1  Project ZAAN
2  Nadim's verse. It was so dear to Aima Saab.

I said, "I feel it is an uphill task.
I feel I am least equipped to handle it.
I feel lost in the wilderness of the woods".
But you said, "Don't lose heart, my dear, Go ahead".

I felt the journey was cumbersome and the goal distant. 
I felt I neither can gather support, nor can I command it.
This one had lost his zeal, that one didn't have time to spare.
You said, "Don't lose heart, my dear, go ahead".

I felt our mast was lost in mid waters.
The only hope was 'float of ZAAN'.
But cursed me,  I didn't know my language.
How could I row my boat to shore?
You said, "Don't lose heart, my dear, go ahead".

'What was our origin? Where did we belong to? Who were our historical heroes Sikandar Shahmir & Budshah?' 
To know my roots, I had to study lot of Kalhanas and Kshemendras.
You said, "Don't lose heart, my dear, go ahead".

Like an amateur, in whatever manner,
I tried to nourish this flower garden.
Some gained by our efforts, yet some kept cribbing
You said, "Don't lose heart, my dear, go ahead".

Sitting on the tip of the boat, you called out to me and said,
"Look, we are on the move and I have absolute faith in tommorrow".
"May be we may not live to see the dawn of tommorrow", 
I pleaded,
You said, "Don't lose heart, my dear, go ahead".

One by one, we grew in numbers and marched forward.
The destination now seems near, but, 
Alas! You are gone far away from us.
Yet I feel the echo of your reassuring voice from the skies 
"Don't lose heart, my dear, go ahead".

(* This is not literal translation of the poem, but an attempt to give you the essence of it - Editor)