Of Nostalgia in Saudi Arabia

Ms. Jafri

Trust me, you write very well and I welcome you to your freedom. Here I dedicate a poem to you.


I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS by Maya Angelou

A free bird leaps on the back of the wind
and floats downstream till the current ends
and dips his wing in the orange suns rays and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage
can seldom see through his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom.

WOW!! Great poem Urstruly. Thanks for posting this.

Wow...that bit of ironic comedy with the first two acts almost distracted me...


Saman,

You are part of a group too illustrous and numerous to count-women who are returning to their professional careers. Keep writing, if this piece is any indication, you havent lost any gift. Hope to read more soon!

Saman Jafri:
O this is a great write-up. Simple and sweet. None of the intellectual, anaemic, man-wannabee
tripe which is somehow mistaken as..whatever.

Urstruly, that was a great poem. Very Iqbalesque. thanks.

Wish you more prosperity and freedom. Beware of jealous types. One can be a great housewife and a great writer too. They arenot mutualy exclusive. Urdu, farsi, and arabie literature is a testimony to that. Hazrat Fatima Zehra`s Divan ( collection of verses) is highly regarded and quoted by women & men alike to this day.

Echoboom Sahib,

Here is yet another board where you are incapable of reading what is in front of your face. Is there NO PLACE where you do not bring your ugliness, your stupidity or usual agenda?

Have some dignity and respect for other people. Either keep your drivel on your own ilog, or publish something on chowk. But this constant crashing and heckling boards-esp. ones like this- is your obvious attempt at bullying and policing. Disgusting.

Hello Saman

I can very well relate to what you wrote,not becz I have lived in KSA but becz I have visited the country on a no. of occasions. It is sad but true.You cant do much and neither shud u even try to, I `m sure you`ll get used to it in a few more years :)

The reason I am writing to you is becz i have a Post-it note with me that I believe was sent to me by you years ago and I have kept it with me for some odd reason.Where you ever associated with Us - The News?

Waitng for your response. You may mail me at ashraf.fareed@abl.com.pk

Warm regards,

Fareed Ashraf

Saman:

Thank you for sharing some highlights of your journey toward introspection. Some of my very close cousins have grown up in Jeddah and I can relate to what you have shared. They are no longer in Jeddah but certain restrictions have traveled with them wherever they have chosen to settle down. Personally, I think it`s more of the psychological stuff that stayed with them from their childhood experience. Another very exuberant close family member moved there after her marriage and tried to adjust but simply could not. She was in Riyadh. Thank God she is out of that den of nahoosut and feels much better and productive about her life and herself.

When I was a 100% idealist, I used to believe that if one is strong enough then one can survive through all the hurricanes anywhere. Later on, as I grew up, had more exposure and utilized my sharp sense of observation, I realized that I was wrong. The environment defintely contributes to one`s growth and development and who and what one wants to be.

On a different note: How about being a regular columnist for Chowk from Jeddah? And, please if you decide to take the above route then do NOT submit your stuff that was already published elsewhere.

Best Wishes.

In case people havent seen this (now defunct) blog, there is a witty and perceptive saudi whose blog has become rather famous

http://muttawa.blogspot.com/

enjoy

That was an exhuming and exuberant read, Saman. I hope you will continue to excite us with more writing.

--Ibn

Saman,
Its never too late to pick up from where you left.
I resumed my professional life after a hiatus of seven odd years,
(and I wasn`t even living in SA) busy as I was, just like you in taking care of my family.
There are options in SA, too, just keep an open eye. I can say this for my growign up years were spent in SA.
My most cherishable memories belong to the years I spent in Jeddah; never felt stifled or holed up in hell.
The trips to Mecca Sherif and Madina Sherif were all together a different experience.
Maybe I didnot feel so stifled because I was a student and was fully occupied.
Still I can recollect ladies working at the universities, schools, banks.
Many conducted cooking/beauty treatment classes. Several taught yoga.
Others featured in the local newspapers.
Perhaps you could approach Arab News or the Saudi Gazette.
There were women news readers on tv, too, but of course for Arabic programmes.
But with so many channels having come up now, they could offer more opportuinities.
Besides, these days you could write and publish from home, from anywhere in the world not just SA, without stepping outside.
Just do that.
Keep the ink flowing; you`ll rediscover your lost touch much sooner than you can imagine.
best wishes.
Saman Khan.

Having grown up in Saudi Arabia I can only say one thing - it is more dead than a cemetery.
In all fairness, that society lags way behind in most aspects of civilization - especially its treatment of women. However that is another topic, but I want to thank you for a nice piece, and encourage you to continue your passion of writing - Chowk is full of liberals, moderates, extremists, intellectuals or just plain observers - I think its a great concept and you will do us all a favor by writing.
Lastly, how about a few articles touching more in depth on Saudi Life - culture, attractions, disadvantages, the disparity between old and young, off poor and rich, the large no. of immigrants, how Saudi Arabia has dealt with modernizing its cities, but not its ideas...etc.
Are you from Riyad?
Cheers
Gibran Bham

And there were women working in the hospitals too, in all capacities.
And I found women commuting in the buses too.
Most of my old friends who settled there after finishing studies are now employed.
Cousins and friends and acqauintances from here who have settled there after marriage have taken up work, again at hospitals and American/Indian/Saudi schools.
Some are computer instructors too.Some have taken up painting or swimming. Some give lessons in the study of Quran.

Even those who aren`t employed are happy away from family politics and naukron ke chonchley and pollution and corruption. They are enjoying a special bond with their respective spouses in the absence of the usual family interference. They say they never had it so good in life. They do not wish to return except on vacations.

Perhaps you could have done well to maintain links with the magazine you adited and continued to contribute articles. Its never too late; so just pick it up from there. You need to motivate yourself and believe in yourself just as your better half does. We need to create circumstances sometimes. Cheers!

Saman Jafri,

Please write. Use the light that the Internet brings to you, and add to it own your light.

Does Saudi Arabia allow unhampered access to the Internet?



Samankhan

The share of women in Saudi Arabia`s total workforce is between 2 to 4%. That appears to be a little low for a country. Is the holy land of Mecca Sherif and Madina Sherif even poorer than us Godless wretches in India and Pakistan? :(

Ralph,
It not about statistics. Women in SA are working, even if the fields are limited.
Mecca Sherif and Madina Sharif are richer than many Indias and Pakistans put together.
Perhaps thats why their women do not need to work and earn a living.
:)

#14: I guess you have completely missed the crux of the article. Probably, you should focus on Jemima`s wardrobe (present, past and future). I am sure you will find ``enough`` material to write another unique piece :) Good Luck!

#15
No, I have not completely missed the crux of the article. You have completelely missed the crux of my response.
If you had read carefully my earlier posts, #10 and #11, you would have noticed how I encouraged the writer to pick up from where she left. With the profession she is in, she can easily operate living as she does in a `hole of nahoosat`as you call it. She needn`t be in amreeka to write and have a piece published.

Thanks for wishing luck. As and when I take up fashion designing I would take up Jemima`s wardrobe as a case study - From Tarun Tahiliani ensembles to the Witches of Hampshire outfits would make quite an interesting class.
I hope you overcome the recent writer`s block that you have been facing and comeup with as unique a piece as the one on the tampon fiasco!
BTW, to expect such facilities in your home country is both naive and presumptous, nahi? Cheers!