We come across umpteen columns on a daily basis but what makes the collection of columns written by Iftikhar Naseem different is that these have been written by a person who has an American nationality but is a Pakistani at heart. These columns were published after the 9/11 incident and have been published in a number of renowned dailies, both in Pakistan and the US. Iftikhar Naseem, generally known as Ifti, is a poet, columnist and social activist.
In the introduction to his book, Ifti writes that, to him, living in Chicago is like living in Lyallpur (Faisalabad). The largest Lake Michigan in the vicinity of his flat reminds him of Jhal Khanwala of Lyallpur. All the large shopping centres on Michigan Avenue remind him of Kutchehry Bazaar and Diwan Avenue reminds him of Rail Bazaar, what with all the hotels and tea bars. He claims that his heart still belongs to his old yellow house in Lyallpur.
Itfi’s question to the Muhajirs (immigrants) who migrated from India to Pakistan in 1947 is: how long will they call themselves Muhajirs, now that it has been 63 years since Pakistan became an independent nation? He refers to Mustafa Kamal’s visit to the US where all that he was propagating was that the Muhajirs were being subjected to oppression.
A Spanish Muslim’s murder incited Ifti to write an article on the apathy of Muslims in the US nowadays. He criticises the fact that it was only recently that the Americans gave Pakistanis great respect, but all that has taken a u-turn overnight. Close by, in the University of Chicago, President Obama and his wife used to teach law. In the university’s journalism department, one found all Hindus and hardly any Pakistani or Indian Muslim, one of the reasons being that a Hindu headed this department for a long time. The problem with Pakistanis is that they, instead of projecting Pakistan, project their political parties or religious ideologies. Despite the fact that Pakistan’s identity is linked with great personalities like Dr Abdus Salam, Iqbal, Faiz and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Pakistanis in general are being considered terrorists. The situation has aptly been described by Nisar Nasik in his couplet: ‘Mein sazishon mein ghira ik yatim shehzada/ Yahin kahin koi khanjar meri talash mein hai’ (I am an orphan prince surrounded by intrigues/ Every passing moment I feel as if a dagger is following me).
The next two articles pertain to communication, an area in which we Pakistanis need to put in more effort. Ifti criticises the inapt use of Facebook wherein some amateurs publish their poetry or music and their friends write lines of false praise. In another article, Ifti mentions Steven Spielberg’s Oscar for a mediocre movie ‘Schindler’s List’ as it favoured the Jews. He advises the Pakistani Muslims in the US not to discuss politics or religion with strangers, as they could be FBI agents.
Being an artist, Ifti gets moved by a rare snowfall in Dallas. For a poetry recitation session in Dallas, Ifti negates Ghalib’s couplet: ‘Na sataish ki tamana na siley ki parwah/ Na sahi gar merey asha’ar mein ma’ani na sahi’ (Neither praises nor returns are expected/ I don’t care if my poetry is considered meaningless). Ifti believes that a poet needs appreciation.
He further writes that wherever one lives, one needs to take interest in politics. In a column titled, ‘Josh Sey Nahin Hosh Sey Kaam Lein’, he discusses the publishing of satanic sketches in News India Times by publisher Dr Sudhir Parikh. Upon contacting his office, his representative defended him but agreed that Dr Parekh was anti-Islam, not anti-Muslim. The basic idea was to hurt Muslim sentiments. Therefore, Muslims need to fight with a proper strategy, not emotions.
Ifti expresses the desire and need for Pakistan to improve as a nation. The quote of Maulana Zafar Ali Khan is very apt here that says: ‘Khuda nei aaj tak us qaum ki haalat nahin badli/ Na ho jis ko kheyal apni haalat badalne ka’ (God has not changed the condition of any nation/ That does not bother to change itself).
The reviewer is based in Lahore and can be reached at [email protected]