'Congratulations on the WC semis win!'
A brief email exchange about the cricket World Cup semi-finals and O.P. Nayyar...
our common humanity and quest for peace
From: Siraj Khan
Sent: Wed, Mar 30, 2011
Subject: Congratulations on the WC semis win!
When a team drops the world's best batsman four times in an innings, only a miracle could have saved Pakistan from defeat. That, obviously, did not take place.
Siraj
From: Shridhar Kulkarni
To: Siraj Khan
Subject: Congratulations on the WC semis win!
Dear Sirajji,
Thank you. What was remarkable about this match was the cordial and friendly behaviour displayed on both sides. Obviously it is easy for us to get along well here in the US (or any foreign country for that matter), but it is heart-warming to see that happen back home. We all get only one life...
I am all for anything that helps make us feel human first. I am humbled by the work you have done in this space and would feel proud if I could do even a small fraction of what you have done for others.
Anusha is getting ready with the songs and is looking forward to your Geeta Dutt show - Hawaaon ke Taraanay.
Best,
Shridhar
From: Siraj Khan
Subject: Congratulations on the WC semis win!
Why should we even think about problems in getting along?
I love to visit and work in India and have never had any problems.
A lot of my Indian friends here in Boston and in India have often asked me why despite not being from India, I continue to work tirelessly on issues connected with the country. My standard reply is that culture and art belong to the whole world and are not restricted by barriers of national or political boundaries. In fact, they help building bridges in such a way as if these boundaries do not exist.
I simply cannot understand why art, culture, music is not used more in cross-border relationship, than what is being done at present. Cricket is a competition and has its limits after all.
I recall back in 2008 when we were getting the O.P. Nayyar Memorial Trust registered in Mumbai, the Indian regulatory authorities required all the Trustees of NGOs/charities to be Indian nationals. Against my name on the application form, they wrote NRI/US Citizen. The registration was put on hold and some genius wanted me to be there in person to move forward.
Months later, I was there on work and went to the relevant office and they asked me two things - my address in India and proof of being an NRI. For the address, I showed them O.P. Nayyar's will in which my name was written down with his address and for the NRI I told them that I thought it meant Not a Real Indian.
The officer had a good laugh but when I told him that my grandfather was the Nawab of Raipur and my grandmother was the first Muslim lady to be the principal of a Christian educational institution in India (Sophia Girls College in Ajmer), everything was wrapped up in 15 minutes.
It was even quicker opening a bank account. My two adopted daughters in Pune, whose biological mothers are commercial sex workers and victims of HIV+, were with me at that time. The bank manager said that I was more of an Indian than him and we had lunch together.
Best of luck for the finals on April 2. I am looking forward to SRT complete his century of centuries.
Siraj
Boston-based Pakistani Siraj Khan, who is in non-profit management, is the creative director of "Hawaaon ke Taraanay", a concert to honour the legendary singer Geeta Dutt on May 14, 2011 at the India Centre, Shrewsbury MA, USA. He also manages the official website of OP Nayyar, www.opnayyar.org
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Siraj Khan at ‘Ayye Mehrbaan’, Dec 18, 2010, the O.P. Nayyar Nite held annually in Boston to pay homage to the legendary composer
our common humanity and quest for peace
From: Siraj Khan
Sent: Wed, Mar 30, 2011
Subject: Congratulations on the WC semis win!
When a team drops the world's best batsman four times in an innings, only a miracle could have saved Pakistan from defeat. That, obviously, did not take place.
Siraj
From: Shridhar Kulkarni
To: Siraj Khan
Subject: Congratulations on the WC semis win!
Dear Sirajji,
Thank you. What was remarkable about this match was the cordial and friendly behaviour displayed on both sides. Obviously it is easy for us to get along well here in the US (or any foreign country for that matter), but it is heart-warming to see that happen back home. We all get only one life...
I am all for anything that helps make us feel human first. I am humbled by the work you have done in this space and would feel proud if I could do even a small fraction of what you have done for others.
Anusha is getting ready with the songs and is looking forward to your Geeta Dutt show - Hawaaon ke Taraanay.
Best,
Shridhar
From: Siraj Khan
Subject: Congratulations on the WC semis win!
Why should we even think about problems in getting along?
I love to visit and work in India and have never had any problems.
A lot of my Indian friends here in Boston and in India have often asked me why despite not being from India, I continue to work tirelessly on issues connected with the country. My standard reply is that culture and art belong to the whole world and are not restricted by barriers of national or political boundaries. In fact, they help building bridges in such a way as if these boundaries do not exist.
I simply cannot understand why art, culture, music is not used more in cross-border relationship, than what is being done at present. Cricket is a competition and has its limits after all.
I recall back in 2008 when we were getting the O.P. Nayyar Memorial Trust registered in Mumbai, the Indian regulatory authorities required all the Trustees of NGOs/charities to be Indian nationals. Against my name on the application form, they wrote NRI/US Citizen. The registration was put on hold and some genius wanted me to be there in person to move forward.
Months later, I was there on work and went to the relevant office and they asked me two things - my address in India and proof of being an NRI. For the address, I showed them O.P. Nayyar's will in which my name was written down with his address and for the NRI I told them that I thought it meant Not a Real Indian.
The officer had a good laugh but when I told him that my grandfather was the Nawab of Raipur and my grandmother was the first Muslim lady to be the principal of a Christian educational institution in India (Sophia Girls College in Ajmer), everything was wrapped up in 15 minutes.
It was even quicker opening a bank account. My two adopted daughters in Pune, whose biological mothers are commercial sex workers and victims of HIV+, were with me at that time. The bank manager said that I was more of an Indian than him and we had lunch together.
Best of luck for the finals on April 2. I am looking forward to SRT complete his century of centuries.
Siraj
Boston-based Pakistani Siraj Khan, who is in non-profit management, is the creative director of "Hawaaon ke Taraanay", a concert to honour the legendary singer Geeta Dutt on May 14, 2011 at the India Centre, Shrewsbury MA, USA. He also manages the official website of OP Nayyar, www.opnayyar.org
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
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