By Maj Gen Parvez Akmal, Retd (42 PMA Long Course)
Parvez Akmal (PA Lala)
Editor’s Note: Maj Gen (R) Parvez Akmal is from Engineers. He lives in Rawalpindi after retirement. He writes Urdu and Punjabi poetry with his pen-name “PA Lala”. Here is his Punjabi poem ‘Mor Pankh’ (Peacock’s Feathers). The English translation has also been given by him with each verse.
This poem is a satire on Pakistani politicians and democracy.
Related Pages:
Army Blog (Retired Officers)
More Punjabi Poetry from Rawalpindi
Photos of Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi Memorabilia
Nostalgic Articles about Rawalpindi
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Visitors of this website are welcome to contribute in this segment by sending their poems to: nativepakistan@gmail.com
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Dil Ke Bunjur Basti Se Moor Be Kar Gay Kooch Ghut Ghut Gidhun Mein Jena Har Shub Hum Pe Thahra
Having read some of the comments , I have minutely gone through the poem once again .The poet only illustrates the situation of the have-nots vis a vis the Hakams of this hapless nation. The word Hakam does not mean “politician”. Moreover, the poet has nowhere distinguished between the civilian and the military rulers.
On a different note, in my humble opinion, with the sole exception of Quaid-e Azam, civilian or military ruler ———-” har do laanat” as far as their performance is concerned.
I am distressed to note some oblique remarks about the tenure of the poet as MD of OGDC. I have read in another posting on this forum that Gen Pervez Akmal and his staff restrained Shaukat Aziz from selling off OGDC cheaply (as was the wont of that cruel ruler). I think we should respect a few men of integrity that this nation has experienced, rather than thoughtlessly malign them.
I am little perturbed to see the only ‘offensive’ view taken by certain “haves” especially Syed Haroon Wasti and Qadeer Ahmad who conveniently missed the key point i.e. “sufferings of the oppressed”. I wonder why we as a nation, if we are one, and especially privileged one like those are on the thread here, are not even willing to accept our weaknesses and do something to convert them into strengths?
The word ‘tyrants’ repeatedly used by Gen P. Akmal in his satire carries wide meaning and includes every “haves” such as those responsible for providing protection to the lives and property both from internal and external enemies, creating enabling legislative framework for so called good governance, delivery of justice or accountability and to me business community as well. I salute the General-turned-poet having deepest nationalistic instinct for carefully using the word ‘tyrants’ which is true reflection of the state and size of ‘oppressed’ today.
A click to the Google will give two different definitions of ‘tyrants’, (i) an absolute ruler who exercises power cruelly and unjustly, and (ii) in ancient Greece, a ruler who took control of a state without legal sanction and governed with absolute power. Surprisingly both definitions reflect more on army rather than any civilian, bureaucrat or a politician. I wonder what made Syed Haroon Wasti to think differently?
I had the privilege of working with Gen. P. Akmal when he was ‘imposed’ as MD OGDCL by Gen Pervez Musharraf. However the word “imposed’ quickly turned into a ‘blessing’ when every body in OGDCL realized that Gen P. Akmal meant business. He work for promotion of efficiency, honesty, development of local technology, punished the corrupt and awarded the honest. It is a pity that the efforts of Gen P. Akmal for eradication of corruption from OGDCL went into drain when an x-army official posted in NAB to investigate OGDCL’s corrupt officials, was himself caught red handed along with millions of cash recovered from his residence by the agencies. To me, so far NAB has proven to be a protection for the corrupt and a curse for the innocents. This is true otherwise Malik Riaz would not have been wandering here and there and bribing every one including our most ‘successful’ politician Mr. Asif Ali Zardari who has recently been given a Mahal valuing well over Rs 5 billion in Lahore.
Would Qadeer Ahmad please like to shed some light on what NABs achievements have been during his 8 years tenure please? I have served OGDCL for more than 20 years and would like to give a comparative analysis of the performance of Gen P Akmal as MD OGDCL v/s others which would take few hundreds of pages to do justice to the same.
I am a salaried person and pay tax more than Rs. 1 million a year from my very hard earned salary and hence rightfully deserve an answer to where my money is being spent by all “haves”, please. Again I am sorry, I have also forgotten the ‘oppressed’ here like many others in the thread. I am however in the process of opening a hospital in my own village where even today (21st century) there is nothing like a “toilet” and none of the young boys/girls cross 8th or 9th year of education. Can all of us please consider doing something for such type of ‘oppressed’ please!
Dear Mr. Muhammad Arif,
Asslam o Alaikum.
Good to see your comments as spokesman. “Shikwa and jawab shikwa” is always unending.
I would love to contribute towards your hospital in my humble capicity. Kindly send me your plan, cell/ptcl No.and postal address. My cell No is 03335146888.
Regards.
This Poem is in total bad taste, specially from one at a fairly high rank of a Govt SERVICE who must have often been saluting the ones, he is referring here. Sorry, but I can not appreciate it.
Suppose, just suppose if the same bad taste and discourtesy is shown the other way round by a civilian poet to the retired officer …… and with due recorded facts of history and authenticity?
Politicians are ruling the country with the mandate given to them by the NATION. They just don’t climb and cross walls to capture the seats.
If not politicians, then who should govern the country?
We, the nation and the country, are passing bad times and any irresponsible attitude by any one, can deepen the gulf and breaches in our sections and minds so shouldn’t we avoid it please ?
Best regards.
Dear Wasti Sahib,
AoA,
Regardless of which segment of our society you belong to, I am extremely grateful to you for your outright rejection of my poem as ‘bad taste’, for you have the right to question the wrongs of any segment of our society. That the retired soldiers shouldn’t question that way is indeed questionable.
Do keep in touch please.
Best regards.
Jb. Pervaz Akmal Sb.
I have no objections to any retired soldier, now a civilian, to question the state of governance of the government functionaries. In fact it is rather welcome but then the truth must always be evenly spread. Would you in the same earnestness condemn the “traitors” from an other respectable section of the society, is the real question.
Kind regards.
Only politicians cannot be cursed for every misery. Military and civil high ups are equally accountable.
A good poem/satire by General Parvez Akmal. Not only the politicians but so many other segments of our society can be included. I served in NAB HQ Islamabad as Addl Dir Investigation for 8 years (2000-08).
General Parvez Akmal was the MD/Chairman of OGDC. May I request the General to highlight some of his contributions/achievements of his tenure in OGDCL. Regards.
AoA,
I highly appreciate very apt and candid observations, by Col Qadeer and Mr. Afzal Cheema Sb, with sincere thanks. I firmly believe that, barring individual exceptions, any society degenerates uni-formally across the board. Some of my articles on the subject or at least a poem ‘Bandar Tamashey’, which targets everyone including generals, will be shared if the editor agrees. Else, any one can contact me on akmal537@gmail.com.
I also thank Col Qadeer for asking me a direct and relevant question about ‘my own achievements’ in OGDCL (2000-2003). It would be rather awkward to even highlight OGDCL team achievements during that period, let alone this ordinary’s. Do me a favour Qadeer; having been in NAB if you haven’t yourself known about OGDCL of those days, ask any responsible person(s) from the company or your NAB colleagues and share frankly.
Best regards,
Sir,
I will love to post your poem ‘Bandar Tamashey’ in my website.
Let the cat come out of the bag.
Regards.
Sir, high quality intellectually stimulating satire.
As-salamu Alaikum,
First, my sincere gratitude and appreciation for the able Editor who added that ‘faceless NRO politician’ and a beautiful peacock to sell my ordinary verse so well!!
Thank you soooo much all; it’s very encouraging for this poet of sorts. I have done quite a few poems ‘lekan darta hoon itnay piaray log itni piari mehfil chor kay bhaag na jaen’:-)
Howdy Naeem Salik? Thanks for reminding me of those 1985 cartoons which targeted fellow students and the Staff College faculty alike. Later, on the faculty myself for some four years I continued spreading some smiles around. In fact I thought I should share some humour in any form as was also desired by Col Rashid Cheema (Editor).
Warm regards; God bless you all and your families.
Dear Sir,
I am doing fine and as part of my Taleem-i-Balighan I am doing my PhD in Australia. Good to know that you are well and keeping up your wonderful sense of humour.
Regards,
This is my understanding to the poetry and what I can read it what you say in a very sober way. I can only say:
Khoob Parda Hey Kay Chilman Say Legy Bethey Hain
Saaf Chupty Bhi Nahin Samnay Atey Bhi Nahin.
Excellent expression!!!
Editor’s Note: Mr. Yousuf Ibnul Hasan was born in Rawalpindi in 1953 and shifted to Karachi in 1964. His father Major Ibnul Hasan was the part of ISPR who launched and edited the HILAL magazine of the Army.
Yousaf IBnul Hasan Sahib shared a beautiful couplet about ‘parda and chilman’. That reminded me of an oldie said by some unknown poet:
”CHILMAN SE UTTHA PARDA; PARDE SE BAHIR AAEE;
SHEHNAEE BAJEE IK GOYA, AWAZ WAHAN SE AAYEE;
WEY BHAEE, TEENDEY KI BHAA NEY?!!”
Keep smiling, regardless.
A Great poetic prowess about our miserable so called political elite. Many thanks for sharing sir.
So apt to our unfortunate environs. Well done, General.
Good criticism of the elites.
A thought provoking and beautiful commentary of present ruling elite’s bunglings portrayed through superb poetry. Congrats Sir. Lets have more like this.
Sir, very good Explorations, Keep it up.
Editor: Dear Nasir, the term ‘Explorations’ is really hilarious, keeping in mind the tenure of Gen Akmal as head of OGDC. 🙂
Sir,
We only knew of your talent in making cartoons during the Staff Course but this wonderful poetry has come as a pleasant surprise.
Best Regards,
Nice to see Brig Salik in this forum. Hope you recall me as Ex-Dy Registrar NDU. My sincere regards & best wishes for your PhD work. I am now with MAJU, Islamabad as Adjunct Prof.
Sir,
Sure I do remember you and good to know that you are teaching at MAJU. Thanks for your good wishes.
Regards,
Sir,
After a long time have seen such intellectual satire. Please keep it coming, the thoughts are on the mark and realistically depict what we are today as a nation.
Thank you.
Thematically cuts to the heart with superb use of bestial imagery. Thank you sir, and look forward to more.
Poet has expressed the feelings of majority of Pakistanis.
Sir,
It is great to see you on this blog after a very long time. I am from 50th PMA, AZB Coy.
Best Regards,
Dear Salik,
I remember discussing with you your family’s contribution to the Pakistan Movement through the print media. Sometime ago I was told that you had settled in Washington and were involved with a Think Tank. I hope I am not far wrong.
Affectionate regards.
Sir,
It is wonderful to hear from you. I hope and pray you are keeping well. I did spend three years in Washington with Brookings Institution and Johns Hopkins University as a visiting scholar and wrote my book during that time. Then I taught at NDU’s Strategic & Nuclear Studies Department for two years. I came to Australia in March 2011 where I am doing my PhD. I hope to stay in touch on more regular basis.
Best regards,
Dear Salik,
Your scholarly achievements and record are heart warming. Keep it up. I am OK, enjoying a completely retired life. Thanks for remembering me. May Allah SWT bless you and your family.
Best regards.
Sir, It’s a wonderful satire on Pakistani politicians. . الله کرے زورِ بیاں اور زیاده