more reminders of growing up
a couple of months ago a couple of colleagues and i decided to do the bacha thing on the way back from work. so we went to the zoo. i mean what could be more bachkana than that? anyways it turned out that if you subtracted the hordes of idle pathans who were not really looking at the animals but nonetheless looking with animal hunger at the few members of the opposite sex; it wasn’t really bad. i hadn’t been to the karachi zoo for the past 18 years and my colleagues had more or less the same thing to say but there was one female there we all recognized. anarkali.
anarkali the elephant. anarkali of the children’s joy rides. the pachyderm with the ridiculously inappropriate name. she wasn’t giving joy rides any more - old age i guess (do elephants get arthritis?) - but there were still dozens of children hanging around watching her. well today dawn reported that anarkali is dead. i wonder how many people read the paper and had nostalgic memories of the ten minute joy rides she used to give.
the things that give karachi its flavour….
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zainfeb13/192346449/
Yes, Anarkali is no more. I took this pictures couple of months back when Zoo authorities decided to give some rest to her. She used to take children for a ten minute ride not to take anything back in return but love.
My family and I are so upset about her passing away. We love you Anarkali, we always will1
I rem seeing anarkali a lllooonnnggg time back.. the feeling of fear of such a HUGE animal, and after the ride, the feeling of such admiration of it was awesome! Will miss you anarkali
zain: pretty morbid description on flickr man… still the pic made old memories come alive :) thanks
@Mansoor :)
Xill…Stereotyping of Phathans as sexual predators is uncalled for. After all they are our fellow country men. After the strikes and violence in karachi we must talk of unity.
Plus how do u know there were all pathans..I have lived in all 4 provinces pf pakistan and seen the same thing everywhere.
That was some experience …truly amazing!
Rest in peace….GOD BLESS HER SOUL.
@ Yo Yo
i’m sure you’ve been to all the provinces of pakistan, so have i. no major achievement. i do not see where i have stereotyped the entire pukhtoon race as one of sexual predators. i merely stated that there were a whole lot of pathans ogling the few ladies that were present there. by “pathan” i mean the caucasian desis (if such a term can be used) speaking in pushto. that is simply stating facts.
when i see a spade i call it a spade. you i assume take the high road and call it a tool for manual labour so that the pitchfork’s feelings aren’t hurt.
unity isn’t simply about brushing whats wrong with society under the carpet. think about it.
cheers mate.
Xill I understand your point…But in my opinion unity is definitely about brusing each others faults under the carpet and forgiving them. Unity is about talking more about eachothers positive points rather than negative.
I think it is exposing of each others faults and using their weaker points which has brought disharmoney amongst Pakistanis.
Anarkali will be greatly missed by atleast three generations of Karachi-walas.