Lessons in Chemistry - TV Show Review

Review: Lessons in Chemistry (TV Show, Apple TV+, IMDB rating: 8.3/10, no spoilers)

Dr. Akif Khan

Lessons in Chemistry is not just a tv show and it is not just about chemistry at all. It is lessons in life, lessons in kindness, love, forgiveness, struggle, perseverance, resilience, commitment, determination, enthusiasm and passion. Do not fear the name of the show because of the word “chemistry.” It only touches the subject (sometimes not very accurately) and builds upon it and weaves the story like chemical bonds in a beautiful composite. It won’t bore you. 

Lessons in Chemistry explains the struggle of women in 50s, the first wave of feminism and civil rights movement, the challenges women faced back then in US, and are still facing in many parts of the world, especially marriage, childbirth, misogyny, “illegitimate” births, societal expectations and roles of women in society. The show also covers the homophobia and civil rights movement, including the reference to Martin Luther King Jr. How the African-American population was discriminated against and subjected to violence and systemic racism. The show also beautifully describes the matters of reason, science and faith and leaves things to the imagination of the viewer. It’s amazing how all these important and hotly debated topics are beautifully covered in this mini-series, which leaves a viewer thinking and commiserating. 

Then there is food. It reminds me of an interesting encounter. Once a friend asked me how’s your cooking. I told him I love to cook and the people who taste the food I cook tell me I am not bad. He said he would have been surprised if I weren’t good at cooking. I asked why’d he say that. He said because he believes I was a good chemist and he would’ve been surprised if I were not good at cooking. “A good chemist must be a good cook,” he said. It was kind of a revelation to me, but then it reminded me how I’d run my imagination on what must’ve been going on during the process of cooking whenever I cooked food, exactly the same way when I’d setup a reaction. The show beautifully caters to this concept. The people who love chemistry must try cooking. They’d enjoy it. 

The show is based on the book by Bonnie Garmus. I haven’t read the book, but the show does justice to it from what I have read about it. Interestingly, it was her debut novel and was NYT bestseller. Brie Larson did great as wonderful and smart chemist Elizabeth Zott. She is also the executive producer of the show and has smartly washed off the superhero tag of Captain Marvel from her career, coming about as a smart and serious actor. I rarely comment on and review stuff I read or watch now, but this show didn’t leave me a choice. I will admit there might be some bias because of chemistry, but truthfully the show is worth giving a shot. It’s light-hearted, smartly written, with good character arcs and happy moments with light comedy. You get shocked at times but there are also happy surprises waiting for you around the corner. 

Definitely 4.9/5. 

The Psychology of Online Vocalization: Exploring Reasons and Patterns

By Dr. Akif Khan

There are three types of people. One, who are vocal in real life (RL). Second ones who are vocal on both social media (SM) and RL. Third type is that is only vocal on SM. 

There are multiple reasons behind it. Many people are not confident in writing stuff (posts, comments or anything else) for multiple reasons again. 

Some people don’t like to express themselves publicly. Some are shy. Some purposely hide their feelings and thoughts. Then there are some who are afraid of alphas, over-smart people and bullies. Then there are over-sharers of course, who have opinions on everything and they don’t care if those opinions are right or wrong. 

A personality with a balanced and wise outlook is hard to come, sometimes it’s privilege, sometimes it’s good upbringing, sometimes it’s luck when people have better lifestyle and no mental stress, depression or traumatic experiences. This can make people expressive sometimes and sometimes shut them down. 

For some people writing is catharsis and interacting online is a form of connecting. Some don’t need that at all and just enjoy reading and listening to other people. Some believe they are learning only for themselves and they don’t owe anyone else any sharing of ideas or helping them. Some just keep tabs on other people and think they’re wiser this way by remaining silent or anonymous. 

Some are scared for various reasons that their thoughts could be used against them and sharing or expressing on SM/online world is not a wise thing to do. They don’t trust the internet/system. Some people believe in conspiracy theories and are obsessive about keeping a low profile online and even in RL. Some prefer to remain anonymous while opining on SM.

Some people love fame and showing off. Some just think it’s their responsibility to share what they know and some have a nature to help people according to their capacity and knowledge. 

Some hate the closed circles/groups and the few people who dominate those spaces due to right or wrong reasons. They feel like left out but since they get enough (knowledge/content/recommendations) from those groups, they tend to stay, in silence. 

Then there are shitposters, attention seekers and those who get hooked up to SM and want to stay relevant by opining on everything even when their opinion is not so good or is just a variant of someone else’s opinion (sometimes it’s exact copy). There are also people who would steal content and reshare it without giving proper credit or shamelessly ascribing the content to their own selves. Some try to stay relevant and act smart by making controversy out of everything. They will read opinions of other people and purposely concoct something that is spicy and different no matter how contradictory it is to their own previous opinions. Some people are adamant on converting other people to their own ideologies. Some woulf just comment on everything according to their own worldview and would not listen to any different opinion. These types often include intellectually dishonest people and those who only seek attention, want to stay relevant or think that the world only revolves around them. Then there are flatterers and fans, of course, who love everything that is written by their beloved influencers. The addiction to likes and following is another topic on which much has been written and can’t be covered here. But we must also not forget the importance of SM, especially its role in decentralising information and brining it to ordinary people’s approach. There is an interesting book titled Twitter and Tear Gas by Zeynep Tufekci on the pros and cons of SM especially in the context of dissent. 

In short, SM is an alternate of real world and the dynamics of human interaction, communication and psychology work here as well as they work in the real life albeit differently sometimes. 

There has been much research being carried out on the communication and interaction on SM. I was just reading a paper (thanks to a friend who shared it) the other day where the researchers studied the way Pakistani women express themselves on TikTok without exposing their identity and the dynamics both social and religious that govern their interaction and communication style. Here is the link to that paper. 

The realm of social media has become a parallel universe where human interactions, communication, and psychological dynamics take on new forms. The reasons behind vocalisation patterns are multifaceted, ranging from shyness and fear to the desire for privacy, attaining fame or the need for catharsis. It is essential to acknowledge that the online world offers a platform for diverse voices to be heard, while also recognizing the complexities that arise, such as the fear of judgment, information privacy concerns, and the dominance of certain groups. As ongoing research delves into the intricacies of social media communication and interaction, the process of unraveling the fascinating ways in which individuals navigate these digital spaces, shaping their online personas and influencing the broader social landscape will be ever evolving and interesting to study.

Javed sb, You Didn’t Have to Eat Your Heart Out Here

I used to be a fan of you, your rationality, your humanism, the way you thrashed unreasonable people such as Sadh Guru in debates, your bravery in the face of orthodoxy and all, despite your aloofness, which I think comes naturally with age and experiences of life. But there was no need to act dense at a place where you were invited as a guest.

Looks like this is not novel of you. Bushra Ansari’s sister Neelum Ahmad Bashir in her travelogue on India recalls her visit to your house accompanied by your sister - the way you acted impolitely to your sister in the presence of guests and to the guests themselves, even though you were warmly welcomed by Bushra in the past where your wife was laden with gifts by her as well. People must not have taken that account seriously when it was first published. Maybe you had your reasons. But guess what, that will make sense to people now.

You complained that Indian icons, poets or showbiz legends, are not welcomed warmly in Pakistan the way Pakistani ones are welcomed in India. You said this in a ceremony where you were invited and in the country where you were being celebrated at that very moment. You even received applause on your statement. Not so rational of you. This was also the ceremony held in the name of someone whose daughter was deported by Indian government. Let’s be more honest about it. Indian icons who have visited Pakistan have always been welcomed here, from Dillip Kumar to Raj Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Mahesh Butt, Pooja Bhatt, Salman Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Emraan Hashmi, Arbaaz Khan, Johnny Lever, Urmila Matondkar, Kalki Koechlin, Kim Sharma, Preeti Jhangiani to your highness among many. You complained Pakistan doesn’t celebrate Indian legends such as Lata G. People love Hollywood movies and music legends here, from Kishore Kumar to Arjit Singh. And truth be told, Pakistani actors are only invited in India when they have some commercial value. In the wake of recent events, they are also banned from working there (Fawad, Mahira and others) while you were sitting in the cultural capital of Pakistan.

"You were denied accommodation in Mumbai because of your Muslim identity despite you being an ardent secular and an open atheist. Please fix your own house before lecturing others. There are enough people in Pakistan who are vocal against extremism and at a very high cost unlike you."

You were right about extremism but again you were not honest about it. Who is roaming free in Pakistan? The main culprit of 26/11 was hanged in your country, the rest were killed, and the masterminds are behind bars in Pakistan. You know who is roaming free? The perpetrators of APS attack. We, the Pakistani people, are suffering to the levels unimaginable to you. The audience sitting in front of you who applauded your comment are the ones who are against this extremism and terrorism. You didn’t need to say that to them in their face. They were your allies. And bitter truth be told, you are in no moral position to lecture us on that when your own house is collapsing under the weight of extremism and your premiere has a shady history. You were denied accommodation in Mumbai because of your Muslim identity despite you being an ardent secular and an open atheist and that too, long before BJP came in power. Please fix your own house before lecturing others. There are enough people in Pakistan who are vocal against extremism and at a very high cost unlike you. I do not disagree with your stance, but I disagree with the occasion.

And to those who are saying that Javed sb’s comments are a mirror etc, please open your eyes. You know who is endorsing his stance? People like Kangana Ranaut – Bhakts and Sanghis, RSS and BD goons, the extremists on the other side – even when Javed sb “doesn’t consider them important.” The damage is done. The hate won. Ghus kay maara. Have some self-respect. Stop blindly following ideological icons (just like the ones you criticize) in order to show off your rebellious nature and to look different. You don’t need to be politically correct about it. This was plain stupid. It will also damage the future prospects of visitors to both countries. It will damage peace. Nobody will invite anyone anymore.

Only when things start to get better, some idiocy ruins the whole thing. The people were happy. They welcomed you and you had to ruin it. Please, remain vocal on matters of concern but be wise about it. More is expected from you. Don’t lose your admirers and don’t benefit the haters.

لہندا کیا ہے؟ کیا ہندکو، سرائیکی اور پوٹھوہاری لہندا یا مغربی پنجابی زبانیں ہیں؟

 لہندا، جسے لہندی بھی کہتے ہیں شمال مغربی آریائی زبانوں کے گروہ کا نام ہے جو کہ پاکستان اور بھارت میں بولی جاتی ہیں۔ لہندا کی جینیاتی گروپنگ متعین نہیں ہے۔ یعنی یہ ثابت نہیں ہے کہ یہ زبانوں کے کس خاندان سے تعلق رکھتی ہیں۔ 

لہندا یا مغربی پنجابی کی اصطلاحیں “ایگزونم” ہیں جو کہ ماہرین لسانیات (کالونیل آقاوں) نے اپنی سہولت کے تحت ان زبانوں کے لیے استعمال کی ہوئی ہیں اور ان زبانوں کے بولنے والے لوگ یہ لہندا یا مغربی پنجابی کی اصطلاحیں اپنی زبانوں کے لیے ہرگز استعمال نہیں کرتے۔ 

ایگزونم اس نام کو کہتے ہیں جو باہر کے لوگ کسی چیز کے لیے اپنی سہولت کے لیے استعمال کرتے ہیں جیسے جرمن جرمنی کو ڈچ لینڈ پکارتے ہیں مگر انگریزی میں اسے جرمنی کہا جاتا ہے یا جیسے پختونوں کو باہر کے لوگ پٹھان پکارتے ہیں۔ 

فیسبک پوسٹ کے لیے نیچے والے لنک پر کلک کریں  

https://www.facebook.com/534596120/posts/pfbid035Qsck1XG5cfncTKbyjHiWXhxSdPEgEfFQPb9WjHpKM4y1oP7wjb4NvMcentdUAu5l/?mibextid=q5o4bk

The Midnight Crisis - Excerpt 2

Chapter XVII

Cowardice

 

I have a big hole in my heart. I can't fill it with anything. I have tried. Trust me Valeria. I really did.

You will always be a stupid Raphael. Always!

I don't know. But I missed you.

 

You didn't miss me. You are just a creepy jealous asshole.

I'm not. If I am, why would I be so nice to your boyfriend.

I don't know. Maybe you are a coward. Maybe you don't want to confront him because at the social level, he is morally superior than you.

Why'd I care about social moralities.

You don't. But you are scared of them. You hate them I know. But you still have to cope with them.

 

 What else can I do?

Haha! Really? You know the answer!

You want me to become Romeo?

He was a human too. Why can't you be?

Will you become Juliet too?

Romeo never cared what Juliet would do. He never knew. He did what he had to do.

 

Will you be happy watching me destroyed?

See! That's your problem. You know you will be destroyed. That's why you don't dare. That's why you are a coward.

I have to consider so many things Valeria. I am bound.

Then don't complain. Then you are a common man. All men are bound. To stand aside, you must do what common men don't do.

I have to fight on so many fronts. I can't be special on all fronts.

Then don't complain. Then this front, love, isn't your forte.

 

 

She always made me speechless. Maybe she is right. I shouldn't complain.

​

Why is Waar a Poor Propaganda Flick

Being a movie buff, I could not ignore the hype of a Pakistani movie rated 9/10 on imdb.com. So, I bought this DVD of Waar as soon as I saw the poster of its availability on a local shop. Cutting the chase, there was I watching it while a similar Islamabad fiasco of Imran Khan was being unfolded on 13th August; Superb choice on Independence Day?

To my disappointment, the opening scene of the movie was so substandard that a movie rated 3 on imdb would be better off. Two men in an interrogation room were having the sacks removed from their heads. And lo and behold it seemed like the guy just exited a saloon after a perfect haircut, freshly trimmed beard and even whitening powder applied on his face. The much-talked about ‘talented’ young director could do better than that. Anyways, at last I was watching the most awaited movie, which is, in fact, an epic amalgamation of official Pakistan studies curriculum and popular conspiracy theories – surely what more could be expected from an ISPR production.

Pakistan: An interactive guide for Hollywood and Bollywood Movie Makers

IT is often very funny to see the international media, especially TV and Film Industry, portaying Pakistan as some country where women are covered in black overalls or shuttlecock burqas, people having beards and no moustaches with a checkered cloth over their shoulders, riding donkeys, wiping their behinds with stones, narrow streets, dusty roads, people speaking Arabic, goats on highways, people travelling in Jeeps and 70s Trucks.

In Pakistan, people think that it is a western conspiracy against them. To me it is sheer ignorance and laziness on the behalf of TV and film industry. One could see the example of this, recently, when fourth season of a TV Series, Homeland started airing. Where Islamabad is shown as some dusty city with narrow streets, people speaking wrong Urdu, everyone bearded, Americans walking in Miran Shah without being noticed, Taliban commanders having sex with their wives in the presence of a guest in the exact room. Similarly, in the movie Zero Dark Thirty, common people were shown speaking Arabic in Pakistan (Not 1% of the population speaks Arabic in Pakistan.) I do not take any pride in Pakistan being a modernised country. It is not a symbol of development to me. However, if you consider that you can depict Pakistan with some orientalist mindset as a completely backward, tribal, under-developed country of retards, you would be very wrong there bro! It is called cultural ignorance. And this mindset is not only targeting (purposefully or unconsciously)  Pakistan, but also Iran and Middle East.

In reply to the Ignorance of Mubashar Lucman

The following verses are from chapter 1, poem 10 from Saadi's Gulistan (Bostan). They resemble a hadith. Somebody ask Mubashar Lucman to issue a fatwa on Saadi Shirazi. 

بنى آدم اعضای یک پیکرند
که در آفرینش ز یک گوهرند
چو عضوى به درد آورد روزگار
دگر عضوها را نماند قرار
تو کز محنت دیگران بی غمی
نشاید که نامت نهند آدمی
Human beings are members of a whole,
In creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.
If you have no sympathy for human pain,
The name of human you cannot retain.

Many folklores and metaphors are same in many cultures. Khalil Jibran has rewritten many such stories in his own words. Paulo Coelho has rewritten many. Many stories of Quran are already present in other previous cultures. In Zoroastrian religion of Persia dating back to 7th century BCE, even before Judaism and Christianity, one can find many similar stories. The concepts in Abrahamic religions of 7 heavens, God and Satan, Virgin Birth, Head covering, Renovation and judgment are highly influenced from this ancient persian pagan religion. There are many stories in Quran which are also present in Bible and old testament with great variations. Should a blasphemy case be filed against Zarathustra, St Paul and Rabbi Juda Hanasi? What an ignorant ass this Mubashar Lucman is!

(The above verses are displayed in the entrance of the United Nations Hall of Nations as Saadi's poetry and not as a Hadith. Charge UN for blasphemy too?)

Glimpses of Cities: Old Photos - Vintage Lahore

Courtesy: Farid Alvie

Rudyard Kipling's House in 1890s

Being an idealist; Curse or a Gift?

This article has been published in Monthly Laaltain magazine and can also be read here.

The people who are driven by passion always (or may be most frequently) end up in alienation by society and in loneliness. I always wondered why is that so? How come brilliant minds like scholars, sufis, scientists, writers, artists and great musicians end up in such an agony. Still I found most of them contended. It seemed like societal norms did not apply on them. So the agony part was always doubtful. I was told that they become narcissists and hence they lose the balance that social adjustment requires. I tried to study the private lives of these people. From Aristotle to Russel, Voltaire to Neitzsche, Einstein to Edison and Planck, Faiz Ahmed Faiz to Dr. Abdus Salam and Eqbal Ahmed, Muneer Niazi to Michael Jackson.

FEMEN Redefining Feminism: A Potential Threat to Patriarchy, Orthodoxy and Hollow Liberalism

There is this news: bare breasted women standing against women oppression. Amina Tyler and FEMEN sparked a new debate in the international community when this Tunisian girl Amina, being a FEMEN activist, posted her topless photos on her facebook page against misogyny. Starting from three girls 6 years ago, the girls have been joining them from all over the world, especially during last few months. After the uproar created by Aalia Al-Mahdy of Egypt, Amina has started a new episode of uproar and debate on the methods and forms of activism and protests. Golshifteh Frahani of Iran and Veena Malik of Pakistan spurred similar responses. Not to forget Manal Sharif from Saudi Arabia who was arrested just to dare taking a picture (of course covered) behind wheel in protest to the law against driving of women there.

Tunisia is a country where minister of women affairs defends the nursery where a 3 years old girl was repeatedly raped by the caretaker. The Minister Sihem Badi shifted the blame to the family of the toddler instead and hinted that the caretaker will not be punished, after his arrest few days ago.

Thy Love is Divine...

That embrace was very serene,

When I was in a dream,

Through that time memorable,

That I envisaged; all I treasure.