Schezee ZaidiIslamabad. THE NEWSCapturing the tales of dreams, desires and struggles of a common man, Asif Hussain Shah has compiled the moving account of life around him in his first book titled 'For Hire'. Being a taxi driver, he takes us on a ride through pain and pleasure, joy and sorrow on the road of life in a quest for self-confidence.In an effort to show that one can achieve the impossible with commitment and dedication, Asif has tried to create a role model for everyone with a message "not to give up in the face of adversities, and instead of breaking down, we must try to find ways to push ahead and make it happen".Talking to 'The News', Asif Shah said while trying to make ends meet and providing life's basic necessities to his four young children, he himself was on the verge of breaking down through his struggles, but then he decided to take up a pen and capture real life stories happening all around."I am neither a scholar nor an intellectual, but I see and feel life all around me and have tried to capture those moments of truth in my own words," Asif said. The effort gave him immense strength and enabled him to fight his depression away, looking towards the future with a new hope and zeal. Asif said that perhaps it is for the first time in Pakistan that a taxi driver has become the author of a book but we all must agree that a common man could also make it in the world of the affluent with simple dedication and hard work. "This is the first step and I hope others will also come forward to succeed in their struggle in any way they can without depending on others," Asif said.Asif talked about his book based on a 'multi-vision concept', portraying lives of various individuals and organisations, capturing their ideas, thoughts and dreams. "My stories are based on reality and there is not a single aspect of fiction in them," said Asif. Based on ground realities and facts just the way he comes across in his day-to-day sojourn, Asif has tried to convey to his readers a message that 'we can do anything if we set our aims higher'.Asif Hussain's 'For Hire' needs to be appreciated to encourage more such efforts by any common man, making his own contribution towards creative expression.
About the Author: i am a taxi driver by profession and writer by choice. driving taxi here in rawalpindi/iaslamabad last 15 years. i studied till grade 12. when i was living in worst economic condition during taxi driving life in those days idea came in my mind to write a book and give a message to the people that in hardship of life we can also find new ways of inspiration and hope.FOR HIRE is about my observation and experiences during my taxi driving life.after book writing the next idea came in my mind to use free space of my taxi doors for innovative marketing and message. and soon this idea clicked in world. its also a interesting story that before i didn't use internet, one day i was sitting with my friend and he wrote my name on Google Search and we seen there was reports about effort of book writing . i asked to my friend and he told me about Google Search, and it was first time that i get info about Google. then i decided to write on my taxi doors. SEARCH ON GOOGLE TAXI DRIVER ASIF HUSSAIN SHAH.peoples from twin cities start looking to my taxi and also taking pic of my taxi. one day a photo journalist from AFP taken pics of my taxi and on that pics, a story came in Fransisco mag and he wrote THE BEST GOOGLE AD WE HAVE EVER SEEN and PAKISTANI TAXI DRIVER HAVE MAD GOOGLE SKILLS, after that story then the world news papers given this story. i am a man with limited sources but having brought vision. so its a big honor for me and for my country Pakistan and for the common man of this planet