Adil Najam
Found this very interesting older PTV documentary on Swat (3 parts) from only a few years ago (maybe 3 or 4). Ordinarily it would not have been noteworthy. Slightly slow moving in typical PTV style. But view it today – knowing what is happening in Swat today – and tears swell up in your eyes and rage rises in you veins. This is the Swat that was. The Swat we knew. The Swat that is being destroyed.
Here are just a few highlights from the documentary that would have sounded mundane only a couple of years ago, but in light of today’s reality which seem like they were spoken in another life, another century.
Part III: “Miandam ki khaas baat yahan ka sakoon hai. Jitna sakoon, peace, tranquility mein nay Miandam may daikha hai shayed hi kaheen hou!” (“Miandam’s special trait is its tranquility. The amount of peace and tranquility that you see here, it is difficult to imagine anywhere else”).
Part I: “Mingora shehr kaafi ba-ronaq aur rawaN dawaN shehr hai. Yahan kay loug khush o khurram, friendly aur baRRay mehman nawaz haiN.” (“Mingora city is very lively and bustling with activity. People here are very happy, friendly and hospitable.”)
Part I: Note the description of the Swat Museum, including talk of the “priceless” treasures and also of art and sculpture.
Part II: Note the description of the giant Buddhas of Jehanabad; since defaced by the Taliban.
And just in case you have been on a different planet recently and missed what is happening in Swat today, here is a more recent documentary from Dawn TV:
i remember going there is summer vacation.those were such nice times.back then we didnt realize this of course.now as i recall the the turbulent waters of river swat, the charpoys in the river where we cooled our shezan bottles.its such a nice memory.memory is a painful word! when the thing exists but in a shape one could never foresee it to.
these bearded morons shud ve bin dealt with earlier.they were there always.dint tumble from the sky just now.now face it! hope get rid of them for good
mein kis k naam pukaroon kya kya alam guzar rahe hain
meray sheher jal rahe hain ,meray loag marr rahe hain.
I have trekked almost all of the Sawt Valley and kalam a few years ago…..chappa chappa….
Inshallah..when the beards have been cleared out..it might take 5 10 15 20 years…but I’ll be back with my son to do the same….
the Fires of hell for The bearded Munafiqs who treat my Deen like a cheap call girl and all those who cheer them on…
This is very distressing indeed. I was only ten years old when I visited Swat, but I remember it quite vividly. The environment was so breathtakingly beautiful and the air so fresh that for the first time I began to understand the importance of preserving the environment.
However, I’m still optimistic. It is just a matter of time when the people of Swat will be able to say the following:
“Bahut mein ne suni hai aap ki taqreer Maulana
Magar badli nahin ab tak meri taqdeer Maulana”
(Jalib)
The Taliban nuisance tolerated for so long has now become unbearable… I agree with Riaz, eventually the state will overpower them but let us not forget that for a long time these guys were treated by us as acceptable reality and the malignancy to the situation is due to our own neglect…
I have fond memories of Swat trips… one of the most progressive states of its time… and then arrived Bhutto on the scene and the caretaker Wali of Swat existed no more… and from there on the law and order situation went downhill…
And now we have a new menace.