Chowk@Five

There is no place as wonderful in this whole wide cyber world. From unbelievable cat fights to downright piggish behaviour to abnormal feelings of wanting to reach out and hug interactors to meeting some special people in real and cyber life- Chowk is a miracle without which many of us would be different people. Thank you most emphatically.

anNy

Hard to believe that 5 years have gone by. That was the time when chowk was rich, could afford to pay ``india today`` far a banner ad. Now it is hard for chowk to have timely updates.

Most of the bright and colourful have left, well only hamidm remains. Bhaijan, ganga din, tehsin.

There were great moments, kargill invasion, hijacking and of course, `` he had no choice`` by the little mushy. It must be a useful exercise to resurrect that article with all the posts to see who was most ``prophetic``. Most of the posters appear to be still around.

Thank you Chowk. You kept my creative spark alive at a time when it was seriously close to being extinguished. I don`t think I`d be where I am today without you (seriously).

Many Happy Returns and love to all my fellow Chowkies.

Ref Lajwanti #: 28

[Hippo birdies to yooo]

That should be ``Hippo birdies two ewe``.

Chowk walon ko bohat bohat mubarak =o)

and here`s an extra `thank you` to Chowk for reaffirming my faith (in who else but myself?) and for unclogging the word drainpipe...

rgds,

Samina

Happy Birthday Chowk

lots of hugs and kisses to Chowk Staff & readers

Cheers

...dear chowk...happy birthday...it has been/continues to be a great ride:)....

A big fat mubarak-baad to the Chowk staff on the fifth birthday of the site. It`s been a pleasure witnessing both the wisdom and whimsy (sometimes the same) that Chowk fosters. Looking forward to many more. Jeetay rahein.

Hippo birdies to yooo

Hippo birdies to yooooo

Hippo birdieees dar Chowwwwwwwwwk

Hippo birdies to yooooooooow.

And; THU,NKS for lattingme, b,e ME!

Your fann

Lajwanti

PS Slaaaaaaaam!

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Happy birthday chowk, and glad you plan to stick around for five more years (at least). And thanks for providing facilities to promote this wonderful new form of communication - the internet. As per the news item today, they have identified the ``speech gene``, which is unique to humans and which came into being about 200,000 years ago - about the same time that mankind in its present form came into being. This signifies, I think, the fundamental importance of communication to human progress. And the internet will no doubt ultimately have as big an impact on human society as development of speech - thus, to state the most obvious, it will be hard to demonize the ``enemy country`` if the populace can communicate with one another. So, chowk is part of a fundamental revolution in human affairs, I think.

And for that reason I wish you all success. I do think that for success chowk exercises a bit more of it`s role as moderator (i.e. by ensuring that posts stick to it`s stated guidelines), rather than the laissez-faire policy it currently seems to have. It would require more effort, but ultimately it would make chowk a more effective forum for thoughtful discussion. Otherwise, Gresham`s Law (bad currency drives out good currency) would ultimately apply I think.

The above are some thoughts on fine-tuning the management of chowk, and certainly I certainly hope that this is done while retaining the basic spirit of letting all viewpoints come through on chowk.

chowk is an addiction alrite, even when all the articles say the same thing over and over again....and even when all the interactors say the same thing over and over gain....when u`re hooked, u want to come here over and over again, even against ur intelligence and will sometimes.

happy birthday chowk, and a big high five to the editors for keeping it kicking.

Happy Birthday Chowk,

To that special staff person, who we are told, has to do late night diaper changes....you are the greatest person on Chowk; thankyou!.. I hope, for a change, you are a S.Asian MALE!!:)

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August 14 & 15 Blues?


MOSQUE OR TEMPLE?

The Indus and the Ganges shed few tears of joy
Can one imagine the Taj Mahal without admirers?
While a Brahmin says that the age of great people is over
The multitudes wait for messiahs at
The Shalimar Gardens reserved for VIP’s
Bring your own mirrors to the Sheesh Mahal they say.

Old and new dynasties suffer blow after blow
Unfortunately this is not a kushti/wrestling show
While a warrior Shivaji watches Rustam do battle
Tired soldiers shoot at Midnight’s Children as
The battlefield has now reached the qalandar/minstrel
Who only wanted to recite Urdu poems.

History they say is pregnant once again
Multiple births, the wise old ladies predict
But they have been wrong before says the hakeem/doctor
Herbal medicine will control the birth rate and
The pulse of the mareez/patient has been felt
Indigestion from eating at Delhi’s Chandni Chowk.

Yet peace will make a comeback “as always” says the shaayir/poet
Such burning tragedy is embedded in our tandoori bread flour with
An explanation that has already been written in Sindhi
A translation is in the works at a London suburb but
All this hate is blind says a Sufi/Mystic
Mosque or Temple, please mix your spirits with great care.


Ras H. Siddiqui

Dear Chowk and Chokers lol ..

Happy Anniversery!

One recommendation, you need to attract more people!..We need some new blood, you should fix term limits for people like myself, temporal Omair etc etc...lol!

Best wishes again!