Of Vista Points and Immortality

Monis, nice piece of writing...you did Youngblood proud!

Dear Crypto:

A sensible analysis on the Kashmir issue in a while from the Pakistani point of view. I believe this is the first time, a Pakistani (or even Indian) analyst has made the following observation:

``This option would have proved even more difficult than the first option, especially in the absence of any large scale inflow of refugees into Pakistan from i-Kashmir. (This is true even now).``

In 1947, five million Hindus and Sikhs were driven out of W. Pakistan in less than six months.

East Pakistan saw out-flow of ten million refugees, mostly Hindus, in less than a year. Bosnia saw close to a million Muslim refugees within couple of months. Afterwards no more than two thousand bodies were found by Nato forces.

How come the seven hundred thousand Neo-nazi rapist Indian forces( A lean mean killing machine according to some rhyming Pakistani) have not been able to drive three million Muslims out of the Kashmir valley into Azad Kashmir after ten years? Are they pelting the terrorists with marigold flowers or using bad jokes to make them die laughing? Or could it be, on just an outside chance, that GOI has given them express orders to avoid targetting the civilians?

Something is definitely amiss in all the Pakistani slogans on Chowk.

Only just now did I get around to reading this story. It brought back the feelings I myself felt looking at the same landscape. Try as I may, though, the GGM comparison eludes me completely. The sentences are certainly NOT too long as suggested by one of the readers. I think the author is a mature and capabale craftsman of words. I vote a big `thumbs up`.

...SR

Monis,

Thank you for a very touching and poignant story. I liked the imagery. I am glad to see someone put things in perspective as the inertia of everyday life consumes us. As someone once said, ``life is what`s happening while we are planning for it`` (or something like that).

An aside: the story made me nostalgic for San Francisco and the Bay area. I spent a summer in Berkeley about 13 years ago, your story makes me want to go back ... some day, some day ...

I thought this was very good prose.

Re: Master PK:
I dont think Wasiq said that Monis IS Gabriel Garcia but that certain aspects of the story remined him of a story by GGM. Your sneer here and in ``regret`` seem a bit uncalled for.

I did not find the sentences too wordy, but that at least is honest criticism by you and Khan which the author would appreciate.

Re: Rad.

Yes it is good to see this after all the arguments going on in other articles.

Re: Asim

Well, there is the minimalist school and the maximalist school of prose and good prose, I think, is where the twain meet.

To take an example from your reply:

``Indeed the author is to be warmly congratulated for his deep insight, and captivating attention to details.``

An adjective/adverb beside each noun/verb weakens the power of descriptive prose, in my opinion.

Brevity is the soul of wit as Doc-on-chowk said. And while the article does not meander in overall length and treatment, a few of the sentences could be more minimal: the richness of others would stand out more.

It was another trip to San Fran to see my cousin and have a little fun. I had just bought a new camera. It had a decent zoom for its size and lots of cool gadgets. So we went...taking pictures of the sights. But you know what usually happens. You spend time going out, visiting restaurants and hanging out. Then comes the last day and the rush to use the camera and fulfill the promise you made to yourself to at least get some pictures. I always regret not taking pictures...always had excuses. So there I am on top the hill with Monis. He decides to stay where he is and I decide to run around and catch the last few minutes of light on film. I run to the other side of the hill and am stunned. The sun is about to go down over the ocean, a beautiful shoreline and some valleys. Still in my adreneline pumped mission to get memories, I take a few shots, then look out ahead of me. Really look out ahead of me. It was only then I got the point of why I was there. Being so goal orientated, I didn`t even think about the views I saw all day, just getting the shot. I was held there, physically unable to move away from what was in front of me. I can`t remember the last time I was so enveloped by my surroundings. Thank you Monis. Thank you for reminding me of the point. Thank you for reminding me to stop my hectic life, for just a moment and check out the view. Its amazing what nature can show you about yourself in a simple moment. Excuse me...I have a rose to smell.

The story was beautifully written. Makes me think of the old age of people I care about. Also reminded me of a beautiful short-story by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, ``Bon Voyage, Mr. President``. Thanks.

Re : Khan

I disagree with you about adjectives and adverbs...I believe its the adjectives which give the all important ability to view it through the writers eyes, as it happened.. The adverbs give the article a colour and three dimension , if you will, and is an essantial part of such expose work.

Guy De Maupassant and Somerset Maugham excel in this esoteric art to such a great extent, that their few page short stories, leave an indelible mark on ones memory, and one remembers the struggle of mankind against the ravages of human narure, deceit, double standards, love, hate, vendetta, and other human ailments and truimph, with great fondness, at least i do....

BTW, in my earlier reply, the story that i had described could have been by Guy De Maupassant, and not necessarily by Somerset Maugham, as i had indicated. Perhaps some honourable gentleman can confirm/clarify....

asim

Beautiful piece of writing... very moving, and written with such feeling, honesty, and sheer detail of the imagery is fantastic..

``...The wrinkled old glove now lay comfortably on top of the boy`s youthful hand, the contrast of which was as clear as day and night.`` Exquisite detail!!!

It reminded me of a similar themed short story, by the divine Somerset Maugham, where the old man sits by a bench in the park, and a similar aged lady, with a grand child happens by and takes a chance in sitting by this lonely man for a few minutes, and how his whole life revolves in front of his eyes, the feelings of regret for having never had somebody to love, or to see that loved one be taken up so early in his youthful existence,,,, the feelings and joy that old man could have shred with this buxom kind lady, whom he found to be an epitome of all he could desire in his life... Ah Regrets and lost dreams can be such a torture,,,, specialy if one is left alone..without the partner of ones life...

I can see the same empty vague expression, a lifeless dull boredom, always surrounding my PAPA (we lovingly call my grandfather papa), ever since that binding force, vision of harmony, tact, kindness, love,my nani amman (Allah bless her soul) passed away almost 1 1/2 years ago...
Often my grand pa, would just relate stories about how onderful and kind our grandmother was, and its only then I see the glimmer of memory and rapture light up his sad eyes, as perhaps he recalls some joyous events from their youth together,, whereby resulting in a humble meek smile, which he does not care to elaborate to us, his beloved grand children...

But i digress, Indeed the author is to be warmly congratulated for his deep insight, and captivating attention to details.... Perhaps a bit surprising in the conventional sense, such details and vivid description arising from the heart and mind of a scientist/engineer, judging from the small resume at the end of the article..


Regards

Asim

The end beautifully captures the theme of realizing one`s limited vision. Very well-written (except for a slight over-indulgence in adjectives, adverbs).

Encore! Author! Author! Speech!

I envy your talent for such crisp imagery ... makes me want to go to San Francisco. Nice job.

Beautiful. Its good to again see such articles on chowk. I was wondering if the dreamers and feel-ers had left for good.

An excellent article. You have captured the human element in all of us. The love, the sorrow, the element of appreciation of life.

Beautiful and poignant vignette. Each one of us can only hope that brilliant lights await us after our own last sunset...