Phulkari a geographical indication of Punjab
LAHORE - Senior Minister Punjab, Raja Riaz Ahmad, has said that the registration of different cultural products and crops as "Geographical Indications" would help in preserving age-old heritage, saving economic interests of artisans and highlighting the indigenous products of Pakistan at the global level.
It is heartening that Commerce & Investment Department is currently running a project entitled "Registration of Geographical Indications" to ensure registration of specific products of Punjab as a Geographical Indications that fulfil the criteria of being a GI as laid down in the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) under World Trade Organization (WTO).
The project has identified certain products from Punjab for registration as a GI, namely; Basmati Rice, Punjab Heritage products including Phulkari, Chiniot wood work, Gujrat Pashmina, Sharakpur Guava, Multan Mango, Sargodha Kinnows and other Livestock Breeds.
He was addressing the inaugural session of a two-day international conference on Phulkari here at a local hotel on Tuesday.
The conference has been arranged by Commerce and Investment Department in collaboration with Heritage Association.
Experts from India have also been invited to share their own experiences and cultural dimensions.
The Senior Minister maintained that Phulkari is a Geographical Indication of Punjab which is an important intellectual property right of its stakeholders.
"Phulkari has its history in the Indus civilization and so many styles of Phulkari have been developed, but styles of Punjabi Phulkari are more significant and because of this signification, Phulkari has become a distinctive, signifier in our literature, folklore, and folksongs.
" Phulkari historical embroidery, which finds mention in the Vedas, Mahabharata, Guru Granth Sahib, Heer Waris Shah and folklores of Punjab, is important and valuable for the stakeholders who have kept the tradition alive for centuries.
Raja Riaz disclosed that Trade Registrar of the federal Government has approved the basmati rice product as the first geographical indication.
The Secretary Commerce and Investment, Tahir Raza Naqvi, President Heritage Hamid Malhi and Rabnawaz also addressed on this occasion.
Later, two technical sessions were also held which were addressed by Miss Iffat Batool of WENGAAR, Dr Deepak Manmohan Singh, Saif ur Rehman, Dr Zafar Altaf, Dr Sutinder Singh Noor, Salahud din and Dr Vanita anchanda who dwelled upon various aspects of Phulkari.
Curtsey:The Nation,May 28,2008
Call to promote Punjabi language and culture
LAHORE
A one-day national conference on Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabi Language and Culture was held here at PILAC under the auspices of World Punjabi Congress on Friday.
A large number of writers, scholars, intellectuals and artistes from all over Punjab attended the conference.
The Lahore declaration, unanimously passed by the participants, is as follows: The government has always shown regrettable negligence for the promotion of Punjabi language and culture. Despite the efforts of WPC directed towards the recognition of Punjabi language at the primary level, the Punjab government has not taken any steps. It was, therefore, demanded by the conference delegates to make Punjabi language as a compulsory subject at the primary level.
There is a dire need of establishing first-ever Punjabi University in Lahore as repeatedly demanded by WPC. The Punjab government has not shown any cooperation in this respect which is deplorable. It was, therefore, demanded to establish a Punjabi University in Lahore.
Over 10,000 MA Punjabi degree holders are unemployed and they have suffered for years at the hands of anti-Punjabi bureaucracy and the criminal neglect of the Punjab government. The gathering vehemently condemned various TV channels to ignore Punjabi language and show Punjabi culture in a derogatory way. Punjabi newspapers and journals are denied the proper quota of advertisements by the federal and provincial information departments.
The financial assistance to the Punjabi literary bodies is negligible and needs to be enhanced at least 10 times. There is a need to promote cultural affinity among the provinces that important universities of the four provinces should teach the languages of all the provinces.
The curriculum at the college and particularly Master degree level of Punjabi language is faulty, reactionary and bereft of contemporary Punjabi writings. A mafia of non-Punjabi writers or retrogressive Punjabi writers is preparing the textbooks at the college level. At the university level, the curriculum needs to be changed radically because it denies regrettably the true essence of Punjabi heritage, culture and contemporary writings which are essentially forward-looking. It was suggested that a high-level committee at the Punjab level and university level should look into the outdated syllabi and affect radical changes commensurate with the sensibility of progressive Punjabi writings. WPC should be consulted in changing the curricula at different levels.
All languages in Pakistan should be declared national languages of country. The National Assembly members who voted against the language bill in the house should be condemned. They lack wisdom, vision and historical perspectives. There is a great need to use the social media, Internet and online facilities for the promotion of Punjabi language and culture. Similarly, the English translations of contemporary Punjabi writings should be circulated on the Internet. The attitude of publishers is condemnable in respect of publication of Punjabi books. It was urged that they should give more facilities and financial impetus to Punjabi writers.
Punjabi film is on the decline and proper steps should be taken by the federal government to give financial impetus and other concessions to the filmdom. The propaganda for the division of Punjab by different political parties who are anti-Punjabi language, anti-Punjabi culture smacks of their prejudice against Punjab. It is a demand of the feudal, conspirators and chauvinists.
There is a tendency on the part of our Punjabi writers that they are mired in the usage of archaic words and prefer the purist tendencies. Punjabi language has to have new visions, new diction, modern idioms, metaphors and similes and sensibility. If Punjabi is to be popularised and make it acceptable to those resisting it, the Punjabi language should be such which can be easily understood by all shades of society. The tendency to project Punjabi fundamentalism has to be discouraged. It was also unanimously decided by the conference that WPC would continue to strive for these objectives until they are achieved.
The one-day Punjabi Conference dealt with various topics like Purism in Punjabi, Curriculum at the Higher Education Level, media and Punjabi, the decline of Punjabi Film, The Use of Social Media to Popularise Punjabi Culture, The Establishment of First Punjabi University, The Teaching of Punjabi Language at the Primary Level and The Heroic Tradition of Punjab and the cobwebs in the history of Punjab. The keynote address was made by Chairman WPC Fakhar Zaman. Those distinguished personalities who spoke included Punjab University VC Dr Mujahid Kamran, Abdullah Hussain, Dr Mehdi Hassan, Prof Qamar Abbas, Syed Afzal Haider, Dr Safdar Shah, Ahmed Saleem, Shaukat Ali, Hassan Nisar, former ambassador Tauheed Ahmed, Hussain Naqi, Tariq Khurshid, Rana Ehtesham, Bahar Begum, Nasreen Anjum, Qazi Javed, IA Rehman, Dr Akhtar Shumar, Karamat Bukhari, Nazir Qaiser, Parveen Malik, Dr Naheed Shahid, Prof Syed Bhutta, Dr Naveed Shehzad, Humair Hashmi, Iftikhar Mijaz and Shujaat Hashmi. Presiding over the conference, renowned writer Abdullah Hussain said that he was proud of being Punjabi and his mother tongue was Punjabi. He said all his Urdu writings reflected the sensibility and the culture of Punjab. He showed deep concern over some Punjabi writers who were using archaic vocabulary and outdated sensibility. He said in order to popularise Punjabi language there was a great need to make it simple that could be understood in all cities and classes. At the end of the session, two documentaries on Bulleh Shah and Baba Farid were shown to the great appreciation of the audience.
Curtsey:The News, Saturday, February 07, 2015
Session on understanding ‘Saiful Malook’ held at NPC
Islamabad
150th Session of reading and understanding of ‘Saiful Malook’ organised by Punjabi Sufi Sangat was held at the National Press Club, Islamabad, says a press release.
It was presided by Sahibzada Mian Muhammad Sajid of Darbar Khari Sharif. Huge gathering of Hazrat Mian Muhammad Bakhsh’s admirers was present in the function.
Speakers paid rich tribute to Hazrat Mian Muhammad Bakhsh, the Great 19th century Punjabi Sufi Poet of Punjab and Kashmir, who wrote 17 books in Punjabi and one in Persian.
Former federal minister Qamaruz Zaman Kaira, addressed the audience and said: “We have focused our all energies to make our children a doctor, an engineer or a businessman etc but unfortunately we are ignoring one major element i.e., we are paying no attention to make them as good human beings, which could ultimately help constituting a civilised community.”
Prof. Ashiq Hussain described the history of Reading and Understanding Sessions of Saiful Malook. He said that three years back the first session of Reading and Understanding Saiful Malook was started under the guidance of Prof. Saeed Ahmad, writer of Great Sufi Wisdom books.
Irfan Ch, Irfan Ahmad Kiani, Raja Muhammad Akram also addressed the gathering. The programm was conducted by Basit Subhani.
Prof. Saeed lamented the attitude of government for disrespecting Punjabi language saying disrespecting Punjabi language means disrespecting 120 millions Punjabi speaking Pakistanis. “People of Punjab, Kashmir and Hindko-speaking areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should be taught the poetry of these Sufi saints. Poetry of Baba Farid Shakar Ganj (1175-1265), Baba Guru Nanak, Shah Hussain, Sultan Bahu, Bulleh Shah, Waris Shah, Hashim Shah, Malvi Ghulam Rasul Alampuri, Khawaja Ghulam Farid of ChachRaaN Sharif and Mian Muhammad Bakhsh of Jhelum-Mirpur, Pir Mehr Ali Shah of Golra Sharif, Sain Ahmad Ali Sain Peshaweri is full of divine love & tolerance,” he added.
Curtsey:The News, Tuesday, January 07, 2014
In memory of Mian Muhammad Bakhsh
Prof Saeed Ahmad
Hazrat Mian Muhammad Bakhsh, one of the most famous Sufi poets of the Punjab, was born in 1830 near Mirpur, Azad Kashmir. His father Mian Shamsuddin was also a saint and was gadi-nasheen at the shrine of Hazrat Pira Shah Ghazi Qalandar.
Mian Muhammad Bakhsh died on the 7th day of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah 1324 AH (1907 AD), and was buried in Khari Sharif. People from Punjab and Kashmir pay visit to his shrine for getting spiritual blessing.
His works include: Siharfi, Sohni Mahiwal, Tuhfah-e-Miran, Tuhfah-e-Rasuliyah, Shireen Farhad, Mirza Sahiban, Qissa Sakhi Khavass Khan, Qissa Shah Mansur, Gulzar-e Faqir, Hidayatul Muslimin, Panj Ganj etc. He also wrote a commentary on the Arabic Qasidat-ul-Burda of al-Busiri and his most famous work is entitled Safarul ‘Ishq (Journey of Love), but better known as Saiful Maluk.
Mian Mohammad Bakhsh wrote eighteen books but his masterpiece that will keep his name ever glowing is no doubt Saiful Malook. He had done this great job when he was only 33-year old. Before writing Saiful Malook he had written books of poetry but those were not known to the public. The book Saiful Malook contains 9,249 couplets which are full of wisdom. He almost touched each and every aspect of life. Such sort of variety of various subjects you would not find in the poetry of any other Sufi saint of the Punjab.
Hazrat Mian Muhammad Bakhsh passed his life in celibacy but he devoted his God-gifted life for the sake of contributing great mystic thought in the language of massses.
It was his mother tongue Punjabi which has been badly ignored by all the governments in Pakistan since 1947 particularly.
It is ironic that all the officials in the Punjab and Centre respect Sufi saints like Mian Muhammad Bakhsh but they do not like to promote Punajbi language, in which these Sufi saints embedded pearls of wisdom, such wisdom which we need a lot in our day-to-day life. Let us rectify our previous mistakes and try to provide a high accolade to such great Sufi poets of the Punjab in our educational syllabus.
Curtsey:The News, Sunday, October 13, 2013
Punjabi Cultural Show held at RAC
APP
RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) on Wednesday arranged a Punjabi Cultural Show aimed at promoting and introducing the cultural heritage of Punjab and to encourage the new young talent of the region. Ex-MNA Nadeem Afzal Chun flanked by RAC Resident Director Waqar Ahmed was guest of honor. The aim to conduct the show was to prove that Pakistani love their culture and not extremism. Different communities from all the provinces attended the show including Gilgit Balistan and Kashmir and added charm to Punjabi cultural show. Kalam of Mian Muhammad Bux, Bulhey Shah, Baba Fareed and other Punjab sufi saints were presented, besides matrimonial songs. Folk tale of Heer Ranjha and other skits based on Punjabi culture were also staged beautifully. Local singer Samina Khan paid glorious tribute to martyrs of the operation Zarb-e-Azb by her song. Addressing at the occasion Nadeem Afzal Chun addressing said that the culture is the recognition of any region and to love own culture means to love Pakistan. Waqar Ahmed said that the cultural heritage of all the provinces of Pakistan is like a bouquet of flowers. At the end of the show song on peace was presented and rich tribute was paid to martyrs of the Pakistan Army who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country.
Daily Times: May 21, 2015
Punjab University organises International Punjabi Mushaira
LAHORE- On the conclusion of International Punjabi Sufi Conference, Punjab University Oriental College Department of Punjabi organized an International Punjabi Mushaira.
At this occasion renowned poet from Pakistan and abroad including Nashir Naqvi (India),Anwar Masood and many other recited their poetry.
Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, Prof Dr Jasvinder Singh (India), Dr Vanitta (India) and many others were present on the occasion.
Earlier in the day, academic sessions were held in which international scholars presented their research papers in the conference.
Curtsey:The Nation,March 14,2014
Obama gets Punjabi code name in UK
LONDON - Do Brits think Barack Obama is a bit of a smart alec? The label certainly appears to fit in the minds of British police.
Scotland Yard, the UKs police force, has given Obama the security codename 'Chalak' for his visit this week to the United Kingdom, the UK Daily Mail reports.
The term is reportedly a Punjabi word meaning someone who is too clever for his own good, according to the newspaper.A Punjabi speaker told the newspaper that the word is 'not considered rude, but could be 'mildly offensive.
It is also said to mean 'cheeky, crafty and cunning, the paper notes.
Scotland Yard insiders told the Sunday Times that codewords are randomly generated by computer, but the paper wondered why officials decided to stick with them, when they could have simply had another word selected that would be less provocative, the paper notes.
As in UK, security code names are used in America by US Secret Service to identify high-profile individuals under their protection.Obamas code name at the time of the 2008 election was 'Renegade and Michelle Obamas was Renaissance.Secret Service code names typically change over time.
Curtsey:The Nation, May 25,2011
Punjab University: ‘Parents must keep kids away from IJT’
People gathered around the bus torched by the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) activists on Monday in a protest at the Punjab University’s (PU) decision to convert a hostel for boys to one for girls. PHOTO: SHAHBAZ MALIK/EXPRESS
LAHORE:
Education Minister Rana Mashhood Khan has appealed to the parents of Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) activists not to allow their children “to become tools of elements putting their future at risk for vested interests”, according to a handout.
The minister spoke to media at the Punjab University on Monday after clashes between police and students over the evacuation of a hostel. He said that the protesters were hooligans disrupting classes, blocking general traffic and terrorising public transport.
He said that the protesters had also demanded the release of some people arrested for physically assaulting two teachers, threatening to kill them and firing in the air. “Armed elements” instigating students to protest for their release had links to the Taliban and had taken illegal refuge in various hostels, he said. Khan noted that student unions were banned in Pakistan.
Though the handout did not mention the IJT explicitly, it was clear that the minister was referring to that group.
The IJT said that its protest was focused on the lack of accommodation on campus. “We had gathered to hold a protest against the lack of hostel facilities. The PU admin called the police and they arrested many students. Our stance is that new hostels should be constructed, but the university administration got Hostel 16 vacated and shifted girls there. This is just a temporary arrangement and an eye-wash,” said an IJT spokesman.
He accused the university of planting empty liquor bottles, drugs and ammunition in IJT Nazim Rao Adnan’s room in the hostel to discredit the organisation. “The vice chancellor could find rocket-launchers from there if he wanted to. All he has to do is ask somebody to place them there and then show them to the police and accuse the IJT of bringing them there,” he said.
Speaking at a press conference, PU Hall Council Chairman Prof Muhammad Akhter said that the discovery of bottles of alcohol and bhang in the IJT nazim’s room was a minor matter when compared to the arrest of a terrorist from his room. He was referring to the arrest of a suspected Al Qaeda handler from the PU campus in September.
He said that drugs, alcohol and “unethical material” had been found from IJT nazims’ rooms in the past. “This is the real face of the Jamiat. It puts religious material on the shelves and hides liquor bottles and bhang under the clothes,” he said.
He said the raid on Adnan’s room had been witnessed by the media. Besides, Adnan had been living there illegally, he said.
Prof Akhter rejected the IJT claim that there was a shortage of rooms for boys, saying that last year, hostel capacity had exceeded allotments by almost 250 places. But there was a shortage of space for female students, he said, and that was why Hostel No 16 had been converted to a hostel for girls. All male students at Hostel 16 had been provided alternative accommodation prior to being removed. He said that the hostel would accommodate 200 female students. He said IJT activists had thrown stones at some students who had shifted into the hostel on Sunday.
He said that the IJT was on the one hand demanding more buses for students, and on the other setting fire to them. Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2013.
‘Punjab government to promote film industry’
By APP
Visitors take in one of the pieces on display at the exhibition. PHOTO: INP
RAWALPINDI:
The Punjab government is making all-out efforts to revive the film industry and make necessary amendments in the Dramatic Performances Act, 1876, to promote art and culture.
This was said by Punjab Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Culture Rana Mohammad Arshad, while addressing a news conference at Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) on Monday. He was speaking to the news media after inaugurating a calligraphy exhibition.
The government is in touch with the film industry association and district-level art and culture committees are being strengthened to achieve the task across the province, he announced. The Punjab Film Censor Board has been reactivated to prevent objectionable scripts from making it to the screen, he stated.
“The government will do all it can to encourage the production of local films and stage plays.” All available resources will be used to promote the country’s art and culture at national and international levels, he added. “Tax on cinemas has been abolished to promote the film industry.”
Presently, he said, RAC is holding around 24 courses to polish the skills of youth aspiring to excel in art and literature.
At the week-long calligraphy exhibition, 50 art pieces by Aftab Ahmed Khan were showcased. The artist is a recipient of the Pride of Performance. The pieces mostly depict verses from the Holy Quran in Nastaleaque and Kofi scripts in Khan’s distinct style.
Later, Arshad distributed certificates among students for participating in art competitions including interior, fashion, textile and stained glass designing. Published in The Express Tribune, June 10th, 2014.
History work of Dr.Mubarak ali lauded
KARACHI - The work of the veteran historian Dr Mubarak Ali remembered and treasured by eminent speakers at an appreciation ceremony of the book “Challenges of History Writing in South Asia: Special Volume in honour of Dr Mubarak Ali” done on the occasion of the 6th International Urdu Conference organised by Arts Council of Pakistan, on Sunday afternoon.
The ceremony, presided by Indian historian and former Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal University, New Delhi, Prof Harbans Mukhiya was addressed by a panel of speakers including Executive Director of Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) Karamat Ali; Chairman of Pakistan Study Centre, University of Karachi Dr Jaffar Ahmed; Syed Buland Sohail; Tasneem Siddiqui and Dr Riaz Shaikh of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology.
Prof Harbans Mukhiya in his presidential address appreciated the writings of Dr Mubarak Ali and said the latter has launched a movement against communalism in Pakistan. It is quite difficult to write history in India, but it is even more difficult in Pakistan, he added. Dr Mubarak Ali is doing it with dedication and brevity.
He pointed out that Indian history writers have changed the history writing patterns by making all types of history as Marxist history.
“History writing is a reflection of the mentality of the people and now there are many forms of history like history of emotions, history of love, history of time and space. In India as well it is not so easy to write against communalism.”
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mubarak Ali expressed thanks to all the writers who have written articles in the book. He appreciated Dr Harbans for writing an article for the book and now attending its launching ceremony.
Dr Mubarak Ali said history is a two-side sword, which can increase hatred, but it can also spread love and harmony. “We have tried to provide an answer of the hatred in our writings, which has been created by the previous historians.”
Karamat Ali, Executive Director of PILER said that he has learned about history from Dr Mubarak Ali, who raised critical questions, which are actually taboos in Pakistan. He said that history is distorted or restricted in Pakistan not to be taught in schools. He said that was a law in Pakistan that if Marxist literature was found from the possession of
Karamat Ali said the history can be a tool to change our present life. “We need to speak the truth and see the past critically.”
Tasneem Ahmed Siddiqui recalled his friendship with Dr Mubarak Ali started from Hyderabad, when the latter was teaching history at University of Sindh, Jamshoro. He said the intellectual journey of DrMubarak Ali started in 1972 when he rejoined Sindh University after doing PhD in Germany.
He started his research about Sindh’s history and culture and about people’s lives and cultures, that was why his articles and books were being read in Sindh and Balochistan.
Dr. Mubarak Ali played a role as historian activist. He not only wrote on history and culture of Sindh but he wrote on how to write an alternative history.
For the first time it was accepted that history is not only a history of king’s court, but it is a description of people’s culture and a narrative of daily lives of common men.
Dr. Mubarak Ali has proved incorrect the notion that in Pakistan people don’t read books because many editions of his books have been published and people still read his books with the same interests. His name has become an institution. He started holding sittings with the students on regular basis in Hyderabad and when he moved to Lahore, he also continued the same practice.
Dr Syed Jaffar Ahmed, Chairman, Pakistan Study Centre, University of Karachi said the book contain writings of historians of both India and Pakistan. He said that Dr Mubarak Ali has written on the lives of common people instead of writing about the courts of kings. “This is the reason why his books are available everywhere. I found a book of Dr Mubarak Ali in a shelf of a grocery shop in Turbat, Balochistan.”
“We need multiple histories, written by different schools of thoughts. The students should not be forced to read or study only one school of thought in the history curriculum. This all can happen only in a democratic system. Unfortunately, our society is not democratic and our governments were not democratic most of the times.”
He said that despite health problems and old age, Dr Mubarak is still writing on history topics. “He started writings in the form of booklets, which were written by himself as at that time he could not find even a calligrapher. Dr Mubarak had initiated a journal on history, which has published many special editions on history topics. Dr Mubarak initiated holding history conferences in the universities. About 15 to 16 national and international conferences have been held in many universities across Pakistan with the efforts of Dr Mubarak Ali.”
Dr Buland Iqbal said Dr Mubarak has transformed his writings into a movement. He was instrumental in changing mindsets.
Curtsey:The Nation, December 02, 2013/
Zain Zulfiqar
Zain Zulfiqar is an architect, traveler and freelance writer
Bapsi Sidhwa
Lahore. If I toss up the word and close my eyes, it conjures up gardens and fragrances. Not only the formal Mughal gardens, with their obedient rows of fountains and cypresses, or the acreage of the club-strewn Lawrence Gardens, but the gardens in thousands of private houses with their riot of spring flowers. There is a carnival of jewel colors embedded in emerald lawns and hedges—a defiant brilliance of kachnar, bougainvillea and gulmohur silhouetted against an azure sky. And the winter and spring air are heady. They make the blood hum.
I have spent most of my life in Lahore, and the city of 11 million provides the geographical location of my novels. Its ambience has molded my sensibility and also my emotional responses. To belong to Lahore is to be steeped in its romance, to inhale with each breath an intensity of feeling that demands expression.
Above all else, Lahore is a city of poets. Not just giants like the Sufi poet Allama Iqbal or Faiz Ahmed Faiz, but a throng of them. Given half a chance, the average Lahori will quote a couplet from an Urdu ghazal or from Bulleh Shah’s mystical Punjabi verse, and readily confess to writing poems. In the West, Lahore is most famously the city that inspired Rudyard Kipling to write his novel Kim. An insomniac, Kipling explored the narrow lanes of the walled city, which forms the core of Lahore, and wrote about his observations and adventures.
The very spelling of this hoary city causes one to indulge in linguistic antics; as I did in my first novel, The Pakistani Bride: “Lahore—the ancient whore, the handmaiden of dimly remembered Hindu kings, the courtesan of Mughal emperors, bedecked and bejeweled, savaged by marauding hordes, healed by the caressing hands of successive lovers. A little shoddy, as Qasim saw her; like an attractive but aging concubine, ready to bestow surprising delights on those who cared to court her, proudly displaying Royal gifts.”
Much of this novel is set in Lahore. We observe the city through Qasim, a Kohistani tribesman from the Afghan frontier, as he wanders through Lahore with his adopted daughter, Zaitoon, perched on his shoulders. With them we stroll down Anarkali, the crowded bazaar named after the beautiful girl who was bricked in alive by the Emperor Akbar because his son Prince Salim was determined to marry her.
I was always uneasy with this story. It was inconsistent with everything I had heard about the judicious character of the gentle monarch. Mughal princes, after all, were almost obliged to fall in love with dancing girls—it was a rite of passage, a means of acquiring carnal sophistication and courtly manners. How then could Emperor Akbar call such a vengeful punishment upon a young girl whose vocation compelled her to seduce princes?
What I subsequently learnt gives Anarkali’s story a more credible twist. Anarkali (which means a pomegranate flower in bud) was neither a dancing girl nor, as some suggest, a handmaiden to one of the queens. She was in fact one of Akbar’s junior wives. This version gives a more serious complexion to the transgression—one that smacks of royal adultery and incest and thus liable to invite the dire punishment meted out.
There is a certain route I follow when I take outstation guests on a tour of my favorite Lahori landmarks. From my house in the cantonment we drive to Mall Road, grandly renamed Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam after the founding father of Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Jinnah. But old names like old habits die hard, and it is still commonly called Mall Road.
It is alleged that the saint saved Lahore during the ’65 and ’71 wars with India. Sikh pilots are believed to have seen hands materialize out of the ether to catch the bombs and gentle them to the ground. How else can one explain the quantity of unexploded bombs found in the area? They can’t all be blamed on poor manufacture, surely. (I have woven these miraculous events into A Gentlemanly War, which will appear this spring in my new collection, Their Language of Love, being published by Penguin India and Readings Books in Pakistan.)
Lahore’s role as an administrative, commercial, and educational center brought migrants to the city from the hinterland and beyond. The British community secured its groceries and general merchandise from the Parsi and European traders, and was provided spiritual sustenance at St. James Church in Anarkali, the Anglican cathedral of the Resurrection, and the Catholic Sacred Heart cathedral. The racial superiority the British assumed, and their desire to engage in pastimes that made them feel ‘at home’ in Lahore, limited their interaction to elite native circles.
I like to think that the tiny Parsi community—to which I belong—played a small but significant role in Lahore’s development. Parsi migrants from Bombay, drawn to Lahore because of the commercial opportunities provided by the growing British presence, located their shops on or close to the Mall or in the cantonment, where the Challa family provided groceries and beverages for the British servicemen. A number of Parsis were wine merchants, among them my father, Peshotan Bhandara, whose wine shop D. P. Edulji & Co. was located on the Mall next to the Tollington Market. The Cooper family founded the Parsi Agyari (Fire Temple), which celebrated its centenary a decade ago.
This, then, is the ancient city, described before Partition as the ‘Paris of the East,’ which insinuates itself in each of my novels and stories. After all, it is the city in which I grew up and inhabited longest. It is where my memories are lodged, and where the people who were dear to me lived—Godmother, Slavesister, Mother, Father, Dr. Bharucha. My books Ice Candy Man, The Crow Eaters, and An American Brat are peopled by them, and the Junglewallas, Toddywallas, Bankwallas, and a host of other -wallas.
The magnificent tombs, mosques, gardens, and the colonial edifices built by the British, all form only the essential background; it is the mixture of people who throng Lahore’s bazaars and streets and inhabit the city’s buildings that occupy central stage. And therein lies the emotional landscape of my writing, the memories I draw upon.
Curtsey:Nawa-e-Waqt:24 February,2013
Professor Saeed Farani honoured
Professor Saeed Ahmad Farani was awarded ‘Life Achievement Award 2011’ by the Masood Khadar Posh Trust, Lahore, for serving the cause of Punjabi language and literature during last 30 years, says a press release.
He has translated selected ‘sufi’ poetry of seven saints of Punjab. Presently, he is working on the works of Mian Mohammad Bakhsh. The award has been given to prominent literary figures of Punjab including Sharif Kunjahi, Shafqat Tanvir Mirza and Afzal Ahsan Randhawa.
Recently, a meeting was arranged by the Punjab Commerce Teachers Association at the Government College of Commerce, Rawalpindi, in which his colleagues admired his services for the cause of the Punjabi language. He gave a talk on his works on the occasion.
Curtsey:The News, Wednesday, May 23, 2012 |
