When the Orient met the Ox-ident

#20 HN
Since this was written in 1997, the turn was the other way round, HP. That is, from fabulism to beatnik autowriting to whatever!
The piece was attacked by a section of Karachi`s right-wing press for ``insulting the two-nation theory`` and ``mocking the rationale behind the creation of Pakistan`` (i.e ``Islam``). In fact, the ``Jammat lobby`` within The News who`ve always had problems with us from the so-called ``progressive lobby``, even went to the extent of trying to ``influence`` the publisher to make the Editor (Imran Aslam) ask me to write a public apology. However, he refused, but the moment was never forgiven by the aggravated lobby. The very next year I was (all of a sudden) asked to leave by the management for ``disturbing the discipline of the office.`` That`s about it.

#18FarzanaVersey
~~Whether history has the ability to ``modify`` the future or not, it certainly can mutilate it.~~

Technically (and according to Darwin), we are all mutants. So even if history mutilates the future, it is just doing evolution a natural favour. So let it bleed is my verdict.

~~Sure, we can collaborate - you bring the hash, I`ll get the browns. ~~

And it`ll be like singing the blues. Groovy.


rgds,
NfP

Nadeem,

Nice turn this; from beatnik autowriting to fabulism!

What was the controversy about, by the way? I was just wondering how this tragi-comic piece could have raised controversy?

#5
Nadeem
``Nice to know you appreciated the comical side of it, wayfarer. But believe me, the non-fictional aspects of my country`s history are a lot funnier! ``

Absolutely.
What they are `making fun of` and where the humour stems from, isn`t funny at all. That`s why the socialist and capitalist and jihadi..etc bulls and pigs and their human cousins are sooo stupid, they`re ridiculous.
Your country And mine,Nadeem. Yes, the non-fiction is so non-funny the tears and rage come pretty quick,at the mad,unreasonableness of it. At the larger background of it; afterall,in a manner, Sialkot was mine too.

damn decent of you to take the trouble to respond to everyone.But this piece was so good, you might`ve just wanted to check the cheers! :)
seriously, very well written. It`s also very `visual`- perhaps you should convert it to a play; and say all that you have to say,While being hilarious.

NFP (#13):

Whether history has the ability to ``modify`` the future or not, it certainly can mutilate it. Btw, I do believe that cynicism is a rear-view of an idealistic mind. Seriously.

Re. Orwell, I think he pushed the envelope when there was no letter inside it.

[A piece like this in 2007? Good idea. Want to collaborate?]

Nadeem, you have almost three years more to regret your suggestion. Sure, we can collaborate - you bring the hash, I`ll get the browns.

NFP
Let`s have one on the happenings in India and Pak after 1997. This story was refreshing read.

...hmmm...very nice tale...wish it was only a tale...

Finally an article that everybody agrees with....... May be we have some hope!!!

#11 jang
(reluctantly) thank you.

#12 SameerJB
Interesting analysis as usual, Sameer. But what about the Indian and Pakistani cows and oxen looking for Green Cards in American buffalo plains? I wonder what the dream is now? A chance to work in a Red Bull TV commercial perhaps?

Chowk Staff:
For heavens sakes. Click on the byline ``Nadeem Paracha`` and you are told ``The writer does not exist.`` Maanaan kay hum existentialist crisis ka shikar rhatay hain, par bhaiyoon, kindly add that damn ``F`` between Nadeem and Paracha and transfer this piece to Cafe Black. Thank you.

rgds,
NfP

#1 Urstruly
Appreciation appreciated, sir.

#2 Bruce Lee
Have always had a strange love-hate relationship with Orwell, Bruce. However, I think it was actually Pink Floyd`s ``Animals`` that had been the main inspiration behind this story. I say, ``I think,`` because I wrote this way back in 1997. Given the ... umm .. my current post-`97 anti-linear state of mind, I don`t think I would have been able to write something like this today. Thanks for liking it, though.

#3 Trashman
And where the flying fcuk have you been ... boy?

#4 FarzanaVersey
You feel right, Farzana. But even in my thirties I have managed to retain a balanced mixture of faraway naivety and dialectic cynicism (WITHOUT feeling jaded) ... well, at least, enough to continue believing that history STILL (as ALWAYS) have the power to predict and modify the future.
Orwell (to me) was a typical Euro-Socialist whiner. And If one listens and watchs carefully post-modern, New Left takes on Orwellian (anti-Stalinist) nightmares like Pink Floyd`s ``Animals`` and Terry Gilliam`s ``Brazil``, he/she shall realize how Orwell in this respect is more relevent in today`s post-Cold-War corporate/capitalist/consumerist societies than ever before.
A piece like this in 2007? Good idea. Want to collaborate?

#5 wayfarer
Nice to know you appreciated the comical side of it, wayfarer. But believe me, the non-fictional aspects of my country`s history are a lot funnier!

#6 by kaurasach
Okay. But kaurasach, sometimes I believe the whole idea of the human race was a mistake. Blame God. I would if I believed in one. Never allowed myself that luxury. Maybe that`s why certain Deobandi mullahs wanted to axe off my head and toss it inside a Shia mosque! ;)

#7 by Subroto
Hey, does this mean rest of my fiction stuff on chowk has mostly been cock and bull? Ah, how I wish it was 1997 all over again. Sigh. But your praise for this piece is high and so should be my appreciation. Many thanks, sir.

#8 by ikonoclast
ikonoclast, I truelly hate it when (for some odd reason and thankfully rarely), my writings make a reader or two feel optomistic. Uaually I try to do the opposite. Why? Well, for one, it`s far more interesting. I say this not to dampen your optomism but to actually praise it. I hope you are right.

#9 Nass
You said it, Nass. ``Strangely,`` alright. But it is ironic that it was after Aug.14, 1997, that I started slipping into the hell you are quite aware of.

#10 by atif2
You were trying to attack me? Gee, atif, all that time time I thought you were trying to humor me. :(
Thank you for playing such an important role in my ``redemption.`` Jesus loves you.


rgds,
NfP

(reluctantly) i liked it.

all the sacrifices were for a good cause, chappal kababs for afgans and rogan josh for the kashmiris. warning: the train to iran passes thru jhangh..

Superb!

Buffalos are very prominent in native Americans` myths - like in the sioux myths of great plains, communicating with and participating in human affairs. In this piece, and in reality also, cows and oxen migrated with the people during partition but water buffalos and bulls did not migrate to that extent. At least desi buffalos did not suffer the way their cousins in Americas suffered. I guess in subcontinent, fat contents, organic rich dung and tasteless meat of buffalos helps them survive better than cows. In this story cows participated with human in the so-caled independence from Britian and paid the price. They paid the price for sticking to the worthless ideals of one nation, one language, ONT, TNT etc and not for participation in phreedom stuggle per se. Buffalos, tough considered dumb by the cows remained local rather than falling for subcontinental/ Indian, national (one or two), religious crap and ended up living whining-free and peaceful life.

paracha - so after my relentless attacks on you last week, you finally sccumb to quality writing and in the process redeem yourself. good job.

where is feedback? ;)

Its an excellent piece of writing, which encapsulates what we were and what we have become. But we must not lose hope, but strive, even against insurmountabla odds to better our lot, however incrementally and slowly.
So Long

Strangely uplifting, NFP. Well done.:)

Just a tail for our times. Wonderfully written and absolutely no horsing around here. No cock and bull story this, it just brings home the bacon and puts the reader in a good moo`d. Loved the way you took a mickey out of everyone without being ham handed. And what about Haqu - a true langoatiya yaar.

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