I received this forward a long time back from a friend (HJ)… An interesting read for anyone who grew up in Pakistan in the 80s/90s.
A “Nostalgist’s Map” of Pakistan/Karachi written from a well-off middle-class point of view. Author Unknown.
Have you lived……from a Karachiwala….
Close your eyes….. And go back in time…. Before the Internet, VCD and DVD. Before semi-automatics machine guns, joyriders and crack …. Before SEGA or Super Nintendo or Video Games… Way back….
I’m talking about Hide and seek (Chhupan Chhupaee) in the park or on the streets. The corner shop, Butter Scotch Candy, Mitchells Milk Toffee,Jubilee, football with an old can, hockey, cricket and Pittu with the same ball. jumping in enormous puddles, Building dams.
The smell of the sun and fresh cut grass. Mayfair bubble gum.A POLKA ice cream pop cone on a warm summer night, Wait……Watching Weekday 5pm evening or Saturday Morning cartoons… short commercials,Tom and Jerry, He-Man, Captain Caveman, Waltron, Walligator, Danger Mouse and Pink Panther.
Continue reading ‘A “Nostalgist’s Map” of Pakistan’
Jashn-i-baharan, or the official Basant festival, was held on the weekend of 24th and 25th February. On these two days maximum parties were organized, maximum musical evenings were arranged and maximum kites were flown. In the past few years the festival has grown exponentially and has put Lahore on the international tourist destination map. A lot of money is invested in making this a festival worth visiting. However, for some the festival could turn into a killer.
Even though a ban was placed on kite-flying in 2005 it is constantly removed and then re-enforced. Usually, after protests the ban is removed for a few days to allow for the Basant festivities. Not like people would give heed to these regulations, but it is amazing that those in charge of the law, including our Supreme Court, are willing to twist the law and compromise safety in return for a couple of days of fun. This year, according to Dawn, 10 people (including 6 children) have died. Update: A friend in Pakistan just told me that the figure stands at 12. Jack’s ‘canonical five’ only mentioned five victims, but even if you consider the most liberal estimate it comes to 11.
Continue reading ‘Basant the killer (took more lives this year than Jack the Ripper ever did)’
