A couple of weeks ago I met a schoolmate who said, "We're meeting after sixty years!" I was amazed. I'd entertained him to lunch just two years back, when he was in Karachi (he lives in Lahore). After a few minutes of conversation, I realized that he is suffering from dementia. 

I've always been scared that I might wind up to be like other old people who don't remember anything. So, when my VPN app recommended a couple of programs that could stave off dementia, I eagerly downloaded them and was relieved to find that I don't suffer from the disease.

One of the programs has words that you have to find from many. The words are arranged vertically, horizontally and slant-wise. Some are backwards. It does make you concentrate for a time, and makes you calmer.

The other program (CrossMath) is to do with arithmetic, in which I excelled in my school. This one is really tough. There are four categories of problems, starting with the easy ones, then going to medium and hard ones, and finally the ones for experts. In less than a month, I became skilled enough to try the expert problems, which I usually solve in five minutes. I tell you, it's a relief to find out that I can do so. I advise everyone I know to devote a few minutes every day to these two programs.

 Artificial versus natural intelligence

NOWADAYS there is much talk about artificial intelligence. It is feared that most people will lose their jobs, and that intelligent robots will take over the world, with a few hundred humans kept in cages for members of some future super intelligent species to look at, just as we look at animals in the zoo.

While it is obvious that we should be concerned about the misuse of artificial intelligence, I wonder why no attention is being paid to the fact that natural intelligence has practically disappeared. There used to be many intelligent people in society when I was in my teens in the 1960s and the trend continued in later years.

But nowadays I seldom come across people equipped with natural intelligence. Of course, there are a few still around, but the definition of intelligence seems to have changed a bit. We consider people ‘intelligent’ merely if they are able to remain silent when, say, their wives are yelling at them for forgetting their wedding anniversary.

Also among the ‘intelligent’ ones are those who know that when their wives say they do not want anything for their birthday, they actually mean anything but. Such frivolities aside, human natural intelligence seems to be losing ground to artificial intelligence.

As for today’s politicians, the less said the better. The only occasion they display natural intelligence is when they see a chance to inflate their personal or family wealth, like getting commissions while doling out lucrative contracts, minting money by hook or by crook.

Shakir Lakhani
Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2024

https://www.dawn.com/news/1878854/artificial-versus-natural-intelligence

Self-sabotage

This letter refers to the news report ‘Civil disobedience to start with call to expats to choke remittances: Aleema’ (December 7, 2024). I remember that in 2014 Imran Khan also told his followers to stop remitting money to Pakistan through banks. If this order is implemented successfully, it will result in a great deal of inconvenience to his followers in Pakistan, as many of them are dependent on the money sent by their relatives for survival. There will be pressure to devalue the rupee, which will again affect his voters, as it will result in inflation. His party will become even more unpopular than it is today. Is this what Imran really wants?

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi

The News, December 11, 2024

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1260299-self-sabotage

 

I don't socialize much, in fact I absolutely avoid going to those wedding dinners (unless a close relative is the groom). In fact, there's a late night dinner this week (the bridegroom is a nephew of my son-in-law), but I've declined to attend, even though I've hurt so many relatives. But I do go to those events where I know I'll be back home by eleven at the latest. Last week, I attended the annual dinner hosted by my club for life members. I was shocked to see so many of my relatives and other Memons in such bad health.

There were those younger than me who needed a walking stick, there were others who couldn't walk without assistance, and there was one (a distant relative and boyhood friend) who was in a wheel-chair, but not being able to talk (he suffers from Parkinson's disease). It really depressed me, knowing that I too could have been in their shoes. 

Yesterday, a school friend invited me to lunch (along with five others) at the Boat Club. Even though none of us is suffering from major health problems, I was stunned to find that two of them didn't remember that I had invited them to lunch last year. 

I should be grateful that I don't suffer from a major disease. But I suppose I'll have to maintain my walking and do at least eight thousand steps a day. That seems to be the only way to remain healthy, besides of course avoiding fatty foods.

MYSTERIOUS CLAIMS: This is with reference to the report “PTI ‘rues’ Bushra’s remarks at critical juncture” (Nov 22). One would like to know whether the foreign (leader) first called the former army chief and then gave gifts to the former prime minister and his wife, or whether the gifts were given before the telephone call. Furthermore, why did the couple not return the gifts to the foreign dignitaries once the call was made? And, why did they continue receiving gifts on subsequent visits?

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 7, 2024

https://www.dawn.com/news/1877247/mysterious-claims

 

Zahid Shaikh, my NED college friend, died yesterday after a year-long struggle against cancer at the age of 79. He had been operated for prostate cancer about ten years back, but last year his bladder had also been affected by cancer and it had to be removed. Yesterday he died suddenly after a minor surgery. Three years back, his elder brother Abid (also my friend) passed away due to Covid.

I don't think I've known anyone as gifted as Zahid. He was a fantastic person. He could paint, write, sing, play music and he could mimic anyone on earth. Of course, he was a highly successful engineer as well. I was with him a lot until 1974, when he left for the US.

I've often wondered why people get cancer. Zahid never smoked or drank alcohol, two things which are responsible for cancer in most people. I asked him why he, of all people, got it. He thought it was due to the processed food that most Americans eat. If that's the reason, why hasn't Trump got it?

Whatever the reason, it's apparent that anyone can be stricken by cancer, even those who are very careful about what they eat or drink. Rest in peace, my friend. I'll never forget you.

Party over country

Saturday, Nov 30, 2024

This letter refers to the editorial ‘PTI’s chaos curve’ (November 25, 2024). The problem is that, in the aftermath of these violent marches, the state seems reluctant to take action against the party’s senior leadership. The major question is: why did they march on the capital when foreign dignitaries were visiting Pakistan?

Is it necessary to invade Islamabad to invite attention to their demands? This party has lost support in the country (except in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where it is slowly becoming unpopular). Why not spend the same time, money and energy to solve the problems faced by the people of that province?

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi

Printed in The News, November 30, 2024

https://e.thenews.com.pk/detail?id=363773

 

The "do or die" protest ended with a whimper just two days after the long march to Islamabad began. The blame for this will be laid squarely on Imran's third wife (Bushra) for not listening to party leaders, including Imran Khan, who also advised her to gather at Sangjani instead of D-chowk. Of course, none of this would have happened if Imran (a psychopath) had not married her. This woman is supposed to have advised Imran Khan over the past five years when he was the prime minister. It was due to her insistence that he appointed a man of her choice to run the largest province in the country. With her man in charge, she managed to loot the country and this ultimately resulted in Imran Khan's ouster. Yesterday, she and Ali Amin Gandapur (chief minister of KP) fled in one car after police began firing at the protestors, most of whom fled from the scene in panic, some of them even leaving their cars behind. Gandapur himself had claimed that he wouldn't leave even if bullets were fired at him. Now he has a lot of explaining to do to those whom he persuaded to join the march. He should be removed from the party immediately if there is any accountability in it.

There are many lessons to be learnt from this fiasco. The first is that  Imran's party is not as popular as it may have been before, and I'm firmly convinced that the recent elections were rigged so his party could rule in one province. His popularity is limited to the society begums and their husbands in some urban areas of the country as well as young Pathans in KP. With the ignominious retreat yesterday by Bushra and Gandapur, I doubt if his party can win elections in future. Now the government should step in, persuade disgruntled PTI members to resign and hold bye-elections. The party has been routed in recent local bodies elections, and I'm sure it will lose in bye-elections as well.

Even though the current march to Islamabad has only a quarter of those in previous marches, this time it has succeeded in causing a few deaths already (on the second day). Islamabad residents face a tough time, with prices of edibles shooting up and petrol stocks almost zero. This should make the government think again before imposing a total lockdown in future.

It's confirmed now that Imran Khan agreed to hold the sit-in (dharna) in the suburbs, but his wife (Bushra, the shameless one) insisted on demonstrating in the centre of the city, despite advice to the contrary from almost the entire leadership. Bushra wants to take over the party, which is why Imran's sisters have stayed back this time. 

It should now be obvious that Imran Khan is out to destroy the country. This has happened once before, in 1971. At that time, the establishment refrained from doing what it should have done. I hope the mistake is not repeated this time. If Imran Khan has his way, there will be no Pakistan. The country will be divided again, with Imran Khan being the prime minister of KP. It will be disastrous for the country, with thousands being killed. Let's hope the authorities act decisively against the rebels this time.

There was a time, long ago, when men were valued for their intellect and wisdom. Teachers, particularly, were regarded highly, even though most of them were poor. But as the years went by, and educated people increased, they were thought to be unsuccessful because they didn't have money to live a luxurious life. Not any more. Though nowadays some teachers are highly paid, the general perception is that wealthy people are successful, even though they may have acquired too much wealth but are unhealthy and illiterate.

A cousin of mine (who died of diabetes at the age of 69) suddenly became very rich. He bought a large house, expensive cars and started spending a great deal on restaurants and traveling to foreign countries. There were rumors that he had made his money by putting narcotics in his consignments of food stuff being exported to Sri Lanka. He became a highly respected figure in our community (because of his wealth). The mistake he made was in not caring for his health. Both he and his wife developed diabetes, with the wife losing both her legs before dying a horrible death. Before he died, he survived for two years on money borrowed from relatives and friends.

There's another illiterate young relative who's become a billionaire. He's taken to drinking, and he thinks his wealth will make him a leading figure among his relatives. I could tell him that I've seen billionaires becoming paupers overnight, but it won't have any effect on him.