The motif of art and culture
The ambience for long has remained one of appreciating the finer things in life – poetry, music, stories, art and
architecture
By Sher Ali Khan
During the time of the British rule in India, Lahore was known as the "Paris of India". The reasons are quite clear. To begin with, romance in the east can be defined as the individualistic struggle of the heart. Romantics provide inspiration to a society in their daily lives. The romance of ones city is judged by the general ambience created within the realm of that society. A romantic culture is sustained through literature and arts. Writers, poets, and artists would frequent teahouses where they would orate and document the experiences of the city.

I recently happened to walk into a gift shop where hearts of all sizes were hanging from the roof and not even a single inch was seen void of the otherwise, essential human organ, all in red, orange and pink. I will do injustice to them if I do not mention that they were coated with glitter in silver and gold colour. They were all shimmering and gleaming, all set to put our cardio ablaze.

Secondary to them,on my attention scale, was the significant amount of testosterone and estrogen in the store: the place was crowded by adolescents and teenagers. They were investing in Valentine’s Day cards and accessories. Young emotion was rampant. At least they were helping the economy. I couldn’t agree with Shakespeare more. "What is a youth? Impetuous fire. What is a maid? Ice and desire."

Love is a sacred emotion. Why is there a need to celebrate the sanctity of it? I decided to delve into this subject. I have never celebrated the Valentines Day before. As I was sketching an outline on the subject in my mind, a colleague suggested an idea. To find someone special, enjoy the valentine experience and then write about it. Even though the idea seemed adventurous, prior to discussion with a few close friends; I decided against the boldness of it and settled for something rather exciting. I decided to hold a survey to channel the diverging views of people, on the Valentines Day, all hailing from different ages and walks of life into one stream.

The first person I approached was my friend’s aunt. I got a mammoth lecture on how un-Islamic and pagan the whole idea of this day is. She further elaborated on how it is the best time for all the gift brands to rip wallets. She did not put her full stop just there. She carried on about how this whole culture has transcended to a completely new level. She was referring to the emerging trends of the father’s day, mother’s day, friendship day etc. She went on talking about how everything has become commercialized. She added that emotions should not be sold in markets once a year but should be expressed by gestures daily.

The next victim of my survey was my adolescent cousin. She illustrated the Valentine’s Day from a completely different perspective. "Anyone can be your valentine," she said. "Your mum, dad, brother, sister, cousin or friends; as long as you love them. They particularly do not have to be your lovers or soul mates." "You can give a valentine gift to anyone you love," she added in the end.

The next stop where I pulled my car over was at a married friend’s place, who once, was an ardent supporter and celebrator of the Valentine’s Day. She would read heart melting poetry, romanticize and talk about the spirit of love. The girl who would wear nothing but red clothes on the Valentine’s Day and otherwise enjoyed the reputation of being a well dressed woman left me in a sheer disbelief and shock when she opened the door. She greeted me in an over sized tee shirt and baggy pajamas. She had a mug of coffee in one hand and her three year old in the other. When I asked about the Valentine’s Day, she snapped "What Valentine’s day are you talking about? I have laundry to do, then I have to get the kitchen cabinets fixed and later I have to drive to the airport to pick my husband from his business trip who is too busy making money and I am too busy maintaining home. I don’t have time for these stupid celebrations anymore." That was just the teething phase of the lecture. It lengthened with how love is unrealistic in books and movies and how silly occasions like the Valentines are purely absurd. Ouch. My heart melted. I left her place thinking, is that what happens in the end of it all?

But a part of me asked me not to give up. So, I rang up a friend in America. Maybe, I will get some interesting feedback on the V Day from the land of blue, red and white, I thought. That friend of mine had recently suffered a love injury and had joined the "We hate the Valentine’s Day Club." I cajoled her into talking to me about the positive aspects of it all but to no avail. After a few minutes, I thought of a humble excuse and ended the conversation.

Just when I was about to give up, the phone bell rang. It was the same friend from the States. Love might have injured her but she believed in recovery. I felt that in my earlier conversation, all the time, I was preaching to the converted! Maybe all she needed was a little push and I had just done that. So she started. She told me how on this day Cupid takes his arrow and shoots people who are in love. When the arrow hits you, you go to your loved one and ask them to be your Valentine. She told me that it is the day when you celebrate love. Love might have wounded her but she had not given up hope. She was still looking for cupid to hit her with his arrow.

This clarified something. Everything needs celebration, even love! But that does not mean you just have to celebrate it only once a year. Love can be celebrated in tiny gestures which to the naked eye seem plain but allow the heart to change destinies. You can do something special and different for those you love on a regular basis. You can write them a poem. If your creative gland does not produce any juices or you’re deprived of it, there is no problem; there is a reason why we have poets! You can do more. Help them with their work. Provide your shoulder when they need it to cry on. Giving consolation, advice and just simply being there for them when they need you, can do wonders. Sometimes, even words cannot say it all. It is what you do and how you do it. Shakespeare, the magnum opus, of love poetry says; "they do not love that do not show their love." So go on, show it, even if the cupid hits you by the arrow or does not!

MOONstreet

In just a matter of few days, the magically engulfing fog has disappeared and has been replaced by this morose, lingering weather. The days are interspersed with stinging sunshine and the nights are choked with a subduing cold. All of it just gives off a sense of an eerie calm, more like the calm before an impending storm. I do wonder whether all of it has to do with the inner emotions projecting themselves on my external world view or is it really that in the grand scheme of things, stoicism has set in.

Around this time of the year, if I can recall correctly (as it seems some distant memory), there used to be the hubbub of a festival known as Basant. All concerned preparations would have been in full gear and the follow-up kite duels to the actual event would have gripped the town in a mad frenzy. But then the pending petitions against kite flying and fighting finally came to pass as laws and down came the axe on all things colourful that float in the sky.

Multiculturalism was finally recognised as a threat to our national sovereignty. Yes, there was the aspect of the use of glass-coated twine and wires resulting in human injuries. But then so are dangers posed by knives and fires yet it seems ludicrous to outlaw them. So we have regulations (in case of arson and knife attacks) and directions for general usage.

Ah yes and then there was the concurrent jashn-e-baharan with all the floral finery of spring and a sampling of the edible fares from all over the country in food melas. These recurring events have been vanquished by the perpetual finery of automobile accompanied by a sampling of the din and exhaust fumes of all and sundry modes of transport.

The recent changes to the city’s skyline are not plazas going up but rather coming down, by a couple of stories that is. This time around, instead of pruning and reshaping the city’s natural outgrowth, the city’s officials can be found hacking away at the upward creeping towers of steel and concrete. Somehow these had missed the attention of LDA before and are now being charged at with wrecking crews who can be seen gnawing at the hulking structures like human termites accompanied by their mechanical battering rams.

The forecast for the city this weekend is that there shall be love in the air, as a respite from the typical blaring horns, smoke and sirens of security vehicles. This shall be courtesy of the traditional Valentine’s Day of sharing and expressing love. Various card and gift shops have already rolled out their offerings to entice those that want to express their sentiments to ones they are already in love with or expect to be in.

Advertising companies are going gaga with the love centered themes they are injecting into every promotional campaign. Long gone are the days that mere flowers would reinforce the bonds of old love or lay the foundations of a new one. Of late, the ones with the moolah to spare make their selection from exquisitely (priced) packaged fragrances or chocolates from around the world. The influx of designer wares have upped the scales and made the investment in love a more competitive activity. All this will make people think twice before sharing love coz it just ain’t free any more.

* Perdesi: Prints by Damon Kowarsky at Alhamra, The Mall from Mon, Feb 8 to Mon Feb 22.

*Japanese Ikebana workshop and demonstration from Feb 15 to Feb 19 at Alhamra Arts Council,

The Mall.

*Exhibition titled ‘New Art From Pakistan’ at Grey Noise, till Sat, Feb 20.

*Exhibition "Aaj Ke Naam" Faiz’s life in photographs, solo show of Salima Hashmi’s paintings at Alhamra, The Mall till Mon, Feb 22.

*Perdesi Prints by Damon Kowarsky at Alhamra, The Mall till Feb 22.

*Music: A Presentation on East European, Balkan & Gypsy music appreciation by Gina Rubik organised by the Lahore Arts Council on Tue, Feb 16 from 5:15-5:45 pm in Hall #2.

*4th APMC Life time achievement Award at Alhamra Arts Council, The Mall, Hall #2 on Sat, Feb 20 at 6:00 pm.

*Young Musicians Competition at Down Town Cafe till Tue, Feb 23.

*A rally in support of Socialism at GPO Chowk tomorrow at 4pm. Artists from the working class to present street theatre.

Celebrating Faiz’s Birthday with Children at Faiz Ghar today from 2-5 pm.

*Exhibition of Paintings by Rahat Masood at Ejaz Gallery on Thu, Feb 18.

*Exhibition titled ‘New Art From Pakistan’ at Grey Noise, till Sat, Feb 20.

risk

Gas loadshedding has forced people to resort to different ways to overcome the problem. People in the walled city and adjacent areas are installing used refrigerator compressors at main gas supply line to increase pressure of gas.

Experts describe the practice as dangerous. Haseeb Ahmed, an engineer says compressor is a very important part of the refrigerator which is regulated by built-in circuit in the refrigerator. "That is why compressor trips (to cause a system to start or stop working by built-in switch) when it comes under pressure but using compressor separately is a dangerous practice which should be discouraged."

Seconding Haseeb’s point of view, Atif, a fridge and AC mechanic says, using compressor to boost gas supply is a very dangerous practice as a fridge which houses a compressor has a special system which prevents the circuit from regulating all functions.

"People who are using compressors to improve gas supply should stop this practice immediately as by doing so they are playing with fire," he says.

Atif says, "We have to educate people about the dangers associated with the use of compressors for boosting supply of gas. We want a quick solution to every problem and when new ways to counter gas and electricity loadshedding is offered, people leap at it, overlooking the possible dangers it entails."

Even well-informed consumers seem favourably disposed towards the idea due to some reasons including larger scale commercial use of LPG cylinders, making it impossible for domestic users to have smooth supply of cylinders.

Another worrying aspect of the issue is that practice of using compressor is prevalent in thickly populated areas of the walled city and a small accident could lead to huge loss of life and property.

"It is a fact that using compressor is a very hazardous method of boosting gas supply but we are forced to go for it otherwise our owner will wind up the business, rendering us jobless and disturbing hundreds of people who are getting bread from a tandoor run on compressor-boosted gas," says Munir, a worker at a tandoor.

He says, "It seems that the device works like a flame-thrower and sometimes it makes terrible noises."

Women are the most vulnerable part of the whole business as they are using this dangerous device without any knowledge to tackle the emergency if it occurs.

Apart from other fatal consequences, extreme heat from flame could sear hands and faces of women while working on this device and most of them won’t be able to recover if they meet with an accident, says Dr Sabrina Sohail of Mayo Hospital skin ward.

She says in the past we would come across accidents of kerosene oil stoves explosion which claimed lives of hundred of women. This practice should be stopped before any big loss.

Officials of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) are totally unaware of the business. "We don’t have any information about this illegal business but this practice is against laws of the SNGPL," says an Admin office personnel of the gas company, requesting anonymity.

He assures the administration would soon devise a strategy to curb this illegal practice but people should not adopt such ways which could be dangerous. Low price of the device (used compressor and installation charges) is another factor which is attracting more and more people to adopt this practice.

"The whole device is available in the market at Rs 1200 to Rs 1500 and now a consumer can use one burner of the stove whereas when the device is introduced consumers have to use both burners of the stove because the pressure of the boosted gas is so high that it is impossible to tackle the pressure of gas with just one burner," says Akram Butt a sanitary store owner who deals in this device.

Grudgingly admitting the fact that this is a dangerous device, he says, "We can’t say using an LPG cylinder or coal is safe and many people are using these ways and compressor boosted gas in another device which may have more risks as compared to the old devices but it is becoming very popular because it is effective," he says.

This malpractice has resulted in revamping of substandard compressors. "In the past we dismantled the used compressor and segregate different metals used in the compressor like copper, brass and iron and market them. Now we have new clients who are using compressor for boosting gas. This dangerous practice has led to increase in price of used compressor and has increased the earning of the junk dealers," says Khalid Mughal of Bilal Gunj market.

He says, "We ask the people not to use old compressors to boost gas supply because cap of the old compressors are already broken to facilitate the breaking of the compressor in junkyards of the source countries where compressors are exported for dismantling."Khalid says authorities should come forward to curb this illegal business before it spreads in the whole city.

Fighting fares

Public transporters went on strike a fortnight back to demand increase in bus fares. No bus came out on city roads for four days. The strike ended with a more disturbing news for the commuters. Stop-by-stop bus fare had gone up by Rs3, that is, from Rs10 to Rs13.

It is a burden on the pockets of both students and people from lower income groups. According to an estimate, a labourer who comes to Lahore from Sheikhupura to work needs 80 rupees per day to commute within Lahore only. Average salary of a worker is Rs6000 and almost 40 percent of his income is spent on commuting.

In 2006 the government decided to give subsidy of Rs 2 per passenger to promote the public transport business. However, according to Urban Transport Owners Association, government is not paying subsidies as promised. "In 2006, 23 crore PKR subsidy amount was transferred to Regional Transport Authority. What they forwarded to the transporters was 11 crore PKR only," says Arshad Niazi of Niazi Express Bus Service.

In Karachi, Islamabad and Rawalpindi stop-by-stop bus fare is Rs.10 only, not that the fuel prices have not gone up there. Then why people in Lahore are being charged Rs13. Most of the people who travel in public transport cannot afford these fares. Stop-by-Stop ticket was one rupee in year 2000, now it is Rs13 in 2010.

Transporters went on a strike on the increase in prices of diesel and petrol. While fuel prices increased by 10 percent the bus fares went up by 30 percent. The transporters proposed a fare schedule in which first stage fare was Rs 15 and 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th stage fares were 20, 25, 30 and 35 respectively.

According to Urban Transport Owners Association, diesel price per liter was Rs48 when government suggested that the transporters charge Rs10 per passenger stop-by-stop fare. The government then gave subsidy of Rs2 on each passenger. Now diesel price is Rs 71 per litre and transporters are facing loss of Rs23 per passenger. They demand action against government servants and student mafia who try not to pay the fare. The students damage the buses at times. The transporters also demand an effective operation against illegal vehicles. Traffic police should not be allowed to give ‘fine’ tickets, only Lahore Transport Company should control urban buses. According to the urban transport owners association low fares against high diesel prices have made these companies bank defaulters already: ABC Metro, New Lahore Bus Service, SkyWays Bus Service, Allah Tawakkal Bus Service, Prince Bus Service, Monolite Bus Service, Al-Burraq Bus Service and Chatha Bros are all bank defaulters.

Arshad Khan Niazi told The News on Sunday (TNS), "The strike was not just for raise in fares, we want government to make transport business viable. Government is ready to spend money on importing new buses but does not want to spend on existing buses and that is our grouse."

Lahore Transport Company is the regulatory body for transport in Lahore, established against the court’s decision taken in April 2009. Article 72-D of the Constitution which is on fixation of fares, says: 1: the company shall fix the fares to be charged by the urban transport. 2. The government may, on its own motion or on the application of any person, revise the fare fixed by the company by taking into consideration the operational viability of the urban transport. So the current fare schedule has been fixed by Lahore Transport Company and transporters.

When decisions are made which directly affect public, public notices are given for suggestions or difficulties they may face in the end but no public notification was issued before taking this decision and no public representative was present when the decision was taken.

Chairman Lahore Transport Company (LTC) Tasneem Noorani says LTC represents public. He says when diesel was Rs52 per litre minimum fare was Rs12. It was Rs10 actually. "We have decided the new fares after long talks with transporters. Even then only 670 out of 1000 buses are plying on roads."

When asked how much subsidy LTC gives to transporters, he informs that Regional Transport Authority received only 23 crore out of 46 crore meant for subsidy to transporters. Out of that Rs 11 crore were disbursed amongst the bus owners. He says that subsidies will be given to transporters according to a system – ‘operational subsidy’. "LTC will get electronic trekkers to ascertain the movement of buses and turnover of passengers in different areas of the city," he further informs. He does not talk about how the fares can be brought down for the good of the people, anyway.

Labour Party Pakistan has started "Tehreek-e-Inkaar" against unfair raise in fares. This is a sort of disobedience movement, Farooq Tariq who started this movement told TNS, "Government has taken this decision of raising fares under sheer pressure of transporters. Transport system is being monopolised and LTC should play its role," he says.

During the time of the British rule in India, Lahore was known as the "Paris of India". The reasons are quite clear. To begin with, romance in the east can be defined as the individualistic struggle of the heart. Romantics provide inspiration to a society in their daily lives. The romance of ones city is judged by the general ambience created within the realm of that society. A romantic culture is sustained through literature and arts. Writers, poets, and artists would frequent teahouses where they would orate and document the experiences of the city.

To start out, the Mughals instilled a romantic quality into Lahore by developing monuments such as the elegant Badshahi Masjid and the Lahore Fort and then the British gave to the city one of the most beautiful green spaces known as Lawrence Gardens. Furthermore, the Mughals created a proud and close people culture that would inspire literature and art for many years.

One of the stories from the Mughal era is regarding the wealthy emperor Shah Jahan who constructed a palace in the imposing confines of the Lahore Fort to honour his wife Mumtaz Mahal. As the mother of his sixteen children, Mumtaz Mahal was the love of his life. The general assumption is that she passed without ever seeing the Shish Mahal.

Before this there is the tale of Anarkali the slave girl who stole the heart of the then Prince Salim with her flirtatious smile and met an unfortunate end when emperor Akbar caught a glimpse of this smile. She was then sentenced to death by erecting walls around her, this way she was buried alive. Years later when Salim became emperor, he erected a monument which read, ‘"Ah, if I could behold the face of my beloved again...I would give thanks unto my God till the day of Resurrection...’ The bereaved Salim, son of Akbar."

The old city also inspired Rudyard Kipling to write the book ‘Kim’. As an insomniac, much of his tales related to the sights of Lahore in the night. In ‘Kim’, Kipling wrote about a little boy who travels to the Lahore museum. Kim’s gun was popularised through this story.

Lahore is one of the few places in which poetry comes up in every day conversation. Mushairas or evenings when people gather, are occasions where poets are able to tell tales to the gathering who keenly listen to them.

In Lahore, Iqbal’s legendary public recitations would see scores of people gather around and listen to him in a state of trance. Like Wordsworth, Iqbal sought the truth about society. In a world which has always tried to make people someone they are not, Iqbal proved to be an original. This is the genius of Iqbal. His spiritual poem Shikwa took inspiration from the Lahorite city culture.

Following the passing of Iqbal, a new movement and resurgence of Urdu literature came with leftist literary movement. Faiz Ahmed Faiz would be one of its most key figures. Though he is known for his social conscience and poetry against oppression, he also evoked romantic and mystical themes in his poetry. With the passing of his 99th birthday, Faiz to this day comes across as a revolutionary.

For years Lahore has been the motif of art and culture. In Lahore, the artistic culture is the reason for the romance within the city. The creative energy of the people is the spirit of Lahore. That’s what makes Lahore special; just to exist in Lahore is inspiration on its own.

caption

Hazoori Bagh: A place where people would gather to listen to the best of literature.