Artesia

Where we were once threatened to be bombed back the stone age, it occurred to me today that we are already nearly there. And no bombs needed; thank you! A place where you can play on people's insecurity to such an extent that just by creating a false shortage of any commodity (be it wheat, rice, oil, fuel or Euro) you can make loads of money out of it. And this has actually happened in the last three months with each of the items mentioned in this exact order.

Eid in Lahore this year was certainly everything I had expected it to be (no pun intended!). From the late announcement just before midnight, to the sweltering heat, the hustle bustle of Lahore and totally crappy Eid programming by Geo; it was anything but uneventful. I tried to make the most of my first Eid in Pakistan after a couple of years, so for a change didn't spend Eid day at work or in bed.

Quite a disaster, one would say, that an agricultural country runs short of domestic wheat demand. Add to it, the fact that some projected a mega bumper crop this year; based on which the powers that be, exported our actual wheat produce to other countries. End result, queues of people at stores, short fall of wheat supply to flour mills and typical hoarding and looting scenarios that follow any shortage in our society. But the big question is; does all the hoo-haa of post election triumphant politicians actually amount to anything tangible for the people?

The recent post Benazir assassination events have proved to be shocking to most, if not all, Pakistanis. The surge in violence in the north, pathetic looting and inexcusable murders in the south, country-wide political instability and a warranted overall mistrust in the people are enough to dampen anyone's mood at the start of this year. But I'm sure there must have been many who'd have kept the newly formed 'tradition' of getting drunk and celebrating the advent of another foreseeable misery-filled year for Pakistan.

These days it looks like only one political party is participating in the elections. This is quite evident from the heavily biased posters, banners, huge advertising campaigns on TV and in the streets. Maybe its taken the opposition by surprise, or there is a twist to the tale. But without publicly 'contesting', the other parties cannot blame the government of any electorial conspiracy.

There are only two things I hear these days about the currently unfolding events; its the worst time to go back and secondly about the concern that people have not reacted against the emergency en mass! I cannot comment on the first part because I've never really let circumstances dictate my direction. But the alleged brutality of police in the streets is self explanatory for lack of a serious public reaction to the ongoing events.

The supreme court it seems is out to get Musharraf. Atleast thats what it is sounding like, not denying the fact that our current government has done alot to help the cause. Now with the latest decree, upturning the Sharif family's exile agreement; the horns of retreat are sounding from within the distant walls of the Army House. Not really a fan of our so-called "peoples' leaders", I will always have my doubts on the abilities and intentions of both Nawaz Sharif and his political counterpart, Ms. Bhutto.

As my beloved country jumps and hops from one political crisis to another, I ask myself whats coming next. Whether it is a clash with tribal warlords supporting the Taliban in the north, dethroning of the chief justice leading to a full political campaign and consequently serious bloodshed in the south or the matter of a religious school imposing their own 'laws' in the capital city itself; the challenges continue to mount and its not simply a problem just for the government. Its a dilemma for everyone and despite the opposition's vehement claims, I seriously doubt if they can do things any differently if given the chance.

Like me, many are amazed at the virtual lawlessness in Pakistan these days. But even by today's standards, this issue with the female madrassah student gang in Islamabad is almost laughable. Although not strictly beyond comprehension, I must say, because whenever our society has plunged forward in the name of progress, it has left behind a large wake of people who simply dismiss and detest this move in the name of religion.

Does that really mean religion prohibits progress? Or simply implies that it provides a cover for those who either cannot make the leap or do not see a place for themselves in the 'new changing world'.

Revisiting Pakistan after a whole year presented an interesting if not obvious challenge. To navigate through changing streets and attitudes of people, gauge the seriousness of the security and crime issues and try to make an unbiased observation from the point of view of a visitor. In the middle of all this, also get some work done.
Wet winters are not the ideal time for road works and it shows in Islamabad. Come to think of it, its not the ideal time for anything! The cold and damp keeps your spirits down and the news splashes a dose of ice cold water every couple of days. Its a harsh lesson in reality which can only be experienced and not taught.

Jaage hain der tak humein, kuch der sonay do,
thori si raat aur hai, subah toh honay do;
Aadhey adhuray khwaab jo, pooray na ho sakey,
ek baar phir se neend mein, woh khwaab boney do.

It is moving. If you think about it, day dreams are one of the most powerful indications we have of being 'different' from the rest of living creatures. They nurture our ambitions, keep us in the game and in the process define who we become.

You wanna hear about my new obsession?
Im riding high upon a deep depression.
Im only happy when it rains,
Im only happy when its complicated;
Pour some misery down on me.

Well I think this aptly reads my current situation :) Being a project manager for the first time, doing a customized, totally out of the world, completely unsupported and being done for the first time solution! And that too with one of the toughest customers in the world. Talk about being thrown into a boot camp!

I will be soooo glad when this is over! But then its never over is it? There will be another project and then another. Only difference will be that I won't have the excuse of being a newbie :)

As I see it, either I will develop 'nerves of steel' or I'll probably have a breakdown. So now I just need to have a plan for either eventuality hehe

Its undeniable historic tradition that the conquerors always plunder, always pillage and rape, leaving a really big and ugly, ugly mess in their wake. This has happened over countless centuries and man's history is filled with such blood-stained events. Infact, the climax of each military campaign cumulates to the beheading of the infidel pagan king who's flag is then burnt and his children slaughtered to avoid any remote possibility of a counter rebellion as revenge.

Today, with our comfort-filled lives, noble notions of human rights and so-called maturity of human civilization, we have put all that historic crap behind us. This no longer happens in our world; there are no glorified heroic knights who hunt enemies of the great empire like greyhounds and certainly no plundering, pillaging or raping when those enemies are eventually caught. Or is that really the case?

I took the ultimate step this time. Since my previous three attempts at revamping this website have all miserably failed, I needed to be pushed into a corner where I would just have to crawl out by putting in a decent effort.
So I deleted the existing blogs, articles and the rest. Its not all lost, the archives will return soon. The cookbook is still up and running. I am just regrouping all the different aspects of the last website and trying to come up with a format which is easier to manager and simpler to grasp.
Keep coming back, things will be changing here frequently.