July 23, 2006
People of the book, and a ballsy Pathan poet
So then, World War III appears to have been set in motion, since we're fast reaching the point of no return, and Muslims worldwide are mega-pissed. And you all know what happens Muslims get mega-pissed, now don't you. It all sounds really fascinating, and I have my popcorn and Coke ready, and shall remain glued to the television set watching Fox News and their hot presenters in formal skirts discussing how to best reduce the next random Lebanese city to rubble.
The other day some US ambassador made the delightful comment that the deaths of Lebanese civilians in Israeli strikes is not morally equivalent to the deaths of Israeli civilians in suicide terrorist attacks. How cute.
In other, completely unrelated news, Ahmed Faraz, an ethnic Pathan who has become one of Pakistan's great poets of the modern era and the guy who penned the rather famous ranjish hee sahi dil hee dukhanay ke liye aa, has decided to return the Hilal e Imtiaz that was awarded to him by the government in 2004. The Hilal e Imtiaz, if my calculations are correct, is the third highest civilian honour that can be given to a Pakistani. It probably comes after the Nishan e Imtiaz and the Sitara e Imtiaz. Now excuse me for my pettiness but the government really needs to come up with better, more original names. This simply does not cut it. Medal of Honor, now that sounds grand. Anyway, the reason Mr.Faraz's gives for his ignoble actions? He feels that the government, led by our lovely President, has abused the rights of the people, has failed in its duties to protect them and uplift their condition, and has generally done a piss-assed job of running the darned country. Now that's what I call a man with some real balls!
The other day some US ambassador made the delightful comment that the deaths of Lebanese civilians in Israeli strikes is not morally equivalent to the deaths of Israeli civilians in suicide terrorist attacks. How cute.
In other, completely unrelated news, Ahmed Faraz, an ethnic Pathan who has become one of Pakistan's great poets of the modern era and the guy who penned the rather famous ranjish hee sahi dil hee dukhanay ke liye aa, has decided to return the Hilal e Imtiaz that was awarded to him by the government in 2004. The Hilal e Imtiaz, if my calculations are correct, is the third highest civilian honour that can be given to a Pakistani. It probably comes after the Nishan e Imtiaz and the Sitara e Imtiaz. Now excuse me for my pettiness but the government really needs to come up with better, more original names. This simply does not cut it. Medal of Honor, now that sounds grand. Anyway, the reason Mr.Faraz's gives for his ignoble actions? He feels that the government, led by our lovely President, has abused the rights of the people, has failed in its duties to protect them and uplift their condition, and has generally done a piss-assed job of running the darned country. Now that's what I call a man with some real balls!
Masjid Wazir Khan
Tucked away between tall crumbling structures that line the winding narrow alleys of Lahore's probably-a-millenium-old walled city is a small little jewel called Mosque Wazir Khan. It was built in the late 17th century, I believe, by the Mughal governor of Lahore. I read somewhere that it is on UNESCO's World Heritage List, and so it should be, for it requires some immediate preservation and restoration. Not as grand as the Badshahi Mosque (which leaves almost every visitor to Lahore spellbound, especially with the night-time view from that expensive elitist Cucoo's), this is one for those who appreciate not grand monuments, but subtlety and craft. The inner walls are so full of colour they almost make the mosque come alive, and the paintwork is one of the highest class.
The above image is the only one not taken by me. That explains the watermark and the better quality, I guess. I borrowed it from a website, for it was too beautiful.
More pictures, taken by those with a better camera than the one in my crappy cell phone, can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wazir_Khan_Mosque
The above image is the only one not taken by me. That explains the watermark and the better quality, I guess. I borrowed it from a website, for it was too beautiful.
More pictures, taken by those with a better camera than the one in my crappy cell phone, can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wazir_Khan_Mosque
July 14, 2006
Sexy fashion
Another lazy day, another good book (one filled with sex stories, byzantine princesses and ottoman hunks - all tantalizing stuff for a tharki history buff like myself) and another kishore vcd played by the Worldcall chaps. Bless them. Everyone in Lahore might abuse them (and rightly so), but I for one am in love with their cd-playing guy.
Now to come to the topic at hand, sexy fashion. It simply does not get any funkier than the picture below. Salute to the Indian fashion designer who pulled this off. Excellent way to get Youhanna and Imran Farhat out of one's head after watching a whole day's play of the Lord's test match.
Now to come to the topic at hand, sexy fashion. It simply does not get any funkier than the picture below. Salute to the Indian fashion designer who pulled this off. Excellent way to get Youhanna and Imran Farhat out of one's head after watching a whole day's play of the Lord's test match.
July 4, 2006
Loose Talk
Amidst all the turd that we see on Pakistani television channels these days is a program that stands out for its sometimes-original-but-always-amusing humor, great writing, excellent role-playing and most importantly sublime social commentary. And that little gem is Loose Talk. I don't know what channel it's on, I think it's ARY. But you should all watch it. It'll be a nice break from crap that you watch under the guise of suspense and thrills (ala 24) or groovy popular music (MTV) . In every show they bring in a new character, a stereotypical representation of some element of our esteemed society, and let the laughs flow.
Moin Akhtar, if he wasn't over-the-top occasionally, might just be one of the best comedians in Pakistan today. Currently it's a tie between him and Amanullah. And I'm sure you don't know who Amanullah is. Run along and watch Indus Music and that guy in those funky shirts. And the one in those big glasses. Yes, I'm clearly referring to gay-lord Adnan Malik and uncool Faizan.
On an unrelated note, that dude who plays indian song vcds on Worldcall deserves a special little house in heaven (alongside 10 bonus virgins) for playing a vcd of Kishore's. Oh god, it was the stuff of dreams: sitting in an airconditioned room, reading a fancy pseudo-intellectual book, and listening to Kishore classics. Some of the songs were average, most were very good, some simply sublime. I had forgotten how much I loved "chhoo kar mere man ko kia tunay kia ishara". And now that the moment has long passed, I shall return to my brand spanking new Annie CD.
P.S. My hair are currently giving off that same smell that you get from cheap barbershops. Interesting.
Moin Akhtar, if he wasn't over-the-top occasionally, might just be one of the best comedians in Pakistan today. Currently it's a tie between him and Amanullah. And I'm sure you don't know who Amanullah is. Run along and watch Indus Music and that guy in those funky shirts. And the one in those big glasses. Yes, I'm clearly referring to gay-lord Adnan Malik and uncool Faizan.
On an unrelated note, that dude who plays indian song vcds on Worldcall deserves a special little house in heaven (alongside 10 bonus virgins) for playing a vcd of Kishore's. Oh god, it was the stuff of dreams: sitting in an airconditioned room, reading a fancy pseudo-intellectual book, and listening to Kishore classics. Some of the songs were average, most were very good, some simply sublime. I had forgotten how much I loved "chhoo kar mere man ko kia tunay kia ishara". And now that the moment has long passed, I shall return to my brand spanking new Annie CD.
P.S. My hair are currently giving off that same smell that you get from cheap barbershops. Interesting.
