Tell me, what are we to celebrate –
the death of more children,
burnt Christians,
the ‘internally displaced persons’?
The lootings and killings of the Baloch
or my Sindh’s neglect?
The Yankee’s grin and rule,
salute to Lugar and Kerry?
What, tell me, are we to celebrate?
Our political elite,
their fleets of jeeps,
their polished words of abuse and love,
and oaths of care – the price of robbery?
Or maybe it’s the NGOs and human-rights commissions,
the paved roads in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad
and coming soon to a city near you!
Or the escort of Zardari …
ye us ka pakistan hai!
Tell me, what are we to celebrate?
Is it the rule of poverty and stunted youth,
zamindars and khaki suits?
Or maybe it’s the
illiterate and unnourished millions,
Nike shoes or
our acquired taste for mobile phones, imported cars,
imported dress, imported language, imported selves,
imported souls?
Tell me, then … what are we to celebrate?
Slavery to the US, slavery to the zamindars,
slavery to the bureaucracy, slavery to Punjab,
slavery to khaki suits, to the police’s torture cells,
slavery to the aunty from the NGO – she will save you
with British money and French support!
Burn the flags, cancel the anthem,
revoke the seat at the UN,
bring back the ambassadors,
disband the cricket team,
The nation isn’t born,
the hour isn’t today.
Caravans have been lost and more will perish,
but this nation will be born …
Hum dekhenge,
Lazim hai ke hum bhi dekhenge …
Hum dekhenge …
~ Qalandar Bux Memon is a lecturer in politics at Forman Christian College, Lahore, editor of Naked Punch (www.nakedpunch.com), and a member of the Labour Party of Pakistan.
