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04-27-2006, 14:33 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Postmaster General
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Join Date: 08-20-03
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Dawn: Is it a societal change?
Quote:
Is it a societal change?
By Akhtar Payami
ARE we really engaged in a process of societal transformation? Is our growing intolerance towards others an indication of that? If we are moving towards any change, it is undoubtedly for the worse. No society can be changed through edicts.
The change must come from within. It is a long process in which every individual must be involved. Looking at ourselves nearly 60 years after independence, there is a sense of dismay. But our frustration is of our own making.
Wrong priorities, faulty premises and unrealistic dreams lead to distressing conclusions. Any comparison with neighbouring India irritates our rulers. But we can talk about another Muslim country, Malaysia, which has made phenomenal progress despite many limitations. It has racial problems but it has learnt to solve them through democratic means.
Eleven general elections have taken place in Malaysia since it gained independence in the 1950s, and practically all have been impartial. The other notable feature of the Malaysian political system is the total absence of military interventions. For a visitor used to the situation prevailing in Pakistan, the absence of any uniformed person anywhere in the country is an unbelievable sight. Islam is the religion of the state. But it does not interfere with the affairs of the administration. Misplaced stress on rituals is not welcomed.
Nobody can inflict any harm on our religion. In India, Hindutva, so widely condemned, could not drive away the Muslims, nor convert them. Earlier the Shudhi movement had failed in a similar manner. Religion is a personal matter. Innumerable faiths are practised in the world. People have the freedom to choose any one of them. There is no coercion,
Seen in this perspective, it can be said that before partition Islam was not in danger in India. But the Muslim community was. Muslims freely practise their faith in India today. But what held them back from progress then (and does so today in a global context) was their stunted vision and lack of initiative to keep pace with the changing world.
Mohammad Ali Jinnah was aware of this fact. He wanted Muslims to be part of a flourishing, expanding world order. He used religious slogans and relied heavily on the lexicon of faith in order to assemble Muslims speaking different languages and having varied cultures on a single platform. For the success of his movement this was an essential strategy which worked wonders. He knew the limitations of his two-nation theory. That explains why on the eve of independence he advised the Muslims staying back in India to remain loyal to the government of India.
Some of the top Muslim League leaders might not have been aware of the implications of the Pakistan movement, but the Muslims of the minority provinces knew what it would mean. The partition plan did not include any provision for the total exchange of population between India and Pakistan. Neither was the idea conceived at any stage, nor was it a practical solution.
During the days of the freedom movement, and even today, it is stressed that Pakistan is a great citadel of Islam. There are already over 50 such citadels in the world where normal laws governing national life are enforced. While Europe has evolved a mechanism to function as an integrated region, and has a common market and a common currency, Muslim countries have failed to make any move in that direction.
The Muslims of India could not catch up with the changing world because they continued to cling to old values. Although many reformers including Sir Syed Ahmad Khan had emphasised the need for modern, westernised education, only a minority took to the idea. Even Sir Syed favoured education only for a limited section of the population. The concept of the ‘ashrafia’ and the reluctance to educate women eventually harmed the growth of an enlightened, balanced society.
Why has Pakistan lagged behind in so many areas? It is because the two countries which achieved independence practically on the same day followed two different paths. The two priority items on India’s agenda were constitution-making and the integration of over 600 princely states into the Indian union. India achieved both these objectives in a few years. It could do so because even when engaged in the liberation movement, it had set up various committees to prepare policy papers on various aspects of the country. The committees worked tirelessly and by 1947, India was well-equipped to deal with all administrative issues.
The situation was totally different in Pakistan. It was not political leaders but hardened bureaucrats at the helm of affairs. They were to take political decisions for which they were not trained.
It would be wrong to think that the founder of Pakistan did not have the vision to understand the implications of governing a new country. He knew that the Muslims of India could be unified by a strong binding force — Islam. He was aware of the fact that his two-nation theory was only intended to mobilise the Muslims and convince the British rulers that Hindus and Muslims could not live together without any well-defined plan for the protection of the minority community. This is evident from the fact that Jinnah had accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan which had no provision for the partition of the country.
After independence the two countries followed two different courses. India continued to strengthen its democratic institutions.We wasted many years before coming up with a constitution. Moreover, we did nothing to change the structure of land holdings. Big landlords and jagirdars flourished with no regard for the poor. Two parallel systems operated in the country with impunity. The sardars had their own defined territories, their own forts, armies and prisons. Their word was the law. This situation was largely accepted by the ruling elite of the country. As a result there was practically no development in those areas and the people continued to live like serfs.
Democratic institutions were not allowed to be strengthened. Frequent army interventions further weakened the base of society. The military rulers knew that they could not stay in power without any dependable political crutches.Ayub invented basic democrats, Yahya, perhaps, had no political ambitions, Zia recruited a band of religious zealots to support him. At one stage, federal cabinet meetings during the Zia era used to start with sermons by his favoured religious scholars. (This was almost the same pattern of reciting from Mao’s quotations from his famous red book before starting any work. Thankfully, China has discontinued this ritual).
General Pervez Musharraf knows that the style of his military predecessors will not work in a changed situation. He has come up with the concept of enlightened moderation and societal transformation. But societies do not change through catchy slogans and beautiful phrases. Nor do they change by using helicopter gunships and landmines to quell unrest. That is a lesson that people who respect history learn faster than others.
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It is not fair to Pakistan to compare it with Malaysia.
Pakistan has no minority as such. In Malaysia, there is a sizable Malayan population that is Chinese and Indian. In countries where there are minorities in reckonable strength as is also in India, the chances of a majority population going berserk in its religious rantings is minimal.
As far as military intervention in Pakistan is concerned and why it has not happened elsewhere is simple to answer. Pakistan has never had a matured democracy since it was steeped in its Mughal culture of intrigues and counter intrigues. In fact, it appears that the Pakistan psyche is but based on intrigues and the public thinking as complicated and twisted as a pretzel. It is only a devious mind that could think and execute the Islamic marvel of mujahideens on the Soviet and not being satisfied with the solution against the Soviets releasing these convoluted social maniacs and religious inspired thugs on to the world! A feather in the cap for Islam they presume. Little do these devious minds realise, they have put Islam's name in the mud! That is Pakistan - a confused and immature country with aspiration to the grandiose and without possessing the wherewithal!
Pakistan suppresses and blackmails into conversion the minority with its Hudood and Blasphemy Laws. Obviously, it has its repercussion. One cannot subjugate its minority on falsehood and blackmail. The author admits that much and illustrates that in India, the Moslems are free to practice their religion. In fact, they over practice! The author also states the Indian Moslem is backward and not progressive because of the Moslems stunted vision and lack of initiative to keep p[ace with the changing world.
(This exposes the falsehood of Moslems being subjugated that the WAB Pakistani posters resort to and is debunked in this article. Obviously the person has travelled to India to write in an open forum that shapes opinions and this is from DAWN, the mode widely read English newspaper of Paksitan!)
Why Paskitan is a failure compared to India, the author brings out lucidly and so one has no need to comment!
It is time for Pakistani on this forum to open up their eyes and see reality and not live in denial. Their frustration is of their own making as the article indicates in its opening sentences!
Others, especially those who wonder what this Indo Pak confrontation is all about in the WAB, should also note the contents of this article for posterity and judgement.
__________________
"Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."
I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.
HAKUNA MATATA
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04-27-2006, 15:05 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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OMGWTFPWNED!
Senior Contributor
Join Date: 10-31-04
Location: India
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Change they will.
And only for the worst.
__________________
Self-control is the chief element in self-respect, and self-respect is the chief element in courage.
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04-27-2006, 16:01 PM
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#3 (permalink)
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Postmaster General
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But observe the vast difference between India and Pakistan!
The lament of the author speaks so truly from his heart of a dream gone sour!
The milk of Islamic citadel and of purity has curdled so foul!
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04-27-2006, 16:05 PM
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#4 (permalink)
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OMGWTFPWNED!
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Join Date: 10-31-04
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ray
But observe the vast difference between India and Pakistan!
The lament of the author speaks so truly from his heart of a dream gone sour!
The milk of Islamic citadel and of purity has curdled so foul!
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It is visible without observation sir.
I havent come across any Indian Author who has the same views about India. That says a lot in itself.
Of course, the curd will foul! Need refrigration to avoid that. I dont think they have those in Pakistan.  |
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04-27-2006, 16:07 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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Postmaster General
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Even the archaic marvels of technology hasn't reached them?
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04-27-2006, 16:12 PM
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#6 (permalink)
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OMGWTFPWNED!
Senior Contributor
Join Date: 10-31-04
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ray
Even the archaic marvels of technology hasn't reached them?
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I dont think they get dressed appropriatley. Take a look at Asim in his signature? Is that Animal Skin he's wearing? Or lack of hair cut?
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04-27-2006, 17:06 PM
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#7 (permalink)
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Postmaster General
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