Bashir Ahmad (camel driver)

Bashir Ahmad Sarban (Urdu: بشیر احمد) (c. 1913 – 15 August 1992)[1] was an impoverished Pakistani camel cart driver, who, on 20 May 1961, met with the then US vice-president Lyndon B Johnson, and accepted an invitation to come to America.[2][3][4][5]

For other people named Bashir Ahmad, see Bashir Ahmad (disambiguation).

Invitation

Lyndon Johnson was in Karachi, Pakistan on behalf of President Kennedy as part of a goodwill mission, it was here that he met Bashir Ahmad in a group of camel drivers on a roadside, where the men shook hands and exchanged friendly greetings. He used a phrase he had regularly said in his travels, "Y'all come to Washington and see us sometime" but was completely surprised when the illiterate camel driver accepted his offer. With the press hot on his heels after the acceptance,[6] the vice-president took advantage of the People-to-People program to fund the Pakistani's travel expenses.[7]

Another account[8] indicates that Bashir was invited to the Vice President's ranch and that the surprise came not at the time (at least from her point of view), but the next day in the press. Ibrahim Jalis, a popular columnist in Pakistan, reported that everyone was excited by the fact that the vice president had invited Bashir to come to America. Perhaps, he had made the above reported statement while shaking Bashir's hand, leading to the misunderstanding that he had been invited. His column was favorable to Johnson, and contained the quote, "Don't conquer a country, don't conquer a government. If you wish to conquer, conquer the hearts of the people."

State visit

Bashir was personally greeted by vice-president Johnson on his arrival in New York City, Bashir was then invited to Johnson's private ranch in Texas. During his week stay, the Pakistani was also taken to Kansas City, where he met ex-president Harry S Truman, who referred to him as 'your excellency',[2] as well as to Washington D.C., where he was taken to the Lincoln Memorial, the Senate Floor, and to President Kennedy's office.

Finally, at the end of his stay, as a gesture of further goodwill, vice-president Johnson made arrangements for Bashir to visit the Islamic holy city of Mecca on his return to Pakistan. This act of friendship brought tears to the eyes of the destitute camel driver.[9]

References
  1. HB, Jalal. "The day LB Johnson invited Bashir Sarban (the camel cart driver) to the USA". Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  2. "Nation: Rubaiyat of Bashir Ahmad". Time. 23 December 2009. Archived from the original on 23 December 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  3. "Five US presidents visited Pakistan during military regimes". The News International. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  4. "When a US vice president invited a Pakistani camel cart driver to America". The Express Tribune. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  5. "US Consulate celebrates Thanksgiving with Pakistani camel cart driver's family". The Express Tribune. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  6. "Jacqueline Kennedy In Pakistan". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  7. "Vice President Lyndon Johnson". www.christers.net. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  8. Ruffles and Fourishes, Liz Carpenter p.33-37
  9. "Nation: Rubaiyat of Bashir Ahmad". Time. 27 October 1961. p. 2. ISSN 0040-781X. Archived from the original on 21 October 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
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