GOODBYE TAYA GEE NOOR!

A page of my diary

'He who has gone, so we but cherish his memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man'.

Mahtab Bashir

mahtabbashir@gmail.com

0333 53 56 248 

Islamabad

There’s an old saying: "When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground." This truth struck me on the midnight of December 13-14, as I was preparing for a new day when a call from my sister in Lahore delivered the heartbreaking news of Taya Gee's passing.

My father, in particular, was taken aback, as Taya Noor Hussain, was a vibrant, healthy man with a steadfast love for walking. At nearly 80 years old, he was lean but sharp-witted, often sharing his blunt yet insightful thoughts with those around him.

With the iron in my hand, I had been planning my day, which included a final review of my notes for my first exam of M.Sc. Mass Communication the following day and others. However, that brief phone call shattered my plans and altered a lot.

Noor Hussain, Taya Gee, or Bau Noor as we call him, a chronic bachelor, was a true storyteller, brimming with historical anecdotes. His tales of Islamic and political history, along with his personal experiences, created unforgettable moments.

As I grow up in F-6/4, Islamabad—where I was born—I could almost see Taya Gee wandering through the house. He loved to spend time in the inner courtyard or the outer garden, the very places where we played as children. He had a disdain for cricket, not because it distracted schoolboys from their studies, but because it damaged the plants he had nurtured in those spaces. I recall a time when one of our cousin Ishtiaq from Lahore come along and while playing cricket in courtyard, Taya Noor’s patience was truly tested, and in a fit of anger, he brandished a long dagger, sending us young cricket enthusiasts fleeing in terror. The guest cousin sought shelter by hiding on the balcony of a connected annexe.

Taya Gee had a strong fondness for shopping, especially at the Landa Bazaar in Islamabad. I recall, as a young man, feeling a bit intimidated by the journey from F-6/4 to G-6 CDA Bazaar, but Taya Gee, being older, would swiftly make the trip. He enjoyed visiting that weekly bazaar so much that if we needed something like coriander or green chilies, he would choose to walk there to get it.

His favorite purchases included T-shirts during the summer and warm clothing in the fall. When we relocated from Sector F-6/4 to I-10/2 in 2000, it was a difficult experience for me to leave the serene and upscale environment of F-6/4 for the underdeveloped area of I-10/2, where the residents were not as refined as those in F-6. However, for Taya Gee, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as he found joy in exploring the nearby Sabzi Mandi, just a few steps from our home.

A passionate fan of WWF wrestling, Taya Noor was also heavily involved in the country's political scene. A strong supporter of the Muslim League (N), he would express his frustration immediately upon seeing a picture of Asif Zardari in the newspaper or on television news.

I fondly recall a time when Taya Gee underwent eye surgery in a local Lahore hospital, and I had the privilege of being his attendant for two nights. After the operation, he would often sleep on the side of the eye that had been treated. I anxiously monitored his movements throughout the night, and when he got up to use the restroom, I seized the opportunity to advise him to sleep on the opposite side. He never took my advice until I warned him, “Taya Gee, the doctor said if you sleep on that side, you won’t be able to see after the bandage is removed.” He was so frightened that he never dared to sleep the wrong way again.

Over the years, Taya Gee chose to live in Lahore, believing it to be a city full of life, while he referred to Islamabad as a place for "Pahari" people—his term for the more reserved residents.

During my college days, I distinctly remember asking Taya Gee to show me some historical sites in Lahore. We spent an entire day visiting Badshahi Mosque, Minar-e-Pakistan, and Shahi Qila, walking from our home to each location. By the time I returned to bed that night, my feet were blistered and sore, yet Taya Gee, despite his age, showed no signs of fatigue. It was a wonderful day, and I am grateful to him for that experience.

In our last meeting at Lahore, he gifted me several T-shirts for undergarments. Although I rarely wore them, I never declined to take them with me. He would always send his regards to my father, saying, “Give my salam to Haji and tell him I’m not feeling well; I’ll be a guest for a few days.” I had taken this message lightly for years, but this time, Taya Gee’s words carried a weight I hadn’t anticipated—he was saying goodbye. He was laid to rest on Tuesday, December 14, 2010, in Lahore.

With the wisdom of the saying, “If you refuse to take an elder's advice, you will walk the whole day,” Taya Noor Husain left us to navigate this long journey without him.

Rest in Peace Taya Gee!

WHEN LOVE & HATE COLLIDE

Thoughts&AfterThoughts …
A month after ....... !

You could have a change of heart if you would only change your mind/ Instead of slamming down the phone girl for the hundredth time/ I got your number on my wall but I ain't gonna make that call/ When divided we stand baby united we fall- Got the time got a chance gonna make it, got my hands/ On your heart gonna take it all I know, I can't fight this flame/ You could have a change of heart if you would only change your mind'Cause I'm crazy 'bout you baby time after time- Without you, one night alone/ Is like a year without you baby do you have a heart of stone?/ Without you/ Can't stop the hurt inside when love and hate collide - Def Leppard

By MAHTAB BASHIR
mahtabbashir@gmail.com
ISLAMABAD

I will wrangle for my love, fight for it, die for it, write for it, anything but live for it. A young beau met out of the blue with his inveterate lass. Wow! Some girls have all the luck. Where have you been? I have been searching you high and low since ages. I will not let you off. I regard you a paragon of a true blue soulmate. You are my heart’s frill. You tune up my out of tune life’s rhythm as I see your divine face. The harder I try, the further you get away from me. I am mad about you. This is not a slip of tongue. Where did I go wrong?

He recounted his wrenching plight and said, I was dragooned in le miseries and lost in the labyrinths of love and hate.

Loving you brought countless grief in my flowery life. Strangers first hurling threats at me. Last month they took me blindfold at the dead end. They hoodwinked me into marriage for someone they thought a better option than you. As I reached at the unknown destination, they beat me from head to toe- not physically but mentally. Appallingly scared, terrified, forlorn, bloodbath beau said to himself if this is a best possible worlds, what then are the rest?

Do you believe, said beau, that mankind have always cutting one another’s throats, that they were always liars, knaves, treacherous and ungrateful; always thieves, mean highwaymen, lazy, envious, and gluttons, always misers, ambitious yet blood-thirsty, always backbiters, debauchees, fanatics, hypocrites, and yet fools. Do you not believe, said lass, ‘that hawks have always preyed upon pigeons, when they could light up them? Certainly, said beau, ‘If the hawks have always had the same nature, what reason can you give- why mankind should have changed theirs? There is a great deal of difference, because of a free will …, said lass. I believe the day of my death is preordained, so why fret about - when that time will come?

RGST HURDLES

Despite its best efforts and the urgency of the matter, the government has still not been able to resolve the conflict of opinion over the proposed Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST). There are differences among the Centre and provinces over the collection of some taxes on services while several political parties have expressed reservations on this tax for its potential to burden the public. In this regard, the statement of the PML-N leader, Mian Nawaz Sharif, while addressing a public gathering in Samundri, needs to be looked at carefully. He said that the government can raise up to Rs 1,000 billion if it stops leakages in the Federal Board of Revenue, saves the cost of sustaining loss-making state-owned entities and cuts down luxury expenses, in which case there will be no need to impose a new tax. His contention that to achieve this target, the government will have to check corruption is worth taking note of.

One may have issues with Nawaz Sharif offering these suggestions, whose party itself has a reputation for legalising corruption and benefiting the personal businesses of its leaders by using political clout. Nevertheless, this should not prevent us from listening to his message. If indeed Rs 500-600 billion could be raised by checking corruption in the Federal Board of Revenue by making all people pay their due taxes, why should the government balk at this suggestion? Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Pakistan Railways, among others, are two of the biggest entities that have been depending on doles from the federal government for the last many years to fill the gap between their revenues and expenditures. The government hands out something to the tune of Rs 300 billion to such loss-making institutions to keep them afloat instead of improving their management, which has gone down the drain due to politicisation of the appointments procedure and decision-making. In the same vein, a lot of money could be saved if the government reduced the size of the cabinet and implemented austerity measures at all levels. Plundering of public funds in the name of the perks and privileges of high officials is one of the biggest causes of the bleeding from the treasury. If indeed after taking all these measures, the government still feels the need to impose RGST, it will at least have the high moral ground and an example for the public to emulate.

While conceding that the next tranche of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan is crucial for meeting the immediate financial needs of the country and the imposition of RGST, part of the IMF conditions for granting this loan package, is essential for receiving this money, this issue has become highly controversial and must be reviewed objectively. The finance ministry’s hope that the IMF executive board will approve the release of the sixth instalment of the loan by end of January 2011, because by that time the RGST will be imposed, could prove to be wishful thinking. The differences among political parties, the Centre and the provinces have grown to the extent that it would take the PPP a lot of wheeling and dealing to gather the required number of votes in the National Assembly. The rushing through of the RGST bill in the lower house of parliament will tarnish the government’s image and if inflation increases, as the bill’s opponents are predicting, after its imposition, it will have further negative political fallout. Therefore, it would be advisable for the PPP to take a wiser course and put its own house in order before it could expect the public to support it on a controversial measure.

When WIKI Leaks FOR WEST .......

WikiLeaks founder and editor-in-chief, Julian Assange, surrendered himself to UK police on Tuesday, after which he was arrested formally for alleged sex crimes. Mr Assange was denied bail and will remain in custody until a fresh hearing on December 14. According to the London Metropolitan Police, Assange “is accused by the Swedish authorities of one count of unlawful coercion, two counts of sexual molestation, and one count of rape, all alleged to have been committed in August 2010”. Mr Assange’s lawyer called these charges a “political stunt” and many believe that he is being persecuted because of the sensitive documents his website has been releasing in recent months. More recently, WikiLeaks published US diplomatic cables that have rattled a lot of countries besides the US government. The timing of the charges against Assange and Interpol’s Red Notice for two cases of consensual sex that allegedly turned into abuse are highly suspicious. What is interesting is that the rape and molestation charges were dismissed by Sweden back in August but the case was reopened again in September after an appeal. Julian Assange denied the allegations and said it was a “smear campaign” against him and WikiLeaks. Rape and molestation are definitely serious crimes and one cannot condone them but those supporting WikiLeaks founder are of the same view as Mr Assange — that the sole superpower as well as other countries are not too happy with the work of his whistleblower website and may well be influencing the course of events in the case against him.

It is pertinent to mention here that as long as WikiLeaks was only exposing authoritarian regimes in Asia and elsewhere, the west did not have any issues with it. As soon as WikiLeaks started exposing the US and other western governments, the equation changed. Now its work is being called unethical. On the contrary, we believe that WikiLeaks has revolutionised the medium of information. Mr Assange is only the messenger while the real message behind these leaked documents is being ignored. Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said that Assange, an Australian, was not responsible for the “unauthorised release of 250,000 documents from the US diplomatic communications network; the Americans are”. Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard said that any journalist in Assange’s position would have done the same thing if he/she got hold of confidential information. Thus it is highly disconcerting to see that not only has the WikiLeaks website been shut down across the globe, its finances are also being blocked. The pressure is obviously from the US, the ‘champion’ of freedom of speech. Earlier this year, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hailed the freedoms of the internet. She said, “Even in authoritarian countries, information networks are helping people discover new facts and making governments more accountable...[the US] stand[s] for a single internet where all of humanity has equal access to knowledge and ideas.”

When Facebook was banned in Pakistan following the creation of the ‘Everybody Draw Mohammed [PBUH] Day!’ page on the social networking website, we were called a backward, retrogressive state that was clamping down on freedom of expression. We did not support the ban on Facebook back then and similarly, we condemn the attack against WikiLeaks now. It seems that the ‘backwardness’ of underdeveloped countries like Pakistan has now spread to the developed world. Governments in the west claim that the WikiLeaks expose has endangered the lives of foreign troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, but these sound more and more like self-serving arguments of governments that like to cloak themselves in a veil of secrecy. The internet has democratised access to information beyond the imagination and it must be preserved. In this time and age, internet censorship itself is a crime against humanity.

SACH TO YE HAY, KASOOR APNA HAY ...

By Mahtab Bashir

Islamabad

... you said forever we'd cherish all our dreams together

Seems like forever, forever since I felt the pleasure !!!

The breakup of an important love relationship is the most traumatic of human experiences and we have all suffered through at least once- I am sure. In many ways we can more easily cope with the death of a loved one. Although we don't understand death, at least we understand its finality.

Likewise, with the breakup of a love relationship, days and weeks of lingering and haunting "ifs" often follow. The pain can penetrate every fiber of our being. In the days following the breakup we think of little else than the one we loved and trusted, the one we had so much invested in time, values, to name few.

Everywhere we go we are reminded of them - a face in a crowd, the flash of a familiar dressing, a distant voice, a song, a road most traveled, a place frequently visited. We struggle daily to force them from our thoughts only to find we are spending all of our time doing so!

Main Jahaan Rahoon
Main Kahin Bhi Hoon
Teri Yaad Saath Hay ...

Javed Akhtar:
Jaany kiski talaash unki aankhon mein thi
Aarzoo kay musaafir bhatkatay rahay
Jitanay bhi woh chalay
Utanay hi bichh gaay raah may faasalay
Kawaab mazil thay, aor manzilein khawaab theen
Raaston sy nikaltay rahay raastay
Jany kis wastay- Aarzoo ky musaafir bhataktay rahay

Main jahaan rahoon
Main kaheen bhi hoon
Teri yaad saath hai
Kisi sy kahoon
Ky nahi kahoon
Yeh jo dil ki baat hai

Kehny ko saath apnay ik duniya chalti hay
Per chhupkay iss dil may tanhaayi palti hay
Bas yaad saath hay
Teri yaad saath hai ...

Main jahaan rahoon
Main kahin bhi hoon
Teri yaad saath hay ...

Javed Akhtar:
Koyi puraani yaad mera rasta rokay mujhsay kehti hay
Itani jalti dhoop mein yuun kabtak ghumo gay
Aao, chalkar beetay dino ki chhaon mein baithain
Us lamhay ki baat karain
Jismay koyi phool khila tha
Us lamhay ki baat karain kay
Jismay kisi aawaaz ki chaandi khanak uthi thi
Us lamhay ki baat karain kay
Jismay kisi nazron kay moti barsay thay
Koi puraani yaad mera rasta rokay mujhsay kehti hay
Itani jalti dhoop may yun kab tak ghumo gay

Kaheen to dil may yaadon ki
Ik suli gad jaati hai
Kaheen har ik tasveer bahot hi dhondhali par jaati hay
Koi nayee duniya kay na-ay rango may khush rehta hay
Koi sab kuch paakay bhi yeh mann hi mann kehta hay

Kehnay ko saath apanay ik duniya chalti hay
Per chhupkay is dil may tanhaaee palti hai

Bas yaad saath hay
Teri yaad saath hay ...

Javed Akhtar:
Sach to ye hay kasoor apna hay
Chaand ko choonay ki tamanna ki
Aasamaan ko zameen par maanga
Phool chahaa ky paththaron py khilay
Kaanton may ki talaash khoshboo ki
Aarzoo ki ky aag thandak day
Barf may dhundtay rahay garmi
Khawaab jo dekha chaaha sach ho ja-ay
Isaki humko sazaa to milni thi
Sach to ye hay kasoor apana hay

Kaheen to beetay kal ki jarain
Dil may hi utar jaati hain
Kaheen jo dhaagay tutain to malaayen bhikar jaati hain
Koi dil may jagah nayi, baaton kay liay rakhta hay
Koi apni palko par yaadon kay diaay rakhta hay
Kehnay ko saath apnay ik duniya chalti hay
Per chhupkay is dil may tanhaai palti hay

Bas yaad saath hay
Teri yaad saath hay …….

'Love happens only once- The rest is just Life'.

LOSING GLORY?

In politics, perception is critical. It is the people’s perceptions of how a particular party has served its term that brings them out in droves to elect who they think can fairly lead them towards progress and the attainment of dignity and their rights. On its 44th founding anniversary, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is suffering from a bad case of negative perception. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday addressed a party workers’ convention where he categorically ruled out any “misadventure” to destabilise the government and that “change can only come through the people”. In the run-up to the 2013 elections, the PPP needs to ensure that no complacency sets in when it comes to satisfying the aspirations of the people. For that a certain amount of introspection and reflection is needed by the party.

At present, the PPP leads a government that is alleged to be rife with corruption, nepotism and cronyism. Nawaz Sharif on the same day displayed his usual rhetoric at a party workers’ convention where he accused the centre of “bad governance”, amongst other things. Although this is not unusual for the opposition, the fact remains that in the minds of the people this rhetoric is beginning to acquire a ring of truth. The masses are being overburdened by skyrocketing inflation, political intrigues where allegations of corruption and partisan politics are reported every day and where the problems of the country, including the war against terror, are leaving people out in the cold, sometimes as cadavers. Maybe it is the very weight of these problems that has left the PPP seemingly somewhat indifferent in managing the affairs of the state for the people’s welfare. Even its repetition of measures taken in this regard sound increasingly hollow. Pakistan today is the proverbial bed of thorns, beset with so many problems that there are hardly any contenders eager to come forward and urgently tackle its woes. Criticism by itself or for its own sake is no solution, something one wishes the opposition would come to terms with. The PPP needs to get its act together on a war footing.

Gilani also stated that it “respects” criticism from the opposition, media and coalition members. Why then, does it not respect criticism from within? The recent suspension of senior PPP stalwart Naheed Khan’s party membership has raised many eyebrows. Even though she is a dissenting voice within the party, her thoughts too must be respected and tolerated. The fact that inner-party dissent has been dealt with similarly in the PPP’s past further compounds the fact that, after Benazir’s murder, the party is risking fragmentation due to its intolerance of internal criticism. This must change.

The PPP was founded to give the masses a voice through the adoption of a socialist agenda. The PPP came to alter the power structure, to give the people a sense of self-worth and a platform to challenge the status quo. That manifesto remains, to a large extent, unfulfilled. Deserting its leftist principles and ideology to embrace the liberal free-market paradigm, the PPP has wandered far from its original goals. The past 43 years have delivered a rather chequered and tragic history for the PPP, the loss of Zulfikar Ali and Benazir Bhutto being the two lowest points. Despite the many twists and turns the party has faced and the accusations that are being hurled against its key members, it is still not too late for the present incumbents to improve their performance. It is time that public perceptions are altered. Too many perceive a drift in policy matters, both in the party’s own ranks and in the links that keep the leaders attuned with their people. The PPP has always gained victory when there has been a good turnout at the polls. It should remember that a disillusioned constituency and public may refrain from casting their vote come election time.

WikiLeaks SHAKES the 'UMMAH'

ZARDARI- DIRTY, SHARIF- DANGEROUS

WikiLeaks, a whistleblower non-profit media organisation, has taken the world by storm once again. On November 28, WikiLeaks began publishing 251,287 US embassy cables from 1966 to February 2010. As per its website, these are “the largest set of confidential documents ever to be released into the public domain”. These cables are not only a blow to US diplomacy but have also shattered many a myth, especially in the Muslim world. From a Pakistani perspective, the Saudi monarch’s remarks about President Asif Zardari were quite revealing. A cable from US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), James Smith, to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said: “King Abdullah firmly believes that Asif Zardari is the primary obstacle to the government’s ability to move unequivocally to end terrorist safe havens there (“when the head is rotten, it affects the whole body”).”

Now, this is quite rich coming from the Saudi monarch when the leaked documents report that Saudi donors remain the chief donors of Sunni militant groups like al Qaeda. It is no secret that Saudi Arabia’s obsession with propagating Wahabi Islam has led to strengthening the fundamentalist mindset in the Muslim world. During the Afghan jihad, the Saudis funded most madrassas (seminaries) in Pakistan and also monetarily supported militant networks. The Saudis continue to do that to date. President Zardari and the PPP government have actually been trying to quash extremism in Pakistan. This government has not only owned the war on terror but has also built up a public consensus against religious terrorism. Thus, it was not just an uncalled for remark from the Saudi monarch but also factually incorrect. Traditionally, we have been beneficiaries of Saudi petro-dollars, which has led to relative influence of the Saudis in our local politics. Back in 2000, it was Saudi Arabia that negotiated with General (retd) Musharraf in striking a deal with Mian Nawaz Sharif, who then went into exile in the KSA. Though the KSA was close to the PPP back in Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s days, after General Ziaul Haq came to power, their loyalties have shifted to the Sharifs. On the other hand, the UAE is now much closer to the PPP. As per the leaked cables, in July 2009, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed said that President Zardari was “dirty but not dangerous” while Mian Nawaz Sharif was “dangerous but not dirty” and hence he could not be trusted to honour his promises. It seems as if both the KSA and the UAE have their own interest in Pakistani leaders. Another interesting revelation made by these leaked cables is that Mossad chief advocated that General (retd) Musharraf be kept in power. So, it seems that Pakistani politics is not just of interest to the Arabs but Israel as well. When Musharraf was in power, there were reports that backchannel diplomacy was taking place between Pakistan and Israel. There are some within the establishment who think that we have not gained much by supporting the Arab cause and since India is close to Israel, we could benefit by recognising Israel. This idea did not go down well within the country and Musharraf had to give it up in the end.

On another note, many people in the Muslim world still believe in the erstwhile concept of a Muslim ‘ummah’. Nothing could be further from the truth. All the Muslim states are interested in protecting their own vested interests rather than looking out for each other. This was proved by a shocking revelation that Saudi Arabia had urged the US to attack Iran and end its nuclear programme. Apparently, Saudi King Abdullah told the US to “cut off the head of the snake”. Saudi Arabia’s enmity with the Shiite Iran is an open secret, but going so far as to ask the US to bomb Iran is a serious matter. The hypocrisy of the Saudis cannot be more obvious since they are themselves funding the hydra of terrorism. The so-called Muslim world has been up in arms against the US and Israel for threatening to bomb Iran but another Muslim country supporting and asking the US to go ahead with its plans should serve as a wake-up call to the Muslims that every country is out there to save its own skin.