SIR SYED Day has become a ‘must attend’ event of the annual South Asian community cultural calendar in Northern California. On October 12, this year, the Aligarh Muslim University Alumni Association of Northern California did not disappoint once again, as the gathering at the Chandni Restaurant in the San Francisco Bay Area town of Newark lived up to the expectations of the nearly 500 people who came to honour the memory of the great man and the mushaira plus banquet dinner that accompanies the event.

The evening started with dinner in the South-Asian Mughlai tradition. Afterwards, Shahla Khan spoke of the Sir Syed Scholarship Programme that the association has been promoting and that has so far helped over 200 students pursue their educational goals at Aligarh and elsewhere.

Shaheer Khan introduced and invited the chief guest of the evening, Ishrat Aziz, who has represented the Indian government in consular and ambassadorial roles.

Next was the Aligarh University slide show, which succeeded in rekindling many fond memories. The background vocals to the slides were the Aligarh University anthem known as Tarana-i-Aligarh.

Finally, the mushaira by invited poets from both India and Pakistan got underway. Bashir Badr from India started the segment and as California resident (originally from Pakistan) Poet Fayyaz Uddin presented his verses, all in the audience literally became one in appreciation.

Next to present his work was another poet from Pakistan, Farooq Taraz. His poetry was followed by the verses of Tariq Sabzwari in tarannum, who was again from Pakistan.

Comic poet, Popular Meeruthi from India, was able to prove beyond a doubt as to why he is so ‘popular’. But poet Jawaid Syed soon brought us back to reality with his verse: Vajpayee khud hai shayir, zauq hai Pervez ko (Vajpayee is himself a poet and Pervez Musharraf is a man of taste).

Speaking of taste, poetess Noshi Gilani, also from Pakistan, moved everyone with her verses, some of which pertained to the plight of women in our society. Our attention was then drawn towards India’s Meraj Faizabadi’s poetry and its depth.

Poet Bashir Badr closed the opening segment of the mushaira by reflecting on the time when President Musharraf went to India for a summit with Prime Minister Vajpayee.

The event continued late into the night and it is heartening to note that Urdu poets remain at the forefront of promoting India-Pakistan peace and understanding. It should also be noted that the message of Sir Syed was one of cooperation and peace. And in a way, it remains very relevant to Muslims worldwide and their neighbours today, as the post 9/11 ‘clash of civilizations’ threatens to become a reality. — Ras Hafiz Siddiqui

One day a guy walks into a post office and sees a middle-aged, balding man standing at the counter methodically placing “Love” stamps on bright pink envelopes with hearts all over them. He then takes out a perfume bottle and starts spraying scent all over them.

Curiosity gets the better of him and he goes up to the balding man and asks him what he’s doing.

“I’m sending out 1,000 Valentine’s Day cards signed, ‘Guess who?’”

“But why?” asks the man.

“I’m a divorce lawyer.”