Adil Najam

Adil Najam

I am as excited about Pakistan’s Test cricket victory against Australia as the next guy. Maybe even more.

But this huge (quarter page) advertisement on the front page of today’s (Sunday’s) The News is just plain bad taste.

That it is an ad for Pepsi – a major global brand, but also the official sponsor of Pakistan cricket (over-sized Pepsi logos are the most prominent thing on the official clothing of Pakistani cricketers), makes it only more so.

It was obviously made in a hurry. But I, for one, wish it had never been made. Whether Pepsi does so or not, let me apologize to Ricky Ponting. This, as they say, is just not cricket!

Kinza

The Sufi Music Festival organized by Pakistani Peace Builders (PPB) in Union Square was the closest I’ve gotten to Lahore in three years. And boy, was it a treat. Think Food Street, Salt N’ Pepper, faludas, kulfis, funny but poignant commentaries on rickshaws, Naani force feeding you, freshly picked jaaman, all thrown in one. Then, multiply this by a thousand. And add in some jasmine and rose necklaces and bracelets. And that still doesn’t compare. Ah, but I digress.

Kain de ke lamiyaan ne  rawaan ishq diyaan
Ki  dasaan ki baat suwaan ishq diyaan

They say that the path of love is very long
What should I tell you about love?
– Daastan-e-Ishq

Despite the sweltering 90-something degree heat and the sun beating down on the New York concrete, hundreds if not thousands of people showed up for the concert. My friends and I decided to go against every Pakistani tradition and arrive EARLY at the concert location in the hopes of landing front row seats. When we arrived at 3:40 pm, about an hour and a half early, I must say that we were shocked to find that there wasn’t a crowd.

I know, how naïve. On facebook, over a thousand people had confirmed that they would attend.