ASIF HUSSAIN SHAH – A CABBIE ON A PEACE MISSION

MAHTAB BASHIR
mahtabbashir@gmail.com
03335363248
ISLAMABAD

The foundation stone of a prosperous nation is embedded in peace and social justice. Unfortunately, both virtues are nowhere to be seen in our society. Plato believed that social justice was ‘doing one’s own’- which means that every one must practice one of the occupations in the city for which he is naturally best suited.

Carrying this message of Plato – not only for an individual but for a societal change – a taxi driver, Asif Hussain Shah, 51, who wrote a unique book titled ‘For Hire’ to relate his experiences on the wheel, is now working to promote peace and social justice as a message on his cab, ‘Peace & Justice for All’.

SHAH- A REFORMIST: Capturing the tales of desires and struggles of the common man, Shah has compiled a moving account of life around him in his first book titled ‘For Hire’- the first ever book written by a cabbie in Pakistan. Being a taxi driver, he takes the reader on a ride through pain and pleasure on the road of life in a quest for self-confidence.

Shah, while talking to this scribe, said he wanted to promote peace throughout the world and ultimately intended to auction his cab. “I want peace not in Pakistan but everywhere in the world. I am really disappointed what Indian PM Narendra Modi is doing with the Muslims of India on the name of “New Citizenship Law”. People in Indian Occupied Kashmir are suffering with the atrocities of Modi Govt. How they call it the world’s biggest democratic country when all (such brutal acts) are visible to the World, Shah maintained.    

SHAH – A MARKETER: Shah went a step further and used his cab as a moving billboard to advertise his book. He used the space on sides and behind his taxi to attract more buyers of his book and spread the words about himself. The painted advertisements on his taxi mention his book and ask people to search for it on google, youtube, and facebook. Though he himself does not have any official website for himself but relies on what other people post about him on the internet. A number of TV and Radio channels, and newspapers and magazines have also covered him.

“Wherever I go, people click my cab’s photographs, ask me a number of questions, and get an inspiration of hope,” said Shah proudly. His idea of online marketing through an offline ad worked like charm and now, one can find thousands of online posts covering him and his book.

SHAH – A PREACHER: Shah wrote his book not only to have another source of income but also to preach the values of Islam, highlight socio-economic, political and religious issues in the Pakistani society and ways to cope with them. Ferozsons published his book in January, 2009.

Shah still continues to write as he drives his taxi, dropping the passengers on their desired places in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Shah said he quit studies after grade 12 but his quest for learning raged. “I drive taxi to make ends meet. Sometimes I feel on the verge of a breakdown. All the same, I decided to pen down my experiences in the form of short stories and I did it,” he said.

Born in Quetta, and hailed in Lalamusa, Asif was a plumber when he got married and came to Rawalpindi in 1993. He took to driving taxi, which he felt adventurous. “Time is money for me. I don’t while away on roadsides, taking tea and smoking. Rather I read people and note down my experiences,” he said. “I have met some very interesting passengers over 25 years of my experience as a cabbie. I thought why not write short stories on them in simple language. Slowly I ended up in writing this 120-page book. Soon it will be translated in English,” he said.

SHAH – A COMMON MAN: With four kids studying in schools, Shah said it was hard to live in meager resources. “People appreciate my innovative style of advertisement on the cab which I change time to time. I am a taxi driver by profession and a writer by choice. My taxi is now historic in the world and I will auction this historic taxi in Dubai or in Europe for charity,” he said. “I have decorated my cab not from outside but interior of this cab is also fascinating. I do not believe in one liners often written on other cabs like ‘G Raja G’, ‘Mastani’, ‘Prince ko Janay Do’ etc. I condemn the most read one liner on the taxis, ‘Ye Sab Meri Maa Ki Dua Hay’. “This is ridiculous! Do mothers pray for her sons to be a taxi drivers”, Shah questioned.

SHAH – A RESEARCHER: At the end of the last year, Shah conducted a survey, which revealed that 65% local public demanded reduction in constitutional tenure from 5 years to 3 years. Shah said that he conducted two different surveys from 1,000 travelers sitting in his cab.

“The outline of my survey forms in hard copy comprised of three questions each, and travelers filled those forms immediately,” he said, adding that survey was the quickest way to assess a particular situation, be it literary or political.

It the first survey, Shah focused on getting opinion from the public on ways to get rid of the government if it failed to deliver. In that survey he said he added questions such as ‘How can we get rid of the martial law and the midterm election?’ The other survey dealt with the citizen’s kitchen expenditure. Over 65 percent people were of the opinion that if the government failed to satisfy the masses, parliaments’ constitutional life should be limited to three years instead of five. In the second survey, over 70 percent people opined that they were not satisfied with their current salary to meet domestic expenditures.

SHAH – THE PRIME MOVER: Shah said so far he had not asked for any help from any of government department and faced all on his own. He said despite those suffering, he intended to write another book on ‘Traffic Reforms’. “I intend to go to Karachi to spread this global cause but I had to return back from Bahawalpur because of gas shortage. The closure of CNG stations has brought more miseries for the working class,” he said.

Few years back, the Punjab Government launched a ‘Yellow Cab Scheme’ and I request authorities to promote my message of peace across the world. “The criterion of getting a new taxi under this scheme was too tough, and I didn’t have sufficient money. I requested the government to make the procedure of this scheme people-friendly,” Shah added but nothing worked.  

However, amidst all the troubling news around, Asif Hussain Shah is optimistic to reclaim the old glory of the country with his positive attitude. He hoped that through positive thinking and focusing on the areas concerned, people could bring about a positive change in their lives. “We should cultivate a habit of patience within us and to respect interfaith harmony that can help eradicating violence and extremism in Pakistan”, he concluded.