Owais Mughal
This notice board is from Food Street, Lahore. It reads:
“Entering the ‘Food Street’ wearing shorts is strictly prohibited: Food Street Administration”
Among other things on this notice board, I enjoyed reading the word sakht (strictly). As if the word forbidden didn’t sound serious enough, the administration had to add a prefix strictly forbidden to make sure people undrestand that administration means business here.
Credits: I found the above photo in rooq‘s collection at Flickr.com.
Shorts remind me of the colonial period( until recent years of formation of Pakistan) in the subcontinent when policemen (as well as army personnel) used to wear shorts. Primarily the reason for it was attributed to hot weather and economy in uniform fabric. Looking at those guys in shorts carrying a baton in their hands make me think of a monkey which the ”bunder wala” is poking with his stick to show his acrobatics ! it’s heartening that wearing shorts have been prohibited in the services largely for reasons of civil indecency and derogation of men. If men continued to walk around in shorts the women rights activists would (and they have in developed countries) follow suit in Pakistan to everybody’s ”shock and amazement(or amusement! perhaps ) !”
What does this discussion tells us about ourselves? Do we have inflated egos? Are we too afraid of other side taking over and must defend every post with blood? Or just that we love (or not) wearing shorts?
Adonis – Can you please name a country club which bars Shalwar-Qameez wearers? I would like to join one.
Before Bhutto, many 5-star hotels barred entry to anyone wearing shalwar qameez. This is the case even today in some ‘country clubs’. Also several schools strictly ban speaking any urdu in their premises.
So if the food street administration does not allow wearing of shorts, then short wearers can take their business elsewhere. No big deal!!
You guys are hillarious!
ATP admin: I love the idea of restricting three comments per person. Brilliant! We sure love to argue. On the other hand, it’s good to see people with such a wide range of perspectives all equally right (or equally wrong).
P.S. I am wearing shorts right now.