Originally posted by Fraudz:
**.I remember back when I used to visit Pakistan as a kid **
You don’t any more?
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif
Anyway, when I left Pakistan my milk teeth hadn’t fallen off. At that time, we were taught that if we were to pass an elderly we were to say Salam to them. There was no punishment but this was taught as a matter of edicate. This practice went by the wayside from 80’s in the big cities like Karachi, where I was born. But looking at the practice, which also explains the respect the elders were given, at home or on the street, it is not hard to understand that some of what you mention stems from that.
In my Nana’s neighbourhood there was this very old chowkeedar who walked around with an axe…
That was progress. Prior to that the chowkidaar walked around with a long stick. Guess the times had begun to go bad. It was expected that the criminal elements would not strike an old man, the chowkidaar, and drop their act in respect and move on…generally… and it was true in those days.
Question… what can an 80 year old chowkeedar do with an axe?
Not much. It’s just the image that is needed to put a scare in others and give the neighbors some sense of protection…like Who-Me said.
I mean surely he cant run to nab a thief or burglar.. he probably could
not swing the axe anyways…and even though this is a long time ago
did teh criminals not have better weapons?
Other then knives? No. (in those days…in the pre-Klashnikov culture)
**The Chowkeedar used to yell “Jagtay Raho”
Question… If we stay up, then why do we need a chowkeedar?**
It was more of a call of ‘lalkaar’. Telling any criminals that might be in the hearing range to be on their toes since there is someone looking for them. And like Who-Me said, that call gave a sense of peace to the neighbors knowing that there was someone walking the streets keeping an eye out for their welfare.
**In Ramadaan he would bang each door for sehri..
offcourse he would expect to be compensated extra for his
duty of waking us up for sehri…
Question: Did he not know that we were using alarm clocks anyway?**
Did. But during that time, you are mentioning, this tradition had begun to die… Everything was advancing… crime, technology, people getting wary of others, etc. The whole culture changed in the last 20 years. Now there is a huge amount of distrust towards everybody in the society. Nowadays, it is rather hard to give the benefit of the doubt to anyone.
Question: Why do the molvis in the masjid do a running commentary..
“Hazraat sehri ka waqt khatam honay mein 3 minute reh gaye hain..paani pi lain”
I am like .. dewd you worry bout yerself and I will take care of moi
why are you so interested whether I get water since there are only 3 minutes left.
Well, true, but the sense was that after waking up and having seheri intently could cause one to miss knowing how much time has passed risking stepping over the close time. I doubt this happens anymore in the larger cities anymore. But, even then, not everybody had clocks so these calls by the molvies were valued by majority of the people. But I don’t think it’s done anymore.
Question: Why do the moazzin always clear their throats after the microphone is
turned on, why not clear the throat before they turn the mike on?
Pathwari nailed it.
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/ok.gif
I see it happen here…forget Pakistan.
Question: Why did they have those little kids reading Na’ats after sehri time on the
loudspeaker? I mean the kids may be off from school, but surely others have university, work etc.
and may appreciate some peace and quiet and a few extra zzz’s?
I would vote against it. But during Ramzaan, kids reading na’ats…mmm…make feel good that kids are being involved, trained, exposed to religion, cute (not that early in the morning ! ), sense that the next generation is rising with the faith in their heart… Who-Me, we were allowed to sleep.
I don’t know if we will ever be in Pakistan during Ramzaan or any Eids. I think those who can visit are lucky. I would like to take my kids to show them what is Pakistan and where we came out of.
