My Friend, My Enemy

Your views do not look strange to me all Indian pose like that. They pose as if they are the angels on earth and Pakistan is the only villain around. They do not realise what are indian contributions in enmity between the two countries. Just look at the water issue. India forced pakistan to sign Indus Water treaty to grab 35 MAF water of three rivers. At independence the thirteen eastern provinces of Punjab that went to India and the eastern punjab states were consuming only 3MAF. Now India is trying to grab water of western rivers too. Now tell me will it promote frindship between the two countries. If Pakistan intrudes into indian controll area then u make hue and cry but If India does the same and cointinues the occupation you people are silent. (exemple: Siachen and kargil) Kargil infact was under pakistani control till 1971.
I would like you people to just look at the policies of your government and do not pose like a South Block baboo.
thnaks

Bombay or Mumbai and Karachi are no different than the rest. The US with it`s hate crimes against arabs and sikhs(mistaking them for arabs). If there was an Akbar, there was an Aurangzeb too. If there was Gandhi, there is Thakre too. At the time of the Punjab problem, Sikhs had started feeling they are being hounded and Hindus commented that all were terrorists. The same is happening to Islam only it is worldwide. It is amazing, it`s just chance that I was born a Sikh, or my friend a Hindu or another friend a Muslim. I could have been the muslim too. That is why when they come to note down my religion in the census, I write none. Guru Nanak said he was neither a Hindu or a Muslim but we caught him and made him a sikh!! No, I dont want my body burned- maybe an electric crematorium, I dont want Akhand Path, no- let me go in peace when I go - dont drag me to a gurudwara then. Keep me away from religion is my request. Give that money to the dhobi`s childor buy him a new cycle- that is my religion

Ras:

Glad you picked the sentence that really spoke about how I felt about things during that particular time. Thank you...
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And thanks to the rest for the replies.

Here is a joke for our times...and if it is a stale one, then remember everything gets recycled in life :)
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A stranger was seated next to Little Johnny on the plane.

The stranger turned to Little Johnny and said, ``Let`s talk. I`ve heard that flights will go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger.``

Little Johnny, who had just opened his book, closed it slowly, and said to the stranger, ``What would you like to discuss?``

Oh, I don`t know,`` said the stranger. ``How about nuclear power?``

``OK,`` said Little Johnny.. ``That could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you a question first..

A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass. Why do you suppose that is?``

``Jeez,`` said the stranger. ``I have no idea.``

``Well, then,`` said Little Johnny, ``how is it that you feel qualified to discuss nuclear power when you don`t know shit?``

FV,

``Meat on skewers is not like flesh sticking to the walls of mosques - flesh that you might call your father, brother, husband, lover, friend``

This is some of your best yet on CHOWK.

Ras

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#31
thanks for the prose, that helps (i thunks). now i will get back to reading the martha stewart magazine so that my spandexy co-workers dont get spooked.

the remarks in parentheses at towards the end of my post: ``(though I must admit I`m even half as `talented` as you might be)`` -- should read : ``(though I must admit I`m NOT even half as `talented` as you might be)

wow farzana, a pretty straightforward question seems to have upset you -- you don`t seem to take criticism well do you -- i dont think reporters who can be blamed of plugging in things and in any case im not one -- however columnists do and since you are one it was a pretty relevant question -- press releases as original short stories ? where ? please enlighten me, interesting how your strategy of deflecting criticism or questions by bringing up irrelevant stuff does terribly backfire -- actually like you i could claim a lot of things, to be writing for a progressive and extremism-free pakistan, friendly relations with india or against karo kari or honour killings but i try not to wear such things on my sleeve, or, as you said, `lapel` unlike some others on chowk -- and actually i wasnt looking for a fight, a simple answer which i suppose is too much to expect on chowk -- as for `looking in my backyard` i presume you`re talking about things closer to home, i.e. the pakistani print media, well dear i had and have no intention of making it a india pakistan thing which i hope you havent thought i did -- as for sensationalism, the part that seemed sensationalistic was already pointed out to you -- `many` might be a manner of speaking to you but for your readers in Bombay it probably will appear closer to a matter of fact -- but then again the difference between a manner of speaking and a manner of speaking masquerading as fact might not be appear to columnists -- as for writing independently or on one`s own please cut the crap FV -- i take it you were or are a columnist in india -- surely you write for a paper that isnt your own and is edited by someone other than yourself -- and oh by the way i dont really know about press releases masquerading as original stories, i was a reporter five years ago -- and your reference to mobilink im sorry i didnt get -- what is worse than trying to righteous is to be sanctimonious about it -- im not really interested in whether you have a press card or not FV, it might be also because you freelance and at least in pakistan freelancers dont get press cards -- and oh to counter your righteousness and `search for the people`s voice` should i also tell you that as a member of the karachi press club i had the right, like all members, to buy a plot of land at heavily subsidized govt rates but i declined because it sounded ridiculous to criticize the govt and to then take favours from it -- or should i tell you that several times i refused gifts and offers of free trips and other favours from govt officials or interested parties -- these things happens and one doesnt publicize them or wear them on their lapels -- a good reporter would or should anyways know, FV, that using a press card (unless he or she believes that it might actuallty help save his/her life) is often not a good idea because once your exposed as a journalist your story might not be that authentic or in a sense your `cover is blown` -- it is quite laughable that u seem to think that most journalists wouldnt know this -- what is even laughable and downright hypocritical is that you have done the same in your post -- wearing your self-righteousness on your lapel -- and my saying journalism is bad was also actually a manner of speaking-- actually the print media in pakistan is quite vibrant and has many positives, and unlike the one in india often questions its own govts policies, esp on foreign issues -- i can see how you wouldnt survive in a full time journalism job -- and trust me im not looking for a fight either, it is a waste of my time too (though I must admit I`m even half as `talented` as you might be) but i had to respond to your insinuations and self righteousness

Jang:

You asked for it! (Also returning the favour since you did take the trouble of going through the poem closely.) Though, in terms of voyeurism, you won`t get your money`s worth...but then, I could swing it for you, if you insist. Here is the straightforward take...and you were not wrong about the Indo-Pak thing...

My sky too has a crescent and stars
My leaves too have sprung from similar trees

(Nothing to do with Indian Muslims...if you as an Indian look up at the sky you too will see a crescent moon and stars...therefore, underlining the similarities)

When I ask you who you are
You look the other way.
You are not born of your own womb

(Pak`s identity crisis/denial)

Your lids opened to another world
Forget those eyes you tell me
And find your truth.

(Same as above, only with emphasis on the otherness of Indians)

One day your truth and mine
Were the same.
Today, for a few acres of your land
You deny me.

(Pre-Partition, post-Partition)

Conscience, soul, body, hungers
I satiate with eyes shut
But I feel burdened by history

(We can live our lives, but history haunts us)

I am not what you sought
The ballads sung to me sprung
From a different soil

(The differences)

I cross imaginary continents
To become rootless
In unaccounted-for miles

(India`s forays in a globalised world)

I grab your shadow
A child of the night

(Kashmir)

You say I let darkness delude me.
You fool only yourself
By shutting morning`s door
In my face.

(The refusal to reach a solution on their side)

I peep through the hole in the wall
And quench the thirst of my vision.

(A narrow view is all one gets from our side)

Try as you might
Your sunlight
Can never break my prism.

(I, India, live among different colours and the strongest light cannot distort the hues and sometimes one`s delusions)

But...this can also be a love poem... :)

Actually there are some fairly astute observations on Karachi/Pakistan in William Dalrymple`s book on Delhi ``City of Djinns``.

Let me put it this way - after re-reading the book, I am beginning to understand some of the fascination that people from Karachi have for Delhi & Bombay, as they exist today.

(As different for the ``Hai Saadaa Lahore`` types, who continue to bemoan their glorious blah blah BLAH BLAH past)

Yes, I do think I am going to visit Karachi, for the hockey matches. I need to go and find out, amongst other things, whether sub-Inspectors of Police in Karachi are really so fearsome that the good outstanding media future of my ancestor`s lands have reason to quake?

Travelogues aren`t such a bad thing. At least they`re interesting.

farzana, please do give a glimpse of what the poem is about from your view. i got what i got, but now i have a voyuers curiosity.

jang (#24):

Honestly, you had me chuckling...and no sarcasm here. And since you had stated, ``there is too much baggage associated with you and i have (my) pre-conceptions , so please put up with it``, I will not even contest your interpretation and give my version. You made me smile, so whichever way you wish to look at it...enjoy:)

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This is not about how much Karachi is like Mumbai, but whether it is as insensitive, especially during calamities...contributing a travelogue/travelogues for Chowk was not on my agenda.
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#21 by omar_r_quraishi:

[FV wroe in the article: ``In Karachi I did what many Karachiwallas do: sent text messages asking friends who were cutting cloth for the coffins to “TC” – take care.``

many as in a couple of hundred (at the most I guess) -- for a city of 12-13 million -- pretty big generalization wouldnt you say so farzana -- or was this something that the editors at TFT plugged in ? or told you to plug in yourself --
farzana you`re a good example if any were needed of journalists thriving on sensationalism -- unfortunately material such as this gives the whole profession a thoroughly undeserved bad name]

1. I write my own stuff and nobody on earth can ask me to plug in anything, but I suppose if one is a fulltime hack working for someone (as opposed to writing on your own) plugs become an occupational hazard ...or a welcome respite if one are running short of ideas and use press releases as original stories. It happens, you know... Beats me though why any newspaper would want to plug in something like this? Mobilink...I would understand...

2. `Many` is a manner of speaking...but then one can never account for how literal people can get. In any case the implication was many Karachiwallas send text messages at most times, and not during this particular episode. If anything, I was taking a potshot at myself by saying that, just in case you did not notice. Or perhaps one is not supposed to take potshots at oneself; arrogance is a writer`s birthright, right?

3. Before you use me as an example, look in your own backyard. And please point out the sensational bits. Since I don`t go around flaunting my journalistic background with a lapel, you needn`t worry about the profession getting a bad name. It is bad enough. I have gone about my work without even getting a Press card because I wanted to represent my voice, not that of a profession or a publication.

Omar, if you are spoiling for a fight, do look elsewhere. Because I avoid ugly scenes as much as I can. It is a waste of my time and talent.

Take care...TC

#23 by soundmeister on August 17, 2004 5:00am PT
``We only have the word of a few hopeless romantic chowkies that Karachi is a lot like Mumbai. I think I`ll reserve judgement till Veeresh makes a trip there...``

actually Jakarta is a lot like mumbai, slums, high-rises, miniskirts, hindu temples, steamy nigh-clubs with its cellphone wielding madams, and sweltering heat. i think karachi lacks at least a couple of common things.

OK an attempt to say what i understand by the poem now:(Ferzana, there is too much baggage associated with you and i have (my) pre-conceptions , so please put up with it.)

My Friend, My Enemy

My sky too has a crescent and stars ``your identity is muslim``
My leaves too have sprung from similar trees ``you share geography``
When I ask you who you are
You look the other way. ``Dont get it..you must be talking to pakis``
You are not born of your own womb
Your lids opened to another world
Forget those eyes you tell me
And find your truth.
One day your truth and mine
Were the same.
Today, for a few acres of your land
You deny me. ``Mostly you seem to be begging pakistanis to accept you as their own and telling them that they are not arab or something``

Conscience, soul, body, hungers
I satiate ..
..
And quench the thirst of my vision. `` Some kind of longing to commune with the pakistanis``

Try as you might
Your sunlight
Can never break my prism. `` Affirmation of your multi-cutural background``

and then you go on to project yourself on ``Bombay`` (not mumbai) as a schizophrenic fractured personality( and please dont ask me to read the articel again ;-)