Showing posts with label Pakistan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pakistan. Show all posts

September 6 - Defense Day in Pakistan

Posted on September 6, 2020


The story of Pakistanis beating back an unprovoked, surprise attack from larger and better-armed forces from India...well, there are many who say that this is not just a one-sided "history," but a false history.

India's "attack" of Pakistan occurred on this date in 1965. A more balanced view of history must record that Pakistani forces started a war with India about a month before. So...the September attack was definitely provoked, and also *not* a surprise.

Of course, it's hard to blame a war on just one side without acknowledging all the causes of the war - including going back to Europe's colonization of the area and the "partition of British India."

Defense Day is generally celebrated with military parades and displays of missiles, tanks, guns, helicopters, and so forth, plus retelling of the patriotic version of the events of September 6, 1965. Honoring those who died during the battle is also important.

Amazing things about Pakistan:

Here are some "rah-rah-us" tourist-bureau type of claims about Pakistan. I checked, and these claims all seem to be true!

Pakistan's oldest salt mine is the world's second largest.

Photo by Muhammad Javaid

Biafo Glacier, located in Pakistan, is the world's largest glacial system outside of the polar regions.




Six of the fifteen highest peaks on Earth are located in Pakistan, and one of the world's tallest vertical drop is offered by Pakistan's Great Trango Tower. The Himalaya portion of Pakistan is called by some "the Rooftop of the World."

K2 (above) is the second highest mountain in the world.
Below, Great Trango Tower





Also on this date:

































































Anniversary of a quashed holiday in Chile










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March 26 - Independence Day in Bangladesh

Posted on March 26, 2020

The Asian nation of Bangladesh was once a part of British India and later a part of the State of Pakistan (and was then called "East Pakistan"). The people of Bangladesh found that their interests weren't served by being the "East" part of a nation that was so far away (Bangladesh and Pakistan are about 1,372 miles or 2,208 km apart). Determined to rule themselves, Bangladeshis declared their independence from Pakistan on this date in 1971. The war ended in December of that same year.

Here are some surprising or interesting things about Bangladesh:

Chittagong has, instead of ship-building yards, ship-breaking yards! The retired ships found in those yards are chipped down little by little, often by hand, with thousands of workers trying to salvage every bit that has any value. Unfortunately, ship breaking is hard work without power tools, and the workers are exposed to dangers and is bad for the environment. Also, by and large, the materials stripped from the boats don't sell for enough money to offer a decent living.


The Star Mosque in Dhaka is decorated with Chinitikri mosaics made from broken bits of china and broken bottles. There are many small blue stars - which is why the mosque is called "the Star Mosque"!



Speaking of mosques, can you believe that Bangladesh has the third largest Muslim population in the world? The only  nations with more Muslim citizens are Indonesia and Pakistan!

Check out the loveliness of the country:








 

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December 25 - Quaid-e-Azam Day in Pakistan

Posted on December 25, 2019

Today is the birthday of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who was Pakistan's first Governor General.


When Jinnah was born, on this date in 1876, India was still a part of the British Empire, and Pakistan didn't yet exist. Jinnah was Muslim, but British India was majority Hindu. Jinnah studied the law in Bombay and London and became a lawyer in Bombay. He joined the Muslim League and worked for the rights of Indian Muslims. He eventually became the president of the League.

For a long time, Jinnah worked toward Muslim-Hindu unity, but eventually he decided that the only way that Indian Muslims would have their full human rights was by partitioning India. 

After British India was partitioned into two independent nations, India and Pakistan (at the time, Bangladesh was part of Pakistan), in 1947, Jinnah became the Governor-General of Pakistan. Unfortunately, he didn't live long; he died of tuberculosis on September 11, 1948.

This national holiday's name translates to "Great Leader Day."

I love so much of the architecture of Pakistan:






















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