Discovering
Pakistan in Paris
By C. Naseer Ahmad
Washington, DC
On a clear day, from the top floor
of the Eiffel Tower, one can see for miles across
the city in Paris, where the clarion call of “Equality,
Liberty and Fraternity” was made. That brotherly
spirit exists today and can be seen and felt for
miles atop the other Parisian landmarks such as
Sacre Coeur on Montmarte.
Discovering Pakistan, and the beauties associated
with our wonderful motherland, in Paris during
Ramadan is a unique spiritual experience that
will enchant those with appreciating eyes and
minds. Those interested in bar hopping and risqué
shows and flesh peddling need not apply.
In Paris, savvy travelers will find a Pakistani
society with so many beauties that could one day
be the envy of the immigrant societies in the
Western world. One can see families living as
neighbors and looking out for each other and caring
for each other. For example, Mr. Hameed regularly
stops by Mme. Winoswski’s (known as Mimi
in the neighborhood) house to ask if he could
do anything for her like taking her to the hospital
to visit her common-law spouse. He recently painted
his own house, so he painted her house as well.
And, Hameed asks nothing in return except prayers
and love. Occasionally, he will also take care
of flowers and vegetables in her yard just as
he is taking care of his own. In return, Mimi
gives plenty of grandmother love to Hameed and
his daughters. Nor does one need an appointment
to see Mimi, who can spend hours sharing her wonderful
life.
“It is a beautiful country, where nobody
bothers you about what you wear,” said Mr.
Nazir Ahmad, a resident of Sargodha who is visiting
his son who was once working as a diplomat and
now as a successful businessman in Paris. It was
a pleasure to see this young at heart parent drop
in wearing the tradition shalwar kameez. No phone
calls were necessary, only welcoming hosts. Moments
later the bearded visitor joined Hameed outside
in the yard examining the homegrown vegetables.
Open-air markets provide many of the 50,000 plus
Pakistanis to earn a decent living in Paris. It
is had work, made harder by the Euro – the
European Union currency. Here Pakistanis have
found niche markets to sell different products
thus adding to France’s gross domestic product
(GDP), instead of dependency on welfare that is
often found in other immigrant communities in
Europe. It is this Jinnah spirit of “work,
work and work” adopted by Pakistani immigrants
of Paris that has the potential of making a success
story, despite the notoriety of the Jihadists
elsewhere.
Following in the footsteps of their parents, young
Pakistani boys and girls work hard and seem to
be getting into the gifted and talented schools.
Due to their strong faith, these kids observe
fast during Ramadan and study hard even on weekends.
They are undeterred about the brouhaha on the
headscarves controversy and adapt intelligent
attires. They do weekend volunteer work at their
mosques, without being cultural bores.
It is a sheer joy to walk along Champs Elysées,
after a sumptuous iftar at one of these Pakistani
immigrant’s home, on a balmy autumn evening.
Here again one sees neon lit PIA and National
Bank of Pakistan signs reminding the visitors
that Pakistan was also once a field of dreams.
After all, this lively avenue called “The
Champs Elysées“ (Elysian fields)
was originally nothing but fields, until Marie
de Medicis decided in 1616 to put up a long tree-lined
pathway. Along this broad path way is the famous
landmark “Arc de Triomphe.” If Muhammad
Ali Jinnah were to visit Paris today, he would
return a happy man, as the Pakistani dream has
the potential to triumph in Paris, France.
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