Urging people to excel! (UPTE!)

Education and Career Planning For College and University Students

2020-04-04T06:17:00.003+05:00

How to Improve Reading Skills ( Facebook live Session in Urdu)

2020-04-04T06:08:00.001+05:00

Mendeley: A Citation Tool for Researchers

2017-08-10T12:01:00.001+05:00

Dear excellence seekers,

I was thinking for a long time to write something for the research scholars who often face difficulties in using various citation styles like APA, Chicago etc. Years ago, I wrote a post on the Microsoft Word's feature on Referencing. You may read it here

Learn Referencing and Citation for Thesis

http://urgingpeopletoexcel.blogspot.com/2012/01/learn-referencing-and-citation-for.html

Today, I wan to discuss Mendeley ( www.mendeley.com) which is an open source citation, reference management software and researchers network like Academia (www.academia.edu) and ResearchGate (www.researchgate.net). If you make an account here you can interact with like-minded re people from across the globe and discuss ideas and share knowledge. You can join the groups and admin your own as well to build a community of scholars on a particular theme. Its feed will keep on updating you through the new development or publication in your identified areas of research. Also you will be notified via email like any other subscribed website for news alerts.

The main feature is software tool. I hope you already know EndNote (endnote.com) and Zotero (www.zotero.org/).

Mendeley is an open source mean FREE software with legal permissions to use it. It has mobile app,

desktop version and an online forum as I have mentioned in the start.

You can also attach files in your online repository.

With a single account you can have it on your smart phone, computer and on the internet like a social networking site.

If you attach (upload) an article it will automatically detects all bibliographic details subject to the structure of file with a single click. Otherwise you will have to insert the details manually. Likewise other citation tools it provides options of various citation styles.

It's synchronization (Sync) feature gives you access to use and manage your account and repository from any computer with an internet connection.

Here is a guideline and a few video tutorials about Mendeley.

https://desktop-download.mendeley.com/download/misc/Getting_Started_Guide.pdf

https://www.mendeley.com/guides/videos

I hope these will be of your help.

Happy learning and sharing!

Best wishes

Sajjad Haider ( Anthropologist)

Founder

#UrgingPeopleToExcel

Facebook, Twitter, Google+

Silence and Colors : Inspirational Story of Artist Marium Khan

2017-01-23T16:42:00.002+05:00

Dear excellence seekers, today I'm sharing motivational story of an amazing artist Marium Khan, who has set standards of excellence in visual arts.

Despite the fact that she can not speak and hear, she has not made it a hindrance in her journey towards excellence. She graduated from the renowned Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture. Now she is an accomplished painter with numerous records and achievements at her credit. She has showcased her paintings locally and internationally and got the appreciations from the viewers and critics. She has been lauded by the artist like Gull Jee, for her extra-ordinary skill and observations in paintings. She started her journey in arts when she was a child. Her recent project is designing of memorial postal tickets that she wants to be owned by some national institution.

A few years ago I had online communication with Marium Khan. She shared her story and port-folio with me.

Marium: I was not born deaf and mute. It was when I was just 2 yearsold that I had measles and after that perceptive deafness.There was no ENT specialist that I was not taken to, and the reality had to be faced. I was sent to a deaf school ABSA (Anjuman Behbood-e-Samat-e-Atfal ) and from grade 1 to X.
I excelled in all subjects. I clenched 1st position in the SSC Exam of the Karachi board. Then I got admission in the INDUS VALLEY SCHOOL OF ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE and graduated in FINE ARTS. I've had 30 solo and group exhibitions to date , here, in IZMIR, ISTAMBUL, Turkey,Malaysia. I started painting at a very young age, participated in many competitions in Pakistan and abroad and always won a first prize.”

Silence & colors from Sajjad Haider

Please watch Marium Khan's interview in a morning show. The first thirty minutes have exclusively been dedicated to discuss her accomplishments and inspirations in arts. I am sure these will also spark an urge in you to do something marvelous in your life. Marium's story is a great source of inspiration for all of us to live a life with determination and optimism.

On behalf of our campaign #UrgingPeopleToExcel we wish all the best to Marium Khan and all those who want to excel in life.

Sajjad Haider
Founder
UPTE

Inspirational Story of RJ Mohsin Nawaz

2016-12-03T22:25:00.001+05:00

Dear excellence seekers, today I am sharing an inspirational story of determination, optimism and high self-esteem. Radio listeners in Lahore must be familiar with RJ Mohsin Nawaz @Mast FM 103, for his mesmerizing communication, intelligent talk with a beautiful blend of humor. He is also executive counselor in a Pakistan's leading addiction rehabilitation center in Lahore. Many people know him for his online motivational contributions but rarely people know the man behind the words and thoughts himself is a great source of inspiration for all of us. This is his humble and down to earth nature to place others first in his conversations and talks both on radio and the internet world.

Mohsin Nawaz, father of two brilliant sons Ali Ahmad Awan 18 and Salman Ahmad Awan 16, is a man of high self-esteem and with a marvelous persona who can engage his audience for hours and hours to listen his refined conversation on fine arts, literature, personal development, stress management and many other topics to boost self-esteem. It is all because of his extensive reading and interaction with hundreds of change makers. These days with his sons he has started couple of new interesting projects to motivate people. Radio Change O Clock ( https://www.facebook.com/radiococ/) and ILMI TV (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMlmbCzLXkNSGL1-YSTPUYA ) are two online video channels offering all of us ideas that can spark a passion to do something marvelous in our lives.

You will be surprised to know that RJ Mohsin Nawaz did all this despite of his dual disabilities. Due to polio he was bound to whee-chair since his early childhood. Soon after he lost his eye sight too. These physical challenges could be big hindrances in his journey towards excellence. But the man with great self-esteem, optimism and determination responded to these challenges and continued his studies and made great academic and professional accomplishments.

India's leading motivational speaker Himeesh Madaan, presented his case studies to a large audience when he came to know about him.

Please checkout following short video on RJ Mohsin Nawaz by Himeesh Madaan.

I am sure it will give you immense courage especially if you are feeling upset for rough times in your life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2C-0k_50-M&t=8s

Best wishes

Sajjad Haider

#UrgingPeopleToExcel

Deciphering Future: A short documentary of Educational Systems in Pakistan

2016-09-10T01:24:00.001+05:00

" Deciphering Future" is the documentary that I co-directed last year to know the career aspirations of 10 years old students of the three different education systems in Pakistan. I hope it will create some questions in your mind regarding the future employment of these students and their role in the society.

Above all it is a question that will they reach their desired destinations within given circumstances and academic opportunities available to them?

Thanks to each and everyone who participated and facilitated this project. Special thanks to the Department of Anthropology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad ( http://anth.qau.edu.pk ) and Institute of Rural Management IRM, Islamabad.

( http://www.irm.edu.pk ).

Kind regards,

Sajjad Haider

#UrgingPeopleToExcel in #Education

Writing Yoga 2

2016-07-15T14:50:00.002+05:00

In continuation with my previous blog Writing Yoga, today I just want to add up a few more ideas and observations on doing free writing as leisure activity which is definitely rewarding one. I think most of us has a issue before writing that what topic or subject may be chosen for free writing. I think when one is doing a practice to sharpen one's specific skill, one shouldn't much bother it.
But for a start one can get inspirations from one's immediate environment. I explain it with an an example.
In fine arts institutions the students are urged to practice drawing straight lines. As it is basic of drawing. The beginners keep on drawing straight lines as much as they can. This build a strong foundation for commanding a pencil. Similarly in the driving schools the learners asked to drive in the straight roads. In the sane fashion we need to understand the writing is likewise a skill. At the beginning we need to write in simple sentences. Write about simple things, as I am doing.

I know in my blogs there are dozens of grammatical mistakes but I should not loose heart. These are part of my practice to improve my writing skills while sharing my free write-ups with my online friends. Secondly many times we have a fear of writing wrong. Please note that during practice and learning mistakes are the part of process. So stay confident and keep on writing simple sentences about simple ideas coming from your immediate environment or from your memory.

Now I come back to idea of choosing a topic or selecting an object. I will choose example of model drawing. The students are asked to draw simple objects and follow the light and shade and its contour. Similarly when you are doing free writing, try follow the example. Start writing from simple and gradually you will improve. See, Picasso or any other master artist created their masterpieces at a later stage in their lives. They started from drawing lines. They reached at the climax of their skills after continuous practice. Similarly great writers wrote their notable at an advanced stage. So, feel relaxed and keep on writing simple, random and do not quit at all.

I am trying to work on my writing skills. For it I am using this blog and on a few other blogs. Here I express on different ideas. I would suggest you that you can also try such free online spaces. If you are shy and do not want to share your writing practice with others then you can always keep its privacy setting restricted to your self. In this way these will be your personal diaries.

Here is link for my previous post and after it I will be pasting a few more URLs that can be of your help to get more ideas.

http://urgingpeopletoexcel.blogspot.com/2016/04/writing-yoga-by-sajjad-haider.html

https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/08/25/the-psychology-of-writing-daily-routine/

You may enroll in Coursera and enjoy working with class fellows from across the world.

Following are some of the courses on English. You may browse more of your interest from its catalog.

https://www.coursera.org/specializations/academic-english

https://www.coursera.org/specializations/intermediate-grammar

https://www.coursera.org/specializations/creative-writing

https://www.coursera.org/learn/english-communication-capstone

https://www.coursera.org/specializations/improve-english

You may choose courses from

https://www.edx.org/

and find some free resources from MIT open course ware.

http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm

Happy learning and sharing. Lets stay together for Urging People To Excel in Education this time :)

Cheers

Sajjad Haider
twitter.com/@streetpainter

Fieldwork Preparation with Sajjad Haider

2016-05-27T23:20:00.001+05:00

Dear friends,

Please find my presentation that I have tailored for the university/ college students who are preparing for fieldwork as part of their thesis research. I hope they will find some ideas on fieldwork preparation, review of literature and ethics in research. Your feedback and suggestions will help me to improve further. Please feel free to use, share or forward these slides anywhere. It will be appreciated if you acknowledge it. There is no need for prior permissions to share/ use these slides for academic and non-profit purposes.

For queries, appointment or booking for training/ lecture sessions/ educational seminars/ workshops, please feel free to contact me through email or via social media accounts.

sajjadhaider786@gmail.com

Facebook.com/sajjadhaider786

Twitter.com/@streetpainter

https://plus.google.com/u/0/+SajjadHaider786/posts

http://www.slideshare.net/sajjadhaider786

Happy learning and sharing!

Sajjad Haider

Founder

Urging People To Excel

Let’s motivate each other to excel in life!

Here is an older presentation.

Research Matters ( Fieldwork in Social Sciences) for UrgingPeople To Excel from Sajjad Haider

Writing Yoga by Sajjad Haider

2016-04-20T14:23:00.004+05:00

Writing is a big challenge for most of the students. I came across a wonderful advice by a teachers to write with out fear or he called it as "Free Writing". This type of writing helps one to express whatever is coming to one's mind to bring that on paper and these days on digital screens by typing. Here I want to offer an easy solution to exercise this technique of '"writing yoga ;)

Like many of you I am the person who spends most of his time with digital gadgets like laptop, desktop, tab and smart phone. From my personal experience I can say that these pervasive technologies have made learning on the go. We can make a full and effective usage of leisure. Well, I do it free writing on my personal blog that I have kept confidential. Here I am confident that no other person can read my feelings or laugh at my poor writing skills and English grammar, vocabulary and spelling mistakes. Further I am not worried about the sequence of ideas and logical connections among the sentences and paragraphs. I open up my digital diary and keep on typing without fear. This writing yoga is helping me to express my thoughts on paper. You may ask me that when do I do exercise? Personally I do this exercise when there is power-breakdown ( load shedding hours ), I open a word page and give myself to type non-stop on anything that is in my mind or my my day long activities. I give myself a target to write 500 to 1000 words per hour.

The person who advised me about the free writing that for academic purpose one needs to start one's day with free writing. One needs to keep a working file open on one's computer. Before checking the emails or any other stuff one should start one's early hours of the day for writing exercise with fresh mind. He discouraged to type late at night. But I want to make it more flexible and applicable. I would suggest to type when ever you find time. Even if you are travelling and you can start writing on your smart phone's message's draft or any other application that provides you the space to type.

I conclude that in writing we have to overcome psychological barrier and fears. We need to overcome the fear of mistake and should motivate ourselves that we are are writing the initial draft and it will develop further. There are always options to further refine and rearrange the thoughts. There are expert editors and proof readers who can help us to improve our writing styles. So, it is a good news for all of us that some of the technology gadgets can keep our secret although the entire internet is full of corporate and state surveillance. :)

Happy Writing Yoga!

Note: This blog post is an example of my free writing. I wrote in a single-go to exercise free writing.

Thematic Areas of UrgingPeopleToExcel

2015-02-13T01:52:00.002+05:00

UrgingPeopleToExcel 3Ms Approah from Sajjad Haider

Live Tweets on motivation with Sajjad Haider

2015-01-26T23:47:00.002+05:00

#UrgingPeopleToExcel Tweets

Think before you tweet :)
Sajjad Haider

Tweets by @streetpainter

Orientation Life at Campus

2014-10-01T13:49:00.003+05:00

Orientation: Life at Campus . Please find my presentation for the new comers of the university. I hope students will find it informative. ‪#‎UrgingPeopleToExcel‬ ‪#‎education‬ ‪#‎Motivation‬ ‪#‎Mobilization‬ ‪#‎Mentoring‬ Find this and many more http://www.slideshare.net/sajjadhaider786 Please feel free to share and discuss it for UrgingPeopleToExcel. Happy learning and Sharing!

Life at campus orientation by sajjad haider from Sajjad Haider

Tribute to a Catalyst: Marjorie Husain

2014-01-26T05:27:00.000+05:00

Sometimes we meet a few individuals who leave a deep impression on our life. They transform our vision and adds new perspectives to our on-going thinking process. These people may be referred as Catalysts. They inspire us with their accomplishments as wel as by their attitudes.

I am really feeling an honour in writing this blog post in respect of my mentor and friend Mrs. Marjorie Husain who has recently been awarded with "Pride of Karachi Award" , for her selfless services for the promotion of arts. Today, I want to share my personal story of excellence where Marjorie Husain has acted as a catalyst. I met her first time at National Art Gallery-Islamabad where she especilly came from Karachi to attend an exhibtion on the work of (Late) Zubaida Agha (painter).

I still remeber the encouragement that I received from her on my queries on art. It was the day when I found a mentor and coach who was blessed with an insight of urging people to excel. Marjorie's kind and encouraging behaviour urged me to continue learning about art. She taught me through emails and answered my questions with patience and appreciation. She bestowed me with a vision to feel art and paintings.

As her student, I feel an honour to tell the world about the sincere and honest contributions of my mentor in promoting art and artists of Pakistan. At her credit there are several books on the life histories of art legends of Pakistan like Bashir Mirza, Jamil Naqsh, Anna Molka, Rabia Zubairee.

One of her book "Art Views : Encounters with Pakistani Artists", can be very helpful for those who want to have a brief overview of Pakistani artists. It was published by FOMMA-Karachi.

" Aspects of Art" is a comprehensive book for the students of art as well as for all those who want to know about the basics of art. It was published by Oxford University Press, Pakistan. It has also been included in the syllabus of Sindh Text Book Board.

Mrs. Marjorie Husain, is the recepient of several awrds including Fatima Jinnah Medal. On January 19, 2014, she has been awarded with Pride of Karachi Award. Below is the press release of the cermoney.

K-Electric holds the Pride of Karachi Awards at Mohatta Palace

Being so deeply engrained in the fabric of Karachi, KE decided to conduct an award ceremony to commemorate the rich history of this city by paying tribute to individuals from all walks of life. These individuals since the inception of Pakistan have made a significant impact on this country, this city, its people and its socio-economic landscape.

According to the KE press release, the award ceremony which was hosted at the Mohatta Palace which dates back to 1927, was a humble attempt to recognize and honor those individuals who have worked selflessly and passionately for the betterment of this society. Individuals from the fields of Arts & Architecture, Literature, Performing & Visual Arts, Sports & Social Work had been shortlisted and selected by an honorable council.

Winners for the category of Arts, Architecture & Urban Design were Arshad Abdulla, Habib Fida Ali, Marjorie Husain & Shahid Sajjad. Award winners for the field of Social work were Abdul Sattar Edhi, Akhtar Hameed Khan, Dr. Adib Rizvi, Dr.Shershah Syed, Hakeem Muhammad Said, Dr.Nadira Panjwani, Sr.Ruth Lewis, Sr.Dr. Ruth Pfau & Zubeida Dossai. Amar Jaleel, Jaun Elia, Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi & Zehra Nigah won their respective awards for the field of Literature, whereas Mehdi Hassan, Moin Akhtar, Naseeruddin Saami & Zia Mohyeddin won for the field of Performing & Visual Arts. Anwar Ahmad Khan, Hanif Mohammed, Jahangir Khan & Muhammad Yousuf were awarded for their contribution in the field of Sports.

On behalf of affiliates of the camapaign for #UrgingPeopleToExcel, #upte, congratulations to all the winners and appreciations for K-Electric for organizing such motivational event that can urge many hundreds to follow the foot-steps of their mentors.

Marjorie Husain (R) receiving award

Marjorie Husain

In a workshop with my mentor Marjorie Husain

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Here is a detailed interview of Mrs. Marjorie Husain that was published in DAWN's suppliment THE REVIEW on November 29, 2007. I had its softcopy that I once downloaded from website of DAWN.COM. I am pasting it as it is, with due acknowledgement of the DAWN media group and the author. All the content below belongs to the concerned owners and publishers.

***************************************************************

DAWN

THE REVIEW

November 29, 2007

For the sake of art

By Fouzia Mapara

Renowned art critic, author, curator and painter, Marjorie Husain is an incredible one person database of the history and development of art and artists in Pakistan. But that does not make her a computer, for insight and intellect, peppered with spontaneous anecdotes and humour, define her thoughts and demeanour. Someone should clone the woman.

Perhaps it was the crisp November morning with a mere hint of chill in the air, the sun’s rays creating dark and light shades on the lush green privet hedges and pretty shadows of the crisscross latticework, the typical characteristic of colonial buildings in Karachi; or was it the homely smell of fresh, just out of the oven cakes and biscuits that had a balmy effect on me, as I sat waiting at a table by the window in the Sindh Club bakery? Or maybe it was her friendly demeanour, her treasure of knowledge and her soft voice that made it a truly memorable morning for a delightful chat with Marjorie Husain.

Renowned art critic, author, curator, painter, Marjorie Husain is an incredible one-person database of the history and development of art and artists in Pakistan. But that does not make her a computer, for insight and intellect, peppered with spontaneous anecdotes define your thoughts on her. Someone should clone the woman.

I asked her if she ever thought she was irreplaceable for the Pakistani art scene. She answered, “I hope not! Although today the ambience has changed from what it used to be. Previously people used to be involved in it for the love of art; there was no money in it. It was like a vocation. Now everything has become commercial.”

As long as she could remember, her family was interested in art and there have been discussions about art and drawing.

“Art was something that I grew up with or imbibed. Somewhere in my mother’s ancestral line was Gustav Dore, who they would always talk about. Somehow we didn’t take much notice of that. Most of my cousins could draw very well. My sister and a brother went to art school.”

Marjorie has one sister and three brothers and she remembers her childhood as a regular protected one with parents looking after the children.

“Rationing continued after the [Second World] War but we didn’t know any different. I remember that we were quite young but on Sunday afternoons we were allowed to go to the art museum in London to see the paintings. We would sit on the train and that would be our outing.”

All kinds of art interest her but Marjorie believes that art should be exciting. She says, “One should see the artist in it and if one can feel the emotion and passion of the artist, then it is something quite exciting. Contrived art is different because one doesn’t get much out of it. One could always admire the line and colour but then it is not so memorable.”

She shares an interesting anecdote from her personal life: “For a while one of my brothers was interested in Buddhism and joined a community in England and their teacher was an Englishman who had lived in India for 30 years and then went into Buddhism. When he was told about one of the fellow students had fallen in love, he said something that was quite interesting. He said, ‘Oh what’s wrong with the fellow, send him to an art gallery, there’s not much colour in his life!’”

Marjorie’s real passion is artists like Craigie Aitchison, Colin David, Jamil Naqsh, Naeem and several younger artists. She believes Nahid Raza and Mehr Afroze are very sincere about their work. Explaining further, she adds, “I am always excited about new things like people doing installations, new mediums and modes of expressions. In the Saatchi Gallery in London, near the Westminster Bridge, I must admit, when I go there, I do have a good laugh. For instance, they had this glass of water on the floor. They would go on about how it changes concept and dimension, and I found that extremely amusing. But in a very uplifting way I do enjoy it. Its cheeky maybe for the wrong reason but you do get something out of it in one way or the other.”

One of Marjorie’s paintings is displayed at the Lahore Museum, however, she stopped painting when she started running The Gallery in 1970 and
switched over to writing on art. “Painting was not a vocation, no loss to the world. I loved painting portraits. I enjoyed using my hands and I would get paint on and use oils and work on the expression of the person. But I don’t paint anymore. I just write about art.

“I feel that for painting or art, you need space and have to be disciplined. It is more suited to people like Nahid Raza who have worked and fulfilled all their responsibilities. At night they paint and actually make do with very little sleep. You have to be focused and there are certainly so many other things I want to do,” she adds.

Marjorie Husain has devoted a whole lifetime to introducing Pakistani art within the country, as well as abroad. She came to Pakistan in the 1960s, straight from an art school where she met her husband, and after some time gave up painting to look after the first privately owned art gallery in Pakistan, after its founder Bashir Mirza left for Germany. The stint lasted for a year, but her association with the artists and the art scene continued to grow stronger.

More than the projection of Pakistani art abroad, Husain prefers to concentrate on the local scene through her books. Explaining her viewpoint, she says, “When I am writing, it is for the Pakistani students of art and for them to know how art developed. I think there is a market outside, but I wouldn’t know how to deal with that. I’m just doing my thing here in a modest sort of way. Promotion of Pakistani art will happen at some point though.

“In fact, I did a catalogue for some people in India who were doing a show for Jamil Naqsh in Delhi. They had also asked me to write a book on Jamil. When I asked him for more information, he, being a private person, said whatever you want to know is already in that one! I think they might make the book a big venture. If the Indians are keen on Pakistani art, I’m sure they would be too in the West. But is there a market for books on art in Pakistan? As far as books on art are concerned, if people can afford to pay for art and books on art, printers will come forward to print books.

“Or if there are cultural centres or guilds like in England where people are given grants, more people will be attracted. Presently there are some organisations that sponsor books, for instance, the NCA sponsored the book on Anna Molka. But, generally, people find it difficult to write about something and have it put together and take it to the printer’s. It is quite a job!”

She has written seven books on art. “The last one was about Anna Molka Ahmed and researching her life and writing about her was a wonderful journey,” Marjorie discloses. Her other books include, Aspects of Art, Bashir Mirza: The Last of the Bohemians and Ali Imam: Man of the Arts.

Aspects of Art is a textbook for students that has been very successful because there was a need for it. “It started at the time when Nahid Raza was running a school and wanted me to do a book on eastern and western art. Initially I panicked but later agreed to the challenge. I went to England and picked up a lot of books there and it took me a year to put it all together.”

Having always been an avid reader, Marjorie Husain feels writing may have taken the place of the so-called need to express oneself. “It takes me away like painting used to. Books are very time consuming because you’re the writer, the editor, you’re doing research and then have to take it to the printer’s. Sometimes the colours don’t come out well and there are all sorts of things that take up energy and time,” she explains.

Husain finds writing more challenging than painting because it requires a great deal of research that she enjoys, “I feel the motivation there because there has been very little documentation and when I got involved with art in the `60s, I knew most of them. There were people I had enormous respect for and I felt they deserved to be written about and remembered, so that gave me a lot of pleasure to be able to put together information about them in a simple, readable way.”

So who does Husain admire most, the writer within or the painter? “There are a few of my paintings that I was really quite pleased with, and some written pieces. It really depends on the inspiration and mood,” she answers.

Each book was a different experience. “When I compiled a book on Ahmad Parvez, it took a lot of time as I had to research articles through newspapers which were not much more than scraps. I had to tape them all up and go through them.”

Talking about her book on Syed Ali Imam, she said that Ali Imam had planned it as a close collaboration between “us; when he finally consented to be the subject of a monograph, we were to meet over a period of time and map out the format of his varied lifetimes. Sadly that was not to be.

“After an initial meeting during which Imam enthusiastically brought out a pile of photographs and cuttings, we were unable to continue our sessions as Imam had a heart attack. But I remembered he had made a tape with the instruction that while he was alive it could not be used. He had said a lot on the two-hour duration tape which helped me with the book,” Marjorie remembers.

She believes that in the last 30 years, art has expanded beyond one’s imagination, adding, “People worked in the past but there was not much buying. In recent years there has been a great interest shown by Indian dealers and by Asians who have settled in Europe and one finds that Sothebys, Christies and Bonhams are auctioning work like that of Sadequain’s. One could not imagine his work would sell for such huge amounts and I’m not sure he would have approved of auctions. Ahmed Parvez’s work now sells for more than three hundred thousand rupees.”

The boom in the art market started in the `70s with The Gallery in Karachi, as business started thriving and people were building new houses. “There was camaraderie in art exhibits and social events. There was no market and no competition, all that came later. Even when there was no market, people like Sultan Ahmed and Amjad Ali wrote pages on these artists. And then people started buying art for their nice houses as they wanted to put up pictures.

“Bashir Mirza was one of the few artists trained at the NCA and artists gave each other a lot of respect. Advertising started in the `60s and ad agencies were a blessing for artists. The newly established TV stations took a lot of artists and suddenly they could earn money through art. So, in reality they were the pioneers who had had a tough time, even people like Chughtai.”

Husain’s commentary on art is always peppered with a story here and an anecdote there.

“Jamil Naqash told me that when he first came to Karachi, he was looking for a job. He spent a day at the zoo and drew a tiger for truck art and when he turned up with it, it was not at all what was wanted. So he had to learn the language of truck art. And I believe he also said that when Shakir Ali came back from Europe in 1951, he also did that for a while,” she discloses.

Talking about the present day art scene, Marjorie Husain says, “There is a lot of excitement. Currently the contemporary miniature movement is highly successful and the interest began with Shazia Sikander in 1990. Art dealers from all over the world are showing interest. Imran Kureishi and Aisha Khalid are represented by a London gallery, and are very popular. Ali Kazim, recently showed his work at the VM Gallery in Karachi, and he is another artist well-represented abroad. From Quetta, one has talented artists such as Akram Dost, Kaleem Khan, Khadim Ali and Jamil Baloch, who teaches sculpture at the NCA.”

The market may be limited to Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, but the varying political and socioeconomic scene has made people stronger as opposed to a more conducive environment where grants and scholarships are available. Nevertheless, people prefer to buy signatures.

Husain elaborates, “It is quite understandable that people go to a gallery and want to know if they have so and so. It is the show value that they are more interested in, but there is nothing wrong with that. There is no market in Balochistan, for instance, they have an Arts Council in Quetta and they seem quite adjusted to the idea. They are fine artists and come down, from time to time, to the bigger cities and put up their work in a gallery.”

Over the years, Marjorie Husain feels that challenges have evolved for artistes. “In the past there were no differences between artists, no barriers. Now things are different. There is more competition. In the past the challenge was to get buyers. Laila Shehzada painted pretty pictures in the early days and Nagi taught her how to do oils, Guljee was friendly with her but they all expected pretty paintings out of her. Until she had this revelation on the beach and she found driftwood and she discovered herself and that was her challenge.

“Anna Molka and Zubeida Agha were absolutely wonderful people but, to be taken seriously, they had a bit of a façade which frightened people. Even I was a bit scared before I had met them then I got to know them through the armour. Their challenge was to be taken seriously as women artists,” Husain explains.

On her wish list is a national art gallery for Karachi. “We recently opened an art gallery in Islamabad and we had been talking about it for so many years. But we really need something like that in Karachi. Wish we could have the Frere Hall but, presently for security reasons, one is not even allowed to walk in the surrounding park,” she regrets.

While people may enjoy painting in their time out, Husain enjoys reading detective stories and crime mysteries. She adds, “PD James, Elizabeth George are among my favourites. I used to be into Oscar Wilde and was a Somerset Maugham fan but have now given in to crime!”

When in England, in addition to visiting galleries, she enjoys going to the cinema, “I still remember watching this film about Edith Piaf and with the lights off in the cinema and the huge screen and you just become a part of the film.”

Marjorie Husain believes that there are many paths one could take at any point in life but it is all predestined. She explains, “There is plenty to do yet. What makes me sad sometimes is that during my years in Pakistan I have seen so much untapped talent everywhere, a lot of creativity and aesthetic sense in the rural areas but, no, their potential has not been tapped.

“There should be a way to discover all that talent in the masses or in the street child who plays cricket. Laila and I were in Naltar where she did her sleeping mountain series and we saw so many children there who made their own skiis. Wish there was more opportunity for them to train.”

And there is plenty yet on Marjorie’s plate or shall we say palette! “Nahid Raza, Jamal Shah and Iqbal Hussain are exhibiting their work at the Bradford University in December. Previously, David Hockney had exhibited there and Paula Rega. Then there is a calendar project; then, of course, The Gallery. I am seriously going to start working on my next book. I have to be focused for that and there is too much going on at the moment,” she adds in the end.

Twitter for Academic Purposes and for UrgingPeopleToExcel

2013-11-16T21:30:00.003+05:00

Dear Excellence Seekers

I came across a few useful web resources on purposeful usage of one of leading social media website called TWITTER. In the attachment find a file by the LSE on

"Using Twitter in university research, teaching and impact activities: A guide for academics and researchers"

http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/files/2011/11/Published-Twitter_Guide_Sept_2011.pdf

You may be interested in knowing about the profile of the company.Find facts and data here.

https://about.twitter.com/company

Here is another useful resource on knowledge and information dissemination through the social media.

Social media’s politics of circulation have profound implications for how academic knowledge is discovered and produced.

http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2013/07/29/academic-knowledge-and-the-politics-of-circulation/

Our volunteerism for Urging People to Excel, is also now on Twitter and Facebook.

(#upte and #UrgingPeopleToExcel) are official hash tags.

I tweet on behalf of the UPTE from my twitter account Twitter.com/streetpainter

You can re-tweet, mention, reply and subscribe on cell to these tweets.

Lets stay together for urging people to excel!

Best regards

Sajjad Haider

Founder

UrgingPeopleToExcel

Read tweets that were posted for urging people to excel in this post.
http://urgingpeopletoexcel.blogspot.com/2013/07/tweets-for-urgingpeopletoexcel-embedded.html

Exhibition of Paintings by Rural Artists: Maiden Volunteer Project by the UrgingPeopleToExcel

2013-10-27T02:23:00.001+05:00

Please find presentation on some of paintings by the rural artists. These include sing board painters, cinema and truck painter and middle school drawing masters.It will be showcased at the Rawalpindi Arts Council. the exhibition will be inaugurated at 2:00 PM on November 04, 2013 (Monday). Please come with your family and friends to see the creativity of these masters who have spent many years in paintings. It is free and open for all.

Facebook musical video invitation click here on Post

It is maiden volunteer project for the Urging People To Excel. This exhibition was organized to promote art and artists from rural areas. To provide people with soft visuals that may urge them to excel. Above all to create an opportunity academicians to create knowledge and to generate debates and ideas. It will be appreciated if the students, teachers and researchers avail it as a learning opportunity. They can write column, short reports, reviews, articles, essays, and research articles.
Like libraries and laboratories the art galleries and museums also support the educational institutions to learn more and new. Very special thanks to the administration of Rawalpindi Arts Council for facilitating the event. Also bundle of thanks to my friends and affiliates of Urging People To Excel, for supporting me for this activity.

Warm regards

Sajjad Haider

You are invited with your family and friends to attend Group Exhibition of Paintings by Rural Artists at Rawalpindi Arts Council on November 04, 2013 ( Monday). Please join the inaugural ceremony at 2:00 PM. Guests from universities, colleges, INGOs, NGOs, Media, Art Institutions, Companies, and celebrities will be attending the inaugural.
See the master pieces of calligraphy, landscape,thematic and truck art. It is an open invitation for all. There in no fee to see the paintings. Prices of the paintings will be affordable. You may place order for replica of the paintings. Price range may start as low as possible so that all of you may get something for your drawing room,institute, office, guest house etc.

This exhibition is maiden volunteer project by the "UrgingPeopleToExcel". The UPTE is a non-political and non-religious online activism plus e-volunteerism to motivate people to excel. It was pioneered by Sajjad Haider . Core values of the UPTE are to motivate, to mobilize and to mentor people in their quest for excellence.
Please google the phrase . "Urging People To Excel" to reach across social media and internet.

Join the Facebook group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/upte.net/

More about the Urging People To Excel, and its founder can be found here.
http://shstreetpainter.wordpress.com/about/

For any query please feel free to send an email or inbox message.
streetpainter@hotmail.com
sajjadhaider786@gmail.com
facebook.com/sajjadhaider786
twitter.com/@streetpainter #upte, #urgingpeopletoexcel

PLEASE SHARE AND COMMENT ON IT TO PROMOTE THE RURAL ARTISTS. THEY NEED YOUR SUPPORT AND APPRECIATIONS.

Looking forward to meet you at inaugural!

WARM REGARDS,

Sajjad Haider (also known as) streetpainter
Exhibition Coordinator
Founder
#UrgingPeopleToExcel

Post by Sajjad Haider.

Academic Ranking of World Universities 2013

2013-08-30T17:58:00.001+05:00

Dear friends,

Please check out the following rating.The UPTE or its affiliates do not endorse this rating or market for the company. Primary purpose is to mobilize people to see whats is happening in academia across the globe.

http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2013.html

As an educational adviser, I suggest you to visit websites of all the universities in details. See the degree programs they are offering. See the profile of the professors and check out their publications. I hope this exercise will urge you to excel.

In many of my public sessions my respondents ask me that what they should do on internet? My answer is always that open website of any university and start reading program and courses details and reading the academic contribution of the faculty into academics. It will definitely inspire you. If you find some good information then please share it with people around you to promote information literary.

From now to onward, you are my co-mentor in urging people to excel.

Best regards

Sajjad Haider

Founder coach/ Mentor

Urging People To Excel

Exhibition of Paintings by Artists from Rural Areas: UPTE

2013-08-29T03:06:00.002+05:00

A mega exhibition of paintings by signboard painters, truck painters, cinema painters and drawing masters of middle schools from a remote district is going to be organized at Rawalpindi Arts Council in September or Octover, 2013. Dates will be finalized soon and will be updates on mentioned links

www.facebook.com/SH.streetpainter

www.facebook.com/groups/upte.net
www.twitter.com/@streetpainter (#upte)

They include

Ustad Manazir Ahmed Khan Truck and Cinema Painter ...Experience more than 30 years

Ustad Noor Hussain , Sign board Painter...Experience more than 30 years

Bashir Haider, About 20 years of experience as sign board painter and now a drawing master at Special Education school

Tariq Mehmood, Drawing master in a Middle School

Hafiz Ahmed Habib, Imam Masjid,

The above mentioned artists will be leading contributors. The other participants may have honorary participation. I am thankful to the Rawalpindi Art Council , for facilitating the event.

I am also thankful to all my friends who are supporting me voluntarily for this cause. It is a humble contribution to promote art and artists from the rural districts.

You may be surprised by the title streetpainter. I adopted it nearly a decade ago for my passion into visual art. Although I had never been running any business, but now its part of my personality, as through the Urging People to Excel, I want add colours to the society.

Please keep in touch for updates.

sajjadhaider786@gmail.com

Here is a musical announcement for the upcoming event.

Tweets for UrgingPeopleToExcel Embedded

2013-07-19T14:25:00.001+05:00

Twitter.com/@streetpainter (#upte). Please find below TWEETS for our campaign on UrgingPeopleToExcel. I am trying to embed them in the blog-post. If you are on twitter, then you may like to receive the motivational tweets, inspirational messages and resources by following me on twitter.com/@streetpainter .Use official hash tag #upte on twitter and facebook.com/groups/upte.net, On twitter.com/@streetpainter, you can also subscribe to the tweets by a mobile SMS.

Lets stay together for Urging People To Excel. If you like any post informative and useful then please re-tweet and share that for Urging People To Excel.

This post will be updated time to time.

Kind regards

Sajjad Haider
Founder coach/ Mentor
Urging People To Excel

3 things i learned from bill gates @slideshare /www.slideshare.net/imd/3-things-i-learned-from-bill-gates-final #UrgingPeopleToExcel #upte
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) July 19, 2013

Motivating Students to Learn #upte http://t.co/3mle23ha7n via @ALISONCourses
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) July 3, 2013

#upte Civic Engagement by students: Use of Social Media shared by Sajjad Haider on @slideshare #urgingpeopletoexcel http://t.co/8B8XgvB4Ay
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 28, 2013

shared for #"Urging People To Excel" , #upte, 12 great motivational quotes 2013. find here http://t.co/jwQegYMP
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) January 15, 2013

#upte tips to become amazing motivational speaker http://t.co/QxIGTzM6k4
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 29, 2013

Motivating Students to Learn #upte http://t.co/3mle23ha7n via @ALISONCourses
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) July 3, 2013

Art and Excellence: Collection of Paintings http://t.co/H9jKipxpVw
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) July 14, 2013

#upte @2thank 7 Jul Sometimes the best journeys in life are not always in straight lines.
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) July 12, 2013

#upte Reading is a gift It's something you can do almost anytime & anywhere It can be a tremendous way to learn,relax & even escape.RCarlson
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) July 12, 2013

#upte @2thank 7 Jul Your present circumstances don't always determine who you are and where you can go. It merely determines where you start
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) July 12, 2013

#upte "Even the smallest voice can make a difference in a big way." (Anonymous)
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) July 12, 2013

#upte @2thank 10 Jul, " Never stop doing your best just because someone doesn't give you credit."
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) July 12, 2013

Facebook Photo album of sessions for urging people to excel. https://t.co/hQAWgCaoZ2 #upte
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) July 10, 2013

#upte Let's go invent tomorrow rather than worrying about what happened yesterday. ~ Steve Jobs
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 30, 2013

#upte @2thank: If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again.
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 29, 2013

#upte Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 29, 2013

#upte Only romance can justfy true spirts of involvment.Let's hv romnce with our aspiratons.Consistnt mindset leads to excllnce.SajjadHaider
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 25, 2013

#upte Why are you going to choose failure when success is an option? -Jillian Michaels
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 25, 2013

#upte "I don’t need an alarm clock. My ideas wake me." —Ray Bradbury
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 25, 2013

#upte Good friends can see the greatness in you even in the moments you doubt it yourself.
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 25, 2013

#upte Take care of your happiness...and everything else will take care of itself...
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 25, 2013

#upte "To write well, express yourself like the common people, but think like a wise man." - Aristotle
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 25, 2013

#upte Do good and kind things for a cause, not for applause... live your life to express, not to impress.
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 25, 2013

#upte No matter how good or bad you think life is, wake up each day and be thankful for life. Someone somewhere is fighting to survive.
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 24, 2013

#upte Strength doesn't come from what you can do, it comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn't.
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 24, 2013

#upte You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today. -Abraham Lincoln
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 24, 2013

#upte You have this one amazing life to live... take full advantage and live it.
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 24, 2013

#upte The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions. - Confucius
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 23, 2013

#upte Success is not counted by how high you hav climbed but by how many people you brought with you. Wil Rose(meaning of UrgingPeopleToExce
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 23, 2013

#upte A good life is when you smile often, dream big, laugh a lot and realize how blessed you are for what you have.
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 23, 2013

#upte You deserve to feel good about yourself. You are a unique and valuable person. Live a happy life, be grateful and enjoy what you have.
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 23, 2013

“Be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.” — Maya Angelou
— Inspiring Quotes (@Deserve2Smile) June 21, 2013

#upte I'd rather be a failure in something that I love than a success in something that I hate. -George Burns
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 20, 2013

#upte Remember happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think. ~Dale Carnegie
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 20, 2013

#upte "Success is not to be pursued; it is to be attracted by the person you become." - Jim Rohn
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 20, 2013

When you truly believe in what you are doing, it shows. And it pays. Winners in life are those who are excited about where they're going.
— Motivational Quotes (@DavidRoads) June 20, 2013

#upte Nevr doubt tht a small group of thoughtful, cmitted ctzen cn chnge the world.Indeed it is the only thing tht ever has. Margret Mead
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 19, 2013

#upte "To be artist, and lover, that is the true goal, the only adequate objective, the divinely destined end for man." Bernard I Bell
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 19, 2013

Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures. ~Henry Ward Beecher
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 18, 2013

Pray, forgive yourself, appreciate others, listen to your gut, do things you enjoy, & remind yourself that we are all loved & connected.
— Fran Anderson (@FreenoteFran) June 18, 2013

#upte Live every day as if it’s your last, embracing each experience as if it’s your first. (unknown)
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 18, 2013

#upte "Logic will take you from A to B. Imagination will take you every where." Albert Einstein
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte Student says " I am very discouraged.Wha t should I do? Master says, " Encourage others." unknown
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte " You will not be punished FOR your anger. You will be punished BY your anger." (Budha)
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte " Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." ( Ben Franklin)
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte " Have no fear of perfection, you will never reach it. " Salvador Dali
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte FAIL: First Attempt In Learning. (unknown)
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte " Every child is an artist. The problem is staying an artist when you grow up. " Pablo Picasso
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte PROMISE YOURSELF: To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. ( C.D. Larson)
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte "Every new day is another chance to change your life." Anonymous-
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte "If you show people the problems and you show people the solutions they will be moved to act." (Bill Gates)
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." (Plato)
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte " Make each day as your masterpiece. " (unknown)
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte "Know yourself and you will win all battles." - Sun Tzu
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte " In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear for failure. " (Bill Cosby)
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte "I will not win immediately but definitely" ( Anonymous)
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte FEAR: Forget Everything And Run------OR---- ------FEAR: Face Everything And Rise.
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte "Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it." - Henry David Thoreau
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte When you truly believe in what you are doing, t shows& it pays.winners in life r those who r excited about where they'r going.unkown
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte "Your big opportunity may be right where you are standing right now." - Napoleon Hill
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte "Most people are stronger than they know, they just forget to believe it sometimes" Anonymous-
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte "HATE: It has caused a lot of problems in this world, but it has not solved one yet. " (Maya Angelou)"
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." - Anais Nin
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte "You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can change a life forever." - Zig Ziglar
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte "We only get what we believe that we deserve. Raise the bar, raise your standards and you will receive a better outcome." - Joel Brown
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte "Treat people like mirrors & watch how you reflect in their eyes. -Nnamdi G. Osuagwu"
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte "One important key to success is self-confidence . An important key to self-confidence is preparation. - Arthur Ashe"
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte "Change your thoughts and you change your world. -Norman Vincent Peale"
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte " If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely." Roald Dah"l
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

#upte "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give. - Winston Churchill"
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. " - Ralph Waldo Emerson#upte
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) June 17, 2013

Don't stress about being accepted. Be yourself and the right people will appreciate who you are.
— Appreciate Gratitude (@2thank) February 21, 2013

Don't grow only for yourself.If you have some worthwhile information, share it. By reaching others you will reach yourself. Rabbi N Weinberg
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) February 8, 2013

"stars went faded, soon I will repaint them as I find a brush that may follow my passion" (streetpainter)2007
— Sajjad Haider (@streetpainter) February 8, 2013

Supporting the UPTE through Visual Art: Pictorial Video by streetpainter

2013-07-17T13:27:00.000+05:00

Friends,

Please find here a collection of my photography between 2010-13.I dedicate this pictorial album to the affiliates of the campaign "Urging People To Excel". This time I am using visual art as a support for urging people to excel. Find the slideshow here;

This pictorial video is collection of my photographs taken between January 2010-June 2013 at various places in Pakistan. I am sharing it for the visual pleasures of my friends. I dedicate it to affiliates of my campaign for "Urging People To Excel" ‪#‎upte‬ .

The UPTE is a non-political and non-religious online activism plus e-volunteerism to motivate people to excel. This time I am using visual art as a support to add color in people's life.Donate ideas and encourage others as we all need hope,optimism and appreciation. You may find my artistic work here. www.facebook.com/SH.streetpainter You may follow or subscribe on cell (from twitter) to my motivational tweets here; www.twitter.com/@streetpainter (#upte) streetpainter, is my signature name for ventures into art. I adopted this nick name to pay tribute to a common creative man who is adding colors to the society.

Please be with me for Urging People To Excel. (Google it)

Looking forward

Sajjad Haider( also known as) -streetpainter-
Founder coach/ Mentor
Urging People To Excel
http://urgingpeopletoexcel.blogspot.com/ (Subscribe)

Art and Excellence: Collection of Paintings

2013-07-14T16:12:00.002+05:00

Greetings from the UPTE!

It pleases me to share a collection of beautiful paintings by various artists. I hope it will provide you with an aesthetic pleasure. This time I am using art as a support to promote our vision of urging people to excel. Please feel free to share it with your contacts.

Art and Excellence: Urging People To Excel from Sajjad Haider

Social Media for Civic Engagement by Sajjad Haider

2013-06-28T20:08:00.004+05:00

Dear friends,
Please find my presentation on the vision, history and success stories of the "Urging People To Excel". The second part of this presentation is about Use of Social Media for Civic Engagement and other online social mobilization. You may find some suggestion to use this powerful tool to share your voice in virtual world.
Thank you all friends who joined that session at the Geo-Physics Auditorium of QAU. Many thanks for my team for making this event successful. Round of applause for our worthy guest speaker from University of Nebraska, Omaha, USA.

Best regards
Sajjad Haider
Founder coach/ Mentor
Urging People To Excel!

Civic Engagement by students: Use of Social Media shared by Sajjad Haider from Sajjad Haider

Educational and Career Planning for University Graduates in Pakistan

2013-06-12T00:24:00.003+05:00

Dear excellence seekers,

Please find copy of the slide show that I presented somewhere in a session on " Educational and Career Planning for University Graduates in Pakistan." I hope you will find it informative. Please feel free to share it.
You may like to subscribe my slideshare channel for my uploads.

http://www.slideshare.net/sajjadhaider786

Happy learning and sharing!

Sajjad Haider

Educational and Career Planning for University Graduates in Pakistan, Sajjad Haider from Sajjad Haider

A.R.Rehman's Five Inspiring Thoughts

2013-03-23T03:30:00.003+05:00

Greetings from the 'Urging People To Excel"

A. R. Rehman, a very famous and creative music producer and a multi-talent individual was awarded with fourth honorary PhD degree in the field of music on May 2012. He shared FIVE valuable thoughts that are pretty inspiring for the excellence seekers. I hope thee will mentor the excellence seekers to find some inspiring ideas that may accelerate their speed and boost-up their self-esteem.

During his speech A. R. Rehman said,

There are many things that come to my mind and heart to share – everything matters but having engaged in a such a long term relationship with Miami University, I felt like sharing five interesting thoughts which came to me last night.

1) Learning through travel – Keep an open mind and be ready to receive things that come along the journey – So often, we have an opinion from someone of a place or a culture before heading to a destination – each one of us are made differently – sometimes there are so many hidden truths of a place that are never revealed to us till we experience it ourselves.

2) Never ever rush into judgment – especially about people – there is always another side of a story, a good side – we must always find ways to see the beauty and value of a place or a person or an institution or an art form; half the problems for each of us can be solved if people do not rush into judgment.

3) When there is a tough situation in your life, consider this idea – slow down your mind, detach yourself from the sadness and always be bold to walk the path – you will certainly find relief, solutions, breakthrough ideas, extraordinary rewards – but do not expect them soon – they will come to you at the right time because if the rewards come soon, you will not be able to handle it and could be a recipe for disaster

4) Be in touch with the poor – try to think of ways to make their lives better – think of how you can pull them up – there is a hidden virtue in doing this because time and time again, when society ignores the poor, they always perish eventually.

5) To live in the umbrella of truth and honesty is so simple and easy if you think about it – having a strong ambition sometimes comes in the way of the truth. To achieve a natural balance takes a lifetime but it is so worth it. In India, we say Satyameva Jayate, which means the truth, will always triumph and in fact, that was the name of my first song collaboration with Mick Jagger from our Band Superheavy.

Source: http://www.arrahman.com/news/news-219.html

Best wishes!

Sajjad Haider

On Ageing

2013-02-27T13:40:00.001+05:00

Ageing is a natural phenomenon. Like wise other stages in life it has its own challenges and blessings. I came across the newsletter of the HELPAGE International ( an NGO) , and found the following useful info-graphic data on Ageing in 21st Century. I hope you will find it informative and will play your role in helping the old people around you.

Source: HELPAGE INTERNATIONAL
http://www.helpage.org/resources/ageing-in-the-21st-century-a-celebration-and-a-challenge/ageing-in-the-21st-century-infographic/

Learning Resources on Writing Skills

2013-02-01T20:44:00.001+05:00

Dear excellence seekers

Following are a few websites where you can access a lot of resources that may help you to improve your writing skills in English.

I suggest you to subscribe

www.dailywritingtips.com

As you know writing requires a lot of ideas. This post may help you to find a few tips to conceive new ideas for writing.

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/how-to-generate-hundreds-of-writing-ideas

This post can help you ti understand a writing process.

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-writing-process

Find a guide on writing process from this website.

http://lewis.cpsb.org/faculty_pages/stacey.blanchard/THE%20FIVE%20STEPS%20OF%20THE%20WRITING%20PROCESS.htm

Also find a pdf file on writing process by the British Council's website. British Council's website has a lot of resources on improving English.

http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/milestones/academic-writing-process-and-product

http://writing.mit.edu/wcc/resources/writers/writingprocess

Finally keep on writing as it requires time and practice.