Life, Dreams and Reality -- Sohel's Blog

An instrumental music I've recorded today, it's a popular song by Souls, a musical band from Bangladesh.   Here is the lyrics in Bangla: এই মুখরিত জীবনের চলার বাঁকে অজানা হাজার কত কাজের ভিড়ে ছোট্টবেলার শত রঙ করা মুখ সুর তোলে আজও এই মনকে ঘিরে। ঝিনুক শামুকে ভরা বালুর চরে ঢেউয়ের সাথে নেচেছি, রঙ্গিন স্বপ্নে গাঁথা স্মৃতির মালা সৈকতে ফেলে এসেছি। ওরে ছুটে চল সেই সাগরো তীরে ওরে খুঁজে নেই চল, ফেলে আসা মুক্ত হীরে। রাত্রিতে জোসনায় দাওয়ায় বসে মজার গল্প কত শুনেছি, ডুলো ডুলো আখিতে আবীর মেখে স্বপ্নের জ্বাল বুনেছি ওরে সেইতো ভালো চোখ দুটো বুঝেছিল ওরে সেইতো ভালো সবকিছু ভুলেছিলে। Here is my translation of this song in English but not poetic as the original song is: In the curved path of this busy life Amid all the unknown thousands of mundane work Hundreds of colorful faces from childhood Tune the melody surrounding my mind. In the beach filled with oyster shells I danced with the waves Memory garland of colorful dream I left at the beach Hey, let's go ...

When 2017 began, I made a resolution that I would read more books this year than the previous year. So much distraction these days! Endless applications, Facebook, Instagram, news from every corner of the globe, forums of any kind -- where is the time to read good quality books? From my childhood I have always liked reading but noticed that I have been reading less and less in recent years. So that was the reason I made the resolution to give an honest effort to read more. As part of this effort, the latest book I have completed reading earlier this morning is Peter Hollins' non fiction book, title: Think Like Einstein. I am writing this review as detail as I can, hoping that someone will get some benefits reading this review and hopefully will be inspired to read this particular book and overall to read more good quality books for rewarding feat. Einstein's intellect is legendary. His contributions to the realm of science is widely known, even when I was growing up I ...

A great entertaining novel by a powerful writer. Character building and the story plot were nicely executed. Sometimes it felt a bit too long but in the end I have enjoyed reading this book. Through vivid detail of tumultuous ocean, typhoon, the writer provided a sense of how insignificant humanity and civilization are in the face of a infinitesimal nature. Here is a memorable quote: "what was Ulithi, after all? A tiny enclosure of coral in the empty, empty ocean. A ship sailing within ten miles of it wouldn’t even have seen it; and all the great Third Fleet, sinking at once, would not have raised the level of the sea by a thousandth of the breadth of a hair. The world’s arena remains, to this hour, somewhat too big for the most ambitious human contrivances." I recommend this book.

We are the Borg Resistance is futile You will be assimilated, defeated Your uniqueness, distinctiveness and your pursuit of happiness, life, liberty and dreams will be shredded into clean pieces and will be recycled into our mould Resistance is futile We are the Borg We have come in style To bring you freedom and wealth, abundance We will flourish together Discarding the undesirables Only the best of the best Strongest of the strongest Will triumph over the weak We will swipe away the compassionate freak We are the Borg, the mighty, the beautiful Give us your smart, vigorous pomp We will stifle the wretched, the tired, the poor and the huddled masses into happiest quack, playful romp And send us the homeless We will transform them into statues of liberties, of beautiful homes for all to see and applause in glorious days and victorious nights Beside the neatly trimmed garden. the golden door and a doused torch ----Mahbubul Karim (Sohel) August 2, 20...

Two books I have read recently. One is Graeme Macrae Burnet's novel "His Bloody Project: Documents Relating to Roderick Macrae" and the second one is a non fiction written by James E. Ryan, title: "Wait...What? And Life's Other Essential Questions". I have enjoyed reading both of these well written books. Graeme Macrae Burnet's novel has good character development, and written such a way as if one is reading a non fiction account of an actual event. I am familiar with Scottish and Irish history, not a whole lot, but some through my other readings in the past. However, this particular novel describes the tragic life of a boy who was brought up in poverty in a remote Scottish village. What surprised me is so much similarities I have found between the central antagonist, the village constable who bullies a poor family and takes advantage of their plight and the rural villages in Bangladesh, where I was familiar with similar characters that used to be k...

The problem is not only the disgraceful Muslim ban, the shameful wall, the taking away of privacy protection from many immigrants and non immigrants. It is also the ingrained belief in many that this banning decree only applies to those people from hand picked nations. History has the abundance of similar scenarios when the most vulnerable segments of the world were barred from leaving the persecutions of despot rulers. Many of them perished, children, women, men, emaciated, degraded to the utmost bottom level of a concerted dehumanization process. Yesterday's Remembrance Day for the Holocaust victims is one of the painful reminders of our world's blunder of the past. My heart goes out to the countless millions in America, Europe and many other places, where the unmistakable xenophobia is rising in alarming speed. The ironic part is that the most victims of the violence, wars and senseless terrorism are the Muslims. They are the ones along with the other minorities ...

I'd published the following review in Goodreads on January 4, 2017:  Some in this world are indeed brave and full of compassion. The author of this remarkable non fiction book, Bryan Stevenson, is surely one of them. This is an impactful book that gives detail on the sordid state of criminal justice system in the US, world's one of the most advanced nations in terms of economy and societal progress. If US is in such a painful state where equal justice and protection for all citizens needs an urgent transformative overhaul, then what can be said about other nations where democracy and human rights are in unstable ground? In my humble opinion, this should be a must read book as I believe the real life pain and anguish of the innocent people who are denied the fair justice for so many years can help people who are unaware of this miserable justice system can help raise the awareness for the necessary correction in the system. Some of the invaluable lessons I have learned are: ...

This year I will give my best to read as many good books as I can. The year started well. Yesterday I finished reading an excellent novel written by Eowyn Ivey. Here is the short review I've written in goodreads:  An excellent read. So vivid and lively with wild Alaska imageries! For a few days while reading this poetically written novel I felt like transported to 1885, seeing the breathtaking journeys of Allen Forrester, Tillman, Pruit, Samuelson, Boyd and unforgettable Nataaggi along with Boyo through the harsh wintry Alaskan landscape, Indian villages and spirit full mountain pass leaping out from masterfully constructed words and scenes. Sophie's passion of photography, her patience and determination capturing the "light" around birds are uplifting. Throughout the adventure of the main story the core human condition, the existential vulnerabilities, the strong's severe abuse of the weak, and the yearning for redemption in guilt conscious mind are depicte...

When Bangladeshi men, women and children fled from their homeland in 1971 during the time of horrible war, neighbours helped them with open arms. People in West Bengal, Tripura, Meghalaya and Asham went beyond their means welcoming Bangladeshi refugees, sheltered them, gave them food, clothes and overall they provided the persecuted refugees protection from the wrath of the war. In 21st century, the recent misfortunes of the persecuted Rohinguya people from Myanmar, is not well reported, as other bigger conflicts from the geopolitically volatile regions get the limelight, overshadowing the tears, agonies and anguish of the bereft Rohinguya families. Bangladesh was born from the ashes of the war, from the pain and millions of innocent people's deaths in intense nine months war. It is time for Bangladesh comes forward with open arms and accept all the persecuted people from Rohingya. Yes, economically it will not be an easy task, most noble and compassionate undertaking are diffi...

Election day in America is only few days away. It's Sunday night and the election is on Tuesday. The entire world looks to be on the edge. I have followed all the American elections from the beginning of my political consciousness and also was fortunate to take two rigorous American History and two American Government courses while studying at American universities. The intense debates between the right and the left, and the festive atmosphere of the campaigns, stump speeches, endless news analysis, these are all part of this intriguing election process. In 21st century, like its predecessor 20th century, America is still looked upon as the beacon of hope in most parts of our wold. When subjugated people in severely autocratic ruled nation march in protest filled processions, many look upon American style of freedom of speech, representational democracy and its allure of modernity and a nation based on tolerance and decency. Yes, nothing is perfect in this world, not is Americ...

So much options, so little time. This is the dilemma of the modernity of abundance. Binging in movies and endless TV series in so easily available wonderful Netflix streaming, hard core gaming in PS4 or Microsoft Xbox One, browsing through Facebook status and interesting feeds, tweets, funny cat and stupendous viral videos in YouTube, cool photos in Instagram, tumbling through Tumbler, pinning never to be read articles and essays and flipping Flipboard like a fantastic ninja. The ever increasing choices to capture the fleeting mind and the decreasing attention span. Where is the time for reading for the sole purpose of pleasure and broadening one's mind and outlook? Where is the energy and motivation and inspiration opening a melancholic novel written in poetic style illuminating humanity's goodness and its terrible shortcoming? No time and efforts for seeing the world from other person's perspective. The declining of readership of world's exquisite novels and stor...

I didn't know about the writer Robert J Sawyer. One of the daily deals that Amazon has for Kindle, I just went for it and got this book as it had a good price tag and good reviews. Once started reading it, I found it hard to put down. It's a fast paced book based on scientific and philosophical musings and the world and its indifference to the sufferings of the others. The writer had a hypothesis that entire human race is connected through quantum entanglement and that in individual level there are only one of three quantum levels one can be: Q1 as he termed are the "P-Zed" zombies who doesn't have any inner thoughts, just takes actions based on stimulants. The Q2 are the psychopath and Q3 people have full conscience. It was an interesting read. The writer invoked some of the current political turmoils in a not so distant future's light. I wish the end could be a bit less predictable. Still, I have enjoyed reading this book and would like to explore more of...

Outstanding speech by Hilary Clinton. I hope her inclusive vision becomes triumphant over Trump's exclusivity and fear based propaganda. The following quote from Hilary's speech I found to stay with me for a long time: "Though we may not live to see the glory, as the song from the musical Hamilton goes, "let us gladly join the fight." Let our legacy be about "planting seeds in a garden you never get to see." That's why we're here...not just in this hall, but on this Earth."  Beautifully said!

Some of the speeches at Democratic National Convention were inspiring. Here are my late night thought before falling into sleep: In the end, the decency, generosity and compassion of Americans I have personally known about will swipe away the despicable bigotry and intolerance of demagogue based politics. Also, loved reading a GQ article tonight. One memorable segment about Obama's legendary legacy in history I found to be eloquently stated: "This year’s carnival election, with Trump as a kind of debauched circus barker, only makes the distinction clearer. The absurdity and car-crash spectacle of it all have already lent Obama an out-of-time quality, as if he were a creature from another, loftier century. Whatever happens next, I feel this in my bones: We’ll look back at history, hopefully when we’re zooming down the Barack Obama Hyperloop Transport System, and think: That man was rare. And we were damn lucky to have him." Link to GQ article:  http://www.gq.com/story/obam...

Reading fiction, especially literary fiction, makes one feels more empathy toward others more than any other forms of writing. A good quote from Sarah Kaplan's article , "When we read about other people, we can imagine ourselves into their position and we can imagine it's like being that person, ....That enables us to better understand people, better cooperate with them." And that also helps lessening the heartless stereotyping of anyone. Gotta read more good fictions! Link to Sarah Kaplan's The Washington Post article: Does Reading Fiction Make You a Better Person?

Words have meaning As do sentences Weaved by cacophonous words Our languages Dialects like the colorful butterfly Fluttering wings Spread over the fragrant flowers And vibrant leaves of summer Our tears have roots Like the tree of knowledge Curved into the depth Of abyss Crisscrossing mushy mud, pebbles and stones As if a meteorite striking Past the twinkling star Bones tremble Like the rattling train engine Our words and tears Put a wrapper on our numb agonies Witnessing the vibrant leaves, Colorful flowers wither away Even the sunny summer and sprinkling rain Could not hold back their gloomy demise One day We will depart This world of immeasurable grace And allure that the singing birds Praise in every dawn and dusk All the stones will remain As the mushy mud and the pebbles In sandy beach will be washed Again and again by ever salty ocean Our simple hopes and aching love Our cowering fear and muddy rage ...

It's heart breaking! Hoping one day the world will get back its collective compassion and sanity while the mindless terrorism, brutal wars, political violence, deepening bigotry and hatred will be cast aside for the sake of neglected humanity. Martin Luther King Jr. said it the best as it does not matter who the victims are, wherever they are, from the hacked bloggers, minorities and ordinary men and women in Bangladesh, gunned down civilians in Tel Aviv, relentless mayhem and subjugation of populace in Palestine, the heart wrenching massacres in Paris and Brussels, every day blood letting in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and increasingly in Turkey, repeated horrors in Pakistan, or the drowning of hundred of helpless migrants in the mediterranean, or the senseless murders of innocents in a gay night club of Orlando, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatev...

Ali, Ali, Ali Chant the fans, The roaring crowd Muhammad Ali Cassius Clay Who floored Liston, Frazier Norton, Foreman Saying hay!  Who is the prettiest one? "Float like a butterfly Sting like a bee The hands can't hit What the eyes can't see" Ali, Ali, Ali Muhammad Ali The meanest, the greatest The poet dancing With the gloves in the ring Said no to war and bigotry Without fear but full of Alacrity, lived everyday As the very last one And the last one  Has arrived and gone To dimming dusk Ali, Ali, Ali Muhammad Ali Rest in peace the crazy bravest man!

Stephen Hawking's dire warning regarding the catastrophic climate change: "a  more immediate danger is runaway climate change,” Hawking  said . “A rise in ocean temperature would melt the ice-caps, and cause a release of large amounts of carbon dioxide from the ocean floor. Both effects could make our climate like that of Venus, with a temperature of 250 degrees.” Climate change is the single most devastating threat the world is facing. With unified global collaboration the world must face it and implement a practical solution in urgent basis. 

The pictures and videos emerging from the burning fire in and around Fort McMurray are painful to watch. An entire town was evacuated, thousands of homes and other infrastructures are burned to the ground. Families had to leave their home and all belongings, most will be lost in the raging fire. I never thought that a major city like Fort McMurray would face so sudden and drastic demise.  People from all walks of life in Canada and beyond along with Canadian federal government and Alberta provincial government have come forward to help the evacuees. A firefighter friend of my, Chris, is already in the raging city, battling the fire with utmost devotion, the devotion to protect people's home, school, offices, hospitals, playground and industrial areas. Many have opened their homes, taking in the devastated fire evacuees. And many more have donated to Red Cross, even going through a tough, turbulent economy in Alberta, that didn't resist them sharing their dwindling resources, in...