Allan Faqir’s dream in fast lane to Agra
The much-talked about relaxed visa regime is anything but revolutionary. It appears aimed at promoting bilateral trade than people-to-people contacts.–Photo by AFP
NEW DELHI: The late Allan Faqir, Pakistan’s legendary folk singer and vocal critic of visa restrictions in India, had strayed into Agra after a concert in Delhi. He believed he didn’t need a separate piece of paper to visit Shahjahan’s Taj Mahal who had also built much of Old Delhi, albeit just over 200kms apart.
His logic didn’t work, but unabashed name-dropping did. He told the curious beat constable at the 17th century mausoleum that he was a personal guest of then prime minister Inder Gujral, which turned out to be factually correct.
The constable was in any case not harassing the minstrel as constables can.
In fact, he was only trying to help the strangely attired guest back on his dizzy feet and to find the trudge back to Delhi. Faqir’s kohl-eyed hobo looks compounded the spirited confusion but they also helped put his quarries at ease.
Last week, hundreds of thousands of Delhiites raced to Agra at breakneck speed. After a multilane highway, which hugs the Yamuna River linking the two former Mughal capitals, was inaugurated during the week, the journey to Agra has been brought down to within two hours, instead of the meandering route that Faqir took over several more.
The fact that the two countries are approaching a new, lenient visa regime, could be a tribute to Faqir’s memory who brought and spread the word of Bulle Shah and other Sufi greats from Multan, in India, whenever he strayed across.
If all goes well and according to the script, Pakistani businessmen recently allowed investments in India, could consider the chaos the new highway has caused for Agra. Shortages of hotels, motels, restaurants and popular snacks like Petha sweets and Dal Moth associated with Agra offer an opportunity for anyone looking to do good business.
“Thanks to the Yamuna Expressway — thrown open to public on Thursday — the city saw the traffic crawling, hotels and restaurants around the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort running out of food and water and Dal Moth, the famous savoury Agra is famous for,” The Hindu reported on Sunday.
“Several lakhs (hundreds of thousands) of people from Delhi and the National Capital Region headed for Agra on Saturday morning to enjoy the 200km long Yamuna Expressway — which is toll free until August 15 — to experience what speeding at the permissible limit of 100 kilometres per hour felt like, something Delhiites always dream of doing.”
This ineffectiveness of the city infrastructure was exemplified by the situation in the parking space outside the West Gate of the Taj Mahal. It was full and as a result cars had to be parked along the 300 metre stretch between Mehtab Bagh crossing and the monument, adding to the chaos. The 1.6km stretch between Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal also took over an hour to cover as a handful of policemen were unable to cope with the traffic rush. Making full use of all the chaos, the tonga wallas and camel cart wallas had a field day charging up to Rs40 per head for covering distances less than half a kilometre.
Allan Faqir, impish for ever, would have relished the traffic jam, as much as the easy access to the fabled monument. He didn’t worry about a visa. But that still remains an obstacle for lesser mortals on this otheriwse potent highway to peace.
YOu cannot hope to start Aman Ki Asha and build people to people contact if you keep sending terrorists and Mullahs with horrible beards. First mend your ways and then request respect form civilised world. And for those all pakistani intellectuals… stop day dreaming. This is new India and yours is new Pakistan. No point living in history. Some Panjabis on both sides still crave for strange old days. But rest assured they are in minority. Rest of Indians have nothing in common with Panjabiayat (whatever that means). They don't care. They don't associate with it. They care for security situation in the country. Aman Ki Asha should not become conduit to smuggle terrorists and Mullahs with horrible facial hair. I am surprised time and again the audocity of pakistani people to demand respect and love from others. They will get our respect if they speak up against rape and abductions of Hindus in Pakistan. If they speak against terrorists attacks. And they demonstrate their commitment to civilised behaviour…and maintain their facial hair.
We have to be careful about giving visas to pakistanis especially after abu jundal's relevation of pakistani terrorists using the cricket visa for conducting surveillance of terrortargets. only public figures from pakistan should be given visa. Mr Naqvi please don't encourage foreigners to voilate our sovereignty. We should under no circumstances reward people who break the law of the land i.e, constitution of India.
Seriously, Naqvi, when are you going to start reviewing the abductions and forced conversions of whatever little Hindu minority that is left in Pakisatan.
good idea
Just replace all Indian names here with a Pakistani name and c how my Indian friends will start cheering ,wow and Bravo and well said and wat not…. . Do we in India and Pakistan need to demean the other to feel good about ourselves .A serious question mainly for my Indian friends .
Btw @Javed Sahab as usual you are spot on . Great going .More power to you .We need more journalists like you who shows the mirror and doesn't change the picture instead .
And guys I am not using any 'dummy name ' .I can be reached at @smile_anand on twitter . Take care all .
Naqvi has in almost all his articles a bitter satire demeaning India and glorifying Pakistan. I am yet to read an article from him which has ever been pro India, …my intention here is not to stir a debate, butt just a humble observation!
I am sure I read the same article and did not see the same satire. I thought it was very glorious of India to build a highway uniting two cities and then allowing a toll-free time to attact visitors. Sorry cannot disagree with you more Sir.
I think I read it the same way you did and could not find anything detrimental in the words of Naqvi and for sure India open door is enough to prove its spirit of amity now its up to people to cement the whole affair as solid as the Taj and everlasting as well
I fully agree with you. India baiting is typical of Javed Naqvi. All his artices are slanted against India. His is a case beyond help. You can wake up a person who is asleep , but you can not wake up a person who pretends to be sleeping.
Introspection never did anyone any harm. Let the Pakistanis look after themselves looking in the mirror will only benefit us
what else do you expect from him???
Actually, its quite possible the author himself too was unaware of the direction he wanted the article to go.
If he had written of the newly opened expressway alone , it would not have caught the attention of those in Pak.
Now it does.
Well Allan Faqir ashewasgenuineFaqir andabove confinies of Religion ,nations andrace heshouldhave found genuine welcome in every home of thesubcontinent. Faqirs , Deveshes and Sufis are men ofenlightenment andspeak thedivine celestial truthsthat uplift human spirit. We in india alwaysrevere Saints. D. Goel
I am not sure the point author was trying to make. People like Allan Faqir are like birds who do not need any visa. India and Pakistan are lucky to have him. He is a sufi saint who only knows how to love.
Word.
The whole of India is not running after Sufi saints
@Javed Naqvi
We don't need an outsider's reference . Actually we don't need people to people contact also. We haven't got anything from this people to people contact except some terrorist . So, request you to stop this propaganda and move to Pak if you really need people to people contact .
Such un kind words would not help us Indians. We cannot change our neighbourhood only we can live in peace.
Indian, two points for you. First of all the author is not trying to convince you Indians. You are the one who is intruding in our privacy. Secondly, people to people to contact is for the peace loving people. The extremists like you are plenty on both side and they are welcome to live their chosen path of hate and bigotry. We want to live in peace. If you don’t like the neighborhood then move out. It is a simple solution.