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Written by Administrator
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Saturday, 09 July 2011 20:17 |
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Former Pakistani diplomat marches towards Guinness Book
The day began with Arab Times, the most leading English daily of Kuwait, which very prominently flashed the news duly punctuated with a color photograph taken last year on 29th June at Crowne Plaza hotel marking our Silver Wedding Anniversary under the title ‘Ex-Pakistani diplomat keeps his lifelong matrimonial promise’. AT not only outlined some historical background of the day as to how it began and what happened during the tears in between since then but it also included the programs scheduled today in Room 306 Crowne Plaza to mark our 26th Wedding Anniversary. A few who read the news in AT called and greeted me on my happiest day.
Crowne Plaza this year too, like previous year, had put to specially designed two multi colored roll up stands sized 85 x 200 cm narrating the salient features under the caption “Never Before it Happened in Human History” showing on left our marriage photo taken in Room 306, Holiday Inn, Islamabad on 29th June 1985 while on right it had our photo taken in Room 306, Crowne Plaza, Kuwait on 29th June 2010 marking our Silver Wedding Anniversary. It also mentioned that KTV 2 (English Channel) will welcome the couple when they arrive to check-in and the film will be aired on Saturday 2nd July at 9pm under ‘Week-end Show’. It further said that Mubasher TV Network will interview the couple in the hotel and the event will be aired live from 5 to 6pm. The roll up mentioned that last year on their Silver Wedding Anniversary, Al-Jazeera International TV and Al Rai TV networks interviewed the couple in the hotel and aired on 30th June and 1st July respectively. It also mentioned that last year on their Silver Wedding Anniversary Mr. Hani Kafafi, General Manager, Crowne Plaza and Director Operations Northern Gulf visited the couple in their Room 306 and presented them a commemorative memento. Other hotel staff too presented them valuable memorable gifts. Lastly it said that in 1991 when Mr. Iqbal was a diplomat at Pakistan Embassy, Kuwait he could not go to Islamabad to be with his family (wife Shireen & daughter Areej) on 29th June hence he stayed here in Room 306, Holiday Inn whereas Shireen and Areej stayed in Room 306, Holiday Inn, Islamabad on the day to upkeep my lifelong matrimonial promise. Will it not an entry for Guniness World Records Book? It mentioned the commemorative email accounts reading (a)
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and (b)
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.
Both the roll up stands was placed in the lobby facing the entrance so that anyone who enters the hotel to either stay or dine should not miss reading them. A glass table with 2 very cozy sofa chairs together with suitably designed message pad for my 26th Wedding Anniversary was placed at both the stands for the viewers to read my lifelong matrimonial promise and pen their views if they wished. CP had also put up my designed banner measuring 65 x 185 cm for our Room 306 and all these arrangements had been very professionally done some time before we entered the hotel.
Kuwait Television English Channel 2, a government owned entity had placed its camera right in front of the revolving entrance door of the hotel. The interviewer heartily welcomed us the moment I accompanied with Shireen entered the hotel to check-in. KTV crew followed us to the reception desk where we signed our arrival and got 2 sets of keys (1 each for me & Shireen). The hotel staff offered us welcome drink and got themselves photographed with us at one the roll up stand. The interviewer also interviewed us at the stand and asked me some very pertinent questions like what is my philosophy to stay in the same room, same hotel on the same date. I replied that I was Administration Manager, EPIC Instruments Inc (USA co) in Kuwait when decided to marry on 30th June 1985 and hence my room was 306 so that the wedding date and the hotel wedding room should be the same. However, company owner Mr. E. K. Mills asked me to return two days earlier from Pakistan so that I am with the company lawyer at the time when EPIC was going to sign up an agreement with a UK company. I agreed with him. However, when I called Holiday Inn (the only 5 star in the city) Islamabad asking them to book room 286 if I wed on 28th June but it was not available. I asked for room 296 if marrying on 29th June but that too was not possible. I had never ever thought to marry in a 4 star hotel in any case. Now I had no option but to wed on 29th and stay in 306 which still has 50% relationship between the date and the room but if I had married on 28th and lived in 306, the two were as apart as earth and sky. The anchor asked me to give some memorable instances of the married life till today. I mentioned that in 1986 we celebrated our 1st Wedding Anniversary in Kuwait. I told Shireen to run around to all the hotels and select one to host reception to mark our 1st anniversary. She selected Marriot Hotel for the reception which as a courtesy decorated a room and offered as compliment but I thanked its American general manager saying that my promise is stay in Room 306 Holiday Inn hence I cannot sleep in Marriot. We checked in Room 306 Holiday Inn and drove from there to Marriot to host the reception and returned to 306 Holiday Inn to sleep for the night. The anchor asked some at some more question to me and Shireen alike at the place before we boarded the lift to go to 3rd floor to enter our matrimonial room 306. The camera man filmed the room no 306 prominently stuck at the wall next to the room entrance. He filmed me using the computerized card to open the door. He then entered the room and filmed both of us as we entered the room which was too elegantly laid up. The room banner put up in the center of the front wall itself spoke of the day. The ceremonial cake cutting ceremony was held in the room and the memorable moment was instantly filmed. The anchor asked to give any message for their viewers about matrimonial success. I said that mutual trust and harmony between the husband and wife is the crux of successful married life. I very openly admitted that I do not even know my bank account number and my bank card is with Shireen and I have never asked her about expenses as she is at complete liberty to spend the money as she wants. Shireen opined that husband wife are equal in their rights and obligations and this is what she firmly believes in and has strictly practiced the same since she married me in 1985. In the end I thanked KTV for the honor they bestowed on me and I wished all the best for the people of Kuwait under the leadership of Amir of Kuwait. I was not at all hesitant to pronounce that Kuwait is so do dear to me that I am living here since 1978 and preferred to continue here and refused to shift to USA in 1986. It all happened between 1435 to 1525 hours time. KTV 2 will air it in its weekly program called “Week-end Show” on Saturday 9th July, 2011 at 9pm.
Mubasher TV network is a private channel run in Arabic and owned by H. H. Sheikh Fahad Salem Al Sabah. Its crew reached the hotel and 4-30pm and took all the logistical steps to interview both of us live from 5 to 6 pm. They selected a bit quiet place within the lobby so that there is not much disturbance and or distraction during the question-answer interview session. They got moved up one of the roll up stand for the purpose. Anchor asked us questions in English and translated the same in Arabic for its viewers. CP had deputized its Public Relations Manager to say on behalf of the hotel about my lifelong matrimonial promise. She very elegantly replied that the hotel is truly proud of the couple and prayed that the couple must celebrate their golden jubilee and thereafter also with them. Almost 65% of the program was conducted in the lobby and then we moved to the room to complete the rest of it. The anchor asked me in particular as to what I feel when I am here each year on 29th June on my wedding anniversary in Room 306 Crowne Plaza. I replied that what really amazes me that though since 1986 many faces have changed, but yet all those who meet me each year are so much informed about my matrimonial tradition that I cannot help saying that my story is passed on from old hands to new hands. I was also asked to narrate an instance, if any when I faced some difficulty in getting the room. I quoted an instance when in 1988 some American executive was staying in the room for many months and the hotel called me saying that perhaps I will have to be accommodated in some different room which I refused and suggested that I can talk to the present occupant in case if the hotel staff feels reluctant to talk about it. However, the hotel executive spoke to the worthy customer aged around 70+ that I wish to stay in the room on 29th June. He very smilingly agreed to shift just for one day to accommodate me. The gentle man called and congratulated me when I was in the room saying that he is facing lot of difficulties to be in a different room just for the day but yet I simply could not ignore your life long matrimonial promise. The anchor asked both of us as to what do we advise to others who are also married like us. My message was that each couple must be very friendly and flexible in their approach so that that there is never any friction between them and they can live very happy matrimonial life. Shireen said that blind trust is the key for successful married life and not otherwise. We both thanked Mubasher TV for their consideration and the pains they took to cover the event and share our happiness.
Then a lady journalist with a photographer from Arabic daily Al-Mustagbal came to the room for our interview. She crossed Iqbal by asking him as to what gift he gave to Shireen before and even today on wedding anniversary? My answer was that I am a different person and want to be different and cannot give her gift which many do; host party like others; dine out as many couples do and or travel which is practiced by some on wedding anniversary and instead he promised to stay in same room same hotel on same which none did and do. I showed her an email dated 15th May 2000 received from Holiday Inn Lavillette, Paris, France in reply to my request confirming availability of Room 306 for 29th June. Areej school closed during last week of May or 1st week June and she complained that each year she cannot travel out unless she stays with me on 29th June hence that time I obtained her and Shireen’s booking in Paris so that they can fly out earlier and stay in Holiday Inn, Paris on the wedding anniversary but then Shireen persuaded Areej not to leave me alone on wedding anniversary hence they were with me on 15th wedding anniversary. However, they flew out to France on 2nd July. The interviewer asked me to comment about divorce and separation which is very much rampant in the present days but it was not so in the glorious past. Iqbal opined that the couple, both individually and collectively, must prove prudent and responsible persons to happily spend their married lives rather than plaguing it with doubts and quarrels. Shireen advised that both the partners must share their household responsibilities jointly and judiciously so that their married life is smooth devoid of any humps and bumps. Yesterday (Tues 5.7) the daily published the article on its page 21 which I saw on net also (www.almustaqbal.com)
Royal television of Pakistan also covered the event and questions and answers session were conducted in Urdu language both in the lobby and the room. Anchor asked Iqbal as to what is the hurdle that his name could not be still listed in Guinness World Records Book though it is very much unprecedented in human history. Iqbal heaved and said that he had left Holiday Inn original bills in Kuwait when Iraq occupied Kuwait and when he returned as diplomat in April 1991, his house had already been looted so he lost the original bills. Luckily I had sent photo copies of the bills to my house in Pakistan which I have them now with me otherwise I had no proof that I ever married on 29th June, 1985 and stayed in Room 306, Holiday Inn, Islamabad and or commemorated my wedding anniversaries and stayed in Holiday Inn, Kuwait on 29th June during the years 1986 to 1990. I said that I am getting the photo copies attested by the hotel in Kuwait. My sheer bad luck is that I do not have original bill but a photo copy of Holiday Inn, Islamabad also when Shireen and Areej stayed there on 29th June on 6th wedding anniversary. Original Holiday Inn, Islamabad has been sold out and it is becoming too difficult to obtain original bills even though I am prepared to get them printed in a press at my cost. Here the hotel will attest my photo copies so that I can apply to Guinness Book. As regards to my message for other married couples, I very emphatically said that it all depends upon the husband and wife to live happily or angrily. Shireen maintained that married life is a two way traffic and unless and both are on the same frequency, married life cannot be successful whatsoever.
A journalist from Pakistan Urdu newspaper named Ansaaf was the last to cover the event. He photographed the roll up stand in the hotel lobby before coming up to Room 306 to talk to his compatriots. He was full of praise to know about the couple and very openly said that he has never heard, read or even thought alike. His first question to me was as to who gave me the idea to do alike if I had not thought of myself? I replied instantly that by nature I want to be different and none whosoever advised me to do alike. I even said that I had bought 2 Cross pens engraved with the names Shireen-Iqbal and Iqbal-Shireen to be used by her and me respectively to sign our wedding document. We have just signed the document and not even a word was written either by me or her before and after with the pens. I also narrated that in 2009 my room was booked since February but then in May I got a notice from them saying that the room will be under repairs and maintenance on the day when my anniversary falls hence alternatively they have booked room 306 Holiday Inn, Salmiya for 29th of June but I did not agree to the change and wished to stay in same room I am staying since 1986. I had no option but to meet Mr. Jawad Bukhamseen, Owner of Crowne Plaza to get back room 306 for my 24th wedding anniversary. He was awfully busy to solve the riddle and called one of his directors to sort it out. Director told me that the room can be given to me provided I write an acceptance that I will not complain if the room is short on some facilities or there is some disturbance around the room. I gave them in writing to live in 306 on 29th June, 2009 in whatever condition it is on the day. I pronounced that nobody even king or presidents did or do to commemorate wedding anniversary in this manner. The journalist asked if he knew in 1985 that he could be listed in Guinness Book. I very frankly admitted that on 29th June 1985 I did not even know of Guinness Book so I did not do it for any world record but for purely for my satisfaction alone and it is just a chance that now it is going to be reckoned globally. In reply to the last question as to what I want to tell the readers, I said that everyone gets just one life so why not to make it most memorable one like I have proved. The journalists also asked Shireen to give any message for the readers and she said that an event like this adds more glory to the lives of the couple so why not to go for it.
I must admit this time not many could visit me as it happened last time. First of all, this time media had taken most of the time and I was unable to give some specific time to my contacts to bless me in the room. Then same evening H. E. Huang Jie Min had hosted a dinner at his house so most of his colleague ambassadors could not make it. H.E. Ahmed Bala G, Ambassador of Nigeria did come as he was with me last year too. H. E. Bui Quoc Trung, Ambassador of Vietnam greeted me on phone and apologized not to come but deputized his Second Secretary to bring flowers and attend on his behalf. H. E. Ibrahim Bakarr Kamara, Ambassador of Sierra Leone who came last time greeted me but regretted since he had some foreign guests with him. H. E. Madhuban P Paudel, Ambassador of Nepal who penned his greetings in person last time, greeted me but regretted since next day he has some small surgical appointment. H. E. Mohamed Adam Mahat, Ambassador of Kenya greeted me but regretted due to some other engagement. H. E. Ho Jong. Ambassador of North Korea greeted and regretted since he was attending dinner at Chinese Ambassador House. H. E. Amador Velasquez, Ambassador of Peru informed me that he will visit me if possible. H. E. Shulan O Primavera, Ambassador of Philippines sent me greetings from overseas. H. E. Mag. Marian A.Wrba, Ambassador of Austria greeted me from overseas. H. E. Jorge O A Biga, Ambassador of Argentine regretted from overseas. Netherland and Indonesia embassies regretted since H. E. Ton Boon Von Ochssee and H. E. Ferry Adamhar, Ambassadors of Netherlands and Indonesia were out of Kuwait on 29th June. H. E. Dasho Sherub Tenzin, Ambassador of Bhutan regretted since he will not be in the city on the day. Mr. Martin Barratt, CDA, Canada write me that he will be out of the country on my day. H. E. Nasser Bareh Al Enezi, Kuwaiti Ambassador in Jakarta greeted me. Mr. Zafaraullah Sheikh and Mr. Said Akbar Afridi, former Pakistani ambassadors also greeted me from Pakistan.
Saturday 2nd July, ‘Voluntary Team Hope’ which a NGO invited both of us to attend their prize distribution ceremony and tell about our matrimonial story to the attendees. As a matter of fact, the volunteers of VTH had watched live tv coverage of our 26th wedding anniversary and felt very much enthusiastic to meet us and hear from our mouth about it. It was a big conference room accommodating 42 persons fitted with individual mikes. The volunteers were all Kuwaitis including both male and females who were youth ranging up to 35 years. The organizer gave a bit of introductory talk in Arabic to the audience before asking me to speak out myself. I spoke in English and a lady volunteer was translating it into English and it went on alike for about 15 minutes but they I had to speak a sentence in Arabic which surprised them and they wished that I should speak in Arabic. I then started all over again and they were dumb listening to such a wonderfully successful married life account. On occasions, both male and female thumped the table in applause. Summing up I said that at times I differed with Shireen or for that matter she did not agree to my point of view but then we had to prove to ne prudential in sorting it out and therefore we are a very happy couple. Shireen said that she will give one example in particular proving how magnetic he had felt towards me. She told the audience that I had brought multi-colored cigarette packets from Kuwait and for all 8 days from wedding to my return to Kuwait, he smoked none but those cigarettes only and the beauty was that he smoked the same color cigarette which matched the color of the dress which I she wore and it was really too electrifying for them to listen to. Shireen was honored to give commendation certificates to the lady volunteers. At the end they gave us also a certificate mentioning our names and applauding our exemplary married life. Many of ladies and gentlemen wished that we should visit their families to let them also hear about it.
None did or do alike including my Pakistani President; the mightiest American President; the longest serving HRH Queen; the richest Saudi King and the list goes on and on but I limit to them only.
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With my honest & solemn prayers
Sincere Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / MA 66+LL B 69+ D L L 72 +D T L 72 / Pakistani in Kuwait since 1978 / Mobile (00965) 66229897
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Last Updated on Sunday, 10 July 2011 05:34 |
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