NEW YORK: ‘Why would Zia want to climb five floors of a hotel? Why did someone think Zia could fix his TV? Was Zia practicing Urine therapy? What did Christopher Lee and Alyque Padamsee have in common?
Ambassador Prabhu Dayal, who had a highly successful diplomatic career as Indian Consul General in New York for five years, has penned all his memories of his posting in Pakistan and aptly named the book as ‘Karachi Halwa’.
Karachi Halwa is witty but insightful portrayal of Zia ul Haq’s rule in Pakistan. Ambassador Prabhu Dayal shares his recollections of that period and keeps you laughing throughout his account of the bumpy ride of Pakistan’s domestic politics and its relationship with India. He tells you how a Sahiwal cow was brought into the equation, and where an elephant comes in.
He says, “The past, the present and the future are in one continuous motion. Whatever I witnessed in Pakistan during Zia’s rule extends its long shadow not only over the present times but will do so well into the future also”. He poses the ultimate question whether the two South Asian giants can live as friends, offering his own suggestions.
Ambassador Dayal was an illustrious officer of the Indian Foreign Service with a career spanning 37 years. He was Consul General, New York from 2008 until his retirement in 2013-ranking next in seniority to the Ambassador.
‘Karachi Halwa’ is published in India by Zorba Books and Kindle books are available online at Amazon. The hard copy version is being sold at a moderate price of Rs.199 on Amazon.in and Flipkart. It is also available on uRead.com, which will deliver it worldwide.
In his prologue, Prabhu Dayal says: “My diplomatic career has taken me to several continents, but I must admit that in no country did I feel such an overpowering sense of a common heritage as I did in Pakistan. In both countries, the issues in focus are the ones which divide us. “I found that there was something rather unique about the experience of living amidst my colonial cousins. The warmth and affection which I often received was very moving, and on many occasions remain etched in my memory”.
Dayal recalls in his book: “One occasion that I remember fondly was when I wanted to buy a camel-skin lamp and found a shop which had just what I wanted. As I was paying the bill, the elderly shop keeper somehow figured out that I was from India, and asked me as to which city did I hail from. When I told him that I was from Allahabad, he refused to take any money from me as his wife was also from there! Finally, he agreed to let me pay, as long as I would accept two lamps for the price of one”.
“During my stay in Karachi, I met several people who were the very embodiment of sophistication and refinement. Remnants of the legendary ‘Nawabi’ era, they were a charming blend of wealth and culture – poignant reminders of an age that was fast receding into the past, he said.
“Again, there were also many enchanting evenings which I spent at spell-binding concerts of Pakistani maestros or attending mushairas (Urdu poetic symposia) graced by the participation of renowned Pakistani poets. I felt truly enriched by such cultural fiestas.
“Then there were those equally enjoyable evenings which I spent just relaxing in the company of a few close Pakistani friends. These occasions gave me the opportunity to savor the best of Karachi humor, always original though at times, somewhat cynical.
“These and many other memories fill me with sweetness even today. On the other hand, I was often witness to that unabashed lying and duplicity which Pakistani leaders have developed into a fine art. Their pronouncements were often at such variance with ground realities that they were difficult to digest.”
PM Swami
