Interview with Blogger Bradistan
By The Pakistani Spectator • Jan 16th, 2009 • Category: Interviews • 6 CommentsI was born in Pakistan but had my college education in UK, as I live in Bradford West Yorkshire(little Pakistan) or simply Bradistan (film “East is East”) , my columns and blogs are from the perspective of a person who was born in Pakistan but spent my teenage and adult life in Bradford, I hope to provide a perspective of Pakistanis living abroad. I blog here.
Could you tell us what made you decide to blog, and what was the inspiration behind it?
My interest in culture and politics in Pakistan and united kingdom motivated me to blog for the Pakistani community in Pakistan and europe, covering less covered areas in culture society and politics.
What do you think sets Your blog apart from other blogs?
The clue is in the name bradistan. Bradford UK (little Pakistan because of high number of Pakistanis living in the city) large parts of city give a feel of asian culture with restuarants and fashion Boutiques and most of all the punjabi bhangra music and not forgetting the beautiful mosques in the city among the hills of northern england
If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?
I would say it is Resilience
What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?
without a doubt i would say 1994 election of Nelson Mendela as the first black president of south Africa. was the happiest moment.
27 Dec 2007 Death of Benazir Bhutto was the gloomiest moment for me, I was in a small european town and having dinner with friends when one of my european friends an elected representative started getting messages on his blackberry. everyone was in tears not just my & my spouse
Urdu Blogs have got huge potential, when do you think they will really take on the online horizon in Pakistan?
may be in next few years with ease of technology and language compatibilty with softwares available for blogging.
another option is roman urdu alphabets people use for text messaging in india and pakistan, can bridge the gap between present and future of urdu blogging in the meanwhile
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?
1. A road trip from Havana -Cuba to Patagonia in Chile across Latin America (something like motorcycle diaries)
2. Swiss Alps (remembering my college days)
3. and last but not the least - Northern Valleys in Pakistan (Hunza and kailash)
What is your favorite book and why?
The Islam Quintet by Tariq Ali , it charts the history of al andulusia, the crusades, palermo sicily Norman invasion and ottomon empire.
What is your favorite meal, dress, and sport?
Daal and Rice, dress jeans and t-shirt casual and shirt &tie formal, of course cricket like most pakistanis but i do have interest in hockey and football tennis
What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?
Their mannerism and tone of voice, body language and confident creates the first impression. i always try to learn something new from people that i meet for the first time.
Whose Future is more bright in Pakistan; English blogs or Urdu Blogs?
At the moment it seems english because ease of access and technology but urdu blogs have a lot of potential because of market for urdu speaking population. china and india have shown way in developing the market for Local languages mandarian and Hindi,Tamil and other south indian languages
How Pakistani bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?
There are Advertising technologies in the blog sphere and with the increased traffic on bloggs local entrepreneurs will tie up with bloggers and it will be win-win for both business and bloggers
Do you think Pakistani bloggers tend to remain somewhat self-centered and really don’t go out of their shells? Is it the oriental style of blogging, or they are still unsure about it?
The bloggers by definition are cyberspace citizens and should be INTERNATIONALIST, learn new technologies whereever they are available. The USP is important and so is the motivation for writing. there is a term in computing “GIGO” which should be avoided ,.learning from new ideas and ability to accept even OPPOSING VIEWPOINT is essential for success of any blogger.
what do you think where the Pakistani blogosphere is right now?
In a nutshell it is developing at a fast pace. we still need collabrations of overseas pakistanis in pakistani ventures
Who are your top five favourite bloggers in Pakistan?
1. pak tea house
2.all things pakistan
3. HRCP Blog
4. metro-blogging pakistan
5. BBC URDU bloggers site.
Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger in Pakistani blogosphere?
The “i faqeer” from Pakistan/USA is a brilliant blog
What is the future of blogging in Pakistan?
It is very bright, like pakistani technology firms the road is bumpy but pakistanis are very enterprising as a nation.
You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?
It has enhanced my contacts and friendships to corners of the globe where i could not imagine before
What are your future plans?
I need to work on the technology of my blog settings and inviting others to contribute more to my BRADISTAN, making it the best blog for pakistanis in UK is the ambition
Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?
In any walk of life, donot be afraid of change and global trends, new ideas and technology is there for whoever takes chances and risks, we should be patriotic but not extremist in our views on culture and nation.co-operations with others is the name of the game.we can learn from China and india our neighbours. Thanks again for giving me opportunity to talk through Pak spectator to Pakistani professionals and bloggers.
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Dear,
This is your highly appreciatable programme for the human-world, peace and good relations. I will full co-operate with you and your themes for the betterment of humanity of the world.
It is fact, religions are necessaty for every-one in the world and every person related with any faith and adopted the worship but it is much better for the world that support and real struggle will made for inter-faith-understanding with another. Due to world is global villege, justic, peace, tolerance, co-operation, social-cultural development, equalisations, freedom of religions, human rights and solution of economic problems in the world are necessaties of humanity of world without peculrrity. So combine movement launch in this regardsin the world intercontinental basis for everyone and confederate to all faith of world for success in future about the cited purposes. I realize that mentioned above events and compaigns are the resolutions of United Nations Organisation (U.N.O.). It is essential for every person to think and done proudly, in the light of goals and objectives of resolutions of UNO for safety and own social-security without any hesitations.
i couldnt believe this when i read it
i thinks he is right
what you mean?
Who is this guy and what is his relation with Tariq Ali?