As it is Day 160 of our daily morning saunter to Maqbool Bhat Shaheed Square, it is once again time to review our punctuality performance over the past 40 days, as we did on
Day 120,
Day 80 and
Day 40.
Punctuality Review over 160 days (with some statistics):
Day(s) - Time of Arrival at Maqbool Bhat Shaheed Square - Dadyaal (hrs)
n.b. Remember that my declared timing from the outset has been 0800hrs to 1000hrs every day without fail. Attendance remains at 100% but let's see if my punctuality has improved or not:
*Percentages given are to the nearest whole number
Days 1 to 10:
18 minutes late (as aggregate over 1st 10 days)
6 days late of 10 (viz. 60% late)
Days 11 to 20:
49 minutes late (as aggregate over 1st 20 days)
14 days late of 20 (viz. 70% late)
Days 21 to 30:
133 minutes late (as aggregate over 1st 30 days)
23 days late of 30 (viz. 77% late)
Days 31 to 40:
290 minutes late (as aggregate over 1st 40 days)
30 days late of 40 (viz. 75% late)
Days 41 to 50:
580 minutes late (as aggregate over 50 days)
38 days late of 50 (viz. 76% late)
Days 51 to 60:
507 minutes late (as aggregate over 60 days)
39 days late of 60 (viz. 65% late)
Days 61 to 70:
341 minutes late (as aggregate over 70 days)
41 days late of 70 (viz. 59% late)
Days 71 to 80:
214 minutes late (as aggregate over 80 days)
42 days late of 80 (viz. 53% late)
Days 81 to 90:
107 minutes late (as aggregate over 90 days)
45 days late of 90 (viz. 50% late or even 50% early or on time)
Days 91 to 100:
12 minutes early (as aggregate over 100 days)
55 days early or on time (viz. 55%)
Days 101 to 110:
22 minutes late (as aggregate over 110 days)
62 days early or on time (viz. 56%)
Days 111 to 120:
40 minutes late (as aggregate over 120 days)
69 days early or on time (viz. 58%)
Now, we can break down our performance since Day 121 to Day 160:
121 - 0744
122 - 0801
123 - 0758
124 - 0806
125 - 0748
126 - 0755
127 - 0801
128 - 0757
129 - 0823
130 - 0711
Our aggregate lateness has reverted back to a punctuality surplus. On Day 130 it stood at 16 minutes. So that is an accumulation of minutes before 0800hrs that we have used to rectify our late arrivals.
Cumulative punctuality surplus over 130 days = 16 minutes
4 days late of 10 (viz. 40% late)
Which accumulates as 75 days early or on time of 130 (viz. 58%)
We can now summarise our stats as:
Attendance = 100%
Punctuality = 58%
75 days on time or early of 130
Punctuality surplus = 16 minutes
131 - 0800
132 - 0758
133 - 0758
134 - 0759
135 - 0756
136 - 0840
137 - 0820
138 - 0707
139 - 0802
140 - 0825
Our aggregate surplus has once again reverted back to a punctuality deficit. On Day 140 it stands at 9 minutes compared to a surplus of 16 on Day 130.
Cumulative punctuality deficit over 140 days = 9 minutes
4 days late of 10 (viz. 40% late)
Which accumulates as 81 days early or on time of 140 (viz. 58%)
We can now summarise our stats as:
Attendance = 100%
Punctuality = 58%
81 days on time or early of 140
Punctuality deficit = 9 minutes
141 - 0759
142 - 0757
143 - 0804
144 - 0739
145 - 0803
146 - 0738
147 - 0800
148 - 0759
149 - 0755
150 - 0756
Our aggregate punctuality deficit has swung back to a surplus. On Day 150 it stands at 41 minutes compared to a deficit of 9 minutes on Day 140.
Cumulative punctuality surplus over 150 days = 41 minutes
2 days late of 10 (viz. 20% late)
Which accumulates as 89 days early or on time of 150 (viz. 59%)
We can now summarise our stats as:
Attendance = 100%
Punctuality = 59%
89 days on time or early of 150
Punctuality surplus = 41 minutes
151 - 0850
152 - 0753
153 - 0823
154 - 0752
155 - 0757
156 - 0759
157 - 0755
158 - 0757
159 - 0757
160 - 0753
Our aggregate punctuality remains in surplus despite a couple of relatively very late appearances on Day 151 and Day 153. On Day 160 it stands at 5 minutes.
Cumulative punctuality surplus over 160 days = 5 minutes
2 days late of 10 (viz. 20% late)
Which accumulates as 97 days early or on time of 160 (viz. 61%)
We can now summarise our stats as:
Attendance = 100%
Punctuality = 61%
97 days on time or early of 160
Punctuality surplus = 5 minutes
Overall, we were late on 12 of the fourth 40 days (viz. 30% late), which is a reversal of the incremental improvements in punctuality we achieved by Day 120. For example, we were late for only 9 of the third 40 days (viz. 23% late) which was an improvement on 12 of the second 40 days (viz. 30% late and same as the fourth 40 days), which itself was an improvement on 30 of the first 40 days (viz. 75% late).
Thus:
1st 40 days - 75% late (30 of 40) 290 minutes deficit
2nd 40 days - 30% late (12 of 40) 214 minutes deficit
3rd 40 days - 23% late (9 of 40) 40 minutes deficit
4th 40 days - 30% late (12 of 40) 5 minutes surplus
Total: 63 days late of 160 = 39% late!
This is an improvement from being 43% late by Day 120, which improved from being 53% late by Day 80, which in turn improved from being 75% late by Day 40.
Obviously, we still have room for improving our punctuality further despite our incremental gains, especially since Day 50 when we had accumulated a punctuality deficit of 580 minutes and a late ratio of 76%.
Finally, the last piece of punctuality statistic that we want to highlight is the most amount of days in a row that we have been able to remain punctual in 160 days:
We will only include those days where we were punctual for at least 2 days in a row:
Day 5 & 6 = 2 days
Days 51 to 59 = 9 days
Day 61 & 62 = 2 days
Day 64 & 65 = 2 days
Days 67 to 79 = 13 days
Days 82 to 84 = 3 days
Days 87 to 104 = 18 days
Day 106 & 107 = 2 days
Day 110 & 111 = 2 days
Day 113 & 114 = 2 days
Days 118 to 121 = 4 days
Day 125 & 126 = 2 days
Days 130 to 135 = 6 days
Day 141 & 142 = 2 days
Days 146 to 150 = 5 days
Day 154 to 160 = 7 days....continuing (unbroken yet)
Thus, our longest string of punctuality to date was 18 days (between days 87 to 104).
....
Over the years I have responded to many an analysis about our region but not every comment or response has been appropriately lodged in this weblog, to date. Instead of leaving these matters pending I will try and upload them as and when they are written, in future.
One such analysis by Sardar Aftab Ahmed Khan of Palandri entitled, "Leadership in Practice – Understanding Political Psychology of Nationalists in Jammu and Kashmir" which can be located at:
It was responded to as follows:
Interesting reading....
I would suggest that it is impractical to make a long term or even medium term plan for this region because people don't have control of their present. They have been put in a straightjacket by the British empire which only gives space to India and Pakistan along very carefully crafted lines to ensure indigenous space is not created, let alone blossom.
History has also been written by victors (in this case by Britain, India & Pakistan) and they've been very meticulous in omitting important strands of history from their narrations in order to give the perception that India and Pakistan have totally contrasting/competing narratives and that Britain was a mere innocent spectator to all the events that happened in 1947.
The reality is very different from these deeply embedded perceptions and it requires a lot of extrapolation from various historical narratives to prove how and why certain key events in history occurred. There are no readily available references which limits the scope to achieve publication in peer reviewed historical journals as you suggest. Key information is also being withheld by the UK government - especially on events leading up to 1947 - and despite a freedom of information act there, they have used exceptions under the guise of not wanting to affect their relationship with India and Pakistan to deny us this information.
That doesn't mean that there isn't a solution and it also does not mean that the suggestions you have made are without merit.
All I'm saying is that the solution requires far more effort, tenacity, accommodation & inclusion of all strands of opinion within the State than what most of our people have indulged in so far.
Prescriptions - in my opinion - are more suited to be framed on a day to day basis and the more people that are synchronised in this manner with their time, energy and resources will ensure that we find that elusive path to a solution.
It requires extraordinary effort and we can find influence and inspiration from the rest of the world but the solution here - in my opinion - will be very unique.
End....
He (Sardar Aftab) did respond in turn with the following words:
Thanks for your feedback. However, i am not sure how can a "Tahng Tapaaoo" attitude and living day day approach would yield any positive outcomes. Benjamin Franklin said "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail." I very much echo what you say regarding barriers to research on historical events in Jammu and Kashmir. However, if that's what it is then it will be a great contribution in creating new knowledge based on primary research provided its done on the basis of international accept research methodology.
My Response:
Many thanks for your response.
I think what I'm describing as a day to day approach is an organised format which confronts the problem holistically, understands the bigger picture and then breaks it down into very small particles and then works on them one by one on a day to day basis. Small targets, consistency, regular introspection creates a compound effect over time.
We have learned that in practice. Our people tend to approach public interest spontaneously and are not mentally geared to participating effectively in a long term strategy.
However, it is possible that other people possess the ability to change this behaviour. If you try something enough times, it might eventually work.
I do think that there should be a plurality of methods adopted by different activists to find the best approach needed to influence our people.
On a personal level, I have found the day to day organised approach most effective.
As for your second point, I agree.
End....
....
It's the eve of another cricket world cup final - albeit T20 on this occasion - that involves 2 teams that played out the 50 overs world cup final in 1992 - about 30 years ago at the same venue viz. MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) in Australia. I for one am gunning for the team that has proven to be more meritocratic for players of AJK origin - despite their heavy colonial past - than the team that represents a country ostensibly created to protect the fundamental rights of Muslims in South Asia. I supported the latter 30 years ago, which I consider to have been ignorant in retrospect. I gained some inspiration from the following preview:
