Adil Najam
I recieved a couple of emails with this picture today, and then saw it poste by Vaqas on Metroblog Lahore (see earlier picture here). A great picture by Awais Lodhi. We at ATP have a long-standing fascination with rickshaws (here, here, here, here an here). But, this, of course, is about political commentary, not just about rickshaws.
My best attempt at a translation of the ‘writing on the rickshaw’ is:
Addressed to Honorable General Musharraf Sahib. Accept my congratulations on the passage of the women’s rights bill. Now, please, also give us a bill on Men’s rights. We will be greatful. It is very difficult to drink these days.
Must confess, I am not fully sure how the last line fits. Please suggest a better translation if you will. Or offer commentary on this commentary.
So finally ATP got affected of this Rickshaw too, in past two three days every blog that I open is talking about “Haqooq e Mardaa’n” … I wonder how many they need??
I agree with Bilal, I think this is a sarcastic remark. Not again Musharraf but against women’s rights.
My first reaction to it was frankly of disgust. I think I read something quite troubling in it. I will let you guys correct me if I am waaay off.
I think the creator of the bill board is upset at Musharraf - because he gave the kind of ‘azaadi’ to women that would result in ‘fahaashi’ in the society. I think he is asking Musharraf Sahib that if it has been made easy for women to participate in ‘fahaashi’ or ‘awaara-gardi’, then why not men? They should be allowed to buy and drink alcohol as well. Then we would have a real ‘liberal’ society.
The term pynA pilAnA (peena pilana) is equivalent to “dining and wining” and “enjoying life”. One does not do dining and wining with a glass of water and a piece of bread. The message is clear and we should tell the truth as it is advised. Also I find the term “sar-e-rAh” (on the road protected by “bismillaah” and the “massenger of Allaah” is interesting and important to be translted in English version as well. But is it necessary to translate all this in English?
Ahsan
I think the message is that to drink alcohol is the “haq” of males!!So give us that!!
At least in Lahori Urdu “peena pilana” refers specifically to alcohol. The quote is very likely a sarcastic one….although things might’ve changed recently.
Either way, its great! A better way to discuss ideas than “mar kutar.”
“Peeney pilaney ke liye bari tangi hoti hai� means there is not enough money available for revelry (drinking). In conjunction with the rest of the statement it is probably a sarcastic or tongue-in-cheek reference to being hen-pecked.
“Zahid, na khud piyo na kisi ko pilaa sako
Kya baat hai tumharay sharab-e-tahoor ki”