Adil Najam

We at ATP are especially fond of rickshaws. The classic piece is Owais Mughal’s in-depth treatise on the art and science of the motor (auto-) rickshaw (here). But we have also shared with you the rickshaw driver’s 5-point manifesto for Karachi (here) and information about the newest ‘happenin’ thing in three-wheeler technology: the Qingqi (here).

It is, of course, clear to us that despite all our romantic fascination with the three-wheeler, the ‘memory’ of the rickshaw is infinitely more comforting than an actual ride on one. We present, therefore, this virtual ride on a Karachi Rickshaw – from Pehlvangoth to Dastageer.

It takes just 20 seconds, but if you rewind and review enough times it will make you feel like you are actually sitting on a Karachi rickshaw; but without the attendant pain in the spinal area. For most realistic effect, turn teh volume up loud. Enjoy!

Click on arrow at center, or view it directly here

Guest post by Raza Noor
(based on original by Majid Sheikh)

The area of Garhi Shahu in Lahore has many a fond memories for me because I spent my childhood running around in its small streets. I recently found this wonderful article on Garhi Shahu written by Majid Sheikh in Dawn in 2002. This post is a blog version of that article, adapted to a blog format and with some updates by me.

Lahore, definitely has a rich historical past and when talking about Garhi Shahu, one cannot forget but mention the railway station, or the Christian community, or the Burt Institute or that wonderful dance club (Nautch Ghar) that no longer functions. Then there are also the Convent of Jesus and Mary, the Jamia Naimia Mosque, and the Taj and Crown cinemas but surely there is much more to this place than we have ever cared to explore.

Garhi Shahu reached its pinnacle of fame during the British period with the laying of the railway track. At the time, being an engine driver was the ‘in thing’. Initially, all the engine drivers were British for whose accommodation, the Raj laid out beautiful residential colonies near the rail track. Many of the spacious colonies still exist as reminders of favors bestowed upon its employees by the Raj. There is the still superb Mayo Gardens, the Burt, and also other colonies on both sides of the old Mayo Road, now renamed after Allama Iqbal. Another part of our history lost to the nationalistic fervor of renaming roads and localities.

As the railways grew, the British then started hiring Indian Christians, mostly of Portuguese origin from Goa and soon Lahore became filled with D’Souzas, D’Sylvas and Ferrairas, alongside the fairer skinned British origin names like Burtons, Brians, and Nibletts.

Adil Najam

Wasim Raja — one of the most elegant batsmen ever; a swashbuckling heartthrob who seemed to be from a different era all-together; the thinking man’s cricketers; the last of the ‘gentleman players’; someone who was always a job to watch playing and an even bigger joy tyo spend and eveniong talking cricket to — just died.The news is too fresh, the details too uncertain, and my emotions too strong, for me to write a proper post. But here is the news from CricInfo.

Wasim Raja, the former Pakistan batsman who went on to become an ICC match referee, has died while playing for Surrey Over 50s at Marlow in Buckinghamshire. He was 54. “Wasim had a big heart attack on the field,” said a Surrey spokesman. “He felt dizzy, and mentioned this to the slips, saying that he felt he had to go off. He was carried off but then collapsed on the boundary.”

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