“A Kaleidoscope
of Pakistani Culture”
By Saad Bhatti
Ambassador Jehangir Karamat |
Washington, DC: The Embassy
of Pakistan and Rising Leaders jointly hosted the renowned
Pakistani author F.S. Aijazuddin to Washington, D.C., for
a special presentation titled “A Kaleidoscope of Pakistani
Culture.” DCM Mohammad Sadiq served as the MC for the
evening and introduced Ambassador Jehangir Karamat as well
as provided background information on Aijazuddin. Ambassador
Karamat appreciated that Aijazuddin could take out time of
his busy schedule to visit the Embassy. Aijazuddin spoke before
many distinguished and very interested American and Pakistani
guests.
F.S. Aijazuddin is an accomplished author covering History,
Culture, Art and Foreign Policy of Pakistan. He has puublished
11 books since 1986. In 1994, he became the Honorary British
Consul at Lahore. Also, in 1997, he was awarded an OBE (Order
of the British Empire). He is the Chairman of the Executive
Committee of the Lahore Museum, an International Councilor
of the Asia Society (New York) and the Country Representative
for Asia House, London.
F.S. Aijazuddin |
Aijazuddin presented Pakistan
through a lens: “a lens through which early visitors,
warriors, administrators, artists and photographers visited
our country, the lens of history through which the past became
the present.” He showed about 80 slides, “each
a rectangle of history, each an element of the ‘Kaleidoscope
of Pakistan’ up to 1947.” According to Aijazuddin,
Pakistan was a “cradle of civilization” and is
located “in a very dangerous region, surrounded not
only by enemies, but by friends.” For this reason, Pakistan
contains “residue from Empires” that ruled in
the past several hundred years.
A section of the audience |
Aijazuddin explained how three major empires that came into
power in Pakistan, the Moguls, the Sikhs, and the British,
all have influenced Pakistan in lasting ways. He spoke with
incredible witticism describing certain unique traits derived
from each empire. The Moguls gave Pakistan the gates still
being used today in Lahore; The Sikhs gave Pakistan the legacy
of the long-lasting dispute over Kashmir; and the British
gave Pakistan government buildings implanting Western democratic
institutions as well as jails.
DCM Sadiq and Aijazuddin |
Aijazuddin effectively
captured the attention of the audience throughout his presentation
and spurred much interest for questions at the end of his
talk. One interesting question asked was whether or not all
the buildings and monuments implemented during the three respective
rules are still in use. Aijazuddin explained that 99% of all
those buildings are still in use and that it is important
to pay tribute to such monuments and gifts. Through the use
of such buildings and monuments, Pakistan is really seen as
a “residue from empires.” Ending on a positive
note, Aijazuddin said, “It is important as a nation
to have confidence and to move forward and progress as we
are.” The guests were very impressed with F.S. Aijazuddin’s
presentation and offered many congratulatory remarks.
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