By Toby Tiktinsky and Hiam Abbas 

Mention India and Pakistan in the same sentence and one might expect a
narrative on one of the many facets of the antagonism, distrust, and
long simmering tensions that have plagued the neighboring countries.
In a small theater in the Lower East Side, however, there gathered a
group of Indians and Pakistanis, as well as people of all stripes, to
use the occasion of each country's respective independence days-on the
14th of August for Pakistan and the 15th for India-to attempt to
transcend this persistent enmity. From Queens to New Delhi, from Kabul
to Lahore, organizers of Unification: A Demonstration for Peace
brought together artists, thinkers, dramatists, and performers who
hail from around the world, but are united by a unique cultural milieu
and subsequent diaspora that continues to ache for peace and
understanding in shared, but troubled, homeland.

Throughout the various acts a unifying theme emerged--one that often
serves to unite South Asian expats, but may present a dubious ground
for reconciliation: cultural angst, dislocation, and racism
experienced by brown people in the West. Hari Kondabolu, a witty
comic, makes light of America's obsession with knowing people's "true"
origins as he describes an encounter in which he explains he was born
and raised in New York and is an American--but the inquisitor gets
angry and continues to demand to know where he's really from.
Similarly Brownstar, a brilliant duo who tie together a variety of
stories and anecdotes, without any props, begin their piece by
bemoaning the cultural whitewash of Kal Penn (of Harold and Kumar) and
eventually coming to the harrowing realization that "we are all Kal
Penn". Other performers sang kavalis, played tabla, and recited
poetry, which served to ground the event in the the shared cultural
roots of the sub continent.

The organizers were modest in their ambitions, hoping to "send tiny
ripples throughout our communities". Indeed the event left one with a
sense of humility, if not a grain of sadness as well. Uniting Indians
and Pakistanis in a community of understanding and compassion is a
laudable goal; but easier in New York than in Karachi or Mumbai. One
wonders, apprehensively, if the ripples can travel so far.

"With Eid just around the corner, lots of exhibits and shopping opportunities are presenting themselves. However a recent exhibition that i got a chance to visit was innovative and different from the usual run of the mill get-to-gethers.
It was different and exclusive as it housed the art of 10 vendors who displayed their creativity in the area of jewelery making and exotic/traditional clothes. Each stall had a wide array of items to choose from.

The clothes by Maira Asad, Naqsh and Instyle were insync with the latest trends in Pakistan, which was a breath of fresh air as those away from home are usually found supporting fads of the decade when they first left Pakistan. My personal favourites, however, was the jewelery displayed by Rabiaz art, KAte Moore and Judy Indy. Rabiaz art was entirely crafted by hand, and therein lay its ingenuity and beauty. The trinkets were lovely and perfect to be given as eid gift.

The gathering itself was very festive and fun. Everyone seemed to be catching on to the spirit of eid. There was free Photoraphy by Beata Becla, which everyone really enjoyed. And ofcourse whats an expo without the goody bags and free samples! Samples were provided by Anya's Cakes and Hadia's Cakery. The free gift bags and the lottery gave the whole event a carnival like atmosphere. Every one who came left happy and smiling. That is afterall the purpose and the spirit of such arrangements. I for one, give Rabia Adil two thumbs up for arranging such a fun packed event."

By Dr M. Shahid Yousuf 

The five-day APPNA summer meeting 2009, held at downtown Marriott from July 1st – July 5 th, once again demonstrated the organization’s commitment to charitable, scientific and educational activities, both in the USA and Pakistan. There have been only three West Coast meetings since the founding of this organization. Nevertheles,s the banquet sold some 1900 seats while the last summer meeting hosted 2500 guests at the banquet in Washington DC. Given the size of this organization of some 3000 members a large number of activities occur at any one time and one has to pick and chose as it is impossible to attend all. On Saturday afternoon there were 9 separate sessions and meetings!

Charity Remains Premier APPNA Activity
As APPNA’s membership has grown its charitable endeavors have mushroomed.  This year was no exception. Ongoing internally displaced persons (IDPs)  problems continued to occupy APPNA’s Social Welfare and Disaster Relief Committee ( SWDRC). Many Pakistani charitable entities sent delegations to APPNA for better coordination and needs assessment. Apart from donations to the Pakistan Red Crescent and the Bilquis Edhi Foundation, a major ongoing work necessitates cooperation with Khyber Medical College and its components such as Social Welfare Society of Khyber Medical College and Swat Medical Students Association. Vice Chancellor of Khyber Medical University Dr. Muhammad Hafeezullah attended a joint planning meeting between SWDRC and other partners of APPNA in Pakistan for IDPs relief.  Three members of the UM Healthcare Trust of Mardan, Pakistan, Dr. Nasr Qasim and Mr. Atif Mumtaz and an information technology officer also arrived from Pakistan for the APPNA Convention. Todd O’Shea whose inspiring story was published in the New York Times and its video can be seen at
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVdXcKeaQtY) also came to attend and participate in the IDPs relief operation.  Some $ 200,000 has been raised for IDPs by APPNA‘s members alone. About $ 2 million had been raised for earthquake of Kashmir in 2005 in cash alone while the value of medical and surgical supplies and services have not been computed and may run more than the cash raised. A US AID official also addressed the banquet gathering asking the physician community to learn about US AID and participate in bringing better health to all Pakistanis.

Diplomatic Duties Beckon APPNA

Numerous Pakistani Ambassadors to USA have praised APPNA’s membership as being the best ambassadors that Pakistanis could hope to have by their services to the patients in USA. Their professional achievements and quality of care delivered helped to improve Pakistan’s image in the USA. This was again stressed by Dr. Maleeha Lodhi who was a speaker at the banquet. She said during both her postings as Pakistani Ambassador to the USA she looked forward to APPNA’s members to help in promoting better relations between Pakistan and the USA. She pointedly praised PAKPAC ( Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee) which is an independent organization but many of its members are drawn from APPNA’s ranks.

The keynote speaker Ms. Wendy Chamberlin, President of Middle East Institute and US Ambassador to Pakistan during 2001-2002 continued with the theme of APPNA bringing the two nations closer by reducing mutual suspicions that have existed. She began by stating that with so many familiar faces she felt that even though she was not a physician she felt a part of the APPNA family. She further said it was an occasion on July 4th to also celebrate the Pakistani Cricket Team’s 20/20 victory recently. She began by drawing attention of the threat to Pakistan. “We all do share a profound concern for Pakistan during these troubled times. It is at a critical point. The crisis within Pakistan today is, it is really for the definition of Pakistan.We do share a common enemy.” Mentioning the Taliban and Al Qaeda’s ideology she said that “these medieval notions do not belong in Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of a moderate, progressive, democratic Pakistan.” She predicted that a new Pakistan is emerging. Its voice will not be the 60 million middle class but the 100 million that have been neglected. “ Pakistan is either on the verge of something very horrible or a wonderful transformation and that the true nature of this transformation is not quite visible. The outlines are not there. Pakistan society is developing in a direction that is not in the image of the United States and let us hope not in the cruel vision of the extremists” She said it will be a new paradigm. “The challenge then to us is, to Pakistan’s friends and Pakistani Americans, is to listen to that 100 million, to listen actively, to listen deeply , to listen with an active ear. What is it that the people believe? What is it they say they need?  What troubles them and I believe that the answers they will provide us will be the antidote to this extremist narrative.

Referring to the mistrust between the USA and Pakistan she said, “We really don’t  trust each other. Pakistanis and Americans don’t trust each other. This distrust is so entrenched, so historical that it even has a name. It is called the trust deficit.” She believed that to break  this mistrust “this group” (APPNA) can perhaps play a role “to come together with some understanding”.

“This trust deficit can be a task for you. You all frankly have families and friends and are enormously well respected in your communities back in Pakistan. Tackling some of these conspiracy theories in your conversations with your family and your friends would be a good first step.”  She reported that a recent PIPA poll indicated that 90% of the people of Pakistan believed that the USA is in collusion with India and Israel to break up the State of Pakistan and seize its nuclear weapons. She said, “I can tell you it is not true. Let us try to close this trust deficit.” Referring to the US financial assistance to Pakistan she said that the challenge to APPNA is to come up with ideas and government alone cannot do it.

In the opinion of this writer, APPNA’s constitution specifies its activities as being educational, scientific, medical relief and charity. With regard to its affiliations it mentions in its constitution: “ The Association shall be an independent, not for profit, professional and educational organization incorporated in the United States of America, and shall have no substantial political affiliations or activities.”   APPNA will not endanger its humanitarian projects and be perceived as an instrument of the foreign policy of Pakistan or USA.

New Technologies From Pakistan Unveiled
For years APPNA has introduced new technologies in the treatment of diseases in Pakistan through its continuing medical activities during its annual winter meetings in Pakistan. This year we saw a number of lectures where ordinary Pakistanis have been able to combine various technologies to come up with solutions which have not even been heard of in the West. One such technique is to use cell phones, text messaging, data-coded urine test strips to monitor multi drug-resistant tuberculosis cases in medication compliance. The patient is given the phone in which he has to text message the code revealed in the urine test strip reveling if he has taken yesterday’s TB pills. This information is instantaneously fed into mainframe computers so that it is available worldwide in Islamabad, Geneva or Atlanta GA’s Center for Disease Control. Another novel integration of technologies is to integrate data gathering with global position satellites (GPS) so that sexually transmitted disease cases such as AIDS can be given care even in areas where there are no addresses and the cases are hard to track down and treated.

In coming years APPNA annual functions are going to showcase Pakistani talent in the USA. The charities in Pakistan will increasingly see APPNA’s role as a standard bearer, an appropriate organization to solicit funds from. Many charitable organizations such as Indus Hospital Karachi, Shaukat Khanum Hospital Lahore, LRBT clinics, Sind Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Burns Unit at Rawalpindi General Hospital, Police Hospital Abbotabad and others have already received APPNA members’ donations.

Pictures above: Glimpses of the APPNA Summer Meeting

A spirit of joy and celebration was manifestly in the air when 3000 attendees met at the 32 nd Annual Summer Meeting of Physicians of Pakistani descent. They came from all over North America and a few from as far as Pakistan. Marriott San Francisco seemed to be completely taken over by the physicians and their families. While mom and dads were attending CME meetings the kids were having their own fun, attending SAYA meetings and going out for picnics and sight seeing. Market Street and its shops were packed with APPNA shoppers, mostly women. Pakistani and Indian Restaurants in the vicinity served record number of customers. The CME sessions were very beneficial and well designed. Alumni of Pakistani medical colleges took advantage of the meeting and held their annual meetings.

SMCAANA (Sindh Medical College Alumni) invited Ethan Casey to be the keynote speaker. He spoke of the experience of his visits to Pakistan. He also talked about his book ‘Alive and well in Pakistan’. He said it is easy for the mainstream Americans to understand about the good side of Pakistan and Pakistanis when it is told by him than the Pakistanis themselves as it might be taken as biased opinion. He also told the audience that he is working on his second book. Dr. Sohail Siddiqi, president of SMCAANA, highlighted the achievements of the alumni and its members. Dr. Ahsan Zafar moderated the meeting. Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Dr. Farooq Sattar was also present at this meeting.

Two political forums were also organized at this meeting.

The first of these was held on July 3 rd, 2009 and was conducted by the United Social Forum, a joint presentation of the Dow, SMC, Rawalpindi and Quaid-i-Azam Medical Alumni. Dr. Jamil Farooqui who happens to be the son of the late Mehmood Azam Farooqui chaired the organizing committee. The topic was very catchy: “ Swat, A Paradise Lost or Heaven Gained”. The panelists included Dr. Babar Awan (PPPP), Mr. Makhdoom Javed Hashmi (PML-N), Dr. Farooq Sattar (MQM), Haji M Adeel (ANP), Dr. Iqbal Khalil (JI), Sajjad Burki (PTI), Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy and Mr. Shuja Nawaz. The discussion was predictable. It looked like Hamid Mir’s Capital Talk. Dr. Farooq Sattar, Haji Adeel and Dr. Babar Awan complementing one another, defending the Government’s policy of military intervention in Swat, giving all kinds of reasoning which one has heard hundreds of times in the talk shows on Geo and ARY. Similarly, Dr. Iqbal Khalil, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and Sajjad Burki criticized the government’s policy, blaming it to be an operative of the US government. They condemned drone attacks on innocent civilians and highlighted the plight of the internally displaced Pakistanis. Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy condemned religious extremism and said that the seeds of religious extremism were sown long time ago and what we are seeing now is the result of the failure of the past governments to curb this fanaticism when it was the right time to do so.

The second political forum was held on July 4 th, 2009 and was organized by American Pakistan Physician for Justice and Democracy. Dr. Omar Naseeb was one of the planners of this meeting. The topic was “ Pakistan in Search of Identity - Constitutional Democracy or Taliban Shariah.” Speaking on the occasion, Dr Babur Awan, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, assured the audience that the government is firmly committed to protecting fundamental rights of the people and would not allow the Taliban to impose their Shariah in the country. He said the people of Pakistan want democracy to succeed in the country. . He assured the APPNA members of full government support and offered to establish a liaison committee to coordinate various initiatives between APPNA and the government of Pakistan and provide fast-track support/assistance to all APPNA-related projects in Pakistan. He also assured full government protection for the investment made in Pakistan and urged upon all Pakistani-American professionals, doctors, and businessmen to support the people and government at this critical juncture. He also presented a plaque to Athar Minallah advocate.

Other members of the panel were Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, MNA (PML-N); Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel, ANP; Mr Sajjad Burki, TIP; Dr Iqbal Khalil Jamat-e- Islami; Dr Pervaiz Hoodbhoy, Professor, Quaid-i-Azam University and Shuja Nawaz, Director of Washington-based Atlantic Council and author of Cross Swords.

There were also continuous seminars throughout the meeting organized by Legal Aid Committee of Dr. Afia Siddiqi. Dr. Ashraf Toor was seen actively organizing these seminars and inviting people to attend them.

The grand finale was the APPNA Keynote Banquet and Entertainment. After the hot discussion in the political forum the banquet hall was jampacked with people waiting to listen to the keynote speaker Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi and to enjoy the entertainment following the dinner. Maleeha Lodhi said that she is feeling delighted to attend the meeting as a common citizen of Pakistan and not as a government official. She mentioned the victory of Pakistani cricket team and said that the nation has to come out of depression and pessimism and do what the Pakistan cricket team has done. She said there is no reason for us to be in the blues. We are a nation of intelligent and hard working people and we have to keep our spirits high and make a winning combination to take Pakistan to the next level. Dr. Zia Moiz moderated the banquet. He reminded me of the good old college days when he was one of the best English orators of Karachi.

The entertainment was phenomenal. Taranum Naz, Alamgir, Tahira Syed, Najam Shiraz and his partner Salma, all performed well. Tariq Mirza was also good as a stand up comedian but Omar Shareef was in his best form. There was a little mishap when one of the organizors asked him to leave the stage in 5 minutes. There was some hot exchange but soon it subsided and he continued to entertain the crowd. Mr. Vakil Ansari must be commended for bringing Omar Shareef to the meeting.

APPNA has a tradition of organizing Urdu Mushaira at its annual meets. It happened this year too. Himayat Ali Shaer, Manzar Bhopali and Zakia Ghazal were the prominent poets. The mushaira started late and due to the long list of APPNA’s own shoras the guest poets didn’t get much time before the mushaira drew to an end. It was also poorly attended.

Lastly a word about the general body meeting and the elections. One attendee told this scribe that the GB meeting was a mess. No decision could be reached and the environment was so hostile that the organizers had to abort the meeting prematurely without reaching a consensus. When I asked the President Dr. Syed A Samad about the outcome of the elections he said that due to the objection of certain candidates the result had been postponed and after following the constitutional process it would be announced.

The Bazaar at this meeting attracted clothing designers, jewelers, NGOs and other business entities not only from the US and Canada but also from Pakistan. It was well frequented by the attendees.

Except for a few mishaps the meeting was well organized and well attended.

Dr. Samad, Dr. Tariq Cheema and the organizing committee must be commended for doing a great job.

On Saturday, February 20, 2010 OPEN Silicon Valley conducted the 2nd Annual Women Leadership Forum. The all day conference, led by Saadia Ahmed, Chair of womens' initiatives and her team of volunteers was a well attended affair.  There were two keynote speakers, Nilofer Merchant, Founder and CEO of Rubicon, was the Morning Keynote Speaker and Sharon Meers, Co-author of Getting to 50/50, was the Afternoon Keynote.  

There were also two very interactive panels that discussed issues focused on entrepreneurship, work life balance, leadership and more. The Forum also provided opportunity for all participants to network and seek mentorship from the keynote speakers and the panelists.  All in all, it was a successful event that managed to strike the right note.

As you all know, Strings made its comeback tour with a visit in California. The show was organized by Raees Ebrahim from dil.org, with Pakmusic.net as the official media partner. The magic began with a live performance by Fahad Ahmad, a Pakistani singer from New York who warmed up the concert goers by showcasing his talented new single, with an added touch of a personal tribute to the late great Michael Jackson with Black or White. 

Even before the event anchors Raees and Nadia could start, the crowd was restless and shouting out for Strings! It was clear after so long, that the locals could feel the moment was near, and the anticipation was too much.  The Bay Area has rarely seen such a big showing, but a decade of awaiting the golden boys of pop-rock can make it happen. As they were announced, out came Faisal and Bilal storming onto the stage, accompanied by Imran with rhythm guitar, Qaisar on the drums, and shakir playing bass guitar. They started with the hit songs from their new album Koi Aanay Waala Hay, with the title track, Titliyaan, and Keh Diya.

The longtime crowd favorite Zinda Hoon, of course, was a must as well! Just as it seemed the crowd was slowly settling in after the initial commotion, a voice from within the crowd yelled out "Chaaye Chaaye!" No one could have set out a better timing for such an event, after the heroic and sensational performance by the Pakistani cricket team and their T20 world championship. The mix of the music and the patriotism in the air was too much as the crowd erupted into a frenzy amidst the roaring sound from the stage and the lighting, as Strings rocked away the night with Aao Dekhain Zara Kis Mein Hay Kitna Dum. Much deserved credit goes to the organizers and the technical staff for pulling off such an amazing event. True to their nature, Strings didn't make the show all about them. They gave tributes by singing title tracks of Vital Signs, Nazia Hassan and Junoon, as well a song by Reshma. Dedicated to other South Asian attendees was an Indian song to cater to everyone's needs.

Faisal and Bilal asked everyone to stand up and come close to the stage, just to make it that much better and memorable for everyone there. It was a full 3 hours of nonstop energy and shouting throughout each performance with everyone singing along. After all, artists make a performance, but it takes everyone's efforts to turn it into an unforgettable event. Palo Alto was the last stop in California of their current tour, but if this gig is anything to go by, we can hope for an amazing night with Strings on the West Coast again!

Strings Light up Many Hearts in Northern California
By Ras H. Siddiqui

Glimpses of the fundraiser organized by the San Francisco Chapter of the Developments In Literacy (DIL) and their junior partners, Your DIL, in the San Francisco Bay Area

The Developments In Literacy (DIL) organization’s San Francisco Chapter and their junior partners, Your DIL, collectively hosted a fundraising event in the San Francisco Bay area city of Palo Alto at the Spangenberg Theatre on Saturday, June 27, 2009. Over 500 people from all walks of life, predominantly of Pakistani descent but with a sizable Indian community presence, gathered here for a good cause; raising funds for DIL schools in Pakistan. The schools specifically target education for girls, especially in remote areas of the country. And with the inclusion of a performance by Strings, one of the premiere musical bands from Pakistan today, this effort also became a great deal of fun.

Strings have recently accompanied cricket legend Imran Khan on his latest quest in the US towards raising funds for the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre. After performances in New York, Washington, and Texas, this Strings appearance in California was the end of this tour. And California Pakistanis and South Asian fans were more than happy to receive them since their last appearance here was in 2006.

Representatives from the Your DIL organizations welcomed everyone to the event. Singer, composer (and filmmaker) Fahad Ahmad from New York and his brother Faraz entertained the crowd as the opening act. A short video was also shown (Books Not Bombs) prepared by Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times on education in Pakistan which focused in part on DIL schools, but ultimately the stage belonged to Strings.

Faisal Kapadia and Bilal Maqsood who make up the Strings core are two individuals that audiences have grown to take seriously (musically speaking). After the Vital Signs and Junoon, few Pakistani origin bands have caught our attention as Strings have. But none has yet surpassed the recognition that the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan had earned in America as the most successful entertainer from Pakistan.

A charged audience enjoys the performance by Faisal Kapadia and Bilal Maqsood

Strings put on quite a show. In the midst of dry ice-induced smoke, Bilal was commanding on guitar and Faisal on vocals, and kept everyone including themselves moving for over two hours. They started off with Akhri Alvida and journeyed through all their favorite numbers including Anjane/Na Janay Kiyoon, Yeh Hai Meri Kahani (Zinda Hoon for which there were several requests), Sir Kiye, and Durr, a special remembrance for the late Michael Jackson who had an incredible fan following in Pakistan. Koi Aanay Wala Hai was also played extremely well.

Strings did two other interesting things of note. Their tribute to the history of Pakistani pop music (from Nazia Hassan, Alamgir Sajjad Ali, Vital Signs, Junoon, etc.) through short presentations took listeners through quite a bit of memory lane. The other effort they made was a message of peace “Shanti” for all people of the world, especially Indians and Pakistanis.
It was quite hot in the theatre and Strings must have felt as if some kind of load-shedding had been arranged for everyone present who may be missing “back home”.

One missed the gannay ka ras (cold sugarcane juice) on the hot sultry evening amidst all the excitement of young Pakistani Americans, but for us old folks the musical salute to Pakistan’s cricket team which was recently crowned Twenty20 Cricket World Champions, was just as sweet. To the show sponsors, the Pakistan cricket team in absentia, and to Strings, a well-deserved thanks from all of us here for keeping the “DIL” (heart) lit.

There were cheers and tears and stomping and jubilation and so much excitement in the air you could cut it with a knife when Greg Mortenson made his appearance at two public events on Tuesday, March 3, 2009.

      The presentations at Logan High School at 1:00 p.m. and the Diamond Palace at 7:30 p.m. were sold-out events and included 1,500 children and over one thousand adults.

      And no one was disappointed.

      Greg Mortenson, author, mountain climber, humanitarian, veteran and AAUW member impressed attendees with his generosity, humility, passion for educating children around the globe and ability to both listen and inspire.

      The visit of Greg Mortenson to our area was the culmination of one year of hard work on the part of AAUW and hundreds of volunteers and collaborators.

      “Bringing Greg Mortenson to our area,” said AAUW President Randy Fewel during her welcome at the two gatherings, “was as tough as climbing a mountain and required the same passion, persistence and patience that Greg displayed in building schools for children.”

      Greg began both talks with a video in which he and his daughter talk about his journey, which began by failing to reach the summit of K2 in Pakistan and ended by building almost 80 schools for children, especially girls, in remote, tribal areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

      “I started my book Three Cups of Tea with a chapter entitled Failure,” said Greg.  “The publisher,” he continued, “didn’t want me to use that word but I knew it was the right one.  Many kids, me included, experience a lot of failure in their lives.”  He went on to say he totaled a Honda at 16, failed to kick the winning field goal in college football game and failed to climb K2 to its summit to honor his sister Christa.  Even in his darkest moments Greg remembers this proverb:  When it is dark you can see the stars.

      Greg went on to say that he feels passionately that every single child on the planet should have the right to go to school.  He cited this statistic:  About 110 million children don’t receive an education – 80 million of them are girls.   “In Pakistan,” he said, “8, 10 and 12–year–olds work.   In Cambodia, children work and ruin their health in the rice paddies.”

      However what most impressed him, he said, was what mountains young people can move when they get involved.  To date, 3500 schools have donated pennies to his non-profit Central Asia Institute.

Good News and Bad News

      Greg passed along good news and bad news about the illiteracy situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

      The bad news, he said, is that since 2007 the Taliban has shut down 500 schools in Afghanistan and 200 schools in Pakistan.  However he went on to say that isn’t the end of the story.  The children who are being denied access to schooling have vowed to continue their education by whatever means.

      The good news, continued Greg, using more statistics, is that eight years ago, before 9/11, some 800,000 children were in school in Afghanistan – mainly boys.  Today, 7.2 million children, boys and girls, are going to school in the country.

      “It’s a little known fact,” said the humanitarian, “but this is the largest increase in education in modern history.”

      As so powerfully told in his book, Greg Mortenson underscored that change only happens when girls have access to education.  “They help reduce infant mortality, they reduce population explosion, they teach literacy to the rest of the family and they write letters to put family members in touch.”

      He talked about the example of Aziza.  In her area in a remote tribal village in Afghanistan with a population of 4000, five to 20 women died during childbirth.   After Aziza was trained as a midwife and returned to the village to practice that profession no women died in childbirth.  And this record has lasted for eight years.

Remembering Haji Ali

      Greg told many stories from his book but none were as moving as his memories of his mentor and Korphe village chief Haji Ali.

      “Haji Ali had two great dreams,” he said, “that no babies die in his village and that the kids go to school.”

      After watching Haji Ali night after night reading the Koran he was surprised to learn that he had memorized it and couldn’t really read.  “Haji Ali realized that ignorance and illiteracy are the greatest enemies of the people.   And we all need courage and compassion to overcome this.”

      Before the chief died he asked Greg to go to his graveside and listen to the wind.  Greg was puzzled and wondered what he meant and what he would learn.   “In the wind,” he said, “I heard the voices of the children in school – and then I fully understood the words of this wise man.”

      At the end of his presentation at the Diamond Palace, Greg Mortenson passed along some political opinions.   “I don’t believe,” he said, “that there is a military solution for the problem of Afghanistan.  It’s disappointing to me that Obama has sent more troops to the country.  What is needed most of all is education.”

      What the U.S. should do, he continued, is to listen to the Afghan people, ask the people themselves for solutions – and drink many cups of tea.

Greg Answers Questions from the Audience

Question:  You had many setbacks when you first started.  What kept you motivated and going?

Answer:  You’re right.   When I first started there were lots of problems.  I kept a quote on my bathroom mirror:  “When your heart speaks, take good notes.”  My heart told me that in the long run, educating children was the right thing to do and I tried never to lose touch with my heart.

Question:  Where do the schools get the teachers?

Answer:  The teachers are from the local area.  We took the local teachers and educated them.   Now most of our teachers have college degrees.

Question:  Please explain the photo in your book that shows you with your kids and an AK47 in your hands.  What was the meaning of the photo?

Answer:  In tribal areas, children are in contact with guns from early childhood.  We took the picture before 9/11 in a different time from today.   This was a Christmas card we sent out to friends and family and we were thinking of the irony of the gun and the phrase Peace on Earth.   We probably wouldn’t send out something like that today.

Question:  Have you thought of acquiring student lap tops designed for rural areas?

Answer:  Many people wanted us to introduce lap tops into our schools.  But I believe that literacy comes first and we are providing basic literacy and education as first priorities.  Lap tops are not a first priority for us.

Question:  If you could do one more thing what would it be?

Answer:  If I could do one more thing it would be more of the same.  I want to work so that every single child on the globe can receive an education.

Question:  How can we, as individuals, help?  How can we encourage our government to listen?

Answer:  I believe that those who have been converted to the cause of literacy would make the best advocates.

Question:  Have the Taliban attacked your schools?

Answer:  I mentioned that 500 schools were attacked in Afghanistan and 200 in Pakistan.   But what many don’t realize is that those kids are still trying to go to school, still trying to learn.  Fourteen girl students had battery acid thrown in their faces by the Taliban and they have said that the Taliban will have to kill them before they give up their education.  We have had only one school attacked.  In 2007, south of Kabul, 14 Taliban came to our school and beat up the night watchman.  Apparently they were paid off by a local mullah to attack the school.  But that school is now back in operation and doing well.

Question:  How can we personally help?

Answer:  It should be all our top priority.  Nothing will change if we don’t educate girls.  Organizations that do that need our support.   Communities and people can help build peace one school at a time.   And I also call on kids to make a difference.  They want to do that and they have the passion to make a difference.

Presenting the AAUW Pennies for Peace Check

There were gasps of amazement when Sara Hinkel, Chair of the Pennies for Peace Fundraising Campaign in Fremont, Union City and Newark elementary schools and an AAUW member, presented the giant check for over $34,000 to Greg Mortenson at both the afternoon and evening events on March 3, 2009.

      The greatest gasp came from Mortenson himself who was floored and so thankful for the contribution. 

      “Children,” he said, “can move mountains.”

      What is so impressive is that the check represents the donations, in pennies, of thousands of children in our area.  Three students, each representing a school district, carried the huge check onto the stage and helped present it.

      Carolyn Johnson, also an AAUW member, and treasurer of the Pennies for Peace fundraiser, talked about the weight of over three million four hundred thousand pennies.

      “One hundred dollars, she said, “is 60 pounds; $1,000 is 600 pounds; $10,000 is 6,000 pounds and $3,000 is 9000 pounds or nine tons!  That’s the size of a large elephant,” she said to a laughing audience.

Three Cups of Tea Song

Eighty-two Ardenwood elementary school children from third, fourth, fifth and sixth grades, with Pennies for Peace banners across their chests, moved an audience of almost 2000 to tears when they sang the Pennies for Peace song when Greg Mortenson came to Logan High School on Tuesday, March 3.

      The choir was under the direction of Mary Lynn Pelican, AAUW membership chair and Three Cups of Tea volunteer, who taught at the school for many years and has been part of the elementary school’s music program.

      In the evening event, Carol Zilli, executive director of Music for Minors II and Sandy Shimkus sang the song for the audience of over 800.

      Music for Minors II is a non-profit organization whose mission for the last 20 years has been fostering music education for children everywhere.

      The song, Three Cups of Tea, was recorded in Nashville and composed by Jake Fleming.  You can hear this song on Greg Mortenson’s CD, available through amazon.com and sung by well-known jazz singer Jeni Fleming and Greg Mortenson’s nine-year-old daughter Amira Mortenson.

      The heroes of this song are the children who, in the face of adversity and poverty, pursue their dream of an education.  The song ends with:  “Be the change we wish to be,” encouraging all young people to help their fellow children to have access to education.

      All proceeds from the sale of this song go to the Central Asia Institute.

 
WASHINGTON D.C.- The Pakistan American National Alliance (PANA), a US-wide coalition of Pakistani-American organizations, held a press conference at the Capitol Building in DC on Wednesday, March 11 to show solidarity for Pakistan's nation-wide long march for the reinstatement of the sacked judges and an independent judiciary.
 
The press conference  urged the Obama Administration and the US Congress to support the movement, and Congressman Andre Carson  read a "Dear Colleague Letter."
 
"The long march being held in Pakistan on March 12th represents a significant milestone for Pakistan's civil society. If the Obama Administration does not wish to squander the progress being made to strengthen the nation's civil society then they must demonstrate with unequivocal resolve and consistent rhetoric the nation's annunciation for an independent judiciary," says PANA Chair Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Toor.
 
In solidarity, PANA will also hold a symbolic long march through the streets of DC, beginning at the National Mall (7th/ Madison) and ending at the Pakistani embassy in a uniformed caravan trek of cars holding banners, car placards, and posters.
 
This is but one of many such symbolic marches being held around the world in support of the Long March in Pakistan that will start from Quetta and Karachi simultaneously on March 12.

For more information visit our website at www.pananet.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. Feb. 8

Pakistan American Democratic Forum, among other its varied activities, holds a quarterly literary forum rotating between the East Coast, West Coast, South and the Midwest.

At its recent meeting at DC's L'Enfant Hotel billed Bayad-e-Faiz Ahmed Faiz, speakers dwelt at length over the multifarious facets of his exemplary life and many literary achievements.

Renowned literary figure, Dr. Muazzam Siddiqui chaired the proceedings.

In his remarks, he observed that Faiz was a poet of versatile qualities.

Faiz had sought inspiration from Hafiz, Maulana Rome and Ghalib's rich poetic thought content.

He was particularly influenced by Mirza Ghalib whose ample evidence could be seen in the naming of his first poetic collection as 'Naqsh-e-Faryadi,' after Ghalib's poem on that title.

Lynching of legendary mystic Mansoor is reflective of divine concept of love and unity of being in Muslim literature. Like Hafiz, Faiz's poetic imagery was ultimate; while in Naqshe Faryadi, he speaks volumes of the universal affinity, bonds and enviable aspirations.

Faiz is universal in approach, as he speaks of larger human race in 'Lazm hey ham bhee dekhein gey, ham dekhein gey'.

Dr. Agha Saeed, the organizer of the event, said that his illustrious father was a noted figure whose friends included Habib Jalib, Khan Ghaffar Khan and Faiz Ahmed Faiz. This was how he came to know of Faiz, Jalib and Khan Ghaffar Khan, while still a youngster.


"Since we know Faiz Sahib as an exceptionally talented poet, very little attention has been paid to his equally insightful prose", Dr. Agha Saeed said. "Faiz Sahib has written some of the most penetrating essays about Pakistani culture."

In support of his contention that Faiz was a great cultural theorist, Agha Sahib referred to Faiz's short essay "Pakistan Kehan Hai" (Where is Pakistan?) in which, after quoting a fragment of his conversation with someone he had met in Cuba, Faiz Sahib, most convincingly argues that how Pakistan is perceived in Africa, Latin America, Asia, Europe or the United States, is not up to the diplomats, bureaucrats or even politicians but for Pakistani poets, writers, thinkers and intellectuals."

Faiz is often blamed for his complete silence during the military action in of East Pakistan, which had prompted fellow progressive poet Sahir Ludhyhanawi to write:

Remorse of the great poet at his own perplexing silence was expressed in a poem Dhaka say Vapsi ke Baad (After returning from Decca) penned in 1974:

Abul Hasan Naghmi, a former senior producer of Radio Pakistan, in his peculiar style detailed the days Faiz was living in Lahore, and interesting memories about the poet's family life.

He stated that in respect of learning of Arabic language, Faiz was student of Maulana Muhammad Shafi. He quoted late literary luminary Ashfaq Ahmed once stating about Faiz that he belonged to 'Malamati sect' of thinkers, in symbolic mystic jargon of eminence.

Naghmi said, Faiz had an intelligent personality.'Commenting on Allama Iqbal's 'shikwa jawab -e-shikwa', Faiz once stated that it was no more than Mochi Gate style poetry.'

Naghmi remembered Faiz visiting United States in early eighties. During the visit, he came to Falls Church, Virginia, where a 'mushaira' was held with Faiz as the chief guest. But the organizers asked Faiz's fans to puchase entry tickets. Learning about this newly injected practice, Faiz aptly said that world was divided in two groups of people: ''poets and rest non-poets.''

In the same poetic recital Faiz was asked to present some of his recent Punjabi poem, to which Faiz retorted, ''how many among you really know Punjabi?''

Once in Sialkot people insisted Faiz to say his prayers in a town mosque, to which Faiz reciprocated: ''I would certainly do so, but my precondition is that I would like to lead the prayers myself.''

Referring to Faiz's poem 'raj karey gey khalq-e-khuda', and said he was all out fordowntrodden and poor.

Mona Shahab said, Faiz gave new lease of life and meaning to Urdu Ghazal.''Faiz had a healthy and energetic mind which comforted and healed ills of a diseased society.''

Dr. Nisar Chaudhry, president, Pakistani American League said, poets like Faiz are born in centuries and they transcend limits of the era they live in. ''Faiz's message is universal, and enriches the thought content of Urdu literature.''

Mona Shahab and Abul Hasan Naghmi recited their poems and Ghazals, which enthralled a large audience of literature lovers.

In his concluding remarks, Dr. Agha Saeed said it was encouraging to note that PADF seminars and symposia were attracting a large audience, and announced that he intends to hold many such events that will prove helpful in education and awareness of the enthusiastic participants.

Salim Akhtar, a senior official of the PADF thanked the speakers and the audience for showing their keen interest in the forums.

The Aicon Gallery in Palo Alto, California, is having an exhibition of young modern Pakistani artists until August 30, 2008.  Here is a review of the exhibiton from a PakUS Events Reporter.  

REVIEW FOR TRADITION, TECHNIQUE AND TECHNOLOGY EXHIBITION by Mehreen Makada

As the mother of two young kids most of my outings consist of loud play areas and trying to figure out where the closest restroom is located. However, I had the pleasure of a rare grown up outing and went to the Aicon Gallery for the Tradition, Technique and Technology Exhibition. The Aicon gallery presented a group show of contemporary Pakistani Artists; Farida Batool, Adeela Suleman and Ayaz Jokhio.

September 27th was still a few days to Eid but the festive spirit at the Third Annual LRBT America Iftar set the mood for the coming celebration.


The sold out event at 100 UN Plaza attracted a cross section of the tri-state Pakistani community, where families with children mingled with the young and hip, Seven jeans jostled for notice with stunning Rizwan Beyg outfits and everyone, including VIPs like former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, relished the lavish spread.


Welcoming smiles from the host committee, soft lights, artful floral displays and the delicious aroma of waiting Iftar treats greeted guests. As the room filled to capacity, friends caught up with friends - or made new ones, and the hum of witty banter, delicious gossip and fierce dialogue floated throughout the evening. Guests declared that socializing for a good cause is a win-win situation and the success of the evening was sealed with requests for an early encore.


Each year LRBT America’s dedicated volunteers put together successful events which give everyone the opportunity to endorse a worthy cause while spending an evening with friends.

Funds raised support the efforts of the Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust (LRBT) in Pakistan. LRBT is committed to fight blindness and promote access to high-quality free eye care to the indigent. Over 1.7 million people suffer from curable eye conditions in Pakistan, which result in blindness due to lack of treatment. For Pakistan’s poor, LRBT is a haven. LRBT is the largest provide of eye care in Pakistan and 1 out of every 3 patients is treated at an LRBT facility. Medicines, surgery and hospitalization are absolutely free.

LRBT America is an independent 501 (c)(3) charity. Please visit our website www.lrbtamerica.org for more information and news about upcoming events.

Report by Asma Khan
Executive Director
LRBT America: Fighting Blindness
516.318.7688