Audio book - Afghanistan

 I have almost into my decade. I mean into the Afghan history in 1978 onwards, when I was born.

As I am approaching the invasion of the Russians, the audio book is getting increasingly interesting. Last week, most of the talk revolved around the British invasion. It is interesting to note, how the world events shaped the British occupation and the effect it had on Afghans.

All of this add to the stories of how no country has ever been able to rule this mountainous country and eventually had to withdraw. What I also learned was that this transition of change of power from an alien force back to the Afghans was neither smooth nor swift.

Rather this was a series of serious of acts of violence, unrest and killings and assasinations in the dangerous terrains as much as the work, grit and resistance of the Afghans.

One wonders how can a country rise which has been invaded by not one, not two but three super powers (British, Russians, US) of our age plus mighty conquerors like the Greeks (Alexader), the Mongols (Chengiz Khan), the Persians (Darayus) and several others. KABUL is indeed a capital that has been ransacked and savaged and it is from this city that a spark can change the world..

Audio book of the week: Afghanistan

 Afghanistan: A Military History from Alexander the Great to the Fall of the Taliban

An interesting title and for long I wanted a series to listen to in my car.

Editorial review from Amazon:
This book was very well researched and written. Even if you have very little knowledge of Afghanistan, you can understand and easily read this book. It is full of interesting history, along with it's excellent explanation of the military information.

As I began listening to the first title track, I got lost into the names, battles and locations happening at once between the Persians and the Greeks and was wondering where was it leading me to?

Until, ofcourse, came the name of a 20 something leader - Alexander. Absolutely wonderful. To listen to his ambitions and persuits. Was sorry when I arrived at my office and had to switch my player off but looking forward to his conquest and his march to Afghanistan...

The year that went by - 2006

I love the year endings. No, not for those New year wishes. I don't like them anyway. To me there are just the spiritual wishes, like the Eidain (the two Eids) or the greetings on sighting the Ramadan moon, with the beautiful dua..

But yes I love the end of the year to recollect the top stories of year, the newsmakers, the best and... worst of sports (read Cricket) and ofcourse, looking back at my year end claims and accompolishments.

2007 would be a new calendar year and nothing more. If there ever has to be a new year celebration, it should be the Muharram, but nothing of that sort is reported from the Sunnans.

So we stick to a simple year end best and highs and lows.

3 events that made 2006:
1. 26/11 - The Mumbai local train blast. Yet again,
2. Iraq - all the voilence, the death and the hanging on Eid al-Adha

3. Business - The booming of low-cost airlines 
(I too flew the Air Deccan and was happy to pay 50% less on waht 
otherwise would be the normal fare)
 
3 best books I read in 2006:
1. Monk who sold his Ferrari
Did not read much from the Islamic side and I do miss that part - without a proper library and a hectic schedule with driving to work, I listen to audios instead.
2. Tafsir ibn Katheer - Juz Amma: doing the small tafseer at home, this book is remarkable and interesting.

3. Burooj Stars - well this is definately not a book but a newsletter. This 
however provided me with an oppurtunity to explore read and write a college
mag, my way.

3 best Audio books I heard in 2006:

1. Those who desire Paradie - Bilal Asad
2. Lives of Prophets - Anwar Awlaki
3. Tarjamun Quran - Dr. Israar Ahmed

From the sporing event:
Nothing gets bigger than World Cup football and it is fun only if
a. You have the telecast and
b. friends to share the passion with.
So this time since I had both it was fun. And that is why the greatest sporting event for 2006 would be the Zidane head-butt over Italians winning the world cup.

Personal:
for me, i do not make lot of introspection but i and shazi were thinking of 3 most important things that happened in 2006. u know those number games, that comes in TV. top 5 of year etc.. and just for that fact that Safiyah came in our life (04-05-06), was the number one thing to have happened to us in 2006.

then a distant second was for me about - home. our new home in mumbai to leaving the old one and then furnishing this current one.. all about shelter..

the third one was spending eids. first one at mumbai at the beginning and then the more memorable one was at portblair this october.. so looking back we had a good year.. alhamdulillah

for most part of year or may be 50-50 we (I and Umm Safiyah) were together after begin away for 9 months after safiyah's birth. that was hard on us.. so we were celebrating the new togetherness.. the fights and loves. the naughtiness and the cryings..

of the lows, masha Allaah all lows are life's way of making even. It was perhaps missing out on Yunus's marriage.

Spiritual lows:
1. Not spending the best part of Ramadan in worship. With the travels and being alone and responsible for my family here in Dubai, I missed my taraweehs and the joy of worshipping in Ramadan.
2. No concrete plan for spending the Zakaah money to a use where I can contribute with more than just the money!

a new calendar year bring new hopes and new dreams to achieve.
there would be new spiritual high and new career achievements. there would be new learning in life and yes with our baby's growth, there would always be new bundle of joys our way..