Poem Number New Year

Can`t really comment on the merits of the poem. I think i the verse``still in my skin`` has also been borrowed from somewhere. I think i have heard it before .. but can`t really remember.

Too many people in Pakistan are trying to be something they are not. They are moving way from their culture. They are losing their identity.

By the way, as for ecstacy, it is readily used by individuals in certain hi-fi parties in Pakistan by some youngters. :)

Doesn`t mean the same as ekstasis though!

Scout

OK, we get it, you`re not a big fan of poetry. Why parrot the sentiment every time a poem is published here? Unless the comment is constructive, just leave it out, why don`t you.

I enjoyed this. Well written, interesting take on the theme. I also like the other two poems on the board at present, though this one I think is best.

Happy New Year, y`all.

Mahim,

TI also comes on at 1:30 A.M, if you miss it at 6 P.M. If its not too much trouble, could you tell me where you got the harry potter undies from?

i hope you do something else besides writing `not so profound` poetry.

sadna #122: Pakistan`s political history is marked by errors, excesses and corruption of the ambitious military leaders and the ambitious feudal class. I will be the first to state that. And have stated in regularly.

I have seen the regimes of Ayub, Bhutto, Zia, NS, BB, and now Musharraf. And a few others like Yahya, Junejo etc., who came for short moments. Of these, I was too young to remember anything about Ayub and Yahya (but have read enough about it). The rest I am aware of.

I oppose(d) Bhutto, NS, BB and Zia.

- Having read about Ayub, I support his economic reforms and oppose his political interventions (I am not sure whether to put his govt. in the good or bad category. It made Pakistan the fastest rising economy of South Asia, but introduced too many social and political problems). As a person, I cannot support Ayub, because his family, through him, ended up heavily intertwined into the feudal based politics.

- As for the rest, Bhutto, being the most capable and intelligent and misguidedly ambitious, committed the biggest faults. He encouraged Pakistan into 65 and 71 wars, and then jumped ship right at the end, and started opposing the same regimes that he had supported (like a VP deliberating getting his company into trouble, so he can take the CEO`s position). Most of all, his nationalisation of a fast growing economy (Pakistan at one point, was ahead of Korea, Singapore etc.), was the biggest crime ever committed against Pakistan. He did have some virtues, as well, though. He was not (too) corrupt, from what I have heard. And he introduced Pakistan`s first post-Jinnah massive political movement (unfortunately, he ended up giving more importance to his feudal instincts, than his patriotic political ones).

- Zia was too narrow-minded, and too clever, to become a leader. He was too narrow-minded to lead Pakistan, and too clever to be removed. He would not have become even COAS, had Bhutto not personally picked him through nepotism. I opposed Zia, even though I was in the military. Not too many people in the military like him. I can clearly remember the day he held his referendum. I was on a parade ground in Sargodha, and remember the disgust on the officers` and soldiers` face, when they were told to vote.

Zia brought back economic growth to 6% (through good luck due to UAE expatriate money and US aid). But he destroyed Pakistan`s society. He bifurcated into into two parts, Shariah and non-Shariah, and introduced way too much religion.

Zia did fight the Soviets and kept them out of Pakistan. Which was an achievement. And though some people say he was very corrupt, most people I have talked to say he was personally financially relatively honest (though dishonest in his statements and actions).

But most of all, Zia committed the cardinal sin of Martial Laws, i.e. he introduced Martial Law, thereby stunting the political process, and did not solve any major problems. And his next generation is now also part of Pakistan`s feudal PML.

- BB and NS had absolutely no interest in Pakistan. They were out to make a fast buck; plain and simple. Both of them were representatives of Pakistan`s feudal parties (even though, Sharifs were urbanites). There is no need to go into the details of their massive financial and social corruption. This is well-documented, even in Indian papers.

Uptil the late 80s, Pakistan despite all its problems, had at least been able to support its 6% rate of economic growth. Within the 90s, BB and NS introduced a corruptive free-for-all, that resulted in all the previous problems, plus a growth rate of 3%. No international financial instititution was even willing to give Pakistan a loan.

Unlike Bhutto and Zia and Ayub, I don`t think NS and BB had any virtues, and did not do anything for Pakistan. They were, and are, just robbers.

There have been two points when I thought Pakistan was finished. The first was when the Soviets launched a full fledged assault into Afghanistan, with an intention of going into Pakistan. I was in the military at that time, and have first hand knowledge of the counter-measures Pakistan had to take to handle the Soviet incursions.

The second point was towards the end of NS`s last term, before the recent coup. NS and his cronies had brought Pakistan to a failed state point. By this time, my family was actively involved with Imran Khan`s political party, and I had a rude awakening to Pakistan`s politics and the various thugs and mafia that dominate it, under the garb of, ``Democracy.``

Then the coup occured, and I thanked God. People had tried to paint Musharraf as a religious extremist and a dishonest man. I had worked with enough Generals to know, that he is honest and a liberal progressive minded person. I have supported him for a three year Martial Law.

In that sense, in my whole lifetime, the only Pakistani leader I have supported is Musharraf. I opposed every other, for one reason or another. Primarily, because I felt they were all personally dishonest, either financially or in their intentions. I don`t agree with everything Musharrafs` govt. has done, but I think even his harshest impartial critics agree that he is progressive, honest and patriotic. In essence, he is the better choice out of NS, BB, Altaf Hussain, and Qazi. Ideally, I would like to see someone like a democratically elected Imran Khan, Omar Asghar Khan (now dead) as the heads of Pakistan, i.e. honest, philanthrapic very educated people.

Now to your questions:

``Very true, but that hasnot stopped me from expressing myself. ``

Please go ahead and express yourself. That is what this site is for.

``What were those?``

More on this later. It is too detailed to cover here. And you need to realize that the current Pakistani military is different from that in 71. 99.9% of the current soldiers wasn`t in the Army in 71.

``If there is such a consensus against feudals, why didn`t the military institute land reforms in these 3 years?``

This is the million dollar question. And I wish I had the answer. I don`t know why. Musharraf has taken on evey status quo group in Pakistan. That is why they are all united against him (to me, this is a compliment to him).

He has taken on the maulvi brigade (which no one in the history of Pakistan has done, including the most liberal noise-makers on this site, and in Pakistan). Infact, I wouldn`t be surprised if Musharraf is assasinated someday, by one of them.

He has completely defanged Pakistan all-powerful beaurecracy. Their hundred year power, derived from British law, is gone.

He has taken on Pakistan`s powerful business groups. Many of the big ones, with corruption charges, are in jail. And the small non-tax paying ones are now being forced to pay taxes. Even their refusals to invest in local industry, hasn`t stopped his efforts.

He has stood up to India successufully (in my opinion), even though India has larger forces threatening Pakistan, than ever before in its history. Pakistan`s position vis-a-vis India is a lot stronger than it was when he carried out the coup. I had suggested at the time of the coup, that it was the perfect opportunity for India to corner Pakistan, and negotiate some sort of a Kashmir setlement, since Pakistan was at its weakest. India would have had to only give up a little bit, and would have gained a lot. I think India lost a golden oppourtunity.

He has even taken on his own Generals. And has retired some of the ones, who helped him carry out the coup. Nearly, all of Pakistan`s new Lt. Gens. and Maj. Gens. have now been appointed by him. And I have it from my friends in the military, that Pakistan`s military is going back to its British traditions (their was some deviation during Zia`s rules), i.e. gora officers (like Musharraf and Asif Nawaz) are being preferred over maulvi officers (like Zia and Hameed Gul).

But he has not taken on the feudals, as a whole. He has defanged them constituitonally, and has kicked out and jailed and disqualified many of their top members. He has taken away their executive power at the National level, by devolving power to the lowest level.

But no land reforms. I don`t know why. Maybe he will do it through an elected Assembly. Maybe it is just too difficult. I don`t know....

The problem isn`t just land reforms. The feudal lands weren`t even taxed. Can you believe that. An agricultural country, not taxing feudal lands. That is another reason, feudals want to keep the status quo.

``Your argument seems to be that a number of people must be excluded from the political process for the country`s good. Who is most fit to decide who must be left out?``

This is difficult to answer. In a democracy, it should be the voters and the Supreme Court who decide who should be in or out. But what to do in a country, where a person, in feudal lands, can be adbucted and raped, at the whims of a feudal MNA. And a Supreme Court can be stormed by the hooligans of an elected PM, and then be too scared to give a decision against the same hooligans. Instead, the Supreme Court ends up firing its own Chief Justice.

Who should decide, in a country, in which the pre-requisites of democracy haven`t even been established (I think Indian politics has progressed to a point, where the pre-requisites are filled, buy Pakistani politics never will until the feudals are de-feudalized). And the elected feudal MNAs and MPAs want to make sure these pre-requisites don`t get established. That is their sole purpose of being in politics. Otherwise, they would be in agriculture.

Your guess is as good as mine on who should decide. My guess is an honest progressive dictator, or a union of all the urban political parties in Pakistan maybe able to do it. I am hoping Musharraf fits the first bill, and Tehrik, MQM, etc. fit the second bill (nearly all the urban parties, generally support the current govt).

Let`s see what happens. Hope that answers some of your questions.

hard to comment on poetry. not as hard as trying to find the sense of belonging or fitting in.

khair, Pakistan can be harsh on individuals.

ps) the intense fog rolling across the punjab plains will make sure that there is no war that breaks out in the subcontinent.

Saminashah

In Paksitan, Mahim is a girls name, most often a Muslim as well.

Mahim this was good. Most of us who have lived abroad for a long time, find all the ``modern`` aspects of our present culture extremely shocking.

Last year when I returned to Pak. after 8 years, living in the USA, one of my school friends asked if I had gone to the prom? All I could do was stare at her with disbelief. ``We are not supposed to go to the prom,`` was all I could say. Plus, the bare mid-riffs in fashion magazines, my jaw just dropped. We turn out to be the more modest ones. Strange,sad and pathetic!

Regards,

Kiran

Mahim this was good. Most of us who have lived abroad for a long time, find all the ``modern`` aspects of our present culture extremely shocking.

Last year when I returned to Pak. after 8 years, living in the USA, one of my school friends asked if I had gone to the prom? All I could do was stare at her with disbelief. ``We are not supposed to go to the prom,`` was all I could say. Plus, the bare mid-riffs in fashion magazines, my jaw just dropped. We turn out to be the more modest ones. Strange,sad and pathetic!

Regards,

Kiran

Dear Mr. Maher,

Nice work. Just a couple of technical questions, if you are so inclined;

1.I assume that this is a free verse poem; what criteria do you use for line breaks? In other words, how do you decide where to break your lines?

2. Have you used more formal structures? (i.e. ghazals, pantoons, sestinas, couplets) If so, any forms that you like particularly?

3. Any influences that you care to discuss, poetry or otherwise?

regards

Thank you for reminding us how little things change, in spite of how much we`d like them to.

Aamir

OOOH my Achey Breaky Heart

Why try so hard

To forget Its Pakistan

When you can have

Your Own N.America

From Canada To Mexico

In your own Back yard

Light a b.b.Q grill

Some Qurbani Kebab

So Texan Dance Floor

In Pakistan itself Yaar

With or Without Texan

Boots Or Hats

Line Dance With long frocks

And Levis Jeans

Another Day

You can`t always get it When you really want it You can`t always get it at all

Just because there`s space In your life it`s a waste

To spend your time why don`t you wait for the call (Just gotta get used to it)

We all get it in the end (Just gotta get used to it)

We go down and we come up again (Just gotta get used to it)

You irritate me my friend (This is no social crisis)

Outstanding (pardon the pun).

Ras

re: verdad

{Change does not necessarily assure progress, but progress implacably requires change.

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful.}

...very nice...probably the most insightful words i have ever read on chowk...

semi:

like my brother says, the BP kee gaye walee toffee...actually, nevermind ;0)

Molko #13,

i`m a firm believer in saying what i think when i think it....makes life more interesting don`t you think.