Jordan Peterson Maps of meaning, A Short Critical Analysis

             

Jordan Peterson is one of the most influential thinkers, public speakers, and internet celebrities in the Western world. Professionally he is a clinical psychologist, YouTube personality, author, and professor emeritus at the University of Toronto. He has authored or co-authored more than a hundred academic papers on various psychological, cultural, social, political, and religious topics. One of his books 12 Rules for Life is a bestseller in many countries.

His views on cultural and political issues receive widespread attention. He appears frequently as a guest panelist in various popular TV shows. However, his lectures and conversations, are propagated mainly through YouTube and podcasts and attract millions of viewers.

    Peterson was born and grew up in an era When the Western nations were still traumatized from the destructions of the 2nd world war and the post-war world was divided into two opposite blocks. The Soviet Union was at its Peak and the continuous Fear of Nuclear War was lingering in the Western World. Literary works of Soviet writers were shaking and influencing the minds of intellectuals all around the world. The ideologies of Continental Philosophers like Neitzche and Marx were still hot topics in academic circles. And the Existentialists were pushing the Western mind into an individual crisis.

   

     Peterson grew up under the influence of all these Fears  . . . fear of Totalitarianism, fear of Socialism, fear of existential crisis, fear of a nuclear war, and fear of the Destruction of the world. In November 1989 the Berlin wall was demolished and the Soviet Union Collapsed. But soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Western powers considered that event not only a political victory but also a social, ideological, and cultural victory.

    

     Western minds began to think that Marxism, Socialism, and Totalitarianism, are nothing but evil ideologies and cause nothing but destruction and then they began to target all those voices which were somehow related or influenced or have an inclination towards, socialism, totalitarianism and were being labeled as evil ones. Not only this, but the End of the USSR also created a sense of superiority in the Western mind regarding their political system, and social and cultural values. These things lead them to ignore the social and cultural problems prevailing within their own societies. 

But people who had clear insights and instincts about the changes in their society were feeling that things were not right, Peterson was one of them. Not only this, there were conflicts and bloodshed in various parts of the world and there was no socialism or soviets to blame.

    In 1999, Peterson published his first book, Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief, which became the basis for many of his subsequent lectures. It took Peterson a long period of 13 years to complete his book.

    The book described a theory of how the mind works and how people construct the meaning of history.Throughout the book, the author attempted to answer a single question, how do social conflicts arise, and why do both individuals and groups get involved in the social conflict? 

    Peterson seems to realize that Western Society is facing serious issues on both individual and social levels,  and he began to highlight some of those issues and he also tries to find out the reasons behind those issues. He succeeded to some extent but overall he appeared hiding or intentionally ignoring the main causes and that resulted in his failure of finding solutions to the problems. 

   

     Peterson himself was under immense social pressure that was forcing him not to criticize or blame the corporate world or capitalism. He intentionally tried to ignore all the problems resulting from the economic injustices in a capitalist society. He tried to deny the Importance of Money or wealth and other material resources in the success or failure of a person's life and tried to ignore their relationship with happiness and miseries in human life. He shuts his eyes from poverty, hunger, growing class differences, and economic injustices in society. because in Western societies it has become a norm that anything against capitalism is instantly labeled as some unforgivable sin, in the same way, as it is to praise something from socialism or other social systems, 

    

    With such compromises, Peterson tried to point out and address the issues in an indirect and obscure manner. Because he couldn't blame the society or economic or political systems, he chooses to blame the individual  . . . and here he commits a crucial mistake . . .he not only blames the Individual but he puts all the burden and responsibility of dealing and solving the situation on the shoulders of the individual.

    According to him personal talents can help an individual to move up in the hierarchy but when it comes to pointing out those personal talents, his answer is very strange and seems completely irrelevant. . . . 

    e.g talents he mentioned are

 the ability to articulate truth.Ability to be competent,ability to make an appropriate moral judgment. When Peterson fully realized that his first book was not able to address the real issues and failed to solve the problems faced by an individual or by Western society, he began to work on his 2nd book. 

End of Part 1

Phoenix Ancient Mythical bird

One of the creation myths from the ancient Egyptian city Heliopolis tells of a Mythical Bird. In that myth, there is an account of the 'first dawn' when the world was said to have emerged from an 'infinite, lifeless sea' called 'Nun', in a distant period known as "the first occasion" when a bird skimmed over the waters of the Nun until it opened its beak and a cry echoed over the waters of the Nun. The world was filled with ‘which it had not known, and then the sun rose for the first time. The cry of the that Bird thus determined what is and is not to be’. that bird was named by Egyptians as Benu Bird and was considered as an aspect of Atum, who brought life and light to the world.

    The Benu’s cry had begun the cycle of time, which the Egyptians believed to be divinely appointed. The Temple of the Benu Bird at Heliopolis was primarily concerned with the regulation of the calendar and the Benu Bird itself became the deity concerned with the division of time. At Heliopolis, where the bird deity Bennu was venerated, it was said to be living on the Benben stone or on the holy willow tree.

    The Greeks named the Egyptian Benu Bird the Phoenix. The earliest clear mention of the phoenix in ancient Greek literature occurs in a fragment of the Precepts of Chiron, attributed to 6th century BC Greek poet Hesiod. In the fragment, the wise centaur Chiron tells a young hero Achilles the phoenix's lifetime is 972 times the length of a long-lived human's:

    Classical discourse on the subject of the phoenix attributes a potential origin of the phoenix to Ancient Egypt. Herodotus, writing in the 5th century BC, provides the following account of the phoenix:

[The Egyptians] have also another sacred bird called the phoenix which I have never seen, except in pictures. Indeed it is a great rarity, even in Egypt, only coming there (according to the accounts of the people of Heliopolis) once in five hundred years, when the old phoenix dies.       Its size and appearance, if it is like the pictures, are as follows: The plumage is partly red, partly golden, while the general make and size are almost exactly that of the eagle. 

    According to various Greek accounts, Phoenix is a legendary bird without parents and offspring. It nurtured itself in sunlight and sea spray. Brilliant in appearance, its feathers were gold, red, and white; its eyes were green as the sea. A semi-immortal being, the Phoenix had a lifespan of 500 years and when about to die, it drew new life from the primal elements of fire and water and was born again. It would build its nest in the form of a funeral pyre and a single clap of its wings would ignite it. Then, when consumed by the flames, a young Phoenix would arise from its own ashes. The Greeks considered the appearance of the Phoenix as a herald of important events to come.

    Scholars have observed analogs to the phoenix in a variety of cultures. These analogs include the Persian Simorgh, the Arabian Anqa, the Turkish Konrul, the Russian firebird, the Georgian Paskunji, Chinese Fenghuang, the Hindu  Bherunda, and the Japanese Hō-ō.

by Zaheeruddin Babar

Sanaa in 3 minutes | Capital of Yemen | Largest city of Yemen | Oldest ...

Sana'a is the capital of Yemen, located at an elevation of 7,500 ft, it is one of the highest capital cities in the world.It has a population of over 4 million, making it Yemen's largest city. Its urban area makes up about 10% of Yemen's total population.

Sanaa is located at the narrowest part of the plain, nestled between Jabal Nuqum to the east and the foothills of Jabal an-Nabi Shu'ayb, Yemen's tallest mountain, to the west.

Sanaʽa features the very rare mild version of a desert climate. As a result of its lower latitude and higher elevation, UV radiation from the sun is much stronger than in the hotter climates farther north on the Arab peninsula.The city experiences many microclimates from district to district because of its location and uneven elevations throughout the city.

Sana'a is one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world, and is believed to have been founded by Sam, the son of Noah. As a result, the city has the nickname of "Sam City".It remained an important center of the ancient civilizations  of Sabaeans and Himyarite. Sanaa was an Arabian centre for Christians and Jews before it was converted to Islam.Because of its location, Sanaa was positioned at the crossroad of two major ancient trade routes linking Ma'rib in the east to the Red Sea in the west. The Ottomans conquered Sanaa in 1547 . Sanaa became the national capital of independent Yemen after Ottoman defeat in World War I. 

Population is overwhelmingly ethnic Arab and Afro-Arab.Muslims constitute 99% . Arabic is the official language.

Generally, Sanaʽa is divided into two parts: the Old City District ("al-Qadeemah") and the new city ("al-Jadid.") . The old fortified city has been inhabited for more than 2,500 years and contains many intact architectural gems. . Massive old city wall is pierced by numerous gates. Most notable  is the Bāb al-Yaman. The Old City of Sanaa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a distinctive architectural character, most notably expressed in its multi-storey buildings , all built before the 11th century ce.

Souk Al-Milh, literally meaning ‘The Salt Market’ ,located in the very heart of Old Sanaa. it is divided into the specialised markets, some of which have their own names.

Sanaa in 3 minutes | Capital of Yemen | Largest city of Yemen | Oldest city of the World

by Zaheeruddin Babar

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Anomie | Normlessness | Breakdown of social values

A norm is an expectation of how people will behave in a society, Norms  encourag positive behavior or discourage negative behavior. Norms also shape interests. But norms are distinct from "ideas", "attitudes", and "values", which can be held privately, and which do not necessarily concern behavior. 

Norms exert a form of social pressure that encourages individual to act and interact in certain ways. Norms determine what is considered moral and ethical behavior; they structure the difference between right and wrong. A law is also a norm that is formally inscribed at the state or federal level and is enforced by police or other government agents. Thus Norms are important because of  their contribution to create social order.

    A situation in which the social norms that regulate individual conduct have broken down or are no longer effective as rules for behaviour” is called Anomie.It is a breakdown of social bonds between an individual and their community, in which individuals do not feel bound by the moral restrictions of society.

This aspect refers to the  . . . inability to identify with the perceived dominant values of society. 

Anomie occurs during and follows periods of drastic and rapid changes to the social, economic, or political structures of society.

    Anomie arise when an individual's actions are mismatched, or not integrated, with a system of social norms and practices. It is the result of the weakening of traditional institutions, in particular the reduced authority of such institutions in the economic sphere, as well as changes in the principles underlying social inequality. More generally, when there is a significant discrepancy between the ideological theories and values commonly professed and what was actually achievable in everyday life. 

Such conditions led individuals to pursue egoistic ends rather than seeking the good of a larger community. Sometimes  rapid change of the standards or values of societies  often erroneously seem as normlessness. 

    Complex modern societies, directly cause anomie by depriving the individual of self-determination and a relatively small reference group to relate to, such as the band, clan or tribe. 

It may also arise from the lack of a social ethic, which produces moral deregulation and an absence of legitimate aspirations. Similarly, a society with too much rigidity and little individual discretion could also produce a kind of anomie.

    Because anomie is the discrepancy between common social goals and the legitimate means to attain those goals. it means, an individual suffering from anomie would strive to attain the common goals of a specific society yet would not be able to reach these goals legitimately because of the structural limitations in society. As a result, the individual would exhibit deviant behavior.

    Such normlessness causes both personal anxiety and a disruption in the rhythm of social life. 

At a personal level, it creates  alienation, isolation, emotional emptiness and despair. In such situation striving is considered useless, because there is no accepted definition of what is desirable.  As norms become less binding for individuals. individuals lose the sense of what is right and wrong.  Individuals may feel that community leaders are indifferent to their needs, that society is basically unpredictable and lacking order, and that goals are not being realized. They may also have a sense of futility and a conviction that associates are not dependable sources of support. 

     when society does not provide the necessary legitimate and legal means that allow people to achieve culturally valued goals, people seek out alternative means that may simply break from the norm, or may violate norms and laws. 

    Periods of anomie are unstable, chaotic, and often rife with conflict because the social force of the norms and values that otherwise provide stability is weakened or missing.

Anomie | Normlessness | Breakdown of social values

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Casablanca in 3 minutes | largest city of Morocco

Casablanca is the largest city of Morocco with a population of almost 4 million. Located on the Atlantic coast,in the central-western part of Morocco, it is the second largest city in the Maghreb region.The closest permanent river to Casablanca is Oum Rabia, 70 km to the south-east.

Casablanca has a mediterranean climate with warm summers, pleasant winters and moderate rainfall (415mm or 16.3 inches). 

It is blessed with very good summers, due to being located in the west coast of the Atlantic, which gives very refreshing breezes.

The modern city of Casablanca was founded by Berber fishermen in the 10th Century BC and was subsequently used by the Phoenicians, Romans, and the Merenids as a strategic port called Anfa. The Portuguese destroyed it and rebuilt it under the name Casa Branca, only to abandon it after an earthquake in 1755. The Moroccan sultan rebuilt the city as Daru l-Badya.The French occupied the city in 1907, establishing it as a protectorate in 1912 however it gained independence with the rest of the country in 1956. Since independence the European population has decreased substantially. Now 99.9% of the population of Morocco are Arab and Berber Muslims. Arabic, Berber and  French are the main languages.

The medina of Casablanca is the oldest part of the city. Two of the original gates of the old city walls still survive. Other attractions include an 18th-century fortress, a jewellery market, and the tomb of Sidi Allal el-Kairouani.Outside the walls of the medina is the town built by the French.  

Muḥammad V Square, near the gateway of the old medina, and United Nations Square are the business and administrative centres of the town. Farther south, are the gardens of the Park of the Arab League, and the white Cathedral of the Sacré Coeur.

The neighborhood of Anfa is the most upper-class and westernized in the city.

The Hubous is one of the older neighborhoods and is a cultural and religious center as many traditional and historic buildings are located here. Most prominent of these is  Mahkamat al-Pasha. 

The Ḥasan II mosque, situated along the coast, is one of the largest and most ornate mosques in the world. The Ain Diab is a commune located in the west of the Hassan II Mosque. It is affluent and famous for the fashionable stretch of coastline known as the Corniche. There are numerous hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, and Lalla Meryem Beach and Ain Diab Beach. There is also the ribat and island of Sidi Abderrahman. The Port of Casablanca is one of the largest artificial ports in the world. In the Ain Diab area, "Morocco Mall". is the largest shopping mall in Africa.  

. West of the park and stretching toward the coast are the gardens and villas of residential districts, such as Anfa. El Hank Light house is the highest lighthouse in the Morocco.

The 1942 American film Casablanca is set in Casablanca and has had a lasting impact on the city's image. Casablanca has many movie theaters.

The Casablanca Tramway is the rapid transit tram system in Casablanca. A network of buses and taxis provide services. There is also a railway line that runs northeastward to Tangier—and eastward into Algeria and Tunisia. The Casablanca-Nouaceur airport, to the east of the city, provide international services.

The traditional Moroccan bread is called Khobz. There are plenty of small shops all around town selling rotisserie chicken, grilled meats, or grilled sausages. In Casablanca, fish tagines are a particular specialty. Pastilla is a delicious Moroccan sweet and savory meat pie. Cooked in huge steaming pans of broth, snails are a favorite Moroccan street food.

Casablanca has a large number  of famous coffee shops and cafés. Wine and liquor are available, but only when eating in the restaurant. Many western-style nightclubs exist in the Maarif and Gironde neighborhoods. Soccer has been the most popular sport.  Mohammed V Athletic Complex situated in the heart of the city of Casablanca.

Anomie | Normlessness | Breakdown of social values

by Zaheeruddin Babar

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Cairo in 3 minutes | Capital of Egypt | Cairo City

Cairo is the capital and largest city of Egypt. With a population of over  9 million spread over 453 km2 Cairo is by far the largest city in the Arab World. Situated near the Nile Delta , Cairo was founded in 969 AD during the Fatmid  Dynasty. The land composing the present day city is associated with ancient  Egypt, as the famous Giza Pyramid complex and ancient city of Memphis are located in its geographical area.

City is located in northern part of Egypt, 165 kms sounth of Mediterranean Sea and 120 kms West of the Suez Canal along side the Nile River.

 The Climate is a hot desert climate, Wind storms can be frequent, bringing Saharan dust into the city. In summer the temperature rarely surpass 40 C and lows drop to about 20 C. From March to May the air often becomes uncomfortably dry but most of the Summer months have high humidity due to its coastal location . Winter is short, rainfall is sparse and only happen in the colder months. Cairo’s population is  predominantly Muslim. Arabic is the commonly spoken language.

Cairo holds one of the greatest concentrations of historical monuments of Islamic architecture in the world. The Citadel is located east of the city centre around Islamic Cairo, which dates back to the Fatimid era. The Fatimids built Cairo as a  palatial city which contained their palaces and institutions of government. It was enclosed by a circuit of walls, parts of which survive today at Bab Zuwayla in the south and Bab al-Futuh and Bab al-Nasr in the north. One of the most important and lasting institutions founded in the Fatimid period was the Mosque and University of al-Azhar, founded in 970 AD. The Mamluks, and the later Ottomans,  built caravanserais, the most famous example still intact today is the Wikala al-Ghuri, which nowadays also hosts regular performances by the  Egyptian Heritage Dance Troupe. The famous Khan al-Khalili is a commercial hub which also integrated caravanserais. Established as a center of trade in the Mamluk era , the bazaar district has since become one of Cairo's main attractions for tourists.

Downtown Cairo  has been the urban center of Cairo, since the late 19th century, when the district was designed and built by French architects. It is dominated by wide boulevards, open spaces, and modern architecture and was once home to the prosperous elite of late 19th and early 20th century Cairo. 

Qasr El Nil Street is a street in downtown Cairo, is one of the biggest streets in Cairo, with many businesses, restaurants, and an active nightlife. Most popular nightlife  activities, include Bellydance performances, and  Nile dinner cruise. 

The Cairo Tower is a free-standing tower with a revolving restaurant at the top.

The Qasr El Nil Bridge is a famous bridge that connects Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo to the modern Cairo Opera complex toward the southern end of Gezira Island.

The Egyptian Museum, is home to the most extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities in the world. 

Cairo International Airport is the principal international airport of Cairo and the busiest airport in Egypt.

Ramses Railway Station  also called Misr Station is the main railway station of Cairo.

Cairo has an extensive road network, rail system, subway system and maritime services.

In Cairo there's a coffee shop on every corner. Koshary is a uniquely Egyptian street food that is made of a mixture of rice, macaroni or spaghetti, lentils and chickpeas, covered with a spicy tomato sauce. 

Egyptian flat bread is called aysh baladi or shami based on whole wheat flour or just flour. Beaf is the most common meat. Fuul is an Egyptian kind of falafel with fava beans, it can be found at nearly every street vendor in Cairo.

Football is the most popular sport in Egypt. Naser Stadium, is the second largest stadium in Egypt.

Cairo in 3 minutes | Capital of Egypt | Cairo City

by Zaheeruddin Babar

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Damascus in three minutes | capital of Syria | Damascus city | Oldest city

Established between 10,000 to 8,000 BC, Damascus is credited with being the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.It is a  major cultural center of the Levant and the Arab world. It is located In southwestern Syria, Embedded on the eastern foothills of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range  from the eastern shore of the Mediterranean on a plateau. The city has an estimated population of 4.5 million.The modern city has an area of 105 km2 , out of which 77 km2  is urban, while Jabal Qasioun occupies the rest.

Damascus has a cool arid climate. Summers are prolonged, dry and hot with less humidity. Winters are cool and somewhat rainy; snowfall is infrequent. Autumn is brief and mild. 

 The main language is Arabic.Islam is the dominant religion. The majority of Muslims are Sunni while Alawites and Twelver Shi'a comprise sizeable minorities.Christians represent about 15%–20% of the population.

The old city of Damascus, enclosed by the city walls, lies on the south bank of the river Barada. The Citadel of Damascus is located in the northwest corner of the Old City. It is a large medieval fortified palace which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.The Damascus Straight Street consists of the street of Bab Sharqi and the Souk Medhat Pasha, a covered market. At the end of the Bab Sharqi street, one reaches the House of Ananias. Azm palace is located in North of Al-Buzuriyah Souq.The Souq al-Hamidiyya, is a famous old market packed with tiny shops, is entered through columns from a Roman temple built on a site that had been occupied by an even older temple.At the end of Souq al-Hamidiyya stands the great Umayyad mosque;  The Umayyad Mosque, also known as the Grand Mosque of Damascus, is one of the largest mosques in the world and also one of the oldest sites of continuous prayer since the rise of Islam. A shrine in the mosque is said to contain the body of St. John the Baptist. The mausoleum where Saladin was buried is located in the gardens just outside the mosque. Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque, the shrine of the youngest daughter of Husayn ibn Ali, can also be found near the Umayyad Mosque. Another heavily visited site is Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque, where the tomb of Zaynab bint Ali is located.

Damascus is famous for its old historical Hammams( public baths).the most famous of them is the "Nour al-Din al-Shahid" bath. Hooka cafe's are popular in Damascus and are easy to find. where Arghilehs (water pipes) and popular beverages are served. Card games and Tables are popular in the cafes. 

The Damascus Opera House is the national opera house of Syria.  it has been the venue of numerous theatrical performances and concerts of classical European or Arabic music, as well as of film shows.Tishreen Park is by far the largest. It is home to the annual Damascus Flower Show.

Khubz is the main bread sold in Damascus. Famous Damascene dishes include Hummus,Falafel,Mutabbal and fatteh.Booza is the famous desert.  Shawarma is available  in different varieties.Fresh juice stalls are available all over the city.Another unusual dish is a camel kebab, available fresh from the camel butchers outside Bab Saghir. 

Damascus International Airport is Syria's busiest airport.Public transport in Damascus depends extensively on minibuses also known as servees.Taxis are plentiful in Damascus and are easily available.Al-Hijaz railway station, lies in the city center and is   connected with suburbs and other cities.

In Damascus, popular sports include football, basketball, swimming, and table tennis. Abbasiyyin Stadium is the main Sports Stadium.

Damascus in three minutes

by Zaheer uddin Babar

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Holi and Nowruz | Relation between these ancient festivals

Holi is a festival that is celebrated mainly in India that has been in existence for thousands of years and marks the beginning of spring. It is celebrated on the last full moon day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month. It is usually in March

There is another festival that is called Nowruz, also known as the Persian New Year, is mainly celebrated in Iran. It has roots in Zoroastrianism, a very old religion dating back to thousands of years. It is celbrated during the vernal equinox, during March. 

Both Holi and Nowruz are ancient festivals that are celebrated  to welcome the Spring season.Both festivals are celebrated almost at the same time of the year.These  festivalss may in fact be reminiscent of old cultural and ethnological ties between Indian and Iranian branches of Aryan tribe,

Both of these festivals are started with rituals that involve Fire.Holi celebrations start on the night before Holi with a Holika Dahan where people gather, perform religious rituals in front of the bonfire, and pray that their internal evil be destroyed.

Next morning, groups of people carry drums and other musical instruments, go from place to place, sing and dance. People visit family, friends and foes come together to throw coloured powders on each other, laugh and gossip, then share Holi delicacies, food and drinks. In the evening, people dress up and visit friends and family.

Chaharshanbe Suri is a prelude to the Nowruz. it is celebrated on the eve of the last Wednesday before Nowruz. It is usually celebrated in the evening by performing rituals such as jumping over bonfires.Iranians sing the poetic line "my yellow is yours, your red is mine", which means asking the fire to take away ill-health and problems and replace them with warmth, health, and energy.

During the Nowruz holidays, people are expected to make short visits to the homes of family, friends and neighbors. Visitors are offered tea and pastries, cookies, fresh and dried fruits and mixed nuts or other snacks. Many Iranians throw large Nowruz parties in as a way of dealing with the long distances between groups of friends and family.

Although both of these festivals are mainly Spring festivals but they are associated with religious or  mythological deities. Holi is celebrated as a festival of triumph of good over evil in the honour of Hindu deity Vishnu. Nowruz is celebrated to honor the mythical Iranian King Jamshid, who saves mankind from a winter destined to kill every living creature.

There seems a lot of  similarities between Nowruz and Holi, but now  lets talk about a major difference. Holi is called festival of colors,On the main day of the festival  people smear each other with colours and drench each other. Water guns and water-filled balloons are also used to play and colour each other.  The frolic and fight with colours occurs in the open streets, parks, outside temples and buildings.

But in Nowruz there is no such ritual of throwing colours on each other. This seems a huge difference but there is one  legend related to the hindu deity Krishna that explains this difference.

According to this legend as a baby, Krishna developed his characteristic dark skin colour .In his youth, Krishna despaired whether the fair-skinned Radha would like him because of his dark skin colour. His mother, tired of his desperation, asks him to approach Radha and ask her to colour his face in any colour she wanted. This she did, and Radha and Krishna became a couple. So, the playful colouring of Radha and Krishna's face has been commemorated in the festival of Holi.

In Iran there were almost no differences of skin color  because of much racial uniformity, while in India we can see a lack of such racial uniformity, in order to remove these racial difference and to creat a sense of uniformity . people throw colors on each other by follwing the Kirishna's legend and  thus remove the racial differences.

Holi and Nowruz | Relation between these  two ancient festivals

by Zaheeruddin Babar

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Newroz Fire Festival in Akre Iraq | Kurdish Newroz celebration | Nowruz

Nowruz (new day') is the Iranian New Year, also known as the Persian New Year, which begins on the spring equinox, marking the first day of Farvardin, the first month of the Iranian solar calendar. It is celebrated worldwide by various ethno-linguistic groups, and falls on or around March 21 of the Gregorian calendar. Nowruz falls on March 20 in 2021.

               

Nowruz has Iranian and Zoroastrian origins; however, it has been celebrated by diverse communities for over 3,000 years in Western Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Black Sea Basin, the Balkans, and South Asia. It is a secular holiday for most celebrants that is enjoyed by people of several different faiths, but remains a holy day for Zoroastrians, Baháʼís, and some Muslim communities.

Akre is a city  located in Zagros mountains,In the beginning of every year people gather to celebrated the famous Persian Spring Festival called Nowroz, but in this region people call it Newroz. During Newroz people wear their traditional clothes and celebrate by  carrying out cheerful traditional Kurdish dances and songs.

During Newroz, hundreds of people prepare special torches.which are made from a wet tree branch wrapped in a piece of burlap with a wire and a nail.These torches are then soaked  in oil from morning until evening.  When the ceremony starts in the evening, remove the torch from the oil, light it, and then take it to the hilltop.These fires symbolize the passing of the dark season, winter, and arrival of the spring, the season of light. 

According to a Kurdish Poet.

Without the light and the fire of Love, 

Without the Designer and the power of Creator, 

We are not able to reach Union. 

This fire massing and washing the Heart, 

My heart claim after it.

And here come Newroz and the New Year, when a such light is rising

Newroz Fire Festival in Akre Iraq

by Zaheer uddin Babar

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Baghdad the capital of Iraq , with population of more than 8 million and area of 673 km is one of the largest cities in the Arab world. It is located on a vast plain bisected by the Tigris river. Baghdad is located near the ruins of the ancient Akkadian city of Babylon and the ancient Iranian capital of Ctesiphon. Baghdad was founded in the 8th century by Al-Mansur and became the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate.Since then it is a significant cultural, commercial, and intellectual center of the Arab world. 

The land on which the city is built is almost entirely flat and low-lying.Baghdad has a hot desert climate, featuring extremely hot, prolonged, dry summers and mild to cool, slightly wet, short winters.During the summer dust storms from the deserts to the west are a normal occurrence. Winter temperatures are typical of the desert climates.Below freezing occur a couple of times per year on average.In 2008 and 2020  light snow fell across Baghdad.

More than 95 percent of the population are Sunni Shia or mixed. Rest of the population consists of  Kurds ,Assyrian and  Armenians.The most widely spoken language in Baghdad is the Arabic language. 

Al-Rusafa is the eastern side of the River Tigris, Al-Karkh  is the western half of Baghdad. These are the old quarters  and central commercial area of Baghdad, situated in the heart of the city. 14 Bridges links the Eastern and Western parts of Baghdad.

"Souk al-Shorja is Baghdad's oldest market. It was established in the late Abbasid period about A.D. 750 .It is part of the historic area that includes the Abbasid palace on the Tigris River and the Khulafa mosque on al-Jumhuriya Street. 

Mutanabbi Street is located near the old quarter of Baghdad; at Al Rasheed Street. It is the historic center of Baghdad bookselling, a long street filled with bookstores and outdoor book stalls.

The Safafeer copper market is also one of the most popular markets, which is famous for producing various copper collectables and artifacts. 

Grand Festivities square is the main square for public celebrations in Baghdad.The square is home to three important public monuments

 It includes the biggest and one of the most visited landmark in Baghdad Al-Shaheed Monument.Al-Shaheed was built as part of a broader Ba'athist government program to erect a number of public works intended to beautify Baghdad.  The other 2 monuments are the Victory Arch and the monument of the unknown soldier.

Firdos Square is an other importan square. It is named after the Persian word Firdows, which means "paradise". The 14 Ramadan Mosque and two of the best-known hotels in Baghdad, the Palestine Hotel and the Sheraton Ishtar hotel, are located on the Firdos Square.

 Al Mustansiriya School is located in the middle of Baghdad.

 Abu Hanifa Mosque is one of the most prominent Sunni mosques in northern Baghdad.

Al-Kadhimiya Mosque which contains the tombs of the seventh and ninth Shia Imams, is also located in Northern Baghdad.

Baghdad is the birthplace of the famous folklore of Arabian nights.The statues of famous characters of Arabian nights are located on important city points.

Baghdad Central Station is the main train station in Baghdad. It links the rail network to the south and the north of Iraq.

Baghdad International Airport, previously Saddam International Airport  is Iraq's largest international airport.

Samoon is a type of yeast bread that is consumed mainly in Iraq.These breads are usually served with a variety of foods such as hummus, kebab, and shawarma.

 Baghdad prides itself of making the best masgouf consisting of seasoned, grilled river fish;,and is considered the national dish of Iraq. 

Kleicha is a traditional dates filled cookie that's prepared for Eid, weddings, or birthdays.

 Football is the most popular sport and hobby .Al Shaab and Al shohada are the main Stadiums in Baghdad.

Although Baghdad is the second largest city in the Arab world after Cairo.But  religious tourism is the most popular type of tourism.

Baghdad in 3 minutes

by Zaheeruddin Babar

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PNS Ghazi and INS Rajput

Before the main topic it will be better to answer some  frequently asked question from the viewers .Why It  is important to discuss how , why and by whom PNS Ghazi was destroyed . 

Answer is simple .Both East and West Pakistan were at least thousand mile away from each other. Only reliable link between East and West PAkistan was through Sea route.In order to win a war in East Pakistan, the most important task was to ensure the complete naval blockade . But In 1965 India had seen that how PNS Ghazi made it impossible. In 1971 the same Submarine was the biggest hurdle in implementing any naval blockade.

Although my series about PNS Ghazi was complete which I had uploaded last year.But few days ago on one of my 3 videos on PNS Gazi I received  a comment  from a person who claimed that he has served in indian Navy and was crew member of INS Rajput.He claimed that he was an eywitness of the incident.He had mentioned about his videos on the related topic.In which he claimed that he has provided the complete detail.I checked out his videos. His videos seem to be the response  of my previous videos.Whatever , In this video I am going to analyse his claim.

In his video the duration of the part related to PNS Ghazi is of 17 minutes. I selected only those parts which I think were relevent to my previous videos and re-arranged them.  

 Lets start with his introduction .

"1971 Indo-Pak Bangladesh war I am Bimal Kumar Chandan Ex Indian Navy who was posted on INS Rajput during the war.In my brief description I am going to present before you the true fact about naval warfare as an eyewitness directly involved and fought in 1971 war.In modern days like 1999 Kargil war and other wars and also wing commander Abhinandon Varthaman got fumedia coverage so we were not called for any interview nor in any conversation like today. There was  restriction on the public interview by the armed forces personals so the truth remains in the dark." 

Now Lets see what are his views about PNS Ghazi .

"The PAkistan Navy deployed their high power submarine PNS Ghazi which they took for a lease for Five years from the United States in 1964. The hi-tech submarine was specially trained and had the capability to carry mines and lay the same on sea surface The main aim of  PAkistan to deploy PNS Ghazi Eastern Naval Area near Vishakhapatnam to destroy our aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. In 1965 Indo Pakistan War When i was also posted on INS Rajput same PNS Ghazi was detected by the ship submarine detector in Eastern Sector.But some how it escaped from out target as it moves very fast beig a high power submarine with modern technology.Remember if we were unable to destroy PNS Ghazi in first stage of war then the entire scenario of the war would have changed. "

what are his views about INS Rajput.

Firstly the condition of INS Rajput was not suitable  for war and cannons were not functioning well and ship had become too old  for which it was decided to be de-commissioned.In those days the ships were very old specially INS Rajput which was about to be de-commissioned, not equipped with any modern equipment like today in the year 2020.  In those days the communication systems was not of the standard,no modern equipment was installed and most of the warships very old with backward technology instead of new ships and launcher missile boats and gun boats. We have to depend upon the Telegraphic system. Knowing very well that our ship was nothing in front of PNS Ghazi still we members of INS Rajput took risk of our lives for the safety of our ship INS Vikrant.

In my previous videos I have explained why Pakistan completely rejected Indian claim and why even Indian Naval officers and war historians  were skeptic about the Indian claim. As you have heard from the crew member of INS Rajput that at the time of 1971 war the condition of the ship was so bad that it was being considered unfit for the naval combat and was going to be decommissioned.

Now  just listen about the Indian Plans to destroy PNS Ghazi .

As per our intelligence report the PNS Ghazi was seen in costal areas of Sri Lanka , Madras and Vishakhapatnam,and at the same time INS vikrant was set out to give a surprise to get ready in all respect for the preparation of the war. Commanding officer of INS Rajput was adviced by our Naval Headquarter and by the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief  Eastern naval Command to get ourselves ready in all respect to sail at any time.And we all members of the ship were advised by our Commanding Officer of INS Rajput Captain Inder Singh to get ourselves ready to fight. And our ship communication department was advised to sent continuous messages and wireless signals in bulk as INS Vikrant so that PNS Ghazi and Pakistani Intelligence department will come to know that INS Vikrant is getting preparation for sailing from Vishakhapatnam port.In this way Ins Rajput will act as INS Vikrant to mislead our enemy.

As you have heard from him  that only communication equipment on Outdated INS Rajput  was Telegraph .And we know that PNS Ghazi was equipped with modern equipments of detecting and identifying various targets.So it appears impossible that INS Rajput deceived PNS Ghazi by creating a radio nnoise equal to a whole aircraf career fleet.

There is no need to watch his details of th epic fight between PNS Ghazi and INS Rajput.But If you are interested  . .I have given the link in the description. Now it will be better to jump to the most interesting part .

Even after that epic fight  INS Rajput,was not aware of the fact that PNS Ghazi had been destroyed.

Most surprising thing for me was  .. when he mentioned .

How they came to know about the destruction of PNS Ghazi 

Now I am going to narrate how we came to know about the destruction of PNS Ghazi.Our Eastern Naval Headquarter got information from the local fishermen went for fishing. They found some unrelated and different types of materials floating on the sea.Immediately they informed to our Vishakhapatnam Headquarters.And our ship was engaged on petroling duty, along with naval divers.They saw the deadbodies of Pakistanis, divers with oxygen cylinders and with un exploaded mines exploaded, the divers went to the sea bottom and found submarine in exploding condition.Non of the submarine crew was alive. Our divers cut the name plate of the Ghazi and traced the long boats and other documents as proof.

Now Reaction after receiving the news of the destruction of PNS Ghazi from Indian Naval Headquarters .

But on receiving the message we were delighted and became so happy to know that our mission is success.

See a happy end. 

It now seems more clearer  that  Indian Navy had no capability to destroy Ghazi. And it did not destroyed Ghazi.

If we reject Indian theory then two other theories became more relevent .

1st It was an accident (Which was PAkistan's official view) Keep in mind  "WAS OFFICIAL VIEW" .

2nd It was destroyed by Soviets .

Pakistan took a long time to conclude its investigations and to release  its official statment about the destruction of Ghazi,in which they inclined  towrds some accident  but  in 1997 new undenieble evidences came to the surface , which proved Soviet active military involvement in 1971  war . .. In my next video I will discuss those evidences .After that whole 1971 war and sinking of PNS Ghazi will become easily understandable .

PNS Ghazi and INS Rajput

by Zaheer uddin Babar

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