Back to KPK 2016

[Shimatoree]

First report. .............October 11th 2016

The Funeral of Shafeeq Bacha.


In a dusty village in KPK of Pakistan , a funeral was taking place. The number of people in attendance were very many, far more than the population of the village. Like all funerals in the Pushtoon heartland, it was a sombre affair, with not much talk about the deceased.

Shafeeq Bacha was a very interesting man. In a land where the average height of men is 5 feet 9 inches, he was 6 foot 4 inches tall and built like a middle line backer for the Chicago Bears. He had booming voice and a royal presence.

Once a Mullah tried to impress upon him that he needed to follow the edicts of their religion and the Mullah got a reply which precluded any further such attempts at reformation of the man.

In a Muslim conservative society, Shafeeq Bacha decided to have a few pet Wild Boars. Of course the PIG is an unclean animal as per edicts of the Muslim faith but Shafeeq Bacha was a humanitarian and when the hunters had killed the mother of the 3 piglets, he adopted them and they became his evening walking companions. Every evening, he would take a stroll and pass by the mosque where the Mullah would watch him but dared not say anything. Bach became known as the protector of the wild boars. If you were lucky enough to visit him in his guest house, you would find the servants and workers sitting on the bare ground but his dogs would be occupying the Charpoys-( kitted sofas)- and when asked about that..Bacha would say that the human beings were creatures that could not be trusted to be loyal while the dogs were honest and very loyal. Bach never forgot a good deed done to him and he never forgave a slight.

I had the occasion to meet him before he died and for some unknown reason he took a liking towards me.
He said and I quote……….

soke takhtai -( you want someone kidnapped)-

soke uchatai -( you want someone picked up)-

soke wajney- ( you want someone killed )-

soke ghaibai - ( you want someone to disappear)

moong ta waya- ( Tell me )

nore kar zamoong dey-( the rest leave unto me )-

Shafeeq Bacha was a kind man with a harsh exterior and did many favors to those that were not powerful.
And all those people showed up at his funeral and they were in thousands.

Shaft Bacha lives in the hearts of all of those downtrodden

[Mirza Ghalib]

I have always loved your stories from the Pukhtoon heartland. And this time is no exception to the rule. That Shafeeq Bacha should have adopted three baby boars and waved the middle finger in the faces of organised "religion" gladdens the heart. Also the list of favours he could do for one is typically Pukhtoon. We have personal experience of it as well. And to convince the solid Pukhtoon that friendship can be friendship without asking for anything in return takes a bit of doing, but he does get the message finally.

We are sad that Shafeeq Bacha is no longer with us. But others will replace him slowly but surely. The people of KP are the joy of Pakistan. Long may they remain true to their tribal ways and values.