Is this what the struggle is about?
I do not know if you in Pakistan had seen that picture. (It is in the print edition and if I succeed in finding a link I will put it up here.)
Is this what the struggle is all about? Who will uphold the law in tomorrow’s Pakistan?
***
And while I was thinking of writing about this I read a column by Nadeem F Paracha which was along the lines of thoughts whirling in my mind. I have written here about this struggle and how it appears elitist (which has offended some friends) and have lamented about the people - (what civil society!) - the participation of people coming out on the streets.
Paracha, I feel is talking about the same thing when he bemoans the lack of participation of students from government schools and colleges!
***
"Lately, my email inbox is being bombarded by letters from young men and women angered by my “cynical” stance on the on-going “students’ movement” in the country.
Most of them asked: how can a former student activist like me who stood up against the Zia dictatorship ridicule today’s young guns against another dictator?
First of all, there is a difference between cynicism and scepticism. I believe a journalist has to be sceptic to be effective. Otherwise journalism becomes boorish pamphleteering. After going through most dailies these days, this is exactly what is happening. Reading most of these newspapers today is like going through multi-paged protest pamphlets. Headlines have turned into slogans and the articles sound like raving, rambling manifestos.
The most ironical aspect of this is that even though much of this hue and cry is being done in the name of democracy and freedom of speech, those holding opposing views are being conveniently blacked out by some publications. Recently, a reporter from an English-language daily called me up for my comments on “the movement.” I criticised it for being a media construct. The next day when the story appeared my comments had been edited out. This meant that the “all-round story” lacked even a single opposing comment, because it was felt that since the publication belonged to a group whose TV channel is off-air these days, my comments were seen as rationalising the ban.
The bottom-line is: it is government colleges and state-owned universities that are a more accurate reflection of the majority of the student and youth sections of the country. And like it or not, a “student movement" without the involvement of conventional student organisations such as the National Students Federation, the People’s Students Federation, the Pakhtoon Students Federation, the Baloch Students Federation, the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Federation and the Islami-Jamiat-i-Tuleba, is a movement that will always seem floozy, disconnected and suspect, even if one keeps calling it “independent.” "
posted by temporal at 12/08/2007
7 Comments:
there was only one argument (and perhaps only one present in the post) to which I'd like to add my reply. You said, "And like it or not, a “student movement" without the involvement of conventional student organisations such as a, b, c, d, e and the f, is a movement that will always seem floozy, disconnected and suspect, even if one keeps calling it “independent.”
Can you tell me how this is not stereotyping? As if only the aforementioned 4-5 "elite" organizations have the sole responsibility and Thaika of the well-being of all of the students in pakistan? I would really like to know that if the complacency of aforementioned organization and their moral degradation does not result in some protests and a movement, how is that so bad that SOME RANDOM or small groups of students DO actually protest in whatever capacity and with whatever results. You can, in my view, point out the inefficacious of the protests of few universities with regard to their not gaining massive support from elsewhere but how extremely rude and I'd say downright vulgar yourself it is to call them Floozy and suspect their independance without any argument or convincing evidence so as to make your point.
This is mad compartmentalization.
ej:
thanks for your comments
your quote and comment was from nadeem's column and should best be answered by him
i have maintained that for this struggle to reach any desired culmination the people have to take the streets
that has not happened yet
if they do not come out and assert then any changes that we see will be of a cosmetic nature
same self centered and self serving policies, same corruption and nepotism, only newer faces
and once again this opportunity and sacrifices made would be lost
Geez, I am at loss of words clearly. Let me rephrase your comments for my own comprehension alone as you probably seem to have a better understanding of the current situation in Pakistan: If (larger population of) people don't come out to streets, those already on the streets are fighting for nothing more than Cosmetic changes.
Could you be little more selective of your words? But then again, this is internet and after spending hours, you end up knowing that the person on the other end is no more older than 15 years of age. So, I have nothing against you, hence.
And be assured that "once again" did bring poignant smirk on my face thinking or rather wondering if it meant that all past struggles against tyranny and injustice really were lost. How inconsiderate, I'd add.
ej:
:)
(the grin or smile was for your comment on who one can find at the other end on an internet forum)
have to run an errand
will reply later
btw do you have a blog? (so i know a lil more of you)...when i click on the monicker it does not take me to a blog
re: once again!
in pakistani context ... weren't they?
temporal, I used to have a blog but the myth of "you can know someone through his/her blog" got me and I kindda stopped writing. However, writing on issues and topics which are of interest to many esp. on a focused theme such as Politics, Technology or Business is a wonderful idea - the one we all can greatly benefit from.
As for your questioning back the futility of struggles of Pakistanis in different walks of life, I wouldn't be too harsh in judging them so. If you were a history student, I fear that you may consider WWI and WWII after Industrialization to be the "few" and "only" benchmarks in the history of mankind to have brought some difference of greater magnitude. And as any student of History would be appalled, I can only say such gross generalization only hurts the living and dead souls of those who have laid their lives' important part and the sweat and blood in some cause for the general good of others.
temporal saheb:
Many thanks for this brilliant piece. I am going to cross-post it at the Pak Tea House
Meanwhile, please take a look at this:
http://pakteahouse.wordpress.com/2007/12/08/what-goes-aroundno-more-saviours-please/
ej:
before i comment would like to say this: am a small time poet first…(and perhaps foremost)...i do write “other stuff”…and these blogs on the current political dilemma comes under that:)
***
If (larger population of) people don't come out to streets, those already on the streets are fighting for nothing more than Cosmetic changes. Could you be little more selective of your words?
perhaps i can be more “selective”…more politically correct BUT will it change the ground realities?
And be assured that "once again" did bring poignant smirk on my face thinking or rather wondering if it meant that all past struggles against tyranny and injustice really were lost. How inconsiderate, I'd add.
in a cosmic sense nothing is lost…i will grant you that…drop by drop every action adds up but within the framework of 2/3 generations and in pakistani context what has changed? students came out against ayub khan in karachi and ignited a countrywide crescendo of protests resulting in his fall…that was the first opportunity lost…(maybe second if you consider general akbar, faiz, sajjad zaheer as the first one)
consider all other changes since then…faces came with promises rehashed and faces went with blackened faces BUT the basic query for me remained “were any meaningful changes come about for the unsung masses the majority people during their reign?”
And as any student of History would be appalled, I can only say such gross generalization only hurts the living and dead souls of those who have laid their lives' important part and the sweat and blood in some cause for the general good of others.
yes perhaps i am harsh and over generalizing…i may even be a bad student of history…all i can reiterate is that am putting my remarks in a context ---- 2/3 generations and Pakistani governments is the is my limited canvas…
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