Ten years after the “Islamic Attack” on 9/11, some of the saner Americans have overcome the trauma to reflect on the reality that is Islam’s historic legacy. I had the privilege of viewing many pieces of art from various muslim countries made of the period of centuries at the Metropolitan museum in New York. The pain taken in exquisitely presenting these incredible pieces is worth every praise.  The curators took the time and effort to dig into the history of each and every piece and present it to the visitor in both written and aural form. The respect shown to the work of muslim artists is in sharp contrast to the negative narrative still in mainstream media. But healthy signs are now manifesting them in different forms where some of the americans are having the guts to standing up to the mainstream media.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I took the opportunity to take some photos of the exhibits that I have shared in the album below. To enjoy it fully go to maximizing the screen after clicking on the image below.

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To start with I would like to write about characteristics of Mohalla Nai Sarai (MNS) pucca houses  built nearly 200 years  around 1800 or earlier and still going strong.

Unlike bungalows or houses in Europe or America with outward orientation,  doors and windows opening outwards, without any private courtyard (backyard yes for miscellaneous purposes);  in sharp contrast MNS houses were orientated inwards with doors and windows opening towards a central courtyard ‘sehn’ part of each house. A pattern that is common in entire Muslim world from India  westward up to Morocco essentially for privacy and security In MNS  in upper storey windows did open outwards on to street. Entrance to the house from street or stable was invariably through a DEWRHI comprising of two room, some large enough to hold a bridge party as it was in our Nai Haveli (NH). Door between the two rooms was offset so that no one could  see direct into the courtyard  ’Sehn’. Here in Dewrhi  ladies of the house observing purdah would talk to Ghair Mehram men, male servants, artisans like Julahs , Telli , etc across the central wall. Only female staff such as female-cooks, sohagan/nain, maids, etc were allowed in this Zanan Khana. Ladies had  to hide whenever men were required to enter for any work or bringing in heavy loads. Houses had only single entry  through these Dehwris, exception being palatial Namdar House called Dada Ghar by us, which belonged to Abba Mian Zahuruddin Khan. In addition to normal Dewhri there was a side entrance to sehn from chicken house out of house, Persian wheel and side of garden. On top of it there were 8 doors of rooms of the main house opening into verandahs with full access to garden which itself was open at one end to street till a wall was erected by Abba Mian. By the Grace of God nothing untowards happened to my knowledge.

Main living area comprising number of rooms for the family was across opposite  Dewrhi, including a large Barra room for gatherings. Some houses  had verandah, with jhoola in some. Almost all courtyards had a flower patch with standard items like roses, motias, raat ki rani, etc. Wherever space permitted a guava and qalmi ber tree wee also planted. Bougainville and other creepers were in abundance on walls, roofs etc. Some families were fond of pigeons, which were kept on roof of upper storey, one could see them flying in flocks,  pigeons of different beautiful colour, some somersaulting in air

Courtyard on three remaining sides had large kitchen having enough space to have casual meals on low table (chowki) sitting on pheeris (low woven stool). Other rooms around the  Sehn were stores for general items, and for grains, cotton, other agro products. Space permitting room/s were there to accommodate extra female guest/relatives who  according to custom spent long periods with bereaved families or on occasion of marriages. Stairs for upper storey also led from the side of courtyard usually open to sky. Each compound had a small well called kui for manually drawing the water, with a small bucket. Hand pumps started replacing these wells slowly. There was no piped water in bathrooms hence use of hamams or buckets was in vogue. A lota had to be carried to lavatory which were separate from bathrooms. As there were no flush or sewerage system, disposal and cleaning was done by the sweepresses.    For hygiene extensive use of phenyl was made.

As there was no electricity,  lighting was mostly with hurricane lanterns; gas lanterns emitting bright light was used for dinners, parties, or functions. These gas lantern required frequent pumping for pressure. As for fans in summers,  broad heavy or padded cloth rectangular piece was hung from ceilings for pulled to and fro providing air to people sitting or sleeping underneath.  For all these inconveniences due to lack of electricity, piped water, absence of flush system,  there was however compensation in shape of clear  unpolluted air, clean healthy water, unadulterated fresh and pure food and fruit of all kind in abundance and cheap too (for example mangoes, melons which were always sold in dharrie of 5 killo costed from one quarter to half a rupee, eaten in bulk unlike 2 mangoes decorating dining tale these days),  plenty of dairy products; and most of all a leisurely peaceful pace of life, with a lot of social interaction. Fleet of servants added to pleasures and comforts of life. No wonder they had long lives.

When the families grew, quite a few houses were divided longitudinally so that both portions have access to the street. Exception being our  Ashraf Manzil aka Nai Havelli (NH) shared by my father Fazley Haque Khan with his widowed sister-in-law Qayyuman Chachi. Haveli was divided athwart with southern portion with the ornate only  entrance door of NH, opening into stable, was ours; whereas Qayyuman Chachi’s portion towards North had no opening. A Dewrhi was, therefore, made of a room with an entrance door opening onto her huge  garden and orchard, which was surrounding around all three sides  of Chachi’s portion of NH. After partition the occupant made a porch over it.  As the plaque on entrance mentions Chachi’s side had the modern touch in having big wall to wall windows in living rooms towards North again opening in to garden and orchard.

The Family tree of Bassi dwellers can be found at

http://bassiwala.tribalpages.com/

What an indolent life of yore in Bassi.

Layout of Bassi

Layout of Mohalla Nai Sarai

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Water was not what I had in mind this early in my read of Quran, but with so much going on related to it, I decided to discuss it earlier than later. Water as we know it is the source of life. When NASA sends its probes to different heavenly bodies, one of the key pieces of information is the presence of water. Indeed one of the key recent discoveries recently have been the presence of water on the poles of the Moon and the possibility of it on Mars. So it is not surprising to find multiple references to water in different contexts in Quran.

“We have made every living thing out of water.” (Sura 21 The Prophets, ayat 30).

The Quranic account of the forming of the Cosmos places great emphasis on water, as demonstrated in other ayat in the preceding sura which on the one hand lists heaven, earth, the moon, the sun, night, day etc. as natural factors in the creation of the universe and, on the other, speaks of a single element that infuses life into the universe: water. The Quran immediately asserts, however, that water fills the entire inanimate universe with life: “He is the One Who created Heaven and Earth in six days. His Throne rises over the water”. For certain commentators, this means in effect that water was the origin for both heaven and earth and that Allah drew from it the natural elements as well as all living creatures. Thus every life on earth owes its existence to the element of water: “Among His signs He sends water down from the sky so He may revive the earth with it following its death.” (Sura 30 The Romans, ayat 24). The vivifying property of water is repeated in many ayat: “He sends the winds to bring news so He may let you taste some of His mercy (sura 30, ayat 46)… And any water God sends down from the sky with which to revive the earth following its death and to scatter every kind of animal throughout it. We give it in due measure as a sign to those who are wise” or again “We have sent down blessed water from the sky and We grow gardens with it as well as grain to be harvested and soaring palms which have compact clusters as sustenance for worshipers. We have revived a dead countryside with it; thus will (your) reappearance be”.

The Quran calls for proper governance of water and the equitable sharing of this vital resources when it says: “Announce to them how water must be shared among them; each will have his own special time to drink “ (sura 54 The Moon, ayat 28).

Proper management of water resources is going to be essential for nations to live in harmony with one another. The the climate changes and population increases happening around us, certain regions will gain more rainfall and others less. The glaciers that used to hold water and release them slowly are rapidly diminishing, thereby taking away the natural water retention mechanisms.  Water related issues will be most magnified in the poorer countries. “People in developing countries understand the absence of it,” says John Briscoe, newly appointed Professor of the Practice of Environmental Health at HSPH.  If it doesn’t rain, women who haul water for their families must walk vast distances to fetch it. Without rain, the lights go out in hydro-powered locales. Lack of sanitary facilities in schools deters girls from an education. Indian farmers unable to drill into dwindling aquifers even commit suicide. “Water is not taken for granted,” Briscoe says. “People live with insecurity at every turn.”

South Asia is particularly water challenged region of the world. Northern India’s underground water supply is being pumped and consumed by human activities — principally to irrigate cropland — faster than the aquifers can be replenished by natural processes. This data was published in the August 20 issue of Nature based on observations from NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE).

On the other hand recent floods in Pakistan could be the result of global climate change that has already resulted rapid reduction in the size of glaciers in the Himalayas. The combined results of floods, glaciers and lowered water tables require that the nations of the region address the problem of water storage and usage in an equitable manner. John Briscoe warns of potential conflicts in the region should these nations fail to work together in his article titled “War or Peace on the Indus”.

It is quite evident by now that the developed world is not ready to change its habits any time soon in order to reverse the effects of global climate change. The bulk of impact will be on the developing world. They will need to adjust the economic priorities to address the water issues and all ramifications on food and health in a manner that does not effect the adjacent countries.

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Anyone foolish enough to write on war or peace in the Indus needs to first banish a set of immediate suspicions. I am neither Indian nor Pakistani. I am a South African who has worked on water issues in the subcontinent for 35 years and who has lived in Bangladesh (in the 1970s) and Delhi (in the 2000s). In 2006 I published, with fine Indian colleagues, an Oxford University Press book titled India’s Water Economy: Facing a Turbulent Future and, with fine Pakistani colleagues, one titled Pakistan’s Water Economy: Running Dry.

I was the Senior Water Advisor for the World Bank who dealt with the appointment of the Neutral Expert on the Baglihar case. My last assignment at the World Bank (relevant, as described later) was as Country Director for Brazil. I am now a mere university professor, and speak in the name of no one but myself.

I have deep affection for the people of both India and Pakistan, and am dismayed by what I see as a looming train wreck on the Indus, with disastrous consequences for both countries. I will outline why there is no objective conflict of interests between the countries over the waters of the Indus Basin, make some observations of the need for a change in public discourse, and suggest how the drivers of the train can put on the brakes before it is too late.

Is there an inherent conflict between India and Pakistan?

The simple answer is no. The Indus Waters Treaty allocates the water of the three western rivers to Pakistan, but allows India to tap the considerable hydro-power potential of the Chenab and Jhelum before the rivers enter Pakistan. The qualification is that this use of hydro-power is not to affect either the quantity of water reaching Pakistan or to interfere with the natural timing of those flows. Since hydro-power does not consume water, the only issue is timing. And timing is a very big issue, because agriculture in the Pakistani plains depends not only on how much water comes, but that it comes in critical periods during the planting season. The reality is that India could tap virtually all of the available power without negatively affecting the timing of flows to which Pakistan is entitled.

Is the Indus Treaty a stable basis for cooperation?

If Pakistan and India had normal, trustful relations, there would be a mutually-verified monitoring process which would assure that there is no change in the flows going into Pakistan. (In an even more ideal world, India could increase low-flows during the critical planting season, with significant benefit to Pakistani farmers and with very small impacts on power generation in India.) Because the relationship was not normal when the treaty was negotiated, Pakistan would agree only if limitations on India’s capacity to manipulate the timing of flows was hardwired into the treaty. This was done by limiting the amount of “live storage” (the storage that matters for changing the timing of flows) in each and every hydro-power dam that India would construct on the two rivers.

While this made sense given knowledge in 1960, over time it became clear that this restriction gave rise to a major problem. The physical restrictions meant that gates for flushing silt out of the dams could not be built, thus ensuring that any dam in India would rapidly fill with the silt pouring off the young Himalayas. This was a critical issue at stake in the Baglihar case. Pakistan (reasonably) said that the gates being installed were in violation of the specifications of the treaty. India (equally reasonably) argued that it would be wrong to build a dam knowing it would soon fill with silt. The finding of the Neutral Expert was essentially a reinterpretation of the Treaty, saying that the physical limitations no longer made sense. While the finding was reasonable in the case of Baglihar, it left Pakistan without the mechanism – limited live storage – which was its only (albeit weak) protection against upstream manipulation of flows in India. This vulnerability was driven home when India chose to fill Baglihar exactly at the time when it would impose maximum harm on farmers in downstream Pakistan. If Baglihar was the only dam being built by India on the Chenab and Jhelum, this would be a limited problem. But following Baglihar is a veritable caravan of Indian projects – Kishanganga, Sawalkot, Pakuldul, Bursar, Dal Huste, Gyspa… The cumulative live storage will be large, giving India an unquestioned capacity to have major impact on the timing of flows into Pakistan. (Using Baglihar as a reference, simple back-of-the-envelope calculations, suggest that once it has constructed all of the planned hydro-power plants on the Chenab, India will have an ability to effect major damage on Pakistan. First, there is the one-time effect of filling the new dams. If done during the wet season this would have little effect on Pakistan. But if done during the critical low-flow period, there would be a large one-time effect (as was the case when India filled Baglihar). Second, there is the permanent threat which would be a consequence of substantial cumulative live storage which could store about one month’s worth of low-season flow on the Chenab. If, God forbid, India so chose, it could use this cumulative live storage to impose major reductions on water availability in Pakistan during the critical planting season. Views on “the water problem” from both sides of the border and the role of the press Living in Delhi and working in both India and Pakistan, I was struck by a paradox. One country was a vigorous democracy, the other a military regime. But whereas an important part of the Pakistani press regularly reported India’s views on the water issue in an objective way, the Indian press never did the same. I never saw a report which gave Indian readers a factual description of the enormous vulnerability of Pakistan, of the way in which India had socked it to Pakistan when filling Baglihar. How could this be, I asked? Because, a journalist colleague in Delhi told me, “when it comes to Kashmir – and the Indus Treaty is considered an integral part of Kashmir — the ministry of external affairs instructs newspapers on what they can and cannot say, and often tells them explicitly what it is they are to say.”

This apparently remains the case. In the context of the recent talks between India and Pakistan I read, in Boston, the electronic reports on the disagreement about “the water issue” in The Times of India, The

Hindustan Times, The Hindu, The Indian Express and The Economic Times.

(Respectively, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Water-Pakistans-diversionary-tactic-/articleshow/5609099.cms,

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/ article112388.ece,

http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/india/River-waters-The-next-testing-ground/Article1-512190.aspx,

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Pak-heats-up-water-sharing/583733,

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Pak-takes-water-route-to-attack-India/articleshow/5665516.cms.)

Taken together, these reports make astounding reading. Not only was the message the same in each case (“no real issue, just Pakistani shenanigans”), but the arguments were the same, the numbers were the same and the phrases were the same. And in all cases the source was “analysts” and “experts” — in not one case was the reader informed that this was reporting an official position of the Government of India.

Equally depressing is my repeated experience – most recently at a major international meeting of strategic security institutions in Delhi – that even the most liberal and enlightened of Indian analysts (many of whom are friends who I greatly respect) seem constitutionally incapable of seeing the great vulnerability and legitimate concern of Pakistan (which is obvious and objective to an outsider).

A way forward

This is a very uneven playing field. The regional hegemon is the upper riparian and has all the cards in its hands. This asymmetry means that it is India that is driving the train, and that change must start in India. In my view, four things need to be done.

First, there must be some courageous and open-minded Indians – in government or out – who will stand up and explain to the public why this is not just an issue for Pakistan, but why it is an existential issue for Pakistan.

Second, there must be leadership from the Government of India. Here I am struck by the stark difference between the behaviour of India and that of its fellow BRIC – Brazil, the regional hegemon in Latin America. Brazil and Paraguay have a binding agreement on their rights and responsibilities on the massive Itaipu Binacional Hydropower Project. The proceeds, which are of enormous importance to small Paraguay, played a politicized, polemical anti-Brazilian part in the recent presidential election in Paraguay. Similarly, Brazil’s and Bolivia’s binding agreement on gas also became part of an anti-Brazil presidential campaign theme. The public and press in Brazil bayed for blood and insisted that Bolivia and Paraguay be made to pay. So what did President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva do? “Look,” he said to his irate countrymen, “these are poor countries, and these are huge issues for them. They are our brothers. Yes, we are in our legal rights to be harsh with them, but we are going to show understanding and generosity, and so I am unilaterally doubling (in the case of Paraguay) and tripling (in the case of Bolivia) the payments we make to them. Brazil is a big country and a relatively rich one, so this will do a lot for them and won’t harm us much.” India could, and should, in my view, similarly make the effort to see it from its neighbour’s point of view, and should show the generosity of spirit which is an integral part of being a truly great power and good neighbour.

Third, this should translate into an invitation to Pakistan to explore ways in which the principles of the Indus Waters Treaty could be respected, while providing a win for Pakistan (assurance on their flows) and a win for India (reducing the chronic legal uncertainty which vexes every Indian project on the Chenab or Jhelum). With good will there are multiple ways in which the treaty could be maintained but reinterpreted so that both countries could win.

Fourth, discussions on the Indus waters should be de-linked from both historic grievances and from the other Kashmir-related issues. Again, it is a sign of statesmanship, not weakness, to acknowledge the past and then move beyond it. This is personal for me, as someone of Irish origin. Conor Cruise O’Brien once remarked, “Santayana said that those who did not learn their history would be condemned to repeat it; in the case of Ireland we have learned our history so well that we are condemned to repeat it, again and again.”

And finally, as a South African I am acutely aware that Nelson Mandela, after 27 years in prison, chose not to settle scores but to look forward and construct a better future, for all the people of his country and mine. Who will be the Indian Mandela who will do this – for the benefit of Pakistanis and Indians – on the Indus?

The writer is the Gordon McKay Professor of Environmental Engineering,

Harvard University. Email: jbriscoe@seas. harvard.edu

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Salman Ahmed is a well known musician out of Pakistan and South Asia. He is the founder of one of the most famous rock bands out of that region by the name of Junoon. He has recently written a book by the name of “Rock and Roll Jihad“. When I first heard about the book and the title it struck me as something odd. Rock and Roll and Jihad had until now not been said in the same sentence. Jihad in Arabic language means to strive. In the Islamic religious sense it means  “striving in the cause of God”. Jihad has been classified either as al-jihād al-akbar (the greater jihad), the struggle against one’s soul (nafs), or al-jihād al-asghar (the lesser jihad), the external, physical effort, often implying fighting.  Having had seen Salman grow from a cute little child to what he is now, it does not take much to understand how he has used his musical skills to achieve social activism in fighting injustices, bigotry, national animosities, disease, religious misunderstandings, religious radicalism and the list goes on.

Salman could have simply been satisfied with writing and producing love songs and could have reaped the economic rewards given the fame of his band. Instead he used that fame to achieve social and political change. He rose up against the injustices of dictatorial political regimes in Pakistan, for bringing about social harmony between Indians and Pakistanis, for better understanding between the Americans and the Muslim world and AIDS awareness around the world. He has used all mediums available to him to achieve his jihad. He chose songs to bring about social change in Pakistan. He used BBC documentary videos for better understanding between the West and Muslim world and music tours to bridge the divide between Indians and Pakistanis.  I saw him and his band in action around the Boston area not only in bringing Muslim Sufi music to American ears but also the many discussions Salman would have with the audiences after the event on socio-political issues. He first started visiting the Boston region with his band performing in schools and colleges around the region. He came to Belmont Hill School and made the prep school boys dressed up in their uniforms dance on the pews in a church at 10 am to the songs of Sain etc. . He then engaged them with discussions about Islam. He has made appearances for raising money for Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital with Imran Khan and raising money for earthquake victims in Pakistan. He even had the PhDs who work at MIT Lincoln Laboratory clapping and singing to the sufi music in an auditorium at the Laboratory.

His social activism and philanthropy was recognized by UN in allowing him to hold a concert in the main UN Assembly Hall in order to raise money for Swat’s displaced people in Pakistan. Many well known musicians and leaders joined him in a packed hall on that eventful night. Some images of that concert can be seen by clicking on the image on the left.

His drive for enhancing women’s rights and stigma attached to AIDS is reflected in the attached Al Vida video. This is dedicated to a woman’s fight against the stigma, discrimination and ignorance towards the stigma, discrimination and ignorance towards people living with HIV & AIDS. She campaigns for access to medical treatment for all. Globally half of the people infected with HIV are women. She represents the human face of millions like her in Asia Pacific who are infected by their husbands.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Salman had paid the price for standing up to tyrants of various types. Ahmad and his band Junoon suffered political censorship in Pakistan during the rule of Benazir Bhutto in 1990s, partly due to a song denouncing political corruption. In 1998 during the rule of Nawaz Sharif, Junoon was again banned in Pakistan, because they protested against the nuclear power tests in India as well as their own country by saying, “Why escalate the arms race when people still need water? Why see our neighbors as enemies when we are so close to each other?”

He went public with his stance against then President Musharraf in his open letter. Full text can be seen here.

“..My support for your father’s govt  was never meant to be taken as a blank check for the state machinery to run amok and start dismantling civil institutions, making deals with crooks and plunderers, treating civil servants like common criminals, kidnapping and killing innocent Pakistanis under the guise of the “war on terror” and illegally spying, torturing and jailing thousands of Pakistanis (which include national heroes, supreme court judges, lawyers, rights activists, house wives and students).”

Ahmad denounced the Pakistani Government’s peace accord with Taliban in 2008 saying that “artists in Pakistan take their inspiration from Sufism, the tolerant and inclusive strain of Islam that is the antithesis of the beliefs of the Taliban. Commenting on the Pakistani government ‘peace agreement’ with Taliban and acceptance of ‘Sharia’ in the Swat Valley, Ahmad said, “The killing of arts and culture in Swat is an ominous sign. It is the first step in the potential Talibanization of more of the country. If you give the Taliban an inch – as Zardari has done – they will take a mile. Ahmad also suggested that, “President Asif Ali Zardari’s ill-conceived appeasement will only embolden the Taliban and may squelch more of Pakistan’s voices of peace just when Pakistanis and the world need to hear them most.”

He takes an unusual amount of time appearing on all media channels and shows in the US explaining the religious and cultural divide that exists between the East and the West, between Muslim countries and the US and the North and South.  He writes about this in his book.

The media storm after 9/11 had created an artificial divide, but I was determined to fight it. My publicist Tracy Mann booked me on radio and television to speak about our U.N. concert and help dispel some common stereotypes about Islam and Muslims. Some of the talking points I used were my own understanding of jihad and suicide. Prophet Muhammad described armed struggle against tyranny and oppression as a lesser jihad. He also warned against the dark whisperings of the nafs (ego) and called the fight against the lower self the greater jihad. The Quran says, “Man was created weak,” and it’s true. The inner jihad is a struggle for self-discovery and is about uncovering our hidden, infinite potentials. It’s about raising oneself up high (as in Iqbal’s poem “Khudi”) and never bringing others down. What the terrorists got wrong was that jihad is about overcoming our human impulses of greed, jealousy, injustice, violence, and inhumanity toward our fellow human beings.

He recently appeared in BBC’s hard talk explaining the many misunderstandings around the word Jihad and more..

Click here to view the embedded video.

I have provided specific examples on how Salman has in the past used his talents to further the causes of peace and harmony. He is an excellent role model for young and old to follow. You can follow Salman by checking out his activities at
www.junoon.com
www.ssgwi.org
twitter@sufisal

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My family came to India with Malik Hayder Ghazi, who laid the foundation of Bassi, on the outskirts of Sirhind City during the reign of Sher Shah Suri. 12 Tumans (Zais) came here, but many have become extinct and a few are left now. Their chief source was and is either agriculture or service. Some of them used to serve in Hyderabad Deccan even in pre mutiny days.The Afghans used to enjoy semi-independence till the cessation of Bassi to Patiala State and chose their own rulers. When the Moghul rule was nearing its end, the Afghans of Bassi were unable to defend themselves and they began to search for a Ruler who could defend them from the Sikh Invasion. Nawab Shamshair Khan Killewalla (Bassi), backed with the majority of Bassi Afghans, brought  an Ahluwalia Family related to the Maharaja of Kapurthala, to rule in Bassi,  while two families of Omarzai Afghans sided with Patiala. They on their own accord brought a Patiala Tahsildar to Bassi, against the wishes of the rest of Afghan community. The result was that the then reigning power began to torture them, their houses were looted and burnt, and men imprisoned (our Omar Zai ancestors). More than once Patiala Forces were sent to help against Kapurthala Forces. These two families were of Nijabat Khan (Muqueem Bhai’s ancestors in Katehra Mohalla across town from ours in Mohalla Nai Sarai and Ghous Khan (our ancestors)of Nai Sarai.

Bhikan Khan, (His “Abba Jan” great grand father)
When Rani Jounsa died, Kapurthala Forces took possession of Bassi, but these two families never yielded to them and kept on agitation against them in favour of Patiala. The leading members of those families at that time were Nijabat Khan and Ghous Khan’s two sons Shah Mohammad and Bhikan Khan Sahib. The result of this Civil War was that British Govt. took possession of Bassi, which was made a part of Ludhiana District. The activities of these two families continued, with the result that the British Govt. after ten months rule handed over Bassi to Patiala. It was the day rejoicing for these two families, and their services were rewarded by Patiala in more than one way. Muafi of land revenues were given to them. They were considered to be the Malikan-i-Ala of the whole Bassi. The lands of the rest of Afghans siding with Kapurthala were confiscated. During the short British rule, Arain cultivators of Bassi wanted to take the advantage of the situation and to assert their own rights against Landlords. His Highness’s Government was so much pleased by the services rendered by these families, that the orders were issued by the Foreign Office, under the August Commands of His Highness The Maharaja Narinder Singh  Sahib Bahadur, to the State Vakil at Ludhiana and to Tahsildar Fatehgarh Sahib to help our private cause with the British Officers. A copy of the order, which happens to be with me by chance is attached herewith. The words Zubdatul-Iqran have been used with when the name of Bhikan Khan Sahib was mentioned in the Perwana. The words show the esteem in which he was held.

As the fortress of Bassi and other public buildings were in the possession of Kapurthala side and Patiala had no State building, in the city, the necessity was felt to have one to show British Officials that Patiala has got substantial proof of possession even in the city. The building of Nizamat, Bassi was built in one night by these Afghans. This was the reason for naming it as Shatab Garh.

These families used to collect revenue for Patiala and render every sort of help to them. For instance when General Octorloney was passing through Patiala territory, orders were sent to Nijabat Khan to help in every way with Rasad, etc. A Perwana-i-Khushnudi was given by the General for the help given.(Perhaps Muqueem Bhai had this, he once mentioned it. These Afghan used to fight battles for Patiala with their Retainers; just like Feudal Lords in England, and many lost their lives in them.

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Chaudhry (A title of Army Chief and of authority) Namdar Khan Sahib ( his grand father)

Bhikan Khan Sahib had two sons, both entered the State Service. The elder Kalay Khan Sahib entered the service as Daftari and retired as Nazim. The younger Namdar Khan Sahib was recruited in the army and worked as Naib Daftari, in Bhakshi Khana. Later on he was sent to Thanessar District as Vakil. His services during the Mutiny and his honesty brought him into the notice of His Highness Maharaja Narinder Singh Bahadur, who made him Naib Adalti on the reduction of Thanessar District. His Highness The Maharaja Mohinder Singh Bahadur made him Sarishtadar Ijlas Khas. Afterward he was made Nazim and later on he was made Adalti (Judge). During the minority of Late-Lamented His Highness the Maharaja Rajinder Singh Sahib Mohinder Bahadur, he worked as a Member of the Regency Council. The work of the Council is so well known and so highly spoken, that I need not write any thing on the subject.

(There is a Road in Patiala India still named after him)

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Sardar Haji Mohd Ashraf Khan Sahib  (His father)

S.H.Ashraf Khan Sahib son of Ch. Namdar Khansahib, entered the State Service at an early age. He worked in different capacities. He was a Musahib (Advisor) to His Highness The Maharaja Rajinder Singh Sahib Mohinder Bahadur. He retired from the service as Nazim after 47 years of service, which has been well appreciated by our August Master in the order of his retirement.

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Sardar Mohd Fazley Haque Khan

He graduated from M.A.O. College, Aligarh and studied Law for 2 years. He joined the Patiala State Service as a Naib Nazim (E.A.C.) and in due course was invested with the powers of a Sec. 30 Magistrate. Latter on, he became an A.D.M. and for five years worked as Nazim(D.C.). When the Judiciary was separated from the Executive, he was appointed District and Session Judge, Bhatinda, from which post he was promoted to the post of Judge in the High Court. He was then made Home Minister and later on was given the portfolio of the Ministry of Development and Agriculture. He retired on superannuation pension, after having been given two extensions, on 16th December, 1944.

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In 2004, my brother Salman and I visited the birthplace of my mother Shahine Habibullah Khan Ahmad in Bassi-Pathanan, near Sirhind in the erstwhile state of Patiala, now Punjab, India. The decrepit ruins of Ashraf Manzil, named after my great-great-grandfather (“per-nana”) Ashraf Khan, had such a powerful effect on me that I will never forget the moment of coming across this place.

Junoon had been invited to perform as headliners at the closing ceremony of the Patiala Heritage Festival. After a brilliant show with the most magnificent back drop of the Yadavindra Public School and fireworks going off behind us to the tune of “Sayonee” and “Garaj Baras”, the Maharani of Patiala informed us that the Maharaja would be pleased to meet with us the following day. When Captain Amarinder Singh, C.M. of Punjab, had learnt that our mother was a born Patialan, and that we were descendants of Namdar Khan, he pulled out all the stops and gave us a royal welcome. Gifts were exchanged and a beautiful Patialan shawl was presented for my mother. We were invited to return again to Patiala with our mother and stay at the Palace. We were also invited to have dinner at the Palace that same night. The Maharaja took us on a tour of his Motibagh Palace which was laden with priceless art, and just the picture I had of a Raj-era palace full of historical photographs and paintings, tastefully decorated, lush green lawns, tons of space, the courtyards and the almost perfunctory “Baradari”.
Still in awe of the splendor before us, I was told that this new incarnation of the Palace was much more modest than the original Motibagh Palace which had 365 rooms during the reign of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh and now houses a National Sports Training Centre. The CM gave us the protocol normally accorded to foreign state dignitaries, with police escort and a press junket on our tails to boot, when we visited our ancestor Namdar Khan’s house in the heart of Patiala city. The quaint colonial era house was well maintained despite its age and the current occupants Mr. Sandeep Singh Sandha and family were extremely warm and gracious and took us in as if we were their own family, reminiscient of the Patiala State Motto “Mera Ghar Thera Saya” (My house is your shelter). They asked us to stay for tea. Their warmth, along with the style of the house brought back fond memories of our family house in Lahore where everyone moved from Patiala during partition. Namdar Khan’s house was on a street named after him as well in Patiala, Namdar Khan Road.
Our Great-great grandfather Namdar Khan was Chairman of the Council of Regents of the State of Patiala when the then Maharajah of Patiala, Bhupinder Singh (Grandfather of Captain Amarinder) was enthroned at the age of 12 years. Therefore he was in charge of much of the affairs of the State of Patiala, which was one of the wealthiest and most powerful of Princely States in India. Thus his place was preserved in Patiala’s Heritage. The Palace dinner held in our honor was a real treat, what with the CM, Maharani, Yuvraj (Crown Prince) Raninder Singh and his elegant and lovely wife Yuvrajni Rishma entertaining us along with just a few relatives and close friends, some visiting dignitaries and academics from overseas. As enchanting as all this was with the extreme hospitality of this exceptional royal family (The Crown Prince, an avid gourmet and gourmand, even assisted in preparing our meals with secret recipes passed down from the Afghan Royal Family!) nothing affected me like going to the home of my forbears. Alex Haley’s famous book and TV series Roots, or other such ”home-coming’ stories could not prepare me for the overwhelming experience of walking through the remains of what was once the aristocratic home where my grand parents were married, where my mother was born, etc. It was about a twenty minute drive on the now immaculate Grand Trunk Road when our police escort bid us adieu as we were passing out of their jurisdiction into Bassi Pathanan (“The Settlement of the Pathans”) which falls under the Fatehgarh SahibDistrict, owing to the Dargah there.

From then on local journalists, who had been waiting for us after having done all the research to find our hallowed Ashraf Manzil, guided us to our “Lost Ark”. It was through winding streets that we walked and finally came across a broken down shadow of a Franco-Persian ruin of a property in Bassi Pathanan. As we explored this house which was known to us only through the many memories passed on by our elders, an octogenarian gentlemen named Shyamlal Singh who was walking by heard the commotion and stopped in and told us he was a good friend of both Zahoor-ud-Din Khan, my nani’s father who our family called “Abba Mian.” Mr. Singh shared wonderful anecdotes of his friendship with Abba Mian, about the time when his motorcar (the first in the neighborhood!) broke down and the fact that his position as a Minister didn’t help the car to start! Shyam told us of how he would stop by regularly for tea and Zahoor-ud-din would cut flowers for him from the expansive and still beautiful bagh in the Ashraf Manzil estate. Mr. Singh also told us and the media present that day that all the residents of Bassi lived together like family, irrespective of religion.

There was a great sense of brotherhood among the inhabitants of Bassi; they all shared in each other’s joys and sorrows regardless of caste and creed. Their stories were so moving that I felt the possiblity, the dawning of a new era in South Asian history, when people would go beyond the petty politics of the recent century and re-learn the lesson of coexistence.

The experience left such an impression on my brother Salman that he decided to shoot a video in Bassi and Patiala for which the Maharajah subsequently gave his permission. Salman has gotten Indian classical singer Shubha Mudgal to lend her voice to the song entitled “Ghoom Taana”, theatre icon Naseer-ud-din Shah has provided a voice over for the video (as the role of our great grandfather Zahoor-ud-Din Khan!), and “Earth: 1947″
star Nandita Das has acted in the semi-autobiographical video to be released in August on the Independence Days of India and Pakistan this summer!

Shehryar Ahmad is the Group Head of Investor Relations, Marketing and Corporate Communications at BMA Capital. He previously managed the Pakistani rock band Junoon and can be reached at shehryar <at> bmacapital.com

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“ it is not the inch of land, what is important is your history, religion, social and cultural traditions, etc.”   –Allama Iqbal.

Omarzais of MNS were a middle class inward looking community having agriculture and services as the main source of income, only an odd person indulged in business or a profession. Jagirs/land were mostly awarded/allotted as Reya e Khas (special subjects) by ruler of Patiala  after Omarzais helped Bassi to be a part of his State, M Ghous Khan, his son Bhikan Khan (father of Namdar Khan) and Nijabat Khan (ancestor of General Fazle Muqueem Khan) of Kathera across the town were the main supporters  for Patiala against Rani Jindan of Kapurthala. Revenue tax  was also exempted for Reya e Khas.

The picture above was taken in 1935 outside a palatial house built by Choudhry M Ashraf Khan (Minister, Patiala State) for his father Choudhry M Namdar Khan, (Chairman Regency Council Patiala State in late 19th Century). Soon thereafter M Ashraf Khan expired at age of 96 years.

Residents of MNS were cool headed and peaceful people, hard working and honest to the core. Never took part in communal riots as would happen on taking out Tazias on 10^th of Muharram,  Diwali, Holi ( when Hindus throw coloured water or powder on every one) etc. in the city.

Simple in customs, Mangnis and marriages were practical devoid of  fancy functions as are being practiced today. Female relatives girls particularly would  assemble in evenings, singing or dancing for celebrating  Mangni, and for a few days prior to marriages,  these were private get together exclusive for ladies only. Local marasans ( lady bards) did  participate on occasions mainly for tips. Male bards (Bhands singing praising songs and resorting to humorous jokes culminating in hitting palm of the partner twice with a leather  piece for audio effect)  did the same for men. Dulha invariably rode a horse in Baraat  accompanied by local band some times, dulhan departed from parents house in a Doli. Dinner and Walima  were standard Pillou, Alu Gosht with Naan and at best Zarda as dessert. No chicken or fancy dishes were served; thus bringing about equality amongst the residents, rich or not so rich.

MNS was  to a large extent self sustained, conservative Mohalla having not too large a population. Shopping was done by male members or servants only. Ladies never went to bazaar, they could, however, buy from hawkers. Even elder males also did no shopping in Bazaars. I never saw my father or uncle doing so. Bales of cloth, for example, were brought by shop keepers to houses for selection of the family.. When on Eid or occasions necessitating passing through bazaar, mostly Hindu shopkeepers of Sarafa (bullion dealers) and Bohra Bazaar, adjacent to MNS, would stand up and pay respect. At home  food was taken on floor generally around a dastar khwan. So were the evening gatherings particularly in winter on the floor padded with gaddas (mattresses) and having Gao Takias (round pillows) for resting the back. As there was no other entertainment like cinema (there was one open to sky walkie-talkie as cinema were called, after the silent movies, near the station showing not worthwhile pictures) no radio or TV, these gatherings full of gossip were popular. My elder brother being a cheerful vibrant soul, used to hold such durbar every night after dinner till late at night. Large squarish room, called barra or gole (round) room of the house was the venue, with serving of Kashmiri tea and dry fruit. After prayers on getting out of mosque, men folk would often gather around  and chat for a while at the intersection of main MNS street with Chatha  Lane, making difficult for ladies to cross.

On the down side, MNS shared with India as a whole breaking out of epidemics like cholera, small pox or plague. I remember vividly in 1934 sic evacuating MNS and moving to one of our village Rashidpura 6 miles away having a havelli, for only two nights as it was a false alarm. Children of MNS were collected at Barrister M Sharif Khan’s villa every year given injection and vaccinations, small pox vaccination was  messy affair having thee drops of vaccine on the fore arm, skin squished and scratched with a needle for blood to ooze out. This left a star like scar on the arm. My cousin Salahuddin would invariably faint in the process. I do not recall any break out of an epidemic, but in early twenties or so there was one. Husband of my younger Khala Musharaf and Chacha of general Fazle Muqueem Khan fell ill and so did their only child, a son 7 years old. While tending to them, Khala also caught the disease. She fortunately recovered from it to find that both, her  husband and son, gone during her illness. It took long time for her to overcome this grief understandably.

Inheritance by only daughter. Bassi being a part of princely state of British India, Indian civil and criminal laws were applicable, creating at times controversy as these were in conflict with  Islamic laws as prescribed in Quran.  According to Indian Law a single daughter could inherit the entire assets, whereas Quran permits only half (a son full).  Marium Khanum the middle sister of my Dada M Ashraf  Khan and brother M Sharif Khan was married to a very rich gentleman living in a large white painted house in the center of city. Their only child Shafiqua Khanum inherited the entire property, and in turn her adopted daughter Masooda Khanum inherited hers. She being married to General Fazle Muqueem Khan acquired Suffolk House, against her claim of Bassi property, where all Muqueems have houses, commercial complex, petrol pump, etc.

Inheritance by daughters. Conversely, Indian Civil Law permitted  inheritance to daughters, but Muslims of Bassi and India in general daughters were kept devoid of inheritance, a clear violation of Quran as well which clearly lays down half the share of a son to a sister. This half share of sister applies for inheritance only, during life time inIslam, parents are supposed to treat sons and daughters equally at par. This unfortunately does not always happen as mothers particularly have a bias towards sons. Though both have a role to play, boys add to your strength, and daughters provide happiness. After the death of my Chacha cum Father-in-Law Zahurudin Khan, his son Ziauddin Khan started managing landed property at Sangla Hill. Whenever any sister complained about the paltry return from their share of land, he would retort back ‘thank God you are getting some thing in Pakistan, otherwise in India you would have had nothing.’  My cousin Salahuddin Khan gave no share to his sisters in Pakistan, a sore point with them. Actually young widows tend  to be indulgent towards youngest child particularly if he is an infant. Qayyuman Chachi widow of my younger Chacha Anwar ul Haque Khan was no exception particularly when the boy was born after 3 daughters. Such discriminate treatment makes the child self centered and indifferent. Similar is the case of many other widows who spoil their youngest orphan child with misplaced indulgence.

Adoption. Then there was the question of adoption which was permissible in Indian Civil Code but not so by Quran. There were three such adoption cases  in MNS at the time of  partition. Firstly when Barrister  M Sharif Khan, childless Chacha of my father,  took away my eldest brother Ihtisham H Khan, a vivacious and cute child when he was only 7 year old  from Jakhal a place far from Bassi near Bhatinda where my father then posted. It was traumatic for my mother to part with her first born and must have been equally traumatic for him to have all the luxuries but devoid of the divine blessing in form of a mother. As related by my second eldest brother, absence of leader  broke the trio of brothers full of fun and antics. Adoption is tough for all. As stated earlier Shafiqua Khanum adopted  Masooda Khanum   daughter of her cousin and my younger Chacha Anwar ul Haque Khan; and third one being adoption by my younger Khala, after loss of husband and son in epidemic stated earlier, of her niece Shaukat Khanum middle daughter of her elder sister Shafiun Khanum.

Omarzais of MNS, like all Muslims in India violated Quran in all the 3 accounts given  above, viz, a single daughter inheriting all, daughters having brothers were not given any inheritance and lastly the practice of adoption entitling adoptee full inheritance. These practices still continue in villages and remote parts of  Pakistan with additional cruel  customs such as Karo Kari, Vani, etc accepted by educated and responsible persons like MNAs, MPAs in the name of tradition, custom; whereas Mohd PUBH had forbidden in Islam these very inhumane practices of handing over an infant girl in lieu of a perpetrated crime by some one else, burying live women and girls, etc.

Prayers in MNS mosque were led by a simple Maulvi Sahib, living off dole by the residents of MNS – not  much. Most of us youngsters were fond of calling faithful to prayers by Azaan from the mosque. Quran was taught by couple of elderly ladies, rest about Islam was learnt from parents. MNS had a graveyard of its own, accessible through passage of the mosque .

That should suffice for the time being, customs figure in other articles as well.

2004, Shehryar & Salman Ahmad at Ashraf Manzil

Shehryar and Salman Ahmed visitied Bassi in 2004 and took this photograph at the same location as the photo at the top. In that photo the following can be seen:

Seating from left to right, starting top downwards;-

1st row:  Aziza Khanum (Sherry’s Nani) and Humaira then Mahbooba Khanum.

2nd row: Hamida Khanum and Mustafai Khanum.

3rd row: Ihtisham Khan, Ziaudin Khan, Masooda Khanum, Mazhar Khan and Faizul Haque Khan.

4th row: Fazley Haque Khan, M Ashraf Khan and Zahuruddin Khan. (Abba Mian)

5th row: Mahmooda Khanum, Salahuddin Khan and Mohammadi Khanum.

6th row: Ahmadi Khanum, Inam Khan and Khalida Khanum.

7th row: Mujtaba Khanum and Sadiqua Khanum (Both blurred)

PS.   In my last article on houses of MNS, I had mentioned sweepers doing all the dirty work. These were Hindu  Achuts (untouchables) or Shudhers –   the fourth category of Hindu Caste system. (In Bengal including Bangla Desh Muslims do this dirty work).  Gandhi termed these Untouchables very cunningly as Harijans – children of God. First category being Brahmins the religious people on top, followed by warriors, rulers, etc; third being commerce and business  Banias. Thus the society is straight jacketed.  Caste system is deep rooted in their religion and excepting some cities, is still being fully practiced despite claims by government to have done away with it  A Brahmin does not tolerate an achut in the same room. Hindus will not have food on the same table with us Muslims as personally observed by when a Hindu officer by name of Mr Moon living on Hall Road, Lahore invited my father and me to lunch at his house. Equality amongst human beings in Islam attracted many Hindus, of lower cast specially, to convert to Islam.

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Core technologies and capabilities that drive the economies take a long time, large amounts of money and even bigger patience to bear fruit. But once they mature, the rewards are well worth the effort.  Malcolm Gladwell in his book “Outliers” makes a similar case for outstanding achievers, that it is more of their earlier start than their brains that make them excel. It is sustained practice of ones art or profession that over the period of time blossoms into an unsurpassed  ability.  Developing countries typically try to shy away from making investments in longer gestation technologies and therefore commit themselves to the path of perpetually playing catchup with developed countries. This is a story of a jet engine that propelled Air Forces possessing it into an unrivaled position.

J-79

In 1952, Gerhard Neumann, a German-born US-citizen, began development of what became one of the most successful military jet engines to enter production. The General Electric J79 was the first US single-shaft high performance axial flow turbojet, with adjustable guide vanes, a 17-stage compressor, three-stage turbine and ten can-type burners.  The first flight of the engine was on 20 May 1955 where the engine was placed in the bomb bay of a J47-powered B-45C . The J79 was lowered from the bomb bay and the four J47s were shut down leaving the B-45 flying on the single J79. The J79 was developed as an outgrowth of the General Electric J73 engine program and was known at first as the J73-GE-X24A. The X24A was designed for reliable Mach 2 performance with minimal required maintenance. Its innovative variable stator vanes increased compressor air pressure and helped eliminate compressor stall. Variable-incidence stators allowed the single-shaft turbojet to develop high pressures similar to those of dual-shaft engines, but at significantly lighter weight. The introduction of the variable stator vane turned out to be one of the most important developments in the history of jet aircraft engines.

More than 17,000 examples of the J79 were built in its thirty-year production run. In its long and successful career the dependable J79 accumulated well over 30 million flying hours and probably clocked more supersonic flying time than any other Western military aircraft engine produced during the Cold War. It was widely used on several types of aircraft, including the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, Convair B-58 Hustler, Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, Israeli Aircraft Industries Kfir, and North American Rockwell A-5 Vigilante. It was just over seventeen feet long, slightly more than three feet in diameter, weighed around 3,500 pounds, and produced around 9,000 pounds of dry thrust. In full afterburner the YJ79 generated around 15,000 pounds of thrust with a fuel flow rate of ten gallons per second. Later versions of the J79 weighed anywhere from 3,500 to 3,800 pounds and produced up to 17,900 pounds of thrust in full afterburner. This engine was chosen by Kelly Johnson to power his design of F-104 Starfighter.

Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson

Kelly Johnson joined Lockheed Corporation in 1933 as a tool designer. After assignments as flight test engineer, stress analyst, aero-dynamicist, weight engineer, and wind tunnel engineer, he became Chief Research Engineer in 1938. His original and creative thinking led to the development of many innovations in the aerospace industry. He contributed significantly to 40 different Lockheed airplane designs. Of these, 19 were primarily Johnson products, some of the best known aircraft in the world; the Hudson bomber, the Constellation and Super-Constellation transports, the P-38 fighter, the T-33 trainer, the F-94 interceptor, and the Jetstar. The first U.S. production jet, the F-80 Shooting Star which made its initial flight in 1944, set a pattern for Johnson and his co-workers. Managing Lockheed’s Advanced Development Projects Division (The “Skunk Works“), he developed the first double-sonic U.S. jet, the F-104 Starfighter, the high flying U-2 spy plane, and the super fast Mach 3 SR-71 Blackbird.

He was not only one of the world’s foremost designers, but he was an innovative manager who gave people who worked for him challenges to constantly create better products. Johnson instinctively knew how to select people for his organization. He knew how to get the most out of the fewest people and how to get the job done—well. He let his managers run their programs with a minimum of interference. As a man of high integrity himself, Johnson expected complete honesty from the people of the Skunk Works. Mistakes were allowed, but they were to be brought to his attention immediately. And Kelly also expected recommendations to correct mistakes. His early experience in metal machining acquired during summer jobs in auto plants proved invaluable in working the heat-resistant titanium sheets needed for the SR-71’s tough skin, which heats up to cherry red temperatures of 630° F. during flight. Johnson deplored the trend toward specialization with the lament of a designer who also knows how to handle machine tools. “Some of the fellows in the Skunk Works never had any cutting oil splashed on them.”

During the Korean Was, Lockheed whisked Johnson to war-zone forward air bases in Korea to talk to fighter pilots as they returned from their missions against the Soviet fighters flown by the north. What did they want in a new fighter aircraft? The answer was simple: speed and altitude. Appropriately, Johnson’s response was also simple. Build a pilot’s fighter which did not compromise on performance, one which could outmatch anything in the Soviet arsenal including the MiG-15.

F-104 StarFighter

The resulting design would carry one powerful, multi-barreled gun, a simple radar gun sight, a pair of the new heat-seeking Sidewinder missiles then under development for the US Navy, be powered by a single, potent engine and fly higher and faster than anything in service anywhere. What’s more, it would be affordable. Ultimate performance for the new fighter meant low drag and high power. Abandoning the swept-wing twin-engine concept of the Lockheed XF-90 which had been developed from the massive German research data captured by the Allies at the end of world war II, the Skunk Works team settled upon a straight wing of very slender section. Its exceedingly thin leading edge and minimum camber would decrease shock waves and give relief from the weight and complexity of swept wings. However, the wing would have to be considerably thinner than five per cent, and the only answer to producing such a thin, straight wing was to make it extremely short. It had incredibly small knife-edged wings, sharply drooped to improve stability, a long, needle-nosed fuselage, a tall “T” tail, and open, half-circle intakes behind the cockpit. It was so futuristic in appearance it was soon dubbed by the Lockheed marketing department, “the missile with a man in it”.

The shortness of the wing also enabled the aircraft to reduce drag. In order to achieve a better low speed performance for the wing, Lockheed engineers installed wing-leading edge as well as trailing-edge flaps. The function of these flaps was to convert the thin airfoil into a highly cambered one for better take-off and landing operations. A newly designed Boundary Layer Control System (BLCS) was installed of the F-104. The BLCS allowed the aircraft’s wings to delay flow separation at full flap setting and helped to increase the aircraft’s lift capacity, using high pressure bleed air blown over the trailing edge of the wing. The F-104 was one of the few aircraft in aviation history with more engine thrust than aerodynamic drag. This margin of thrust gave the F-104 it’s high speed capability and altitude performance. It also invested the aircraft with an uncanny ability to ascend at a steeper angle and with a higher climb rate than anything else in the skies. The climb rate was one of Johnson’s primary concerns in developing the Starfighter. He and his team designed the F-104 with the ability to intercept targets at an impressive climb rate of 60,000 ft per minute, with a fully loaded aircraft. This rate could be achieved with speeds in excess of Mach 1.7, the original profile requirement, without the aircraft losing overall forward speed. Overall speed and climb rate for the F-104 could only be achieved with the utilization of a massive power plant. The F-104 was fitted with a General Electric J79 engine capable of generating 15,800 pounds of thrust at sea level. It was a massive structure that weighed 3,500lb and was 17′-3″ in length. Due to the adjustable pitch of the guide vanes and its power, the howling noise of the jet engine was quite unique. The video link  below gives you a sense of its sheer power and speed.

Pakistan Air Force & F-104

When Khruschev threatened to drop a nuclear bomb on Peshawer after the U-2 incident, PAF acquired a dozen F-104s to protect the city from high flying Soviet bombers. At PAF’s request, all its F-104As were refitted with the M-61 Gatling 20   mm gun, whereas its counterparts in the USAF had been divested of their   guns on the assumption that all post-Korea air combat would occur at  high speeds where only the wing tip-mounted Sidewinder missiles would be   effective. The PAF’s foresight was amply rewarded in actual combat and   the USAF too reverted to having machine guns as mandatory equipment on all its fighters in due course. The newer GWE- J-79-11 engine was also   installed on the aircraft. This made the Pakistan F-104s somewhat   unique: they had the gun and being the lightest of F-104 series with a more advanced J-79 engine enjoyed the best thrust-to-weight ratio.

The only PAF unit to be equipped with the F-104 was No 9 Air Superiority Squadron. The squadron flies the F-16 today. The in-commission rate of   the F-104 during the first five years of service was over 80 % and all   its systems performed with high reliability. The fighter was employed in   the air-to-air role by the PAF and was used extensively for aerial gunnery against both banner targets and the Dart targets with excellent scores. In strafing attacks the M-61 gun was superbly accurate.

The F-104 Starfighters remained in service with Pakistan Air Force for twelve years and flew 11,690 hours. During the 1965 Pakistan-India War, the F-104s flew a total of 246 hours and 45 minutes while during the 1971 War, the F-104s flew a total of 103 hours and forty-five minutes.

My personal experience of watching the speed and sound of F-104 happened in the mid 60s when PAF provided an air display on Pakistan Day at Peshawar Air Base. Many of the jets were lined up on the airfield on a crisp cool morning. To demonstrate the high altitude intercept capability, an intruder B-57 was sent up first. After some other demonstrations it was announced that the intruder has been detected and two F-104 thundered near vertically off the run way. Soon after the contrails of the intruder and two much faster contrails of F-104s performing an intercept could be visibly seen by the awed spectators.

To give you a better feel for the performance of F-104s with PAF I have taken the liberty of attaching some extracts by

Wg Cdr Aftab Alam Khan, Pakistan Air Force (Retd)

Introduction

This is a personal account of the crucial role played by the dozen F-104 Starfighters of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in the Indo-Pakistan War of September 1965. The Indian Air Force (IAF) had then approximately 900 aircraft against PAF’s total of only 150. To win the battle for air superiority against these odds was a daunting task. Losing air superiority would have meant that Pakistan would have had to face the full might of the IAF, the consequences of which would have been disastrous. It was therefore imperative, that the PAF won and kept control of the air.

Induction of the Starfighter in the PAF

Sqn Ldr Sadruddin and Flt Lt Middlecoat landed the first Starfighters at PAF Base Sargodha in 1962. In the following months, Pakistan inducted a total of 10 F-104A and two dual seat F-104B training aircraft in No 9 Squadron. These were USAF F-104C aircraft refurbished and updated with the latest J-79-11A engine, and upward ejection seats. Equipped with the M-61 Vulcan six barrel gun, the AIM-9B Sidewinder missile and the AN/ASG-14T1 fire control system, the aircraft was designed for high altitude (above 5000 feet), day /night interception/combat. Pakistan was the first country in Asia to induct a Mach 2 aircraft into its airforce. While most countries in Europe were still flying subsonic aircraft and none in Asia had an aircraft of this class and technology, many in Pakistan and abroad were skeptical of the PAF’s ability to fly and maintain this advanced system. The PAF’s flying skills, technological prowess, and competence, were soon proven. The pilots and ground crew of No.9 Squadron, who had been handpicked from F-86 squadrons, became the envy of the PAF by gaining mastery of the aircraft. To be part of No.9 Squadron, the cream of the PAF, was a great honour and privilege. In 1964 I was lucky to be given this honor. Sqn Ldr Jamal A Khan, the Squadron Commander was a very dedicated officer who set and maintained high standards. Training and flying in this Squadron was hard work. Safety always came first.

The J-79-11A engine was sophisticated and complicated. It had inlet guide vanes in front of the engine, and a variable nozzle system in the rear. These were liable to fail, but the PAF maintenance crew had mastered the equipment. We only had one engine flame out, and the pilot Flt Lt Khalid managed to make a ‘dead stick’ landing. This was a difficult maneuver requiring precise judgement. The pattern was flown at 240kts and the landing flare started 300 ft above ground level, to make a touch down at 190 kt, on a 9000 feet long runway. Only one F-104 was lost during training -- a training air combat sortie -- in which Flt Lt Asghar ‘pitched up’, and went into a spin. He ejected safely at high speed, and received major bruises. The aircraft was replaced under the MAP program. Operational training was fun. Flying at Mach 2 was an incomparable experience. The thrill of coming under radar control, attacking F-86 formations, that were denied radar help, was a fighter pilot’s dream come true. The F-104 zoomed out of nowhere, and before the F-86 pilots could start their defensive maneuvers, the F-104 had completed its simulated missile launch and was breaking off.

Early in 1965, warlike activity started in the disputed territory of Indian held Kashmir. Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Nur Khan had taken command of the PAF, just before the war. These were the days when we would be briefed daily, ‘under no account should any IAF aircraft be pursued across the border, if an aircraft is shot down, the wreckage must fall within Pakistani territory’. This was done to ensure that India would not be provoked into escalating to an all out war. All the concentration was along the disputed territory of Kashmir. On 3rd September 1965 an IAF Gnat was flying over Pakistan, on its way to its home base. A lone F- 104 was vectored to intercept the aircraft. Closing in at supersonic speed, the F-104 crossed the Gnat. There was no chance of making a successful intercept. But the Gnat pilot, probably thinking that there were more aircraft in the area, promptly lowered his gears and landed at a disused Pakistani airfield below, and surrendered himself. At that time, few thought that there was any chance of a real war breaking out. Life went on as usual. The routine was that a daily morning Combat Air patrol (CAP) would be airborne well before dawn. The F-104 formation would climb to 30, 000 feet, patrol the area near Kashmir and land back one hour after sunrise.

The War

The balloon went up on the morning of 6th September 1965. I got airborne with my wingman on a CAP mission. We climbed out under radar control, and were directed to the border near Kashmir. I was informed that the IAF had crossed the Pakistani border and were attacking ground positions approximately 80nm south of us. This meant that India had actually decided to start an all out war. We were immediately vectored to the area, and were soon over the site where the Indian aircraft were attacking. While dawn was breaking at 15,000 feet, it was still dark down below. I asked for permission to descend to ground level, but was denied. The reason given was that radio contact would be lost. I, however, decided to descend and leaving my wingman at 15,000 feet, to act as radio relay, I dove down and headed towards some flashes. As I reached the area, I was surprised to see that I was flying head-on into a formation of four IAF Mystere IV aircraft that were attacking ground targets. I was shocked more than I was surprised, as I felt a wave of anger leap through me. I had to shoot down these aircraft. I jettisoned my external fuel tanks and started to engage the Mysteres, as they turned into me. Maneuvering started at tree top level. I kept my eyes ‘glued’ on the target. I could feel the strain, under high ‘G’s’, looking over the tail of the aircraft, keeping the enemy in sight, and skimming the trees at high speed. One mistake, and I would have hit the ground. If I had lost sight of the Mysteres, the fight would have been over. The F-104, with the afterburner blazing, at low altitude, was responding very well. I used the high speed take -off Flaps to improve the turning capability as required. The ‘Stick Shaker’ was a big help, in flying the aircraft to its limit. The Mysteres would have no problem keeping the F-104 in sight because of its afterburner. After some hectic maneuvering, I was positioned behind two aircraft, but the other two were still not visible. I then spotted them, further ahead. Joy leapt through me; I armed my weapons, and decided to shoot the first two with missiles and the next two with guns. I fully realized that a confidential order prohibited me from using the missiles below 10, 000 ft. However, I was sure the missiles could be used effectively at any height, provided the targets could be discriminated from background heat sources. A distinct increase in missile tone ensured this. I set the wingspan of the Mystere IV, and started to recall the missile-firing checklist. ‘Check Range’, ‘Check Tone’, ‘Check G’s’, ‘Squeeze the trigger and hold’. I aimed the missile at the nearest aircraft, and heard the loud pitched missile tone. The sight indicated that I was in range. With all other requisite firing conditions met, I squeezed the trigger, and kept it pressed. I waited, only to note that the missile had not fired. As I looked towards the left missile, I saw a big flash, and the missile leaving the aircraft. The missile had taken, as stipulated in the manual, approx. 8/10ths of a second to fire after the trigger had been pressed but in combat, this seemed like an eternity. The flash of the missile blinded me for a few seconds. The radar controller who was also monitoring the radio of the Mystere’s, immediately informed me that one Mystere had been shot down and that another had been damaged. I was then at once instructed to turn right and pick up visual contact with the other Mysteres, which were exiting. I turned as directed but could not see them.

On landing back, I was informed that the dog fight had taken place overhead the Rahwali Airfield where a low powered radar was located. The Mystere’s wreckage had fallen close by; the other three had gotten away. It gave me great satisfaction and amusement to think the effect that would be created on the IAF when the tale of the encounter with, ‘the F-104′ was narrated by the pilots who got away. To quote Hussaini, the PAF’s official aviation painter, ‘Apart from being the first encounter to start the war in earnest, the engagement was also significant in other respects. It marked a new era in dogfighting at very low altitude. It was also the first combat kill by any Mach 2 aircraft and the first missile kill for the Pakistan Air Force’. Moreover, it was also proven that the F-104 and the Sidewinder missile were an effective weapon system at low altitude.

India had launched a full-scale attack, and we were now at war. India had the advantage of the aggressor, but had failed to take advantage of the ‘first strike’. The PAF now had to counter attack. The Air Chief arrived on the base. As I saw him he looked confident, and very aggressive. He was a genius; his planning was only surpassed by his boldness in execution. He had to fight 900 Indian aircraft with his 150. What could he do? The odds were impossible. He immediately gave instructions to reconnoiter (recce) the forward IAF air bases of Halwara and Adampur with the F-104. The pilots returned to report that the airfields had a full compliment of aircraft. He then enquired how many aircraft were available for a ‘dusk attack’. He was told that only seven F-86’s were serviceable. He ordered four to attack the IAF Base of Adampur, and three to attack Halwara Air Base. The plan appeared absurd. Attacking an airfield with only four aircraft and three aircraft respectively, after a recce .The enemy would be waiting. The attack was sure to fail. Subordinate commanders tried to convince the Chief to withdraw the order. None of us could appreciate the reason behind his logic. Command is lonely, and it takes courage to stand by one’s convictions. The Chief stood firm. The ‘dusk attack’ was launched.

Of the seven PAF F-86 aircraft that took part in the ‘Dusk Strike’ two were shot down. The PAF kept attacking the IAF bases all night with B-57 bombers. The Air Chief hoped that the IAF would retaliate next morning, and attack the main PAF fighter base Sargodha that was 90 nm from the border. Radar was not effective at low altitude; therefore, the PAF had a string of Mobile Observer Units (MOU’s), that could plot and report low flying aircraft in Pakistani territory. Since the IAF attack was expected at low level, it would not be a surprise for the PAF. The only question now was, whether the IAF would take the bait, and attack Sargodha. Early next morning, on 7th September 1965, a large number of PAF F-104 and F-86 aircraft set up a Combat Air Patrol (CAP), over /near Sargodha, waiting for the enemy to attack. The F-104s were assigned the outer perimeter, while the F-86s were kept closer to the airfield. The Mobile Observer Units started to report the incoming intruders as they crossed the border and headed for Sargodha. The anti-aircraft guns opened fire as the first group of attacking aircraft came in. Surprisingly, these planes got through, without being intercepted. The next attack was picked up by Flt Lt Arif Iqbal in a F-104, and as he was about to fire, he suddenly saw an F- 86 flight appear between him and the enemy, and shoot down the Mystere. The attacks then came wave after wave, each one being intercepted, mostly by F-86’s, because they were positioned closer to the airfield. Flt Lt Amjad, in a F-104, shot down a Mystere, only to fly into the debris of the exploding aircraft. He ejected safely. By noon all attacks had ceased. The ‘Battle for Sargodha’ had been won. Never again in this war did the IAF venture to attack Sargodha in daytime. AVM Nur Khan had scored; the genius and courage of his plan had worked, his main air defence assets were safe.

The pilots of No.9 Squadron competed fiercely, to undertake as many combat missions as they could. Never missing a chance to close with the enemy, hungry for combat. In the days that followed, the F-104 pilots noted that whenever they got airborne, the IAF grounded all its aircraft. This made it very difficult for the F-104 pilots to engage the enemy during daytime hours. Flt Lt Mushtaq, my brother, flying a F-104 in the same Squadron, made contact with the enemy, only to note that as he approached the target, the IAF Hunters disengaged well in time. Flt Lt ‘Micky’ Abbas in an F-104 had a similar episode. This experience would be repeated for the F-104 pilots for all daytime interceptions. I personally patrolled in a lone F-104, at 30,000ft, deep inside Indian territory, over the two Indian fighter airfields of Adampur and Halwara for one hour, and there was no response from the Indian side, no IAF fighter aircraft were scrambled to engage the intruder leisurely loitering over Indian airbases. This was total air superiority, and it displayed the complete and utter supremacy the Starfighter enjoyed over the IAF.

At medium and high altitudes the F-104 ruled the sky. The IAF refused to challenge the Starfighter, keeping at a safe arm’s length distance from challenging it. But below 5000ft, a fierce battle raged between the F-86 and the IAF fighters, mainly the Hunters and Gnats. The F-86 was the workhorse of the PAF, it was under-powered, outnumbered, and out-gunned. Nevertheless, the F-86 pilots showed great courage as they fearlessly engaged their opponents, and displayed an unusual skill for air combat, achieving an excellent kill ratio. The F-104 by controlling the sky at medium and high altitude, had reduced the workload for the F-86 ’s to the extent that the disparity in numbers was manageable. The F-86’s could now hold their own against the enemy at low altitude. The F-104/F-86 team had won the battle for the air. The PAF had fully established air superiority. The job had been done; numbers did not matter now. The will of the enemy to fight the F-104 had been broken. It was a tremendous contribution by the F-104 in the war effort. The Starfighter reigned supreme. It had played a pivotal role in the defense of Pakistan, and the battle for air supremacy by the PAF.

Tribute to the Starfighter

Pakistan got the better of the IAF, with odds of 1:6 or 150:900, and the PAF maintained Air Superiority, day and night. The genius and courage of Air Marshal Nur Khan and the F-104/F-86 team had made this possible. Undoubtedly, the F-86 was the workhorse, but the F-104 had a very special task. The PAFpilot/F-104 team had created a situation where the IAF pilots did not have the will to fight the F-104. When the F-104 was ‘UP’, the Indian Air Force was ‘Down on the Ground’. This removed a major portion of the threat. The Starfighter and its pilots had contributed immensely to achieve this victory. The pilots by flying and engaging enemy aircraft very aggressively, never losing any opportunity to engage the enemy, by day or by night. Working long hours, and flying under difficult flight conditions. The maintenance crew and the F-104 deserve a special accolade, ‘not one technical abort, or snag affected a mission’. The F-104 was flown by determined pilots, maintained by efficient crew and supported by dedicated radar controllers. This made a tremendous team, that helped win the battle for air superiority for the PAF. The F-104 Starfighter was in a class of its own-’Superlative’, to say the least. Without the dozen Starfighters the outcome of the war might not have been so good. ‘It definitely was a pleasure, a great thrill, and the ultimate experience to fly the F-104 in Combat’.

The Engine is the Core Competence

The point of this longish post is the elucidate the importance of the core competency achieved by this amazing engine.  A dozen fighters equipped with this engine were able to dominate a much larger air force. While it is true that PAF pilots effectively mastered the art of flying a difficult plane and used it to its full potential, it can be argued that had IAF had this plane, they could equally well have had an upper hand.  Kelly Johnson was able to wrap a plane around this engine to create a master piece, that could even today give any fighter a run for the money with the right avionics and weapons upgrades at medium and high altitudes. But this engine proved equally effective in Phantom, a plane not designed by Kelly.

This lesson has been effectively applied by countries like Finland, Israel and Brazil. Finland has a disproportionate market share of cell phone market. Similarly Israel focused their investments in unmanned aircraft vehicles and are now reaping the benefits in this market of the future. Brazil competes on equal footing with US and European countries in the sales of business jets.

Developing countries like Pakistan should focus on core technologies of the future so that they too can compete with the best and reap the benefits.

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Seldom does something so small make such a major social splash as the JadooTV box. The reason is that the box is just the tip of an ice berg. The multimedia content aggregation, Jadoo Portal, globally distributed media servers and a high bandwidth global infrastructure constitute the whole iceberg. JadooTV is a palm size box that connects the internet to your TV set and allows you to browse and watch audio, video and multi-media content in your living room or wherever your TV is located. It could even be in a car. The concept of connecting TV is not new and there are other companies providing devices that do the same; like VuNow from VerismoNetworks and IPTV2000 from Netgear.

Global Focus:

What sets JadooTV apart from the other offerings is the content on its portal and the regular software and portal improvements that continuously keep on increasing the value proposition of using it. JadooTV’s development teams are spread around the world. Hardware is designed in Taiwan and manufactured in China. Software is being developed in Pakistan and India. Aggregation is done all around the world. The content is pushed out by video servers around the world by world class infrastructure providers. Globally diversity allows for both optimization of development and manufacturing; that over a period of time has the potential to make JadooTV the unquestioned number one provider of this disruptive technology. The global vision of its management had also made its way into the content aggregation. They have chosen to first focus on providing the many diasporas living around the world with live content from their homelands. This focus is also what separates it from the rest of its competition. JadooTV has done for video content, what internet earlier on did for documents by providing global accessibility.

Live TV and Radio:

You can watch Live TV Channels from Indian, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and many more countries around the world. It shows Live Cricket Matches, Live Soccer Games, Live Sports, Indian & Pakistani Food Recipes, International News, and much more. You can also watch from the large selection of Indian Movies, Pakistani Dramas & Stage Shows. Live Internet Radio from India / Pakistan and many other Countries is brought to you as well. These capabilities made their impact on our lives when my relatives visiting from Pakistan were made to feel right at home in the US by being able to watch their favorite TV programs and remain abreast with news back home.

Surfing the Web:

Many computer companies like GateWay and Dell have tried to make browsing the web in the living room TV. But they failed because they had computer centric thinking. JadooTV shines in this space as it takes a TV centric approach to experiencing the web. JadooTV has embedded a special web browser and designed their portal to make the frequently visited media and social sites easy to visit. You will be able to scour Youtube and search for videos using the powerful built-in video search engine. If you were willing to go the extra step of downloading PlayOn™ from Media Mall™ you will be able to watch all the exciting video content from Hulu™, Netflix™, Amazon Unbox™, CNN™, and ESPN™.

Access Personal Media from Home Network:

Another useful JadooTV feature is the ability to access all your videos, music and photos on your PCs over your home network. It could also be from Networked Attached Storage device, or even on a connected USB storage device. I did not realize that Microsoft Media Player can also act as a video server. It was quite easy to configure Media Player 11 on my XP based PC, to share its content on the local network. You do need to make sure that the firewall is not blocking external access. The Media Player senses your JadooTV and asks you if you want to share content with it. The nice thing is that you can not only watch videos but also collectively watch your photo albums with music streaming in the background. JadooTV automatically senses the resolution of your TV and scales the photos appropriately.

QWERTY Remote:

The standard tv appliance user interface of a remote starts to suffer when it comes to internet browsing. The need to enter alphanumeric information frequently led to the design of a Qwerty remote. A blackberry like remote with a full QWERTY keyboard will provide the enhanced user interface while remaining sufficiently like the standard tv remote.

It is hard to beat the shear amount of multimedia content being delivered by a device that costs about the same as an iPhone but without the monthly charges.

PS:  You may want to read about Jadoo2: A Worth While Entertainment and Educational Gadget.

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