Karachi Odyssey II

Thanks temporal for a contagious view of sea which is enthralling and filled with millions of memories. Sea is definitely loveable.

I feel the same way where I lived and live,
The magnificent Islamabad, Potohar...
Veiled in mountains back from centuries,
Or moss of villages in jungles…

How much the city grew, developed in manifolds?
Some say Islamabad is the most modern city planned, designed and developed in world.
A Master Plan which has taken a due shape with time
But I see is red tape bureaucracy flourishing
Army with its repercussion
People of regime live here with pride
Those who do injustice elsewhere like to justice their interests here

It is a city of parasites
I don’t see the natives to take surface
There are born, worn and decomposed in the soil

Such an artificial envelope
Where Resourceful Ministers, PMs and Presidents glorify their rule over Hungry awaam
It’s not grown but expanded with money
A fence for diplomats, a cruel difference line with twin Rawalpindi

It’s where middle class resides with sealed lips and desires
Don’t want to disclose its reeked pride
Of hunger, inflation, misery of clean city
They are silently paying the price of being in exalted city with care

I don’t feel strange here
Because I do have smelled all the flowers, garlands…
I know where the water falls
But still there is so much left to adore, absorb
I love my city which let me grow
In a fashion I have inhaled my determination and enclosure
I would love to be a part of its evergreen nature always…

it`s `` Ok ``

In the decade of the 1990s, during the ``democratic`` regimes of Benazir and Nawaz Sharif, the ``pseudo-liberal and progressive`` Pakis destroyed Karachi, the former radiant, shimmering, tolerant, and beautiful Queen of the Arabian Sea. :(

Lamenting over Karachi is like singing:
``Woh Dilli woh Dilli ki galliyaaN kahaN ...``

Re: # 3

I`d say the place started going down the shitter in the 80`s during Zia`s reign with the Afghan war, bringing in kalasnikovs, heroin and worst of all Afghans, as well as the subsequent rise of the MQM and ethnic riots. You`re right though the Churayl and that lard laden taqla mullah without the beard made sure Karachi turned into a hell hole while spending the entire budget on LaWhore. Things are getting better now with our own people in charge, I hope for the day when Karachi will again be the nightlife capital of Southasia like it once was in the 1970`s.

Che, #3,
You know you are definitely right. Yes, the old Sohrab Goth incident in `86 when the Pathans killed many Biharis without mercy and Zia and his troops did nothing to save lives. In fact, I heard that no one was indicted or tried or punished for all those gruesome killings.

Yes, the ChuRayl and the corrupt ``Sharif`` deliberately ``destroyed`` Karachi to move capital, business, and jobs to LaWhore.

Good that Mushy is reversing some of this evil. Jiye Mahajir. :)

If this two-bit poet is from Karachi, he must be from Golimar, Lalukhet, or Sher Shah.

t,

my memories of karachi are a hodgepodge really. but trips to the sea are the fondest of that medley.

the waves
untiring in their conversation
with the shore
skip over those
who live by the sea
not by the sea

i liked this…whether the waves skip over us or us over them is the question i suppose.

best
miriam

nadia

what irony I don’t see the natives to take surface
There are born, worn and decomposed in the soil

and another irony…It’s where middle class resides with sealed lips and desires …

we live, breathe, laugh, cry and die on this dharti but with extremely tenuous links…such tentativeness is filled with fraught…sometimes we wake up and debate it frivolously and inconclusively… as in khuda hafez vs allah hafiz debates…no dearth of ironies

thanks for your comments

lve

t

Re: # 6
[If this two-bit poet is from Karachi, he must be from Golimar, Lalukhet, or Sher Shah.]

... those areas are still in karachi which is still in pakistan inspite of peer sahab and his followers...

miriam:

:)

there was a lot that fell to the floor in the revisions…your comments reminded me of this edited line after i flounder:

pomfret, crabbing, sea darhsan count not!

but you are right…sea is a metaphor for a lot of what ails us…we are in perpetual denial on several levels…part angst part dilemma…

lve

t

temporal:
There are some factors which have effected Pakistan in the name of Islam and one such example is ``Dars`` in the name of moderating Islam whereas they are just source of controversies.
Khuda Hafiz & Allah Hafiz debates are mere wastage of time and oomph. The root cause lies where “Fatwas” of kufr are granted to those who use word Khuda in their conversation for symbol of god. Where is it is believed by extremists that god can only be accessed as “Allah”. I remember the people back in families using word Khuda very religiously in every ritual and day to day life:

“Khuda ka shukar hai”
“Khuda na Khuasta”
“Khuda Khair Karey” (no pun intended of Razia Sultana’s ayi zanjeer ki jhankar``
“Kia Khudai Khidmat gar banay phirtay ho”
“Khuda ki Basti”

The word Khuda has a deep history and is being civilized very urbanely. But as it was originated from a land which now have majority of shiaites who use it in their every day life with strong beliefs therefore muslims from Arab felt their `Allah` very insecure. However Allah, Ilahi, Rab are used with absolutely same gist as Khuda. But like they were destroying signs in their own country like bulldozing the graves of mother of prophet (P.B.U.H) and of relatives they couldn`t tolerate Khuda of them as well. So I first heard it from trainees of Al-Hudas in late 90’s who very stressfully started saying “Allah Hafiz” who used to be saying “Khuda Hafiz” earlier. “Allah Hafiz” has been generated as a code word to elaborate among fellows that we have enlightened by Islam of the new version by all means.
Islam is not a way to exploit civilizations but it is used to. Now the prime purpose to end a conversation is to show your jihadi element.
As Khatmi said we have clash of civilizations, I think we have more religious intolerances.

this is terrible to say the least

#9, Khamkhwa {#9 by khamkhwa. on August 16, 2005 10:11am PT Re: # 6
[If this two-bit poet is from Karachi, he must be from Golimar, Lalukhet, or Sher Shah.]

... those areas are still in karachi which is still in pakistan inspite of peer sahab and his followers...``}

Khammy,
They said the same thing about Noakhali, Jessore, and Cox`s Bazaar. Matter of fact, they said something like what you just said about Chandni Chowk, Hazrat Gang, Aish Baagh, and Arambaagh. :)

You guys will never learn.

#12, Omar, I agree with you. This is not only terrible - it requires major retribution. Normally, I am against capital punishment, but ....
Salim