I’ve had a bit of a love affair with Pakistan for many years. Admittedly, I was neither born in the country nor do I have any foolish patriotic notions about it. My friends would be quite correct in questioning my motives if I wrote or say anything serious about it. I certainly claim no authority over its politics, culture or present state of affairs. Even the official languages of the country are barely known to me. However, I did manage to spend considerable time there on and off, most of which has been very pleasant since it was spent on someone else’s dime. In that manner, Pakistan in particular, and the surrounding geographical region in general, has been quite formative for me. I fondly note that some of my best friends still live there despite the various reasons I could give them to leave it as quick as they can. Quite frankly, if I had to summarize what Pakistan means for me I might have to resort to paraphrasing something that Meer or Khuswant Singh would have said about Delhi.
So, Pakistan Ka Matlab kia? i.e. what does Pakistan mean? The more I thought about it, the more I feel that we can each derive our own meanings from any country or place we are at. Over the years I have heard various renditions of the words Pakistan ka Matlab kia? La Illlaha illallah. That call/reply cry which is a juxtaposition of Arabic and Urdu. The question/call i.e. Pakistan ka matlab kia? can be loosely translated as “What does Pakistan mean?” and the answer is La Illlaha illallah (There is no god but god) which is the first segment of the creed (shahada) of the Muslims. Over time, I have also heard some variations of these words some of which are quite humorous. Of course the humor would be totally lost if I tried to make even the feeblest attempt at translation. I present them below in the shape of a hazal that formed in my mind a few days ago.
کبھی کہیں سے آتی تھی یہ صدا
پاکستان کا مطلب کیا؟ لا إله إلا الله
پر گیا وہ وقت اب خیال ایسے ہیں
پاکستان کا مطلب کیا؟ جتھوں لبے اتھوں کھا
کچھ بزرگانِ عصرِ حاضر کہتے ہیں
پاکستان کا مطلب کیا؟ دم لگا غم مکا
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امرا بھی مونھ میں زباں رکھتے ہیں
پاکستان کا مطلب کیا؟ جیباں پھر غریب مکّا
ادھر ظالمین کچھ ایسے سوچتے ہیں
پاکستان کا مطلب کیا؟ ہر بندے دے چھوڈے لا
اور تو اور علماء بھی کہتے ہیں
پاکستان کا مطلب کیا؟ ملا بن تے فتوے لا
مولانا عبدل بارود یہ سمجھاتے ہیں
پاکستان کا مطلب کیا؟ ساریاں نو پھاے لا
پے اشتہار یہ چلتے ہیں TV
پاکستان کا مطلب کیا؟ ماسٹر کا رنگ لگا
یار جو خلیجی ریاستوں سے آے ہیں
الباکستان کا المطلب کیا؟ کھجوراں کھا اونٹ چرا
مغرب زدہ ٹائیگر یہ بولتے ہیں
پاکستان کا مطلب کیا؟ آرمی الله امریکا!
درمیانے لوگ بس یہ سوچتے ہیں
پاکستان کا مطلب کیا؟ ٹیکس پھر مسیتی جا
ملک کے غربا کے وچار ایسے ہیں
پاکستان کا مطلب کیا؟ پوکھا مر بھاڑ اچ جا!
استاد نما چرسی بھنگی بیٹھے ہیں
پاکستان کا مطلب کیا؟ چھوڑو یار ہمارا کیا؟
Amusing Musings for the Muse 