The Pakistani Spectator

1. Would you please tell us something about you and your site?
   I am Najeeba, an Indian female living in Dubai with a graduation in technology. I have started writing from a younger age and since then writing have been my passion. My blog is eclectic, and have all sorts of subjects in discussion.
   

2. Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?
   Everything gets better with experience.  With my blog, I too have experienced the change from a bad writer to good writer and now I think I stand in a better place. I feel when time flies by me, I would change into one of the best bloggers. I can feel the difference in the vocabulary and fluency of the language, in which I’ve made a lot of success.
   

3. I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?
   Getting an excellent rating by my readers is one of the wonderful experiences with blogging. I also get thrilled when I get mails of congrats from my friends and family.
   

4. What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?
   I read a lot of blogs everyday and comment on the good posts I go through. I keep in touch with a few really good ones. And I feel they also keep in touch with me. I don’t know any of the bloggers personally, and so I don’t have any means of personal communication with them.
   

5. What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?
   The most exciting and innovative use of technology in the field of communication in a country will also be the most exciting and innovative use of technology in politics. When in some countries they use mobile SMS for political purposes, in some countries it is done through blogs, political websites and political TV channels, while in rural areas of underdeveloped/developing countries they still have to use the wall posters.
   

6. Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?
   The new technologies have their own ups and downs. It can bring the real truth to the world, as it allows free and unrestricted communication between people from different countries of the world. It is also good at producing hoaxes and lies among people. I believe technologies are good in making a responsive person more responsive and an introvert person more introvert.
   

7. What do you think sets your site apart from others?
   The posts in my blogs are the voices of people around me, whom I have seen in some parts of my life. Its their sorrows, giggles, smiles, tears, laughter and sighs that gives life to every letters I type. And I think in this matter, my blog is unique from every other blogs.
   

8. If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?
   I’m a creative girl, with new ideas and innovations and I believe the God’s gift of creativity have bought a lot of success in my life.
   

9. What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?
   There have been many happy and gloomy moments in my life that I cannot pick one of them right away. Altogether, life is a pleasant journey for me, by the grace of God.
   

10. 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 have gone to Makah and Medina, but I would like to go there again. That is the only place where I could stand on my foot with no worries to haunt me. About the other two, I am not able to make a choice – I’ve got nomad blood in me, and walking around the world will be my greatest dream come true.
    

11. What is your favorite book and why?
    I really don’t know, may be there isn’t a favorite book. I have read so many books, mainly stories and novels, and some poems, and there are many of them which I like. I re-read, re-re-read and re-re-re-read them all, and each reading brings some new thoughts, new sights and new dreams in me. May be, if you pres me with this question, I’ll select the works of the Malayalam writer, Vaikom Muhammed Basheer, because even if I have read his books a hundred times, the next time when I read his book, I get a new thought, a new sight and a new dream in me.
    

12. What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?
    The dress he/she wore. Believe me, and I will always remember that dress as long as I remember that person, even if I forget his name and face.
    

13. Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?
    Not really. But once, one of my teachers told me, “Don’t waste time writing stories or poems. They will never bring you anything.” I don’t know if what she said is right, but I didn’t like it. Time will show me the truth.
    

14. How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?
    I haven’t really got much idea of the financial benefits of blogs because I never really wanted getting any money from the blog. I think there are ads to get financial aids, but in my case, that is a huge failure.
    

15. Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?
    Successful bloggers have got a talent for writing. For the busy bloggers, time management is also a factor in their successful blogging. If any one want to become a blogger, he/she should find some time for blogging, but don’t need to have awful lot of time.
    

16. What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?
    Bloggers can put their friendly thoughts and loving words on the blog to make the world a more peaceful and friendly place. By writing down the culture and beliefs of them, other people can build up an understanding of them based on these factors. Bloggers can also represent the real sensation of a country, which the political system will never do.
    

17. Who are your top five favorite bloggers?
    I can’t put it to five, and you can find them on my blog.
    

18. Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?
    I haven’t posted anything that brings a severe reaction among the people. And so, I haven’t got any powerful reactions until now.
    

19. What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?
    Like every other people of the world, Pakistanis also have the same basic needs of shelter, food, clothing and right to be free in every aspect. Pakistan is yet another country with corruptive politicians, but without taking the politics into consideration, Pakistan is a beautiful country with so much of nice helping people.
    

20. Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?
    Not really. I find all blogs are unique, because they are from different individuals with different life styles, experiences, thoughts and cultures.
    

21. What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?
    People in developing countries have still problems with getting hold of the latest technologies in every fields, let it be communication, medicine, travelling or anything. Many of them still struggle to make the ends meet. Good education and a healthy living environment are also limited in a developing country.
    

22. What is the future of blogging?
    Blogging can bring out the real stories into the world, and so can be seen as a better way of communication. When news papers and TV channels are controlled by the ruling parties of the world, blogs come up with a solution. Blogs are free from any restriction and so people at one end of the world can understand the real situation of the people at the other end. Hence, I feel blogging will become a great success in the near future, and I hope the blog team will install new innovative features into their blogs.
    

23. You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?
    I have learned a more about time management, to bring a balance between my personal and professional duties as well as my blogging life.
    

24. What are your future plans?
    I want to publish a book with the posts in my blogs and some more works, so that I can reach out to the people with fewer privileges. I also plan to write a novel which brings out the life of the poor, struggling mass of the world. 
    

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

As the readers of The Pakistani Spectator, I hope you all will be striving for the harmony in the world. Love your fellow beings irrespective of their nation, race, skin tone and religion. Ask people around you to do the same, and teach your children, the next generation, to do the same. If you believe in God, ask him for help, and if you don’t believe in God, ask your strength for help.

Last 5 posts by The Pakistani Spectator

• Interview with Blogger Tikun Olam - November 30th, 2008
• Interview with Blogger EngSpeak - November 29th, 2008
• Interview with Blogger Jeff Noble - November 26th, 2008
• Interview with Blogger Jan Marshall - November 24th, 2008
• Asif Zardari: ‘India & Pakistan Share Blood Ties’ - November 24th, 2008