Use freedom of speech tool effectively
Credits : Awais M. Lodhi
Saw this at LMB & though it’s not Karachi but if we think carefully we need it more & can make the best use of it. Anyhow it’s a good way to propagate your message (though you may never agree to his views/request) silently in an effective manner without creating much trouble. I like the marketing skills by this man. The method is old one but he used the words carefully. That’s the beauty. He took the lead from you & me the so called educated ones.
So what if Karachiites start dedicating just 3-5 percent of their vehicle space to highlight the issues that require urgent attention from the authorities? Would that not be a great way to use the freedom of speech tool? For example you can write. “Don’t expect rishwat from me” on your car. That’s for traffic police. Make sure you follow rules if you write it. Or “I obey traffic rules & never had trouble. What’s wrong with you” or “I pay my taxes full, why the roads are bumpy” or “Lets make Karachi better” or any sentence using decent language but highlighting serious issues.
Just a thought.
Origial and funny! The painter/writer definitely has a sense of humour.
Just read this post……and was wondering……karachi in a few years. This issue though has to be seriously highlighted and as far as the ricksha wala/writer has written…i completely agree to the fact that this can be the most humble & best way to highlight this kinda issues…but then one thingy that our authorities dont drive with open eyes…soooo anyways…WELL WRITTEN MB bhai..
It’s rather a sarcastic comment meant for our enlightened and over moderate President..
daily DAWN also printed this pic
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72726964@N00/375739988
zara check karo, kahin ye rickshaw cyril tu nahi chala raha?
@ADNAN : hahaha….. nice …
Here we go http://www.dawn.com/2007/02/02/SlideShow/NIP09.htm
“Drinking from The fountain Of enlightenment: It may be sarcasm, Lahore style, or just a simple demand. The message reads both ways. While they may still be some distance from the promised destination of enlightened moderation, the rickshaw drivers here surely know how to keep all those they take for a ride happy.”
It was NEWS IN PICS section ( Top left corner, Second button). But hey, who has taken this pic in real. Is it DAWN or is it Awais M. Lodhi or is Awais working for DAWN ?
doctor, offcourse it’s a sarcastic attemp but very coool. I think this is the best way to criticize govt’s policies.
when i was in mumbai last year, I saw MANY rickshaws and buses saying things like: “Truth is God” “Horn OK Please” “Clean Mumbai” “do not litter” etc.
I thought it was a unique and effective way of reinforcing some traffic rules… like using the horn every 3 seconds. And if you’ve ever heard of Mumbai, you know traffic in Karachi can’t even compare to how bad it gets there.
People do not take such messages seriouly so it will not make any diffrence.
A Mensa-colleague from Lahore, emailed this pic 2 days back and today I saw it in Dawn.
The use of public transport i.e. Rickshaw / Taxi / Bus for message is not new nor unique …
I remember reading funny & sarcastic remarks like this one in my school days at main Saddar.
Also our very own Advisor to CM Sindh, Umer Sharif in good old days also used it in his jokes.
Another related picture is published on pg 22, Metropolitan section of todays Dawn with the caption “Campaign for rights” – a public service message by some Women rights NGO in Peshawar.
I agree this will not make much of a difference but was well worth contemplating the idea. I believe there is a time for words and time for action. We need more action and less words.
What if, not all of us, but some of us, simply decided not to tell lies, just for a start…. would that not make a much bigger difference?
As they say action speaks louder than words!
rickshaw driver using his rickshaw as a ‘blogging platform’.
HIL-frikkin-LARIOUS @ the incription on the rickshaw (even though I *don’t* agree with it!)! :P
I don’t think the rickshaw onwner is being sarcastic; he’s serious.
very original, I must say.
I think people are not just growing cynical, but tired. Politicians, take notes for the next elections.
nice idea regarding bumper stickers……if someone…could get em done…and put them up for sale…i am sure..most readers n bloggers..will assist in selling the stickers..
With Musharraf if you don’t like something, at least you can bark about it.
With Musharraf if you don’t like something, at least you can bark about it.
Not really.
Even BBC is on it; http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/interactivity/captions/story/2007/02/070202_your_caption.shtml ….I know another chance for bloggers to brag about… :)
Translate in English if you can! For those of us out of country Karachiites – who can’t ready Urdu.
Thanks.
For the attention of Mr. General Musharraf
Accept congratulations for the success of the bill to protect women.
Please make one bill for the protection of men also.
It is very hard to drink (alcohol) nowadays.
soft chat:
Mr wasiq is it true that you are thinking of starting a blog only for your deleted comments..?
is it also true that pepsico of japan,Allahwala sheermaal house and many other big sponsors have shown interest in such a blog…?
Add&dumm: any comment of mine here at KMB that stays on for twenty four hours before being deleted or edited shall always be mine….
@ Karachiite
Very right…
HENA must be thankful to you….
Must he wondering what this pic has that it reached BBC, DAWN & obviously KMB & LMB
“Aik bill huqooq-e-mardaan per (bhi) bana dein”
. . . MULLAH mentality, at its best!
My car sticker though, would read: “Honk if you’re NOT a fanatic.”
As for the sarcastic ‘huqooq-e-mardaan (bhi)’ comment, here’s some food for thought:
http://www.amazon.com/Name-Honor-Memoir-Mukhtar-Mai/dp/1416532285
خناب بات صحيح ہے کہ يہ بڑے سائيٹيفک طريقہ سے پرويز مشرف صاحب کی روشن خيالی پر طنز کيا گيا ہے ۔ يقيننی طور پر يہ رکشا والا اتنی سمجھ رکھتا ہے ۔ يہ صرف پينٹر کا کمال نہيں ہے ۔ لاہور ميں ميں نے چار سال تعليم پائی اور میں پاکستان کے سب بڑے شہروں ميں گھوما پھرا ہوں مگر لاہور کے لوگوں جيسے زندہ دل پاکستان کے کسی شہر ميں نہيں ملتے ۔ ميرے اپنے شہر کے لوگ تو بالکل ہی گئے گذرے ہيں ۔
اگر آپ لوگ يہ اسلوب اپنائيں بلکہ يہ اسلوب پاکستان کے تمام کم از کم بڑے شہروں ميں اپنايا جائے تو يقينی طور پر قوم کيلئے بہتی کی صورت پيدا ہو سکتی ہے ۔
i totally agree with Ajmal’s comment , Mush is always
bragging about the silent majority supporting him whereas the actual case is other way around.. people should express themselves and their feelings more openly
Doctor, how does a single rickshaw represent the whole silent majority or even a major part of it?
Mu, everyone thinks the “silent majority” is on their side whether its Mush or the Doctor. I was amused by the original posting but less amused at the idea that people in all seriousness think the guys a revelotionary for saying “thanks for the useless bill you just passed”. This is not a useless bill it doesnt matter whether you like Mush or not.
@Mu my comments were in response to Ajmal’s ÿßÿ¨ŸÖŸÑ comment that our public should be more
expressive otherwise dictator would take them for a ride..
majority of people are having hard time trying to make both ends meet while the dictator is
busy trying to break record by carry out countless foreign trips with all those joyriders
whereas poor PIA is going down the drain with Rs 20 Billion losses…
As far as this bill is concerned dictator is’nt interested in betterment of women in pakistan he is just trying to save his neck by pleasing the international donors and imperial masters and will continue to take shocking U turns in comming months as well to prolong his illegitimate rule…but the irony is that despite we’re doing all the dirty work for west they’re saying its not enough and an amendment is all set to be passed by American congress which is more stern and stringent then the notorious Presler Amendment…