The price of dignity..

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Ordinary men and women who have never set foot into the Bazaar-e-Husn (literally beauty market), when told of these tawaifs(prostitutes) find themselves asking, ‘How could these women sell themselves for money? How could they stoop so low?’ These are the men and women who step into Cukoo’s Den (a posh restaurant in Heera Mandi) as if into a forbidden enchanted land and return none the wiser about the actual lives of the inhabitants of the Mohalla. And these are the men and women who most need to see this documentary.

Before you go on reading, I hope you have seen the documentary above, and if you think this is eye opening, I urge you to read ‘Taboo‘ by Fauzia Saeed.

The book gives an ethnographic account of the prostitutes’ lives. I look at it from an economic viewpoint. As long as there is demand for a particular service, someone in society will provide it. If demand ceases to exist, the service will cease to be available. Then, is it really fair for the self-righteous hypocrites that we all are to direct our disapproval only to the service-providers while the users go blame-free. These prostitutes and kothas are really products of man’s lust, which at least in Pakistani society ‘is usually grudgingly recognized as a necessary unpleasantness, consequently denied and never discussed.‘

That the men go to these women to satiate their appetites with impunity is not surprising, but a failure to recognize consequences of their nocturnal activities irks me the most. How can these men live with themselves knowing that they have caused for more lives to enter this mad mad world from which there is no easy escape.

anaginat sadiyon ki taarik bahimanaa talism
The dark dreadful magic of uncountable centuries
resham-o-atalas-o-kamkhvaab mein bunavaaye huye
Woven in silk, satin and brocade
jaa-ba-jaa bikate huye kuuchaa-o-baazaar mein jism
In every corner are bodies sold in the market
khaak mein lithade huye khuun mein nahalaaye huye
Covered in dust, bathed in blood

Not so Green!

I wrote this 2 years ago, and I feel no different today:

So I may be wearing green and singing Dil Dil Pakistan at the top of my voice, but what is missing is the spirit of independence. 14th August is supposed to be the day Muslims of the subcontinent earned their freedom from the British as well as what was predicted to be a bleak future under Hindu rule. And yet, I’m still asking if the present day Pakistan was worth all the trouble our forefathers had to go through. From my vantage point, the bloodshed was needless; the sacrifices, a waste.

Many a patriotic soul would contend that the rights of Muslims would have been under serious threat in a nation dominated by Hindus. I look around and wonder if the ordinary man in Pakistan has any rights. Even in a Muslim nation, I feel no sense of security even inside my home. The law of the land is not there to protect me or my rights but a manipulation tool for the power hungry. And the saddest part is the apathy. An apathy that is just as much a part of my character as any other Pakistani. An apathy reflected by the collective insensitivity and indiscipline out on the roads or the disgusting tolerance towards corruption in the top echelons as well as lower down the hierarchy. A state of apathy that leaves me hopeless. Hopeless, yet not helpless. But I chose to not help because of the same apathy.

I’m sorry but I don’t see this nation going anywhere. And it’s surprising that it survived so long.

Happy Independence Day!

In a way, its grown worse. The lip service and rhetoric has increased, but I see no substantial change.

A few moments ago on twitter, someone announced a cake-cutting ceremony at one of the busiest roads in Karachi at the strike of 12. Concerned, I tweeted back requesting the person to not block roads. I was accused of ‘overreacting on pointless discussions’.

Really?

Does this Proud Patriotic Pakistani not remember the times, he’s been stuck in traffic because some political or religious party was celebrating something. Does he not remember the frustration he felt when he had to get somewhere and he couldn’t because some people had no consideration for others.

That, in my opinion, in Pakistan’s biggest folly as a nation. Most Pakistanis think only of themselves.

“My daughter is getting married, I don’t care about the neighbour’s sleep. I will play loud music into the wee hours of the night.”

“My Quaid was born today, I will block this road and hold a procession. It is the Quaid’s city, after all”

“My Prophet was born today. I will steal your electricity to light up my mosque. You are a kafir if you protest”

“My nation became independent today. I will make a racket at 12 am and sleep it off tomorrow. The sick and the old who go to bed early should be happy we are a free nation”

What a sad sad state of affairs. And you can’t knock sense into them. That’s akin to blasphemy.

I don’t mind the load-shedding anymore. I have learned to live with the lawlessness. The corrupt leaders I have stopped complaining about. But this hollow, superficial celebrations going on right now in the name of Independence Day PISS me off.

Stop! Your nation does not need this of you!

Someone just posted this on my facebook and I agree:

Aaj ka cheraga raat ki roshni mein doba nazr aata hai
14th august ki subha jub kal ka insaan soya paya jata hai
tub mera watan yateemi ki aghosh mein akela mehsoos kerta hai…
aaj mujhko woh dadi dada ki kahaniyoon wala Pakistan yaad ata hai

Translation:

The lights and celebrations will fade out with the night
The morning of 14th August will find everyone asleep
It is then that my nation feels orphaned
I remember the Pakistan that my grandparents told me of

I cannot agree more with Nelson Mandela:

For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.

me and the movies..

When I watch movies, I plug in my earphones. That’s my way of shutting the world out of the fantasy that I’m about to step in. The second the movie starts playing, everything outside the screen stops mattering.

I love movies. I have a knack of falling in love with most movies I watch. So it should be no surprise that I loved Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind. I loved how it had a dreamlike feel to it and how it had me in a trance even after waking up from it.

We love movies because they touch something inside us. Because while we watch the characters play their roles, we continue to search for reflections of ourselves in their fictitious lives. We feel their emotions like its our own coz at a level deep deep down in our subconscious, it is our own joy, sorrow, excitement, or loss that we’re really feeling. We love movies coz it is socially acceptable to FEEL while you watch a movie. Real emotions in real lives are usually hidden under layers of facades.

I’m not going to give anything else away. If you want to be blown away by some very realistic acting, a touching story and a lifelike story woven up in a surreal plot, watch the movie.

Will you be there?

So, as you can guess, I’m still listening to Micheal Jackson, and this one I couldn’t get over. At first, I thought I like it so much because it speaks for me, something I’d like to say all of my friends, but on second thought, the emotion the song conveys is universal and it speaks for all us humans. All anyone needs is someone to be there for them in their darkest hours, in their deepest despair.

To all those who matter (and you know who you are), I WILL be there.

Hold Me
Like The River Jordan
And I Will Then Say To Thee
You Are My Friend

Carry Me
Like You Are My Brother
Love Me Like A Mother
Would You Be There?

Weary
Tell Me Will You Hold Me
When Wrong, Will You Skold Me
When Lost Will You Find Me?

But They Told Me
A Man Should Be Faithful
And Walk When Not Able
And Fight Till The End
But I’m Only Human

Everyone’s Taking Control Of Me
Seems That The World’s
Got A Role For Me
I’m So Confused
Will You Show To Me
You’ll Be There For Me
And Care Enough To Bear Me

(Hold Me) show me
(Lay Your Head Lowly)
told me
(Softly Then Boldly)
(Carry Me There)
I’m Only Human

(Lead Me)
hold me
(Love Me And Feed Me)
ye yeah
(Kiss Me And Free Me)
yeah
(I Will Feel Blessed)
I’m Only Human

(Carry)
Carry
(Carry Me Boldly)
Carry me
(Lift Me Up Slowly)
yeah
(Carry Me There)
I’m Only Human

(Save Me)
need me
(Heal Me And Bathe Me)
lift me up lift me up
(Softly You Say To Me)
(I Will Be There)
I Will Be There

(Lift Me)
i’m gonna care
(Lift Me Up Slowly)
(Carry Me Boldly)
yeah
(Show Me You Care)
Show Me You Care

(Hold Me)
whoooo
(Lay Your Head Lowly)
i git lonly some times
(Softly Then Boldly)
i git lonly
(Carry Me There)
yeah yeah carry me there
yeah yeah yeah
[Spoken]
In Our Darkest Hour
In My Deepest Despair
Will You Still Care?
Will You Be There?
In My Trials
And My Tripulations
Through Our Doubts
And Frustrations
In My Violence
In My Turbulence
Through My Fear
And My Confessions
In My Anguish And My Pain
Through My Joy And My Sorrow
In The Promise Of Another Tomorrow
I’ll Never Let You Part
For You’re Always In My Heart.

Will you be there?

So, as you can guess, I’m still listening to Micheal Jackson, and this one I couldn’t get over. At first, I thought I like it so much because it speaks for me, something I’d like to say all of my friends, but on second thought, the emotion the song conveys is universal and it speaks for all us humans. All anyone needs is someone to be there for them in their darkest hours, in their deepest despair.

To all those who matter (and you know who you are), I WILL be there.

Hold Me
Like The River Jordan
And I Will Then Say To Thee
You Are My Friend

Carry Me
Like You Are My Brother
Love Me Like A Mother
Would You Be There?

Weary
Tell Me Will You Hold Me
When Wrong, Will You Skold Me
When Lost Will You Find Me?

But They Told Me
A Man Should Be Faithful
And Walk When Not Able
And Fight Till The End
But I’m Only Human

Everyone’s Taking Control Of Me
Seems That The World’s
Got A Role For Me
I’m So Confused
Will You Show To Me
You’ll Be There For Me
And Care Enough To Bear Me

(Hold Me) show me
(Lay Your Head Lowly)
told me
(Softly Then Boldly)
(Carry Me There)
I’m Only Human

(Lead Me)
hold me
(Love Me And Feed Me)
ye yeah
(Kiss Me And Free Me)
yeah
(I Will Feel Blessed)
I’m Only Human

(Carry)
Carry
(Carry Me Boldly)
Carry me
(Lift Me Up Slowly)
yeah
(Carry Me There)
I’m Only Human

(Save Me)
need me
(Heal Me And Bathe Me)
lift me up lift me up
(Softly You Say To Me)
(I Will Be There)
I Will Be There

(Lift Me)
i’m gonna care
(Lift Me Up Slowly)
(Carry Me Boldly)
yeah
(Show Me You Care)
Show Me You Care

(Hold Me)
whoooo
(Lay Your Head Lowly)
i git lonly some times
(Softly Then Boldly)
i git lonly
(Carry Me There)
yeah yeah carry me there
yeah yeah yeah
[Spoken]
In Our Darkest Hour
In My Deepest Despair
Will You Still Care?
Will You Be There?
In My Trials
And My Tripulations
Through Our Doubts
And Frustrations
In My Violence
In My Turbulence
Through My Fear
And My Confessions
In My Anguish And My Pain
Through My Joy And My Sorrow
In The Promise Of Another Tomorrow
I’ll Never Let You Part
For You’re Always In My Heart.

The Day the Music Died

Monsoon Rant

last night, i was hoping that once the rain comes the dust on the trees would be washed away. today i’m thinking of the blood on the streets. that is there to stay. the rains, the tears, nothing can make us go back to a clean slate again.

maybe this is why they always asked us to be careful. to think before we acted or said anything. because somethings just cannot be reversed, and some misunderstanding can never be cleared.

What I once thought were are circles now appear to be parallel lines. Recurring themes are not spread over time anymore. They’ve taken over the present and its the same demons on every front, and on each one of them, some more blood is spilled every day that will stay there.

Lets TWin Together!

Last night was a delight!

Remember how I said a few days that I don’t understand how people could be so passionate about sports. Last night’s victory brought me a little closer to understanding that. But last night, I saw the match like I’ve never seen before.

I was logged on to twitter, and I’m not sure which of the two, Rabia Garib or Awab Alvi, started a new hashtag #pakcricket. And then we partied! I’m not sure how many of us were twittering together, but it was like watching a match in a room full of ardent Pakistan fans. We were all up pumped up and rooting for Pakistan like I had never experienced before. Every four was cheered, every wicket deplored. Maybe this is what it felt watching a match in a stadium where strangers come together with only one thing in common, their love for the team.

Now, Rabia wants to do more than just have everyone twitter together. For the T20 Worldcup Final scheduled on Sunday, she wants to make #Pakistan, #PakCricket and #t20 a trending topic.

Whats a trending topic?

If you look at the picture above, in the center right part of the window, it says trending topics. Trending topics are topics what people on twitter are talking about the most. Current trending topics are Iranelection, or Khamenei(the supreme leader is speaking right now). What this does is that everyone who logs on to twitter will be able to see that there’s a WorldCup Final going on, and all of Pakistan has come together in cheering on their team to victory.

How do you participate?

Its simple. The first thing you need is a twitter account. That should be easy to make. We’ve all made our facebook and orkut accounts, haven’t we?

Once you’re signed in, you simply start twittering, i.e., post your views on the game in 160 words.

Don’t forget to add the hashtags:

This is how twitter’s wiki defines hashtags:

Hashtags are a community-driven convention for adding additional context and metadata to your tweets. They’re like tags on Flickr, only added inline to your post. You create a hashtag simply by prefixing a word with a hash symbol: #hashtag.

Hashtags were developed as a means to create “groupings” on Twitter, without having to change the basic service. The hash symbol is a convention borrowed primarily from IRC channels, and later from Jaiku’s channels.

The hashtags we’re promoting are: #Pakistan #T20 and #Pakcricket

All you need to do is while updating your status, include all three hashtags inline and the community will update itself.

Some tricks and tips

1. Download a desktop application to update your tweets. I use twhirl. Another option available is TweetDeck.

2. Begin now, so by the time the game starts, you have the hang of it.

Ask your friends and family to join in
The more, the merrier. For a hashtag to become a trending topic, it has to be updated by the most number of people. To meet our goal for Sunday, we need as many people as we can to twitter. Bring your facebook discussions to twitter. On facebook, only people you’ve added can share your views. On twitter, once you add the hashtag, you can share your opinions, the joy of winning, with everyone who’s following the game. Talk about being a community!

This is for Pakistanis and Pakistan fans all over the world. The war, the power breakdowns, the bombings, we have too much to depress us but this week has been good for Pakistan because the people had their spirits high. It started with CokeStudio, and then the game last night. Lets carry this spirit forward and show the world that we stand behind our team in solidarity.

Here’s to Pakistan bringing home the WorldCup! Here’s to twinning!

#t20 #PakCricket #Pakistan
uniting Pakistan like never before!

A request to my WordPress Readers

Due to glitches in the import tool, posts from my blogger account fail to get transferred completely, specially those containing youtube videos. Can you all please bookmark http://sid87.blogspot.com/ instead.

Readers of the blog may also find useful links at the end of each post. Don’t forget to check those out. *hint hint*

Buss kareen o yaar