A Tribute to Ahmed Faraz

Ahmad Faraz,  one of the greatest  poets of our times died a couple of days ago. He was one of the most ‘loved’ and ’sung’ Urdu poets of his time. One of the biggest supporters of Indo- Pak friendship he was critical of politicians on both sides of the border for not doing enough for peace in the subcontinent.

“If India can help Pakistan with better education and medical facilities, Pakistan can help India as we produce the world’s best sports material, cotton textiles and surgical instruments,” he said. He added that Pakistanis were touched whenever Pakistani children with heart ailments were cured in India. “People on both sides of the border share the same food, breathe the same air, entertain themselves with the Khans of Indian filmdom. Aishwarya (Rai) and Preity (Zinta) are Pakistanis’ darlings! If Indian and Pakistani politicians work positively, both countries can get rid of the scarcity of water, electricity, foodgrain.”

Last year he was a part of the annual Shankar Shad ‘mushaira’ held in Delhi. I was fortunate to attend that ‘mushaira’. As a tribute to this great poet I have posted a few of my favourite Faraz ashaars-

Ranjish hi sahi is probably his most popular poem-

Ranjish hi sahi dil hi dukhaanay kay liyay aa
aa phir say mujhay chhorr kay jaanay kay liyay aa

pehlay say maraasim na sahi phir bhi kabhi to
rasm-o-rahay duniya hi nibhaanay kay liyay aa

kis kis ko bataayengay judaai kaa sabab ham
tu mujh se khafaa hai to zamaanay kay liyay aa

kuchh to meri pindaar-e-mohabbat ka bharam rakh
tu bhi to kabhi mujh ko manaanay kay liyay aa

ek umr say hun lazzat-e-giryaa se bhi mehruum
aye raahat-e-jaan mujh ko rulaanay kay liyay aa

ab tak dil-e-khush_feham ko tujh say hain ummeedain
ye aakhari shammain bhi bujhaanay kay liyay aa

* Ranjish-enmity, marasim- relationship, Pindar-pride, lazzat-e-giryaa -taste of sadness.

Hum to Aaghaz-e-Mohabbat mein hi lut gye hain Faraz
Aur logh kehtey hian k Anjaam Bura Hota hia..

The simplicity of words is what I like most about his style of writing-

Zindagi to apnay hi qadmooo pay chalti hai Faraz
auroon k saharay to janazay utha kartay hain

This is What I Call Being Positive..

If you want to know about the latest in clothes, handbags and other accessories visit any restaurant in Delhi during lunch time. The Kitty groups provide  great afternoons of pure entertainment. I enjoyed one such afternoon last week.  One person’s plight can be a source of amusement for others and the world is a cruel place. I realised it last week while enjoying my lunch at a restaurant.

When I entered  the restaurant with my friend we were asked, if we were part of the kitty group. I politely refused but I shouldn’t have! The kitty members get a better rate and service for their orders. There was a  kitty party going  on the table next to  ours. It was great fun. Noisy but entertaining. In fact I had to order a 5 course meal, because I did not want to leave the restaurant  before the party ended. The experience was worth it. The waiters were on their toes all the time. The vegetable soup was thick, ‘Bruscetta ‘was not freshly made but was reheated in a microwave; they tried to out do each other in showing off their culinary skills. One thing was sure- they were connoisseurs of good food.

One of the participants of  the party was sounding nervous. Her designer clothes bore creases and I could see stress on her face. The suffering in her eyes was visible. I was curious and forgot about all moral and ethical issues and  decided to commit the ultimate crime and enjoy the best form of entertainment. Eves drop! Her plight was real. Her  maid had eloped with her driver  that morning, leaving her devoid of mobility and sociability of all kinds. Imagine losing the driver and  maid at the same time. Somebody needs to be home in the afternoon when kids come home, who will cook and take care of the guests and so many other problems! “Why did she do that? Ungrateful people …. I would buy her the best of everything, food, clothes…good for nothing woman, she exclaimed!

Most of her friends sympathised with her,at least pretended to, some even shared their own experiences with their maids and domestic helps. All were unanimous on one point. Domestic helps are ungrateful by nature. The best was yet to come. One of her friends exclaimed- be grateful it was your driver and not your husband. This is what I call positive thinking. Count your blessings, rather celebrate your blessings.

Saved by fat?

Richard Cooey, was sentenced to death for raping and murdering two University of Akron students in 1986. He has filed a lawsuit claiming he is too fat to be executed and could not die humanely, according to AP. Imagine a rapist and murderer talking about pain.

Using his obesity as a shield, he says that it would be difficult to find veins for the lethal injection to be administered, and that medication is has taking for migraines may diminish the effectiveness of drugs the Ohio prison uses in its execution process. Cooey weighs 19 stones and is 5ft 7. He was taken to the death chamber at the Ohio prison in 2003. He was granted a last-minute stay of execution by a federal judge. His lawyers claim that he had poor veins when he faced execution five years ago and that the problem has been worsened by weight gain.

The doctor hired by the Public Defender’s Office said in documents filed with the court that Cooey’s weight, combined with the potential drug resistance, increases the risk he would not be properly anaesthetised during his execution. Cooey’s public defender-Kelly Culshaw Schneider said that if the first drug doesn’t work, “the execution is going to be excruciating”. This is not the first time such a case has been seen in the US. Two years ago, convicted killer Jeffrey Lundgren claimed that he was at greater risk of experiencing pain and suffering because he was overweight and diabetic. He was put to death after a federal appeals court rejected his claim. If Cooey’s claim is rejected his execution will take place on October 14.

Murderers on death row willingly committed the crime and , therefore, willingly exposed themselves to death penalty. A person who committed murder wouldn’t have adminstered anasthesia before killing the victim so how could he or his advocate expect a painless death. Murder could have been committed in a fit of rage or in self defence but expecting leniency after committing rape and murder is too much.