Made for Intolerance

Source: Wikimedia Commons

A lot of people outrage at the thought that there is so much discrimination and intolerance in the Paksitani society.

After all, Pakistani society is made up of such brilliant individuals and forward looking political and social groups. There are intellectuals in this country with ideas and works that are as brilliant as they would have anywhere.

So why is Pakistan stuck with elementary issues, such as religious and social discrimination and intolerance?

Well, Pakistan is not just like any other country in the world. Its creation involved one of the most unique events ever. Arguably, the biggest mass migration in modern, if not recorded, human history.

When you are artificially creating a homogeneous demographic and forcefully rejecting any variation, at least discouraging them to flourish, if not just expelling them out of communities, then you can expect resistance to accept what is different.

This is why Pakistan was always bound to be intolerant as a society, with the demographics not being the only factor for the aggravation of the intolerance.

Arguably the only other country that rivals it in this unique characteristic is Israel.

This is only a subjective opinion, but I have a feeling that it is a scientific fact. The resistance to strange ideas must be stronger in a more homogenous society.

Because over time, the Muslim population has increased exponentially in Pakistan and the non-Muslim population has declined. And as this trend continues, we have only seen lesser tolerance to communities with ideas alien to Pakistani and Islamic nationalism, and more tolerance toward religious rioting.

So why are people complaining? This is what we have always wanted.

Pakistan was made for intolerance.

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Day 1: Kissa Khwani by The Citizens Archive of Pakistan – “Partition & Migration”

Source: Kuch Khaas/Muhammad Waheed Photography

The Citizens Archive of Pakistan, a platform dedicated to documenting oral history, organized a three day event called “Kissa Khwani” in Islamabad, named after the famous Kissa Khwani Bazaar in Peshawar, which was meant to promote the tradition of preserving oral historical accounts and storytelling. On June 20, 2013, the first episode of the three day event, “Partition and Migration” was held. Oscar winning documentary director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who also is the founder of the organization, introduced her cause, organization, work and the significance of the event.

The panelists included Nasreen Cheema, a philanthropist from a political family from Gujrat, Punjab, that affiliated itself to Muslim League before the partition, Khajista Farhat Ghazi, born in Nagpur and an immigrant during the partition, businessman Chaudhary Muhammad Aslam, author Hameed Alvi and renowned poet Kishwer Naheed. Syed Naseem Akbar Naqvi was another speaker at the event, though not originally on the list of panelists. The event was moderated by Ravish Nadeem, poet and Urdu literature professor at the International Islamic University Islamabad.

A sister event was held in Lahore in which the panelists included Brig. (R) Salim Zia, Jamila Zaidi, Zahida Mushtaq and Azra Haq.

Miss Cheema recalled how children joined in with their parents and elders during the independence movement, chanting revolutionary slogans without having the slightest idea about their meaning. Madame Ghazi focused on the horrors and the risk of migration for a newly wed woman and a mother of an infant, and author Hameed Alvi recalled the Sikh riots leader Tara Singh for being at the forefront of the violence.

Cheema and Alvi mentioned that partition riots started in Rawalpindi. Alvi also reflected that economic conditions and fear of life were the primary factors forcing people to migrate. Miss Cheema also mentioned that nobody ever heard the slogan “Pakistan ka matlab kya, la illaha il-Allah”. Express Tribune reported that a similar comment was made in the Lahore event.

Kishwer Naheed recalled how they used to live in harmony with Hindus and that Muslims and Hindus used to take part in each other’s festivals. But despite continual reiterations of how all the people of different faiths have been living in peace in India for centuries, no one really explained why a separate country was needed then. To my question, the only two-word answer I extracted was from Miss Cheema. Vested interest.

Mr. Naqvi, who hailed from Jhang, recalled the fond memories of his college days before the partition and that of his Sikh teacher Kirpal Singh Jolly. He also recalled that the younger brother of Dr. Abdus Salam was his classmate and lamented how the people and the state of Pakistan have stripped his name off the accolade plates at his schools just because of his faith.

Mr. Aslam recalled how his family had arrived penniless in the newly founded Pakistan and how he had to sacrifice his education in order to earn bread for his family. The session concluded on a light note when Mr. Yusuf Koreishi, a retired teacher, narrated a comical story about how he thwarted a Sikh invasion on his village in Sialkot without even firing a bullet.

Sohail Abid, founder of Folk Punjab, pointed out that his family migrated from Eastern Punjab city of Patiala but did not want to, so stories about people forced to migrate should be mentioned as well while voluntary migration is discussed. Playwright Ahmed Salim made the point of focusing on partition stories in which people of different faiths saved each others’ lives and that he has a collection of hundreds of such stories. Screenwriters could really find picking such a story very useful to their cause indeed.

Prominent human rights lawyer Tahira Abdullah emphasized about the importance of considering a holistic picture while approaching the history of the events of the partition. She expressed that her generation would rather consider this historic event as “independence” instead of “partition”. That sounds nice, but I believe the term “partition” sounds more objective.

Since this particular episode of the event dealt with political history, it should be understood that storytelling does not necessarily establish facts or prove a certain point. A much more comprehensive and objective investigation is needed in order to fully understand the complex history of the partition of India, the migration and the ensuing human tragedy. But this by no means undermines the unique experience of the story teller, which certainly had much to offer to the younger generation to learn from.

Few of the participants repeatedly focused on how many of their stories focused on the violence caused by the Sikhs and  Hindus and not that of Muslims and that it must be kept in mind that atrocities were committed by both sides. While this is true, it is unfair to expect that kind of correctness from the panelists narrating their story, who, save from one, had no political background whatsoever. To them, their accounts are not political statements, but merely a recollection of what they have actually gone through.

An experience is stronger than any political opinion.

Note: This is not a paid post.

The Ramadan Independence Day Post 2012

Source: The Citizens Archive of Pakistan/DAWN

There is something special about the independence day of 2012. It falls in the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Actually, it is one of the rare occasions that the anniversary of independence falls on the same day both in Gregorian and Islamic calendars.

Patriotic and religious people in Pakistan will tell you that Pakistan gained its independence from the British Raj on the 27^th of Ramadan, 1366 Hijri, which was on August 14, 1947. A Holy Night in the Islamic tradition. The night when the Koran was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad.

65 years ago, a massive communal migration took place across the borders of the then East Pakistan, West Pakistan and the modern Indian Republic. Everybody knows about probably the greatest migration in human history.

It was spectacular to some, hard to believe. A matter of faith and hope for others. Not a choice for the rest.

To me it was insane, brutal and tragic. With due respect to the immigrants and the cause of migration. They are certainly the bravest souls of the Indian independence movement. Not Jinnah or Nehru or Azad or Gandhi.

After 65 years, Ramadan coincides with the independence day again, almost the same date, the 26th maybe, and it seems that the communal migration has still not come to a halt.

Only days ago, there was news of Hindu families visiting India saying that they were unwilling to return to Pakistan as they feared for their lives. Furthermore, there has been pretty consistent migration of Sindhi Hindus from Pakistan to India, who have been a regular victim of abduction, abuse and forced conversion to Islam, particularly their women.

This seems to be a dream come true for the Muslim religious purist. After all, this country was made for Muslims.

The other day I overheard a child in a public transport van that I was sharing with a family. She was surprised on learning that Hindus and Christians lived in Pakistan too, just an innocent little child. The word Pakistani was synonymous to Muslim to her. Her mother had to explain to her how and why non-Muslims were Pakistani too.

I don’t blame her. That’s the way most fervent religious parents bring up their children in Pakistan.

I grew up hearing this slogan, like millions of other Pakistanis.

Pakistan ka matlab kya. La Ilaha Il-Allah.

What’s the meaning of Pakistan? No God except Allah.

Teach a child this and don’t expect them to consider any non-Muslim a Pakistani anymore.

My word, recalling this slogan just sent shivers down my spine. It always horrified me, if my memory serves me well.

I am shocked it never occurred to the able leaders of All-India Muslim League.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Quaid-e-Azam, was supposedly a secular politician. But apparently even he did not bother setting the record straight with that kind of slogans.

But his actions spoke much louder than his words or whatever principles he supposedly followed.

Some are worrying about the Hindu migration. Outraging. Complaining what the state is doing to protect them. I’d rather like to see them safe anyway they possibly can be.

But why worry?

So if Muslims were migrating to Pakistan from India in 1947 and Hindus were migrating from Pakistan to India, why be surprised that they are still at it in 2012?

Why even bother with the white band in the flag?

This was what we wanted and we are achieving the goal.

Slowly, but surely.

Source: Wikipedia

To a Hindu-free Pakistan.

The Real Pakistan.

The Pakistan of Allah.

The Pakistan of Ramadan.

The Pakistan of Layla-tul-Qadr.

The Pure Pakistan.

Happy Independence Day.

And

Allah-o-Akbar.

Courtesy/Artist: Sabir Nazar © 2012