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Pakistan’s Fake Fakirs are its people’s ‘Badd Nasibi’

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Pakistan’s Fake Fakirs are its people’s ‘Badd Nasibi’
Global Village Space |

Dr. Farid A. Malik |

“Lord of himself though not of lands; Having nothing yet hath it all.”

Sadeqian – one of the greatest calligraphists of the 20th century – declared himself a ‘Faqir’. That meant that for him, material wealth had no value. He never touched or counted money. Whenever he needed any worldly comfort or delicacy he would start writing ‘Surah-e-Rehman’ and directly address his creator. Lo and behold his needs were met, he remained a ‘Faqir’ till his last breadth.

Our current high profile ‘Faqirs’ have badly tarnished the image of ‘Faqiri’ which was once considered to be a very pious, noble and humble way of life.

I remember in the seventies there was an exhibition of his work at the Freemason’s Hall on the Mall. Right-wing students vandalized some of his paintings on the premise of vulgarity. He was very upset at this rough treatment and remarked that all his talent and output was for his country.

Modern “Trends” of Faqiri

Then there are ‘Faqirs’ of another kind. Our Ex-President General Pervez Musharraf had no place to live in London. The Saudi King had pity on him and decided to buy a flat for the homeless retiree. Prime Minister (PM) got into trouble for his family properties in the capital of United Kingdom. The Amir of Qatar came to his rescue (Qatari Prince to be exact). The letter has been submitted to the Supreme Court bench for consideration as a dole out for our ‘Arabpati Faqir’.

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Our current high profile ‘Faqirs’ have badly tarnished the image of ‘Faqiri’ which was once considered to be a very pious, noble and humble way of life. Most ‘Faqirs’ must be very disappointed at their conduct.

A ‘Faqir’ is neither a usurper nor a thief instead he begs for his required minimum body needs, mostly food. Worldly belongings have no value for him. He survives on bare minimum but he enjoys the freedom of soul.

Iqbal advised his son never to give up ‘Faqiri’ as it protects self-esteem (Khudi). What is wrong with our leaders then – where is their ‘khudi‘? Both Iqbal and his son Javed Iqbal must be turning in their graves.

Another famous poet Saghir Siddiqui was a ‘Faqir’. He slept on the pavements around Lakshmi Chowk and survived on the bare minimum. He talked about the stealing of ‘Faqir’s’ meager earnings by the rich and the powerful. He lived and died a free man.

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Winston Churchill called Gandhi a half naked ‘Faqir’. He spun his own clothes and his worldly belongings included a metal dish, an inexpensive wrist watch, and a goat. He traveled in third class with the commoners. On one of his journeys, he fell asleep and someone stole his watch. Gandhi appealed through his newspaper that he needed the watch, very soon it was returned to him, perhaps the thief repented.

Essence of Faqiri

A ‘Faqir’ is neither a usurper nor a thief instead he begs for his required minimum body needs, mostly food. Worldly belongings have no value for him. He survives on bare minimum but he enjoys the freedom of the soul. Compromise is unknown to him. No one can sway his thoughts. Sadeqain was a true ‘Faqir’.

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Pakistan’s Fake Fakirs are its people’s ‘Badd Nasibi’
 
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