there were plenty of trees in Karachi.
the roads were smooth.
there was no litter on the streets.
and no traffic jams.
we were better educated.
we could quote Shakespeare.
and read Ghalib.
we knew who Stephen Hawking is and what hes written.
we knew something of Dickinson's poetry.
we loved Russian literature and were familiar with it.
and listened to Mozart, Beethoven and Wagner.
we knew of Neitzche
we weren't so complacent and insipid.
we had some spark.
we weren't half as rude.
we smiled if only occasionally.
we weren't such horrific bores.
I met one interesting person in the purest of pure land of ours.
there were lesser flies.
the world had no lizards ahaaaaa! bliss
men were gallant.
men had more guts and substance.
women had something to say.
kids were real and not imitations of some ABCDs or BCCDs.
women spoke softly.
people got their teeth cleaned more often.
and wasted less food on shaddis.
and didn't try to out to each other to show off.
we had good schools.
and better teachers.
we taught our children how to be good humans rather than just how to earn.
we taught our children the truth and not half truths.
we had the tenacity to accept our history and own it.
we didn't lie to our children about the debacle in East-Pakistan.
we accepted our defeat at the hands of the Indians.
we respected the Bengalis for standing up to our malicious army.
and appreciated them for their intellect, resilience, beauty and history.
we didn't have an arrogant attitude.
we stopped portraying Jinnah as a devout muslim.
and stopped quoting him on each and every occasion. (he couldn't have possibly said so much)
we didn't have this obsession with portraits of Qaids.
we did away with 'sifarish'
we shove mediocre leaders aside.
and stop them from looting the country.
we had a revolution in us.
we stopped trying to be this very religious nation when we are not.
we stopped this obsession with Islam.
and just tried to follow whats prescribed as we understand it.
we locked up all the maulvis and lose the keys.
we stopped playing the 'blame-game'.
we solved the mystery of Liaqat Khan's death.
we became better parents.
we stop the 'dars' culture.
we stop giving advice in light of Islamic injunctions.
we stop quoting the hadiths for everything under the sun.
we were less fanatic.
we get over the marriage complex.
we let women be - good, bad and ugly.
men leave women alone.
husbands were more loyal.
and had a brain in them somewhere.
men valued women for what they are rather than what they should be.
we stop praising God all the time and question Him a little.
we read the Quran in urdu or english and understand it.
we stop saying 'gunnah meley ga' at everything.
we start being polite.
we stop watching inane soap operas.
we laugh at tasteful jokes.
we get over the A line shirt fashion which is now bordering on frocks.
we stop indulging in peeri faqiri.
we cherish our history.
we preserve our old buildings.
we cut less trees.
we help others around us because its the right thing to do and
not because its the 'in'thing to do.
we stop pretending to be copies of 'foot baller's wives' and be ourselves.
we did more things that made us happy.
we spent more time with our elders.
we were more vocal about our feelings towards people we love.
we appreciated more.
and we complained less.
we believed in aliens.
and we were acutely aware of our place in the universe.
and we truly comprehend our insignificance in the scheme of things.
we understood and appreciated Darwin.
we read Richard Dawkins.
we had heroes.
we believed in something strongly.
we were passionate.
we weren't mere shadows.
I had more sense!
and ...sensibility.
the roads were smooth.
there was no litter on the streets.
and no traffic jams.
we were better educated.
we could quote Shakespeare.
and read Ghalib.
we knew who Stephen Hawking is and what hes written.
we knew something of Dickinson's poetry.
we loved Russian literature and were familiar with it.
and listened to Mozart, Beethoven and Wagner.
we knew of Neitzche
we weren't so complacent and insipid.
we had some spark.
we weren't half as rude.
we smiled if only occasionally.
we weren't such horrific bores.
I met one interesting person in the purest of pure land of ours.
there were lesser flies.
the world had no lizards ahaaaaa! bliss
men were gallant.
men had more guts and substance.
women had something to say.
kids were real and not imitations of some ABCDs or BCCDs.
women spoke softly.
people got their teeth cleaned more often.
and wasted less food on shaddis.
and didn't try to out to each other to show off.
we had good schools.
and better teachers.
we taught our children how to be good humans rather than just how to earn.
we taught our children the truth and not half truths.
we had the tenacity to accept our history and own it.
we didn't lie to our children about the debacle in East-Pakistan.
we accepted our defeat at the hands of the Indians.
we respected the Bengalis for standing up to our malicious army.
and appreciated them for their intellect, resilience, beauty and history.
we didn't have an arrogant attitude.
we stopped portraying Jinnah as a devout muslim.
and stopped quoting him on each and every occasion. (he couldn't have possibly said so much)
we didn't have this obsession with portraits of Qaids.
we did away with 'sifarish'
we shove mediocre leaders aside.
and stop them from looting the country.
we had a revolution in us.
we stopped trying to be this very religious nation when we are not.
we stopped this obsession with Islam.
and just tried to follow whats prescribed as we understand it.
we locked up all the maulvis and lose the keys.
we stopped playing the 'blame-game'.
we solved the mystery of Liaqat Khan's death.
we became better parents.
we stop the 'dars' culture.
we stop giving advice in light of Islamic injunctions.
we stop quoting the hadiths for everything under the sun.
we were less fanatic.
we get over the marriage complex.
we let women be - good, bad and ugly.
men leave women alone.
husbands were more loyal.
and had a brain in them somewhere.
men valued women for what they are rather than what they should be.
we stop praising God all the time and question Him a little.
we read the Quran in urdu or english and understand it.
we stop saying 'gunnah meley ga' at everything.
we start being polite.
we stop watching inane soap operas.
we laugh at tasteful jokes.
we get over the A line shirt fashion which is now bordering on frocks.
we stop indulging in peeri faqiri.
we cherish our history.
we preserve our old buildings.
we cut less trees.
we help others around us because its the right thing to do and
not because its the 'in'thing to do.
we stop pretending to be copies of 'foot baller's wives' and be ourselves.
we did more things that made us happy.
we spent more time with our elders.
we were more vocal about our feelings towards people we love.
we appreciated more.
and we complained less.
we believed in aliens.
and we were acutely aware of our place in the universe.
and we truly comprehend our insignificance in the scheme of things.
we understood and appreciated Darwin.
we read Richard Dawkins.
we had heroes.
we believed in something strongly.
we were passionate.
we weren't mere shadows.
I had more sense!
and ...sensibility.
Comments
Post a Comment