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Stories from this week
Oct 09, 2020

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Time: Oct 11, 2020 08:00 PM Pakistan Time
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Stories we shared this week:
Flowers of Pakistan
Motia

Flowers of Pakistan (1/3)
Jasmine - Motia
Vendors at traffic signals are the first to herald the arrival of motia, with gorgeous gajras for newly married women or graceful old ladies to wear in their hair or around the wrist.
Jasmine, also known as motia or chambeli, is Pakistan’s national flower, and these small, white, star-like flowers abundantly grows here, emanating its intoxicating scent. Some surmise that the white color of jasmine and the white in Pakistan’s flag both represent peace, wisdom, and minority rights in the country.
Jasmine are said to originate from the Himalayas and belonged to the Oleacea family. They usually bloom in summer or spring after being planted for six months. The jasmine shrub can reach a height of 10-15 feet and grows one to two feet each year. They are commercially cultivated for use in Unani medicines, teas, perfumes, garlands, and embellishments. Interestingly, jasmine flowers have the unique quality of continuing to emit fragrance even long after they have withered away.
Jasmine - Motia
Vendors at traffic signals are the first to herald the arrival of motia, with gorgeous gajras for newly married women or graceful old ladies to wear in their hair or around the wrist.
Jasmine, also known as motia or chambeli, is Pakistan’s national flower, and these small, white, star-like flowers abundantly grows here, emanating its intoxicating scent. Some surmise that the white color of jasmine and the white in Pakistan’s flag both represent peace, wisdom, and minority rights in the country.
Jasmine are said to originate from the Himalayas and belonged to the Oleacea family. They usually bloom in summer or spring after being planted for six months. The jasmine shrub can reach a height of 10-15 feet and grows one to two feet each year. They are commercially cultivated for use in Unani medicines, teas, perfumes, garlands, and embellishments. Interestingly, jasmine flowers have the unique quality of continuing to emit fragrance even long after they have withered away.
October 5, 2020
Genda

Flowers of Pakistan (2/3)
Marigold - Genda
The ancient Greeks garnished and flavored their food with its golden petals, whilst the Egyptians valued it as a rejuvenating herb. During the American civil war, their leaves were used on the battlefield to treat open wounds. In medieval times, they were considered an emblem of love, which may be the reason we see every inch of our wedding venues decked with these, and dulhas and dulhans adorned with garlands of marigold (ghende ke phool).
Pakistan bursts with blooms every spring, and this time of year usually means fields of marigold are harvested for sale in the bigger cities. The main city in Pakistan with the ideal temperatures for Marigold growth is Peshawar. Dozens of farms grow Marigold along the outskirts of Peshawar, and groups of villagers bring them to the city’s famous Ramdas Bazar to sell every morning.
Cultivating marigolds has not only economically empowered poor women in various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but also brought the barren landscape in Nowshera district under cultivation. The SRSP launched a project titled "Women's Economic Empowerment and Market Development" with the assistance of AusAID to contribute to sustainable livelihoods for over 250 poor women so far. 60 farmers having 1,337 Kanal land were engaged in this project, and the uncultivated land was brought under cultivation through solarisation of the three tube-wells.
Photo by: @kenhermann
Marigold - Genda
The ancient Greeks garnished and flavored their food with its golden petals, whilst the Egyptians valued it as a rejuvenating herb. During the American civil war, their leaves were used on the battlefield to treat open wounds. In medieval times, they were considered an emblem of love, which may be the reason we see every inch of our wedding venues decked with these, and dulhas and dulhans adorned with garlands of marigold (ghende ke phool).
Pakistan bursts with blooms every spring, and this time of year usually means fields of marigold are harvested for sale in the bigger cities. The main city in Pakistan with the ideal temperatures for Marigold growth is Peshawar. Dozens of farms grow Marigold along the outskirts of Peshawar, and groups of villagers bring them to the city’s famous Ramdas Bazar to sell every morning.
Cultivating marigolds has not only economically empowered poor women in various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but also brought the barren landscape in Nowshera district under cultivation. The SRSP launched a project titled "Women's Economic Empowerment and Market Development" with the assistance of AusAID to contribute to sustainable livelihoods for over 250 poor women so far. 60 farmers having 1,337 Kanal land were engaged in this project, and the uncultivated land was brought under cultivation through solarisation of the three tube-wells.
Photo by: @kenhermann
October 5, 2020
Gulab

Flowers of Pakistan (3/3)
Roses - Gulab
Owing to their beauty and refreshing fragrance, roses have been grown throughout Pakistan’s history. District Pattoki – known as the “City of Flowers” – in Lahore, is considered the main centre for flowers in Pakistan. It is the place where the various types of Indian roses, including gladiolus, jasmine, and night-blooming jasmine, are cultivated.
Dozens of villages in Pattoki cultivate roses and the district has the highest number of nurseries. Running them and cultivating flowers is the main source of income for 40-50% of local families in Pattoki, while an overall 700,000 people in Pakistan are associated with the profession.
Pictured above is a street covered with roses in Pattoki, spread by wholesale dealers drying them to supply to markets.
Roses symbolize 'love and beauty' so it is hardly surprising that they are one of the most popular flowers for wedding arrangements. The ancient flower has also had a strong influence on many of history's most famous poets, such as Rumi. In the mystical Muslim tradition known as Sufism, the rose, attached to a long thorny stem, symbolizes the mystic path to Allah. That is why you popularly find petals outside of their shrines.
It is said that, Akbar, the third Mughal emperor, often took roses to give to the wives of his allies, whilst his son, Jehangir’s wife, Noor Jehan is credited with the discovery of rose oil, or attar, in Persian, while she took a rose-scented hot bath.
Apart from their popularity and use within the country, flowers cultivated in Pakistan are not only sent to Asian countries but also to European countries.
Photo: K.M. Chaudhary
Roses - Gulab
Owing to their beauty and refreshing fragrance, roses have been grown throughout Pakistan’s history. District Pattoki – known as the “City of Flowers” – in Lahore, is considered the main centre for flowers in Pakistan. It is the place where the various types of Indian roses, including gladiolus, jasmine, and night-blooming jasmine, are cultivated.
Dozens of villages in Pattoki cultivate roses and the district has the highest number of nurseries. Running them and cultivating flowers is the main source of income for 40-50% of local families in Pattoki, while an overall 700,000 people in Pakistan are associated with the profession.
Pictured above is a street covered with roses in Pattoki, spread by wholesale dealers drying them to supply to markets.
Roses symbolize 'love and beauty' so it is hardly surprising that they are one of the most popular flowers for wedding arrangements. The ancient flower has also had a strong influence on many of history's most famous poets, such as Rumi. In the mystical Muslim tradition known as Sufism, the rose, attached to a long thorny stem, symbolizes the mystic path to Allah. That is why you popularly find petals outside of their shrines.
It is said that, Akbar, the third Mughal emperor, often took roses to give to the wives of his allies, whilst his son, Jehangir’s wife, Noor Jehan is credited with the discovery of rose oil, or attar, in Persian, while she took a rose-scented hot bath.
Apart from their popularity and use within the country, flowers cultivated in Pakistan are not only sent to Asian countries but also to European countries.
Photo: K.M. Chaudhary
October 5, 2020
Kitabon ke shaukinon ke liye, bookstores in Pakistan
Old Books Collection

Bookstores in Pakistan (1/3)
Old Books Collection, Islamabad
Boasting around 60,000 books, Old Books Collection is an unassuming tiny room, with mounds of books ranging from literary classics to ancient philosophy, touching the ceiling.
Malik Ejaz, the owner of this bookstore, sold books on the bustling Rawalpindi pavement in the late 1970’s. A decade later, he moved his shop to the newly built capital, in Jinnah Super Market, a key commercial center.
Muhammad Kamran, who worked here since 1997 spoke fondly of his late boss, “He didn’t just sell books. He was fond of them.” If ever a customer asked for a book that wasn’t available, he’d leave no stone unturned to look for it. Kamran says, “It made him the happiest person on Earth if a customer told him he couldn’t find the book anywhere else but his shop.”
Many of the visitors of the bookshop comprise of foreign residents, students and writers, for it houses the most incredible collections from private libraries of foreign diplomats leaving Pakistan, dead or dying bureaucrats or university professors and books from the private collections of other book lovers, from the around the city or its vicinity, whose children sell their fathers’ collection for paltry sums after their deaths.
Malik Ejaz died in December 2016, and his wife, Shazia is now learning the ropes of the business. She says that he considered the bookstore a legacy, “It feels that he is with us. He often said that it would be another thing if it was a restaurant. But the bookshop is our identity.” Shazia has also announced plans of increasing their collection of Urdu books and start an outlet in ‘Shehr-e-Kitab’ in F-7.
Old Books Collection, Islamabad
Boasting around 60,000 books, Old Books Collection is an unassuming tiny room, with mounds of books ranging from literary classics to ancient philosophy, touching the ceiling.
Malik Ejaz, the owner of this bookstore, sold books on the bustling Rawalpindi pavement in the late 1970’s. A decade later, he moved his shop to the newly built capital, in Jinnah Super Market, a key commercial center.
Muhammad Kamran, who worked here since 1997 spoke fondly of his late boss, “He didn’t just sell books. He was fond of them.” If ever a customer asked for a book that wasn’t available, he’d leave no stone unturned to look for it. Kamran says, “It made him the happiest person on Earth if a customer told him he couldn’t find the book anywhere else but his shop.”
Many of the visitors of the bookshop comprise of foreign residents, students and writers, for it houses the most incredible collections from private libraries of foreign diplomats leaving Pakistan, dead or dying bureaucrats or university professors and books from the private collections of other book lovers, from the around the city or its vicinity, whose children sell their fathers’ collection for paltry sums after their deaths.
Malik Ejaz died in December 2016, and his wife, Shazia is now learning the ropes of the business. She says that he considered the bookstore a legacy, “It feels that he is with us. He often said that it would be another thing if it was a restaurant. But the bookshop is our identity.” Shazia has also announced plans of increasing their collection of Urdu books and start an outlet in ‘Shehr-e-Kitab’ in F-7.
October 8, 2020
Sunday Book Bazaar

Bookstores in Pakistan (2/3)
Sunday Book Bazaar, Anarkali
The weekly Sunday bazaar at old Anarkali was frequented by many intellectuals and writers like Ashfaq Ahmad, Qasmi Sahab and Mustansar Hussain Tarar. Many reminisce of childhoods spent at this open bazaar under the mellow sun, in front of the renowned Pak Tea House.
It is said to be started sometime in the 1960’s by Sheikh Abdul Haq, and some claim that more books are sold at Lahore’s pavements than in all the bookstores at the city put together.
Housed here is the finest literature in both Urdu and English, to encyclopedias and biographies in Chinese, Hindi and Russian, at prices as low as Rs. 30.
The booksellers are said to know everything about the authors of the books they sell, and their anthologies; they often recommended books for reading to their customers and introduced great literature to many.
A few booksellers who sold books here, for two decades or more, have set up their own bookshops. One such example is Siddiqui Rare & Antique Books, owned by Haroon Siddiqui, on Mall Road. His collection includes autographed books, limited editions of books like ‘Saare Sukhan Hamare’ signed by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, handwritten books by Pakistani authors and poets like Saghar Siddiqui, as well as antique Bible editions and books written in the 16th and 17th Century like The History of Nadir Shah (1724), Shakespeare (1798) and The Essays of Montaigne (1685).
Sunday Book Bazaar, Anarkali
The weekly Sunday bazaar at old Anarkali was frequented by many intellectuals and writers like Ashfaq Ahmad, Qasmi Sahab and Mustansar Hussain Tarar. Many reminisce of childhoods spent at this open bazaar under the mellow sun, in front of the renowned Pak Tea House.
It is said to be started sometime in the 1960’s by Sheikh Abdul Haq, and some claim that more books are sold at Lahore’s pavements than in all the bookstores at the city put together.
Housed here is the finest literature in both Urdu and English, to encyclopedias and biographies in Chinese, Hindi and Russian, at prices as low as Rs. 30.
The booksellers are said to know everything about the authors of the books they sell, and their anthologies; they often recommended books for reading to their customers and introduced great literature to many.
A few booksellers who sold books here, for two decades or more, have set up their own bookshops. One such example is Siddiqui Rare & Antique Books, owned by Haroon Siddiqui, on Mall Road. His collection includes autographed books, limited editions of books like ‘Saare Sukhan Hamare’ signed by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, handwritten books by Pakistani authors and poets like Saghar Siddiqui, as well as antique Bible editions and books written in the 16th and 17th Century like The History of Nadir Shah (1724), Shakespeare (1798) and The Essays of Montaigne (1685).
October 8, 2020
Urdu Bazaar

Bookstores in Pakistan (3/3)
Urdu Bazaar, Karachi
A regular haunt for poets and authors like Mushtaq Yousufi, Ibne Insha, Shaukat Thanvi and Jaun Elia, the Urdu Bazaar in Karachi, located on MA Jinnah Road in Saddar Town, was set up in the 1950’s. Starting out as a small market of 10 to 12 tiny stalls at Mission Road at the time of partition by Urdu-speaking Muhajirs, it is mainly run by second and third-generation immigrants today.
Its history dates back all the way to the Mughal Era, making it one of the oldest book markets not only in Pakistan but also in the subcontinent.
Previously known as the RamBagh quarter before partition, many Hindu and Muslim rituals were practiced here. Legend says that Ram and Leela also passed by here, once during their pilgrimage. This scene was performed in the streets of this neighborhood and became an integral part of its character. Though they are no longer here, the architectural heritage of this bazaar is evocative of the Hindus and Sikhs who once resided here.
Urdu bazaar is said to be the educational, literary, and cultural face of Karachi and play a great role in transforming its society, as book bazaars all over the world often do.
Booksellers like Syed Zafarul Hassan at Urdu Bazaar, prefer the title, “kutub farosh” instead of the bland “bookseller.” Senior vice chairman of Urdu Bazaar Book Seller Association (BSA), he says the latter name treats bookselling simply as a business, but for the kutub farosh, selling books is an art.
The bazaar’s literary torch is best represented by Faridi Publications whose 96-year-old founder set up the shop in 1980. Today, he runs it with his 62-year-old son Nazar Muhammad Faridi and 28-year-old grandson Osama Faridi, the three generations of men spending each day together among eager customers and a passel of books.
Urdu Bazaar, Karachi
A regular haunt for poets and authors like Mushtaq Yousufi, Ibne Insha, Shaukat Thanvi and Jaun Elia, the Urdu Bazaar in Karachi, located on MA Jinnah Road in Saddar Town, was set up in the 1950’s. Starting out as a small market of 10 to 12 tiny stalls at Mission Road at the time of partition by Urdu-speaking Muhajirs, it is mainly run by second and third-generation immigrants today.
Its history dates back all the way to the Mughal Era, making it one of the oldest book markets not only in Pakistan but also in the subcontinent.
Previously known as the RamBagh quarter before partition, many Hindu and Muslim rituals were practiced here. Legend says that Ram and Leela also passed by here, once during their pilgrimage. This scene was performed in the streets of this neighborhood and became an integral part of its character. Though they are no longer here, the architectural heritage of this bazaar is evocative of the Hindus and Sikhs who once resided here.
Urdu bazaar is said to be the educational, literary, and cultural face of Karachi and play a great role in transforming its society, as book bazaars all over the world often do.
Booksellers like Syed Zafarul Hassan at Urdu Bazaar, prefer the title, “kutub farosh” instead of the bland “bookseller.” Senior vice chairman of Urdu Bazaar Book Seller Association (BSA), he says the latter name treats bookselling simply as a business, but for the kutub farosh, selling books is an art.
The bazaar’s literary torch is best represented by Faridi Publications whose 96-year-old founder set up the shop in 1980. Today, he runs it with his 62-year-old son Nazar Muhammad Faridi and 28-year-old grandson Osama Faridi, the three generations of men spending each day together among eager customers and a passel of books.
October 8, 2020
Look forward to seeing you all online on Sunday.
Leaving you with what were listening to this Friday afternoon:
With gratitude,
Dastaangoi Team