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About Author A former senator of Pakistan, Yussouf Shaheen received the Pride of Performance award in literature from the president of Pakistan in 1995.
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About Yussouf Shaheen

Yussouf Shaheen – highest civilian Award winner in Pakistan – Pride of Performance Award and Sitarae Imtiaz Award (Star of Excellence) in literature, Life Achievement Award from SANA, USA; former Senator of Pakistan; essentially a research scholar, author of over 16 Books in English, Urdu and Sindhi. His area of research encompasses history, religions, mythologies and languages of the world. The below mentioned six books written by him have been published in the United States, India and Pakistan:
Military Trial of Yussouf Shaheen
Trial of Yussouf Shaheen by Military Court during the Martial Law regime of General Ziaul Haq for writing against Stoning to Death and Amputation of hand and foot in Pakistan. Yussouf   Shaheen   was   the   first   journalist   and   writer   of   Pakistan   who   was   arrested   on   July   19,   1977   just   two   weeks   after   the military   take   over   in   Pakistan   on   July   5,   1977   headed   by   the   Chief   of   Army   Staff   General   Ziaul   Haq,   who   imposed   Martial   Law and   him   self   became   Martial   Law   Administrator.   Yussouf   Shaheen   was   tried   by   the   Military   Court   for   his   writing   against stoning to death for adultery and amputation of the hand and foot for robbery. To   legitimize   his   take   over,   General   Zia   on   July   13,   1977   moved   further   to   terrorize   the   whole   Pakistani   nation   by   imposing punishments of amputation and whipping was   arrested   on   July   19,   1977   who   had   demanded   that   the   hand   of   General   Zia   should   be   amputated   firstly   as   he   had   stolen people’s power from the first elected prime minister of Pakistan Zulifikar Ali Bhutto. These   were   the   days,   when   thousands   of   arrests   were   made   throughout   Pakistan   on   grounds   of   sedition   and   high   treason. P  u  b  l  i  c    flogging   of   political   prisoners   was   carried   out   by   brutal   wrestlers;   even   women   were   flogged.   As   a   result, there   was   a   general   chaos,   fear   and   frustration   all   over   Pakistan;   doctors   refused   to   cut   hand   or   foot of   the   victims.   Many   leading   politicians,   journalists   and   lawyers   vehemently   condemned   the   laws of   amputation,   whipping,   and   stoning   to   death.   In   the   meantime,   preparation   were   made   to   punish Yussouf   Shaheen   by   way   of   lashes   -   a   severe   punishment.   Before   flogging,   medical   check   up   of Yussouf    Shaheen    was    carried.    When    it    was    known    to    his    mother,    she    abruptly    fainted    and remained    in    coma    for    many    hours.    Surprisingly    it    was    on    the    same    day,    when    General    Zia suddenly    withdrew    punishment    of    Amputation    and    stoning    to    death;    subsequently    Yussouf Shaheen   was   released   after   a   great   mental   torture;   he   was   kept   in   C   Class   jail.   As   a   result,   no   case   of amputation or stoning to death was reported in Pakistan.

About the author by Ali Iqbal

      Yussouf   Shaheen   is   perhaps   the   most   eminent   Sindhi   poet   and   journalist   living   today.   He   has   also   served   as   a   senator.   Not   only this,   he   also   happens   to   be   the   only   writer   at   least   in   Pakistan,   who   has   written   more   then   six   full-length   books   featuring   the   main hurdles that have obstructed the creation of a violence-free world in which humanity would live in peace. He   wrote   the   first   book   in   the   series   under   the   title   of   “Muslimcracy”   in   Urdu   in   1957   when   he   was   only   18   years   old.   His   next   book, “Khuda,   Insan   Aur   Janvar”   was   written   in   Sindhi.   In   1970,   he   wrote   “An’al   Haq”   in   Urdu   the   launching   ceremony   of   which   was attended   among   others   by   Syed   Mohammad   Taqi,   Raees   Amrohvi,   Pir   Hismuddin   Rashdi   and   Shamsherul   Hydri,   none   of   whom   is alive today. Later came, his other book “Haq Maujud” (Truth Untold) which was in Sindhi and Urdu both. In   1986,   he   wrote   “World   Confederation   of   the   Peoples”   to   be   followed   by,   “The   World   of   Conquerors”,   Greek   Mythology   (in   Sindhi), “William   the   Bastard   and   His   Descendants”,   Rise   and   Fall   of   gods   –   In   Historical   Perspective,   Rise   and   Fall   of   Sanskrit   and   “Fall   of Native Languages of the Americas.” Most of these books have been published outside Pakistan. The   central   idea   and   the   common   thread   that   runs   through   all   these   books,   including   the   present   one   is   the   story   about   ‘man’s inhumanity    towards    man’    in    the    form    of    kingships    and    mercenary    armies    that    have    played    havoc    in    the    world    since    time immemorial. As   the   world   history   shows,   by   now   more   than   5,000   wars   have   been   fought   during   the   same   number   of   years   in   which   millions   and millions of people have been massacred. It is perhaps for this reason that Gibbon has called history, ‘a chronicle of crimes.’ Shaheen   in   all   of   his   books,   not   only   searches   out   these   crimes   but   he   also   points   an   accusing   finger   at   the   perpetrators   of   these crimes,   mentioning   their   names,   their   misdeeds,   and   even   their   genealogical   trees.   He   firmly   refutes   the   well-known   maxim,   ‘If   a man   kills   another   man   he   is   killer;   but   if   a   man   kills   a   million   people,   he   becomes   a   hero.’   He   says   without   munching   words   that these   so-called   conquerors,   who   setup   great   empires   with   the   help   of   their   hired   armed   men,   remain   killers   and   murderers   and should    never    be    considered    as    “heroes”    as    there    is    noting    “great”    about    them.    What    he    says    tantamount    to    say    that    these conquerors were, in fact, terrorists, most of whom now enjoy their eternal sleep under great mausoleums, especially built for them. A   historical   adage   says   that   woman,   wealth   and   land   have   remained   the   main   causes   for   which   men   have   killed   men.   However, most of the bloody wars were fought by kings and generals because of their hunger of land and wealth. The   writer   of   the   books   under   discussion   has   been   burning   midnight   oil   for   almost   fifty   years   studying   these   ferocious   wars   and   at the end of his journey has come to certain conclusions. He   firmly   believes   that   all   the   wars   fought   in   the   past   were   waged   only   for   acquisition   of   land   and   wealth   and   as   such   these   wars created    serious    problems    for    mankind.    These    problems    included    the    existing    borders    between    various    states,    religions    and languages   that   were   imposed   on   defeated   nations.   Every   new   conquest   created   new   borders   and   forced   upon   the   vanquished   and hence   “artificial”.   Under   the   circumstances,   how   any   war   can   be   described   as   a   “just”   war?   Rather   no   greater   injustice   could   ever   be imagined keeping in view the sufferings of the defeated nations. Even   todays’   so   called   ‘modern’   and   ‘democratic’   world   full   of   mini   dictators’   presents   a   strong   spectacle.   The   entire   humanity   still remains   divided   because   of   artificial   borders   imposed   by   various   conquerors   long   ago.   Out   of   nearly   10,000   existing   languages,   only seven   keep   on   flourishing   because   they   happen   to   be   the   languages   of   various   conquerors.   These   seven   languages   are   English, Spanish,   French,   Arabic,   Hindustani   (Hindi/Urdu)   and   Chinese.   On   the   religious   side,   Muslims   all   over   the   world   believes   in   One   God; Christians   have   faith   in   their   Trinity,   Hindus   believe   in   innumerable   gods.   Buddhists   have   their   own   Supreme   Being   who   forms   the major portion of world population today. Although   the   world   has   witnessed   thousands   of   wars   but   now   a   nuclear   war   could   prove   to   be   the   most   dangerous   as   there   is   every possibility   that   the   entire   mankind   can   be   annihilated   as   a   result   of   such   an   unprecedented   war.   United   States   has   already   used atom   bombs   against   Japan   in   Hiroshima   and   Nagasaki.   Moreover,   there   are   strong   grounds   to   believe   that   an   atomic   war   could   be triggered at any time due to a misunderstanding. So the writer in one of his books says:             “The   present   day   world   consists   of   roughly   198   countries   and   these   countries   have   come   into   being   as   a   result   of   disintegrating empires   and   powerful   dynasties   of   the   past.   Thus   almost   all   the   present   frontiers   stand   questionable.   It   is   the   call   of   hour   that   the people    should    be    allowed    to    exercise    their    right    to    self    determination    in    congenial    atmosphere    in    order    to    accomplish    an independent revision of the decisions imposed in the past.” - (The World of Conquerors). Essentially,   Shaheen’s   books   are   sort   of   Utopias   wherein   he   paints   a   world   without   kings   and   armies   and   without   its   thorny problems   which   plague   mankind.   Utopias   have   been   written   in   the   past   also.   Some   of   the   most   famous   include:   ‘The   Republic’ (Plato);   Thomas   Spence’s   ‘Spenconia’;   Edward   Bellamy’s   ‘Bostan   in   the   year   2000’;   H.G.   Well’s,   ‘A   Modern   Utopia,’   Aldous   Huxley’s   ‘The Brave New World’; James Hilton’s ‘Shangrilla’; B.F. Skinners’ ‘Walden Two’ and Ernest Callenbach’s ‘Ecotopia’. However,   the   major   problem   with   these   utopias   is   that   they   are   invariably   anti-reality   and   hardly   realizable.   It   is   quite   interesting   to know that even Plato could not put into practice his Utopia when offered a chance. Let Will Durant tell us what happened:             “In   the   years   387   BC   Plato   received   an   invitation   from   Dionysius,   ruler   of   the   then   flourishing   and   powerful   Syracuse,   capital   city of   Sicily,   to   come   and   turn   his   kingdom   into   Utopia,   and   the   philosopher,   thinking   like   Turgot   that   if   it   was   easier   to   educate   one man,   even   though   a   king   -   than   a   whole   people   consented.   But   when   Dionysius   found   that   the   plan   required   either   that   he   should become   a   philosopher   or   cease   to   be   a   king,   he   balked;   the   upshot   was   a   bitter   quarrel.   Story   has   it   that   Plato   was   sold   into   slavery,   to be rescued by his friend and pupil Anniceris.” - (Story of Philosophy, page 39). As,   the   above   story   demonstrate,   putting   a   utopia   in   practice   is   something   totally   different   from   visualizing   it   on   paper,   because   its implementation involves grave and intricate issues of war, violence, territory, language and even religion. Take   for   instance   the   problems   of   territory.   The   writer   we   are   discussing   does   not   believe   at   all   in   the   sanctity   of   territories   and   even consider   them   as   “artificial’   as   the   same   were   imposed   by   conquerors.   On   the   other   hand,   territory   has   been   defined   politically   as   ‘a portion of the earth and its atmosphere which is such that it may fall in the jurisdiction of a sovereign state.” War   has   been   defined   as   a   “forcible   connection   between   states   with   the   purpose   of   overpowering   each   other   by   armed   forces’,   and has   been   recognized   as   “the   oldest   institution’   in   the   world.   Hegel   defined   war   as   ‘eternal   and   moral’.   However,   Shaheen   altogether refuses to acknowledge war as an institution. But then it does not mean that he is the only one who is against war and armies. Carl   von   Ossietzky   who   was   awarded   Nobel   Prize   in   1935   had   established   a   “No   War   Society’   and   planned   a   new   holiday   to   be   called, “Anti-War   Day’.   He   has   said:   All   soldiers   were   murderers   and   there   is   nothing   ‘heroic’   about   war.   Similarly,   the   British   writer,   Dr Martin   Bax   (1966)   said   that   ‘we   need   to   stop   treating   soldiers   and   ex-soldiers   as   heroes.   Medals   should   be   given   for   cowardice   in   the field, not valor.’ This   discussion   about   war   may   remind   the   reader   about   the   famous   letter   Albert   Einstein   wrote   to   Freud,   seeking   a   way   of   delivering mankind   from   the   menace   of   war.   However,   Freud’s   reply   was   almost   curt,   to   say   the   least.   Freud   said   that   the   letter   had   taken   him by   surprise   by   posing   such   a   question   and   he   posed   a   counter-question   to   Einstein:   ‘how   long   shall   we   have   to   wait   before   the   rest of mankind become pacifists too? “The gist of letter was that war is something endemic to human nature.” Perhaps   this   is   the   reason   that   while   so   much   has   been   written   about   various   wars   that   were   fought   throughout   ages,   there   are   only few   writings   to   be   found   on   the   topic   of   abolition   of   war   itself.   It   is   indeed   quite   a   modern   topic   and   of   interest   only   to   a   small intellectual   minority.   However,   Bertrand   Russell   seems   to   be   the   only   major   thinker   who   has   written   extensively,   apart   from   two   full- length books on the topic. They are, ‘Common Sense and Nuclear Warfare’ and “Has Man a Future? However,   let   us   not   be   pessimistic   as   all   this   does   not   mean   that   pacifists/peace   lovers   have   lost   their   case.   Their   teachings continue   to   inspire   and   influence   mankind.   Buddha   and   the   Egyptian   pharaoh   Akhenaton   were   the   earliest   pacifists.   But   who   can ever forget the sweet Jesus who did not believe in violence, even for a noble cause and said:     “Put up thy Sword. For they that live by the sword shall die by the sword.” - (The New Testament). Leo Tolstoy, the Russian aristocratic landlord who wrote world-famous novel, War and Peace’ also happens to be a great pacifist. Briefly   said,   Shaheen   has   adopted   quite   a   new   approach   towards   understanding   the   historical   crimes   under   the   garb   of   ‘conquests’ by   keeping   his   writings   very   simple   and   straight.   He   is   pacifist   to   the   core   and   has   a   great   regard   for   Buddha.   For   half   of   his   life,   he was a vegetarian. Moreover,   fantasizing   about   living   in   a   peaceful   world   is   an   innocent   activity   and   millions   and   millions   of   followers   of   various religions   have   nourished   such   ideas   for   the   past   over   two   thousand   years.   They   still   wait   for   a   Messiah   who   will   descend   from   the Above   and   establish   a   Kingdom   of   God   on   the   Earth.   Shaheen   also   seems   to   have   his   own   ideas   about   creating   a   borderless   world. Let us all wish him god speed in achieving his utopian expectations.

Area of research

BORDERS Throughout the ages, millions of men, women and children are killed and massacred in the name of ‘disputed borders’ created artificially time and again by the conquerors. To save the humanity and stop the massacres over the shifting borders, Yussouf Shaheen is the first author who has debated thoroughly on the subject entitled: Artificial Borders of the World. CONQUEST Conquest, throughout the ages is considered as the most ‘sacred job’ for the rulers, kings, emperors, invaders known as conquerors. We find most history books with lengthy chapters written in golden words in praise of such aggressors. During the process of such conquests, millions of people were massacred, cities and towns were destroyed and house wives and young girls were abused and raped. Subsequently great ‘empires’ were built where the defeated nations were kept in chains and their wealth and resources were looted for centuries together. Most of the books of Yussouf Shaheen revolve around such historic tragedies. FALL OF LANGUAGES Today, roughly 6,909 languages are spoken all over the globe, out of them only seven (7) languages which were imposed by the conquerors enjoy the opportunities and space to flourish, such as the Mandarin Chinese, English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Russian and Portuguese. If we revert back to the ancient world, we find the same number - roughly 7,000 spoken by the entire world. Out of these again only seven (7) languages of the conquero rs had emerged as the leading and the most dominating languages in the ancient world, such as: Sumerian, Akkadian, Phoenician, Aramaic, Sanskrit, Greek and Latin. Recently the UNESCO has predicted that half of the world's present languages - more than 3,000 would disappear by the end of this century. Yussouf Shaheen in his two books (Rise and Fall of Sanskrit and Fall of Native Languages of the Americas) debates, “until and unless the dirty game of ‘conquest’ is not brought to an end, the entire world will continue to suffer the decimation of languages on much larger scale. Yussouf Shaheen, in his book ‘Rise and Fall of gods’ has discussed all the gods and goddesses worshiped by our forefathers. He has also debated massacres of millions of people carried during the ‘conversion process’ from one faith to another. He justifies Mythologies as integral part of history as our forefathers virtually worshiped different gods and goddesses. APPREHENSIONS OF THE THIRD WORLD WAR Today, around 50,000 Nuclear weapons are looming over the heads of the entire humanity. Until this day, major parts of the world are still under the control of the conquerors. To defend such forcibly occupied territories, the conquerors have deployed weapons of mass destruction and can kill the entire humanity. Further more, those newly liberated states which emerged during the recent past, inherited extra large territories from the falling empires. That had again accelerated border disputes all over the world. This perilous border situation has forced the rulers for the large scale preparations aiming at the Third World War. The people of the world have already suffered enormously due to the two World Wars fought during the twentieth century. We lost over 100 million lives and a similar number was severely wounded and disabled; hundreds of thousands of women and young girls were kidnapped and raped. Innumerable women committed suicides. Before we are annihilated by the weapons of mass destruction, they must be disbanded. Let us stop culture of hate on religious differences; let us declare conquests and invasions as major offences and heinous crimes. And the conquerors should be compelled to liberate the enslaved nations without further delay; let us stop killings and massacres on forced conversion of faiths and stop the fall of the mother tongues. This is to inform your kind self that the undersigned has officially been nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature by the government of Pakistan; also endorsed by around 20 Buddhist professors in India and many others around the world. Your co- operation and assistance would be highly appreciated and helpful in the matter. We submit here under the nomination mail that can be filled in and mailed to the Norwegian Nobel Committee by the professors of your esteemed association. Sorry, we are short of time as the last date for nomination is 31st January 2017.

Area of research

Youssuf Shaheen is perhaps the most eminent Sindhi poet and journalist living today. He has also served as a senator. Not only this, he also happens to be the only writer, at least in Pakistan who has written more than six full length looks featuring the main hurdles obstructing the creation of a bordersless and violence free world in which humanity could live in peace. Shaheen has been reading books on history for many years and during these years he has come to certain conclusions of his own. One of these being the role of traditional armies throughout the ages and their unquestioning obedience to orders. By now, more than 5000 wars have been fought during the same number of years in which millions and millions of people have been killed. But to what an end? Nothing else than to capture other’s territory and some times to protect one’s own. Mind you that these terrible wars were waged mainly by various conquerors who mercilessly used their hired armed men to achieve their nefarious ends. The presently day world consist of roughly 198 countries that have been formed and founded by various kings and conquerors with the help of their armed men and that is why Shaheen calls the present geographical borders ‘artificial’ . During these wars, armed men not only killed each other, cultures and languages were also destroyed. Shaheen in his books mourn all these lost languages and cultures. Shaheen wrote his first book in the series under the little of, ‘Khuda. Insan Aur Janver’ which was in Urdu in 1970 when he was 18 years old. In 1975 he wrote ‘Anal Haq’ and “Haq Mujud”. In 1986, he wrote, ‘World Confederation of Peoples’ to be followed by the World of Conquerors, Greek Mythology (in Sindhi). “ William the Bastard and his Descendants”, Rise and Fall of gods, “Rise and Fall of Sanskrit, “Fall of native languages of the Americas, ‘Slave nations under British Monarchs’, and, ‘Artificial Borders of the World, throughout ages down to the Present world’. The central Idea and the common thread running through all these books is the grim story of ‘man’s inhumanity towards man’ in the form of mercenary armies. To say the least, Shaheen has discarded all histories written in the past on the plea that they are nothing but ‘a bundle of lies’, and that is why they have failed to teach any lesson to any one and why wars haven’t stopped. Durant somewhere says: it is war that makes the chief, the king and the state just as these that make war’, In fact, war was invented by kings to carry on their dirty job of conquests which have played havoc since time immemorial. The advocacy of abolition of armies is not a new idea as the prophet of internationalism was born some 1358 years before the Christ. He was pharaoh Ikhnaton who encouraged people ‘to see the truth’ and brought all militaristic activities to an end in ancient Egypt. Let me add here, Shaheen dedicated his book, The World of Conquers’ to that great Pharaoh. Similarly, the Socrates of the present age’ as Bertrand Russell in known, created history when have single handedly achieved, now known famously as Unarmed Victory’ during the Cuban blockade by the Unted States of America. Cast Ossietzky a journalist by profession, was awarded noble prize in 1935, for among other things, establishing a ‘ No-war Society’. Shaheen is also the traveler of the same path as he has made it a mission of his life to get all wars abolished forever. Shaheen seems to be a die-hard optimist who believes that all that is needed to abolish in war is a change of heart, specially on the part of those who rule the world.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

   Bertrand   Russell   in   the   Prologue   of   his   classic   autobiography   said,   “Three   passions   simple   but   overwhelmingly   strong,   have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind.” One   can   safely   say   that   three   passions   have   also   governed   the   life   of   Yussouf   Shaheen   and   these   are,   the   longing   for   world   peace, the   search   for   the   lost   languages   and   an   unbearable   hatred   for   violence   -the   violence   of   conquerors   in   the   form   of   so-called ‘conquests’   throughout   the   ages.   Since   the   time   he   was   almost   15   years   of   age,   he   began   going   through   big   tomes   written   mainly   on history,   mythology,   religion   and   languages   in   order   to   find   out   what   has   been   happening   all   over   the   world   since   times   immemorial. Although   he   is   professionally   a   journalist   and   a   poet,   he   has   by   now   penned   more   than   one   and   half   dozen   books   in   prose containing his ideas on the above-mentioned subjects. In   1986   he   wrote,   “World   Confederation   of   the   Peoples”   to   be   followed   by   The   World   of   Conquerors,   Greek   Mythology   (in   Sindhi), William   the   Bastard   and   his   Descendants,   The   Rise   and   Fall   of   Gods,   Rise   and   Fall   of   Sanskrit,   Fall   of   Native   Languages   of   the Americas   and   “Artificial   Borders   of   the   World   throughout   the   Ages.   Most   of   these   books   are   written   in   English   and   printed   outside Pakistan. On   the   whole,   ‘the   other   side   of   history’   presented   by   him   reads   like   an   endless   story   of   force   and   fraud   which   are   the   integral elements of armed invasions the name of conquests. These books say, what they say, without munching words. Shaheen   seems   to   be   heavily   influenced   by   the   language   and   the   style   of   ancient   Sufis   of   Sindh,   almost   simplistic   and   down   to earth.   However,   the   central   idea   that   runs   through   all   these   looks   is   the   story   of   ‘man’s   inhumanity   towards   man,’   mostly   in   the   garb of kingship and mercenary armies. Shaheen,   the   poet   and   journalist   is   also   a   retired   Senator   of   Pakistan.   Not   only   this,   he   also   happens   to   he   the   only   person   at   least   in Pakistan, who has produced more than sixteen full length books on the topics of war, peace and languages. As   the   world   history   shows,   by   now   more   than   5000   wars   have   been   fought   during   the   same   number   of   years   in   which   millions   and millions of people were murdered in order to protect or expand the national borders all over the world. To   say   the   least,   Shaheen   discards   all   the   histories   written   in   the   part   on   the   plea   that   they   are   nothing   but   a   bundle   of   lies   and that’s why people have failed to learn any lesson and why wars haven’t stopped. Nor   only   this,   but   this   is   the   precise   reason   why   armed   men   continue   to   play   havoc   with   the   world   despite   the   fact   that   Globalism   is spreading fast and people all over the world are coming nearer to one another very speedily. The   advocacy   for   the   abolition   of   armies   is   not   a   new   idea   as   the   prophet   of   internationalism   was   born   some   1358   years   before   the Christ.   He   was   Pharaoh   Ikhnaton   who   encouraged   people,   “to   see   the   truth”   and   put   to   end   all   militaristic   activities   in   ancient   Egypt. Let   me   add   here   that   Shaheen   dedicated   his   book   “The   World   of   Conquerors”   to   Ikhnaton.   Similarly,   the   Socrates   of   the   present   age, as   Bertrand   Russell   is   known,   also   created   history   when   he   on   his   own   achieved,   now   known   famously   as   the   ‘Unarmed   Victory’ during the Cuban blockade by the United States. On   the   basis   of   his   uninterrupted   studies   in   history,   Shaheen   has   reached   a   conclusion   of   his   own   which   tells   him   unequivocally that   armies   have   played   the   same   role   throughout   the   ages   and   that   is   ‘carrying   out   the   orders   of   their   masters’.   Because   of   this, Shaheen   seems   to   be   unique   in   that   direction,   in   the   sense   that   he   has   demanded   abolition   of   all   these   man-imposed   geographical borders all over the world if any meaningful and permanent peace was to be achieved. For   Shaheen   there   is   no   such   thing   as   a   ‘just’   war.   He   believes   that   wars   are   fought   to   destroy   opponents   and   that   is   all.   Even   today, the world is governed mostly by dictators who go to wars without seeking any one’s permission. Moreover   for   him,   the   so-called   borders   are   hardly   sacred.   They   are   absolutely   artificial   in   the   sense   that   they   are   the   result   of   force employed by conquerors and are not based on the free-will of masses. Carlvon   Ossietzky,   a   journalist   by   profession,   was   awarded   Nobel   Prize   in   1935   for,   among   other   things   -   establishing   a   “No   War Society.”   Shaheen   is   the   traveler   of   the   same   path   as   he   has   made   it   a   mission   of   his   life   to   establish   a   ‘no   war   society’   before   it   is too late. About the author Youssuf   Shaheen   is   perhaps   the   most   eminent   Sindhi   poet   and   journalist   living   today.   He   has   also   served   as   a   senator.   Not   only this,   he   also   happens   to   be   the   only   writer,   at   least   in   Pakistan   who   has   written   more   than   six   full   length   looks   featuring   the   main hurdles obstructing the creation of a bordersless and violence free world in which humanity could live in peace. Shaheen   has   been   reading   books   on   history   for   many   years   and   during   these   years   he   has   come   to   certain   conclusions   of   his   own. One   of   these   being   the   role   of   traditional   armies   throughout   the   ages   and   their   unquestioning   obedience   to   orders.   By   now,   more than   5000   wars   have   been   fought   during   the   same   number   of   years   in   which   millions   and   millions   of   people   have   been   killed.   But   to what an end? Nothing else than to capture other’s territory and some times to protect one’s own. Mind   you   that   these   terrible   wars   were   waged   mainly   by   various   conquerors   who   mercilessly   used   their   hired   armed   men   to   achieve their nefarious ends. The   presently   day   world   consist   of   roughly   198   countries   that   have   been   formed   and   founded   by   various   kings   and   conquerors   with the   help   of   their   armed   men   and   that   is   why   Shaheen   calls   the   present   geographical   borders   ‘artificial’   .   During   these   wars,   armed men   not   only   killed   each   other,   cultures   and   languages   were   also   destroyed.   Shaheen   in   his   books   mourn   all   these   lost   languages and cultures. Shaheen   wrote   his   first   book   in   the   series   under   the   little   of,   ‘Khuda.   Insan   Aur   Janver’   which   was   in   Urdu   in   1970   when   he   was   18 years   old.   In   1975   he   wrote   ‘Anal   Haq’   and   “Haq   Mujud”.   In   1986,   he   wrote,   ‘World   Confederation   of   Peoples’   to   be   followed   by   the World   of   Conquerors,   Greek   Mythology   (in   Sindhi).   “   William   the   Bastard   and   his   Descendants”,   Rise   and   Fall   of   gods,   “Rise   and   Fall   of Sanskrit,   “Fall   of   native   languages   of   the   Americas,   ‘Slave   nations   under   British   Monarchs’,   and,   ‘Artificial   Borders   of   the   World, throughout ages down to the Present world’. The   central   Idea   and   the   common   thread   running   through   all   these   books   is   the   grim   story   of   ‘man’s   inhumanity   towards   man’   in the   form   of   mercenary   armies.   To   say   the   least,   Shaheen   has   discarded   all   histories   written   in   the   past   on   the   plea   that   they   are nothing but ‘a bundle of lies’, and that is why they have failed to teach any lesson to any one and why wars haven’t stopped. Durant   somewhere   says:   it   is   war   that   makes   the   chief,   the   king   and   the   state   just   as   these   that   make   war’,   In   fact,   war   was   invented by kings to carry on their dirty job of conquests which have played havoc since time immemorial. The   advocacy   of   abolition   of   armies   is   not   a   new   idea   as   the   prophet   of   internationalism   was   born   some   1358   years   before   the   Christ. He   was   pharaoh   Ikhnaton   who   encouraged   people   ‘to   see   the   truth’   and   brought   all   militaristic   activities   to   an   end   in   ancient   Egypt. Let me add here, Shaheen dedicated his book, The World of Conquers’ to that great Pharaoh. Similarly,   the   Socrates   of   the   present   age’   as   Bertrand   Russell   in   known,   created   history   when   have   single   handedly   achieved,   now known famously as Unarmed Victory’ during the Cuban blockade by the Unted States of America. Cast   Ossietzky   a   journalist   by   profession,   was   awarded   noble   prize   in   1935,   for   among   other   things,   establishing   a   ‘   No-war   Society’. Shaheen is also the traveler of the same path as he has made it a mission of his life to get all wars abolished forever. Shaheen   seems   to   be   a   die-hard   optimist   who   believes   that   all   that   is   needed   to   abolish   in   war   is   a   change   of   heart,   specially   on   the part of those who rule the world.
ABOUT YUSSOUF SHAHEEN
Yussouf Shaheen
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About Yussouf

Shaheen

Yussouf Shaheen – highest civilian Award winner in Pakistan – Pride of Performance Award and Sitarae Imtiaz Award (Star of Excellence) in literature, Life Achievement Award from SANA, USA; former Senator of Pakistan; essentially a research scholar, author of over 16 Books in English, Urdu and Sindhi. His area of research encompasses history, religions, mythologies and languages of the world. The below mentioned six books written by him have been published in the United States, India and Pakistan:

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HEADING TEXT
ABOUT YUSSOUF SHAHEEN
Military Trial of Yussouf Shaheen
Trial of Yussouf Shaheen by Military Court during the Martial Law regime of General Ziaul Haq for writing against Stoning to Death and Amputation of hand and foot in Pakistan. Yussouf       Shaheen       was       the       first journalist   and   writer   of   Pakistan   who was   arrested   on   July   19,   1977   just   two weeks   after   the   military   take   over   in Pakistan   on   July   5,   1977   headed   by   the Chief   of   Army   Staff   General   Ziaul   Haq, who   imposed   Martial   Law   and   him   self became     Martial     Law     Administrator. Yussouf    Shaheen    was    tried    by    the Military   Court   for   his   writing   against stoning     to     death     for     adultery     and amputation   of   the   hand   and   foot   for robbery. To   legitimize   his   take   over,   General   Zia on    July    13,    1977    moved    further    to terrorize   the   whole   Pakistani   nation   by imposing   punishments   of   amputation and whipping was   arrested   on   July   19,   1977   who   had demanded    that    the    hand    of    General Zia   should   be   amputated   firstly   as   he had    stolen    people’s    power    from    the first       elected       prime       minister       of Pakistan Zulifikar Ali Bhutto. These   were   the   days,   when   thousands of     arrests     were     made     throughout Pakistan   on   grounds   of   sedition   and high      treason.      Public      flogging      of political   prisoners   was   carried   out   by brutal    wrestlers;    even    women    were flogged.     As     a     result,     there     was     a general   chaos,   fear   and   frustration   all over   Pakistan;   doctors   refused   to   cut hand    or    foot    of    the    victims.    Many leading     politicians,     journalists     and lawyers    vehemently    condemned    the laws     of     amputation,     whipping,     and stoning    to    death.    In    the    meantime, preparation     were     made     to     punish Yussouf   Shaheen   by   way   of   lashes   -   a severe    punishment.    Before    flogging, medical   check   up   of   Yussouf   Shaheen was   carried.   When   it   was   known   to   his mother,     she     abruptly     fainted     and remained    in    coma    for    many    hours. Surprisingly   it   was   on   the   same   day, when   General   Zia   suddenly   withdrew punishment       of       Amputation       and stoning       to       death;       subsequently Yussouf   Shaheen   was   released   after   a great   mental   torture;   he   was   kept   in   C Class    jail.    As    a    result,    no    case    of amputation    or    stoning    to    death    was reported in Pakistan.

About the author

by Ali Iqbal

        Yussouf    Shaheen    is    perhaps    the    most eminent   Sindhi   poet   and   journalist   living today.   He   has   also   served   as   a   senator.   Not only   this,   he   also   happens   to   be   the   only writer   at   least   in   Pakistan,   who   has   written more   then   six   full-length   books   featuring the   main   hurdles   that   have   obstructed   the creation   of   a   violence-free   world   in   which humanity would live in peace. He   wrote   the   first   book   in   the   series   under the   title   of   “Muslimcracy”   in   Urdu   in   1957 when   he   was   only   18   years   old.   His   next book,     “Khuda,     Insan     Aur     Janvar”     was written   in   Sindhi.   In   1970,   he   wrote   “An’al Haq”   in   Urdu   the   launching   ceremony   of which   was   attended   among   others   by   Syed Mohammad      Taqi,      Raees      Amrohvi,      Pir Hismuddin   Rashdi   and   Shamsherul   Hydri, none   of   whom   is   alive   today.   Later   came, his   other   book   “Haq   Maujud”   (Truth   Untold) which was in Sindhi and Urdu both. In   1986,   he   wrote   “World   Confederation   of the   Peoples”   to   be   followed   by,   “The   World of      Conquerors”,      Greek      Mythology      (in Sindhi),     “William     the     Bastard     and     His Descendants”,   Rise   and   Fall   of   gods   –   In Historical     Perspective,     Rise     and     Fall     of Sanskrit   and   “Fall   of   Native   Languages   of the   Americas.”   Most   of   these   books   have been published outside Pakistan. The   central   idea   and   the   common   thread that      runs      through      all      these      books, including    the    present    one    is    the    story about   ‘man’s   inhumanity   towards   man’   in the     form     of     kingships     and     mercenary armies   that   have   played   havoc   in   the   world since time immemorial. As   the   world   history   shows,   by   now   more than   5,000   wars   have   been   fought   during the     same     number     of     years     in     which millions   and   millions   of   people   have   been massacred.    It    is    perhaps    for    this    reason that   Gibbon   has   called   history,   ‘a   chronicle of crimes.’ Shaheen    in    all    of    his    books,    not    only searches    out    these    crimes    but    he    also points       an       accusing       finger       at       the perpetrators    of    these    crimes,    mentioning their    names,    their    misdeeds,    and    even their   genealogical   trees.   He   firmly   refutes the    well-known    maxim,    ‘If    a    man    kills another   man   he   is   killer;   but   if   a   man   kills a   million   people,   he   becomes   a   hero.’   He says   without   munching   words   that   these so-called     conquerors,     who     setup     great empires   with   the   help   of   their   hired   armed men,    remain    killers    and    murderers    and should   never   be   considered   as   “heroes”   as there   is   noting   “great”   about   them.   What   he says      tantamount      to      say      that      these conquerors   were,   in   fact,   terrorists,   most   of whom   now   enjoy   their   eternal   sleep   under great     mausoleums,     especially     built     for them. A   historical   adage   says   that   woman,   wealth and   land   have   remained   the   main   causes for   which   men   have   killed   men.   However, most    of    the    bloody    wars    were    fought    by kings     and     generals     because     of     their hunger of land and wealth. The   writer   of   the   books   under   discussion has   been   burning   midnight   oil   for   almost fifty    years    studying    these    ferocious    wars and   at   the   end   of   his   journey   has   come   to certain conclusions. He   firmly   believes   that   all   the   wars   fought in   the   past   were   waged   only   for   acquisition of   land   and   wealth   and   as   such   these   wars created     serious     problems     for     mankind. These     problems     included     the     existing borders    between    various    states,    religions and     languages     that     were     imposed     on defeated     nations.     Every     new     conquest created   new   borders   and   forced   upon   the vanquished    and    hence    “artificial”.    Under the    circumstances,    how    any    war    can    be described     as     a     “just”     war?     Rather     no greater    injustice    could    ever    be    imagined keeping     in     view     the     sufferings     of     the defeated nations. Even     todays’     so     called     ‘modern’     and ‘democratic’    world    full    of    mini    dictators’ presents    a    strong    spectacle.    The    entire humanity   still   remains   divided   because   of artificial      borders      imposed      by      various conquerors   long   ago.   Out   of   nearly   10,000 existing    languages,    only    seven    keep    on flourishing   because   they   happen   to   be   the languages    of    various    conquerors.    These seven     languages     are     English,     Spanish, French,     Arabic,     Hindustani     (Hindi/Urdu) and      Chinese.      On      the      religious      side, Muslims   all   over   the   world   believes   in   One God;   Christians   have   faith   in   their   Trinity, Hindus      believe      in      innumerable      gods. Buddhists   have   their   own   Supreme   Being who    forms    the    major    portion    of    world population today. Although       the       world       has       witnessed thousands   of   wars   but   now   a   nuclear   war could   prove   to   be   the   most   dangerous   as there    is    every    possibility    that    the    entire mankind   can   be   annihilated   as   a   result   of such   an   unprecedented   war.   United   States has    already    used    atom    bombs    against Japan       in       Hiroshima       and       Nagasaki. Moreover,     there     are     strong     grounds     to believe     that     an     atomic     war     could     be triggered       at       any       time       due       to       a misunderstanding.   So   the   writer   in   one   of his books says:                 “The    present    day    world    consists    of roughly   198   countries   and   these   countries have     come     into     being     as     a     result     of disintegrating       empires       and       powerful dynasties   of   the   past.   Thus   almost   all   the present   frontiers   stand   questionable.   It   is the   call   of   hour   that   the   people   should   be allowed     to     exercise     their     right     to     self determination   in   congenial   atmosphere   in order      to      accomplish      an      independent revision    of    the    decisions    imposed    in    the past.” - (The World of Conquerors). Essentially,    Shaheen’s    books    are    sort    of Utopias   wherein   he   paints   a   world   without kings    and    armies    and    without    its    thorny problems   which   plague   mankind.   Utopias have   been   written   in   the   past   also.   Some   of the    most    famous    include:    ‘The    Republic’ (Plato);      Thomas      Spence’s      ‘Spenconia’; Edward   Bellamy’s   ‘Bostan   in   the   year   2000’; H.G.     Well’s,     ‘A     Modern     Utopia,’     Aldous Huxley’s    ‘The    Brave    New    World’;    James Hilton’s   ‘Shangrilla’;   B.F.   Skinners’   ‘Walden Two’ and Ernest Callenbach’s ‘Ecotopia’. However,    the    major    problem    with    these utopias    is    that    they    are    invariably    anti- reality    and    hardly    realizable.    It    is    quite interesting   to   know   that   even   Plato   could not    put    into    practice    his    Utopia    when offered    a    chance.    Let    Will    Durant    tell    us what happened:             “In   the   years   387   BC   Plato   received   an invitation   from   Dionysius,   ruler   of   the   then flourishing   and   powerful   Syracuse,   capital city   of   Sicily,   to   come   and   turn   his   kingdom into   Utopia,   and   the   philosopher,   thinking like   Turgot   that   if   it   was   easier   to   educate one    man,    even    though    a    king    -    than    a whole       people       consented.       But       when Dionysius    found    that    the    plan    required either       that       he       should       become       a philosopher    or    cease    to    be    a    king,    he balked;    the    upshot    was    a    bitter    quarrel. Story   has   it   that   Plato   was   sold   into   slavery, to    be    rescued    by    his    friend    and    pupil Anniceris.” - (Story of Philosophy, page 39). As,   the   above   story   demonstrate,   putting   a utopia    in    practice    is    something    totally different     from     visualizing     it     on     paper, because   its   implementation   involves   grave and     intricate     issues     of     war,     violence, territory, language and even religion. Take   for   instance   the   problems   of   territory. The    writer    we    are    discussing    does    not believe   at   all   in   the   sanctity   of   territories and   even   consider   them   as   “artificial’   as the   same   were   imposed   by   conquerors.   On the   other   hand,   territory   has   been   defined politically   as   ‘a   portion   of   the   earth   and   its atmosphere   which   is   such   that   it   may   fall in the jurisdiction of a sovereign state.” War     has     been     defined     as     a     “forcible connection      between      states      with      the purpose    of    overpowering    each    other    by armed   forces’,   and   has   been   recognized   as “the   oldest   institution’   in   the   world.   Hegel defined      war      as      ‘eternal      and      moral’. However,    Shaheen    altogether    refuses    to acknowledge    war    as    an    institution.    But then   it   does   not   mean   that   he   is   the   only one who is against war and armies. Carl   von   Ossietzky   who   was   awarded   Nobel Prize    in    1935    had    established    a    “No    War Society’   and   planned   a   new   holiday   to   be called,    “Anti-War    Day’.    He    has    said:    All soldiers     were     murderers     and     there     is nothing    ‘heroic’    about    war.    Similarly,    the British   writer,   Dr   Martin   Bax   (1966)   said   that ‘we   need   to   stop   treating   soldiers   and   ex- soldiers   as   heroes.   Medals   should   be   given for cowardice in the field, not valor.’ This   discussion   about   war   may   remind   the reader     about     the     famous     letter     Albert Einstein   wrote   to   Freud,   seeking   a   way   of delivering    mankind    from    the    menace    of war.    However,    Freud’s    reply    was    almost curt,   to   say   the   least.   Freud   said   that   the letter   had   taken   him   by   surprise   by   posing such   a   question   and   he   posed   a   counter- question    to    Einstein:    ‘how    long    shall    we have    to    wait    before    the    rest    of    mankind become    pacifists    too?    “The    gist    of    letter was    that    war    is    something    endemic    to human nature.” Perhaps    this    is    the    reason    that    while    so much   has   been   written   about   various   wars that    were    fought    throughout    ages,    there are   only   few   writings   to   be   found   on   the topic   of   abolition   of   war   itself.   It   is   indeed quite   a   modern   topic   and   of   interest   only   to a     small     intellectual     minority.     However, Bertrand    Russell    seems    to    be    the    only major   thinker   who   has   written   extensively, apart    from    two    full-length    books    on    the topic.     They     are,     ‘Common     Sense     and Nuclear Warfare’ and “Has Man a Future? However,   let   us   not   be   pessimistic   as   all this    does    not    mean    that    pacifists/peace lovers   have   lost   their   case.   Their   teachings continue       to       inspire       and       influence mankind.      Buddha      and      the      Egyptian pharaoh      Akhenaton      were      the      earliest pacifists.   But   who   can   ever   forget   the   sweet Jesus   who   did   not   believe   in   violence,   even for a noble cause and said:             “Put   up   thy   Sword.   For   they   that   live   by the   sword   shall   die   by   the   sword.”   -   (The New Testament). Leo      Tolstoy,      the      Russian      aristocratic landlord    who    wrote    world-famous    novel, War   and   Peace’   also   happens   to   be   a   great pacifist. Briefly   said,   Shaheen   has   adopted   quite   a new   approach   towards   understanding   the historical      crimes      under      the      garb      of ‘conquests’    by    keeping    his    writings    very simple   and   straight.   He   is   pacifist   to   the core   and   has   a   great   regard   for   Buddha.   For half of his life, he was a vegetarian. Moreover,    fantasizing    about    living    in    a peaceful   world   is   an   innocent   activity   and millions     and     millions     of     followers     of various     religions     have     nourished     such ideas   for   the   past   over   two   thousand   years. They    still    wait    for    a    Messiah    who    will descend    from    the    Above    and    establish    a Kingdom   of   God   on   the   Earth.   Shaheen   also seems     to     have     his     own     ideas     about creating   a   borderless   world.   Let   us   all   wish him    god    speed    in    achieving    his    utopian expectations.

Area of research

BORDERS Throughout the ages, millions of men, women and children are killed and massacred in the name of ‘disputed borders’ created artificially time and again by the conquerors. To save the humanity and stop the massacres over the shifting borders, Yussouf Shaheen is the first author who has debated thoroughly on the subject entitled: Artificial Borders of the World. CONQUEST Conquest, throughout the ages is considered as the most ‘sacred job’ for the rulers, kings, emperors, invaders known as conquerors. We find most history books with lengthy chapters written in golden words in praise of such aggressors. During the process of such conquests, millions of people were massacred, cities and towns were destroyed and house wives and young girls were abused and raped. Subsequently great ‘empires’ were built where the defeated nations were kept in chains and their wealth and resources were looted for centuries together. Most of the books of Yussouf Shaheen revolve around such historic tragedies. FALL OF LANGUAGES Today, roughly 6,909 languages are spoken all over the globe, out of them only seven (7) languages which were imposed by the conquerors enjoy the opportunities and space to flourish, such as the Mandarin Chinese, English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Russian and Portuguese. If we revert back to the ancient world, we find the same number - roughly 7,000 spoken by the entire world. Out of these again only seven (7) languages of the conquero rs had emerged as the leading and the most dominating languages in the ancient world, such as: Sumerian, Akkadian, Phoenician, Aramaic, Sanskrit, Greek and Latin. Recently the UNESCO has predicted that half of the world's present languages - more than 3,000 would disappear by the end of this century. Yussouf Shaheen in his two books (Rise and Fall of Sanskrit and Fall of Native Languages of the Americas) debates, “until and unless the dirty game of ‘conquest’ is not brought to an end, the entire world will continue to suffer the decimation of languages on much larger scale. Yussouf Shaheen, in his book ‘Rise and Fall of gods’ has discussed all the gods and goddesses worshiped by our forefathers. He has also debated massacres of millions of people carried during the ‘conversion process’ from one faith to another. He justifies Mythologies as integral part of history as our forefathers virtually worshiped different gods and goddesses. APPREHENSIONS OF THE THIRD WORLD WAR Today, around 50,000 Nuclear weapons are looming over the heads of the entire humanity. Until this day, major parts of the world are still under the control of the conquerors. To defend such forcibly occupied territories, the conquerors have deployed weapons of mass destruction and can kill the entire humanity. Further more, those newly liberated states which emerged during the recent past, inherited extra large territories from the falling empires. That had again accelerated border disputes all over the world. This perilous border situation has forced the rulers for the large scale preparations aiming at the Third World War. The people of the world have already suffered enormously due to the two World Wars fought during the twentieth century. We lost over 100 million lives and a similar number was severely wounded and disabled; hundreds of thousands of women and young girls were kidnapped and raped. Innumerable women committed suicides. Before we are annihilated by the weapons of mass destruction, they must be disbanded. Let us stop culture of hate on religious differences; let us declare conquests and invasions as major offences and heinous crimes. And the conquerors should be compelled to liberate the enslaved nations without further delay; let us stop killings and massacres on forced conversion of faiths and stop the fall of the mother tongues. This is to inform your kind self that the undersigned has officially been nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature by the government of Pakistan; also endorsed by around 20 Buddhist professors in India and many others around the world. Your co- operation and assistance would be highly appreciated and helpful in the matter. We submit here under the nomination mail that can be filled in and mailed to the Norwegian Nobel Committee by the professors of your esteemed association. Sorry, we are short of time as the last date for nomination is 31st January 2017.
Area of research Youssuf Shaheen is perhaps the most eminent Sindhi poet and journalist living today. He has also served as a senator. Not only this, he also happens to be the only writer, at least in Pakistan who has written more than six full length looks featuring the main hurdles obstructing the creation of a bordersless and violence free world in which humanity could live in peace. Shaheen has been reading books on history for many years and during these years he has come to certain conclusions of his own. One of these being the role of traditional armies throughout the ages and their unquestioning obedience to orders. By now, more than 5000 wars have been fought during the same number of years in which millions and millions of people have been killed. But to what an end? Nothing else than to capture other’s territory and some times to protect one’s own. Mind you that these terrible wars were waged mainly by various conquerors who mercilessly used their hired armed men to achieve their nefarious ends. The presently day world consist of roughly 198 countries that have been formed and founded by various kings and conquerors with the help of their armed men and that is why Shaheen calls the present geographical borders ‘artificial’ . During these wars, armed men not only killed each other, cultures and languages were also destroyed. Shaheen in his books mourn all these lost languages and cultures. Shaheen wrote his first book in the series under the little of, ‘Khuda. Insan Aur Janver’ which was in Urdu in 1970 when he was 18 years old. In 1975 he wrote ‘Anal Haq’ and “Haq Mujud”. In 1986, he wrote, ‘World Confederation of Peoples’ to be followed by the World of Conquerors, Greek Mythology (in Sindhi). “ William the Bastard and his Descendants”, Rise and Fall of gods, “Rise and Fall of Sanskrit, “Fall of native languages of the Americas, ‘Slave nations under British Monarchs’, and, ‘Artificial Borders of the World, throughout ages down to the Present world’. The central Idea and the common thread running through all these books is the grim story of ‘man’s inhumanity towards man’ in the form of mercenary armies. To say the least, Shaheen has discarded all histories written in the past on the plea that they are nothing but ‘a bundle of lies’, and that is why they have failed to teach any lesson to any one and why wars haven’t stopped. Durant somewhere says: it is war that makes the chief, the king and the state just as these that make war’, In fact, war was invented by kings to carry on their dirty job of conquests which have played havoc since time immemorial. The advocacy of abolition of armies is not a new idea as the prophet of internationalism was born some 1358 years before the Christ. He was pharaoh Ikhnaton who encouraged people ‘to see the truth’ and brought all militaristic activities to an end in ancient Egypt. Let me add here, Shaheen dedicated his book, The World of Conquers’ to that great Pharaoh. Similarly, the Socrates of the present age’ as Bertrand Russell in known, created history when have single handedly achieved, now known famously as Unarmed Victory’ during the Cuban blockade by the Unted States of America. Cast Ossietzky a journalist by profession, was awarded noble prize in 1935, for among other things, establishing a ‘ No-war Society’. Shaheen is also the traveler of the same path as he has made it a mission of his life to get all wars abolished forever. Shaheen seems to be a die-hard optimist who believes that all that is needed to abolish in war is a change of heart, specially on the part of those who rule the world. ABOUT THE AUTHOR  Bertrand Russell in the Prologue of his classic autobiography said, “Three passions simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind.” One can safely say that three passions have also governed the life of Yussouf Shaheen and these are, the longing for world peace, the search for the lost languages and an unbearable hatred for violence -the violence of conquerors in the form of so-called ‘conquests’ throughout the ages. Since the time he was almost 15 years of age, he began going through big tomes written mainly on history, mythology, religion and languages in order to find out what has been happening all over the world since times immemorial. Although he is professionally a journalist and a poet, he has by now penned more than one and half dozen books in prose containing his ideas on the above-mentioned subjects. In 1986 he wrote, “World Confederation of the Peoples” to be followed by The World of Conquerors, Greek Mythology (in Sindhi), William the Bastard and his Descendants, The Rise and Fall of Gods, Rise and Fall of Sanskrit, Fall of Native Languages of the Americas and “Artificial Borders of the World throughout the Ages. Most of these books are written in English and printed outside Pakistan. On the whole, ‘the other side of history’ presented by him reads like an endless story of force and fraud which are the integral elements of armed invasions the name of conquests. These books say, what they say, without munching words. Shaheen seems to be heavily influenced by the language and the style of ancient Sufis of Sindh, almost simplistic and down to earth. However, the central idea that runs through all these looks is the story of ‘man’s inhumanity towards man,’ mostly in the garb of kingship and mercenary armies. Shaheen, the poet and journalist is also a retired Senator of Pakistan. Not only this, he also happens to he the only person at least in Pakistan, who has produced more than sixteen full length books on the topics of war, peace and languages. As the world history shows, by now more than 5000 wars have been fought during the same number of years in which millions and millions of people were murdered in order to protect or expand the national borders all over the world. To say the least, Shaheen discards all the histories written in the part on the plea that they are nothing but a bundle of lies and that’s why people have failed to learn any lesson and why wars haven’t stopped. Nor only this, but this is the precise reason why armed men continue to play havoc with the world despite the fact that Globalism is spreading fast and people all over the world are coming nearer to one another very speedily. The advocacy for the abolition of armies is not a new idea as the prophet of internationalism was born some 1358 years before the Christ. He was Pharaoh Ikhnaton who encouraged people, “to see the truth” and put to end all militaristic activities in ancient Egypt. Let me add here that Shaheen dedicated his book “The World of Conquerors” to Ikhnaton. Similarly, the Socrates of the present age, as Bertrand Russell is known, also created history when he on his own achieved, now known famously as the ‘Unarmed Victory’ during the Cuban blockade by the United States. On the basis of his uninterrupted studies in history, Shaheen has reached a conclusion of his own which tells him unequivocally that armies have played the same role throughout the ages and that is ‘carrying out the orders of their masters’. Because of this, Shaheen seems to be unique in that direction, in the sense that he has demanded abolition of all these man-imposed geographical borders all over the world if any meaningful and permanent peace was to be achieved. For Shaheen there is no such thing as a ‘just’ war. He believes that wars are fought to destroy opponents and that is all. Even today, the world is governed mostly by dictators who go to wars without seeking any one’s permission. Moreover for him, the so-called borders are hardly sacred. They are absolutely artificial in the sense that they are the result of force employed by conquerors and are not based on the free-will of masses. Carlvon Ossietzky, a journalist by profession, was awarded Nobel Prize in 1935 for, among other things - establishing a “No War Society.” Shaheen is the traveler of the same path as he has made it a mission of his life to establish a ‘no war society’ before it is too late. About the author Youssuf Shaheen is perhaps the most eminent Sindhi poet and journalist living today. He has also served as a senator. Not only this, he also happens to be the only writer, at least in Pakistan who has written more than six full length looks featuring the main hurdles obstructing the creation of a bordersless and violence free world in which humanity could live in peace. Shaheen has been reading books on history for many years and during these years he has come to certain conclusions of his own. One of these being the role of traditional armies throughout the ages and their unquestioning obedience to orders. By now, more than 5000 wars have been fought during the same number of years in which millions and millions of people have been killed. But to what an end? Nothing else than to capture other’s territory and some times to protect one’s own. Mind you that these terrible wars were waged mainly by various conquerors who mercilessly used their hired armed men to achieve their nefarious ends. The presently day world consist of roughly 198 countries that have been formed and founded by various kings and conquerors with the help of their armed men and that is why Shaheen calls the present geographical borders ‘artificial’ . During these wars, armed men not only killed each other, cultures and languages were also destroyed. Shaheen in his books mourn all these lost languages and cultures. Shaheen wrote his first book in the series under the little of, ‘Khuda. Insan Aur Janver’ which was in Urdu in 1970 when he was 18 years old. In 1975 he wrote ‘Anal Haq’ and “Haq Mujud”. In 1986, he wrote, ‘World Confederation of Peoples’ to be followed by the World of Conquerors, Greek Mythology (in Sindhi). “ William the Bastard and his Descendants”, Rise and Fall of gods, “Rise and Fall of Sanskrit, “Fall of native languages of the Americas, ‘Slave nations under British Monarchs’, and, ‘Artificial Borders of the World, throughout ages down to the Present world’. The central Idea and the common thread running through all these books is the grim story of ‘man’s inhumanity towards man’ in the form of mercenary armies. To say the least, Shaheen has discarded all histories written in the past on the plea that they are nothing but ‘a bundle of lies’, and that is why they have failed to teach any lesson to any one and why wars haven’t stopped. Durant somewhere says: it is war that makes the chief, the king and the state just as these that make war’, In fact, war was invented by kings to carry on their dirty job of conquests which have played havoc since time immemorial. The advocacy of abolition of armies is not a new idea as the prophet of internationalism was born some 1358 years before the Christ. He was pharaoh Ikhnaton who encouraged people ‘to see the truth’ and brought all militaristic activities to an end in ancient Egypt. Let me add here, Shaheen dedicated his book, The World of Conquers’ to that great Pharaoh. Similarly, the Socrates of the present age’ as Bertrand Russell in known, created history when have single handedly achieved, now known famously as Unarmed Victory’ during the Cuban blockade by the Unted States of America. Cast Ossietzky a journalist by profession, was awarded noble prize in 1935, for among other things, establishing a ‘ No-war Society’. Shaheen is also the traveler of the same path as he has made it a mission of his life to get all wars abolished forever. Shaheen seems to be a die-hard optimist who believes that all that is needed to abolish in war is a change of heart, specially on the part of those who rule the world.
Yussouf Shaheen