Foundation stones are the monuments laid down to show the history and descriptions of some constructions or developments. You may find historic foundation stones of so many great projects all over the world, which have become a history themselves apart from their project. The foundation stones often had a cavity into which some artifacts that were typical of the period of the construction, or some coins of the year were entombed. But in Pakistan these stones have not remain so simple and are laid and unveiled for so many other reasons.
In government sector whenever a project starts, some VIP is invited to lay the foundation stone. The purpose of the ceremony is to inform everyone that the project has not started by itself but by the day-night efforts of the VIP. Sometimes the ceremony is arranged to the extent that a reasonable part of the allocated funds of the project get utilized. An interesting example in this regard is the inauguration ceremony of “Bab-e-Pakistan” monument at Lahore in 1991 under the premiership of Mr Nawaz Sharif. Most of the efforts for the monument were utilized on the function (Jalsa-e-Aam), due to which construction of the monument couldn’t proceed any more, despite of the fact that premiership remained with Mr Nawaz Sharif for more than once. The Foundation stone of the “Bab-e-Pakistan” monument was unveiled again in 2006 by President General Parvaiz Musharaf.
There are many more projects for which more than one foundation stone were laid due to change in the political scenario of the country. The Foundation stone of Canal-Mall underpass and Canal-Ferozepur Road underpass were unveiled again due to delays and change in premiership of the country. The foundation stones unveiled by representatives of one government vanished away with the dissolution of the government and a complete new exercise took place with a new foundation stone on the same old place and same old project. Sometimes a certain change in the project was considered to be inevitable only for the sake of showing the project to be a new one, neglecting the huge price to be paid for the undesired changeover. Rapid changes in the prestigious Islamabad chair have caused repeated laying of many such foundation stones on invariable projects.
The foundation Stone is not only confined for the bigger projects only, but are even laid for as small works as the brickwork in the streets, or provision of some basic amenity at a limited level. You may find a lot of such examples showing big stones for minor works.
Sometimes another stone for the same project is unveiled to show the successful completion of the project. The purpose of it could be to inform or to make happy all those who are involved in the payment of the project. Many contractors consider the completion ceremony and final stone compulsory for the issuance of final payments to their firms. But the form of open bribe has neither criticized nor hindered by any influential administrator.
There is another type of foundation stones, that are engraved or carved with extreme craftsmanship but still remain deprived of the opportunity to be laid at the desired place. Some unavoidable circumstances impede them from being laid and unveiled. A number of such foundation stones may be viewed placed with their craftsman, ruining all the beauty of the stone and labor of the craftsman.
Foundation stones have another interesting story. Sometimes they are unveiled, functions are held, but the project for which all this exercise has gone through remains untouched in reality. It could be due to so many reasons; maybe it was unveiled before election and after election the development was not desired, maybe the funds of the project have been utilized at some other site, maybe the project was not feasible even in the start but the stone was intended to make people happy for the moments, maybe the project have completed in the papers and none of the management has bothered to view the reality or maybe have closed their eyes for some other reason.
At some occasions even the government representatives have criticized the wastage of funds this way, but all such words have also gone waste and the public funding are continually being ruined away in the name of opening and ground breaking ceremonies. Some parliamentarians and parliament have condemned that the ceremonies and the foundation stones should not be self projecting but effect of the sayings were not seen.
Mostly these stones are of no importance to the common public. You may find many of these stones placed upside down now, completely or partially broken. On some occasions people were found making fun of them by lighting candles and garlanding them like a shrine. Change of governments may cause removal of many such foundation stones showing the names of previous representatives.
By religious point of view these stones are just self projecting, which is strictly forbidden especially on the expense of the state/ public funding. By economic point of view these stones are a form of multifarious corruption and burden on our economy. They exert many folded consequences on the society and not only waste the much needed funding but also harm the quality of work accomplished and true workmanship of the personals involved. In our society a big portion of the development funds are wasted by passing underhand. So the foundation Stones and their ceremonies shrink the volume of the rightly consumed funds to the deteriorating position which is too harmful for our society in which too much is still to be done.
May Allah the Great bless us with righteous people and positive deeds.
Aameen.
azharmaroof@gmail.com
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Basant
I am proud that I am a pure lahorites. Our native home was situated in a narrow street of Kashmiri Bazar, Rang Mahal Lahore, whereas my maternal grandfather lived inside Bhatti Gate Lahore. I do have good memories of my childhood spent in the two localities. Those were the sweet dream days of an environment which seems hard to believe in today’s world. In both the places there was too much love, respect and care for everyone. People of neighborhood not only shared moments of sorrow and happiness together, but also facilitate each other’s functions, ceremonies and festivals to the maximum extent.
Yes! Basant was also one of the festivals of that time which was confined to the residents of the real Lahore. Kite flying was the pet game of the people living within the Lahore walled city. It was not only a game but a hobby, a resort, a time kill and a matter of prejudice and honor sometimes. A lot many people were crazy of the game which was enjoyed on not only weekends but sometimes everyday.
Basant was a festival of everyone. Those who were fond of kite flying used to prepare for basant many months prior to it. Arranging for Kites, Threads, Friends and their favorite dishes. Inter group’s competitions and tournaments were arranged. Experts were invited to not only participate and enjoy but also to settle the disputes.
Those who were not as crazier of the game exceptionally prepared for the show. Just for the sake of participation they too included in the race of basant preparation. Sometimes their preparation was for their guests who were invited for the festival. Friends of the surrounding areas and other cities felt privileged to be invited there.
Many people were not as good kite flyer or didn’t have any inclination to it but they too enjoyed this once a year festival. Sometimes just watching others enjoy or sometimes enjoying with them. Even those who disliked kite flying used to enjoy it on the basis that it was an enjoyment of a day in the whole year.
Basant day was a day of enjoyment. People used to come on their roofs and started flying the kites with the least light of the rising sun. Kites of all colors and sizes filled the sky as the flowers in the spring. People enjoyed kite flying, gatherings and treats in a true spirit. Neighbors exchanged kites, foods and even sometimes the guests too. Essence of sharing happiness was felt all around.
Looting and catching cut away kites had a different charm. A number of boys only enjoyed the basant day while looting others cut away kites and threads. These types of people were easily identified by the special bamboos in their hands. For them the first day was looting day and the second day the real kite flying day.
Too much noise was raised whenever any kite, own or others was cut down. Noise was also heard on looting or catching of some big kite. Music was also there to give it true festival shade. A mix-up of different sounds of people and music blended the charm.
The extravaganza continued till noon. The sound of Zuhur Prayer announced an almost recess break. Now is the party time. Smell of different types of tempting foods was all around. Lunch is commonly being taken on the roof even while flying the kites. You may find some make shift arrangements to precede kite flying and lunch simultaneously.
The basant glory reaches its peak in the evening. At that time people flew some extra large size of kites or the kites of some other shape and origin. That time even the ladies of the houses also came on the roof. They not only enjoyed the going on basant but also the evening cup of tea on roof. It also accompanied the conversation of ladies of the neighborhood.
After the sunset when the daylight gets extracted, people started winding up the game. Flying kites are set free by cutting their threads by own hand. At that moment many people set ablaze all their remaining kites and threads as a mark of end of the festival and to assure that the enjoyment will restart next year. Some people mark the end of basant by fireworks and lighting candles.
Thus a tiring hectic basant day full of utmost enjoyment came to its end. In the night there were rare reports of some fights or causalities due to basant
Until 1982 there was no concept of night basant. I think it was in 1982 that I went up the roof one night and saw two houses having made good arrangements on their roofs. They had arranged a kite competition of the two houses. All requisites for the purpose i.e. Kites, threads, music, lights and even flood lights directing upward had been arranged. Light breeze, mild weather and no unwanted interferences, it was a wonderful idea. The concept of the cool night kite flying spread like a fire within two years. And in 1986 when I went up the roof of a building on Mall Road Lahore on the basant night, the whole walled city Lahore was luminous of the night basant lights. Till then the night basant was confined to the residents of the walled city and was free of so much life hazards and causalities.
The basant was then taken over by the non residents of Lahore and people with too much money but no kite flying expertise. To compensate their deficiency they desired threads of the strength that would not break how big is the kite or some chemical coated thread to cut others threads. This was the turning point of the bloody basant. The threads that were made not to cut down were now cutting the throats of innocents.
It also resulted in the price hike of kites and threads, so the poor who were intended to enjoy kite flying started using non conventional metallic wires for kite flying. These wires not only damaged electricity distributions but also too many families.
Thus a series of innocent killings and injuring of the innocents especially of those going on motorcycles started. People were dieing without knowing the death reason or even the killers. They were being injured seriously without any weapon. The cry of the innocent made the stoppage of the centuries old tradition and the Basant was banned.
Yes! Basant was also one of the festivals of that time which was confined to the residents of the real Lahore. Kite flying was the pet game of the people living within the Lahore walled city. It was not only a game but a hobby, a resort, a time kill and a matter of prejudice and honor sometimes. A lot many people were crazy of the game which was enjoyed on not only weekends but sometimes everyday.
Basant was a festival of everyone. Those who were fond of kite flying used to prepare for basant many months prior to it. Arranging for Kites, Threads, Friends and their favorite dishes. Inter group’s competitions and tournaments were arranged. Experts were invited to not only participate and enjoy but also to settle the disputes.
Those who were not as crazier of the game exceptionally prepared for the show. Just for the sake of participation they too included in the race of basant preparation. Sometimes their preparation was for their guests who were invited for the festival. Friends of the surrounding areas and other cities felt privileged to be invited there.
Many people were not as good kite flyer or didn’t have any inclination to it but they too enjoyed this once a year festival. Sometimes just watching others enjoy or sometimes enjoying with them. Even those who disliked kite flying used to enjoy it on the basis that it was an enjoyment of a day in the whole year.
Basant day was a day of enjoyment. People used to come on their roofs and started flying the kites with the least light of the rising sun. Kites of all colors and sizes filled the sky as the flowers in the spring. People enjoyed kite flying, gatherings and treats in a true spirit. Neighbors exchanged kites, foods and even sometimes the guests too. Essence of sharing happiness was felt all around.
Looting and catching cut away kites had a different charm. A number of boys only enjoyed the basant day while looting others cut away kites and threads. These types of people were easily identified by the special bamboos in their hands. For them the first day was looting day and the second day the real kite flying day.
Too much noise was raised whenever any kite, own or others was cut down. Noise was also heard on looting or catching of some big kite. Music was also there to give it true festival shade. A mix-up of different sounds of people and music blended the charm.
The extravaganza continued till noon. The sound of Zuhur Prayer announced an almost recess break. Now is the party time. Smell of different types of tempting foods was all around. Lunch is commonly being taken on the roof even while flying the kites. You may find some make shift arrangements to precede kite flying and lunch simultaneously.
The basant glory reaches its peak in the evening. At that time people flew some extra large size of kites or the kites of some other shape and origin. That time even the ladies of the houses also came on the roof. They not only enjoyed the going on basant but also the evening cup of tea on roof. It also accompanied the conversation of ladies of the neighborhood.
After the sunset when the daylight gets extracted, people started winding up the game. Flying kites are set free by cutting their threads by own hand. At that moment many people set ablaze all their remaining kites and threads as a mark of end of the festival and to assure that the enjoyment will restart next year. Some people mark the end of basant by fireworks and lighting candles.
Thus a tiring hectic basant day full of utmost enjoyment came to its end. In the night there were rare reports of some fights or causalities due to basant
Until 1982 there was no concept of night basant. I think it was in 1982 that I went up the roof one night and saw two houses having made good arrangements on their roofs. They had arranged a kite competition of the two houses. All requisites for the purpose i.e. Kites, threads, music, lights and even flood lights directing upward had been arranged. Light breeze, mild weather and no unwanted interferences, it was a wonderful idea. The concept of the cool night kite flying spread like a fire within two years. And in 1986 when I went up the roof of a building on Mall Road Lahore on the basant night, the whole walled city Lahore was luminous of the night basant lights. Till then the night basant was confined to the residents of the walled city and was free of so much life hazards and causalities.
The basant was then taken over by the non residents of Lahore and people with too much money but no kite flying expertise. To compensate their deficiency they desired threads of the strength that would not break how big is the kite or some chemical coated thread to cut others threads. This was the turning point of the bloody basant. The threads that were made not to cut down were now cutting the throats of innocents.
It also resulted in the price hike of kites and threads, so the poor who were intended to enjoy kite flying started using non conventional metallic wires for kite flying. These wires not only damaged electricity distributions but also too many families.
Thus a series of innocent killings and injuring of the innocents especially of those going on motorcycles started. People were dieing without knowing the death reason or even the killers. They were being injured seriously without any weapon. The cry of the innocent made the stoppage of the centuries old tradition and the Basant was banned.
Save the World, Save Glaciers, Save Siachen
Siachen-the second longest glacier of the planet- having area 1700 Kilometers Square and Ice Mass more than two trillion cubic feet is under illegally under Indian occupation since 1984.Presence of Indian Army brought death sentence for Siachen and other Himalayan glaciers, melting with unprecedented rate. Previously it was assumed that these glaciers are melting due to global warming but now Scientists and environmentalist realized that direct human intervention is the significant. There melting is already causing serious hydrological extremes in South Asia that include change in weather pattern, droughts and floods etc. But the worst impact of melting of Himalayan glaciers is Sea-level rise that is greatest threat to low laying countries like Bangladesh and Maldives.
In this alarming situation eminent scholar including Professor Dr. Syed Iqbal Hasnain, former Vice Chancellor, and a renowned glaciologist of India, Professor Dr. Shahnaz Huq Hussain dean from Dhaka University Bangladesh and Shekhar Gupta, the editor-in-chief of the national Indian Express daily and Mr Arshad Abbasi of Pakistan have also joined this campaign raised their concern in international media.
We also request to please raise your voice to preserve Himalayan glaciers by demilitarizing Siachen Glacier to stabilize climate of South Asia
Best regards Azhar Maroof Environmental Governance Analyst 265-N Model Town Lahore-PakistanContact e-mail azarmaroof@gmail.com Cell Number--03004915654
In this alarming situation eminent scholar including Professor Dr. Syed Iqbal Hasnain, former Vice Chancellor, and a renowned glaciologist of India, Professor Dr. Shahnaz Huq Hussain dean from Dhaka University Bangladesh and Shekhar Gupta, the editor-in-chief of the national Indian Express daily and Mr Arshad Abbasi of Pakistan have also joined this campaign raised their concern in international media.
We also request to please raise your voice to preserve Himalayan glaciers by demilitarizing Siachen Glacier to stabilize climate of South Asia
Best regards Azhar Maroof Environmental Governance Analyst 265-N Model Town Lahore-PakistanContact e-mail azarmaroof@gmail.com Cell Number--03004915654
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