females-jennifer-musa-1917.html">13th March 2010</a>.<br /><br /></span></span>Anonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012570904480440261noreply@blogger.com2