Rang De Basanti

The students’ Common Room at the City Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology, Karachi, looked alive with the vibrant traditional colours of Pakistan’s culture on the 13th of August. It was a festive Independence Day celebration organized by the students’ Club Razzmatazz and the technical staff. Dhaaba Basanti was set up to rejoice the patriotic spirits.

The guests; student and faculty, were welcomed by the traditional Dhol beats to a rural style hawker’s stand – the Thailaa, that served Kukkar Biryani, Basanti Lassi, Lashkara Chaat and more of Pakistan’s desi sweets and snacks. Whereas, a Sheesha Baithak welcomed the Sheesha smokers. The high jived audience broke out into lively dances to moving folk tunes and bhangra music.

The President of the campus students’ Club Razzmatazz; Anum Ali, was dressed as Basanti. The guests were keen to have their photos taken with the mascot. In her glittery kameez shalwar, several dozens of bangles clinking on both wrists, flower garlands – Gajray to accompany the bangles, payals on her bare feet and a mischievious smile on her face, the chulbuli Basanti made way through the crowd serving snacks and chilled, sweet Basanti Lassi. “We’re zinda dil people.” She said, “Amidst whatever mix of worries we live in, we make it at the end of the day.”

The food counter then opened up to its Lashkara Chaat service. Chholay, Dahi Baray and Paapri were served with a hint of Chaat Masaala, yoghurt and sweet and sour chutnees. The Sheesha Baithak continued to brim with peels of laughter and masti as the crowd smoked away the sweet and scented flavours. “I greatly enjoy supervising themed festive events with the creative student body here.” Systems Executive, Zeeshan Jafri appraised the team’s efforts while smoking Double Apple at the Sheesha Baithak.

At the peak hour of the celebration, Zeeshan Jafri, the supervisor of the team called out for everyone to form a huddle for the cake cutting ceremony. The cake; shaped like the national flag – the Sabz Hilali parcham, awaited in all its glory. Zeeshan Jafri proudly handed over the knife to Anum Ali; the spunky Basanti girl, and a high-throated national anthem was joined in by APIIT students and faculty. As the Basanti; alongwith Sabiha Bukhari – the Dean, cut the cake the room echoed with cheers of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ and Murtaza and Ali let the confetti bombs explode and it rained confetti over the crowd.

Lunch was a mouth watering daig of Kukkar Biryani. The guests and the proud team ate to their hearts’ content. At the end of the celebration the team bid farewell to their guests having summed up the moments with a grand group photo session.

“This was an out-of-the-world setup!” the Dean patted the team’s back, “You guys totally rocked it in true meaning.”
Dhaaba Basanti proved to be an eye-candy at the auspicious Independence Day celebrations and the young patriots lived up to their promise of a rocking Pakistani nation.