Malbari Hotel....An Old Man's Day dreams by Abdul Sattar Lakhana

Lets Live Together!!!

We all four friends were sitting at the malbari hotel just chatting without any particular topic, just then Abdul Samad joined us, he was a property broker we all knew. He had come to meet Ghaffar Kapadia. We ordered tea for all of us thinking of availing the credit from our malbari.

When Kapadia and Samad began their talk, we became aware that Kapadia’s son Arif wanted to buy a seperate home of his own. Samad told Ghaffar that Arif wanted to buy a house which will cost one crore or more but Arif has twenty five lacs in his possession and dreaming of getting the rest from his father Ghaffar Kapadia. Samad asked Kapadia whether he had enough amount to provide to Arif so that he can go ahead and find some deal for him.

Colors on the face of Ghaffar Kapadia were changing rapidly. His mood turned violent and he began to use abusive language for his son.

What Ghaffar told us, was the story of all middle class families. His son Arif was the father of two children and his wife was expecting another baby. Arif knew very well that his father had no savings and still he fought with his mother for a separate home. Ghaffar had advised him not to get separate. Actually, the house in which they were living was owned by Ghaffar Kapadia while his son was running the expenses of house because Kapadia did not have any income.

Samad broker was a strong supporter of joint family system. He tried to convince Arif about his parents’ troubles that they endured to raise him and in educating him in a way that he was getting a decent income and now he was trying a solo flight leaving the parents on the dry ground.

We were listening but could not remain silent any longer. I was the one who spoke up first. I asked Kapadia to sell his house to his son Arif at market price. Samad broker informed that the house will go easily for fifty lacs, but Arif had only twenty five lacs and that was also engaged in stock exchange.

Yakoob Kiriya could not remain silent, he said that it is very difficult for Arif to find a luxury home with baby sitting and house keeping service all for free.

Siddique Master went one step further, he asked kapadia that he should neglect their grand-son and daughter-in-law totally. When the children will miss the school, milkman will go back without delivering milk and Arif will run out to get tea for his wife his mind will come to right place.

Yakoob Kiria was family type amongst four of us. He said that Arif's wife was expecting a third child and this was a time, every lady wants some older woman like the mother-in-law to be on her side. Ghaffar told us that the whole issue started when  one day his wife asked his daughter-in-law where they were going? It made Arif very angry that why his mother keeps on asking where are they going to. “Arif is totally crazy to mind his mother asking this, when a mother asks her children where they are going, it is because she is worried about their well being", I said. Kiria continued that Arif must understand that no one can take care of his wife and children better than his own parents and he will repent after taking a wrong decision. He advised Kapadia to motivate his son with love instead of fury.

As we all separated in rather a gloomy mood, Abdul Samad said I will try to change his mind.There was a loud horn as we were standing almost on the road now, so we moved along.

When Ghaffar reached home everybody was sullen and nobody cared to welcome him home. After a few minutes his wife took him into their room and gave him a cup of tea.


She told him that both Arif and his wife Salma were not ready to live with them.
Witnessing the harsh dialogue going on between her parents and grandparents Sarah the 5 year old daughter of Arif repeated same things to her mother while playing with her dolls. This thing affected Salma a lot. She seems embarrassed after the incident, Ghaffar’s wife told him.

Arif who was already half convinced in favor of the joint family system by the good great lecture by Abdul Samad. Hearing of the incidence from his wife about his daughter he also felt ashamed. Now Arif was thinking in the right direction.

Late that night he sat with his father and his mother. His wife Salma brought tea. Arif begged pardon from his father for what nonsense he had said about the separate home. It was best to continue as was going and that they will think about separate homes when his children grew up. Deep down Ghaffar knew this turn of mind was brought about by Samad broker. He smiled to his son and patted his back as he used to do since he was a kid…a father’s way of showing nothing has ever happened.

Arif had already begged pardon from his mother. So everything was settled and talk about a separate home was a thing of the past.

Cooking Contest

Lasanr,dhokra, bajre ji roti,tandre ji bhaji,masub,sundheelo, aatho,khao sou,anthro,murbo,bajre ja kabab,warion................Only a few of the very very different, delicious and rich foods of memon cuisine..There is a long lsit of such foods and here we announce the recipe competition for Memon Females.Send us the recipe of any typical memon dish (ingredients+quantity+steps of cooking) and win the title of Rasoi Rani or kitchen queen!!submit your recipes at magnificentmemons@gmail.com by 23 January 2011.Winner would be chosen by voting.

Legends- Abdul Sattar Edhi

Abdul Sattar Edhi was born in Bantva in 1925.He along with his family migrated to Pakistan in 1947.

When Edhi was at the tender age of eleven, his mother became paralyzed. Young Abdul Sattar devoted himself for looking after all her needs; cleaning, bathing, changing clothes and feeding. This proved to be a loosing battle against the disease, and her helplessness increased over the years.He was jobless and penniless young man.His mother needed bedpan and pots but they were expensive and he could not manage to buy.Her persistent woeful condition left a lasting impression on young Edhi.

He kept thinking about other poor men.He had an idea that if he begged for used pots and pans from well to do families, he could stock them for poor families' use. His idea worked and he soon collected pots, pans, wheel chairs and crutches etc. and he stocked them in a go down space someone had allowed him to use.

Then an epidemic of influenza broke out in Karachi , so Edhi got some medicines and began distributing them to the needy people while sitting on the steps of a mosque . He became famous by this action. He was worried about his personal income so he started selling pins, needles, thread spools etc. in a tray wearing a tray on his neck.

He earned just enough for his and his mother's basic needs. While he was struggling, he noted that it was pretty hard task to carry ill persons to the hospitals. He shifted some injured persons in taxis and rickshaws to the hospitals without asking for their relatives' permission and thus saved their lives .People were very happy and some people donated generously to him

He bought a volks wagon micro bus in junk condition .He spent many days and nights and converted this junk into a running vehicle himself.

He now had his first ambulance in his hands. Now Abdul Sattar Edhi was a house hold name in the field of ambulances .In those days Karachi had only one service St.John's Ambulance Service with one or two vehicles, operated by a Christian charity. Edhi's ambulance was always there and he didn't ask any questions or claimed any charges. People liked this attitude and began donating more and more, so Edhi bought another vehicle and another and another and so on to become the largest ambulance service in the world. The go down he used to stock his ware was offered for rent and he took the chance to get it for his own setup. He began a clinic with very minimum drugs and medicines and got a doctor on a nominal salary. The clinic was under way.There was full crowding of poor people.Edhi wore very simple grey cloth dress and he did not have time to shave .His beard grew and people began calling him Maulana .This name is still his identity.

Edhi was a loner. In He married Bilquis at the age of forty plus. Biquis was a nurse in his clinic. They have four children, two boys and two girls.


One incident in his life gives insight to his mentality. A building known as Bismillah Manzil(Karachi) collapsed during the night. Many people died in this accident. Edhi rescued one orphan boy and raised him in his own home.The boy grew up with his children.As the boy grew up Edhi wedded this boy to his eldest daughter Kubra. This couple had three children but there were some problems between them and Edhi's son in law divorced Kubra. Kubra took over ladies section of Edhi to forget about the scar of her pains. She was in charge of mentally retarded women.One day one ill lady grabbed Kubra's 4 year old son Bilal and poured hot water over him which killed. Abdul Sattar Edhi at the time was at rescue work at a railway accident,He was informed of the death of his grand son but Edhi refused to leave the rescue work and did not return for two more days. The woman who committed this horrible act was brought to Edhi but Edhi forgave that lady and kept her in his shelter for a long time till she ran away.

At present Edhi operates more than 600 ambulances, mental asylums, maternity homes, schools dairy farm for milk for the patients, a faculty for hydrotherapy, elaborate kitchen, staff buses etc. His total staff including drivers, numbers around ten thousand. His fifty kilometer scheme provides ambulances at every road in Pakistan after fifty kilometers

saving lives of many road accident victims

now edhi is 85 years old but he is active as ever.He regularly visits his centers around Karachi and also visits his centers in Pakistan and abroad.

His son Kutub takes care of USA operation, Faisal Edhi is incharge of Karachi operations but Edhi is hard to please, he insists on doing every thing himself.

Operating 32 different services, all for poor people work he doesn't claim any religious or community label. He says he serves only humanity.Some incidents in Edhi's life are eye openers .People like are the pride of the humanity let aside the community

History Of Veraval- Patan

Veraval was once a fortified town of the royal family of Junagadh.It is said that memons migrated to this city somewhere in the 17th century,they are reffered to as a trading community who spoke Gujrati and Kathiawari by the historians.It is also said that this community originated in the town of Patan in Gujarat. The community spread from Patan to the cities of Veraval, Govindpura, Naodra, Kalji, Chourbad, Kesod and Junagadh.Patan was the capital of Gujarat in medieval times.History of Patan dates back to 745 AD.This city had been of great importance in the history.It still contains many Hindu and Jain temples as well as few mosques, dargahs and mazars. The city has many historical places also.Hence it can be said that Veraval memons are a sub group of Patni Memons.

Veraval is a port town that is located in the Junagadh district of the state of Gujarat.The recorded history of Veraval dates back to 13th or 14th century when Rao Veravalji Vadher, a Rajput brought significant progress to this port. The port town had claimed great importance in trade and business over the years, It had been the departure point for many Muslims who wished to travel to Mecca before the port of Surat had flourished.

summer palace now sanskrit university

The town still has many of its old buildings and boasts of a rich cultural heritage as well. It was once a fortified town and was the home of the royal family. There are many old palaces that are located in the town, the Summer Palace of the Nawabs is one if the main attractions of the place.The palace was converted into a college after it was abandoned by the nawab.At present it is the building of a Sanskrit university. Tourists flock to witness this exquisite feat of architecture. Near the palace, the ruins of the old fort can still be seen today and the gates of the fort which are impressive are still standing. However they are in a bad state due to lack of maintenance. The Pathan Gate and the Jungadh Gate are the main entrances of the fort.

Veraval also has long stretch of beaches that are uninhabited and are free of tourists. Only a small portion of the stretch has been made commercial.Its importance now is as a fishing port which is one of largest in India. Sea going dhows and fishing boats are still being built by the sea without the use of any instruments other than a tape-measure. Traditional skills are passed down from father to son.

It is also the city nearest to the great Somnath Temple which had an extremely chequered history. Legend has it that the original temple was built by Somraj, the moon-god himself, out of gold. Later, Ravana made with silver, then Krishna in wood and finally King Bhimdev in stone.A temple which has a long history of being built and demolished and being rebuilt again.It is the temple which is also famous for being demolished by one of the greatest soldiers Mehmood Ghaznavi.Here is where he is reffered as the Mehmood But shikan

Ginrti-Counting

LETS COUNT TOGETHER

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Youth Icons

Among the most talented Fashion designers of the Pakistani Fashion industry, Zainab Sajid a young Memon is another shining name. She has been serving the world of Fashion designing through her unique & stunning work, for many years.

Zainab Sajid takes inspirations mainly from life and from all the beauties of this world, in general. Zainab Sajid’s designs originate from elements of movement and dynamism, from birds, music, rain trees, gemstones, jewels, flowers and existence itself. They portray many moods of the day, adding a bust of glamour and festivity, creating a new sophistication and refinement in the art of living. The major focus of Fashion designer Zainab Sajid is on designing ‘Bridal wear’, other than this Zainab Sajid also designs a fusion couture line- formal wear and classy semi formals. The designs symbolize the cultural heritage of the east fused together with the western sensibility. They reflect the supreme eastern traditions leaving an impression which is elegantly chic yet sophisticatedly modern.

The main emphasis is on detailing with intricate embellishments, elaborate elements, innovative cuts and utilizing the finest fabrics. Chiffons and silks are ideal for that urban glamour; while playful colors enhance the beauty and elegance of the creative, sensitive and desiring woman of today. The fundamental aim of Zainab Sajid is to create a look which is trendy, modern and glamorous; yet elegantly classic. At the same time Zainab Sajid ensures that the client is completely satisfied.

Zainab Sajid is successfully her outlets in both Karachi and Lahore. She established her name through many combined and solo Fashion shows as well, where she exhibited her designed collection.

Currently one can see her beautiful designs in HUM TV MORNING SHOW (dresses worn by Noor)

Courtesy:Fashion Central

Results Writing Competition January 2011