One can see your point and also agree with some. However I strongly disagree with point No. 8. Urdu has never been a part of the culture of the majority of people now living in Pakistan. And it has also nothing to do with Islam as many in our country would like to believe. We keep on chanting the Urdu mantra as if speaking it would make us better Pakistanis and even better Muslims. First we must ask ourselves some questions; Is Urdu developed enough as a language to be able to cater to the modern day world? For example could we have become a nuclear power if our scientists had only studied Urdu? Which scholar, in any field, has made an impact on the international scene by writing only in Urdu without his work being translated? The answers are obvious. Moreover what is the relation between Urdu and Islam? None at all I dare say. But we dub anyone who refuses to speak it as a non-Muslim. I remember being told of an incident by my late and lamented teacher Professor Kemal Faruki, who was an Islamic scholar well versed in Arabic and has written several books on Islam. It so happened that Professor Kemal Faruki had most of his education in Beirut and then in the United States. Since all his children were born and initially educated abroad they, like their father, did not know Urdu although they all spoke fluent Arabic and English. When Professor Kemal Faruki returned to Pakistan one of his sons was studying at the St. Patricks College, Karachi. One day Professor Faruki got a phone call from the college to rush there because his son had suffered some injuries as he had been beaten up by some boys. When he reached there and asked his son the reason for his being beaten up he was told that some boys had insisted that he should stop calling himself a Muslim as he did not speak Urdu and his refusal had led to the scuffle!!!! Yes Urdu is a beautiful language and poets like Ghalib and Faiz have written poetry comparable with the best anywhere. Yes we must respect Urdu like we must respect all languages. But to consider it a part of our culture or to tie it up with Islam is not on. And can you please point out just a single word of pure Urdu in our national anthem? Do more than 90% or even more understand the national anthem?
Regards Naushad Shafkat P.S. The Quaid was always impeccably dressed according to the occassion. On Fri, Sep 5, 2008 at 11:28 PM, Shamsa Baloch <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: > With regards to the last edition my comments and views are as follows > > > > *How can we expect our culture to grow when we have such problems > existing in our society:* > > > > *First, we do not trust ourselves > > > > *Second, we do not promote homemade stuff 'coz we're very much influenced > by foreign > > > > *Thirdly, do we all know our National Anthem correctly and complete? I > doubt > > > > *Fourth, did we study Pakistan's history whole-heartedly? > > > > *Fifth, on questioning not only the youth of Pakistan but few adults also > failed to answer the question "Significance of 23rd March and in which > year was it? > > > > *Sixth, we want all our works to be done by the government, we don't like > to take pain 'coz we enjoy gain. > > > > *Seventh, we do not want people to know that we are Pakistanis when we are > in foreign countries (I was an example of this statement but now > Alhamdulilah I take pride in being a Pakistani) > > > > *Eighth, do we respect Urdu, I think now we have mixed Hindi in it 'coz we > love Indian dramas and Bollywood. > > > > *Ninth, we love Pakistan only on 14th of August > > > > *Tenth, do we realize the sacrifices of our past? I think no because if we > did then our country could have been better until this day. > > > > > > Did we know Mr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah by his clothes and hairstyle? > > Did we know Mr. Allama Iqbal by his clothes and hairstyle? > > These two prominent figures made a mark in the history not by clothing well > and introducing new hairstyles but it was their hard work which brought them > to fame. > > > > Then why do we blame the celebrities about their way of clothing…If we > blame them, then first we should turn the pointing finger's direction > towards ourselves because if they are stylizing themselves with western > styles, then we are also copying it… what will you say to this!!! > > > > If we love & respect our Culture then it is obvious that others will like > it too… > > > > *What ever points I have stressed does not refer to all Pakistanis > > > > With regards, > > Shamsa Baloch > > Po Box: 1853 > > Alain,U.A.E > > > > -- Naushad Shafkat --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Loose Ends Pakistan" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/looseendspakistan?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
