Thatta Kedona

Thatta Kedona Bazzar

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Mon, 28 May 2012 03:25:00 +0000

Anjuman-e-Falah-e-Aama (AFA) wurde am 17. März 1992 registriert als soziale Nicht-Regierungs-Organisation des Dorfes Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka (TGT), District Okara, Pakistan, bei der Landesregierung des Punjab in Lahore unter Nr. DDSW-LD/92-405. Ethnologische Kenntnisse, kunsthandwerkliche Fähigkeiten und umweltfreundliche, lokal verfügbare Materialien, werden bei familienfreundlicher Herstellungsweise von Frauen und Männern zusammen mit deutschen ehrenamtlichen Volontären zu vermarktbaren, signifikanten Artikeln wie Puppen und Spielzeug entwickelt. Read here

Living Laboratory

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Mon, 28 May 2012 03:00:00 +0000

Who could have imagined during the Cold War how wonderful new socialism would be (Fast Food Spray 2002).

Problems facing projects is less-developed countries

One feature of the general approach in development co-operation that is not discussed much is misunderstandings between urban and rural cultures. The diversity between the cultures is ignored -- differences between the urban and rural culture of a country as well as between different cultures, between western and western-orientated cultures.

As a consequence of misunderstandings, processes are augmented, multiplied, compounded by use of scientific and industrial methods to assess the consequences of technology.

When such projects are installed, it is more a question of concealed job creation measures with short-term economic thinking; any kind of "social efficiency is ignored and or is not recognized.

Consequently, project management of the kind taking place at TGD is unknown or at least beyond the realms of conventional thinking in terms of efficiency. Yet, it is precisely this kind of project management that offers opportunities that are interesting in the long term.

The prerequisite for this is cautious approach; the much cited concept of sustainability requires different time parameters!

Integrated approach and diversity of topics

When adopting an integrated approach to a project in a rural area, an outsider is initially beset by a certain feeling of helplessness, an ever growing number of questions arises and the search for answers is dependent on relying on one’s own ideas, openness towards the local population and, in turn, on their willingness to exchange ideas, and on the general environment.

The number and diversity of possibilities in connection with the questions that arise is astounding. This explains the following list and diversity of topics in the TGD project:

Doll making
Education
Tourism
Public health
Preservation of cultural heritage
Ecotechnology
Agriculture, hydrotechnology
Infrastructure
Building and materials
Marketing and distribution
Documentation
Networking
Communication and information

Project description

Activities in and in connection with Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka can best be described as a Pakistani NGO located there and working with other NGOs and institutions in Pakistan and, in addition, co-operating with NGOs at an international level. The results of ethnological research serve as means to achieve improvement of women’s income in rural areas by enabling them to make handicraft products. Training and processing are always linked with marketing -- income depends on products being sold!

Projects and reality

Management of NGO projects can be entirely out of its depth in business terms. To put it in another way, it reflects a completely different culture. Features of these differences are:

Producing goods that no-one has ordered

Selling without any limitations like (a) prices for producers go down to a rock-bottom level, (b) increase in income according to the principle -- who knows how long it will last, so act now, (c) connections between production and sales are not clear in a Western sense i.e. relative lack of balance in so-called budgeting, (d) a complete lack of structures exists in transactions between the cultures, based on lack of experience and knowledge of markets in industrialized countries and (e) while dependence on the extended family provides a framework for business activities, it can also have a negative influence and lead to unwise withdrawals of money particularly when, for example, a marriage is in the offing.

Handicrafts – ecotechnology - CIT

A departure from the across-the-board approach: The Western way of thinking is dominated by an approach that seemingly fundamental solutions have to be implemented as a whole. This can be described as compelling, but also as blinkered, well-worn and insular. What is surprising in South Asia is the meeting of the first, second, third, and fourth worlds; economic developments, social movements, scientific insights, religious interpretations are not seen in terms of fixed parameters:

Environmentally friendly (environmental protection has special significance in places where air pollution is at a high level due to rapid increases in production).
Social (protection provided by families means that large organizations do not have to invest in care facilities).
Greater balance in technological and economic terms (it is less a question of what is feasible from the technological, scientific or economic point of view and more what makes sense from the overall point of view).

Elements of sustainable project development in rural areas

The pillars of a project in a rural space:

Family
Work in the fields
Project work

Family and work in the fields are to be seen as wealth; work in connection with a project as no more than a source of extra income. This means that dependence is limited and traditional values are not destroyed. A negative example would be the carpet knotting that takes place in urban centers with the resulting child labor, exploitation by city dwellers, neglect of family and work in the fields.

Further development in rural areas on the basis of careful and circumspect management

Handicrafts
Ecotechnology
CIT

In the context of the project, handicrafts, ecotechnology, and communication and information technology seem to be particularly important in rural areas -- a further tripartite model.

In contrast with urban culture, which trains its next generation in industrial design with the result that the West tends to serve as a role model, handicrafts represent the wealth of a region. Providing that Western methods of production are avoided, there are good future prospects on a Western market that is saturated with industrial design.

The means of ecotechnology enable the rural population to become independent of city-dwellers while also making it possible for them to benefit from technological developments, for example, by using e-mails or a mobile telephone to execute orders beyond village level.

Ecotechnology (solar cooker, solar cooler, windmills, solar collectors, photovoltaic, etc.) is of significance as its use diminishes dependence on urban culture. Development of infrastructure in the cities that is often called for is based on obsolete models. These are preferred as they provide producers with a wide distribution network with good economic opportunities, but do nothing to help the masses living in the countryside.

Information and communication technology in rural areas may appear to be completely absurd, but this is the very factor that enables people in such areas to participate in major markets, even if this has cost the time of millions of developers and billions of investment dollars in Western countries.

Domestic co-operation with

Other NGOs
Institutions such as universities
Customers and bazaars

A tendency towards a certain isolation does not only exist in Western civilization but also in traditional cultures. Knowledge of the wider world is not necessarily compatible with what is experienced in the microcosm. Nevertheless, it is a question of combining both aspects in a way that makes sense. An attempt to achieve this is being made in Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka (TGD) in the form of invitations to professors and students to visit the village.

In the context of making handicraft products, collaboration with other NGOs is necessary, without space being given to fears about losing existing assets: traditional culture is rich in comparison with industrial culture.

Work at an NGO has nothing to do with charity but Ð it could almost be said Ð demands a greater sense of business acumen. It is a question of prevailing against the mass-produced articles of industry, which has comparatively vast amounts of money at its disposal.

Overseas co-operation with

Other NGOs
Institutions such as universities
Customers and bazaars

The technological resources of the industrialized countries mean that for the first time it is possible for insignificant NGOs to communicate and co-operate with each other without having to have certificates from training institutions. As far as the NGO of TGD is concerned, first steps towards co-operating with other NGOs have been made, e.g. in the form of exchange of materials.

Networking with projects abroad

Cameroon
Colombia
Iceland, Dubai, etc.

The participation of volunteers from abroad has proved to be beneficial with the result that staff of the local NGO participates in events abroad such as the International Dubai Festival, the International Workshop in Iceland, at import fairs in Berlin, etc. In the meantime, the volunteers have gathered experience that is beginning to make an impact in the networked projects.

Summary

In times of sweeping changes the "half life” of pilot projects has been greatly reduced. Although, despite this, project pilots are realized and emulated and the error rate is rising at a phenomenal speed, it is necessary to confine oneself to what is special. The abilities and skills - which are strongly traditional - of people in rural areas constitute the wealth of a region, which need to be recorded as if in a living laboratory.

Reflections on a visit to EXPO 2005

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Sat, 26 May 2012 06:06:00 +0000

Aaron Pinsker

Our guest is a frequent traveler. He likes to jet from one continent to another. Perhaps there is a concert at one place he would like to visit, or an exhibition or something else somewhere else. Thanks to the super fast means of transport in toady’s world, it is not a problem anymore. Where ever he arrives, he can spend the night at a hotel of an international chain with standardized service. He can afford it –because he earns quite well. He loves the international cuisine which include local dishes. The internationally qualified staff makes it difficult for a person not to feel at ease. So this is how you enjoy life. Everywhere in the world. A large entertainment park has recently been opened in X which is not shy of comparison with other entertainment parks in other parts of the world. Another internationally foodstuff chain has sucessfully started to offer highest quality meat in the capitals, resorts and other centres of tourism.

Thanks to clever research, the wine lover can today choose between Californian, Argentinean, Australian and Indian Beaujolais.

Thanks to the tremendously successful fashion wave of the last season, the designed outfits can now be supplied to large areas. The intensive reader of Harry Popper is time and again surprised, how these books are available almost everywhere. Our professionally successful traveler feels himself everywhere at home, if he can hear the latest video clips or songs of his favorite singer Y.

In the middle-european region of Oberammergau one can purchase wonderful religious paintings, which –thanks to the industrial revolution- can now be imported directly from China. In Taiwan also, you are not much behind, if it pertains to the Sydney Opera house, the roman Coliseum, the Guggenheim-Museum in New York or for that matter the Egyptian temple in Luxor, -all these articles can be purchased as Souvenirs –minimum purchase quantity being 25000 pieces.

Occasionally there are some wondrous travelers on their way, strange people, who travel to France, in order to be able to drink Cognac in Cognac.

Friends of Dolls From Rotary Club in TGD

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Sat, 26 May 2012 01:57:00 +0000

Mud House Owners Quality of Life Competition - 2012

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Fri, 25 May 2012 06:54:00 +0000

Since 2000, Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka NGO (AFA) has been holding quality of life competition under the Preservation of Cultural Heritages Program where prizes are awarded to house owners for specially interesting details on mud buildings. This has been a great way to slow the spread of brick housing and also to retain the traditional housing to give the visitors an impression of life rural Punjab. The program was redesigned in 2009 and certain mud houses in the village were selected to receive financial help, through donations from friendly architects, for repairs after two extended monsoon rain periods. This year Professor Mansoor Durrani (from Punjab University) was the chief guest in the award ceremony. Here are the images from award ceremony this year.

Top Image: Mr Farooq / AFA (NGO) and Architect Professor Mansoor Durrani (from Punjab University) and Mud House Owner

Middle Image: Mr Farooq / AFA (NGO) and Architect Professor Manossor Durrani ( from Punjab University) and Mud House Owner

Bottom Image: GreenMag Journalist Mr Saleem and Mr Shakeel / TTTC of AFA with EPA (Holder of Environment Protection Award from GreenMag)

How are tweeple bringing change?

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Fri, 25 May 2012 06:51:00 +0000

Mosque - New WAC Product

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Fri, 25 May 2012 04:02:00 +0000

Thatta Kedona at Gymkhana Club

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Thu, 24 May 2012 04:57:00 +0000

Thatta Kedona Radio Station

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Tue, 22 May 2012 05:40:00 +0000

Thatta Kedona Radio Station project is coming of age. Two rooms have been constructed and new solar units have already been installed in them. Computer and MP3 recorders for the Radio Station.

In addition to infrastructure including building, electrification and hardware, special some software is also required for streaming for high speed traffic to run the Internet radio. When commissioned, this will be another ‘first’ in Pakistan.

Please visit Radio TV Thatta Village Live Stream at http://radiotv-thattavillage.com/. It is on all the time. Click here to listen and enjoy!

Radio TV Thatta Village

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Mon, 21 May 2012 07:22:00 +0000

Please visit Radio TV Thatta Village Live Stream at http://radiotv-thattavillage.com/. It is on all the time. Click here to listen and enjoy!

Rural Development

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Sat, 19 May 2012 17:46:00 +0000

Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, Omar M. Ali, Aaron Pinsker

In the past, we have often discussed various opportunities of investment in rural areas. Mostly discussions at consumer and social oriented project forms showed the individuality of the regional possibilities.

Instead of an "either – or” it emerged more of a "this –as well as that" situation, although the combinations may be counter-productive, if the individual characteristics of the one or the other part are not sufficiently taken into consideration.

The discussion of the waveband of possibilities leads to recognition of an urban culture and a rural culture. In areas of high population and lesser access to immovable property, the residents have no other option but to continuously vary, to invest. This segment of population requires permanent income and is therefore forced to accept long-term employment in order to organize their livelihood.

The individual here can eventually juggle, in order to cover his financial requirements to some extent, multiple jobs are one other possibility, but to escape the urban system is hardly possible. It is unthinkable to create the opposite of an old saying "city air makes free", -this was said at a time, when more people lived in the villages than in the cities.

The general administrations have their own problems to overcome, which was not such a risk in a growth oriented time and appropriate tax income. The requirements and demands developed on the basis of growth economy can hardly be turned back, -privatization appears to be a logical possibility for decreasing the pressure on the households, but it fails to recognize the most general principles of economic administration in a global background. Just to mention a comment in this regard, already discussed in sufficient detail at other platforms: foreign corporations cannot invest out of social considerations of responsibility, -a well known fact, which does not interest the short-term thinking politicians.

Should we start to consider the individual and the costs of general administration, which are needed to organize the city life, we cannot but come to the conclusion that urban life in all respects is expensive and problem growth-oriented.

The city culture is international, just as also its problems. One is forced to stand in competition with each other; this leads not to a solution of the problem but to more and more brutal competition, the results being changeable and more uniform. So the main principle is Hope and –in the absence of other possibilities- the affected masses are forced to live on hope only.

The problem of de-population of rural areas is in-fact caused by the city culture itself; the financially stronger segment can enjoy the solitude of their expensive penthouses, what however leads to other problems already discussed at other place.

People living in rural areas, they feel the taste of backwardness, -backwardness as seen by the city dweller, who cannot judge the real situation in rural background and sees it –if at all- only in romantic context. The rural life functions in a different way as compared to the urban way, a fact which may not be not be appreciated by the politicians, because only universally applicable methods appear to be logical, which are however a basis for further problems, mostly of financial nature.

To keep a clear mind here is not impossible: still there is –let us call it-"traditional culture" prevalent in rural areas, which remains unconsidered in economic terms because their evaluation, similar to the fifties of the 20th century, is quite difficult. We are today aware of the traditional culture only sub-consciously in museum and amusement. The real traditional values are thereby increasingly being lost. Such thinking is often discarded as being obsolete, -a result of stagnation. Whereby it is exactly this thinking which should be the basis for a discussion about "Future in rural development”

Infrastructure measures in the rural areas are cost provoking only then, when these are taken from the position of the city culture. It is important in the rural areas –and with that we touch the main principles of development, to support the traditional handicraft, to make it independent of the central infrastructure and also to utilize fully the possibilities of small scale technologies.

The principles mentioned here are valid for rural areas but also for areas where the industrialization has still not fully established itself, for example. in the so-called developing countries, which after an exacter inspection and discounting the pressures of industrial standards and gross domestic product and due consideration of the value of traditional culture are actually not so poor after all!

In the times of mass production, the transfer of production to so-called cheap-labour-countries etc., an individualization of the products, i.e. production according to individual requirements is becoming more and more evident. The markets are saturated after local demand is satisfied. But the principle of industrial production is actually not production according to individual needs! If one looks at the forms of individualization in the automobile industry, the practice corresponds to designing of a single family house with the means of industrial production.

We have tried to emphasize, that when the above mentioned principles are kept in mind, the future lies in the rural areas. Up till now, the cost of livelihood in rural areas is quite cheap: a simple household and the possibility of self-subsistence in many ways are quite clear. On the other side we see the advocates of city culture and the growth-oriented strategists, the insufficient infra-structure, missing workplaces, bad education facilities and many more co-criteria.

The effects of developments in the 19th century on western societies were serious and led to the well known east-west conflicts. Even if the supposed winners of this conflict continue to follow their line, it should still be pointed out, that times have changed considerably. Unfortunately this fact is not given due consideration by decision-makers and their sub-ordinates. So we should not be surprised if the population continues to think according to old patterns and continues to energetically participate, in order just to survive. Notable is, that the solutions for bringing changes, not for reforms, lie on the floor like pearls, ready to be picked up, which unfortunately should be a difficult task for a well trained and well-fed body not so keen on change.

Where can we find the traditional culture of the past? How can we make ourselves independent of the central infra-structure? What do Small-Technologies mean?

These and many other questions arise and they are not produced in pre-arranged form as mass goods, -this is strenuous, but also a challenge. The answers lie like pearls on the floor: unheeded results of ethnologists, models for appropriate technologies, new forms of employment, etc. It is interesting to note that even from USA, the land of unlimited possibilities, interesting theories have emerged, which are gladly seen as necessary and already delayed reforms to the western system, but are useful to much further extent.

Finally, since we have become accustomed to quote and give references, otherwise we are not believed, so we name Th. Kuhn (The Structure of Scientific Revolution), F.Bergmann (New Work). A. Gebhardt in Aachen looks forward to the period of individual manufacturing, of Recycelns, of three-dimensional printing, including developing and designing on a high-tech-level, -all challenges, new possibilities of rural development.

Historic Trilogy

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Thu, 17 May 2012 03:16:00 +0000

One of the first places I came to know after settling down is a village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka near Okara. The unique claim of the village to international fame is the dolls and toys made by village women that are collectors delight all over the world. Dolls made in the village have travelled to International Dolls Museum in Amsterdam and also have been put on display in the "Themepark" at EXPO 2000 in Hannover (Germany) as one of the 767 worldwide projects - an example of thinking for 21st century. Earlier, the dolls participated in International Toy Fair in Nuremberg. These dolls show how culture goes beyond simple work of art and becomes collaboration among applied and natural sciences as well as other forces that affect our lives.

The murals are painted on the parameter mud walls in the village where doll collectors and people interested in sustainable development and rural heritage from different initiative groups come and stay as paying guests. The village folks still consider cooing crows as symbol of the arrival of the guests. Architectural competitions are held annually when best mud house is selected. The Chief Harappan Explorer Dr. Mark Kenoyer had the place on the jury in competition held last July. Two full time German volunteers, Dr Norbert Pintsch and Dr Senta Siller, and village people are working together to change the life and out look in this peaceful hamlet. Whenever I visited the village, I saw something new, something different, which the villagers do to make difference in a place where they belong.

Thatta Kedona Project

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:50:00 +0000

The project that was started by Dr. Senta Siller and Dr. Norbert Pintsch in a village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka situated on the bank of River Ravi some two decades ago has come of age. A lot has changed over last twenty years.

The Project is a story of production in the village, cooperation with craftsmen, permanent display at our show rooms in Karachi (Sheraton), Lahore (PC), Islamabad (Nomad Gallery) and many others in and out of Pakistan, active participations in different melas, bazaars and cultural events and much more.

Everyone in the village is associated with handicrafts production process one way or the other. Women makes dolls, pottery and decorative toys and soviniours where as men make tin toys. Craftsmanship of the artisans has made Thatta Kedona a renowned brand in dolls, toys, handicrafts and soviniour markets around the world. Equally important is the procurement of the material, design research and marketing.

Meaningful contacts with clients (like Sheraton Karachi, PC Lahore (PC), Nomad gallery Islamabad and active participations on different melas, bazaars and cultural events not only help market Thatta Kedona products but also display beautiful traditional culture that can only be seen in villages now. The awards that Thatta Kedona artisans get are one the one hand a testimony of the craftsmanship and on the other hand it shows their great contribution in preservation of our cultural heritage which is fading fast as the world is getting more and more urban with every passing day.

The Project has made a lot of changes in the village over the years. Woman Art Center, TTTC for men, Basic Health Unit, One Baby One Tree tradition, Mud House Owners project, soft tourism and Education Program of AFA (village NGO) are doing a lot of collective good for the quaint little village that stands out as a model village anywhere in Pakistan.

Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch – an untiring senior volunteer fondly called Chaudhry Norbert - is the soul of the Project. It is amazing in the way Dr. Norbert Pintsch organizes the whole affair and also looks after the army of foreign volunteers and local visitors that come to the village TGD.

Handicraft in Men Center of AFA from TGD

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:07:00 +0000

New handicraft are produced in Men Centre of AFA at TGD. Air Glider is another tiny winy toy manufactured by Zephanja.

Readers of this blog remember the tin Rikshaw (toy) that is still very famous in gift market.

Housing, Science and Technology

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Mon, 14 May 2012 03:51:00 +0000

Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch (DGFK, Germany) and Aaron Pinsker (IPC, USA)
In Cooperation With:
SPARC (Ghayyoor Obaid) & TTTC (Omar M. Ali), Pakistan
CAT (Njini King Caro), Cameroon
TM (Ricardo Coslez), Colombia

Introduction:

This article again refers to “housing”, the architectural, economical and philosophical aspects of which have already been discussed. In this article we will discuss the scientific and technological aspect (Architecture, Urban & Regional Planning) which however are not totally independent of other areas of the culture. As clear-cut diagrams and illustrations mean more than words for the engineer and scientist, the accompanying text may be considered a literary explanation of the important inter-relationship. A very simple text for the illustrations would probably not appropriately describe the total picture.

Housing in Rural, Urban and Fully-Autonomous Entities

In the following we will discuss the very basic questions of "housing" and describe the range of possibilities between the Rural Entity and the Fully-Autonomous entities, in the middle of which is the most widely practiced concept of Urban entity. Seen from a total perspective, the Urban entity is the subject as well as the object, because the actors in this system are not able to act freely as they are bound by the compulsions and dictations of economy. The actors are forced to act in the way as they do because the system does not allow any other alternative. And: the actors in the system don’t even realize that they are not acting of their own but actually are being acted upon !

The complexity of the urban infra-structure has reached its technological climax, the innovativeness of which is marginal. Should the human organism be laid out in the manner which corresponds to modern industrial way of production, i.e. with highly differentiated functions, it would require a space of more than 10 cricket fields. This example amply describes the limitations of the so-called development. It is in-effective, wasteful, ruins the environment and leads to over-exploitation of resources.

Dubai as a metaphor of out-dated construction techniques is suitable with its fantastic design-results at all levels and without any logic. The model therefore is: A major destruction of environment and misuse of resources is taking place through short-term investments and the mis-use of foreign labourers, who are even happy and not aware that they are actually contributing to destruction of their own traditional cultures. The transformation actually reflects a successful implementation of a totally-outdated economic system, which becomes possible only when the state actors do not realize their mistake and it is characteristic of the ruling elite.

The terminology used in the illustrations enable us to imagine what is coming and to develop a point of view over it. The "new" is actually not really new, rather it has developed parallel to the existing system without being noticed.

In the existing system, generally named as Urban Entity (UE), there are hardly any logical repairs possible in the system as these under the garb of "Problem Solutions" actually represent a "Problem Deferment"!. Solutions have to be judged according to their making sense because, not everything that can be accomplished also makes sense! Infact, only the least will make sense. The sense is actually made when a self-restriction is imposed. “Luxury” in this sense would be the voluntary sacrifice of the available and restriction of the consumption!

Terms like “Sustainability”, “Resource Protection”, “Environmental Protection” are empty words, as long as they are not filled with logical content, they do not remain without influencing the existing system and the relevant behavior and way of life. “Renewable Energy”, is another empty term, which suggests something, which is scientifically nonsense, because energy actually cannot be renewed (see: Law of Conservation of Energy). At the most, it can be transferred (energy change). In this way we can also explain another phenomena related to the educational sector: The number of educated persons does rise with the increase in population and holders of academic degrees but not necessarily the number of intelligent persons!

Continuous creation of newer models in Marketing of products is a waste of energy and resources. This also refers to sectors, which appear far from the industrial background, namely the health sector, the educational sector etc. In totality these measures are actually a mountain of income generating measures. The residents of an Urban Entity are forced to submit to these measures. In the past when the total number of participants was very limited,, the system still functioned on the limited scale but its deficiencies become immediately evident when applied on a global scale.

Urban Life today means:

- expensive living,
- high density of residents per square kilometer,
- increasing infra-structure costs with increasing productivity of the individual, who
works on more efficient machines
- sinking tax income through uniform and global production (the individuals are
exchangeable, when the same thing is produced globally),
- higher water consumption,
- higher energy consumption,
- increasing environmental pollution,
- increasing social problems,
- unhealthy way of living, etc.

The more affluent here can equalize some of the problems through their purchasing power, but they are actually part of an old system and actually live on the cost of the general public.

The technology therefore needs to avail literary and philosophical help in order to clarify things otherwise it will continue to confuse problem-deferment with problem-solution. It is necessary to prefer voluntary self-restraint over the income generation!

Conclusion

The article can go into more depth in professional literature, where it reaches mostly the specialists. In case of a holistic approach, there are apparently unimportant remarks regarding other areas, which may normally appear not to belong to the subject area, but are helpful in understanding the total picture by the reader. The article about "Autonomous Entity” points out information about a closed system or hides behind new ideas (for example the Zero and Plus energy houses). The transportation system points to the Flettner Rotor in the context of mobility and water and the Savonius Rotor in the context of Energy Transfer.

German Connections

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Sat, 12 May 2012 09:15:00 +0000

German Ambassador Dr. Gunter Mulack meets on Mar 1, 2007 the Afghan students who have been nominated for a scholarship.

Volunteers Meet at Dolls of the World Exhibition

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Sat, 12 May 2012 04:28:00 +0000

Dolls of the World from different projects are creating waves in Germany these days. Dolls were displayed for a six weeks in an exhibition held in Cooperative Loan Bank in Potsdam, Germany.

The Exhibition offered an opportunities for city government to get some real good ideas, Questions and Answers sessions enables people with special interest (perhaps coming volunteers) to know about the projects from far and wide of the world and best of all, the exhibition was a meeting point for old and new volunteers. Dr. Senta Siller, Gertrud Baier, Dr. Karola Groch, Renate Perner, Sabine Piltz were seen among those who visited the exposition. Some glimpses from a week long activity:

Preservation of Cultural Heritage

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Fri, 11 May 2012 03:42:00 +0000

The best mud house in Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka

Pottery Workshops With Monika Kuppler

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Thu, 10 May 2012 03:52:00 +0000

Monika Kuppler (on the left in upper image), one of the most dedicated volunteers that had come to TGD for the fourth time – has done a wonderful job during every visit. She conducts pottery workshop with groups of women and starts every time where she had left the previous time. That has resulted in some excellent developments; new products and enhanced skills. What is more, this time clay for pottery was procured from Harappa and Multan.

In addition, Monika had conducted another workshop with paper. Here are some of the glimpses of her work with women from TGD.

Pakistan Built Heritage

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:10:00 +0000

This article has also appeared in Dolls, Toys and More by S A J Shirazi

Situated on the bank of river Ravi on Okara Faisalabad Road, Gogera Sadar was once an important and dignified town in the plans of Central Punjab. The town is reduced to a shabby and sleepy suburb of Okara today. Gogera still boasts its importance when it was British power centre and district headquarters from 1852 to 1865 and the part played by the resilient people of the area during War of Independence in 1857. The stories of the war that was fought around Gogera echo in the pages of history books.

While traveling, off the beaten tracks, not only you travel in soot free and serene environment but you also see what normally remain hidden. I have had a chance to explore Gogera along with Dr. Norbert Pintch - a German architect by profession and a volunteer by choice – who is working on an idea to convert ruins of British Court building into a monument. “Remain of British Court are important signs of built heritage of Pakistan and should be preserved for next generation,” Dr. Norbert says.

British Court reminds of the colonial period. Presently it has been converted into a school. The verandas of the old building with round arches have been clogged to create additional rooms and red thin bricks are covered with coats of whitewash. It will be much better if the building can be brought back to its original shape. And that is possible.

Just in front of the school is dilapidated and crumbling Bakhshi Khana with its round corners towers that were built during Mughal era. The barracks where prisoners used to be kept before and after appearing in the court have vanished. The treasury room inside the huge complex is still intact and being used as a living room these days. The huge bargad tree in the compound is an abode of squirrels and common birds. There is also water well in the courtyard that serves as a source of drinking water for the residents. Sitting in the shade of old tree, the resident of the evacuee property told, “We want to build a new house in place of this khandar but presently the property is under litigation. We will do it after the decision by the court.” Another sign of old time we are poised to lose forever.

Next to the school, in the middle of the lush green fields, one can see the circumferential walls of a Christian colonial cemetery - the last resting-place of Lord Berkley. Neglected ever since! The British Government had allotted agricultural land to the local trustees for upkeep of the cemetery but locals have not been able to preserve this important historic sign. “The parameter has been used to keep the animals in the past,” told my host Farooq Ahmed, member of a local NGO and social activist who accompanied us during exploration of the town. We asked many locals but nobody could indicate the place where used to be Gogera Central Jail.

History not only chronicles the events, it also influences the readers as to how the historians had experienced the events. It often describes just what authors want you to know. Most of the sources for the history of the Subcontinent for the colonial period are gazetteers written by British army and civil bureaucrats. And, sadly, they have written our history from “their” point of view.

British have narrated the history of ‘War of Independence 1857′ as a ‘mutiny’ and the heroes of the war have been portrayed as ‘insurgents’. One of the first real precursors of the storm that was brewing against British occupants in the Subcontinent occurred in Gogera on the night of July 26, 1857 in the shape of an outbreak in central jail. News of British military actions at Mian Mir (Lahore) reached Gogera on May 13, 1857 that triggered the chain of events. Deputy Commissioner Gogera Elphinstone and Extra Assistant Commissioner Berkley fought the people of the area. The villages (including Jhamra — village of Ahmed Khan Kharral) were burnt and innocent people killed in search of Ahmed Khan Kharral and other activists. Troops and artillery guns from Lahore and Multan Garrisons also reinforced the Gogera based British forces. British suffered heavy losses including killing of Extra Assistant Commissioner Berkley. The courageous struggle by the people of Gogera will always be remembered in the annals of history. Though there is nothing much left on ground that could be associated with the War of Independence or bring back the memories of the days gone by.

Gogera Town Committee was established in 1995 but the committee has not been able to make any difference in the condition prevailing in this market town. Only 13 sweepers and two donkey carts are not enough for keeping the town clean and remove exponentially growing municipal waste. “People keep their cows, buffaloes and goats in the streets,” told Farooq Ahmed. It is one of the rich town committees but the only project that has been under taken by the committee is brick lining of the streets in both parts of the town where water keeps standing even in dry seasons. Sewerage system and Degree College have been approved for the town. Residents hope that the work will start soon. The committee seems oblivious of the conditions of what remains of the heritage in the area though.

Many of the old buildings lining Gogera’s sinuous streets have seen no care or maintenance in near past. Population migration from interior has turned it into a sprawling town without civic amenities of the modern time, in a short time. Town is more rural than urban. It is a mixed cluster of houses widely varying in size and quality. Farooq says, “The residents are not familiar with civic amenities that should be available in the modern towns. There is no body to see the growth of the town and co-ordinate the effects of different agencies.”

The journey to Gogera embraces you with lovely colors, atmosphere, people and bits and pieces of history. Gogera has everything nature could bestow; hard working and spirited people, fertile land, water, communication infrastructure and clean healthy environment. This important power base during British period can be converted into an important historic travel attraction. This has not started happening yet.

New header

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Fri, 04 May 2012 06:05:00 +0000

Got PageRank increase on May 3, 2012

Architecture students from Lahore on excursion trip to TGD

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:50:00 +0000

Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka, commonly called Dolls Village, has special attraction for all those who are interested in architecture and those who are interested in traditional housing. Thanks to the long standing experiences of the TTTC with simple technology and mud housing, combined with the cooperation with SPARC in Lahore that the common perception about local and environment friendly materials has undergone a fundamental change. Through the initiative IEC@BNU and through the FPAC Foundation, which publishes the quarterly magazine GREEN MAG, for the first time architecture students and professors have visited the project intentionally in order to acquaint themselves with the traditional mud architecture and how it exists in Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka. On their way to the village, between Lahore and Okara, the group also visited a Bio-Gas-Installation facility. Here are some images of the trip.

Captions:

Top Picture: Group in front of bus to starrt back to Lahore

Picture 2: Mr Farooq AFA (NGO) and Head of the TTTC and Dr. Norbert Pintsch with the special visitors who came to see the mud houses in TGD

Picture 4: Group at Bio-Gas-Installation

Dolha from TGD

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Tue, 01 May 2012 05:34:00 +0000

Dolls, Toys and More

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 19:43:00 +0000

Dolls, Toys and More was launched today (April 28, 2012). Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch, Senior Expert DGFK, Germany presented a copy of Dolls Toys and More to Dr. Azam Chaudhry, the Dean, Lahore School of Economics. Dr. Norbert also apprised Dr. Azam Chaudhry of what has been happening in the village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka – commonly called Dolls Village - over last two decades.

Dolls, Toys and More is a story of two decades of work by NGO in a village called Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka – some 80 kilometres from Lahore and on the bank of River Ravi. How change has come in the village?

Countless volunteers from Germany, Pakistan and also from other parts of the world have worked in the Village Project. The book gives an overview of the Project in detail as well as the description of local travel attractions. The travelogues section describes all places of interest in and around the areas, which will form a broader and touristy impression about the location to the reader as well as the interested tourists.

The life in the village is definitely interesting from the point of view of any urban visitor, but this topic may be discussed separately. An idea can be obtained however by reading the three short stories included in the book. The books also points out to the concept of Mud Housing and the Appropriate Technology and how they are being developed and used in the village.

What was conceived and founded by Dr Senta Siller has surely come of age. The book would not have been possible without the input and huge amount of work by Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller and many others.

Dolls The book ISBN 978-969-0-02411-7 is available at Ferozsons Pakistan and other leading book stores.

Related: @ Thatta Kedona and @ sajshirazi.com

Dr. Senta Siller on the NGO Stall

noreply@blogger.com (S A J Shirazi) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 01:31:00 +0000

Dr. Senta Siller on the NGO-stall with the daughter from Michael Stober.