Pallandri, Azad Kashmir.

                             This is view of small town of Pallandri from a nearby top during summer. 

Let me take you on a road trip to Pallandri, District Sudhnoti Azad Kashmir from Islamabad , Pakistan. Actually, I have no intention to tell each detail of complete trip in just one post. Surely , you will be tired. You can imagine about the roads. I think , it’s just like a spiral helix. Hopefully, I am not exaggerating :) . I will just share few pictures from Kashmir when I was travelling from Islamabad, Pakistan. In above picture you can clearly see fog covering whole town. There is rain almost every day and when weather is clear we have this scene. I have joined few pictures of my trip that you can check here. 

This is Flag of Azad Kashmir. White strips represent four rivers of Kashmir and yellow part indicates occupied territory. 

Introduction:

Let me tell you something about Pallandri. Pallandri a small town of District Sudhnoti, Azad Kashmir. The name of district is because of majority of people in the district belong to Sudhan tribe. Pallandri was a Tehsil of district Poonch before 1995. Azad Kashmir is divided in eight districts. Pallandri is at the distance of 97 km from the capital Islamabad, Pakistan via Kahutta road. It takes two hours on local transport to reach Pallandri city but if you are driving yourself then you will be in Pallandri from Islamabad after 1 hour and 15 minutes. Total area of Pallandri is 569 km². The total Population of district is 242,000. (70% of total population lives in rural areas and only 30% is living in urban areas. Percentage of male is about 51% whereas there are 49% females in the district. It is situated at the height of 4500 feet from sea level.

Climate:

The climate is moderate  with the temperature variation from 20-30 C in summer and -4 to 20 C in winter. We can also see some snow on nearby hills during winter. In my whole life whole Pallandri was covered with snow just twice. 

Landscape:

The district has hilly landscape stretching across from one end to the other. The boundary between Pakistan and district Sudhnoti is defined by the Jhelum River.Pallandri has soothing green scenery to offer to its visitors. Whole district is covered with green high mountains with tall and ever green pine and cedar trees. Unfortunately pine trees catch fire almost every year during summer. This fire breaks out just because of laziness or you can say because of irresponsibility of people. Sometimes people try to burn the needle like dried leaves of pines and ultimately the forest is set on fire or sometimes if someone throws a burning cigarette than trees have to pay the price. Each year the forest is damaged on large scale. So cigarette is injurious for plants as well. 

Coming back to beauty the view is alluring with its beautiful and blooming springs. If you get a chance then visit during spring. Whole district is colored by nature. Sides of the river are full of colors with so many wild bushes and flowering trees and plants. Many colorful mountains stand high above you. You can enjoy the music of flowing water from peaks. The natural scenery is enough to take you away from depression of this busy life. You will fall in love with water-falls and clear blue sky. All the year around the weather is very nice and pleasant. You can feel the freshness of cool breeze that below in the summer.

Historical Places:

You can check here the link of Baral Fort , Bawali , Afzalabad tower, Islampura Temple are among the few places to visit.

Water Resources:

Mostly people have hand pumps to pump water up to the surface. At some places there are natural streams and wells (small). Many women also carry water from far of places from natural springs for drinking. For household usage the rainy water is accumulated in large tanks.

River Jhelum:

We have to take this road in picture(left) named Kahutta road to reach our destination. The road is metalled. The bridge on River Jhelum is called Azad Pattan bridge that we have to cross to enter Pakistan or Azad Kashmir. The picture on the right  side is showing the river. During summer Glaciers and Ice on mountains melt and a lot of water comes in rivers and makes the water muddy. The water in river Jhelum is never clear but gray as it is full of sand that it brings with it from long distances. You can see many people collecting sand from both edges of river that is used for construction purposes. The rivers covers the length of 725 km. 

I took the picture on right from here to show the color of river. The picture (left) is taken from here to give you an idea about the road. The road is properly maintained and is in good condition.  
You can see few more pictures here of River Jhelum and the road that is travelling with the river on both sides. One side is Kashmir and the other is in Pakistan. You can check the details of the river here. You will be wondering why I have shared so many links and pictures of river. I love this river from my childhood as I have always seen it. You will not believe the moment I catch the sight of river near Azad Pattan, I do not turn around and continuously watch the beauty, calmness, smoothness of the river till the moment it disappears. 

Rest Houses:

There is just one rest house that was build long ago by Azad Kashmir government. Not even a single rest house was  built after that. Many think, what’s the reason that we can find so many resorts and rest houses in other cities of Kashmir but not in Pallandri? I believe that Pallandri is closest to Islamabad so people just go during day and prefer to stay in Islamabad. There are just a few hotels that are recently built  privately by people.

Unfortunately, I believe that District Sudhnoti is behind all others districts of Azad Kashmir. The reason is again the same as it is closed to Islamabad and mostly the families from Pallandri move to Islamabad when it comes to jobs or education of kids. It is in easy approach and no one thinks for the development of Pallandri. Mostly poor people are residing Pallandri. 

Education:

There is one military high school named Cadet College in Pallandri for Boys. Here you can check Cadet college website.  There are many government and private schools and colleges for both females and males. There is one private university in Trarkhal, you can check website of Mohi-ud-Din Islamic University. 

There are many websites that give details about different places and picnic spots in Kashmir. You can check Kashmir at a Glance here.

Another website from government of Azad Kashmir tourism department can be checked here.

There are details of livelihood , livestock and stuff on different websites but I do not want to go towards that.  People of Pallandri are very hospitable and helpful. The history of Indo-Pak  is familiar with the fact that the people of Pallandri are very brave. There are many names who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of Kashmir. From all parts of the Kashmir , largest number of soldiers in Pakistan army are from Pallandri. They are living peacefully and respect each other’s freedom. 

Famous Personalities:

Different personalities of Pallandri have gained respect through out the world. To name a few;General Aziz Khan, Dr. manzoor husain Khan, Sheikh-ul-Hadees Molauna Yousaf Khan, Khan Muhamamd Khan, Col. Sher Ahmad Khan, Gazi Sher Dil( Gazi-e-Kashmir), Captain Abdullah Khan  who struggled hard throughout their lives for betterment of the people. 

I love Pallandri as its my home town and I wish that it will be a prosperous city and many tourist will come to visit in future. Mostly people are coming from all over Pakistan who have admitted their children in military Cadet College Pallandri. 

I feel that you must have got some information about Pallandri with its beauty. That was my goal. Even if not fully accomplished but I tried. 

View during winter. 

Pallandri; it's green, refreshing, soothing, peaceful, safe and windy. I wish the peace, cool breeze of pine trees and beauty of Pallandri will be ever lasting. 

Now it's your turn to tell me; 

Is there any place that you want to visit and love the most? Why do you love that particular place???

Image of Flag and map is taken from: wikipedia.org

First and last picture of Pallandri is taken from a friend on facebook. 

Sharing is caring. 

VIP Culture in Pakistan.

Pakistan came into existence on 14^th August 1947. The founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam

was born with a golden spoon in his mouth as he was from a noble and rich family of Sub-continent. He was strictly against VIP culture. At different occasions he did not allow his family to take any favor because of him.

I am not sure exactly when this culture penetrated in Pakistan. We are paying the price in our everyday life with every single passing moment. This "VIP culture" has become a parasite and killing us. I still remember the time when I used to go to university and everyone on road have to wait for 2-3 hours in heat or cold, during morning and evening, as all the traffic was blocked for many hours for the protection of passing VIP's . Saw this picture on Facebook.

We used the term "ROUTES" for this road blockade for the VIP’s from Islamabad. No matter which VIP has to pass, people have to wait for hours until VIPs reach their destination.

After sit-in protest by sportsman turned politician Imran Khan and cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri from Pakitsn Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and Pakistn Awami Tehreek (PAT) respectively against rigging election polls 2013, things are changing in our society. People are getting up from deep slumber and thinking about their rights. This is one of many tweeted reactions against the corrupt politicians of Pakistan. 

Here is an example of change that I am talking about. People of Pakistan have stood against this VIP culture and started thinking that they are humans too and must be treated with respect. As before I do not think that we were thinking about being a human and we never thought or fought for our rights as all rights are reserved for VIPs. We were just slaves of VIPs. 

I am sharing a video here in which passengers protested against the delay of Pakistani flight from Karachi to Islamabad as politician Rehman Malik arrived late on flight . Two people (Ex-interior minister) Rehman Malik and PMLN MNA Ramesh Kumar were thrown out of the plane. You can see a video from you tube when the minister was off-loaded from flight by angry passengers as they were forced to wait for two hours.

Let's not forget to check the reaction from Rehman Malik, he tweeted as; 

His page is full of tweets about the event defending himself. He explained that the delay was from PIA ( Pakistan Airline) and not from him.  Finally he has asked for the inquiry of the event. Hopefully we will know about the consequences of the  event very soon. The answer came from PMLN MNA Ramesh Kumar who told to angry passengers that flight was delayed because of Rehman Malik. On inquiring he explained that he did not board the plan as was waiting in lounge for the arrival of ex-interior minister.  He was also thrown off the flight due to his late arrival. 

Here is an other link of video from #BBCtrending where they have inquired from few concerned people about this.

Let’s have a look on the reaction from VIPs  in Parliament of Pakistan. In joint session of assemblies of Pakistan; national assembly & senate politicians have strongly condemned the off loading of the Rehman Malik & PMLN(n) Ramesh Kumar. 

The VIP culture has strong roots in South East Asia from decades. After this reaction from people,we can see, the effect has crossed the boarders and many have tweeted their wishes somewhat like this;

This is a change and revolution that we need. This can make Pakistan a better country and better place to live, where politician will be accountable for their wrong doings. Politicians have to learn that they are servants of the nation not the King. We have decided as a nation that we will change the destiny of Pakistan. Now people of Pakistan have decided after 60 years of suffering and there is no retreat. Politicians should wisely change their way as people have started rejecting VIP culture.

Detailed video of the incident is Here.

This is a link from Daily motion as YouTube is blocked in Pakistan. Dailymotion video.

I came across this post on same topic.

I believe , the need of time is to have politically conscious and progressive youth. The Youth that come forward and send these corrupt politicians to send in back ground, better behind the bars. 

How to Improve Mathematics?

It's all about Mathematics!

 

If people do not believe that mathematics is simple, it is only because they do not realize how complicated life is.  ~John Louis von Neumann.

 

Introduction

Many students see mathematics as a difficult or stressful subject, especially when they struggle to understand the concepts behind the formulas. The good news is that mathematical ability can be developed through consistent practice, active learning, and the right study habits.

Mathematics is taught in schools and universities around the world, yet it remains one of the subjects many students struggle with and dislike the most.

Do you struggle with mathematics or feel anxious about it? 

Let us look at some practical strategies that can help you overcome your fear of mathematics and improve your mathematical skills.

Be an Active Learner in Class

 

Pay attention and be an active learner in class. Listen carefully to your teacher's explanations and take organized notes. Write down the concepts, examples, and questions discussed during the lecture so that you can review them later. When solving a problem, try to write an explanation for each step rather than simply copying the final answer. Avoid using your mobile phone during class, as it can become a major distraction and interfere with your learning.

Practice Mathematics Yourself

 

Practice problems yourself. Solve as many questions as possible to understand the concepts and become comfortable with the steps involved. Do not stop after solving one example. Practice additional questions from your textbook or reliable online resources until you feel confident applying the method independently.

Explain Your Thinking

 

Explain your thinking. Try to answer your teacher's questions during class, even if you are not completely sure that your answer is correct. Explain solutions to your classmates and participate in study groups. Teaching someone else can help you discover whether you truly understand a mathematical concept.

 Build Your Confidence

 

You have to be confident – do not hesitate to ask any question. Do not be bothered about what others will think about this question. You can learn best if you clear your confusion about problem. 

Understand, Don't Just Memorize

 

Understand, don't just memorize. Try to understand each step of a problem rather than simply memorizing a procedure. Make sure you understand each concept before moving on to the next one. Look for connections between different mathematical concepts, as understanding how ideas relate to one another can make mathematics easier to learn.

 

Ask for Help When You Need It

 

Ask for help when you need it. If you do not understand a problem or concept, do not spend too much time struggling with it alone. Ask your teacher, classmates, or a tutor for help. Sometimes a simple explanation from another person can make a difficult concept much clearer. Most importantly, do not leave an important concept unresolved.

Remember Always what Albert Einstein said ;

"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." 

Exam or Test Strategy:

Start studying math a week prior to your exam. It will help you to be well prepared by the night before exam and you can focus on revision of all the concepts, formulas and methods easily. Prepare your calculator, pencil, pen, rubber and student card a night before. Try to sleep early and after getting up have healthy breakfast and then try to revise for some hard formulae on your way to institution. Do not start writing all of the sudden after getting exam. First read exam paper carefully twice and start with the questions you are confident about. The questions that are not much clear to you highlight them and get back to them after solving rest of exam. After finishing your exam check all the questions, if you have missed some and also check answers. Do not forget to use calculator for calculations. Try to stay away from distractions during exam. 

Online Mathematics Resources

There are many excellent online resources that can help you strengthen your mathematical skills, review difficult concepts, and practice at your own pace.

Khan Academy:
Khan Academy offers a large collection of free mathematics lessons, videos, explanations, and practice exercises covering topics from basic mathematics and algebra to calculus and statistics. It is particularly useful when you need additional explanations or practice outside the classroom.

Coursera:
Coursera offers mathematics courses from universities and educational institutions around the world. You can explore courses in areas such as algebra, calculus, geometry, statistics, and other mathematical subjects. Some courses can be accessed for free, while others may require payment or enrollment.

MIT OpenCourseWare (MIT OCW):
MIT OpenCourseWare provides free access to educational materials from MIT courses. Its mathematics resources include introductory and advanced topics, with materials such as lecture notes, assignments, exams, and, for some courses, video lectures.

    

A better approach to learning mathematics:

• Practice problems instead of only reading examples.
• Explain your solution aloud.
• Review mistakes and identify why they happened.
• Use spaced practice instead of studying everything the night before.
• Mix different types of problems.
• Test yourself without looking at the solution.

                                       

Be happy for your grades as you have worked really hard and you 

deserve it!

I hope now you believe that " MATH IS EASY!!!"

A Personal Note

One of my students from the Graphic Design Department once gave me this picture of a girl shouting, “Math is very difficult.” She gave it to me several years ago, and I still have it.

It reminds me that sometimes students don't hate mathematics itself — they simply haven't found the right way to understand it yet.

Read more:

• Why Study Math?
• Why the Students Have to Study Mathematics?
• How to Pass College Algebra (Even If You Hate Math): The Ultimate Survival Guide
• The Responsible Student: Success Without Excuses
• My Daily Math Practice Routine
• Mathematics Celebration Days
• Albert Einstein Math Quotes

Final Thoughts

Improving your mathematics skills does not happen overnight. It requires patience, consistent practice, and a willingness to learn from your mistakes. Take one step at a time, ask questions when you need help, and keep practicing.

Be proud of your progress. You have worked hard, and you deserve to see the results of your effort.

Most importantly, remember: Mathematics can be learned, and you can improve!

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