Fire Ablaze II
Karachi has turned docile and unresponsive to any insult that is put upon it. No one really cares for what happens around anymore. It is just as if everything and everyone is numb. This reminds me of my city in the early 90'S. Before this Jhang was a place most serene and comfortable where everyone lived ever peacefully and completely innocent of the word hatred. People were much simpler and their motives even more. Dust storms were a frequent visitors but never an ill omen of bloodshed. Smoke billowed from the chimney of a diesel tubewell and in winter its ever stretching umbrella of haze prevented the frost from reaching the naked on the ground. Cars were a luxury enjoyed by few rest found there way on foot or public transport. Birds were abundant and ready to sing by the tunes of the season. Trees were responsible for filtering air not only of bad elements but also dust and sunlight in summer. Thus everything was in harmony with nature. If ever a singular human tried to do away with the simple nature and bring upsetting ripples in the sea the overwhelming majority of nature's apparatus brought him to task sooner or later. The calm was restored.
But then it so happened that evil was imported from the outside and it shook hands with a few malevolent residents. Religion was used as a shield for the purpose. This time around the ripples were turned into waves of larger magnitude. Nature alone could not deal with these elements. They started spreading there hatred among the rest. The equation of balance was disturbed. The simple fooled into a trap; a trap that would eventually destroy them at their own hands.
Thus came the sectarian killings and brought with them unrest and uncertainty. No one was sure if he would live or die the next morning. The business of life was brought to a stand still. Those who could not eat a meal without each other turned blood thirsty enemies. Strong prevailed over the rest and many had to leave the place for good. Hatred became a houehold term. Young of the society were sucked into this black hole more than the rest and became its victims for the years to come. Sorrow gripped the scene and birds left the trees in search of a better place. Trees wilted sandstorms became harbingers of bad news. Those responsible for law and order imposed restrictions on human movement in hope of preventing the victimization of the innocent. When this did not help those with metal bullets and iron fists were ushered in. They came in large numbers. Turned schools and colleges into army parade grounds and stayed for long. My memory is not ready to serve me here.
Then it is said that after 7 to 8 years of unrest peace was restored. Life came back to normal, or did it. Yes people were back on the roads but they could not meet each other in the eyes. Yes shops were reopened but usual customers were replaced by complete strangers. Yes people were seen running the show but now they had turned indifferent to their surroundings. Yes no one cared for the rest. Yes chimneys started smoking again but this time they smoke was a health hazard. Yes wind blew again but it was dusty and hot. It took the city another 7 to 8 years to get used to this new alienation. Still the scar remains.
Mine was a small city Karachi is not. I wonder how things will shape here...
Karachi has turned docile and unresponsive to any insult that is put upon it. No one really cares for what happens around anymore. It is just as if everything and everyone is numb. This reminds me of my city in the early 90'S. Before this Jhang was a place most serene and comfortable where everyone lived ever peacefully and completely innocent of the word hatred. People were much simpler and their motives even more. Dust storms were a frequent visitors but never an ill omen of bloodshed. Smoke billowed from the chimney of a diesel tubewell and in winter its ever stretching umbrella of haze prevented the frost from reaching the naked on the ground. Cars were a luxury enjoyed by few rest found there way on foot or public transport. Birds were abundant and ready to sing by the tunes of the season. Trees were responsible for filtering air not only of bad elements but also dust and sunlight in summer. Thus everything was in harmony with nature. If ever a singular human tried to do away with the simple nature and bring upsetting ripples in the sea the overwhelming majority of nature's apparatus brought him to task sooner or later. The calm was restored.
But then it so happened that evil was imported from the outside and it shook hands with a few malevolent residents. Religion was used as a shield for the purpose. This time around the ripples were turned into waves of larger magnitude. Nature alone could not deal with these elements. They started spreading there hatred among the rest. The equation of balance was disturbed. The simple fooled into a trap; a trap that would eventually destroy them at their own hands.
Thus came the sectarian killings and brought with them unrest and uncertainty. No one was sure if he would live or die the next morning. The business of life was brought to a stand still. Those who could not eat a meal without each other turned blood thirsty enemies. Strong prevailed over the rest and many had to leave the place for good. Hatred became a houehold term. Young of the society were sucked into this black hole more than the rest and became its victims for the years to come. Sorrow gripped the scene and birds left the trees in search of a better place. Trees wilted sandstorms became harbingers of bad news. Those responsible for law and order imposed restrictions on human movement in hope of preventing the victimization of the innocent. When this did not help those with metal bullets and iron fists were ushered in. They came in large numbers. Turned schools and colleges into army parade grounds and stayed for long. My memory is not ready to serve me here.
Then it is said that after 7 to 8 years of unrest peace was restored. Life came back to normal, or did it. Yes people were back on the roads but they could not meet each other in the eyes. Yes shops were reopened but usual customers were replaced by complete strangers. Yes people were seen running the show but now they had turned indifferent to their surroundings. Yes no one cared for the rest. Yes chimneys started smoking again but this time they smoke was a health hazard. Yes wind blew again but it was dusty and hot. It took the city another 7 to 8 years to get used to this new alienation. Still the scar remains.
Mine was a small city Karachi is not. I wonder how things will shape here...
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