Adil Najam
This picture from Metroblog Lahore made me laugh out loud. One could think of some ATP commentators that we might want to say this to!
Given the type of comments recent posts have been recieving, the refrain written at the back of this rickshaw, or at least it’s first half, seems funnily appropriate. The Punjabi words at the back read: “SaRRya na kar, chanda, dua karya kar.” I don’t think justice can be done to this in translation, so I will not try. Maybe others could help.
Here at ATP, our fascination with the motor rickshaw goes long and deep, most recently in this post here, and in other forms of expressing “transport wisdom”!
But rickshaw wisdom is not something to be mocked at.
Two past posts, in particualr, come to mind. The first (from July 3, 2006) was a conversation with Karachi rickshaw driver Raees on Karachi’s political situation, where he outlines his 5-point manifestor for Karachi. The second (from February 2, 2007) was this slightly more tongue-in-cheek (and at some levels disturbing) ‘Man Manifesto’ on Haqooq-i-MardaaN.
Very nice.
Although I think the larakoo commenters are not going to get the hint. They will do what they will do.
I think you should just moderate the people who act childish or try to abuse your comment policy. Otherwise you will only lose the people actually like coming here.
Well, let me attempt a free translation of SaRRya na kar, chanda, dua karya kar.
I guess a close translation of above rickshaw message can go like this:
“Don’t get mad at trivial things my Friend. Instead pray for others”
phatte jo doodh to paneer ho jae
lagge jo tukka to teer ho jae
mat dekh haqarat se rikshe wale ko
na jane kaun kab vazir ho jae
–
mahi tur paya, riksha weeraan ho gaya
kinoo dasaan kinna nuskaan ho gaya
–
takye pe pani chirrak ker jab so gaya
samjhe wo main hijr main roya sari raat
–
kaun kehta hai mulaqat nahin hota
mulaqat hota hai, hum se baat nahin hota
–
na kar muhabbat tere ko mahabbat nahin aata
khocha humaare paas khane ko roti hai na aatta
“labashtay”! I can just hear a conductor shouting it. What carefree days…
“jay main wee panjee kamaanda
te phir rikshaa kaanoo chalaanda”