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Rebirth of Pak 'chai shop' becomes a hit
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Saturday, 08 December, 2007, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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ellectuals, now has a namesake in cyberspace to revive the 'culture of debate, pluralism and tolerance' in Pakistan.
The 'chai shop' is a little corner in the virtual world where patrons can spend lazy afternoons discussing ideas and ideologies and strive to make 'Pakistan a better place'.
Pak Tea House and Coffee House, the legendary hubs of Lahore, the cultural capital of Pakistan, were run by two Sikh brothers till India's partition. They were forced to migrate to India in 1947, and the hangouts, which were then called Indian Coffee House and Indian Tea House, were renamed Coffee House and Pak Tea House.
In India, the brothers started the Indian Coffee House in Delhi's Connaught Circle, and the Lahore outlet became the unofficial headquarters of an eclectic bunch of writers, artists and musicians. For years, the tea house attracted many leading lights of the Progressive Writers' Movement and hosted people like legendary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
Raza Rumi, a founding member of the 'chai shop' on the Internet, explained: 'Pak Tea House is a little corner that has no pretensions or illusions, but the motivation of a few people who want to see Pakistan a better place (where) ideas must translate into action.'
Less than two weeks since its 'opening', the cyberspace version of Pak Tea House has already become a hit. The tea house regulars are already brainstorming the 'tragedy of Musharraf', 'the death of an idea' and that 'only a democratic Pakistan can win the battle against global terrorism'.
'I think the very word Pak Tea House reminds one of the rich intellectual heritage that we Pakistanis must feel proud of. Literary giants associated with PTH have indeed made this famous 'chai khana' a symbol of unfettered expression of thought, pursuit of ideals and hope for better tomorrow,' wrote a blogger welcoming the move. 'I'm very glad someone has found a unique way to revive our dying traditions of debate, expression and voice,' he added. Another blogger, who goes by the name of 'chaiwallah' and pretends to run a modern tea joint, wrote in jest: 'I went to their new joint and it is shiny and upscale. Where we serve you by the half-sets, they have a proper tea service. This Lahori Dagga is perplexed in the face of a team of highly educated smarts over there.'
'It chose to operate at a loss rather than submit to the indignity of closing its doors to the nation's destitute and chronically disenfranchised intellectuals,' the edit read. Another regular wrote nostalgically about PTH, 'they say Faiz Ahmed Faiz used to sit there. They say there was a time when the tea was made to perfection. They say the biscuits were crisp, the pastries fresh. Today though, the Pak Tea House is but a relic.'
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