Sher Fauji - Siphai Maqbool Hussain

The masses of Pakistan are today bathing in the beauty of democracy since the elections of 18 February. Above all they are hoping that democracy's potential is finally realised in the land of the pure and that dictatorship and the rule of the gun is finally confined to its rightful place - the graveyard of hell.

Tragically dictatorship in Pakistan has strong roots thanks to our infamous khaki kings from Ayub to Musharraf and their lust for power. This 24/7 craving for office and influence from the army command sadly has not been without cost, with the word 'fauji' becoming a dirty word with even the army's laudable work in other areas finding few fans in the eyes of the masses.

Thus the foul four of Ayub, Yahya, Zia and Musharraf have not only desecrated and diminished the respect of the 'fauji' or soldier but worse their acts of commission have in time relegated the work of the proud and brave Pakistani soldier to not even a footnote in any discussion on the topic.

Thankfully General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani seems to have bucked the trend and has chose to decorate and not desecrate the soldier and about time too.

General Kayani has made 2008 the year of the soldier, a year of tribute to that that fauji who defends the motherland that is the second Madina. A tribute to those sons of the soil who have made the land pure and those soldiers who remain the eternal saviours of our collective destiny.

So this post pays tribute to all our lion soldiers or 'sher fauji' those fallen and fighting.

In particular it pays a special tribute to the great Siphai Maqbool Hussain who like me hails from Azad Kashmir and whose love and sacrifice in the nation is being written in golden letters today. His story in the Daily Times is inspiring and is shown below and can also be seen here :

Siphai Maqbool Hussain’, a play that narrates the true story of a Pakistani soldier, Maqbool Hussain, premiered on Tuesday at the Army Auditorium.

The premiere of the play was attended by a large number of people from all walks of life. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani, the chief guest of the event, applauded Hussain’s story for its portrayal of his valour.

Co-produced by the Inter-Services Public Relations and Interflow Communications Limited, ‘Siphai Maqbool Hussain’ touched the hearts of the spectators, as the play delineated the suffering and inhumane treatment of Hussain and the cruelty of his captors, who brutally cut his tongue.

40 years: Hussain, who was injured and taken prisoner by the Indian Army in the 1965 war, spent 40 years in Indian jails. He was released as a civilian prisoner in 2005. During his imprisonment, Hussain was subjected to terrible human rights abuses.

Hailing from Azad Kashmir, and engaged to Naseeran before joining army, Hussain’s aging mother kept waiting for his return. When she died, Hussain’s mother was buried at the entrance of the village at her request, so that she could ‘meet’ her son when he returned.

Haider Imam Rizvi directed the play, while the cast included Raja Haider, Batin Farooqi, Riaz Mastana, Hassan Niazi, Reeja and Ghazala Butt. Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan sung the play’s theme song. ‘Siphai Maqbool Hussain’ will also be telecast on Pakistan Television as a weekly serial.

As the story unfolds, Hussain, bearing army No 335139, is shown being hit by enemy fire on the Line of Control at the start of the 1965 war. Subsequently, he is taken prisoner by the Indian army, who deny him Prisoner of War status. Trained in the traditions of the Pakistan Army, Hussain faces all the suffering and refuses to share any information about his country with his captors — so much so that when they cut out his tongue, he writes ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ (long live Pakistan) in his own blood. Hussain also becomes mentally ill during his four decades of incarceration.

When the real Hussain was brought on stage at the end of the performance, he had a blank look on his face and was unable to recognise the army chief, who went on stage and shook hands with him.

I am confident that Siphai Maqbool Hussain's story of sacrifice will have uplifted all who read it. As an Azad Kashmiri too I feel particularly proud of his service to the nation, he has represented the K in Pakistan with distinction. He is and will forever remain a true son of the Quaid and Pakistan's soil salutes him.

Sher Fauji Siphai Maqbool Hussain Zindabad

Wasim Arif - 18th April 2008, 02:31 PK Time

 

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