Broken-Hearts, Dream-Filled eyes
Hamid Mahmood July 2, 2003
#1 Posted by Inquirer on July 2, 2003 12:34:41 pm
You have written a ghastly description. Your statement is sadly deficient because you invoke no action. All over the world the poor are exploited. But there is need here to propound something! There has to be a rallying position otherwise yours is just a shiek in dark wilderness.
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#2 Posted by moulabux on July 2, 2003 2:20:39 pm
Reminds of this one dialogue of Liar Liar, where an ecstatic Jim Carrey hands all the green bucks he had to a beggar, and says something like, ``You can have all my money, but it won`t keep you happy.`` Sad but true.
Cheers.
Cheers.
#3 Posted by sri on July 2, 2003 3:39:19 pm
As Inquirer said, where is the call for action ? The same human tragedy exists in India too. A ten minute drive in Bombay, you will see the worst slums and greatest human tragedy.
Some of us know what we are. We are the great thinkers of our country. We know what we need to do make our people prosperous. We got innovative ideas to start businesses, companies, etc. that provide employment. We know we are not whining little loosers. We got great knowledge on every thing related to economics such as GDP, PPP, etc. We know our country is ruled by some previous generation, thick headed, corrupt politicians. We know previous generation politicians with their stupid heads stuck in their behinds are ruining our country with their corrupt ways, slogans and incitement. We need to wake up. Through sabotage we should hang `em high from the lamp posts. Through clever means, the good people should grab the seats of power that make policy decisions. Every honest young man should aim to become a local MLA ( member of legislative assembly ) or MP ( of parliament ). Only then we can BEGIN to change our country.
#4 Posted by temporal on July 2, 2003 3:39:19 pm
Hamid:
...in the canvas you selected (for reasons best known to you) you chose to use only charcoal...it does reflect the grim reality when seen that way...reminded me of pixote and its unacknowledged rip-off salaam bombay
...on the bigger canvas of life there are other colours as well...
rgds,
t
...in the canvas you selected (for reasons best known to you) you chose to use only charcoal...it does reflect the grim reality when seen that way...reminded me of pixote and its unacknowledged rip-off salaam bombay
...on the bigger canvas of life there are other colours as well...
rgds,
t
#5 Posted by aminarasool on July 2, 2003 11:35:08 pm
hello,
A very good description, and i am happy that i came across this writing, it made me think. Every day i see children of all ages walking besides me, but i am so busy chasing the blurred dream that i do not take time out to actually listen to their silent cry. There is so much we can do to help them, but then i am not sure what can be done. You can put them in school but then you will be taking away a bread earner. Their families survive because of them. This is a vicious circle of fate, and though things can be done to improve the situation but there is no one doing the need full. Nevertheless, nice work and please keep on writing on such matters, it is time that they are brought to light and away from the shackles of being called a taboo.
A very good description, and i am happy that i came across this writing, it made me think. Every day i see children of all ages walking besides me, but i am so busy chasing the blurred dream that i do not take time out to actually listen to their silent cry. There is so much we can do to help them, but then i am not sure what can be done. You can put them in school but then you will be taking away a bread earner. Their families survive because of them. This is a vicious circle of fate, and though things can be done to improve the situation but there is no one doing the need full. Nevertheless, nice work and please keep on writing on such matters, it is time that they are brought to light and away from the shackles of being called a taboo.
#6 Posted by soundmeister on July 3, 2003 7:22:45 am
So-----?
Kuch nayaa bolo yaar---your tirade sounds like a fundraising speech delivered to a bunch of fat goraas with charity on their mind----
Hamid Mahmood? think I can say with confidence that it isn`t hamidm :)))
Kuch nayaa bolo yaar---your tirade sounds like a fundraising speech delivered to a bunch of fat goraas with charity on their mind----
Hamid Mahmood? think I can say with confidence that it isn`t hamidm :)))
#7 Posted by jay on July 3, 2003 7:22:46 am
Hamid, Amina rasool 5
Your article deserves an exception. I do agree with all you said, the dreamy faces with shattered dreams, and reminds me of my young days when I was a young man with enviable job. There used to be these children, near the shops where I lived in Bangalore and they were there all through the day. I used to buy them expensive baked items, the kinds they are unlikely to taste, and they used to crowd around this mad man., a ritual continued for several years. There was no intention to help them, but only a gesture to acknowledge the oneness, may be a deeper realisation that if the dice of destiny had rolled differently, I could have been one among them. We were poor. So amina, dont thnk of helping, may be no one can help, but there is no harm in giving a token of recognition of the mystery of human existance.
Your article deserves an exception. I do agree with all you said, the dreamy faces with shattered dreams, and reminds me of my young days when I was a young man with enviable job. There used to be these children, near the shops where I lived in Bangalore and they were there all through the day. I used to buy them expensive baked items, the kinds they are unlikely to taste, and they used to crowd around this mad man., a ritual continued for several years. There was no intention to help them, but only a gesture to acknowledge the oneness, may be a deeper realisation that if the dice of destiny had rolled differently, I could have been one among them. We were poor. So amina, dont thnk of helping, may be no one can help, but there is no harm in giving a token of recognition of the mystery of human existance.
#8 Posted by nazarhayatkhan on July 3, 2003 7:23:00 am
Hamid
My heart weeps at all what you have said. So true and tragic.
And we are stuck in our stupid egos, ideologies, religious righteousness, territorial claims and so on. (pakistan is spending Rs 160 Billion on defence - and 3 Billion on education)
The mankind is one - the human beings no matter of which origin are the same -
The only stark difference is their quality of life.
#9 Posted by septran on July 3, 2003 8:09:43 am
Hamid,
you have high lighted child abuse in a very pathetic way.only senstive person can feel it.the other day i was just buying a pair of shoe for my self,i saw a six year old ,bare foot with dirty clothes entered the shop.I just bought a pair of shoes for him.He could not believe it,twice he pulled my dupatta in excitement``mera hai``
his face was brighten with the very idea of shoes.his heart was filled with awe and reverence.but we always give five, ten rupees and get aside..unfortunately we think all task should be done by government.in fact it``s you and me who has to ceate awareness among the people for egaltarian society.every individual has to pay his role.
over seas people should get to gather to form some organisation with the help of NGO.where they can learn different skills ,so that they may earn their livlihood as well as self respect.one drop of water can make a puddle.
you have high lighted child abuse in a very pathetic way.only senstive person can feel it.the other day i was just buying a pair of shoe for my self,i saw a six year old ,bare foot with dirty clothes entered the shop.I just bought a pair of shoes for him.He could not believe it,twice he pulled my dupatta in excitement``mera hai``
his face was brighten with the very idea of shoes.his heart was filled with awe and reverence.but we always give five, ten rupees and get aside..unfortunately we think all task should be done by government.in fact it``s you and me who has to ceate awareness among the people for egaltarian society.every individual has to pay his role.
over seas people should get to gather to form some organisation with the help of NGO.where they can learn different skills ,so that they may earn their livlihood as well as self respect.one drop of water can make a puddle.
#10 Posted by aquaris on July 3, 2003 8:33:15 am
you told a naked honest truth not only about our country....but about the whole world..
...Its not just in Pakistan..its every where this exploitation of poor....but Rich...and Influentials.....its every where........and has been going on since AGES.....Even the Now enlightened.....Europe ..used Pit children....to extact...Coal from mines....so that their rich could prosper more......its one of the Inherent Injustices....God has Gifted Humanity....there is no escape.....it will go on like this.....some one else...then in his drawing room will again talk about it ...maybe just to kill time...or keep the concesation going.....I do not know your.....reason....but still..
Call me cynic...or whatever...this mere verbosery...won`t help......yes it may touch some sympathtic stings....for some time but then the life will go on...
...but still One should appreciate.....and acknowledge....that atleast.........
...Maybe....
or Maybe not....
their may be a change...
#11 Posted by hamidm2 on July 3, 2003 9:46:38 am
........ this is the real tragedy of our people .......... while we quibble over kashmir, piree-muridee, web etiquettes, tnt and other such nonsense, the children go to bed hungry ............. so we throw them a few rupees, or buy them a hot meal but the problem is much much bigger and we are too busy worrying about ``bigger`` things ........... shame on us .............
#12 Posted by hamid_81 on July 3, 2003 9:46:38 am
Thank You everyone for your comments!
#1 by Inquirer
To write about some issue and then suggest some sort of action is very easy. Help these children! If you are goving 5 Rupees give 10! But that was not my intention. My intention was to let my reader decide what action should he/she take? I wanted to make my reader aware that he/she shares this world with alot of THINGS. And one of those Things are these children.
#6 by soundmeister
Yes! You are very right. This is not hamidm. My name on chowk is hamid_81. And it might sound like a speech to fat goras with charity on thier mind, but trust me, it is this country where we can expect people to listen and provide us with charity to help these children. In Pakistan, the Sahib`s and the Begum`s are better off humiliating and beating these children.
Thank You Nazar Sahib, jay,aminarasool ,temporal , septran and aquaris.
#4 by sri on July 2, 2003 3:39pm PT
``As Inquirer said, where is the call for action ? ``
This article was not meant to have a call for action. The call for action should come from within you. Why do I need to give a call for action? I will be only the voice of these children. You have to decide to listen to it or ignore. Let me share with you why i decided to write this article. I was coming out of a big restaurant in Karachi, with a couple of friends, when a boy of about 5 or 6 came running to us with flowers in his hnads. He was wearing a torn Kurta Shalwar and was bare foot. He was grabbing the flowers like he was guarding something precious. He looked at me and smiled. Something about that smile just shattered me. I looked into his front pocket and asked,``How much did you make today?``
he replied, by looking into his pocket,``25 rupees, Sahib``. I took out whatever I had with me and gave it to him, and did not even ask him for a flower. He looked at me and said,``Sahib, I am not a beggar!`` I was so stunned, but quickly i took a couple of flowers from him, and he smiled, and happily ran away, literally crying with joy.
I am not sure what the call for action should be? Hmm, should it be that plzz do not give as much money as they ask you at your local Masjid to Palestine, and donate some of that to Pakistan? Or should it be that next time you pass a child of this sort instead of giving 5 rupees give 10? Or should it be that we need to work towards a Pakistan in which these children can have the oppurtunity to go to school, and strict laws should be enforced to stop child-trade, and the Hira-Mandi in Lahore and Napier Road in Karachi and all the other such places in the rest of the provinces should be completely shut down?
I don`t know. You as the reader decide.
#1 by Inquirer
To write about some issue and then suggest some sort of action is very easy. Help these children! If you are goving 5 Rupees give 10! But that was not my intention. My intention was to let my reader decide what action should he/she take? I wanted to make my reader aware that he/she shares this world with alot of THINGS. And one of those Things are these children.
#6 by soundmeister
Yes! You are very right. This is not hamidm. My name on chowk is hamid_81. And it might sound like a speech to fat goras with charity on thier mind, but trust me, it is this country where we can expect people to listen and provide us with charity to help these children. In Pakistan, the Sahib`s and the Begum`s are better off humiliating and beating these children.
Thank You Nazar Sahib, jay,aminarasool ,temporal , septran and aquaris.
#4 by sri on July 2, 2003 3:39pm PT
``As Inquirer said, where is the call for action ? ``
This article was not meant to have a call for action. The call for action should come from within you. Why do I need to give a call for action? I will be only the voice of these children. You have to decide to listen to it or ignore. Let me share with you why i decided to write this article. I was coming out of a big restaurant in Karachi, with a couple of friends, when a boy of about 5 or 6 came running to us with flowers in his hnads. He was wearing a torn Kurta Shalwar and was bare foot. He was grabbing the flowers like he was guarding something precious. He looked at me and smiled. Something about that smile just shattered me. I looked into his front pocket and asked,``How much did you make today?``
he replied, by looking into his pocket,``25 rupees, Sahib``. I took out whatever I had with me and gave it to him, and did not even ask him for a flower. He looked at me and said,``Sahib, I am not a beggar!`` I was so stunned, but quickly i took a couple of flowers from him, and he smiled, and happily ran away, literally crying with joy.
I am not sure what the call for action should be? Hmm, should it be that plzz do not give as much money as they ask you at your local Masjid to Palestine, and donate some of that to Pakistan? Or should it be that next time you pass a child of this sort instead of giving 5 rupees give 10? Or should it be that we need to work towards a Pakistan in which these children can have the oppurtunity to go to school, and strict laws should be enforced to stop child-trade, and the Hira-Mandi in Lahore and Napier Road in Karachi and all the other such places in the rest of the provinces should be completely shut down?
I don`t know. You as the reader decide.
#13 Posted by UmerMurtaza on July 3, 2003 10:08:55 am
No hamidm,
Don`t pass that shame onto me. I`ve been doing something, anything, since I was 19. You should shame the people of your age for doing nothing, for leaving this $hit for people of my generation to clear up. Shame on you, sir.
Umer M.
Don`t pass that shame onto me. I`ve been doing something, anything, since I was 19. You should shame the people of your age for doing nothing, for leaving this $hit for people of my generation to clear up. Shame on you, sir.
Umer M.
#14 Posted by harimau on July 3, 2003 10:57:29 am
Don`t worry about the defence budget, don`t worry about the corrupt politicians.
Pledge to yourself that you will pay for the education of one child in Pakistan. Choose any charity such as World Vision, CARE, Christian Children`s Fund, Edhi Foundation, etc.
If each Pakistani abroad will educate one child in Pakistan, you can see a million more children in school there.
When I read about a housewife in Chennai who learnt how to make jams and preserves from the local Seventh Day Adventist Church and now runs a small business from her home selling home-made preserves and cordials, I am happy to see one more family raising itself up by its bootstraps.
Hamid Mahmood may have pointed out that is dark out there but he is not simply cursing the darkness. He is hoping that each one of us will find a way to light just one candle so that there may be some light in some lives at least because of our efforts.
Pledge to yourself that you will pay for the education of one child in Pakistan. Choose any charity such as World Vision, CARE, Christian Children`s Fund, Edhi Foundation, etc.
If each Pakistani abroad will educate one child in Pakistan, you can see a million more children in school there.
When I read about a housewife in Chennai who learnt how to make jams and preserves from the local Seventh Day Adventist Church and now runs a small business from her home selling home-made preserves and cordials, I am happy to see one more family raising itself up by its bootstraps.
Hamid Mahmood may have pointed out that is dark out there but he is not simply cursing the darkness. He is hoping that each one of us will find a way to light just one candle so that there may be some light in some lives at least because of our efforts.
#15 Posted by temporal on July 3, 2003 12:45:04 pm
Hamid-81:
...thank you for caring enough to interact with your readers...am serious and not being facetious...it is becoming oxymoronish...writers not inter-acting on an interactive medium!
umer:
bud...this is a universal issue...not confined to the backwaters of pakistan...it is nice that you do what you can...but you are wrong to blame it all on hamidm or his generation...
digression (what else!):
when traveling/visiting the sub continent i never offer money to any beggar or alms for that matter...partially based on selfish motives (give to one and a hundred come out of woodworks to gherao you) and partly based on other motives...what was that chinese saying?...feeding fish to hungry will ward off hunger for a day, teaching them to fish will ward off hunger for ever?....
…t
...thank you for caring enough to interact with your readers...am serious and not being facetious...it is becoming oxymoronish...writers not inter-acting on an interactive medium!
umer:
bud...this is a universal issue...not confined to the backwaters of pakistan...it is nice that you do what you can...but you are wrong to blame it all on hamidm or his generation...
digression (what else!):
when traveling/visiting the sub continent i never offer money to any beggar or alms for that matter...partially based on selfish motives (give to one and a hundred come out of woodworks to gherao you) and partly based on other motives...what was that chinese saying?...feeding fish to hungry will ward off hunger for a day, teaching them to fish will ward off hunger for ever?....
…t
#16 Posted by dard on July 3, 2003 4:53:51 pm
Dear Hamid,
Please, accept my sincere most admiration, appreciation and well wishes for portraying the agonies of our society in such a moving way.
As Iqbal says:
Kanta wo de ke jiss kee khatak la-zawal ho
Ya Rabb wo dard jiss kee kassak la-zawal ho
See, it’s “dard” what is needed, and tragically what is miserably missing in the land of pure. My personal opinion is that the prevailing compact indifference, the almost total lack of empathy, is probably the root cause of the umpteen miseries being faced by us in Pakistan.
“Ehsaas”, probably the only difference between human beings and wild beasts, yet so scarce in our country. Really heartening to observe that still there are people like you around.
Please, accept my sincere most admiration, appreciation and well wishes for portraying the agonies of our society in such a moving way.
As Iqbal says:
Kanta wo de ke jiss kee khatak la-zawal ho
Ya Rabb wo dard jiss kee kassak la-zawal ho
See, it’s “dard” what is needed, and tragically what is miserably missing in the land of pure. My personal opinion is that the prevailing compact indifference, the almost total lack of empathy, is probably the root cause of the umpteen miseries being faced by us in Pakistan.
“Ehsaas”, probably the only difference between human beings and wild beasts, yet so scarce in our country. Really heartening to observe that still there are people like you around.
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