Fund-raisers are in and funds are out. Although it’s the end of the current fiscal year, one can always search through pockets and dole out some blue bills. The last fund-raiser of the financial year, organized by Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital was indeed a breath of fresh air and a summer’s delight for the islooites in the scorching heat.
Just like most of the upper crust events, this one was also a blockbuster and anyone who was ‘someone’ was there. Moreover it’s a treat to be Imran Khan’s guest. The capital cream d’ la cream rubbed shoulders as both men and women in black were dressed to kill. The cricketer turned politician host was seen moving around, socializing and keeping a bird’s-eye view on the arrangements.
A thrilling performance by Grips Theatre, which was the highlight of the evening, left something for people to talk about. A sugar-coated satire titled “Storm in World Cup 2003”, left people in roars of laughter with between-the-lines messages targeting politicians, prime ministers and the military.
Ali Saleem stole the show as his emulation of ‘A Daughter of Yeast’ formed a spell bounding effect on the audience. “I visited the shrine of Data Gunj Bakhsh and repeatedly prayed Aye Data Gunj Bakhsh, not acknowledging that unhon nay ganjay ko he bakhsh diya.
The others played different roles commenting on the legal framework order (LFO), meaning Leave Fauji Out, MMA (Muttahida Majlis-i-Hammal) and Nine Eleven. Along the numerous underlined messages there was one direct message for the Muslim states, and that was to unite and work together.
After the play was over, a short film was put on roll, taking the audience through the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital. Testimonials by Princess Diana, Indian cricketer Sunil Gawaskar, film star Nadeem and glimpses of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan were shown.
The film was very touchy, as it showed a three-year-old walking in the corridors of the hospital. The touchy backdrop theme song, made many eyes filled with tears and rolling down their faces.
Talking about the achievements of the hospital, Imran Khan quoted figures and comparisons between the same treatment in UK, USA and Pakistan. The appeal which he wanted to make was that the Pakistanis who could afford spending 40,000 pounds in UK could get the same treatment here for 4,000 pounds.
The money, which the privileged people give, goes for the treatment of the unprivileged class, which is one of the main sources of income to run the hospital.
He said that about 30 to 40 patients visit the hospital everyday and only six are admitted due to low capacity.
Children of Light
Recently, while passing by the F/9 Shaheen Chowk at the Margalla Road, the CDA staff was seen working on the monument of Shaheen missile erected on the side of the road near Fatima Jinnah Park. For a moment one thought the authorities have at last decided to replace it with something more artistic. But no, it was just being repainted.
We had recently observed Yaum-i-Takbeer, the fifth anniversary of our going nuclear. The monument reminded me of a children’s storybook on peace ‘Children of Light’ by Fauzia Minallah.
The book represents the concerns of a mother who feels sad that her children are growing up with images of mass destruction and annihilation all over the city.
The story revolves around the under privileged children who work in a brickworks. Denial to their basic rights frustrate them and they hope for a bright future. This hope fills their mind with beautiful thoughts and one day the children meet a magic bird that takes them on an adventurous flying trip over countries.
It is on this trip that the children learn about hatred, greed and venom in the world and see monuments of destruction. When they ask what they symbolize, they are told about the horrors of these bombs and the bird takes them many years back into the time when atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima during the World War II.
The children see the pain and sufferings of the people. They learn that the billions that are spent to bring death and destruction, could be better used to help improve the lives of poverty stricken people.
At the end of the book, to divert the attention of adults from war and destruction, hatred and greed, the children decide to produce “bombs of light”, that will fill the hearts and minds with love, understanding and tolerance, and turn foes into friends. And that is the message of peace.
There is nothing concocted in the book. Today’s child is a very aware child. He reasons, observes and tries in his own way to interpret his observation. There are children growing up with these images and monuments of mass destruction and every day they see these monuments and wonder what they symbolize.
On one hand we are making our children proud of these monuments. While on the other, we are not telling them the whole truth. Children ask questions and want to know the concept behind these monuments. They also want to know its consequences.
Fund-raisers are in and funds are out. Although it’s the end of the current fiscal year, one can always search through pockets and dole out some blue bills. The last fund-raiser of the financial year, organized by Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital was indeed a breath of fresh air and a summer’s delight for the islooites in the scorching heat.
