With the way in which the world is being focused upon, with the way in which the television via satellite is expanding, and getting emotionally disturbing in a sense, one wonders about the impact that this little friend at home, can have on the process of self-discovery that the modern individual seeks, so naturally. This little friend is the Television, the set, the software, the ceaseless conversation, the variety of sounds and the images that it provides, and enables the individual to pursue routine. I am not able to share the view that it is the "idiot box".
Somewhat amazing how much television one has watched primarily for news alone, or for current affairs, as the Karachi situation has been a source of anxiety, and sad speculation for all of this week, and as one writes this on a Wednesday evening, there are reports of "trouble " (read violence) that has begun trickling in. And one assumes that TV camera men, especially those of Geo, ARY, and Indus News, (also PTV?) will be out there filming, recording images that viewers will see later and contemplate, either in silence or in conversation. Indeed there is contemplative conversation too. Karachi a Karbala, says one daily.
Karachi's recurring street troubles, the dreadful bomb blasts, the killing of Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai, the looting and burning of property, the death of innocent people, like those who went to offer prayers, and were blown up, presumably by the suicide bomber, have been filmed in varying degrees, and we have young people and children being brought up on these images, and related information. I watched the KTN channel's news bulletin on Tuesday night, and the film report had footage that was truly scary, and deeply disturbing. It showed what kind of atmosphere must have prevailed in those localities, and even residential areas where people were either mourning or protesting, and turning all that into violence Some of the other footage of the disorder in Karachi has been good, and even to see that a young channel like KTN, (in Sindhi) is up to the mark is reflective of the TV that lies ahead in this country. One would like in passing to mention that during the week I have seen another print media advertisement which was for a variety of professionals that were required by another upcoming TV channel in Pakistan. That comment on the KTN footage of disturbances on 1st June was only an indication of the professionalism that this channel shows. It is a channel that has many of us in Karachi reflecting on other such TV channels in regional languages that are bound to emerge in the days ahead.
Karachi news and views. What kind of days lie ahead? When does all this end, and where does it take us? Take us all? I saw several programmes during the week that made one ask these questions. In particular there was an interview with the Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad on ARY as he talked coolly with P.J. Mir, (on Tuesday evening), then later there was Dr Shahid Masood talking to Qazi Hussain Ahmad, and then to Dr Farooq Sattar after the 10pm news bulletin. At about the same time there was on air, over Geo, the weighty Capital Talk that is anchored by Hamid Mir. He was talking to Syed Munawar Hasan and Dr Farooq Sattar. And while I became sleepy I still managed to see some of Kamran Khan's programme, and slept sad, sound and tired. All these were mirroring the state of Karachi, Both Shahid Masood, and Hamid Mir were directly asking their discussants to explain how they saw the future of Karachi, and whether the MMA and the MQM could ensure that they contribute to prospects of peace of Karachi. One is resisting the temptation of going into all the political speculation that has been going on, about Sindh, and how Karachi has been the focus. It has been many years now, and this suffering won't go. Some of the most terrifying interpretations and forecasting have been going on, and it was Qazi Hussain Ahmed who said that while there was no sectarian basis for the May 2004 bombblasts and killings, the western TV channels like BBC and CNN were using words like Sunni and Shia cleric to divide the Muslims, here and the world over. This was an indicator of the larger wars that the world is seized by now And the war and against terror is one of them.
On how sombre and gloomy has been the face of TV in the Sindh capital one would mention the kind of Sunday that 30th May 2004 was. The killing of Mufti Shamzai took place at about 8am, and soon after the TV (not PTV, please) broke the news. The rest of Sunday was spent in a sad uncertainty, >what next? It just reminded of the way in which Sundays have changed in our lives, and from the days one leisurely spent in reading the Sunday papers, and meeting people, it has gradually become TV focused for many of us. And TV channels employ a baffling variety of programmes to ensure that there is something for the family. Sunday is a kind of prime time? And for Karachi viewers in particular it was prime time in sorrow?
I think I need to underline the point that perhaps these TV encounters between opposing politicians insinuate that their conflicts do not have an easy way out, if at all. One hopes that such is not the case in reality.

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If on the one hand there was this kind of mood, grim, solemn, mournful on television, there was what some may describe as entertaining and recreational?/For instance, there was the unforgettable tribute that the Indus channel presented to Ustad Amanat Ali Khan on Saturday night which I was able to tune into after giving up that PTV play called Ek Safar Tanha Hi, written by Farzana Khalid with a screenplay by Zubair Abbasi. It looked like a good play, emotionally gripping, and thematically strong. But I opted to see that tribute to that legendary singer who died at the age of 45. One heard Asad Amanat Ali Khan render some of his father's immortal hits, also Tina Sani sing "yeh Arzoo thi Tujhe gul Ke Roobaroo Kartey". Down memory lane there was his brother Ustad Fateh Alli Khan who recalled some of their shared past, and how the early death of the Ustad Amanat had deprived him of a loving brother, and dampened his interest in music, and singing too. To make viewers recall the pain and pleasure of listening to Ustad Amanat there were telecast excerpts from his famous songs like "Insha Ji Utho Ab Kooch Karo", "Honton Pey Kabhi Unke Mera Naam Hi Aae," Aay Meray Pyarey Watan,' and Khalilullah Farooqui's script pointed to what is inscribed on the singer's tombstone:
"Chand Meri Zameen, Chand Mera Watan"
The Indus TV in its tribute series has been begun advertising the next one now. It is dedicated to the legendary actress Meena Kumari. That is something to wait for, and if possible not be missed the first time. The very first time.
What a contrast programmes like this Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, are when you have in mind Indian channels like B4U or Zee Music or even some of the Pakistani music channels. I have in mind some of the old Indian songs that have been reenacted to meet the cultural needs of the young of today. The emphasis is purely or largely on the sensual, and the immediate impact that may be evoked. That's all, and without sounding old fashioned, or at risk of sounding so, the exploitation of the female form is enough to put one off.
It is pertinent here to mention a very sweet programme called "Yaadein Radio Ceylon Ki" which I saw on a Saturday morning on Zee TV. Anchor woman Tabassum was handling it, and excerpts from three or four songs (black and white and colour) were shown, and for those of us who know what Radio Ceylon meant, and who Amin Sayani was, and what Binaca Geet Mala was all about, were delighted.
There is no doubt in my mind that this programme should be of a longer duration. I wonder if there are other such programmes on Indian TV which can be made available to us via the satellite, or even the cable. In this Radio Ceylong memory lane walk it was exciting to see that lovely black and white song "Dil Ko Lakh Sambhalay Phir Bhi Dil Matwala Ji". I hope I have the words right here.
I should have mentioned this last time but here it is now. This was Uzma Gilani looking sedate and dignified as always, and this time she was on PTV with a programme called Kuch Dair Pehley Neend Sey". From what I saw she seemed to be playing some of her favourite songs, and some of them were as follows: Junaid Jamshed's "Na Tum Aao Gay, Na Chain Aaye Ga; Ustad Asad Amanat Ali Khan's "Umran Lagian", and some hits of Hadiqa Kayani, Noor Jehan, Farida Khanum, and Junoon. Not just the songs that she selected but also the manner in which she talked about her reasons for those particular songs being her favourites was appealing. And that this programme was telecast at about bed time was so good. Get Uzma Gilani to do such bedtime talk more often. She's still got It.
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Which reminds me that there are some government commercials that haven't got it. Haven't got credibility, that is. And from the look of things they don't care. Take the case of the commercial that highlights and crudely drives home the point that the efforts of the Punjab government to promote education for girls are very very commendable. The manner and frequency with which this is being done makes it appear that the other provinces are doing nothing. Makes you think whether the Punjab government would not do better if it spent the same amount of money on education, rather than advertising.
Which further reminds me that what a strange sad ironic contrast emerges when you realise that Karachi's hospitals are poorly equipped for bloody conflicts like those we have seen recently, and that Hyderabad hospitals were ill equipped for water related illnesses, and the Ministry of health was merrily advertising and spending time and money on Polio. There is much to say on this, later?
In fact there is much to say about the tormenting focus on crime and violence against women, as in gang rape and assault, themes that are being underlined very dramatically, repeatedly, and tearfully on some channels. I was in tears when I saw one of these on Geo last week.