A Weekend of Nostalgia in the San Francisco Bay Area
By Ras H. Siddiqui
During the recent May 6-7, 2023, weekend three trip stops took place in the San Francisco Bay Area which were interesting enough to write about together because they connected old dots and were new developments in recent Pakistani immigrant history. These also impacted the lives of a handful of common friends. Shared memories and new venues came together, and they all had to do with our country of origin, that once was, or potentially could still be. And for those of us who have now made America or Canada our homes, the journey has certainly produced its amazing twists.
It was a long drive from Sacramento, but an old classmate from St Joseph High School (Dhaka, Bangladesh) was visiting Silicon Valley from Canada. COVID finally took a back seat as three of us old Josephites got together for lunch at the Wakatobi Restaurant in Newark. One Pakistani and two Bangladeshis from the Class of 1971 had lunch at a nice Halal Japanese restaurant in northern California. Incidentally, Wakatobi is owned and operated by Indonesian Muslims. This was our second meeting in over 50 years. We did not talk about old politics but did reflect on the life we once shared.
During this time, aided by good food, the conversation ventured into the past and looked to the future. Three old men, Ahmad, Huda and Siddiqui had many laughs and shared some sobering thoughts. But the bottom line was that we have all been lucky to have settled in the West even though the East has never really left us. Besides thanking God for still being around, and for the blessings which we enjoy, we also collectively thanked our teachers, the “Brothers of the Holy Cross” at St Josephs Dhaka for giving us a solid education which enabled us to succeed later in life.
The next trip stop was to a dinner party the same night at Bernie’s place in San Jose. Another old friend from Canada was visiting there, but this time the gathering was of old friendships developed in San Jose while going to college in the mid-1970’s. But why should this be of interest? Because this was primarily a gathering of Pakistani (and possibly some Indian) Christians to which three Muslims were invited and received with open arms. We all had in our backgrounds the city of Karachi in common. Karachi used to be a place where only friendships mattered, and no one really cared about one’s religion. Christians, Hindus, Parsis and Muslims of all sects got along famously there. And the focus of this colorful life was Saddar, the central business area of the City of Lights.
The house was full, and a lively party was going on as I walked in. It was primarily a gathering of Bernie’s family and friends, but it had all the elements of Christian life in Karachi. This community also known as Goans (because they have a connection with Goa, India) have contributed a great deal to Pakistan and specifically to Karachi. What was Saddar without its Christians? P.F. Pereira & Sons Bakery, Café George, and the fine music by several local bands including the Talismen, Xavier Sisters, The Keynotes and who can forget The In Crowd? Karachi was swinging and dancing in the 1960’s and 70’s till a particular ruler appeared and decided otherwise. Secular Karachi and the Saddar area specifically were sadly transformed.
Bernie, Eric, Harry, Mike, and Russell got together after a very long time and for a moment we were all transported to the 1970’s when we arrived in the area. The old Saddar too was reborn right here as live music and songs in English and Urdu entertained us in Bernie’s backyard. Harry sang some great English Ballads. There was also good food and plenty of liquids to keep the evening going because Goans sure like their “Barley Water.” They were once the life of every party, in secular Karachi, and we can now add San Jose to that list. Thanks to Bernie and his extended family for their hospitality. Besides Karachi, both America, and Canada made this immigrant reunion possible.
The next day, on the return trip back to Sacramento we made it a point to stop in and have a meal at the newly opened Bundoo Khan restaurant in Fremont. Now this is not a plug or an ad for the restaurant, but another piece of the nostalgia theme here. The first Bundoo Khan restaurant opened in 1957 on Bundar Road, which was later renamed M.A. Jinnah Road in Karachi. If my memory is correct, it was near the Jacob Lines area and it became one of the most famous Tikka-Kabab eating places in the city.
Just the fact that the family tied to the original Bundoo Khan restaurant in Karachi is using the same recipes now in Fremont, California (following Fullerton) is amazing. Who would have thought that one of our favorites from Karachi would open a place right here? There were no halal or Pakistani eating place in the whole region when we came to this area almost 50 years ago. The meal at Bundoo Khan certainly completed this nostalgic weekend for us.
