Page 10 - Pakistan Link - August 13, 2021

P10 – PAKISTAN LINK – AUGUST 13, 2021 OPINION
n By Akhtar Mahmud Faruqui Pakistan in the Eyes of a Foreigner
Editor balances on which his very survival
Pakistan Link hinges.
Opportunities being few, as
land of entrancing land- in most developing countries,
scapes and enchanting Pakistan needs positive-oriented
A haracters. A people with deviants to check its demographic
c
distinct contrasts and marked growth and to usher the northern
similarities. A so- parts and rural countryside into
cial fabric spun the 21st century. A critical role
around genetic could also be played by commerce
diversities yet re- and free enterprise. In the sixties
taining an indis- and seventies, the Yugoslavians set
putable cultural out to improve their lot by going to
identity. A rural Austria, Germany and Switzerland
setting pointing to and bringing home handsome sav-
the beginning of times and an ur- ings. They excelled in free enter-
ban scenario heralding the dawn prise and gave a spurt to the coun-
of the twenty-first century. Many try’s economy. Pakistan could do
obscured Judes aspiring to work likewise. The Middle-East earnings
in glittering nuclear power reac- could be gainfully invested to give
tors that testify to the country’s a fillip to the country’s economy by
march in the twenty-first century. promoting free enterprise in a big
A quick dash from tropi- way. The humdrum effort of buy-
cal Karachi to icy Hunza enables ing plots and building plazas could
one to experience such wondrous hardly pay off in the long run, Pro-
contrasts, such pleasant variations fessor Irsigler felt.
of climate, landscape and people Summing up, he described
that one could possibly encounter Pakistan as a relatively young
while traversing the arduously long country with very many scenic at-
distance from Sicily to Norway in tractions and a gifted people recep-
Europe! tive to change. The need to diffuse
The claim might sound extrav- education and innovation among
agant, nay, the exaggerated view of urban and rural dwellers was para-
a starry-eyed Pakistani. Far from mount for a much-needed forward
that. An eminent doctor, Professor superficial complexes too - neither of female journalists and testified complex, a contagious rage among push.
Karl Irsigler, advanced it with no overawed by foreign visitors nor to the forward plod of the fair sex. the educated Austrians then,
small degree of conviction when inclined to envy their lot. The behavior of the doctor was an seemed to have captured the fancy CALENDAR FROM P20
we met in Karachi many years The cancer expert was invited exception to the general rule. of many a young Pakistani. There is which one day was added to Feb-
back. Hearing his observations to scanty homes by wayside shep- Irsigler junior, 22, and his a scramble for boarding a trans-At- ruary every fourth year, effectively
about Pakistan at an official dinner herds as he trudged his way from mother appeared equally percep- lantic flight to make a hurried pil- compensating for the solar year’s
hosted at the conclusion of his visit Karimabad to Aliabad on foot. At tive. Both expressed surprise that grimage to the New World. Those length of 365.2422 days. This Ju-
was an edifying experience. some places he looked askance pretty Pakistani women hardly who can dash to the American lian calendar was used throughout
President of the Austrian Soci- when offered presents and served cared for their looks. “In Europe shores proudly recount their expe- Europe until AD 1582.
ety for Artificial Organs, Chairman apples as a gesture of hospitality. At there is an unwritten rule to try to riences; those who can’t are left to In the Middle Ages, the Chris-
and Founder of the International the unfrequented wayside bazaars, look attractive to your husband. fret and fume and to treat life as a tian liturgical calendar was grafted
Study Group for Implanted Insulin no bargaining took place, nor any mere drudgery. onto the Julian one, and the com-
Delivery Device, and a member of attempt made to extract higher The Karakorums, for The HBTA complex in Aus- putation of lunar festivals like Eas-
the New York Academy of Sciences, profits from the stray tourists. The tria was occasioned not so much ter, which falls on the first Sunday
the Austrian doctor was invited to behavior and attitude of the people instance, provided by the American lifestyle as by the after the first full moon after the
lecture at the leading medical cen- “confirmed that the crust of civili- him “a testimony of better working conditions offered spring equinox, exercised some of
ters engaged in the diagnosis and zation was extremely strong” and by American educational, scien- the best minds in Christendom.
treatment of malignant diseases earned them a compliment: “They the creation of the tific and R & D institutions. Over The use of the epoch AD 1 dates
in Pakistan. Spanning two weeks, have a culture of the soul” unlike a twenty-year period, the Austrians from the sixth century, but did
his visit proved to be a memorable the poor in Europe where commu- world.” The river has successfully closed the gap in the not become common until the
sojourn: for the Pakistani doctors, nism had made deep inroads and cut through the rocks, working conditions and the HBTA 10th. Because the zero had not
Professor Irsigler’s lectures were urgings of the soul evoked little complex no longer stains the Aus- yet reached the West from Islamic
illuminating and for the Austrian response. making gaping dents trian society. The Austrians found lands, a year was lost between 1 BC
Professor himself the visit was re- But the Austrian doctor’s ex- and the radiant layers themselves at peace with their own and AD 1.
warding and enjoyable. perience in the cities was not quite country. This could happen to Pak- The Julian year was nonethe-
The Karakorums, for instance, the same. The educated class was of sulphates (yellow), istanis too. Given the will, the goal less 11 minutes and 14 seconds
provided him “a testimony of the generally self-assured and warm- iron (red) – “layers of could be easily achieved. “Some of too long. By the early 16th cen-
creation of the world.” The river hearted but a good many of the the medical institutions in Paki- tury, due to the accumulated er-
has cut through the rocks, making academics betrayed signs of ser- past times” - tell the stan are comparable with the best ror, the spring equinox was falling
gaping dents and the radiant layers vitude, reminding one of the Brit- story of yesteryear, in the world. They are unarguably on March 11 rather than where it
of sulphates (yellow), iron (red) – ish Raj and the “subcontinent’s manned by competent doctors and should, on March 21. Copernicus,
“layers of past times” - tell the story deep-rooted caste system.” The of centuries gone by. para-medical staff,” observed Dr Christophorus Clavius and the
of yesteryear, of centuries gone by. those-who-matter type appeared Irsigler. There is no reason why physician Aloysius Lilius provided
As for modern times, Islamabad, superciliously disposed and the As for modern times, Pakistan could not do equally well the calculations, and in 1582 Pope
the youngest of Pakistan cities, has middle-class majority looked Islamabad, the youngest in other fields. Gregory XIII ordered that Thurs-
nothing comparable in Europe. somewhat diffident. To his sur- The road journey from Islam- day, October 4, 1582 would be fol-
“No new city of such dimensions prise, a young lady doctor sitting of Pakistan cities, has abad to Peshawar proved a haz- lowed by Friday, October 15, 1582.
has emerged though expansion of in the company of her director nothing comparable in ardous experience for the visitors. Most Catholic countries accepted
European cities has taken place,” considered it presumptuous to re- Alarmed at the volume of exhaust the new “Gregorian” calendar, but
Professor Irsigler observed. spond to Dr Irsigler even when his Europe. “No new city from cars, trucks and buses – “well it was not adopted in England and
The idyllic surroundings of questions were directed to her! On of such dimensions beyond the permissible limits and the Americas until the 18th centu-
Khunjrab Pass, Hunza, Gilgit, Gul- each occasion, the director chose to at least ten times that in Europe” ry. Its use is now almost universal
mit, Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore reply on her behalf. has emerged though - he made a pert comment: “The worldwide. The Gregorian year is
and Karachi, though vastly dif- “A male-dominated society,” high incidence of lung cancer in nonetheless 25.96 seconds ahead
ferent, are “evenly attractive.” Ka- was his insistent charge, one he expansion of European the country was in no small mea- of the solar year, which by the year
rachi’s long beach and the north’s seemed to shed partly when he cities has taken place,” sure due to air pollution from cars 4909 will add up to an extra day.
prospective skiing spots are par- heard the giggles and peremptory which would increase in the future” Historian Paul Lunde (paul-
ticularly enticing for tourists. The tones of ladies in the din of the Professor Irsigler if remedial measures (like regu- lunde@hotmail.com) specializes in
beach-skiing combination is a rare hilltop restaurant where we dined observed lar smog checks in Los Angeles) Islamic history and literature. His
physical phenomenon, particularly that evening. It did not need great were not timely taken. In Karachi, most recent book is Islam: Culture,
if “packed together in such a com- persuasion to convince him that he found the exhaust appreciably Faith and History (2001, Dorling
pact space.” the Pakistani woman has been This is not so in Pakistan,” com- higher. Kindersley).
Culture of the soul: Those emancipated from the remorse- plained Mrs Irsigler. The women The pollution-lung cancer This article has been reprinted
who willingly endure all kinds of less routines and mundane calls of appeared greatly obsessed with the link re-echoed a New York medi- by SoundVision with permission
privations with marginal participa- family life. That she has success- upbringing of the children. “One cal examiner’s recent claim: “On from Saudi Aramco World Maga-
tion in the vast benefits of modern fully donned the mantle of teacher, good aspect of this attitude is that the autopsy table it’s unmistakable. zine (November/December 2005).
life - the Pakistanis inhabiting the lawyer, diplomat, politician, judge, in Pakistan the kids have their The man who has spent his life in https://www.soundvision.
northern part of the country - won editor, newscaster and prime min- mothers, in Europe they don’t,” re- the mountains has pink lungs. The com/article/the-beginning-of-hi-
the admiration of the Austrian. In- ister. The Herald, symbolizing the marked Irsigler junior. city dweller’s are as black as coal.” jri-calendar?eType=EmailBlastCo
articulate but free from affectations quintessence of journalism, was Irsigler senior felt that the Man pays dearly for trifling with ntent&eId=4f134368-f294-4bbe-
they were demonstrably free from largely the effort of a gifted group HBTA (Had Been To America) the delicate chemical and climatic 875d-bb0942954fbe
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