Pakistani-Americans & Friends in Chico Step Forward for Afghan Refugee Relief
Report and pictures by Ras Siddiqui
It is no secret that refugees from Afghanistan are coming to America in significant numbers due to the recent US departure and change of government there. Although Northern California is not the prime destination for this new refugee resettlement wave, it will probably absorb a significant number of new arrivals due to family relationships to those already present here.
This part of the United States is quite expensive to live in and it is due to this reality that Afghan refugees will face an additional challenge. To join hands to help, a group of Pakistani-South Asian Americans gathered in Chico, California at The Palms on Sunday, October 10 th for an afternoon of music, fashion, and fine food to try and raise funds for the worthy cause of helping Afghan refugees in their quest to start a new life in this country.
With three ladies, Rifat Khan, Lubna Khan and Rahat Khan leading the effort and assisted by Rukhsana Khan, this group was able to generate the right kind of enthusiasm to convert what is normally a picturesque wedding venue into a seriously fun afternoon, to raise money for the International Rescue Committee’s Soft Landing Fund, a vehicle created to assist arriving Afghan Refugees in Northern California. According to the organizers “The majority of refugees arriving in Northern California are coming to join family members who are often not yet financially stable themselves. As a result, the refugees served by the International Rescue Committee typically require additional financial support as they get on their feet in the United States.”
An added attraction, entertainment at this event was presented by the “Legend” musical group. Legend started off as a mainly Pakistani-American band in the Bay Area during 1990’s. Today it can be best described as a Pakistani-Indian-Fijian American effort with Imtiaz Ahmad (vocals), Asim Wali (keyboard), Noor Lodhi (bass guitar), Manesh Judge (drums/percussion) and Mike Overtone (funky guitars). Their rendition of Pakistani pop and Indian-Bollywood numbers at this event proved to be quite a treat.
On a side note this writer felt nostalgic here in Chico because my own contributions to Pakistani-American journalism began at the same time as Legend’s first major performance in the San Francisco Bay Area 30 years ago. It was a gala event in late 1991 when Legend opened for the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan who changed our musical lives here in America forever. It was during that evening, an Imran Khan Cancer Appeal fundraiser for Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital in Lahore that I first saw a copy of the Pakistan Link newspaper and decided to contribute to our community through writing. Okay, so today we are all gray haired and balding old men, but it has certainly been quit a journey! To my surprise Shiraz Jiwani whom I had not seen for quite a while also showed up here at this Afghan fundraiser. Shiraz used to own Naz Cinema in Fremont and was a pioneer of South Asian entertainment in this part of California in the 1990’s.
The 100-plus people in attendance here in Chico were also able to appreciate a short South-Asian-American fusion fashion show presented by “Desi Ever After” (DEA). According to DEA “Our clothing gives you the freedom to proudly embrace your multi-layered identity and yet, go beyond the confines of traditional desi clothing.” The event ended with an early dinner and a raffle.
To conclude, this outdoor afternoon event was basically for a cause which we can somehow relate to. Most of us came to this country with very little and struggled ourselves. The Afghan refugees are arriving here with next to nothing. Every dollar counts, and with the approximately $10,000 raised at this event, our community has started to do its share to help.
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