23 March - Remembering F-104 Starfighters

Shared from Jaho Jalal


Today is 23 March - a day is celebrated in Pakistan for two reasons: One, it was the day back in 1940 when a historic resolution was passed in the city of Lahore at Minto Park (now called the Iqbal Park) to demand a separate homeland for the Muslims of the British India from the ruling British empire, and secondly it was the day in 1956 when Pakistan was declared as a republic - the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. 

For many years since 1956, the day was celebrated with the display of armed Forces parade, to which other segments of national significance were also included much later. Although the 23 March parades were held in all provincial metropolis, the main avenue used to be Rawalpindi, later shifted to Islamabad. However, lately due to the extensive employment of Pakistan Army against the militants, the holding of this annual feature has been discontinued.

While I was sitting this morning, reminiscing the memory of the bygone days, I remembered one 23 March parade that I witnessed as a child many many years ago in 1964. The special event on that day was the display of the F-104 Starfigher aircraft that Pakistan had acquired from the USA. In fact Pakistan was the only country outside NATO, who was given the F-104s supersonic aircraft by the USA, for then Pakistan under President Ayub Khan was a strong ally of the USA. It was another story that like always, as even now, USA abandoned Pakistan, despite being member of the SEATO and CENTO, when India attacked Pakistan in September 1965. Thereafter, there have been many occasions when USA abandoned Pakistan having used it for the fulfillment of its own interests.

F-104 Starfighetr of Pakistan Air Force

Anyway coming back to the day in 1964 and the F-104s.Pakistan was delivered 14 supersonic F-104, known as the Starfighter. I as a child was also interested to see the aircraft as one of my uncles Flight Lieutenant (later air Vice Marshal) Amjad Hussian, was also a F-104 Starfigher pilot of Number 9 PAF squadron. Presently, the Number 9 Squadron operates and flies the F-16 Fighting Falcons. 

On that sunny day of 23 March 1964, the sleek shinning F-104s roared past over us with its peculiar thundering voice and the entire arena applauded for having seen the Starfigher for the first time in their lives, and that also included me as well. It was the same aircraft, which broke the sound barrier around 11 AM on 6 September 1965 - a thunderous noise that announced the breaking out of war between India and Pakistan. I was in school when the sound barrier was broken and it was soon after that our school was closed and we were all sent home.

A beautiful painting of  the farewell flight of the F-104 Starfighers in 1972, after serving PAF for 11 years [Photo: PAF ]  

The F-104s continued to serve Pakistan Air Force for 11 years and were finally retired from service in 1972 mainly because of the want of spares as back in the OEM, the production of F-104s has been since ceased. The Starfighers flew for the last time in an impressive air show from the Masroor air base in Karachi. Many heavyhearted airmen and officers of No 9 Squadron witnessed the farewell flight, some of them served in the Squadron for two wars. From among the Squadron's veteran pilots, the two took up the Starfighters for the last time.

Those who have seen this majestic aircraft zooming past the skies during the 60s would cherish the memories of this wonderful aircraft the Pakistan Air Force had the honour to fly for more than a decade. Even when I watched the F-16s and the JF-17 Thunder during the 23 March parades on many occasions, these aircraft reminded me of the day when I first saw a supersonic aircraft for the first time in my life - a day the memories of which I still cherish.

It may be added here for the information of my readers that the PAF's F-104s were somewhat unique. While being the lightest among the starfighters in combat configuration, the more powerful J-79-IIA engines gave them additional manoeuvre energy. The 20mm Galling gun, retrofitted to the PAF's F-104s by specific request, also added to the fighter's combat effectiveness. 

The sound of the Starfighters F-104 [YouTube]

Many celebrated PAF pilots like Air Chief marshal Jamal A Khan, Air Vice Marshals Farooq Umar, Amjad Hussain and Abbas Mirza, Air Commodores Rashid Bhatti and Amanullah Khan have had the honour of flying the F-104s. Flight Lieutenants Tariq Majeed and Abasi and Wing Commander M L Middlecoat were lost along with their aircraft. 

Related:

F-104 Starfighters in Pakistan Air Force

The Starfighters Farewell Flight

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The Valentine Day

14^th of February each year is a day for the loved ones. The day exclusively meant to express one’s love and affection for the people we love. This day assumes special importance for the husbands and wives to tell each other how they have loved one another for all the years they have been through their married life. For others, it is the day for the lovers to express their love through gifts, specially red hearts. Besides, cchocolates and flowers are also the popular gifts – but some also add jewellery. 

On this day, some of the classic movies like Gone with the Wind, Dr Zhivago, From here to eternity,Casablanca, An affair to remember, Roman Holiday, The Princess Bride, when Harry met Sally, Romeo and Juliet and many such movies dedicated to the lovers are seen and remembered.

Why the day? There are many legends and stories attached to it. According to one legend Valentine, who was a priest during the third century in Rome, came forward for the rescue of the young men and women, when Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families and outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, reacted to the injustice, and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. And so the day is celebrated in the name of the slain priest by young women and men.

In Pakistan, people have mixed emotions in celebrating the day. A majority of the young boys and girls want to go along in its true spirit for expressing love and affection for each other. As for married couples, the young couples also go along, while the older ones think it is meant for younger generation only. Those a bit religious, say it has no relevance in our religion for the reason that we need to love each other throughout our lives and should not find a special day for its display. 

So whatever, contention suits who, people do celebrate it with much enthusiasm. Even people in Peshawar, which is considered a bit conservative area, are also found flocking shops selling flowers, cards and other gifts related to the lovers’ day like people in any other city of Pakistan. At least the day provides a break form the horrific news we hear about the political turmoil in the country, the on going war on terror and the rising poverty.

In the meantime, viewers may listen to this beautiful song by Stevie Wonder which befits the ocassion: I just called to say I love you

Photo Courtesy: parisien (on Flickr) - Valentine's day in Pakistan

Originally posted at JahoJalal (2010)

Related link: Astronomical Valentine date 

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Buy Nothing Today!!

Weird? Well for many in Pakistan this may strange. But most people in most of the countries today, the 27th of November, are celebrating the day buy locking their purses and literary not buying anything today.

Why celebrate the Buy Nothing Day? Well those who propagate the idea contend that everything that we buy has an impact on the environment. Thus Buy Nothing Day highlights the environmental and ethical consequences of consumerism. The world population is fast depleting the natural resources by excessive buying and causing a disproportionate level of environmental damage, and an unfair distribution of wealth.

In fact as consumers we need to question the products we buy and challenge the companies who produce them. What are the true risks to the environment and developing countries? We all know recycling is OK for the environment, but consuming less is better and Buy Nothing Day is a great way to start.

There are also people for whom prices do not matter and they buy as the have swollen purses to do so. I remember a surveyor on TV when asked a fashionable woman about the impact of soaring prices of sugar and petrol on people; she simply shrugged her shoulders and remarked, “It doesn’t matter to me.” Well this is pure selfish attitude as it may not have an impact on you doesn’t mean that it is not affecting others. We as consumers have to keep the larger interests of all consumers supreme, rather than caring for our very own.

Although the celebrating of the day is symbolic, as people would be buying the next day, but we have to see its impact on the mindset. The spirit of the day should translate into our buying philosophy for buy only what is required. If we buy more than the requirement, we will be throwing away the surplus in the litter, which has its many adverse effects on life and environment. For one thing, we have squandered our own resources, and likewise we have consumed more natural resources than actually required and thirdly we have littered more, causing more harm to the environment. An apple on a tree adds beauty and life to the environment and nature, but a rotten apple in the garbage makes environment ugly, dirty and polluted.

So let us buy nothing today and make a resolve not buy anything in excess of our requirement to keep our land healthy and free of pollution and environmental sickness.

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Blog Action Day 2010 - Drinking Water and Women of Thar (Pakistan)

Thar Desert, the 9th largest subtropical desert of the world, is spread over an area of some 200,000 square kilometres between India and Pakistan. On the Indian side it is called the Rajhistan or the Great Indian Desert, while in Pakistan it is known as Thar, mostly located in the Sind province and partly in the southern Punjab province, where the Cholistan Desert joins hands with the Thar. Thar in local language simply means “the desert.” The desert mostly consists of large barren tracts of sand dunes covered with thorny bushes.

Like all other deserts, water is extremely scarce and hard to find, specially the potable drinking water. When it rains, the rain water gets collected in small low lying bowl shaped ponds called the “tobas” where men and animals drink together. There are no alternatives as wells digging is not possible. Even if there is a success, the water is so brackish and salty that it cannot be consumed for drinking purposes. Due to the nature of earth with loose sand, deep wells are not possible as the earth gives in during digging and sometimes costs the life of the well diggers. Even if there is a success that brings sweet water, the well soon dries up. For this reason, there are no permanent settlements in the Thar and people roam the desert like nomads and make a temporary abode around a water source till it dries up too.

While the men move out in search of grazing areas with their prize possession of goats, cows and camels for grazing, which are hard to find and have to travel long distances to find some grazing areas, the women of Thar move out in search of water. Those touring and travelling Thar would often find women dressed in traditional bright coloured dresses with pitchers on their heads wandering around in search of water. If a toba happens to be in the vicinity, they may find some water, otherwise they too have to travel long distances to find water.

Potable drinking water scarcity makes living extremely difficult. Due to its almost non-existence, it gives rise to diseases and many disorders for which no cure is available as a semblance of medical aid is only available in larger towns miles away.

It is a pity that while a segment of our population is devoid of this natural gift, we in cities waste water at leisure. While taking showers, we keep the shower running while we soap and shampoo. We keep the tap running in our kitchens while we wash the dishes. We drink the half of the glass and throw the rest in the wash basin. This is criminal and we are doing it at the cost of those who do not have any access to it. It is strange that while more people around the world have cellular phones, more than 2.5 billion have no access to toilet and some one billion without any access to safe drinking water.

The bloggers from around the world join hand today to raise the awareness about access to safe and clean drinking water for almost a billion people around the world, and hope from those reading their posts to extend their cooperation in the noble cause, sponsored by the blogactionday.change.org, to spread the word. Let us make a resolve today not to waste water and do our utmost to preserve it for the sake of those who are not as lucky as we are.

Photo Sources:

Community Water Project (Top)

Thar Women fetching water (Bottom Left)

Thar Desert of Pakistan (Bottom Right)

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