Motherland Tales

Still no Indian has understood that Temporal has called Nehru Gandhi and Patel, the servants of Mountbatten and British Collaborators in this essay.

Alas, poor Indian Chowkies, devoid of any intellect.

Hi Temporal

Good stuff there. Lot seems to have been said about it now and pretty much covers anything I could have added. Amazing how chowk adds nothing for aeons and the one week you go on vacation, theres a veritable deluge of new stuff!

To return to your piece, its the end thats key isn`t it? Looking up at the stars the other nite, I was reminded of a card a friend once made me which said ... the stars look like millions of candles - which reminds me its your birthday. And it got me thinking of your `Motherland Tales` (don`t ask me why - power of association maybe) ... theres more to beauty than just the superficial facade is there not? Maybe thats the problem - her paramours have never tried to get to her soul - they seem to have thought that by grabbing her hand and simply dragging her along by their side they could hope to hold her, keep her, even own her. Maybe all she needs is someone to look into her eyes, into the depths of all that she really has to offer, and to love her for who she is not what ...

And maybe all of the above is wishy washy, mushy malarky ... and ferozk knows best ...

cheers

dL

Farzana # 72,

[[[``And what music to they play in the village? Not Dumadum mast Qalander, I hope…that puts me in a Sufi trance and all vile thoughts disappear…``]]]

Somethings are best if they come as a surprise, hopefully a pleasant one :)

No, sweety it is far from sufi music ...

sorry i cannot contribute for sometime, am really tied up these days . will e-m u InshaAllah as soon as i get a chance to breathe !

lots of love ,

sa:)

Farzana Versey 77

Farazana

Perhaps the mind is sometimes a burden. I think it`s the it`s the persistence of ghosts of memories that are definitely a burden.

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Farzana Versey #72

Just take this advise. You will have someone who know you in Karachi. Even Anny or someone.

I can give you advise regarding Karachi only.

Umr Guzri hai Isi Dasht Ki Sayyahi Main.

Just to give you an example, to tell you how serious I am.

Two days before going to Iran in 1991. I parked my bike CORRECTLY. Police picked it up on their truck. I was nearby and told them to take my bike out. They refused.I argued. In the meantime people collected there and start beating policemen.(not me)

Anyway they took my bike.

I went to police station to get back my bike. They took me to a room. Beat me badly. Then SHO called me and asked me where I worked. I used to work with Dr.Adeeb Rizvi. One of the most respected and influential person in Karachi. So they let me go.

This is a very sincere advise.

I am a human and not too patriotic.

Studebaker (#61):

Sorry the reply to you got lost…so here it is…

Thanks for your welcome…good to know you at least miss some people :)

I think you have given me a wonderful picture of Pak, with its descriptions…and tempting offers. You are right about there being more problems at the customs level. When my aunt lived there, she would carry Indian film magazines, which were in great demand at one time, and that would make those people happy. I guess now it would take something more. As for this side, I have no idea… usually people resent anyone going abroad. It is a silly mentality that makes you feel bad for having the means to travel.

And where do you see half-naked women in Bombay and Calcutta? I think I was just being told, in an exaggerated fashion to drive home the point, that in the big cities what you wear is not such a big issue.

Anyway, shukria,

Farzana



hobbyty (#76):

I guess I misunderstood. I think you have put it well when you say, “I think whenever a person is travelling somewhere where they have no history, the experience is so personally liberating, has so much to do with whats going on inside a person.”

Well, there is a bit of history, which I hope to grasp. But, yes, the mind liberates us even while it often burdens us.

Thanks for clarifying…

Hana #71 ``...50 years in the life of a nation is nothing!``

Oh puhleeeeeze!! this has to be the lamest excuse I can think of, and it is regularly used by people who should know better. It is totally meaningless. The US had visionaries like Jefferson and institution-builders like Alexander Hamilton and generals like George Washington who used their military muscle to fight for freedom for their people, not take it away from them. That took place when the country was still in the womb, so to speak. And here we are 50 years later still not ready to see reality. Please dont ever use this excuse again. Thank you. And if someone does, get mad at the person and tell him to get real, like I just told you. Thank you again.

:-)

PS: There. Said it. I feel better now.

PPS: I like to let off some steam sometimes on chowk. Dont mind me.

Farzana Versey 72

Farzana

I intended no sarcasm. I think whenever a person is travelling somewhere where they have no history, the experience is so personally liberating, has so much to do with whats going on inside a person.

Pakistan is no different from anywhere else in that sense and if there are any gems in Pakistan, it`s the Pakistani people.

Farzana,

Delighted by your response...so rare. You raised some good points. Here`s my take on:

``I feel that was its strength. Evocation has its own resonance. The moment something is defined within the parameters of ‘character’, it loses its allegorical potential and becomes circumscribed by the exigencies of its predetermined ‘fate’``

I felt otherwise, actually. Evocation is brilliant and most perfectly achieved when it is borderless and unlimited. But, in an allegory, the skill is to give flesh,blood and life, to a story whose broad edges everybody knows. Like the history of Pakistan, in this case. The broad, even popular history as in popular memory, is known. The imagination makes her temporal`s woman. His imagination has to expand that woman to both consume and subsume Pakistan`s history.

It is obviously a very big task. I am now not referring to t`s piece, but to allegory as a form.

So, the woman cannot but have a character. Her character should in many ways, broadly have what is THE character of Pakistan, AND then have the writer`s perception of that character.

Salman Rushdie`s Midnight`s will fail as an allegory if it did not have the history of the sub-continent marking its borders. At the same time, that history...a rich mixture of authorial perception, textual history as well as ``popular memory``...as in Saleem`s memory failing him with Dyer`s men...is fleshed out by the author`s imagination.

Your second contention:

``If they did miss the allusions, it could still be about a woman, derelict and dismayed.``

This is what exactly happened with Midnight`s, I should imagine, to western readers who were unaware of subcontinent`s history.

But t`s story is an allegory...and I as a reader who is at least partially related to the history behind the story...i missed the layers of meanings.

But, I would like to think, its success as an allegory added that much richer layers to readers from the subcontinent.

And, you would especially thirst for those layers perhaps after your visit to Pakistan. Have a good trip...and share the stories.

Bon Voyage.

HN (#66):

I enjoyed your dissection of temporal’s story, but…

[“The idea was under explored to my mind. The woman is evoked, but not given character.”]

I feel that was its strength. Evocation has its own resonance. The moment something is defined within the parameters of ‘character’, it loses its allegorical potential and becomes circumscribed by the exigencies of its predetermined ‘fate’.

[“A few avoidable clichés…twinge of jealousy / torn asunder / natural beauty.”]

True. I also felt that the writer was striving too hard to be simple at times.

[“Also, an allegory should work as a stand alone story. I did not figure out some of the allusions….did others…but somebody more ignorant than me…are there any such? might have missed the whole story….”]

If they did miss the allusions, it could still be about a woman, derelict and dismayed.

I agree with you that the title was not the best. Can’t make any suggestions….I did think of an alternative ending, though… but it is the writer’s prerogative to suffer or luxuriate in silence and next time we will get our just desserts!

Regards,

Farzana

krashid (#63):

I do not have any intention of debasing Islam or hurting local sentiments. Surely you cannot be serious about being put in jail for staying at a hotel? Are the jails good? (Could save me money.) Sorry for being flippant here, but I need to feel relaxed. Anyway, your well-meaning advice is well-taken…will keep it in mind.

Dear Shirin (#65):

Where was I? Arre paer zameen par kahan tikte…maile ho jaayenge :) (Oops, this filmi dialogue is a real come-down from the high-level effort here…)

Yes, this would be my first trip. Yeh kya kar diya aapne… [``Pakistani men are definately one of the most good looking men ``... so zara tawajo sey .... secondly when you do find him, ask him to take you to `village` for kebab parathas .Maybe the music in the background will be the perfect setting for a romantic evening !”]

Mooh mein paani aa gaya…kebab/paratha ka naam sunke :) I shall hold back my views on the other thing until I have had a first-hand account. (Though, going by what I have seen, why does my khaalu look like the nalli simmering in the nihari overnight?) And what music to they play in the village? Not Dumadum mast Qalander, I hope…that puts me in a Sufi trance and all vile thoughts disappear…

As for the email, I am prepared…

Pyaar,

Farzana

hobbyty (#68):

[“Most definitely go - and especially in the manner most have told you will not be acceptable.

Most defintely go to all the areas you have been told not to go.

Make eye contact! You`ll be just fine”]

Why the note of sarcasm? For me? Khair, aapki marzi…and I always make eye contact, because it reveals a clear conscience (aur doobne walla doob jaaye to aur bhi mazaa!). Thanks, I will be fine…or is it fined??

Fozia:

U know, even i was thinking on these lines...50 years in the life of a nation is nothing!

-Hana

Overall, I enjoyed reading this.

Perhaps it was just me but I got a feeling that this allegory subconciously was based not on the common women in general. Rather, it is a play on the type of emotions, insecurity and loneliness that a beautiful woman - rich, admired from afar would experience. Much like... The late Princess Diana?

Oh and I beg to differ that a nation could be middle age at 50. Dogs are middle age at roughly 10, Humans at 50, and nations? At the age of 50 most would barely be beyond the nascent stage.

Regards,

Fozia

Dear Eklvya # 64

You are not `too ordinary a man`. Yours is the sanest voice and a heart of gold. If you see this, please write: deliciouskarachi@hotmail.com

naz

Ms. Versey

Most definitely go - and especially in the manner most have told you will not be acceptable.



Most defintely go to all the areas you have been told not to go.

Make eye contact! You`ll be just fine.