Basant as a Cultural Heritage of Lahore Essay Example for Free

Basant as a Cultural Heritage of Lahore Essay Basant as a cultural heritage of Lahore by Yasir Raza Naqvi Lahore is an exceptionally festive city. The people of Lahore commemorate many festivals and events throughout the year, amalgamating Mughal, Western and current trends. This blending is extended to include the grand and historically significant festival of Basant. Though religiously not a Muslim cultural event, it is widely celebrated by the Muslim majority population Lahore. It is precisely due to the same reason coupled with other ‘non-Islamic’ practices that it has come under severe criticism by the mullahs. The celebration of Basant grew at an increasing rate in the late 90’s till 2005 where it suddenly came under ban due to an increasing number of deaths caused by highly tensile glass coated threads. Due to the official recognition during Musharraf’s early regime, kite making had become an industry, employing hundreds of thousands of people. The implementation of ban of kite flying followed by the ban on kite making left almost 500,000 families employed. Political turmoil followed by the ban on Basant added misery to the already crawling economy of Pakistan as the number of tourists who came to Lahore just to see the magnificent event of Basant fell tremendously. Therefore, In this essay, I tend to analyze the tri fold significance that Basant holds for Lahore. I would briefly shed light on the history of Basant and its transformation over the years till today coupled with the criticism it faced by religious elements of Pakistan. I would later explain how Basant becomes the center of tourist attraction, and generates a lot of revenue for the local industry thus securing an important position in translating the cultural heritage of Lahore. I would also seek to mention the reasons for the implementation of ban on Basant and propose solutions to uplift it. In the pre-partitioned Punjab, Hindus, especially of Lahore- celebrated Basant by flying kites. It was precisely during that time that the Muslims of Lahore, almost equal in number-comprising of the 48% of the population of Lahore, were instructed by the mullahs of that time to refrain from celebrating the event as it was typically a Hindu festival. However, the youth of that time did take part in the event by flying kites. After partition, almost all the Hindus had left Lahore for India but their tradition of Basant remained; and even today Lahoris take pride in Basant and fly kites from their rooftops with the same enthusiasm. Being the historic capital of Punjab there is no other place where Basant is elebrated with as much vigour and enthusiasm as the ancient city of Lahore. Traditionally, a festival confined to the old-walled city, it has now spread throughout the city. The celebration of Basant is incomplete without the kites and it is for the same reason that Michael Palin in his book Himalaya says: â€Å"Everyone in Lahore flies their kites for a day. † (Palin) Marshall Cavendish in his book People of Western Asia briefly states about the history of Basant and its celebration in the following words: â€Å"Lahores spring festival, Basant (buh-SAHNT): also known as Jashen-e- Baharan), is celebrated in February or March each year. It is an ancient festival that has become increasingly popular in recent years, attracting visitors from other parts of the country. Basant is celebrated with feasting, music, dance and crafts, and the wearing of yellow costumes or scarves, a symbol of the new spring. The most striking feature of the festival is the kite flying. Thousands of kites of all shapes, sizes and colors fill the skies and soar from parks and city roofs. At night, music rings and while white kites are flown, which reflect lights and fireworks. Throughout Pakistan there are local spring fairs with folk dancing; feasting; fairground attractions, such as swings and ferries wheels (sometimes made of wood in rural areas); music; and sporting contests. † (Cavendish) The celebration of this event which includes the spending on the purchase of kites has constantly being termed by the mullahs as un Islamic. In an interesting piece written by Roy McCarthy in The Guardian (17th May 2003), a young woman supporter of the Jamiyat (religious party) is reported as vehemently arguing against Basant. It is not Pakistani culture. Pakistanis don’t need new festivals. The most obnoxious part of the Basant is that it encourages young men and women to dance together and drink alcohol. This is not Islam. This is not Pakistan. This is not part of our civilization. † (The Guardian) The cry by the Jamiyat and other religious parties to impose ban on purely religious grounds, that is, Basant being a Hindu festival and thus unIslamic; therefore it should not be celebrated for the same reason might not be a reasonable argument. Firstly because, Basant is more of an ethnic event and it was celebrated by the Hindus and Muslims (the younger lot) alike by flying kites on Basant day and kite flying is more of a sport in the contemporary world, so the question of kite flying being Islamic or unIslamic does not arise . Secondly, ‘there is no denial to the fact that religion is very important and integral part of the culture of Pakistan but we should remember that cultural traditions are also a cause to celebrate and if nothing else the celebration of Basant can be viewed by the specific gathering of the ethnic group. This is further strengthened by the statement made by Sheikh Saleem, lahori and a local kite maker, eid musalmanon ki hoti hai or Basant lahoriyon ki. Thus it is purely a cultural event and Basant and kite-flying contrary to fundamentalist perceptions had nothing to do with religion. Thirdly, Basant has always been supported by the sufis of the past who were the early preachers of Islam in the subcontinent and were all very close to religion of Islam. However, during times when the state comes under religious influences (MMA had an impressive victory in October 2002), there are efforts to discourage what is, after all, not a religious festival. Pakistan† (Rengel) Sufis of Sub-Continent have a convention of adjusting to the local culture and language of the places they visited to spread Islam. The Chishti sufis, have not only tried to relate to the South Asian culture and music, they even tested and developed different cultural forms. Basant is a living example of religious open-mindedness and respectfulness of other creations of God. Previously, it was these Dargahs and Khaneqahs, which served as basis where people could share equal liberty, message of transparency and oneness. Basant is a tradition initiated eight hundred years ago by the famous poet Amir Khusro. Thus, the sufis of the past, namely Nizamuddin Auliya, Baba Zaheen Shah, Amir Khusro also took part in celebrating the event of Basant through songs. The song sung on Basant commemorates a special event in a saint’s life. Blum and Neuman) Kite-making and kite-flying interdependent on one another spread from the confines of undroon sheher across Lahore, and as the city of Lahore expanded, so did the trade. It grew to such a degree that it attracted people from around the world and made Lahore a place of great tourism for Pakistan and a dynamic source of income for its residents. The festival of Basant transformed over the years due to the introduction of kites of different shapes, sizes and colors and as Saeed writes â€Å"Kite Fighting is an integral part of the Basant Kite festival. Saeed) It is precisely this magnificent display of kite flying on Basant day that made Lahore famous and thus it became the center of tourist attraction. People belonging to upper as well as lower economic classes from around the country and beyond packed city hotels for a few days of late-night festivities. Thus, as the celebrations of Basant got bigger and bigger, more and more support started coming in the form of endorsements by the government, and sponsorship and advertisement by multi-nationals in the private sector such as Coca Cola, Pepsi and Nestle. Official statement of District Chief Nazim of Lahore, 2003, Basant had created a business of Rs. 2 to 3 billion in the province and provided lot of opportunities to common people and owners of cottage industries in the country. To some independent estimates overall euphoria of Basant would generate economic activities of Rs. 4 to 4. 5 billion in the province in 2004†. (Khan) Gradually, the event which was once a general celebration of spring became overly competitive and transformed from being a fun sport to a killer sport claiming hundreds of innocent lives. As the nature of Basant changed so did the demand for the kinds of kites needed and thus new models, enormous kites and dors toughened with steel wire, chemical and glass to have room for the kite-fighting of Basant replaced the traditional kite design, size and thin dors that never utilized anything more than starch. These changes are in-fact the root of the present dilemma. â€Å"Kite flying on Basant has taken 505 lives in the last two years. The supreme court of Pakistan has mentioned 45 kite-flying related deaths in city over the last six months and 460 last year†. Zia) The factor that makes this activity even deadlier is that the dangers to human life from this commotion are multi pronged. In simpler words, the group of people affected by this cannot be specified. Actually, it is so large and all-around a group that the risks seem horrendous. Unlike other hazardous sports, the activity of celebrating Basant and more specifically more often than not, affects people who ar e not even slightly related to kite flying. The deaths quoted above are a testament to this argument. A majority of these deaths were of the unfortunate motorcycle riders who couldn’t endure the wounds after the stray strings, used for kite flying, cut open their throats. Then there were deaths due to the distraction caused by these stray strings. Young boys running after and chasing kites also add up to to this very ill-fated club. The number of wounded people and the number of accidents that kite flying on Basant has been causing is alarming to say the least. But the horror doesn’t end here. Many kite flyers were victims themselves; deaths caused by falling off rooftops, electric shocks due to the use of metal strings and obviously they too have the hazard of the stray thread slitting their throats. The killing of innocent people was not the only reason that the government imposed at a ban on basant. The monetary losses caused by kite-flying are astonishing. Fluctuations in the power supply and frequent electricity trippings have become identical with Basant. Pakistan Times show a grim picture: â€Å"As many as 48,173 power trippings were caused by kite flying were recorded in different parts of the provincial metropolis during the first quarter of current fiscal year. † (Pakistan National News Desk). Every year, the Basant days in Lahore are like a mini-blackout. And the people who have to take the toll are the people who have to work through days and nights to ensure that the people get uninterrupted power supply. The sharp strings and metal twangs can cut through the insulation of wires and every day, hundreds of transformers are left burnt and rendered useless. LESCO: â€Å"The losses suffered by LESCO 350 million rupees during the last 4 years ending 2003 out of which a loss of Rs. 20 million was caused in 2002 by metal wires. Moreover, one grid station had been damaged by metal wire every year during this period resulting in a loss of Rs. 8 to Rs. 9 million and the destruction of 210 feeders. † (LESCO) It is estimated that if there are 50 one-hour breakdowns, it costs Rs. 2. 5 million to WAPDA Steel and glass-edged wires are banned but manufacturers still report roaring trade. (Pakistan times†¦) Kite making is traditionally a family enterprise. Behind every kite is the effort of a minimum of six people. The skill is one that they acquire in their virasat as Baqir Ali Butt stated. In some ways kite-making has been altered by the changing circumstances of Lahore but in other ways it has stayed the same. It continues to provide employment for men, women and children, including handicapped persons and the incomes of 500, 000 people are dependent upon the trade â€Å"Around 500,000 families, directly related to the kite flying business, have lost their sources of livelihood because of the ban on Basant†¦[†¦] The ban is costing them Rs 200 million annually, and at the same time damaging other businesses that are indirectly related to the festival. They said that the people related to the industry, including kite makers, twine (dor) makers, wholesalers and retailers, had lost their means of earning a living. The cost of the paper used in kite making is estimated at around Rs 90 million and the cost of the twine used for flying kites is estimated at around Rs 40 million. The process of making kites involves around Rs 40 million, said Lahore Kite Flying Association General Secretary Sheikh Muhammad Saleem. â€Å"These were taken two years back. Now the number must have jumped,† he said, adding that 500,000 families had suffered because of the ban. † (Dawn International) (Tasleem) â€Å"The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Punjab police to register and take affidavits from the manufacturers of strings for kite flying in the province that they would not produce metallic and other dangerous strings which play havoc with human lives and power lines during Basant festivities. The National Assembly was recently informed that Wapda lost Rs30. 2 million in revenues due to Basant-related mishaps in the Punjab from 1999 to February 2004.

The Politics of Poverty Exposed in There are No Children Here :: There are No Children Here Essays

The Politics of Poverty Exposed in There are No Children Here At a young age Lajoe, her parents and other siblings were the first family to move into the newly built Henry Horner Homes, a public housing high-rise project, on Chicago’s south side. Lajoe recalls how clean and spacious their apartment was then. As the years passed the city became less and less able to allocate funds to keep up with the repairs the buildings needed and the city seemed not to care. The projects became ran down, dank and to condense to support a large family. Lajoe became pregnant at the young age of fourteen and was unable finish her high school education. Eventually, she married Paul Rivers, the father of her child and had they had six more children. Lajoe’s husband Paul was estranged from them more often than not and rarely offered any support for their children. This story is centered on the lives of the two middle children, Lafayette and Pharaoh, in the family. The older of the two boys, Lafayette, takes on the role of co-parent and support system for his mother by worrying about his younger siblings’ well being, who their friends are and to if they ducking bullets properly in the hallway. He has four younger siblings a brother a few years young than he is and a set of triples. He especially kept a watchful eye on his brother Pharaoh who was weaker and easily intimidated. At one point in the story Lajoe realized that because of her husband absence and lack close adult relationships she had placed an enormous amount of responsibility on Lafayette’s shoulders. Lajoe said, â€Å"The things I should be telling Paul about I was talking to Lafie, I put him in a bad place. But I didn’t have anyone to talk to. Lafie, became a twelve year old man that day.†(101) Lafayette had lost his childhood somewhere in the projects. He lived in constant fear for his life and the lives of those he cared about. He tried to stay out of trouble and to avoid dealing with the gangs. But when you come from the projects it was hard to stay out of trouble. There were many occasions when the police wrongly accused Lafayette and his older brother, Terrence. As Lafayette got older found it harder to avoid the older boys and not get caught up in the fast crowd.

Alexander the Great: The Invisible Enemy Essay

Alexander the Great Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Fighting has been an unavoidable part of human history since humans evolved. Regardless of the aim, no battle can be successful without a good leader. In history, among the best military leaders was Alexander the Great. He was born in Pella, 20th July 356BC. As a young person, Alexander was a strong and fearless boy and brought up as a warrior (Farmer, 216).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Alexander fought for twelve years in the Pearsian Gulf, Egypt and in the Middle East whereby his conquests left a legacy that had a positive and lasting impacts in the way of life of the peoples. Besides his conquests, Alexander inherited his father’skingdom of Macedonia at the age of twenty years, becoming one of the youngest king ever to be in the world. He worn many wars because of his ability to inspire, lead and motivate his armies. His intention was on constructing a united kingdom, which was not easy during his time, but he succeeded in building a united kingdom. It is for this reason that the development of ancient Macedonia is associated with Alexander the Great because he built cities along the trade routes through the wealth he obtained from the Persian treasury, whereby the economic system remained unchanged till the industrial revolution.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Being a great leader, his legacy is still remembered for his ability to conquer many empires. He started his fighting campaign with 37000 men, of which 5000 were calvary. He used this army to fight his first war against the Persian Empire, which almost cost his life. After winning this war, he was able to control half of western Asia. Afterward, he also attacked Syria, Palestine and Egypt and conquered them and acquired the title of Pharaoh of Egypt. He was such a strong leader in the world history who never turned back against his enemies. His conquests still remain in the world history as the most successful leader in fighting and winning wars.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Moreover, regardless of his motives, ideas or views, Alexander enabled the extension of the Greek ideas and language to the non-Greek world of Asia. His destruction of the Persian created chances for Greek authorities, intellectuals, soldiers, engineers, merchants and his successors participate in the new political unity grounded on the principle of the monarch. His successors utilized force to introduce military monarchies, which dominated the Hellenistic monarchies world after his death. Furthermore, Autocratic authority became a regular characteristic of the Hellenistic monarchies, which was a section of Alexander’s political legacy (Heckel, 89). Nevertheless, it is clear that the Romans were inspired by Alexander’s vision because they were the real inheritors of his legacy. Not only did Alexander left a political legacy, but a cultural legacy that ended up in the Greek Language, architecture, literature and art that sprea ds into other regions of Asia. Moreover, the new cities that were created by Alexander becamethe spring board for the spread of the Greek culture. His legacy built the clash and fusion of distinct cultures that formed the basic features of the Hellenistic world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As a king, Alexander proved his leadership qualities through obtaining massive empires and leaving behind a legacy that had a lasting impact in future evolutions. Though his empires disintegrated after his death, he had already built a multi-cultural empire, which would ultimately have a significant effect on the Roman civilization. Besides, from the period of antiquity till to the present, he is demonstrated as a military genius. His achievements in the art of war are still shocking. Peoples such as Napoleon, Caesar, and Hannibal studied about Alexander military approaches and acknowledged that without the knowledge they acquired from Alexander, they would have not been capable of achieving what they did (Shecter, 410). It is clear that his achievement was a base for others to follow his footsteps. His armies usually counted on him to lead them in times of battle and he never failed them. As a matter of fact, he had a unique character whe reby when he usually arrived before his enemies anticipated.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, Alexander the Great was a great leader and still one of the most bewildering great figures in history. Most of the historical figures do not stand out in similar level as Alexander. He was a warrior at the age of sixteen, a commander in chief at the age of eighteen and a king at the age of twenty. He solely handily altered the ancient world in just over a decade and looking at his childhood in the acquiring of the throne, conquests, marriage and death, it is clear that as the name great suggest, Alexander the Great was and is still one of the greatest historical and political figures of the world. Moreover, as a leader, he showed uncommon resourcefulness both in the combination of using distinct arms and acclimating a tactic to meet the problems of his powerful and strong adversaries. Besides, though he had a short time in authority, he marks an important period in world history. References Farmer, Henry George. â€Å"â€Å" The Horn of Alexander the Great †.† Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland: 500-03. Print. Heckel, Waldemar. â€Å"Alexander the Great: The Invisible Enemy.† Canadian Journal of History 1 Aug. 1993. Print. Shecter, Vicky Alvear. Alexander the Great Rocks the World. Plain City, OH: Darby Creek Pub., 2006. Print. Source document

The Downfall Of Julius Caesar - 989 Words

Rome Republic was set up in about 509BC. According to the structure of the Rome Republic. The power was divided to various departments. However, from Julius Caesar, the power began to be held by one person. After Caesar’s death, one of the consul Antony tried to despoil the power for himself. Another consul Cicero had the first philippic on September 2, 44 BC. Antony delivered a savage and violent to reply Cicero. However, Cicero then composed the second philippic, he also published books to against Antony. Due to the strong power of Antony, he finally failed to stop the dictatorship of Antony. This essay is going to talk about the reasons that caused his failure from the his trust on Octavian, the ambitions of Octavian, the corruption of senate, the increasing number of Cicero’s enemy and negative influence of Cicero’s abusive words. The Cicero’s trust of Octavian is the one of important reason caused Cicero’ s failure. After Caesar’s death, Octavian joined the civil war. In accordance with Syme, â€Å" the political alliance between Octavian and Cicero was not merely the plot of a crafty and unscrupulous youth†(1963 p.143). We can get to know Cicero and Octavian were cooperative relationship at beginning of the civil war. Though Cicero wanted to use Octavian help him to revive the Republic. However, Antony planed to despoil the power for himself. Therefore, the civil war became more drastic. Octavian joined the war and criticized Antony by publishing a series of speeches.Show MoreRelatedThe Downfall Of Julius Caesar1795 Words   |  8 Pagespeople. Julius Caesar quickly became a powerful influence through the help of the Pompey the Great and Marcus Licinius Crassus when they formed the political alliance the First Triumvirate. Yet, he quickly fell from power just a few years after his daughter’s death. Julius Caesar’s downfall has always been attributed to his pride and the betrayal of these alli es. However, Julia Caesar, his only daughter, played a significant role in establishing the First Triumvirate, which led to Julius Caesar’sRead MoreThe Downfall Of Julius Caesar1087 Words   |  5 Pages Augustus paper In his seventy sixth year Julius Caesar was assassinated by several senators on August 19, 14 CE. (Mellor 1). After Julius Caesar’s death, Antony (one of Caesar’s closest advisors) was expected to rule after him, but little did anyone know that Caesar was very fond of his nephew who voyaged with him on several missions and secretly adopted this fellow who went by the name of Gaius Octavius. (Mellor 6) Octavius would soon go by the name Augustus and become one of the greatest leadersRead MoreThe Downfall Of Julius Caesar1678 Words   |  7 PagesShakespeare’s Julius Caesar provides a largely accurate and incredibly detailed record of the assassination of its namesake, the play is regarded not as one of the Bard’s histories, but as one of his greatest tragedies. Shakespeare’s poignant lyrical interpretation of the fall of Julius Caesar is defined without a doubt as a tragedy by the sorrowful nature of the development, execution, and aftermath of Mar cus Brutus’ betrayal of Julius Caesar. At the start of the timelessly classic play, Julius Caesar wasRead MoreThe Downfall Of Julius Caesar962 Words   |  4 PagesJuly 12, 100 BC a great Roman general by the name of Julius Caesar was born in Rome, Italy. Caesar was â€Å"born to a family of particans but his uncle Marius was a famous general† (History.com, 2009). Eventually, Caesar rose up through the ranks and became a great general. Caesar eventually went to war with Pompey and was able to drive Pompey out making Caesar believe declare himself the dictator for life. Even though under Caesar’s control daily Roman life improved, his assassination was for the bestRead MoreThe Downfall Of Julius Caesar1356 Words   |  6 Pagesthe first to pop into the mind; Caesar.   Undoubtedly one of the most consequential men to have ever lived, Julius Caesar left a lasting legacy of military and political domination.   Caesar’s assassination sent shockwaves throughout Rome and its territories, leaving many to question what man could and would take the late leader’s place.   Many men vied for the most powerful position in the ancient world, but only one man could win this struggle. Gaius Octavius, Caesar s great nephew and adoptive sonRead MoreThe Downfall Of Julius Caesar Essay1950 Words   |  8 Pages The years after the murder of Gaius Julius Caesar were among the most turbulent and uncertain times Rome had ever faced. With both Octavian and Marc Antony vying for the throne, a bloody civil war was unfolding. However, from those trying times emerged a reborn Rome, with Augustus Caesar, the First Emperor of Rome, at the helm. While the Republic was no more, Augustus as the sole ruler of the Roman empire ushered in a new age, one of morality, renewed religious practices, architecture, and mostRead MoreThe Downfall Of Julius Caesar2075 Words   |  9 PagesJulius Caesar was and still is considered to be one of the greatest military generals in history. His combination of leadership skills, military genius, and speaking ability propelled him to the forefront of Roman society. Born on June 12/13 100 B.C., Caesar was born into an ancient aristocratic family. Around the age of 16 after his father had died, Caesar had joined the military. It was apparent from this time onward that Caes ar was especially gifted in the arts of strategy and warfare. By theRead More Julius Caesar - Tragic Hero Essay1028 Words   |  5 Pages Julius Caesar as a Tragic Hero amp;#9;Julius Caesar is a play written by William Shakespeare during the year 1597. Julius Caesar’s story involves a conspiracy against Julius Caesar, a powerful senator. The play involves a highly respected senator, Brutus, who decides to join the conspiracy to kill Julius Caesar, in the effort to keep democracy intact. Brutus believes that if Julius Caesar is allowed to live, Caesar will take a kingship and turn the government into a monarchy. Brutus, CassiusRead MoreConventions of a Shakespeare Tragedy1189 Words   |  5 PagesShakespeare that has a certain effect. The tragic hero always has a tragic flaw. A tragic hero cannot be a hero unless he has a tragic flaw. The tragic flaw brings the downfall of the hero. Othello is the tragic hero, because Othello is a character of nobility. He is good at the beginning but at the end he starts to become evil. ‘‘Othello’s downfall is jealousy (Othello’s Tragic Flaw) Iago tells Othello not to be jealous when Othello thinks his wife is cheating on him. Iago says to Othello, â€Å"O, beware, myRead MoreMarcus Brutus: Shakespeares Tragic Hero in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar1238 Words   |  5 PagesTragedy of Julius Caesar. Shakespeare defines tragic hero as a flawed character who has good fortune, and then loses all he has prized, leading to his misfortune, but a tragic hero must have that moment of enlightenment, that moment where a character can see that he caused his own downfall and receives the blame for his own tragedy. The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is based on an historical event- the assassination of Julius Caesar; however, the story revolves around the conspirators, not Caesar. The