Comments on: Two Striking poems by Alvi http://razarumi.wordpress.com just moved to www.razarumi.com Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:21:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Shazia Rubab http://razarumi.wordpress.com/two-striking-poems-by-alvi/#comment-23266 Shazia Rubab Sat, 19 May 2007 18:37:31 +0000 http://razarumi.wordpress.com/two-striking-poems-by-alvi/#comment-23266 Dear Mr.ALvi and Raza ji, Thank you both for the encouragement. I do understand that this poem is about us as a nation and I appreciate the honesty with which the dilemma faced by Pakistanis living abroad has been presented in the poem. I just happened to read it at a time when I am all set to go home but people around me are trying to convince me that I won't be able to make it and that makes me scared, thus my response to the poem. If I had read it at another time, I would probably just have said, "how beautifully has this poet captured the feelings of us Pakistanis living abroad." Dear Mr.ALvi and Raza ji, Thank you both for the encouragement. I do understand that this poem is about us as a nation and I appreciate the honesty with which the dilemma faced by Pakistanis living abroad has been presented in the poem. I just happened to read it at a time when I am all set to go home but people around me are trying to convince me that I won’t be able to make it and that makes me scared, thus my response to the poem. If I had read it at another time, I would probably just have said, “how beautifully has this poet captured the feelings of us Pakistanis living abroad.”

]]> By: Alvi http://razarumi.wordpress.com/two-striking-poems-by-alvi/#comment-23245 Alvi Sat, 19 May 2007 16:28:26 +0000 http://razarumi.wordpress.com/two-striking-poems-by-alvi/#comment-23245 Dear Ms. Shazia Rubab: Even though titled "About Myself" , the poem is not autobiographical. It is a social commentary about all of us Pakistanis, living both inside and outside the country. It is about our self preserving middle class. I just happen to be one of them and have simply penned down that many of us think. You are right it is about escapeism. Escapeism of all of us. We, as a nation, have yet to hold the bull of social responsibility by the horn. For a poet it is easier to write in first person than in second or third person. That way poet could say it without being accusatory. Thanks for visiting this site. Please visit us again. And good luck to you and your lovely family where ever you choose to live. Dear Ms. Shazia Rubab: Even though titled “About Myself” , the poem is not autobiographical. It is a social commentary about all of us Pakistanis, living both inside and outside the country. It is about our self preserving middle class. I just happen to be one of them and have simply penned down that many of us think. You are right it is about escapeism. Escapeism of all of us. We, as a nation, have yet to hold the bull of social responsibility by the horn. For a poet it is easier to write in first person than in second or third person. That way poet could say it without being accusatory. Thanks for visiting this site. Please visit us again. And good luck to you and your lovely family where ever you choose to live.

]]> By: Raza Rumi http://razarumi.wordpress.com/two-striking-poems-by-alvi/#comment-23234 Raza Rumi Sat, 19 May 2007 15:22:01 +0000 http://razarumi.wordpress.com/two-striking-poems-by-alvi/#comment-23234 Shazia-ji many thanks for the comment. I can understand your dilemma - but please do not have after-thoughts. You have made a good decision and Pakistan needs more and more qualified people. There will be challenges but these exist everywhere. You will get used to things there. I think Alvi's poems also reflect the poet's sensitive nature where he observes many things that irk him. Hope Mr Alvi also joins in this discussion.. cheers Raza Shazia-ji
many thanks for the comment. I can understand your dilemma - but please do not have after-thoughts. You have made a good decision and Pakistan needs more and more qualified people.

There will be challenges but these exist everywhere. You will get used to things there.

I think Alvi’s poems also reflect the poet’s sensitive nature where he observes many things that irk him.

Hope Mr Alvi also joins in this discussion..
cheers
Raza

]]> By: Shazia Rubab http://razarumi.wordpress.com/two-striking-poems-by-alvi/#comment-23031 Shazia Rubab Fri, 18 May 2007 17:15:08 +0000 http://razarumi.wordpress.com/two-striking-poems-by-alvi/#comment-23031 The first poem titled "About Myself" seems to be less about Mr.Alvi and more about escapism, (no offence intended here). As a person who has been living in the U.S for the past 6 years and planning to move back to Pakistan within a couple of months, the message I am getting here is the same that I have been getting from everybody around me which is " You won't be able to take the harsh realities of life in Pakistan, so get a return ticket in case you want to come back." This scares me. The only support I have comes from my husband since he and I both believe that we owe it to Pakistan to move back and give back to the place that made us who we are today. But since we have not been to Pakistan during the past 6 years, I really don't know how I will react once we get there. I am too homesick right now but I was born and raised in Pakistan and have witnessed the things that Mr.Alvi mentions in his poem. And I used to feel helpless and wanted to escape just as much. And so I did and moved to U.S. Now, will I be able to move back and face those harsh realities of life in Pakistan, I don't really know. One thing I do know is that I'll try hard. So, wish me luck. Nice blog, by the way. The first poem titled “About Myself” seems to be less about Mr.Alvi and more about escapism, (no offence intended here). As a person who has been living in the U.S for the past 6 years and planning to move back to Pakistan within a couple of months, the message I am getting here is the same that I have been getting from everybody around me which is ” You won’t be able to take the harsh realities of life in Pakistan, so get a return ticket in case you want to come back.” This scares me. The only support I have comes from my husband since he and I both believe that we owe it to Pakistan to move back and give back to the place that made us who we are today. But since we have not been to Pakistan during the past 6 years, I really don’t know how I will react once we get there. I am too homesick right now but I was born and raised in Pakistan and have witnessed the things that Mr.Alvi mentions in his poem. And I used to feel helpless and wanted to escape just as much. And so I did and moved to U.S. Now, will I be able to move back and face those harsh realities of life in Pakistan, I don’t really know. One thing I do know is that I’ll try hard. So, wish me luck. Nice blog, by the way.

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