Back in January 2007, I wrote about beggars on the streets of Lahore, Karachi and the growing indifference in our society towards these extremely poor and forgotten people. Hundreds of organized gangs are operating in almost every big city of Pakistan who amputate the organs of little kids, old and young people and then leave them on streets to make good money for them. But what about the unfortunate beggars themselves?
We see them every day at traffic signals and footpaths from our car windows and most of the times just throw a coin at them and try to ignore them as they don’t exist. This level of indifference in our society is sad. May be we were put on this side of the car window for a reason, to be able to help those on the other side.
Our courts are too busy solving the legal and constitutional issues, the law enforcement agencies are occupied keeping an eye on politicians or arresting and deporting them, and all of us are too busy debating all this … but, for whom? Maybe it is those who are debating the ‘big picture’ who are really missing the big picture that can only be seen in the small pictures.
The photograph above by Jawad Zakariya, once again reminded me of the miserable life of these unwanted people in our country. Society rejects them and police harshly beats them on daily basis, adding to their misery.
Jawad writes with this photograph on flickr and I can totally relate to him as many times I must have done the same:
As I was taking photos in and around Data Darbar. This old man asked me to come over.
“Will you print these photos in the newspaper?”, he asked. Before I could explain that I wasn’t affiliated with any paper, he continued. Tell them how the police brutally beat us up all the time….and he showed me the injuries on his arms and legs.
“Why do they do that?”, I asked.
“Because we sit here begging. This is Data Darbar ! where else can I go.”
… and he started crying … print this in the paper maybe then they’ll stop … then he thought for a moment …
maybe if you print it they’ll get more angry….
another pause …
print it, maybe some higher up will see it and make them stop.“They hit old crippled men”…..”shameless animals”….”Is this why we made this Pakistan”…..”Is this Why ???”………..he kept asking as he wept.
I had no answer … I got back into my Civic … turned on the AC … and started driving away.
“Is this why we made this Pakistan?” I have asked myself this questions many times and never found an answer. Can you think of an answer?
Adonis, you did’nt get the point. The post is not criticising the creation of Pakistan. The post or perhaps the beggar is asking that did we create Pakistan for the Social Injustice that exists today in the country. You cannot deny the growing difference between the rich and poor in the country.
The forum like Pakistaniat remind us of the injustice that some of these other Pakistanis are facing.
Its extremely sad !
What an inane title for this post !!!
Making of Pakistan has nothing to do with the number of beggars on the streets. For those who think that it has something to do with the number of beggars please try to visit india once and see the number of beggars there. You will come back quite educated and convinced about the reason for creation of Pakistan.
I have seen so many beggars and homeless people in USA and yet nobody asks ‘ is this why we made USA?’, why is it us Pakistanis only who are so ungrateful for what God has given us. In spite of many of our shortcomings, Pakistan is the absolutely best thing that could have happened to us. Why do we want to prove that we are not worthy of this gift of God?
It’s a profession,more profitable than I.T
Why did you make this Pakistan…? when I was four years old, and my parents have to leave every thing behind, and put me over the luggage load of oxen pulled cart, the feeling was so quiet and num, the air was strange, every one was wispering and moving with one question in their mind, why are we leaving our homes…? Some one said they want to make Pakistan. Sixty years later, today, I am reading this question again, strange, is’nt it..? This question hurts me very much, so please, do’t ask. Who are they, who made this Pakistan…? Who are they, who will answe this question. Let the humanity suffer, Humanity has a long way to yet, a very long way!
so sad very touching post
we made pakistan for corrupt & evil Army generals?
we made pakistan for bureaucrats & corrupt politician ?
we made pakistan for all chaudreys,waderas and nawab?