Ready Steady Go

Mehreen Murtaza

2011-05-30T04:59:00.000-07:00

SLUMDOG BUTTERFLY

2011-05-30T03:18:00.001-07:00

HINDU Scotch Brite

2011-05-30T03:16:00.000-07:00

Did Cinderella wear red boots last night?

2011-05-30T03:12:00.001-07:00

जी नहीं ? जी हाँ

2009-12-15T01:20:00.001-08:00

ये शहर
वो शहर

हमारा शहर
उनका शहर

बातें वही
अलफ़ाज़ नए

जज़्बात वही
इरादे नए

कुछ किस्सों की शुरुआत
कुछ अफसानों के अंत

जी नहीं ?
जी हाँ

ये शहर वो शहर

2009-12-15T01:20:00.000-08:00

ये शहर
वो शहर

जब छुक छुक बातें होती हैं

2009-11-25T21:57:00.000-08:00

जब छुक छुक बातें होती हैं
जब दुनिया कुछ कुछ कहती है

जब ठंडी -ठंडी तेज़ हवा
चेहरे पर फर्र-फर्र पड़ती है

जब कोई कहीं चिल्लाता है
और गाली कहीं से पड़ती है

जब केहुनी की ठोकर से
वह आगे -पीछे खिसकती है

जब सीट की बूकिंग होती है
हर इंच की गिनती होती है

जब कहते कहते थक जाओ
एक सूत भी ना वह सरकती हैं

जब चर्चगेट से चढ़ती हूँ
और जोगेश्वरी उतरती हूँ

इस बीच यह बातें होती हैं
जब दुनिया कुछ कुछ कहती है

EXPLOSIVES at GREYNOISE

2009-10-20T01:12:00.000-07:00

Explosives 'Series 1', "I Love U Dreams", 2009

Set of 15 drawings, collectively titled EXPLOSIVES on view at GREYNOISE, Lahore from 25/10/09 to 31/ 10/09

Eid Mubarak!

2009-09-19T23:03:00.000-07:00

Eid hai ji Eid hai!
Gale lagaane ki Eid
Eidi dene-lene ki Eid
Biryani-sheerqorma khaane ki Eid
Hum ek hain yeh jataane ke Eid
Safed poshaakon main Khilte logon ko ki Eid,
Timtimaate-jhilmilaate dupatton main saji aurto ko dekhne ki Eid
din bhar chahal pahal chalne ki Eid
Jo beet gaya use bhool jaane ki Eid
Ek Nayi Shuruat Ki Eid
Ek naye Mauke ki Eid
Koi na bulaaye to khud hi Eid manaane ki Eid!
Eid Mubarak!!!

टैक्सी, १०:४७ - १०:५८

2009-07-22T04:44:00.000-07:00

Colaba kahan jaaogi?
Colaba, taj ke peechhe
Nariman point se yahan bhaag kar aaya, to colaba ki savari mil gayi
Ji?
Nariman point se aaya hoon, colaba ki savari mil gayi, who bhi who aage waala tumko jawab de diya, warna usime jaati
ji
Wahin naukri karti ho?
Ji
Hotel main?
Nahin who drawing ki gallery hoti hai na wahan, taja ke peechhe hi hai.
Achha, likhayi parhayi ka tumhara kaam hai?
Ji
Yahan to dono wakat ko kaam karma hi parta hai
Ji ji
Kahan se aati ho?
Main? Goergaon
Oh ho ho, badi door se, o baba, bada risk ka zindagi hai bambai
Woh to hai
Mehnat bina yahan kuchh hai hi nahin, mehnat karo tab bhi kam hi milta hai.
Sahi baat hai
Yahan to aurat mard dono ko kaam karma partaa hai
Ji, aur aurat ke kaam na karne ka koi kaaran bhi to nahin hai yahan, saari sahooliyatein hain
Haan, aur koi raat main aane jaane main koi kya kar lega. Zyaada se zyaada koi ladki hogi to chhedkhaani karega, us se zyaada who kuchh nahin kar sakta.
Aare bhai timepass karna hota hai un sabko aur kuchh nahin. Arre who hai, kisis ki hai to hai, tum kyun apna waqt barbad karte ho.
Aur pehnaava bambayi ka aisa khaas hai. Kapde itne chust hote hain , ki badan par fabte hain, to ladke bolte hain, ohhhh kya cheez hai!!!!
Kitne bachche hain tumhare?
Arre, meri abhi shaadi nahin huyi hai
Bura mat man na, aise hi main pooch diya. Shaadi kar lo. Umar ho gayi hai. Har cheez ki ek umar hoti hai. Sahi waqt par shaadi bhi ho jaani chahiye
Sahi baat hai, lekin ghar bhi to hona chahiye na
Arre to jis se shaadi karogi kya uske ghar nahin hoga? Bhagwaan ka diya tumhare maa-baap ke paas itna nahin ki tumhe apne hi ghar main rakh lein. Shaadi ka ghar se kya tallukh? Shaadi kar lo beta. Aur phir bas yahi das-barah saal hain jawani ke, Phir to bas jhinni bajaate rehna.
App kahan ke hain
Main Lucknow ka. Arre aaj mil gaye hain, kal nahin milenge.
Woh to main 4 mahine se yahan aa rahi hoo, roz taxi leti hoo, kabhi dubara wahi taxi nahin mili hai.
Yahan to bhai waisa hi hai.
Lucknow ghoomne ka mera bahut man hai
Zaroor aao, lucknow bahut khoobsoorat jagah hai. Wahan bhed bhav nahin nahin. Aur boli itni achhi ki wahan ek baar jaaogi to man nahin karega aane ka. Yahn ki to boli hi ulti hai.
Bas yahan right se le lijiye
To shaadi kar lo, phir jaao ghoomne, lekin shauhar jaane dega?
Usko saath le loongi. Saath jaanyege
Haan sahi baat hai, saath jaana. Parahyi khatam ho gayi hai, naukri bhi kar rahi ho, bas apni pasad ka ladka bhi dhoondh lo.
Yahin rok dijiye, aage poora jam hai.
Nahin saaf ho raha hai, ab yahan tak aa gaye to pahuncha hi deta hoon.
Bas yahain left main lagaa dijiye
Chalo, apna khayal rakhna. Shaadi kar lena beta, bas jawani kid as baraah saal aur. Umar hoti jaa rahi hai na.

माय मैन

2009-07-16T00:19:00.000-07:00

Portraits from the Brown Diary

2009-05-24T18:52:00.000-07:00

Portraits from the Brown Diary

2009-05-24T18:46:00.001-07:00

Portraits from the Brown Diary

2009-05-24T18:40:00.000-07:00

Portraits from the Pink Diary

2009-05-24T18:38:00.001-07:00

Portraits from the Red Diary

2009-05-24T18:34:00.001-07:00

Portraits from the Red Diary

2009-05-24T18:31:00.001-07:00

Paper Bag

2009-05-13T04:34:00.000-07:00

Ek tha paper bag
Badaa, mazboot, tikaoo

Badaa, mazboot, tikaoo
Chamki waala
Man ko rijhane waala

Man ko rijhaane waala
Tan jaata tha
wazan barh jaane par

tan jaata tha
magar inkar nahin karta tha
toot nahin jaata tha

toot ta nahin tha
ek gulabi feeta tha usmein
aur ek haraa

ek gulaabi, ek haraa, chamki waala
dono feete mazbooti se lage the
bag jab banaa tha
tab se usmein jude the

tab se usmein jude the dono
sirf ek feeta pakadne par bag nahin uth tat ha
waise uth to jaata tha
samaan gira deta tha

saaman gira deta tha
isliye dono feete saath main pakadne hote the

dono feete pakadne parte the
saath main pakadne parte the

ek tha paper bag
badaa, mazboot, tikaoo
chamki waala
gulabi-hara feetedaar
paper bag

Naya Saal Hoga Kuchh Behtar

2009-05-08T21:04:00.000-07:00

Is kavita ka pehla hissa maine March 2008 ki main, Lahore main likha tha. Kavita khatm nahin huyi thi. Mumbai wapas aayi. Saal khatm hote-hote India-Pakistan ke beech kuchh-kuchh behtar ho rahe rishte phir gadbada gaye. 29 December 2008 ko is kavita ka doosra hissa likha gaya.

08.03.08
Naya saal hoga kuchh behtar
Socha tha hum sab ne

Dar, udaasi ko chhod aaye hain
Socha tha hum sab ne

Bin mauke koi shahid na hoga
Maut aam baat na hogi
Socha tha hum sab ne

Ghoomenge befikr Liberty
Tootenge nahin darvaaze, khidkiyan aur dil
hostel nahin banega qaidkhaana
Socha tha hum sab ne

"Dar ki koi baat nahin hai, main theek hoon!"
Aaye din yeh sandesh na denge
Socha tha hum sab ne

Dar lekar na ghar jaayenge
Socha tha hum sab ne

29.12.08

Ghar aa gaye us mulk se hum
Pakistan jise naam mila

Hindustan ki sar-zameen par bhi
Phoonkte -phoonkte paunv rakha

Alag mausam aur naya saal tha
yahan bhi lekin wahi haal tha

Wahi khwahishein phir se jaagi
Kyunki phir dil darwaaze toote

Dar phailaa hai har hisse main
Naya saal kuchh aisa beeta

29.12.09

Ghar aa gaye us mulk se hum
Pakistan jise naam mila

Ek din use bhi ghar bolenge
Socha tha hum sab ne

Aasaan wahan jaana hoga
Mazzedaar kisi ko wahan se bulana hoga
Hum bhi keh sakenge
"Hamaare Lahore main aisa hota hai
Hamaare Karachi main waisa hota hai"

Naya saal bhi khatm hua hai
achhe bure kayi kisse lekar

Takreer karne waalon se aao poochhein
"Mann ka kolahal kya kam tha
yudhhon ki jo shuruat karoge?"

Guftagu : gutarrgoon

2008-10-07T02:59:00.000-07:00

Conversation book Idea 3

2008-09-15T07:46:00.001-07:00

Conversation book Idea 1-2

2008-09-13T07:10:00.000-07:00

Poster Idea 5

2008-09-07T12:47:00.001-07:00

Poster Idea 4

2008-09-07T12:14:00.000-07:00

Poster Idea 3

2008-09-07T11:45:00.000-07:00

Poster Idea 2

2008-09-07T11:28:00.000-07:00

Poster Idea 1

2008-09-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

MUMBAI CONVERSATIONS

2008-09-06T12:50:00.000-07:00

Aap mumbai ke hi hain
Haan main Mumbai ka hai
Mumbai naam achha lagtaa hai ya Bombay?
Naam main kya hai, wayse jo oreegeenal naam hai wahi achha hai. abi jiska jo naam rahenga wayi achha lagenga na
Haan abhi bhi bahar log Bombay hi bulaate hain
Abhi naam badal ke kya hoyenga, jo karne ka hai aor yeh neta log karte nayi hai. abhi bolte hain, sab dukaan ka naam marathi main likho, abhi koi bahar ka aaya to kaise parhenga. Abhi socho na humlog tamilnadu main jaaega udhar sab madrasi main likha rahegna to kya pataa chalega kon sa dukaan kiska hai.

Meri nayi nayi shaadi huyi to wife bole, yeh Bombay ka bearish dikhao boli
Humlog bhi college se jaate the, marine lines bheegne ko, lekin abhi dar lagtaa hai
Haan main usko bola, Punjabi suit paen lo bole, phir poora din ghumaya, mereko boli, appsahi bolte the. Aaj bhi yad karti hai who.

Custumber log se pyaar se baat karne ka. Mera yeh siddhant hai. custumber apne ko yaad karna chahiye aur aake aisa dhoodhna chahiye. Custumber ko ijjat dene ka. Abhi hum tees saal se yahi dhande main hai, humlog ko pataa rehta hai kaun sa aadmi kaisa hai.
Sahi baat hai
Yeh sindhi log hai na, aapko pataa rahenga, yeh log paise k bare main bahut kadak hote hain. Abhi ek sindhi Buddha buddhi baithe the, to mere ko bole, ki aaj ke zamaane main tumhare jaisa driver nahin milega. Unka saaman wagere ghar tak paunchanaya, mereko 40 rupaye diye oopar se, bole abhi chai bhi pee ke jaao.
Arre waah! Sahi hai.
Main mere bachche log ko bhi samjhaaya ki raada nahin karne ka, koi gaali bhi diya to bolne ka haan bhai tu hi badaa, tu bade baap ki auulaad hai. lekin collar pakda to peechhe nahin hatne ka.

Aap bataao aaj ke zamaane main 2 lakh rupay khaali bhharose par koi kisi ko deta hai?
Nahin bilkul nahin
Main diya. Mere dost log ne London jaane ka program banaya tha. To who show karne ka hota hai na. main dikahyaa. Bank ka paisa tod diya. Abhi mera visa cancel ho gaya, mera 50 hazaar rupay aisa hi nuksaan ho gaya. Aur baaki tootela 2 laakh ayesa hi ghar main laga gaya
Pchhhk!Oh ho!
Ise liye main bolta hoo, yeh ghar pae wife log ka baat sun ne ka. Yeh ladies log ka dimaag bahut shaant rehta hai. ab to koi paisa maangta hai mian bolta hai, jao meri wife se poochho. Saara paisa bbhi roz ka usko de deta hai. tension chahiye hi nahin baba. Kabhi kuchh chahiye to usi se maangta hai.

Meri beti beauty parlour main kaam karti hai. meri wife ko boli, mummy tub hi seekh le, phir mere ko help karna. Meri wife boli pappa boumb daalega. Phir bhi mere se poochi who. Main bola bhai main jab tak hai, tab tak kaam ka sochna nahin.
Achha, lkin karne dete kaam, madad hi ho jaati
Nahi madam, aisa to humlog main aurat ko kaam karne ko hi allowed nahin hai. usmein bhi karte hai, lekin nahin mere ghar par nahin. Abhi beti ko karne diya, uska time kya hai alag hai na. humlog main ladij log ko bahjut aaaraam rehta hai.
Lekin beti ko aapne permission de di, achha hai
Haan, abhi usko bola main ki chal teri gaon main shaadi kar deta hoo. Humlog Andhra ke hain. Who boli nayi pappa mere ko Bombay main hi shaadi karni hai. abhi kya bolenge.
Sahi baat hai, ab who yahan reh gayi hai to use gaon main kahaan achha lagega.
Lekin idhar life main bahut tension hai. abhi dekho na main bhi heart patient hoon.

Aap Bombay ke hain bhaiya?
Marathi log kabhi muchha rakhta hai?
Kya?
Main marathi nahin hoon. UP ka hoon.
Achhaa, Bombay main kab se hain?
Abhi kya bolnge kab se hoon. Sab danga dekha, sab blast dekha. Socho tab se hoon.
Aap bahar gaon se hain?
Nhain bhaiya, yahin se hain, ab 18 saal ho gaye idhar
Main nahin manta, idhar ke log rickshawale se baat nahin karte
Nahin aisa nahin hai. humlog to hamesha baat karte hain.
To phir aap bhi hamaare side ke honge, kidhar gaon hai aapka
Bihar main
Dekha main bola naIdhar to humlog kabhi kuchh kaam ka bhi pooch lein to baat sune bina customer boltya hai, faaltu baat mat karo, rickshaw chalao. Bhaiya bhi idhar matlab kya hota hai?
Matlab.
Bhaiya keh kar hi bulaate hain na
Kya bhaiya! Sorry

Roz kitna cigarette peeti hain?
4-5
maal daal key aise hi
aise hi bhaiya
haan idhar achha maal bilta bhi nahin hai. hamaare side phres maal milta hai.
lkein cigarette chhor do. Is se koi tension door nahin hota. Baba ramdev ka yoga karo.

Kidhar the aap. Dikhe nahin bohat time se.
Haan main yahan nahin thin na
Kidhar gaye the
Pakistan
Pakistan? Kaaye ko?
Parhaayi ke liye
Haan kya? Kaisa hai udhar. Idhar ke hi jaisa hai kya.
Wahn roads bahut ache hain aur saaf safai bahut hai. Trees bhi bahut zyaada hain.
Haan kya? To aisa tv par dikhaate hain waisa nahin hai kya.
Nahin. Media kuchh zyaada hi baraha charha kar dikhaati hai.
To Indian log ke saath kaisa rehte hain whana par
Arre bahut khush hote hain agar unko pataa chal jaaye ki aap India se hain. Itna achha lagata hai.
Haan kya aur sab mehngaayi hai wahan bhi?
Haan daily needs ki cheezein kaafi mehangi hain.
Currency kya hai? Ruppes hi na?
Haan Pakistani rupees.
Kya rate hai?
1 dollar 60-62 rupees hai. Yeh lijiye kuchh Pakistani coins.
Arre wah. Thank you

Yahan se left le le lijiyega
Mere ko pata hai madam. Aap udhar dheeraj main rehte hain na
Haan, aapko kaise pataa
Who aapke dost ke saath aap film ka baat kar rahe the na. yeh bilding main bahut film waala rehta hai na.
Haan hain thode bahut.
Main bahut se ko auto se chhora hai idhar. Sab naye naye aayele the na tab. Abi u sab ka naam nahin pata merelo. Sab serial main dekha to malaaom parta hai.
Yahan se gate ke andar.
Pata hai madam, aap khaali wing bolo. Jaada log d main rayta hai na
A wing
Aap bhi shooting line main hai?
Nahin bhaiya
Nahin heroine nahin matlab aisa directoir wagehre rahe ge na aap?
Nahin bhaiya.
Chalo koi baat nahin. Abhi rehte rehte aapka bhi man karenga. Chutta nahin 10 rupaye?

!!!Oshiwara!!!???
baitho
uff!!! Bhaiya yahan se koi jaane ko tayaar kyun nahin hota. Aise mana thode na kar sakte hain customer ho.
Madam 9 baj rahela hai. abhi gaadi badli ka time hota hai. gaadi ko ek minute bhi der hua to fine lagta hai.
Oh achha! Mujhe nahiun pataa tha
Kaise pata rahega madam. Customer log khaali gaali de kar chalaa jaata hai. abhi humlog ki bhi koi majboori raiti hai. aisa samjhna chaiye. Par idhar time kisko hai.
par bhaiya humein kaise pataa chaelga. Ab pataa chal gay na.
Haan lekin aisa man main gaali nayi dene ka madam, time khraab jaata hai phir.
Kya bhaiya aap to mere peechhe hi par gaye.
Nahin madam bura nayi maan ne ka. Abhi aap poochha to main bhi dil khol ke bataa diya ki kya problam hai. tab bhiu mereko achha lagaa app pooche.

2008-09-06T12:20:00.000-07:00

Lahore Public

2008-09-06T12:05:00.000-07:00

Lahore Public

2008-09-06T11:59:00.000-07:00

Lahore Public

2008-09-06T11:40:00.000-07:00

LAHORE PUBLIC

2008-09-06T11:26:00.000-07:00

Off the Diary

2008-09-06T11:16:00.001-07:00

RICKSHAW CONVERSATIONS (VERY FIRST DRAFT)

2008-08-23T02:31:00.000-07:00

RICKSHAW CONVERSATIONS (VERY FIRST DRAFT)

2008-08-23T02:15:00.000-07:00

RICKSHAW CONERSATIONS (VERY FIRST DRAFT)

2008-08-23T02:07:00.000-07:00

RICKSHAW CONVERSATIONS( VERY FIRST DRAFT)

2008-08-23T01:44:00.000-07:00

Rickshaw Conversations (LAHORE)

2008-08-23T00:42:00.000-07:00

Baaji aapka mulk kaun sa hai?
Kyun?
Aap India se hain na?
Ji
Kidhar se?
Bombay
Bombay! Bhaut achhi baat hai. Aap to sab heroine se milti hongi?
Nahin nahin!
Lekin dekha hoga na
Haan kabhi kabhaar shooting chalti hai na, tab
Kareena kapoor ko mera salaam kahiyega
Aapko achhi lagti hain?
Haan hamaare gharwaalon ko bhi, hamaare saare bhaiyon ko bhi bahut pasand hai. Unko mera salaam zaroor dena hai aapne. Mera naam attah ullah hai. Kareena kapoor Bombay main hi rehti hain na?

Dekhiye kitni door hai, aap bataayiye itni door ka sirf 50 rupay kaise bantaa hai?
Itni door ka 50 rupay hi bantaa hai, aaj pehli bar thode na rikshaw liya hai
Sach baat hai baaji, lekin ek mahine pehle yeh hisaab bantaa tha. Udhar chacha ne kahaan na bura waqt hai, jitna miltaa hai le lo. Aata itna mehnga ho gaya hai, gas ka daam barh gaya hai. Aur aap bolti hain 50 rupay bantaa hai.

Baat sunein, ye yahan aise hi number maangte hain rickshaw waale kya?
Kya?
Who rickshaw number maang raha tha. Yeh kya tareeka hai, aise hi koi number maangta hai customer se?
Aap hi ne kuchh bola hoga, warna who kyun maangega kya? Aapne kya bola us se?
Richskaw rok dein. Baat sunein yahin rickshaw rok dein!

Aap musalmaan hain?
Nahin kyun?
Achha to Christian hongi.
Nahin, main Hindu hoon.
Oh!
Kyun hindu hone main koi maslaa hai?
Nahin nahin aapko darne ki koi zaroorat nahin hai, hum sab yahan bare aman se rehte hain. Magar aapke mulk main hamaare logon ke saath itna bura kyun hota hai? Kyum hamaare bando to sataaya jaata hai?
Dekhiye jo hota hai aur jo hua usmein awaam ka to poora poora dosh nahin hota. Jo hua sharmnaak hai, lekin wahan bhi log amanpasand hain.
Yahan to TV par hum itni maar kaat dekhte hain. Humein koi naraazgi nahin hai, bas taqleef hai

Aap ko dekh kar hi samajh gaya ki aap India se hain. Mujhe bhi India dekhne ka bahut shauk hai?
Aap khaas Lahore se hain?
Nahin main Kashmir ka hoon. Aapke India waala Kashmir dekhne ka bahut dil kartaa hai. Ishallah!

Aap Lahore ke hi hain?
Ji? Aap India se hain na?
Ji? Aapko kaise pataa?
Aapki zubaan se?
Haan meri urdu utni achhi nahin hai.
Nahin nahin India waalo ki zubaan main alahda sa meethapan hota hai.
Achha? Thank you!
Waise Lahore jaisa koi shehar nahin. Lahore har kisi ko dil se gale lagata hai, koi sawaal ahin pooochta aura man ke saath sabko rehne deta hai. Isiliye to Lahore main raunak lagti hai.

Yeh aise achha nahin lag raha hai.
Kya ho gaya chacha?
Bura mat maan na beta!
Nahin koi bata nahin, bataayein!
Yeh soorma hota ahi na, bilkul aise bareek lakeer si kheenchni chahiye. Bura mat maan na aap meri meri beti jaisi ho.
Nahin koi baat nahin, boliye!
Yeh dekho main dikhaata hoon, bas aise halki si lakeer kheenchni chahiye, aankho main. Aise mota lagaane par aankhon ke ird gird phail jaata hai, aur aankhon ke neeche kaalapan ho jaata hai. Bura mat maan na beta!

Yeh log mehmaan hain? Aap kahan se ho? China se?
Nahin chacha yeh Bhutan se hain
Achha, iska bahut bahut khyaal rakhna, yeh hamaare mehmaan hain
Ji chacha yeh meri bahut achhi dost hai
Bilkul, ise kabhi teqleef mat pahunchaana. Ek baar iska haath pakdo. Oyaar se gale lagaao.
Ji chacha main iska khyaal rakhoongi
Nahin ek baar iska haath pakdo.
Koi baat nahin chacha, aapki baa main samajh gayi. Ise bhi pataa hai ki main iska khoob khyaal rakhoongi.
Nahin beta ek baar pya karo ise, chalo gale lagaao.

Kahana jaana hai?
Cavalry ground jaana hai chacha
Aa jao
Kita lenge?
150
kya baat kar rahae hain? Yaha se 100 rupaye bantee hain
120 de dena, a jao baitho
mere paar hote paise to main zaroor de deti
oh achha paise nahin hain? Kitne hain?
100 rupaye
chalo aao baitho, pehle bataana chahiye than a, chalo aap 80 de dena

aap jail road ki taraf se niklaanege? Wahn se raasta band nahin hai?
Pehlle pakadte the. Abhi khol diya hai raasta. Ab jaa sakte hain. Bas paise ainthne hote hain inko aur kuchh nahin.
Ji?
Bas paise ainthne hote hain inko aur kuchh nahin. Ab jaa sakte hain. Abhi khol diya hai raasta.
Ji? Achha? Darasal mujhe punjaabi utni samajh main nahin aati hai.
Aise kaise samjh main nahin aati hai? College mai parhti ho na? college waalon ko bolnaa chahiye ki sirf English na sikhaayein, saath main Punjabi bhi sikhaayein. Lahori ho kar Punjabi nahin aati?

Aap kisko vote de rahe hain chacha?
Kya farak parta ahai, hamari halt to wahi rahegi
Phir bhi, vote to karna hi chahiye
Main vote nahin kartaa, aur kabhi nahin karoonge. Sare waise hi hain. Hamari kise pari hai?
Lekin un sab main se jo. Aapki nazar main sabse kam bura ho use de dijiye vote.
Yeh bhi baat sahi hai. Lekin ummeed to aisi tooti hui hai. Phir bhi aapne bola who sahi hai. Apni bachchiyon ko zaroor kahoonga ki vote karein. Unki tp poori zindagi baaki hai.

Sabse maze ka haleem hai!
Achha! Mujhe yaha ki phirni bahut pasand hai.
Meethe main main to mujhe halwa, aur baaki subha shaam bhi koi haleem khilaaye tab bhi dil nahin bhartaa.
Aapko aati hai haleem banaane?
Mere haathon ki haleem utne maze ki nahin hoti, lekin hamaare Lahore main to har jagah haleem mujhe behad pasand hai

Aap bura na mane to ek baat poochhon? Aap yeh bindi khun lagaate hain?
Chehre ki khoobsoorti baraahne ke liye.
Bas chehre ki khoobsoorti ke liye?
Nahin sirf, uske lliye nahin, hamaari maanyataa main, maathe ka yeh hissa, teesri aankh kehlaata hai, jis se jo dono aankhon se undekhaa hai aap who dekh sakein. Kisi bi tazurbe ki bareekiyan pehchaan sakein, aur isliye bhi taaki jab koi gair mard kisi khatoon ko dekhe, to uske nazar wahin tik jaaye, aur uske jism ko na dekhe.
Oh yeh to bahut achhi baat hai! Thank you!

Kahana jaana hai baaji?
Arre aap wahin hain na? aapse mil chuki hoon. Matlab aapki rikhshaw main baith chuki hoon
Ji! Kahana jaana hai baaji?
Zafar ali road. Kitna lenge?
Ab aap baithein, jo munasib ho de dein!
Nahin aap bataa dein pehle.
Ab aap baithein to sahi, kuchh na bhi dein. Koi maslaa nahin!
Sorry aapka naam main bhool gaya.
Lekin mujhe aapka naam yaad hai. Zeeshaan hai na? aur aap karaachi se hain?
Yeh aapki aadat bahut achhi hai.
To ab kuchh naya banana seekha ya ab bhi anda roti khaa rahe hain?
Nahin pichhli itvar maine korma banaya tha doston ke liye. Maze ka tha baaji.

Aap key eh jo Ram hain, yeh kaun hain? Aapke khuda?
Ji
Aur batayein, Ram aur Seeta pati patni hain, hai na? dono bhagwaan hain? Aap bhagwaan hi bulaate hain na? aur Krishan?
Aap zaraa aage dekhenge, main bataati hoo, lekin aap rikshaw aage dekh kar chalaayein.
Sorry baaji
Ram aur Krishn Vishnu ke avatar hain. Aap avatar samjhtye hain?
Ji? Ji! Matlab Vishnu ke bajaaye, Krishna hai na?
Ji? Haan kuchh aise hi. Aap please aage dekhiye.
To Vishnu is duniya ki dekhbahaal karte hain, brahma ne is duniya ko banaaya hai
Array waah matlab har kisi ko kama diya hai. Yeh to achha hai, office ke departmenet jaisa. Humlog bachpan amin Doordarshan par Ramayan dekhte the na.
Achha yahan bhi dikhaya jaat tha?
Us waqt itvar ko chhutti nahin hoti thi. Main parhtaa tha us waqt.

Yeh mera number likh lijiye. Aap bahut achchhi hain. Yahan jab bhi zaroorat ho, ek ghante pehle mujhe phone kar dijiyega, main aa jaaonga.
Ji bahut bauhut shukriya.
Lekin mujhe India se phone mat kijiyega. Inquiry baith jaayegi.
Ji yaad rahega
Nahin bilkul yaad rakhiyega. Balki main to kehta hoon, Pakistan chhorte waqt aap mera number apne phone par se delete kar dijiyega.

Baaji aap apna number de dijiye
Kyun?
Kabhi aapse baat karoonga to dil behlega
Kya bakwaas. Main number nahin de sakti.
Phir dubaar mulaqat kaise hogi?
Milna hoga to mil lenge
Baaji kabhi kabhi phone karoonga, baat karne ke liye.
Kya baat karni hai aapko?
Aap galat mat samjhiye? Faarig waqt main ho phone karoonga.
Achha! Kitna faarig waqt hota hai aapke paas?
Raat main, 10 bje ke baad. Aap dariye mat, roz phone nahin karoonga.
Main number nahin de sakti. Aapke bande ko abhi tak doosri rickshaw nahin mili?
Please baaji! Phir dubaara baat kaise hogi. Aap bahut achhi hain.
Bahut bahut shukriya. Lekin main number nahin de sakti. Aap jaa kar doosra rickshaw le aaeyenge. Aapka bandaa to abhi tak ek bhi rikckshaw nahin dhoondh paaya.
Baaji kasam se pareshaan nahin karoonga. Aap kahein to kabhi phone nahin karoonga. Lekin number de dein.
Arrey!!!

Kitna waqt hua hai aapko yahan?
7 mahine ho gaye hain
to aapne Lahore dekh liya?
Haan thoda bahut
Kaun kaun si jagha dekhi hai aapne
Anarkali, badshahai masjid, minar-e-pakistan, landa bazaar, yahi sab.
Yeh to kuchh bhi nahin hai, aapko sahi tarah ghoomna hai to main le chaloonga. Aap mera number rakhiye. Lekin 2 hafte baad phone kijiyega. Tab mera CNG rickshaw aa jaayega. Bas mujhe ek din pehle phone kar dijiyega. Phir aapko hum asli Lahore dikhaayenge.

Kitne logon ne jaana hai?
Hum sab ek saatj jaayenge.
Kitne hain? 2…4…5…6. 6 log? Phir to zyaada paise lagenge baaji.
Gas to aapki utni hi kahrch hogi na?
Chalein 20 rupye oopar se de dijiyega.
Chalein theek hai
Main aage baith jaaon?
Ji koi maslaa nahin. Aap hamaari behan hain.

Library Reference

2008-08-08T09:12:00.000-07:00

Overview of first review meeting

2008-08-08T09:09:00.000-07:00

Overview of the first review meeting

2008-08-08T09:04:00.000-07:00

Overview
The first review started with me explaining the project to John. We spoke about the potential end product which could be a book.
I had a sound project as well as a video/ animated film in mind.
I wanted to use Illustrations and did not want to use photographs except for reference purposes. I also wanted to use text, self written to be specific.

John :
Keep in mind the time constrains. Only two months left
Expert help can be undertaken for audio or video/animated film as long the concept and visualization is mine.
Narrow down your area of research
Think of the final product/ the entire package/ deliverable
It should follow in some way the conventions of visual communication design since that is the area of specialization.
The final product should be exemplary of your learning at Srishti.

Ayesha:
- It is short time to take up a medium you are completely new to, since you’ll be unfamiliar with the nuances and the potential of the medium.
- You can do it, except the beauty of your project should not get downed by the lack of expertise in the medium.
- Think of the end product
- Funnel down your research and ideas to arrive at something that will best communicate your intent.
- Keep in mind the norms of your specialization (visual communication design)
Work towards simplicity and communicative value of the product
It is important to produce highly effective, self explanatory work.
Do not clutter information, because then the recall value will go down.
A book need not be a conventional book.
It is important to abstract the information. E.g. Invisible cities by Italo Calvino.
Something like a children’s encyclopedia

Matt:
A parallel between people would be ideal for illustrations.
Since your style of illustrations has a hold on narratives you should boil down all the information into one simple idea and build a narrative around it.
Coffee and conversations: film to see
Keep a simple approach
Animation is possible depending on what kind of animation it is.

After having a look at the postcards and illustrations we concluded
Postcards will be a highly potent form for further exploration for the project.
We discussed few possibilities with the idea of postcards.
Conversations can be taken forward and also the illustrations.
Conversations can be backed by illustrations to form a series of postcards.

The first step would be to write a proposal that will form the structure of the project.

- Detailed timeline
- Resources
- Planning of the end product
- New research time period

The second step is to research on possibilities of the end product.
- Refer artists
- See similar art projects

By the next meeting I will be ready with

- working proposal
- illustration ideas
- end product ideation

Off the Diary

2008-08-04T11:27:00.000-07:00

Off the diary

2008-08-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

MUMBAI SNIIPPETS

2008-08-02T11:38:00.000-07:00

MUMBAI SNIPPETS

2008-08-02T11:31:00.000-07:00

Diary: Allama Iqbal Airport

2008-07-24T04:27:00.000-07:00

Tabhi announcement huyi ki hum Lahoremain hain. Ab flight land hone waali hai. Maine jhat neeche dekha. India se alag to nahin tha. Khet hi khet the. Kahin Lahore Punjab ka gaon to nahin, maine socha.

Dheere dheere khatkhatati huyi flight land ho hi gayi. Alaama iqbal airport. Mujhe sirf iqbal clearly samjah main aaya. Hum sab flight se bahar nikle. Baingani air hostesses ab bhi nahin muskurayin.
Rony ne kaha ki apna letter sambhaal ke rakhan aur visa form bahar nikal lo. Waha bhi immigration check ho gaya. Phir do na muskurane wali aurtein thi. Who pista green colour waali khoobsoorat baala dubaara nahin dikhi.
Wahn se hum luggage collect karne ke liye khade ho gaye.
Luggae trolley par daal kar nikal hi rahe the ki ek officer ne humein rok kar poocha ki kahan se aa rahe hain, luggage check karvaaiye. Rony ne kahan ki we are on a scholarship at BNU aur phat se letter dikaha diya. Officer ne badi khushi khushi kaha oh ho ho good good. Welcome.
Rony ke paas kuchh Pakistani rupaye the, who porter ko de diya gay. Haalaanki koi khaas madad nahin ki thi usne.
Ab tak airport ki hi gandh thi meri naak main. Main vyakul ho rahi thi yeh jaan ne ke liye ki Pakistan ki gandh kaisi hai. Airport se bahar nikle. Rony ne bataaya tha ki humein receive karne college se koi aayega. Rony ne kisi ko pehchaana. Maine rony ke kandhe ke peeche se jhaanka. Daadhidaar aadmi tha. Kya main bhi unse haath mila sakti hoon. Maine aadatan namaste kiya. Unhone khud hi haath baraaya. Arre wah, daadhidaar admiyon se haath milaya ja sakta hai. Phir muh lagaa ki shayd yeh unke training ka hissa hai. Fiannly main Lahore ki zameen par thi. Ek gehri saans li.
Ahaa!!! Yeh to bilkul waisi hi hai jaisi manto ki Lahore ki baatein parhte waqt aati hai. Ab main khush thi. Manto mere saath the. Main ab manto ki jagah par thi. Maine Mumbai se pyaar kiya hai njaise Manto karte the aur main Lahore se bhi pyaar karoongi, jaise Manto ne kiya tha.

Diary: 12/09/07,Delhi Airport

2008-07-24T04:17:00.000-07:00

Hum andar gaye. Har waqt mujhe yeh dar laga rha tha ki kahin mujhsse kuchh galt na ho jaye. Kuchh aisa na kar doon ki flight chhot jaaye. Uff!!!! Itna confusion tha. Paise dollars main change kar liye gaye. Luggage check in ki line kidhar se hai pata hi nahin chal raha tha. Wahin mera pehli mulaqat huyi ek Pakistani se aur pehle comparison suna meri is Lahore yatra ka. Ek sajjan jo apne bet eke saath Lahore jaa rahe the. Hum sab PIA se hi travel kar rahe the. PIA ka full form Pakistan international airlines hai, jise mazak main please inform allah ke naam se bhi jaana jaata hai. Zaahir hai iska yeh naam unki kharab service se paraa tha. Is dauran mujhe Bangladeshi passengers bhi dikhe. Ek tabke ke log thok main travel kar rahe the. Main unki position main nahin hoon is baat ka ehsas khushi hi de raha tha. Aise maukon par damle sir ki baat yaad aati hai ki jab bhi ksii ke saath bura hota hai, aapko uske liye bura kam lagtaa hai aur is baat ki khushi zyaada hoti
hai ki aapke sath waisa nahin hua hai. Yahi hota hai jab kisi ki maut bhi hoti hai. Aapko ek tarah se itminan ho raha hota hai ki chalo hum bach gaye.
Airport par dubara aate hain. Ab check in ki line ke confusion min hum sab hi khade the. Sab ek doosrese pooch rahe the ki jaana kahan hai? Is par un sajjan ne kaha ki yeh aisa yahin hota hai. Yahan in Indians ko sambhalna hota hai iliye itna waqt lag raha hai. Yahi agar Pakistan airport hota to kab ka chaek in ho chukka hota. Main muskura di, meri muskan main eh haami thi ki haan bhai Pakistan main aisa nahin hota hoga. Par yaar India itna bura bhi nahin hai.
Phir unhone poochha, “is this the firsttime you are traveling to Pakistan?”
“yes”
“why are you going?”
“We have received a scholarship to study art at BNU”
“why are you going to BNU?”
“Oh that’s because we have received the scholarship to study at BNU”
“but you should have gone to NCA or Indus .”
“hmmm”
Isi dauran kuchh aur Pakistani dikhe.nighat syed khan bhi dikhin. Unse main hello kaah . unhone kahan ki Lahore pahunchne par muhe zaroor milna. Apna card to who pehle hi de chuki thi. Ek bahut hi khoobsoorat pakistani baala dikhi. Pista rang ka salwar kameez pehne, chiffon ka dupatta sar par odhe ek ajeeb si muskan liye ghoom rahi thi. Airport wali uske muskan ka raaz mujhe kareeb 8 mahine baad pataa chala. Who raaz dheere dheere apne aap ufold ho jaayega. Main yahi soch rahi thi ki shayad yeh log shopping karne India aaye honge. Unka check in badi jaldi ho agya tha. Shayad who buiness class se travel kar rahe the. Kahir hamaare luggage ka security check ho hi gaya aur hum check in ki line main lag gaye. Luggage check in karvaane ki hamaari baari aayi. Maine rony ke saath hi luggage baant diya taaki extra luggage ke charges kam lagein. Is confusion main ek alag utsah tha. 4500/- cash dena padaa. Theek hai. Koi bata nahin maine khusd ko samjhaya. Ab baari thi immigration check ki. Rony pehle aage barha. Waise rony poore raaste hi aage aage tha. Waise theek hi tha, wahi pehle sab jhel le rha tha. Lekin kahin na kahin main bhi yeh sab jhelna chhah rahi thi. Kuchh to excitement ho, kuchh to utaar chadhaav ho emotions ka. Kayi baar to who itna aage nikal jaata tha ki yeh lagtaa tha mujhe ki hum saath nahin jaa rahe, aur kayi baar lagtaa tha ki jan boojh kar mujhe daraane ke liye who kar raha hai. Dono ki reasons sahi baith rahe the hamaari situation par. Immigration check ke liye bhi wahi pehle aage barha. Kuchh waqt lag gaya. Ab meri baari thi. Maine tay kiya tha, ki jo bhi poochhe mujhe naraaz anhin hona hai. Smile ko hamesha saath rakhna hai aur uttejit nahin hona hai. Mujhse poochha gaya, “ oh aap bhi scholarship par ja rahi hain”
“ji”
“kyun?”
“government ki tarf se scholarship mili hai”
“who ladka bhi aap ke saath hai?”
“ji”
“to aap bhi final year ke liye ja rahi hain?”
“ji, lekin main pehli baar ja rahi hoon”
“to aapke mummy papa ko koi problem nahin hai?”
“nahin nahin, who to abhty khush hain”
“so you are from Bombay?”
maine pehchaan liya tha ki I officer zaroor up ya bihar ke hain, maine bhi bade khushi khushi kaha “but I’m originally form bihar”
unke chehre ki aadhi hansi poori muskaan main badal gayi.
“oh ho ho you are from BIHAR”
“ji”
“where in bihar?”
“supaul, par haamre relatives ab all over bihar main hain, zyada tar patna main, gaon main dada, dadi aur bade papa, badi mummy rehte hain”
“how many days are you going for?”
“9 months sir”
“so aapke papa kya karte hain?”
“ji who film journalist hain”
“arre wah!!! Kaun se paper main kaam karte hain?”
“ji, dainik jagran”
“achha kya naam hai?”
“ajay brahmatmaj”
“hmmm”
SMILE
“hmmm”
SMILE
“hmmm ok study well”
“ocourse sir, har baar to mauka nahin milta hai”
“yes yes”
“thank you so much sir”
SMILE

Rony mujhe dekh kar pareshan tha ki itni der kya baat ho gayi. Phir usne bataay ki luggage main yeh log pooch rahe thi ki itna luggage kyun hai? Maine 50 rupay pakdaa diye.
“HAWWWW!!!!! You bribed them? My god!!!”
mujhe rony ki dileri par achraj ho raha tha. Lkin haan chalo hum us jhik jhik se bach gaye. Ab intezar tha. Kuchh der yun hi baithe rahe. Saamne duty free shopping area tha. Daaru ki botlein dekhti rahi main.
Ali se thodi baat ki.
Phir flight board karne ke liye waiting lounge main chale gaye. Badi udaas si jagah thi. Wahan kuchh aur Pakistani mahilaon ko dekha. Pista colour waali baala phir dikhi. Wahi muskan. Uff!!! Yaha tak ki umardaraz aurtein bhi balaa ki khoobsoorat thi. Mujhe lagne lagaa I main to inferiority complex se mar jaaongi. Kya karoongi main is desh amin jahan har aurat aisi hoor si lagti hbai. Kya who mujhe pasand karenge? Tabhi announcement huyi ki LAHORE jaane waali PIA ki flight ke passengers tayyar ho jaayein. Main last calls kiye, varsha, ali, papa, ma. Bas phir line main lag gayi. Oonchi oonchi awaz main main rony se baat kar rahi thi. Man tha ki koi meri baat sun kar kuchh to poochhe. Mission successful. Usi khoobsoorat baala ne poochha, “ is this your first trip to Lahore”
“yes” man main bola yes yes yes!!!!!!
“are you on a tourist visit”
“no, I’m there on a scholaraship at BNU”
“BNU? Oh, good. That’s great!”
“yes! I know, I’m quite excited too”
“that’s really nice. You’ll love Lahore. It’s a beautiful city”

Cafeteria Culture

2008-07-22T23:08:00.000-07:00

Clear hollow spheres climb up success
And what becomes of them?
The cold green veil makes its person look green too.
The specks of red have become one in this sticky paste which has spurted like blood
10 sets of 4
One green slab in the center
One of them holds the clear hollow spheres and also 1 empty green veil
Green blinds
Colour of abundance
Present here in abundance
Abundance also in the rotten smell of the fresh eggs
2 sets of 3 wings give each other company with 1 set of 4
The long wire makes a trap
It waits eagerly at the door step
Gharrrgharrranggghrrrram
becomes one with the equally annoying place
The place is still except the figure in the dress of the west
4 drab virgin buttons look eagerly at the shining whores
The tiny transparent balls play under the green veil which hides nothing
One of them starts to slip from the tip of the transporter
Slow.
Picks up speed as others join in
The vertebral gets disturbed and the olfactory devices get connected to the lips
The ends of the lips point towards the equator
Tut tut tut chuk chukChhsh chhsh Chhsh chhsh Chhsh chhsh
Sound of the greasy biryani
The tiny, white, wriggly, curly being falls out of the sound and struggles to be alive
While the light comes from various unreachable sources, some warm green looks nosily at me and the holed gray
Tiny screeches of being molested
The hand and the tiny screeches in harmony
The holder is displaced and the second set of three asked to go to sleep
The person in the veil dies slowly
The red blood still sits there shamelessly
Green is home
Spit. Spill. Sit.
Spread the smell around.
The incandescent form reflects in the cracked glass, the veil of glass that covers/uncovers the territory of the green.
Comfort
Amidst the artificial smell of the biryani there is a transcend to a hospital room
The white lump warms the green under it
The rest of the green remains unused
The black clot plastered on its forehead
Bindi from India
The pattern on its dusty black leg moves and falls still.

दिवाली की शुभकामनाएं

2008-07-22T22:59:00.000-07:00

जगमगाता हुआ दिन,
झिलमिलाती हुई शाम

कुछ पुराने दिए
पैकेट वाला

सफ़ेद मोमबत्तियां
पाक

नवम्बर की में लौ की गर्मी
खीर पूरी की दावत
खीर: सफ़ेद

घर की याद
शहर लाहौर

रंगी हुई स्कर्ट
सफ़ेद कुर्ती
सजने का

नारियल के लड्डू
मीठे और नर्म
भुरभुरी सूखी खोल
सफ़ेद
नए यंत्रो पर मिलते संदेश
रति-रतायीं शुभकामनाएं
रंगहीन सफ़ेद

गर्मी, रौनक, रंग, खुशी
सब कुछ समेटने की चाह
कोलाहल के बीच सन्नाटा सफ़ेद

Sakunthala

2008-07-22T22:54:00.000-07:00

Lemonade expanse

Slim, modern. Fresh!!

Hands quivering under the weight of the tangy wrap

Fingers press the buttons that are the color of the sky

White not blue

Rococo curls rest and listen to the mesmerizing voice of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

The tummy rests too, after being subject to the endless jokes about it holding a baby.

A white flower peeps from behind her shoulder.

A similar one rests on the other bed with its face away,

referring to the unexciting company

Jugalbandi of the feet

Strange!

Looks dead to the world!

YES YES YES.

No disturbance

Figure performs a Baroque on the pink bed

Marylyn’s eye winks from the left breast

Lips are potted in perfection, ready to be glossed

Few words of consent take a trip

Neoclassic folds

Olympia

White folds of the Greek sculptures.

The candle, the doll, the bottle, the fan, the leaves;

in tough competition

Kingdom of The Sleeping Beauty

The thumb rests in the middle of the index finger.

All fingers stare and glance away

Gaze conscious

The hands shape a V ready to spell some nameS

tringy innumerable lines of the forehead invite attention

Cavity in the sour bed sheet is seen

The cavity leads to the corner of the bed.

The wall is white with one little dent

Butool’s masterpiece has left 10 marks of it’s descend

Wait to fetch sympathy and the memories

Tête-à-tête of the pink laced white and the dark, handsome shadow of the vast green minus blue

Love is happening

Perky, dizzy, thoughtless, idle

Love nevertheless,

with unkempt eyebrows and dark elbows

Slumber of the tiny mole beneath the gloom of the frail lashes

Deceit with the lemonade bed sheet

Affair with the ebony under it

Prayer Room

2008-07-22T22:49:00.000-07:00

Olper’s milk pack pajamas talk about how babies are born
Matching slippers enter the room with eh! Strange!? Boys?
Matching slippers leave the रूम
Oho!!!
Re-entry
Eh! Boy? Again?
4 pairs of matching footwear lie around AttentivE
2 rest lazily under the feet
Hard juicy orange balls light up her wrists
How do you have sex???
The question floats around
Suddenly reminded of the class
Envelopes are de-creased
Red rides up the pajama’s neck
Bulbs have left their sockets
12 in all
4 on each side
2 on the top
1 shared by all three sides
Eyes of the three men pass after permission, with the men.
2 more
Pink clip sits like a bud to the left of the face, ready to be nipped
Hairy legs peep out of the envelope
Studded thongs on the feet hide some hair
Sparsely dyed orange nails match the lower envelope
Limo juice dupattas
Open door is shut by the guards
Prayer room is too tempting
Give in after Id
Tall lady with matching slippers passes the room
Study conversations happen all around
Glittering thongs crown the white skin
The green bag matches nothing.
It is not its dayWonder why it exists.
Find it a partner! So what if it is Ramzan?
The black hair stays unmoved
The smile touches the telephone
2 pairs lie ignored
Olper’s milk: Rs. 13 for 250 ml

लाहौर तू बड़ा याद आयेगा मुझे Lahore tu badaa yaad aayega mujhe

2008-07-22T22:28:00.000-07:00

Neele rangbirange rickshe
Unme baithe shalwar kameez pehne driver.
Aankho ke ishare se riksha rokna
Uchak kar tang ricksho main baithna
Chacha se paise tay karna.
Pardedaar rikshon main mehfooz mehsoos karna
Toote, dhoomil aino main apna huliya sawaaarna..

Rickshe waalon se guftogoo
Apnapan sa lagna
India ki baatein
Unki aankhon ka chamakna
Unki awaz ki uthaan
Manzil pahunchte pahunchte dosti ho jaana
Shukriya meharbani ka chhidkaav
Yeh sab to yaad aayega hi
Bhoolega nahin utarte waqt kurte ka keel par atak kar phat jaana

Mausam ka badalna
Basant ke rang birange phool
Aatishi rangat
Yun lagta ho jaise bas aap hi ke liye khile hain yeh phool
Jaise mausam khel raha ho holi

Surkh gulabi chehre
Jhurriyon main bhi chamak
Oonche paayencho waali shalwaarein.
Oonchi chaankho se jhankti balaaon ki kamar
Gori chitti…aate ki loyi
Matching matching ka andaaz

Landa kaise ghomungi ab
Paraande wali chapplein bhi kuchh saalo main ghis hi jaayengi
Chacha chacha ke naare kaun lagayega
Aate jaate baaji kaun bulyega
Tang galiyon se guzarna, dhoop se bachna
Aap India se hain?
Aise sawaalon ke jawaab kaun dega

Bindi lagaa kar kahan itraaongi main
Saadi pehan kise kamar dikhaoongi main
Kahan lagega ab kuchh bhi khaas
Dhool bhi to nahin hogi teri mere pairon ke paas

Aankho hi aankho main kis se ishaare karoongi ab
Mashaallah ki chhedkhaani kaun karega ab

Itne saare hare rang kahan nazar aayenge mujhe
Saaf sadkon par paani kaise dekhoongi
India se aati nehar ka bhi nazara na hoga ab
Kuchh to hamesha jura hai
Yeh dialaasa kaun dega ab

India se aaye mehman ko dekh
Chamakti aankho ka nazaara na hoga ab
Toote phoote sawalon ka jawaab kaise de sakoongi ab
India ki taareef kis se karoongi ab
Apne mulk ke baare main sab nayab kaise lagega ab

Gande naale ke paas se guzarne par
Bombay yaad kaise aayega ab

Lace gote ka fashion kaise dikhega ab
Oonchi shalwaron ka nazaara bhi na hoga ab
Oonchi shalwar pehanana kitna atpata lagega ab

Kaise peeongi botal har dukan par
Chai-botal ko kaun poochhega ab
Phone receive karke sirf hello bolenge ab log
Salaam valekum bahut yaad aayega ab

Murgiyon ki dawat bahut khaas lagegi ab
Coke bhi thandi nahin thanda hoga ab
Shoaib ki jagah Amir pilayenge use ab
Biryani aam na hogi ab

Khoosso ki kataarein kahan dikhengi ab
Pathahno ke bachchey kahan dikhenge ab
Punjabi, Pashto kahan sunoongi ab
Tooti urdu kaise sunoongi ab

Corolla Beetle waali sadkein nazar aayengi kahan
Chaudi sadkein bas khwaab main nazar aayengi ab
Haryali hi haryali nazar aayegi kahan
Hawai jahaj si gaadi main kaise baithoongi ab

Poori raat teri khoobsoorti kaise niharoongi main
1 baje chaman main Narangi pista badam icecream kaise khaaongi ab main?

Pine, Gold Leaf nahin hogi wahan
Wills Lights se hi kaam chalaana padega
20 ka kaun sa packet milta hai
Phir se dhoondhna padega
Rani Mukherjee ki light marte lighter bhi nahi honge wahan

Surkh laal rang ke naakhoon kaise nazar aayenge
Lambe lambe nakhuno se mulakat nahin hogi
Nakkkashidaar sandalon se jhaankte khoobsoorat pair bhi nahin hoge kahin
Har libaas se milti chappalein kaise, mil jaati hai inhe?
Yeh hairat bhi nahin hogi ab

baahar ka dekh kaun rate badhayega
India ka jaan rate kam bhi kaise ho jayega

Itminaan se baatein kaise hongi
Tez dhoop main sona kaise lagegi teri dhool
Pairo par pyaar se kaise liptegi yeh dhool
Bahut mushkil se kaise niklegi yeh dhool
Kaash ki pairo ke bheetar ghus jaati yeh dhool

Anarkali ki chulbulahat yaad aayegi bahut
Mall road ka shor nahin bhoolega ab
Saaf udaas jail road bhi pyaara hi lagega ab
Cavalary ki pehchani hui galiyan bhi gair ho jajengi ab

Best buy ghar jaisa nahin lagega ab
Pace pados main nahin hoga ab

Har itvar Capri ka routine nashta
Teldaar bhature nahin pooriyan
Nihari ki khushboo
Halka narangi meetha halwa
Aha! Kitna yaad aayega poori saath halwa khaana
Chaati lassi ki chatkhaaar bhi na bhool jaaye

Liberty ki rangeen dukaane
Dupatta galli ka shor
Chai banaate peshwar ke bachchey
Rangrezon ki mathmaili ungliyaan
Nayaab tareeko se kapde sukhana
Rang ka napa aula hisaab
Bandhniyon ka dher

3 baje raat ka udaas paan
phir bhi use khaa lene ki khushi
aadhi raat paan waale gaane gungunaana
hairat se dekhti aankhein
har taraf aashiko ka nazara
mehnge daam min camel khareedna

aapke ruk kar kuchh poochhne par
poori duniya ka tham jaana
madad karne ki chaah
ache kharaab khyalat
har bhaddi baat ki ada

hare ek ghante par garmi aur andhere se tar batar hona
low quality mombattiyon ki shopping
machison ka khona
har doosre din rang birange lighter khareedna

cheeni mitti ke anokhe pyaale
hari ketliyaan
kanji aankho ke chaiwaale
paki hui chai

156 – G ka khula mahual
ghar ka raasta yaad karna
waha se na niklane ki chaah
Mam Hashmi ka pyaara sa alingan
Rashid Bashir se bus ki timing set karna
auto waale se kam hote rate

amber rang ka golgappe ka paani
har phoota golgappa
gine chune chane ke daane
25 rupaye plate
12 phooti pooriyan

anarakali ke gate par ice shaver
satrangi chashniyaan
paan chabaate mushtande
moochhon ki taav

aadhee raat ke rickshe
toote phoote gamgeen
khatar patar ki aawaaz
kahronchne nochte tin ke kone
phati hui si seat
80 ki speed ka romanch
uchhal uchhaal kar rickshe ka chalna
saron par lagti chot
saliyon par ulajhte baal

naarangi amrood ke baghaan
strawberry ke khomche
phalse par phaile gond ke nishaan
jamoono ki chamak
aadoo ki makhmali khol
mehnge kele
kaali cherries se jade paper ke dabbe

false ka thanda khatta juice
anaar ke juice main ismat ke afsanon ki yaadein

BAAJI NAAMA

2008-07-21T20:37:00.000-07:00

Baaji Naama as the name suggests [Naama - treatise, history] is a visual story of Baaji. Baaji is the lady responsible for cleaning the rooms at the hostel.

With course of time and situation I have become really close to her. She was the only person in this city that I was close to and had spent most amount of my time with. Baaji for me is representative of women I get inspired by because of the juxtaposition of values they live by and values people assume they possess.
This series is an ode to her personality and way of thanking her for all the love she has given me. Over time we have become confidants of each other and also cigarette buddies. I am often subjected to her epics of her life which are spoken in Punjabi. I understand only 30% of the story - telling.

The drawings have been done on orange paper, the colour I associate with the colour of her skin. Her body - Language amuses me and I thought it would make an appealing series. Pen and ink has been my favourite medium since a few years and is extremly apt for work that needs to be quick in order to preserve its charm. the fine line quality of the crow - quill pen offers the opportunity to add in great amount of detail without looking over - crowded and kitschy.

लाहोरी बच्चे

2008-07-21T20:16:00.000-07:00

लाहोरी बच्चे

2008-07-21T05:44:00.000-07:00

लाहोरी बच्चे

2008-07-21T05:30:00.001-07:00

लाहोरी बच्चे

2008-07-21T04:38:00.001-07:00

Lahori Bachchey

2008-07-21T04:31:00.000-07:00

young boys and young girls,
characters, plots and fantasy worlds,
loads of imagination.
young ladies in their mother's shoes
pilots and chaiwalas
nightgowns and pigtails
babys and babysitters,
frocks, chappals and handbags
a gubbarewala.
children in their many avatars.
four to fourteen,
from eight to ten.

Being away form my own country in a new place made me conscious and attentive of what I noticed around me. What distinguishes the children here from children elsewhere?
I have tried to maintain the nuances of their identity. This particular age group of children interests me the most because they present themselves oblivious of the correctness of appearance. The naivety pulls you towards the stories that surround them and engages you into a conversation with them.
This series is a conscious effort to express the city of Lahore from an individual point of view. These children have been my muse on a daily basis.

Postcards 01 - 04

2008-07-21T04:21:00.000-07:00

Postcards 05 - 08

2008-07-21T04:15:00.000-07:00

Postcards 09 - 12

2008-07-21T04:10:00.001-07:00

Postcards 13 - 16

2008-07-21T03:58:00.001-07:00

City : Anchors : Conversations

2008-07-21T03:17:00.000-07:00

This was my first project in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. This series of 16 postcards was an innocent response to the experience of an Indian in Pakistan. The question I tried answering was, ‘What do people back home want to first know about my being in Pakistan?’
The 16 postcards mark the first 16 days of my stay in Lahore and also as a trigger to the city based projects I took up for the following 9 months of my stay in Lahore.

Proposal for the Project

2008-07-21T02:51:00.000-07:00

What is my project about?

The project is about generating an increased level of curiosity in the minds and hearts of the viewers relating to the subject of the situation between the two nations, India and Pakistan.
The seed for doing this project was sowed when I, Vidha Saumya, Indian artist/designer, went to Lahore for a period of nine months for an independent study program. I entered the country with a bit of fear, a fear of the unknown and a fear of what I thought life in Pakistan would be. Embolden and encouraged by the words of Ismat Chughtai and Saadat Hasan Manto, I began the emotionally charged journey that was my life in Lahore. I was pleasantly surprised at how misinformed I was.
There are several questions that an educated, informed and aware individual must ask himself or herself when put into a situation like mine: An Indian in Pakistan. Being a victim of strong propaganda, and prejudiced with a completely different idea, and then to be able to experience the completely different side of Pakistan, though Lahore, can leave a person feeling lost.
So did I.
Then the need to learn, and re-educate ones’ sensibilities takes over, and to present the true picture of what and how things really are, becomes overpowering.
I am surprised, no, appalled at how easily one believes at whatever (mis)information comes across through media, general psyche of people and ignorant opinions of people without feeling the need to crosscheck and validate, and how one is so easily satisfied with information that has so many gaps.

Creative concept for implementation

To present a holistic perspective of life in Pakistan in general, and Lahore in particular, based upon a personal experience of my stay. To present a 360 degree view of life, touching upon the cultural, personal, and apparently minor facets.
I will then apply the same investigative lens to Mumbai so as to compare similarities and differences.

What is the problem or area of investigation, exploration and study?

The idea is not to create a tourist guidebook, nor to expound theories on comparative socio-political-economic conditions of the two countries.

My concerns are the problems and contents of everyday life, and how lives of people from two completely different cities include flavours of religion, nationality, food and cuisines, dress and fashion, perceptions of each other etc.
The fact that there are points of comparison, will enable us to see how similar or different these two cities, and countries really are.

Any knowledge that I had of Pakistan before visiting Lahore has been purely limited to books and films or what the media portrays Pakistan as. The political thought prevailing in both countries misinforms and misguides. Most of the information is because of the false propaganda.
As an Indian in Pakistan I closely encountered what India and Indian means to Pakistan and Pakistanis. I was an observer.
India is something they look up to. India is the diversity they want in their life, India is Bollywood, India is vegetarian, India is where every individual is trained in music and dance, India is where women have a lot more freedom, India is where women ride bikes.India is where people come together and celebrate, where women and men are allowed to celebrate together.
How many Indians know that Pakistan is diverse too, that every Pakistani is not a non-vegetarian, Pakistan is not where women have to be clad in burkha all the time and they don’t work, or they don’t have any freedom. Women don’t ride bikes, but they drive cars. There are women traffic police.
A regular question that has always come across is that why would anyone go to Pakistan for study purposes?

What is the need for the project?

India and Pakistan may be the only two countries that are so deeply intertwined. A common history, a common cultural past, and a bitter rivalry that has lasted for sixty one years, connect the two countries in a way that is difficult to ignore.
With the changing socio-political situation between India and Pakistan, it is important for us as human beings to also present the human side, the details, and the fine print as it were, that define the common people.
There is a need for an emotional evolution for the subject “India-Pakistan”
The content of this project has to be efficiently communicative. It will be something that can be touched, felt, viewed and understood.
My project proceeds with a mindset that it is as normal to be different as it is to be same.

How and where is the project located within a wider control of Art, Design and Technology?

The project operates on a variety of levels. First it remains as an honest account of what happened before, during and after my stay in Lahore.
It then draws parallels between two cities Mumbai and Lahore and presents a comparative analysis.
From an artistic point of view; it makes the viewer enjoy the expression of the delight, confusion and experience of two cities. It will be in a form that can be moved around and is understandable on a universal level.
However as a design student there will be conscious effort to position this work as a resource for ideas, reference material and a palette of experiences.
The approach of viewing the work should be multilayered.

My position as a Designer/Artist?

As a Designer/Artist, my role is to not only design a package, but to design the content itself.
I have made myself a guinea pig and allowed myself to get consumed in the alteration of experience between India and Pakistan, Mumbai and Lahore.
As a designer/artist I consider it my responsibility to present an unbiased account of the parallels drawn between the two cities and countries. I will apply a personal lens to the dialogic exchange and imagery witnessed in Lahore and Mumbai.

Research questions

What is the Pakistani idea about India?
What is the Indian idea about Pakistan?

What is the Pakistani idea about Indian and Pakistani?
What is the Indian idea about Pakistani and Indian?

Images? (Real, media portrayal, personal)
Words? (Tone, language, slang, accent, influences)
Description.

What does the partition mean to either side?

Why did I get attached?

What are the links?

What were the barriers, problems, culture shocks? (How much is it because I am an Indian? How much is it because I am from Mumbai? How much is it on pure human level?)

What are the issues raised or to be raised?

What picture do I want to draw as a solution to my problem?

Intent

Approach/ Process

The project will be an account of the lives of test case in both Mumbai as well as Lahore; A comparative documentation comprising of interviews and direct observations. I will revisit the places and spaces in Lahore through memory and the bank of images, conversations and drawing I have carried with me. These will help me to focus on areas of observations in Mumbai.
I shall touch upon the history, politics and economics of both the cities only to a level that is necessary in knowing the origin of the nature of my observations.

Material and resources

The ethnographic research will be done to answer questions that rise when I am putting forth a certain observation.
Research will then be in the areas of food, language, fashion and dress, travel and transport and the visual culture that comes across in both the cities.

Drawings
Illustrations: experiences, people, objects, narration
Photographs: places, people, objects, colour
Words
Objects
Sound
Video

Research methods

The independent projects done during my entire course of stay in Lahore are not a coherent, singular body of work with specific market intent or target audience, but a palette of research and observation created for future reference. This will serve as the point I will start from

Document conversations from Lahore and Mumbai
Questionnaires and surveys
Map ready data so to make categories
Build a narrative that will comprehend information and give way to new questions
Illustrations
Objective( portraits, character building)
Subjective (to create ambience)

Learning and Outcome?

Being a student of fine art and design I have had the opportunity to work on projects that have made me confident with various techniques like colour, illustration, typography, graphic design. However during my study years I have not got the opportunity to bring all my learning together.
I look at this project as compilation of not only my experiences but also my art and design skills. The project will go beyond a single genre of communication and this will compel me to push my limits as a designer and a creative individual.
With limited time I will learn to stick to deadlines and work systematically. The diploma project guidelines have been very helpful in making me analyze work and think beyond the obvious. The practice to think ‘out of the box’ and ‘trial and error procedure’ is that I hope to perfect.

What do I gain and learn from this project?

What I gain from this project is the satisfaction that I utilized the opportunity of being in Pakistan. Because of the parallels that I wish to draw between two cities I gain a closer look at a city that has been my place of residence since 18 years.
Most important I wish to forward a view and experience of an Indian in Pakistan and provide a perspective to one’s own country.