Page 23 - Pakistan Link - November 19, 2021

COMMENTARY NOVEMBER 19, 2021 – PAKISTAN LINK – P23

Khan expounds on how designers Sears Tower, all in Chicago, World this project in 1981. In 1983, after he became more spiritual. He came book on the life and accomplish-
have to face up to urban problems Trade Center, Hong Kong, and Hajj his death in 1982, the Haj Terminal to know that the truly integrated ments of the greatest structural en-
and let their consciences push them Terminal, Jeddah, are some of his was awarded the Aga Khan Award person was one for whom a spiritual gineer of the 21st century. Professor
in that direction.” best known completed projects. for Architecture. dimension in life was important. Mir Ali has presented to the people
Professor Ali has also present- The Hajj terminal of the King Ab- Dr Khan once said that he Although he was not orthodox, and around the world a tribute to the
ed the other facets of Dr Khan’s per- dul Aziz International Airport at did not wish to be known as Fa- had a respect for all religions, he was brilliance of Dr F R Khan. He has
sonality: a philosopher, a thinker, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is the largest zlur Khan; he preferred to be called loyal to his faith. He was a student of done a wonderful job of combining
an educator, and a prolific writer. He fabric roof structure. It comprises by his full name, Fazlur Rehman Islam, studying Islamic history and the biography of Dr Fazlur Rahman
had a keen interest in the people, art tents that reflect Arab culture and Khan. The Arabic meaning of the philosophy. When Joseph Colaco (a Khan, with the technical problems
and literature. contribute to the spirituality of the name is lost when the middle name close associate) asked him about his and challenges associated with the
Dr Fazlur Rahman Khan has annual Hajj. Reflecting on the de- is dropped. Commenting on the religious belief, he replied “I have construction of tall buildings. It is a
left behind a legacy of tall building sign of the structure, Dr Khan said transformation of Dr Khan after always been a Muslim.” And when fascinating story of the genius of Dr
design. In his design he believed “…in my opinion, it (the Hajj Ter- performing Hajj, Dr Ali observes, Chandra Jha (his friend) and he Fazlur Rahman Khan; a must read
in logic, truth, objectivity, and ra- minal) should evoke the spirit of “Khan went to Mecca to perform discussed religious matters, Khan for all technical and non-technical
tionality. He practiced collabora- Hajj and that’s all it should do. It Hajj in 1976 …Those who knew would quote from the Qur’an to minds; and an invaluable resource
tion. His innovative ideas are pres- creates a spirit, it gives you a feeling him most intimately saw a gradual make his point. He had a clear dis- for students, architects, and engi-
ent in the form of tall buildings in of tranquility and sense of continu- but profound change in him in the tinction between right and wrong” neers.
the major cities of the world today. ity, of transition into the real place, late 1970s. He became still more in- (pp. 195-196). (Dr Ahmed S. Khan -
One Magnificent Mile and Onterie which is Mecca.” He won the 28th wardly directed --- although he was Art of the Skyscraper: The Ge- dr.a.s.khan@ieee.org - is a Fulbright
Center, John Hancock Center, The Progressive Architecture Award for already an introspective man --- and nius of Fazlur Khan is an important Specialist Scholar 2017-2022).
Rescue on the Sea
n By Zeenat Hussain so as not to tip the balance of the boat as the
surf sprayed them from head to toe. The taste of
ery little has been written about the salt lingered in their mouths during the voyage.
ancient coastal people of Lyari – the They were not bothered by their appearance.
Virrepressible Makranis – who take On the contrary, they felt no different from
their name from the Makran coast of Sindh when they started out dry.
and Balochistan, which also indicates a Suddenly, a dark object was thrown at
common history of the two provinces. The them on the crest of a wave. It was a man. They
Makran coast constitutes the South-East held on to the poor fellow and eventually suc-
of Iran and the South-West of Pakistan; a ceeded in dragging him aboard. Nobody felt
1,000-km stretch along the Gulf of Oman sorry that this time, there was no prize. They
from RA’s (cape) Al-Kuh, Iran (West of rowed back to their village.
Jask), to the Lasbela District of Pakistan Couples fought with each other to offer
(near Karachi). The Makran coast is on the hospitality to this half dead man; and they al-
Arabian Sea, to the North-West of Quetta in most came to blows in their struggle for this
Balochistan. visa to heaven.
The following is a story of one such coastal They fetched a doctor from a nearby vil-
village: lage, while the women sat all around him wear-
Children on bare-back camels, watch the ing their beads. The doctor was a Karachiite
sea, its vastness spanning even beyond the who had been sent to the village to serve them.
grasp of their eyes. Fishermen on the beach The doctor prompted the man to speak. The
watch the sky, like the city dwellers read their man said, “Mahganj” very faintly. Repeated at-
newspapers first thing in the morning. Through tempts, received the same response. The diag-
the knots of their nets hanging on the line, they nosis stated that he was a victim of a traumatic
seem to predict the weather. This exercise de- kameez itself a deterrent for swimming. the Makranic dialect. The man’s eyes tried to shock and was suffering from amnesia, which
termines whether they should take a boat out The story told here is that of a villager who see beyond the direction of the location being meant a loss of memory, if only temporarily.
or not on the deep sea, for their daily expedi- because of his sharp sense of hearing helped in pointed at. A boat in trouble, he thought aloud. The priest, who was also a member of the
tion to catch fish. the rescue of a drowning man. The villager was Without wasting any time, they woke the other village council, was also summoned, as was the
The air is filled with the smell of rancid alone and as he had no family to fend for, hence men. case in other similar incidents. “What’s going
water that is due to the deposits of oil, resulting he had no responsibilities to drain his energy. A rule of the sea states that half the pur- on here?” he asked one of the ladies. “A mir-
in decayed and dead sea-life. Music, which is a Somehow, he had also preserved his youth, chase price of the vessel of the sea is given to acle,” said all the ladies together. The Makrani
part of their lives, plays in the background. The which he owed to mother nature. Religion that the rescue party. This prize money was quite a women are predominantly Muslim.
sounds are a fusion of musical cultures from usually comes into the house with the presence temptation, but since it was always dangerous The priest was briefed about the rescue
the Middle East, Indo-Pakistan and Africa. of a woman was lacking in his and he was quite the case required to be argued, all hands knew and what followed. Being an elderly fellow, he
The shells on the beach look like the aban- oblivious of it. that the proposed journey was perilous. recalled that a girl by the name of ‘Mahganj’
doned toenails of the old fishermen, and they One evening when it was well after ten and The village women all having gathered on had been registered in the mosque some eigh-
are more beautiful there, than on the foot. The the moon was full with black clouds scudding the beach, saw their men disappear, reappear, teen years ago.
broken wings, the sand-logged crabs, a wom- in ordered masses across the sky, he was still disappear, reappear and finally disappear into Now, it was easy to put two and two to-
an’s lonely shoe, a rusty toy damaged beyond sitting on his wall, all alone. A cool wind sud- the darkness.They were now a tiny speck in gether. The man they found was associated with
recognition, the plank or sail from a doomed denly sighed from an unexpected quarter and the vast vista of the sea – the ocean that is open Mahganj and was discovered as belonging to
boat, all lay sprawled on the beach, each with in its wake was a noise like that from a distant to all and merciful to none, that which threat- the same village as her’s. He was also supposed
a story behind it, cleansed and sterilized by the cavalry charge. His razor-sharp ears picked ens even when it seems to yield, pitiless always to marry her.
salt and iodine in the great hospital of the sea. up the sound. His brow creased up as his eyes to weakness. Mahganj was the granddaughter of the vil-
In the night, the light from the tower was but searched the distance. He hobbled to his neigh- Many of the Makrani women now worked lage tailor. Thus, it was decided that the man
a spot against the background of the sky and bor’s house and banged on the door of his tradi- as domestic servants in Karachi; they were also be taken back to the same village that he origi-
spectacular cliffs. tional mud-hut – the two men, though natural experts in the art of massaging any mother nated from. Similar surroundings would help
The weather-beaten villagers munched life-guards, knew thoroughly all that was writ- and child after birth. Their traditional long to revive his memory, it was hoped.
dates from the interior while watching holi- ten in the books about rescue on the seas. The dresses with hand-woven embroidery gave A therapist was hired from the city and
daymakers trying to teach their children to coastal blacks were descendants of imported them a distinct ‘folk’ touch, separating them surely, slowly though, his memory came back
swim, like fish to water, amidst the shouts and slaves – the fishermen being known as the from the typical Karachiites. The skirt-like in bits and pieces. Mahganj’s presence always
screams of the children who are already sub- Meds and the seamen as the Koras. When there look, with its wide circumference, and the loose evoked a response in the man, so strong was
merged in the waters. The steps of the ladies fal- was no response, he banged on the door again. shalwar could be compared to the costumes of the bond of love. His memory did eventually
tered as they approached the sea, clad in shal- A groggy fellow soon appeared. He pointed to- the Pathan and Kabuli women. return, which in turn led to their marriage.
war kameezes filled with the wind, the shalwar wards the horizon and mumbled something in The men in the rescue boat changed sides, They led a happy married life.
DEATH FROM P11 His purpose and parted, remember- together all human beings with their birth till death. This book includes and they will be distressed with fear
formed). You shall see humankind ing Him, (respective) Imams” (17:71) activities, appearance, and inten- and anxiety. They will wish and beg
as in a drunken riot, yet not drunk, 5) A man invited by a beautiful Judgment Day will be our next tion. Such a book could be similar to start their life all over again on the
but dreadful will be the Chastise- and charming woman but declined stop. It is the Day when Allah per- to videotape, which records all these earth.
ment of Allah.” (22:1–2) her offer, saying “I fear Allah”; sonally will judge everyone directly three parameters. It is not unfath- Allah will also select a third
On this Day, seven groups of 6) A person who gave charity with absolute justice. Abu Hurayrah omable to think about this in a time group of people:
people have the protection of Allah. so secretly that their left hand did related that the Prophet (saw) said: in which we have CD Roms whose “And those Foremost (in faith)
Hadith mention these: “Seven types not know what was given by the “Every servant of Allah will remain glinting thin surface contains ency- will be Foremost (in the Hereafter).
of people will be under the shelter of right hand, and standing before Allah on the Day of clopedias full of information. These will be those Nearest to Allah.
mercy on the Day when there will be 7) A person who remembered Judgment until he has answered five “Then he who is given his Re- In Gardens of bliss: several people
no shade other than that of Allah’s Allah privately, so that their eyes questions about five things: His life cord in his right hand, soon will his from those of old, and a few from
mercy: brimmed with tears.” [Bukhari, — how he spent it; his knowledge account be taken by an easy reckon- those of later times. (They will be)
1) A just imam, Muslim] — how much he acted upon it; his ing, and he will turn to his people, on Thrones encrusted (with gold
2) A young person who kept Each person shall be behind his wealth — how he acquired it and rejoicing!” (84:7–9) and precious stones), reclining on
busy in Allah’s worship, or her leader, Prophet, Messenger, how he spent it; and his body (and “And he that will be given his them, facing each other.” (56:10–16)
3) A person whose heart is at- mentor, celebrity, etc. All will be put health) — how he used it.” [Muslim] record in his left hand will say: “Ah! It is where we near the end of
tached to the masjid, in lines waiting for the Court of Al- Each person will then receive Would that my records remain hid- our journey. We shall enter the ever-
4) Two people who loved each lah to take place and our journey to their book that contains everything den of me!” (69:25) lasting domain, which comprises of
other for Allah’s sake gathered for continue. “On the day We shall call they have done from the time of Their faces will be in the gloom, DEATH, P26
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