The Pakistani Spectator

Would you please tell us something about you and your site?

:I am a physician by profession and working in pediatrics in a general hospital in Chittagong, the port city of Bangladesh.
My site ‘An ordinary citizen‘ is floated to express the concern of ordinary citizens of Bangladesh. In this site I response to the developing events in and around our country from the angle of an ordinary citizen who is not affiliated with any political party and who does not represent the bourgeois of the country.

Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you? 

:With continued writing, anybody would grow in style, fluency and contents in his writing. I have tried to be consistent in my writing. Continue  writing is also important for a blogger as it not only important for his own development in writing, but also important for the visitors to come to his blog in increasing numbers.

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?

:The very first day of my blogging, I could feel that I have entered into an wonderful world in Internet where you can express yourself at your will. Nobody is their to interfere you against your will. The second, one of earliest comments that I received from  Irish musician Gerald Farrely on my post ‘Council of Elders‘. Thirdly, the feeling that I had in participating in the grand show of ‘Bloggers’ United’ on ‘act of kindness‘    I had written a piece on Hurricane Sidr to express my solidarity on the issue.

What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?

: I frequently visit the platform like wordpress, technorati and keep contact with community like Blogcatalog etc.  I read their posts and I also love to comment in others blog.

What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?

: I think, use of digital technology will change the face of politics of today & of tomorrow. The Internet should be more effectively used. The party and political leaders should have interactive websites, interactive social networking and also individual or group blogs. Video technology also should be used to organise meetings and conferences, to store and transmit information. Party’s should have strong database of activists and voters.

Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?

: Sure. People will get more opportunity to communicate with the party and the leaders.

What do you think sets Your site apart from others?

: My blog has a very simple name but with a deeper meaning. I have tried to  project a non partisan view on different issues in my blog and tried to highlight the concern of the common people in Bangladesh.
My blog absolutely concentrate on the issues concerning  Bangladesh from politics to climate change.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?

: perseverance-setting a target and not abandon until it is achieved.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

: My happiest moment was when I got the fellowship in Pediatrics from Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons after years of hardship.
The death of my mother was the gloomiest when I was mere a student in the first year of medical college, I could only observe her illness but couldn’t serve her better by the knowledge that I have gathered later.

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?

:I am not a nature-lover. I enjoy nature as it comes along. But I love technological advancement.
I shall love to see -’inside of Silicon Valley , NASA if I am allowed to and Disneyland, as I love children.

What is your favourite book and why?

: ‘Creating a World without Poverty and Social Business’ by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Laureate for Peace in 2006. In this book, Dr. Yunus proposes a new kind of business where the investors will take no dividends rather the profit will be utilised to alleviate the poverty-he named the business as social business. He had already started such a project in Bangladesh with Danone, French which he described in this book and also narrated how technology could be used in creating a world without poverty. This is a very inspirational book and lots of people would volunteer throughout the world to materialise the concept  described in the book.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?

: Voice, I try to understand ones feelings and emotions though the voice even if I couldn’t see ones face or eyes.

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?

:No, I have always a longing for writing, but my study and profession didn’t give me much opportunity.

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

:To be financially profited, one should have independent platform, which allow him/her to display ads. One can also try adsense but it is not much rewarding. To be financially benefiting, the blog must be popular. But blogging is not all for money.

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?

: Not necessarily. But one must be innovative, attentive, regular and thoughtful in his blogging.

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?

: I consider the bloggers as the citizens of the world. Bloggers are for peace. Bloggers increase the people to people contact beyond the borders. Bloggers are taking collective initiative on poverty, human rights etc. With time, these efforts will be magnified.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?

:I am not sure. I like one of my fellow blogger who stays in Germany and shares the same thought like me. He maintains a blog by the name ‘The 3rd world view’.

Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?

:Yes, my post on ‘Introducing Ranking for the Universities in Bangladesh’, so far it has got 150 comments and still active.

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

: It is good that Pakistan came back to the path of democracy and it is the victory of the people. With consolidation of democracy, the cloud of terrorism will gradually fade away from Pakistan.

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?

:I like ‘Global Voice on line’ and its bloggers. They are trying to voice the issues of the developing countries to be heard by the world. I also like the idea of  your blog to interview other bloggers of the world.

What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?

: Lack of commitment and integrity on the part of political leaders of the developing countries.

What is the future of blogging?

: Future will be of bloggers. I mean, in the coming future all the literate people have their own blog. People will know him or contact him by his blog, whether he is a academician, a politician or a businessman. I hope blogs will dominate over traditional media in the future. Traditional media will borrow

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?

: Blogging is my best past-time. Personally I feel more satisfied because of blogging as I can convey my ideas to more people than my immediate contacts.  have also a professional blog ‘ A pediatrician’s notebook’.

What are your future plans?

:To continue blogging and to develop a platform for independent voices.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?

: Let democracy sustain in Pakistan and all other developing countries and let people prosper with democracy.

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