Friends of Pakistan
Holds Northern California Inaugural
By Ras H. Siddiqui
From left: FOP President Sarfaraz Khan
and Rising Leaders from Northern California
|
The Friends of Pakistan, USA
organization held its Northern California inaugural event
at the Mehran Restaurant in Newark, California on Friday,
December 1, 2006. A cultural-friendship grouping of this
nature, which invites participants from all ethnic, religious
and national backgrounds, took a long time in the making,
but since its inception in January this year in Southern
California , this effort has been making a stir in the South
Asian community in our golden state. It was noteworthy that
a number of Indians were present at this kickoff here in
the San Francisco Bay Area in a rekindling of old relationships
which always somehow succeed in coming together where good
food and quality entertainment are involved.
The evening began with a delicious dinner and the formalities
started off when host Shahab Siddiqui invited a youngster
for a recitation of the Qur’an. Shahab subsequently
started the proceedings with a combination of humor and
poetry and thanked Fiaz and the other restaurant personnel
for their support. He also took the opportunity to introduce
Sarfaraz Khan, the Friends of Pakistan President and invited
him to address the gathering.
From
left: Tarannum Naz, Anisha Bakshi and Tahir Hussain |
In his speech Sarfaraz said
that he believed in work, and that if one worked hard, he/she
would succeed. He then introduced the concept or vision
of Friends of Pakistan (FOP) and explained how important
it was for our Pakistani-American community to engage in
outreach work to counter the negative image that Pakistan
has frequently acquired in the post- 9/11 world.
He explained that the past experiences of Jews, Germans
and Japanese Americans in this country (who eventually overcame
adversity) should be kept in mind as we look at both the
present and the future of our community here. “We
need friends now more than ever before,” he said.
“Dost hi Dost kay Kaam aata Hai (good friends do help
their friends),” he continued. He said that the FOP
vision was of a community-based, non-profit organization
whose main objective was to provide a platform to Pakistani-Americans
and to engage in cooperation through the arts and especially
through business with other communities. “We need
to improve Pakistan ’s image,” he said. “We
are being labeled all kinds of things,” he added.
Sarfaraz Khan also went into some details of the proposed
logistics for the FOP and said that he envisioned 100 operating
chapters of the organization in the near future in this
country. He also chronicled the events that the FOP has
held thus far which generated a great deal of community
interest including a South Asian Earthquake Fundraiser and
Pakistan’s Independence Day Celebrations in the Los
Angeles area that attracted more than 15000 people. Sarfaraz
said that by late 2008 he hoped that the FOP would have
50,000 members across the US. He continually hinted that
bridge-building with other communities was the need of the
hour, and the fact that he is a Civil Engineer (from NED
University, Karachi ) and runs a successful construction
company, is proof that he knows about building such structures.
Pictures
above: FOP supporters who turned up in large numbers
to attend the inaugural ceremony |
Concluding his presentation,
the “Rising Leaders” of the Friends of Pakistan
in Northern California were introduced by Mr. Khan. They
are Shahab Siddiqui (for Fremont/Newark), Samina Khan (for
Livermore, Pleasanton, San Ramon), Asma Hamdani (for Pinole,
Berkeley, San Francisco), Zahid Saif and Nasir Bashir (for
Concord, Pittsburg, Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Martinez, Orinda),
Zeeshan Ansari (Antioch) and Malik Younus Awan (Sacramento).
Pakistan Link wishes the group members well for their future
success.
And last but not least, the entertainment part of the program
arrived. Anisha Bakshi was the opening act. Anisha along
with another lady of Indian origin by the name of Alka Bhatnagar
are now almost permanent fixtures at Pakistani programs
in Northern California and we have become their followers.
Not only do they sing their own Indian songs but they have
worked hard at incorporating Pakistani hits into their vocal
act. And this evening was once again proof that Anisha has
perfected her craft as she opened with a song immortalized
by Mohtarma Iqbal Bano “Ulfat ki Nayi Manzil Ko Chala…”
and followed up with two very spiritual numbers including
“Ali Maula.”
Southern California’s Pakistani resident Tahir Hussain
who has won awards in the US for his rendition of Indian
great Mohd. Rafi’s songs next took us down memory
lane with songs from the Golden Age of Pakistani Cinema
such as “Haan Isi Mor Par” plus “Kabhi
To Tum Ko Yaad Aaye Gae,” and of course “Akaylay
Na Jaana”. One could almost sense the presence of
the late Waheed Murad (in the movie Armaan) and the thankfully
very much alive Nadeem (from the movie Chakori which originated
in what is today’s Bangladesh) on stage at this gathering.
And last but not least Taranum Naz appeared on stage. She
is the one and only true student/disciple of one of the
greatest voices to grace South Asia, Madam Noor Jahan (If
one is not sure of that tribute they are welcome to ask
India’s Lata). We were certainly honored to have Pakistan’s
“Pride of Performance” winner Taranum Naz who
continues the tradition of her teacher the late Malka-e-Taranum
to eerie perfection. And as Tarannum started off with the
late Melody Queen’s “Chandni Raatain”
(Moonlit Nights) many memories of old romances were rekindled
in the room. And when she followed with Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s
classic which this writer still considers the finest song
ever sung in the Urdu language, one was inclined to hope
that Taranum Naz was not embarrassed by many in the room
who sang along with her. She duplicated that immortal classic
with the near perfection of her teacher.
“Mein Jab Tak Gaon Gi, Jab Tak Aap Log Sunain Gae”
(I will sing as long as you will want me to), Naz had said
when she started, and she kept up with that promise. She
capped a superb musical evening here in both Urdu and Punjabi,
from the classics “Awaaz Dey Kahaan Hai” to
“Sanu Nehr Waalay Pul Tay Bula Kay” and numerous
other songs.
In conclusion one wishes this Friends of Pakistan the best
in pursuit of its goals. Pakistan means many things to a
number of people, but it is primarily a country of origin
that we Pakistan-Americans love. And where there is love
there is always room for friendship. (Report on the FOP
function in Southern California held on December 2 in Bellflower
will appear in Pakistan Link next week)
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