TRIP OF THANDIANI TOP

TRIP OF THANDIANI TOP        

PROF WAQAR HUSSAIN

         
On return from Naran, we halted for a night stay at my maternal cousine Mansoor Ahmad kazi, a famous specialist contractor of earthquake buildings, at Jinnahabad ;a posh locality of Abbottabad. I along with my wife, three sons and a daughter reached Mansoor’s house at about 8pm. After rest and meal, Mansoor inquired of our future programme. We told him that we are going back to home. He asked: “Have you seen Simla Pihari?” We all said in chorus “yes”. Then he said: “Have you seen Thandiani?” We said: “no”. My better half said in humour: “I have not seen Thandiani but have felt Thandiani(coldness) whenever I used to open freezer and a violent sneeze comes out with noisy burst of shower. Mansoor said: “Thandiani is place worth seeing”. It has not only cold clear calming milieu but also has one of the thickest forest present in the area with unique fauna and flora in the foothill of Himalalaya. Amsar, my eldest son, asked: “How far it is and on what road?” Mansoor uncle replied: “It is 31km from Abbotabad”. First we will move towards Murree road and on the way it will show the famous Illyasi Mosque under which water is flowing. After 6 km on Murree road, a link road will lead to Thandiani. From there, Thandiani is about 25 km. Zawar asked Mansoor uncle to tell some more interesting features of Thandiani so that we could make our mind.

                  

Mansoor told that there is extensive thick forest with mushroom growth of herb and shrub that make it a save heaven for the wild life. When you will more on narrow road, going abruptly upward and downward, hurling in U- turn with steep height, thick dark vegetation on both sides, and noise of waterfalls and sometime complete silence and even you can hear the rustling of leaves. Fear and feign; dread and delight; anxiety and amusement-- all mingled in a way that no one can clearly say; he is enjoying or worrying.

       

When, you will move on curly, bumpy, narrow, eroded road, suddenly a leopard can come across the road to great you. On hearing this, Nisar said: “We will not visit Thandiani, we will see Illyasi Mosque or Harnai”. Mansoor kept on saying “Leopard rarely comes, don’t worry. There are monkeys jumping from one twig to another, pheasants of many kinds, 

and above all flying squirrels, Pine Martem and cobra plant”. Anyhow we made up mind to visit Thandiani. I told that my blue Cultus is not good enough to swirl steep heights. Mansoor said, my Baleno is getting older and doesn’t withstand hectic journeys. So it was decided to go on Suzuki carrier or jeep. We gathered required items in two bags and set out for Thandiani. Soon we hired a 

Suzuki carry daba on nominal prize and my son Zawarsat on the front seat and other members set on back seats having face to face contact. I asked the driver his name, cast and years of experience. He was Shafeeq cast Mughal, aged 50 and had 30 years driving experience.

Keep in mind: Older driver, younger vehicle, persistent prayers and paused journey are the golden pillar of safe and sound journey. Soon we reached Illysi Mosque, the driver stopped the pickup. But all decided to see the mosque on return as it was getting dark. So we started journey again. When we took turn from Murree road, a 4ft narrow road welcomed us. As, we moved ahead, upward; plantation increased on both sides. Zawar asked driver Shafeeq Mirza, “Who built this road? He told: “Thandiani was basically granted to a famous Battye Family in British India. They were dynamic Christian missionaries and most were employed in civil and military service. Later Battye family presented it to church authorities. A sanatorium, small huts, hotels, camping ground, small bazaar, small church of St Xavier  were built. So, the entire work ranging from construction of the road to structure of buildings is the work of the British. After travelling about 12km from Murree turn, a place Kall Pani came. Where a small river was flowing and scenery was heart catching. After 15 minutes stay, we again started journey. At this point of journey; Uncle Mansoor, Amsar and Nisar complained dizziness. So I gave them anti-vertigo drug stamatil. Mansoor said, “He want to sit on the front seat as it will reduce my giddiness.

          

Now the wind became cooler rather colder, forest became thicker, silence became more pronounced, the panorama was amazing, atmosphere was charismatic, and fear was alarming. As we went a little up my wife saw cobra plant, it was amazing. It has all the shape and colours of cobra except his venom. We snapped some pictures. Previously we saw cobra plant on Payee (Shogran) but they were only green. Here, they were in green as well as in multi colours.

            I asked Shafeeq about races residing in the area. He said: “There are many races; Qureshi, Gujjar, Karlal, Qureshi, Sarrara, etc. He himself was Mughal.

          

Now we were reaching near the top, clouds were flowing beneath us. It was getting colder. But there was very little population. I inquired Shafeeq Mughal about nearby population. He told that there are number of villages Mara Rehmat Khan, Inderseri, Cattri, Chamaili, Siyalkot, Pattan and Kukmang, etc. Many I couldn’t hear or remember. But he gave a long list.

           When the top was a few km away, a road was moving eastward. The Driver told that this road leads to Kashmir. And another road was moving northwest, it was heading towards Balakot. At this point my eldest son Nisar shouted: Look! There is flying squirrel.”We all tried to see but in closed Suzuki Carry, it was not possible to catch such a quick scene. However, the driver said: “there are many more on the top and leopard also.” On hearing this, all became as silent as post.

            

Soon we reached the top of Thandiani. There were many small hotels, a wrecked church, a small grazing land and a series of PTV Towers of Rebroadcasting station Thandiani. It was very cold and Amsar has to admit; it is rightly called Thandiani! We sat on the ground close to the church and then looked around in all directions. We were present at the height of about 10,000ft above the sea level. Clouds were roaming but below us. The upper portion of sky was clear. When we looked in the East, we saw snow covered mountain range of Pir Panjal of Kashmir. In the North and northeast, mountains of Kohistan and Kaghan were visible. In the northwest, we saw snowy ranges of Swat and Chitral. On the southern side TV Antennas blocked our vision. I told my children that this is the astonishing and unique feature of Thandiani top that when you reach at the top, you are in fact on the top and nothing is above you and thus you can clear view of distant mountains. Although Nathia Gali, Naran, Kalam, Shogran are about 8000ft height. When you reached at the top, there are mountains chains still higher around you, so visitor’s sight is being blocked and he doesn’t feel to be at the top. Even Saif-ul-Muluk(10,500ft), Lo lo sar lake(11,300ft); Lalazar (10,600ft)-- all are enclaved by mountains thus blocking clear vision. So the second distinguished feature of Thandiani top is uninterrupted far-off view. Then we moved southward to see towers. As we moved little further, there was a furnished rest house we moved ahead and saw a shady tree on the right.

 There were a few candles burning at high platform with a caption “meditation place of Hazarat Bari Imam RA”. It was pleasing movement to find the sitting place of a renowned Muslim Sufi. Then we started moving backward, the sun was dusking. A golden plate was sinking in white clouds and then was reappearing. This hides and seek continued for some time and finally sun 

disc started dipping downward in the dark green pine trees. This was the first time that the sun was not dusking in land, green field or blue water. Here, it was stepping in valley of thick forest. It was simply picturesque and amazing!

        

On the seeing the departure of sun, we also decided to depart. In the meanwhile, we saw a couple of Martin, having fun on the grass perhaps they will play before going to nest. We moved back to Abbottabad and stopped at Illyasy Mosque and saw the mosque and ate famous pakora which has countrywide fame.

     

کیا ۲۳ دسمبر کو قیا مت ہو گی؟

WILL THERE BE DOOMSDAY IN DECEMBER 2012?

WILL THERE BE DOOMSDAY IN DECEMBER 2012?

PROF WAQAR HUSSAIN

              There is a rumour in the air in social media claiming NASA has predicted total blackout of the sun from 23rd December to 25^th December this year due to alignment of cosmological bodies and shift of earth from the present third dimension to zero dimension and ultimately to fourth dimension. This transition will usher a chain of changes in the entire universe and mankind will step into an entirely new world. People have been warned to stay calm, pray extensively, avoid travelling during these days and sleep for three days. People who are not prepared for this unique cosmological phenomenon may kick the bucket due to fear and panic.

            First, NASA has not predicted above said occurrence. Second, there is a winter solstice on 22^nd December each year (the shortest day and the longest night) and celestial alignment occurs temporarily without any considerable effect on the human beings. Third, the reason behind NASA prediction is spouted due to the release of 2.36 minutes video on youtube in which NASA administrator Charles F Bolden Jr has been counseling to employees for preparedness in case of emergency. This advisory speech was recorded in January 2011 that is a routine practice and has nothing to do with solar blackout, dimensional shift and alignment of the sun, earth, galactic centre; etc.

23^rd December; a predicted doomsday is the off shoot of seven conspiracy theories.

        First conspiracy theory states that any planet wills collide with earth, bringing virtual devastation of earth and mankind. One of the most quoted planets is Nibiru that orbit our solar system after every 3600 years; the existence of Nibiru had been reported in ancient Sumerian writings. It is said that they had great understanding of astronomy.

              Nibiru theory got new life in 8O’s when astronomers observed by infrared experiments 350000 unidentified objects in the night sky. The fact is, when these objects were observed by telescope, none of them was found having size of planet. So, they are not dangerous.

         Second conspiracy theory springs out due to the ends of Mayan calendar. Many have inferred from this that Mayan believed that the end of calendar would be the end of world. The fact is Mayan calendar like hundreds of other calendars are a way of keeping track of time. It never meant to be foreteller of future. Ending of Mayan calendar doesn’t mean the end of time; rather it is the end of a calendar cycle. As our solar calendars starts from 1^st January and ends at 31^st December. Its cycle contains 365 days where as Mayan calendar cycle comprises of centuries. Its cycle will end at 21^st December and new cycle will start from 22^nd December.

            Third conspiracy theory states that coming planetary alignment will trigger a series of reaction causing sudden weather change, appearance of strange events and occurrence of unpredictable incidents. The fact is; there is not going to be any major alignment in planets in the coming several decades. If it occurs, it will surely have no impact on earth.

           Fourth conspiracy theory states that the sun will align with violent galactic centre and the sun will dash towards the centre and the entire solar system will annihilate. The fact is; the reaching of the sun to the centre of galaxy is not possible. The Sun is 30000 light years away from galactic centre. If the sun starts rushing towards the centre with the speed of light(i.e. 3×10⁸m/s), it will take 30000 years to reach there. So there is nothing to be worried.

         Fifth conspiracy theory states that after every 11 years, solar magnetic poles flip referred as solar maximum and it is going to be happened in 2012; giving birth to sun spots, solar flares, etc. It will rock the entire earth, knocking out telecommunication system, causing blackouts and other mysterious tribulations. This theory got fillip when National Research Council of Heliophysics predicted that upcoming magnetic storm of the sun will disrupt telecommunication and power system. The fact is; previous colossal solar storm was recorded in 1859 and nothing ugly incidence took place. Secondly, it is not sure that such storm will come about in 2012; it may happen in 2013 or even later.

              Sixth conspiracy theory states that earth will shift its magnetic pole and it will start spinning in the opposite direction or will turn upside down resulting in massive destruction on the earth. The fact is; the earth like sun kept on changing its magnetic poles at a snail pace and in hint less way. The earth’s magnetic cycle is roughly 4lakh years. Though, it has actually longer since the last earth flip. In spite of this, there is no certainty that it will happen in 2012 or in coming thousands of years. Even if a shift does occur, it was not result in inversion of spin or turn earth upside down.

              Seventh conspiracy theory got birth from the disasterous movies like Armagodon I, Armagodon II, End of World 2012, etc. In these movies, it is shown that a large asteroid or comet could someday collide with earth, causing a cataclysmic catastrophe. The fact is; meteorites fall on earth every day. There is of shower meteorites in the month of November each year. But most of them burn in the sky and only their ash lands to the ground. The larger bodies like meteorite or comet can be devastating. The fact is; NASA is constantly monitoring the movement of larger bodies in our solar system and no such body is advancing towards the earth.

          Above seven theories are using undefined terms or pseudo scientific thoughts, layman calculation and are presented in scientific notion to get authenticity. Some are misinterpreted scientific facts and some are the outcome of fear. But all are non-sense. The fact is; the advent of doomsday is neither known to conspiracy theorists nor to the scientist, only and only Allah Almighty knows Who is the All Knowing(Al Aleem), the Aware(Al Khabeer) and the All Seeing(Al Baseer).

              

SENSATIONAL SPARROW STORY

SENSATIONAL SPARROW STORY

PROF WAQAR HUSSAIN

           On one afternoon of December, the sun was hiding behind thick clouds; it had been drizzling since morning. It was a cold but a fantastic romantic day. Everyone was celebrating the raining day in his own style. Hot tea, sizzling coffee, spicy food, delicious dry fruit-- were pacifying the appetite; warm wool and fleece clothes were warding off the chill and flaring coal, gas and electric heaters were 

fighting against the cold. In this peculiar milieu, my middle son Zawar Hussain planned to catch sparrows as soon as the rain halted for a moment, brood of sparrows gathered to take their supper before going to their nest for rest. He took a parat (a large metallic plate for kneading flour), inverted it and placed a stick of a foot;s length under one its edge. Now the parat was making an angle of 45 degree with the ground. He placed millet (bajra) under the parat and also tied stick with 

one end of a rope and extended the other end into veranda. After 15 minutes, a sparrow landed to the courtyard, then one by one, others followed suit. He was watching the pecking of sparrows carefully while hiding behind the pillar of veranda. Soon sparrows started eating millet under the parat spread as bait, but with a fright. They were plunging stealthily on the grains of millet lying under the parat and then jumping out quickly. After a few successful swoops, their fear faded off and they started eating millet fearlessly. On finding three sparrows under the pirat, Zawar pulled the rope and inverted pirat fell to the ground, captivating three sparrows inside. Zawar’s fain fell no bounds. I also joined aim. Now the problem was how to get the sparrows out.  I gave an idea to lay a bed sheet on the parat and he did so. The parat was raised from one end and two sparrows came out of the pirate but still remained below the sheet. The positioning of sparrows was evident as the portion of sheet was pulsating. He captured sparrow along with the sheet and put another hand under the sheet and got to the coveted target. Zawar got hold of it and  handed it over to my youngest son Nisar hussain, and then he captured another one and kept it in his own hand. But still one sparrow was hiding under parat; silent and motionless. We think for a moment that only two sparrows were trapped. On violent trapping of the parat, the shrewd sparrow came out and dashed under the sheat. As the sheat was wet and heaving and running under it, was a cumbersome job. She soon stopped and was captured in spite of her valiant efforts of escape. I handed it over to my daughter Sadaf Fatima . Then we took them to kitchen. Zawar searched knife and started sharpening it. He was ready to slaughter them. Soon the brave sparrow got out of the hands of Sadaf Fatima and flew away and sat on ventilator. As all the openings of the kitchen like door, window, ventilator, exhaust fan outlet ware closed so she couldn’t find her way out. We planned to compel her to fly till she exhausted and fell to the ground. We started hushing her with kitchen cloth (saafi) and she was flaying from one corner of kitchen to another. After 10 minutes or so, she fatigued, ran shot of energy and fell to the ground; all went according to our plan. We again captured her and this time handed her over to safer hands of my eldest son Amsar Hussain. Zawar again started sharpening the knife. We, all, were not happy to slaughter them but Zawar was quite adamant to. Soon, the brave sparrow broke the finger trap of Amsar hussain and again sat on the ventilator. We again started hushing her with kitchen cloth (safi) and she was flying from one corner to another, this time she was not tiring. We all five, 4 children and me, were jumping, shouting and were up to capture her. Suddenly she- sparrow flew toward the exhaust fan chamber which had plastic ventilator having covering of one way moving flaps. When we hushed her, she flew and stroke to one of the flap and it created an opening and brave sparrow flew out in open sky, proving the maxim “One who struggles succeeds.”

               

Zawar again started sharpening the knife to butchers  remaining two sparrows. We all advocated to let them free. But he was not ready? I said to him that people buy sparrows and let them free and prays. It is said in doing so the prayers are acknowledged in the Court of Almighty Allah. As a result, he unwillingly agreed to let them free but with a condition that he will first color them. So, we 

painted one sparrow green like parakeet(a small long-tailed parrot) and the other blue  like Indian blue robin(a small bird with blue upper part and rufous under parts) and let them free while uttering prayers. In order to pacify Zawar Hussain, I gave him cash prize. He reluctantly accepted and went to bedroom

                Next day he awoke, came straightly to me and told that he saw three sparrows in a dream. When, the sparrows got freedom. The brave sparrow went to her home; she told the entire incident to her husband and then took a long deep sleep. The next morning brave sparrow met the green sparrow and blue sparrow. Both were looking sick and saddened. 

Both told her that their husbands refused to recognize them. One’s husband told that she is green like parakeet  so she should go to parakeet’s nest. Green sparrow insisted that she is sparrow, but was caught by group of five robust barbarian creatures called human, who were in fact were not humane. They painted her green. But he-sparrow didn’t accept her justification and ousted her from his nest. As a result, she spent the whole cold night on a twig. The blue sparrow narrated similar story. The brave sparrow encouraged them and said; they have been elevated to a level of parakeet's and robin's. They should boost of their color instead of giving 

apologetic explanations. Both green and blue sparrow agreed and flew away. Green sparrow went to a group of sparrows and said: "I am superior to you; look at my green color. I am green like grassy fields, green trees and green emerald. Green is the color of fertility, soothing for eyes and pleasing for heart". But the fellow sparrows didn’t admit her distinction. They said; "you are neither sparrow nor parakeet. You are mongrel, belonging to no family." Similarly, blue sparrow made proud statements on meeting other sparrows that she was blue like robin, blue like sky, blue like ocean, blue like sapphire, etc. Blue color is the color of nature, delightful for heart and soul. Ironically, she met the same fate of green sparrow. Next day, both sparrows met the brave sparrow and told the entire account. The brave sparrow asked them, it is very hard to glitter among a family of commons due to resistance, opposition and jealously. It requires strong mind and stiff  heart to face criticism to prove one’s metal. But, you both lack courage so it is better for you to brush aside your color. Green and blue sparrow quickly asked “how?” The brave sparrow asked them to have a shower. Both agreed but showed concern that bathing in cold December could be fatal. The brave sparrow said; "I have solution for that too." She took them to nearby houses and found a tap running. She asked them to sit below the fall. Both took bath and their color almost rinsed away leaving behind a fainter tinge. Then she asked them to fellow her. From the chimney of one house, a smoke and hot air were emitting from holes. She asked them to sit in the holes till their feathers were dried and chill had vanished. Both acted upon her advice and became normal as before. Both expressed thanks to brave sparrow that she helped them otherwise the fierce savage creature had made their life hell. On hearing this, brave sparrow told them that human are not barbarian. If they had bad intention, they would have killed you. They were just making fun. We daily visit their houses, eat their left overs, drink from their tap water, make nests in their houses, and take rest on their roofs, shades and trees. Our survival depends on them. Both sparrows convinced that human are not inhuman. At the party salutation, both sparrows praised not only the valour of brave sparrow but also her intelligence. On hearing praise, the brave sparrow told them, “I had learnt both these traits from human beings.”

                 On hearing this dream story, I started thinking if any day this brave sparrow came to see the suicide bomb blast and found that a human being has injured, maimed and killed other human beings. Then, how this sparrow will advocate the humane of humans among her fellow sparrows?

MISSING DAY STORY; MYTH OR REALITY

 MISSING DAY STORY; MYTH OR REALITY

 A 48 hours- long day… and 48 hours- long night.

PROF WAQAR HUSSAIN

                The missing day story has been around us for about 30 years. This story gets new life in every December, however, it is somewhat masked by the doomsday prediction. Its first episode started when American astronomers were checking the current position of the sun, moon and planets and were estimating, where they would be in the next 100 to 1000 years from now. They were doing so to make space traffic safe.

                                                                                                                                     They feed data to the computer and ran the computer measurements back and forth over the centuries.  Suddenly, at one point computer halted and blinked red signal. They informed service department about unpredicted behavior of the computer to seek it out. The astronomers team was informed “One day is missing in elapsed time”. They were baffled, confused and astonished as it had no scientific answer. A Christian man in the team said “I remember, someone told me in my 

childhood, about the sun standing still for a day. Other team members didn’t believe him and questioned veracity of the statement and asked him “to show!”  He got the Bible, opened the Book of Joshua and read out the lines in which the Lord was addressing to a Hebrew Leader Joshua:

               “Fear them not, I have delivered them into thy hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee”. Joshua was surrounded by enemy and if darkness fell, they would over power him. So Joshua requested the Lord to make the sun standstill. The Lord conceded his request by notion ‘That is night!’ The sun stood still and the moon stayed and hurried not to dusk about a day! On hearing this, the astronomer team convinced and said, “There is the missing day, they were looking for.” The astronomers again plunged into the computer program and ran it back to Joshua’s period and found a missing day having duration of 23 hours and 20 minutes. 

                        Now the question arose. It was not a complete day, rather 40 minutes shorter. Again team went into perplexity; how to account for this 40 minutes shortage. The same Christian man put another remembrance of the Bible, that once sun went backward. He again opened the Bible and read out lines from the Two Kings: “Hezekiah, on his death-bed, was visited by the prophet Isaiah who told him that he was not going to die. Hezekiah asked him for a sign of proof. Isaiah said, “Do you want the sun go ahead by 10 degree.” Hezekiah said “ It is nothing for the sun go ahead 10 degree, but let the shadow return backward 10 degree………”. Isaiah spoke to the Lord and the Lord brought the shadow 10 degree backward. As everyone knows, 1 degree is equal to 10 minutes so 10 degree measures to 40 minutes. So the sun went back for 10 degree and time went back for 40 minute. So, 23 hour 40 minutes in Joshua time plus 40 minutes of Isaiah time made a complete day of 24 hours, missing in the chronology of the Universe. Therefore, the entire question of the missing day was worked out. The above story was disclosed by Harold Hill.

 

                       Astonishingly, Harold Hill’s NASA story of missing day was not the newer one as Dr. Harry Rimmer wrote a book in 1930: “Harmony of Science and Scripture” in which he narrated the encounter that took place at the end of the 19^th century between Professor C.A. Totten (Bible believer) and Sir Edwin Ball, a British astronomer. Ball underwent puzzling calculations and found a day missing in time for which no scientific justification was available. He contacted Totten who suggested that answer might be found in the Holy Scripture. Ball went through the pages of the Bible and get to solution in 10^th chapter of Joshua where it was written that God managed the sun and the moon to standstill for one day. But there was incongruity as the day lasted for 23hours and 20 minutes in Joshua is time. Ball told Totten, “If the Bible made a mistake of 40 minutes, it is not the book of God!” Totten pointed out another chapter of king where God reversed the sundial for 10 degree. Ball’s calculation found the solution.

                     Totten went further and said the world was created on Sunday 22 September, 4000 BC. However, calendar calculations showed that September 22, falls on Monday and not on Sunday and that error was probably because of Joshua’s missing day.

                        Lets see, how science and rationalism response to the missing day story. First, NASA scientists clarified the missing day story from scientific point of view in March 25, 1997. “The future orbits of the planets aren’t calculated by going back and forth over the centuries to plot their position of a planet based on its current position. This calculation wouldn’t cover any time before the present, so some missing day many centuries ago, if it had occurred, couldn’t be uncovered with this method. In general, trying to prove events that are said to have occurred in the Bible, using scientific principles, doesn’t work. Most scientists draw a clear distinction between things that are taken on faith and those that are testable and therefore falsifiable. Science deals with the latter, religion with the former”.

                      Second, according to astrophysicist, there are only two explanation of sun stand still in the sky for a day. Either earth had stopped spinning on its axis or sun had moved in solar system in a direction appearing to the inhabitants of earth as stand still. There is no evidence for above both occurrences.

                    Third, the standing still of sun and then start of its revolution is against Newton’s first law of motion, “Everybody preserves in its state of rest or uniform motion unless compelled by force impressed on it.” So the stoppage of sun’s motion and again restart of motion have violated twice the law of motion.

                     Fourth, Sun moving backward in Isaiah time-- first it stopped, and then moved backward then again stopped and re started its journey. Here it transgressed quadruple times the law of motion.

                     Fifthly, if one day was missed and the sun had been on shinning for about 48 hours long. Then there must be a 48 hours night in other hemisphere of earth but nobody finds any talk about of 48 hours night which is most ominous, dreadful and pernicious and such events are remembered long and finds mention everywhere. In reality, nobody had ever heard about 48 hour night in any scripture, fiction, poetry, etc.

                       So, Science and logic don’t endorse any such event. But one finds many miracles (a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature) reported in different religions. All are against the norms of scientific principles but are believed by many. Here comes the conflict between science and religion. Religion moves from totality to partiality (kull say juzz) where science move from partiality to totality (juzz say kull), both proceed in opposite directions ; religion presents an absolute statement that cannot be proved or disproved whereas science evolves from relative statement  that can be proved as well as disproved; religion quenches the thirst of human soul where science satisfies human curiosity; religion promises to ease out human soul especially in hereafter where science eases out human’s physical needs here by introducing technology;  religion requires total faith without evidence and nothing is open to criticism where in science rational methods are employed and everything is open to criticism. In sum, both have different objective, modus operandi and liberty for human response but both are up for the betterment of human beings. Thus, it becomes hard to question the authenticity of both, till the time, mankind would attain the level of divine understanding. So, at present, the missing day story is myth for scientists and reality for religious pundits.

                      

ACOUSTICS INTERFERENCE TO CHECK MOSQUITO GROWTH

    ACOUSTICS INTERFERENCE TO CHECK MOSQUITO GROWTH

WAQAR HUSSAIN

          A MOSQUITO WHINNY BUZZ IS ONE OF THE MOST IRRITATING NOISE TO HUMAN EARS BUT FOR MOSQUITO,IT IS A MELODIOUS LOVE SONG.A NEW RESEARCH CONDUCTED ON AEDES EGYPTI, A GENUS OF MOSQUITO RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY INFECTIOUS DISEASES  DENGUE,YELLOW FEVER,CHIKUNGUNYA,ETC,DISCLOSED THAT WHEN MALE AND FEMALE MOSQUITOES MATE,THEY FIRST SYNCHRONIZE THE FREQUENCIES OF THEIR BEATING WINGS TO PRODUCE A HARMONIOUS TONE.THE MALE MOSQUITO BUZZ OR FLIGHT TONE IS ABOUT 600 HERTZ(Hz) WHEREAS FEMALE'S TONE IS NEAR 400 Hz .WHEN MALE WANTS TO COPULATE,IT BRINGS ITS TONE INTO PHASE WITH FEMALE'S TO CREATE A NEAR PERFECT DUET.THE TWO TONES INTERFERE CONSTRUCTIVELY TO PRODUCE WHAT MUSICIANS CALL AN "OVERTONE" ,A THIRD, FAINTER TONE OF 1200Hz.THIS SYNCHRONY OF BUZZES IS PREREQUISITE FOR COITUS.

         THIS RESEARCH SMASHED UP THE PREVIOUS BELIEF OF SCIENTISTS THAT AEDES MALE MOSQUITO COULD NOT HEAR FREQUENCY OF ABOUT 800 Hz WHILE FEMALE WERE THOUGHT TO BE COMPLETELY DEAF.THE RESEARCHERS WERE ASTONISHED TO FIND BOTH GENDERS OF MOSQUITOES ,CAPABLE OF HEARING EVEN LOW PITCHED OVERTONES. MOSQUITOES HAVE A PAIR OF LONG ,MANY SEGMENTED ANTENNAE.IN ALL MOSQUITO SPECIES,THE ANTENNA OF THE MALE IN COMPARISON TO FEMALES ARE NOTICEABLY BUSHIER AND PROVIDED WITH AUDITORY RECEPTORS TO DETECT THE CHARACTERISTIC WHINE OF THE FEMALE.

        FINDING MOSQUITOES’ SONIC MATCHING HABIT PRIOR TO COUPLING,SCIENTISTS STARTED PONDERING TO USE IT TO CONTROL THEIR GROWTH.NOW, THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO BREED  TRANSGENIC MALE THAT ARE "BETTER SINGERS"THESE MELLIFLUOUS MALE WOULD NEIGH ON,IRRESISTIBLE FOR FEMALE TO DENY AND WOULD MATE IN TRANCE OF EUPHONIOUS SONG."EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT IN THEIR BEST INTERESTS"THE COITION WOULD YIELD OFFSPRING WHICH ARE EITHER IN VIABLE OR UNABLE TO TRANSMIT DENGUE VIRUS.

         IN AN OTHER ATTEMPT, SCIENTISTS ARE INVESTIGATING TO USE ACOUSTICS INTERFERENCE, WHICH THEY SAY WOULD INVOLVE”PLAYING AUDIO FREQUENCIES NEAR 1200 Hz, WOULD CONFUSE THEM, THUS, MATING WOULD BE AVERTED OR REDUCED.

         PROFESSOR HARRINGTON WHO IS WORKING ON SONIC MEDDLING TECHNIQUES, IS VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OUT COME OF THESE RESEARCHES AND SAYS:”IF WE CAN INTERRUPT MATING AND REPRODUCTION, WE HAVE A VERY STRONG TOOL FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL”.

         YET IN AN OTHER EFFORT, SCIENTISTS ARE FOCUSED TO PRODUCE STERILE MALE MOSQUITO BY GENETIC ENGINEERING, FOLLOWED BY THEIR RELEASE IN ATMOSPHERE TO PLAY A LOVE SONG AND MATE FRUITLESSLY WITH FEMALE.

      AT PRESENT, ACOUSTICS BAFFLING TECHNIQUES ARE IN EMBRYONIC STAGE BUT SCIENTISTS ARE SANGUINE TO MEET SUCCESS IN NEAR FUTURE.WE ALL KNOW:"ONE, WHO STRUGGLES, SUCCEEDS.

BUDDHA’S TOOTH RELIC IN DIR MUSEUM, PAKISTAN

BUDDHA’S TOOTH RELIC IN DIR MUSEUM, PAKISTAN

PROF WAQAR HUSSAIN

                    Buddha’s tooth relic is very unique, valuable and sacred commodity for the Buddhists. Luckily, Pakistan has that precious worthy tooth in Dir Museum Chakdara that can attract a massive Buddhist pilgrimage and tourists. Though some countries claim to have such relics but also have many controversies of their claims.

             In China, there is 1200 years old Lingguang Temple (Temple of divine light) at the foot of Beijing’s Western Hills. It houses Buddha’s precious tooth relic in stupa. Hence the temple has become one of the busiest centre of Buddhist pilgrimage in the world.

          In Singapore, there is Buddha Tooth temple which is a living cultural monument in Chinatown. It claims to accommodate sacred Buddha Tooth relic in a stupa composed of 320kg of gold.

             In Sri Lanka, there is a legend that a single tooth remained after Buddha’s cremation. There is myth that whoever had the tooth, had the divine right to rule. So, it is analogous to Shade of Huma (It is a mythical bird having reputation that whoever comes under its shadow becomes a king). There is long tradition behind Buddha tooth currently present in Sri Lanka. It is said that when Buddha died in 543BC, his body was cremated in a sandalwood pyre at Kushinagara in India. His left canine tooth was recovered from the funeral pyre and was given to King Brahmadatte, who kept it in the city of Dantapuri (now Puri, Orissa). Here originated a legend whoever possess the tooth, had the divine right to rule. So, many wars were fought to get the sacred tooth. In 4^th century AD, tooth came into the custody of king Guhaseeva of Kalinga who adopted Buddhism and started worshipping sacred tooth.

             One day the son of King Ksheeradara raised a huge army to snatch the tooth and destroy it. When the forces entered the city, King Guhaseeva secretly sent away his son in law (Prince) Danth and his daughter Hemamala with tooth. She hid the tooth in her hair and royal couple disguised themselves as Brahmin and sailed in Ganga and reached Lankapattana, a Sri Lankan port. Sri Lanka was chosen as new abode for tooth as once Buddha said his religion will be safe in Sri Lanka for 5000 years. King of Sri Lanka Kirthi Sri Meghavarna became overjoyed to heard the news of arrival of sacred tooth and warmly welcomed couple and built a palace for tooth relic and ordered annual festival perhera in honour of sacred tooth. Later, when Sri Lanka was threatened from foreign invaders, capital was shifted from one city to another. Upon each shift, new palace was built to enshrine tooth relic. Finally, it was brought to Kandy where it is now present in Temple of Tooth which attracts a large number of visitors.

                   Luckily, Pakistan has Buddha tooth relic in Dir Museum. Archeologists found the casket in 2003 during excavation of a stupa at Shalkandi area of tehsil Munda in Lower Dir. The relic casket which can invite global attention is lying in the store of the Dir Museum for security reasons.

                  Archaeologists are still grappling with the assumption that a casket relic carrying a small bone may be Buddha’s tooth, which is said to have gone missing in Gandhara.           

                 “The casket had a small piece of tooth-like bone. We assume it in Buddha’s tooth which had gone missing in Gandhara” said Dr. Wahab. The casket cover is made of stone and has a bone like material in it. The cover doesn’t fix the box. We can assume that the casket, more than 2000 year old, was brought here from somewhere else”, experts say.          

             Experts believe that the casket may be the one among those relics which comprised either ash or bone of Buddha which were doled out among 84,000 stupas by Asoka in 261 BC, most probably after the War of Kalinga. Buddhists worship ashes or bones of Buddha kept in such casket and further enclave in dome-shaped stony stupa         

              “Archaeologists and historians from all around the globe are agreed that this the missing relic casket in Gandhara which contains the tooth of Buddha”, Dr Zainul Wahab said. He further added: “This box was taken to international exhibition at Germany and almost all the scholars gathered there said the same story”.

               “There is need to bring such relic in the limelight for further research and recognition but unfortunately security situation and lack of government attention to this historical wealth has often over shadowed such success”, said Dost Muhammad founder of Museum defense Council (MDC).

                 If confirmed through apposite research that the relic casket contains the tooth of Buddha; it could bring worldwide attention, Buddhist pilgrimage and foreign tourists. Consequently our tourist industry will boom, economic prosperity will get fillip and it will also ameliorate our bilateral relationship especially with Buddhist nations.