Thursday, November 15, 2007

Humor in the times of Coup-lera

I was randomly surfing today when I came across this very interesting article on a restaurant in Islamabad called Civil Junction.

Started by Arshed Bhatti, a journalist turned civil activist, the restaurant is now preparing to evolve a Menu that reflects contemporary times. With "Well-Done Opposition" and "Spineless Opposition", both chicken dishes with and without bones for the main course that can be had with "Activist Daal Deal" or "Dhoka Dahi" adorning the menu, the restaurant is a seemingly ridiculous but a highly unconventional tool of social protest.

A country which is doing everything to muffle and bury the voice of media, a restaurant such as this is what is bringing people closer to discuss stark political issues over a "Musharraf Guespresso" or a "Vajpayee's Cuppa"

This restaurant looks to me like the Harry Potter of Pakistan, the only one that a courage to call a Voldemort, a Voldemort.

This cafe is not just an attempt to flirt with the powers that be, rather seems to be a haven for open conversation in a land where guns and lathis beat more often than tongues to raise a point.

Maybe, its unfair on my part to represent such a view, having nothing really to do with Pakistan.
But I belong to a country myself which 'boasts' of a menu with "Buddhadeb Bheja Fry" and "Yechury Kichri" among others, so is it really wrong on my part to say, "Way to go, Mr Arshed!"?

5 comments:

SRK said...

he he... kya kya karna padtha hai protest karne ke liye...
mebbe u shud pass on the link to ur fav bistro guy Jayram...
mebbe he can come up wid some SP spl dishes...
SD's espresso: one sho(r)t quiz and u r wide awake
Renu Cola: All fizz, no drink
Kool-karni: drink this for a booming voice
Lata Kheer: very sweet, but difficult to digest
Vasant's Filter Coffee: takes time to brew, but irresistable
Sanjoy Soda: a very Sir-ca(u)stic soda

PS: I hope the profs are not reading this...

R. Anand said...

kewl... so a lot work in the factory has been going on in changing the look and feel of the blog... :)

i never thought that guys in pak could actually come up with such witty sarcasm... looks like there is a lot to learn... ;)

srk: that is an awesome plan... lets go and chuck those bistro guys out rite away and set up our own stall...

Priyanka said...

Here are some more for the SP Menu..

Var-shahi Tikka : Small, spicy and grilled for a lingering aftertaste
DM Aloo: Without any 'dum'

Anonymous said...

thank God u din say DuMb Aloo

Priyanka said...

well i didn't say it and it's not my fault if it sounds like it either! :)