Reinventing Pakistan: The Rise of The Left

#64 by Urstruly on January 5, 2006 8:51am PT


The proof of that is the anti-Muslim laws in Germany and France where secular political ideology is threatened by a 10 year old Mulsim girl`s Hijab.


They don`t feel threatened by the little girl..they feel threatened by her very-likely-to-be-a-suicide-bomber elder brother who forces her to wear a hijab..

Manto,

Fair enough, I wouldn`t want to quatify the proportions of secular/liberal Pakistanis who are/are not westernized...

Saima,

``The Left in Pakistan is a nameless, party less, agenda less entity. It is the very rudimentary beginnings of an opposition—a true opposition to rightist elements. I speak of left ‘elements’ like the straws that eventually become a nest. ``

Something that amorphous can`t be an opposition to anything. The true test happens when the right, the center right, and even elements of the religious left (who remain socially conservative) get tired of ``moderation`` and lead the back lash.

The ``Left`` has an image problem, and in order to avert this back lash it needs to distance itself from westernization, and continue to be non-confrontational. The latter is, of course, problematic for a political movement.

# 62 Saimashah

``The Marxism that took over in the USSR was never liberal. It was not even secular as it discouraged any religious freedom. Marxism is not liberalism, though it springs from similar sources as liberalism. ``

I think one of the most effective hoax, other than Elvis sightings, that has worked like charm so far is the misguided notion that the Secularism protects the religious freedom. In essence Secularism is a religion itself that establishes itself on the dogma that religion should be separated from state. On the other hand some religions, Islam particularly, promotes that religion must be a part and parcel of politey and system of institutions. That makes religion and secularism two mutually exclusive ideologies. The proof of that is the anti-Muslim laws in Germany and France where secular political ideology is threatened by a 10 year old Mulsim girl`s Hijab.

Like all religions, Secular dogma seeks ``converts``; secularism does not stop the doors of the political institutions, it very mush creeps into your house and effects every aspect of one`s life. In certain countries secularism has only ``tolerated`` religion so far only and only because it was politically expedient. The new Europe and France in particular is the emerging face of secular ideology- masquerade is no more.

Re #42 by Aasif

``Urdus can get away without learning Sindhi while living in Sindh``

>>>>With all due respect, you should refrain from commenting on things you don`t know about. Sindhi is a compulsory subject in school till matric for everyone. In most karachi schools sindhi is taught starting atleast from 6th grade onwards. Many schools have it as early as 3rd grade or even earlier.
Please, take your ethnocentric bs somewhere else. Thank you.<<<

Aasif.. who the hell are you to tell me to refrain from expressing my opinion ? In Pakistan the literacy rate is hovering somewhere between 3% to 19%.. and how do you teach the non-school going Urdus to learn Sindhi? And Einstein, why aren’t all Subjects taught in Sindhi in all Schools in Sindh? I think Urdu should be just one (optional) subject in schools across the nation, since it is only spoken by Mohajirs (only 8% of the population). The medium of instructions in Pakistan should be the native languages.

Re: 38

There is lots of confusion in the article. First Saima must decide what she means by “the left”?

S: The Left in Pakistan is a nameless, party less, agenda less entity. It is the very rudimentary beginnings of an opposition—a true opposition to rightist elements. I speak of left ‘elements’ like the straws that eventually become a nest.

I cannot decide or define the Left in Pakistan. It is for the Left to define itself. I only reported what I saw.

Is it the good old liberalism, secularism or the plain old Marxism? All three have been mixed up so badly that context is the only guide to figure out what she actually meant when she used “the left” to describe a state.

S: Another reason why I did not define the Left. What it is, what name and what boundaries, we don’t know yet. Is it liberal left that will emerge, Secularism, or Marx. Or Sufi Or what??

The Marxism that took over in the USSR was never liberal. It was not even secular as it discouraged any religious freedom. Marxism is not liberalism, though it springs from similar sources as liberalism.

S: Well that was USSR’s Left and its failures mentioned in the article.

”Marxism professed to smash existing establishment and economic system and create a new establishment and economic system by way of proletariat dictatorship. What is liberal in this concept? “

S: Sharing resources. But it failed for many reasons, irrelevant here, but relevant elsewhere.

Science helps liberalism but scientific inventions and the goods the science delivers are agnostic and don’t support either the left or the right or the liberalism or the conservatism.

S: Not true. Science was a liberating force for a long time, but in the last century it has switched sides —technology has been hijacked by capitalists and governments for rightist agendas and is used to increase the power of the elite than to increase the freedom of the common people. Whereas the initial industrial revolution brought safer working conditions and equality between classes, science today is a means of control, and gaining wealth--Science has become Technology.

But saima`s view is a limited view of Karachi only. I don’t see that it reflects the cultural landscape of the whole country. Karachi in even the dark days of religious supremacy was able to keep its head above the water but other parts of the country that were already under the feudal influence were never as liberal as Karachi was. What is on the rise in Karachi is at best secularism mixed with liberalism in pockets. Or plain common sense on the rise.( #30 by kalihawa )

S: I would have agreed with you, but I think it is important to recognize this movement and call it something, Left fitted it more than ‘democratization’ ‘liberalism’ ‘capitalism’ or other such ideas. Yes it is an intellectual Leftism with no leadership, cause of manifesto.

What is an Islamic society? There has never been an Islamic society in Pakistan at least the Pakistan that I know of was never Islamic.

S: Perhaps you should find out how Muslims used to live in undivided India in the last 300-500 years.

thanks to the Mongoloid Invader from Texas the LEFT is on the RISE all over the world.

Viva La Boooosh!

I believe societies are either in flux or equilibrium. Western Societies are in relative stable equilibrium due to numerous safely valves built into there system even then there are pockets which are in taut equilibrium such as areas where Mafia has large influence etc. India, even though a democracy, is not in such a stable equilibrium. Actually some parts are in a highly taut equilibrium therefore unstable and it manifests in snapping of that equilibrium now and then in Naxal violence or separatist movements etc.

Saturation Mullaism on one hand and Military leadership keeping eye over civilian rule too has created serious tension in Pakistani society, which should have led to taut equilibrium but elements cannot be kept in a state of tension indefinitely as creep tends to make tense situation as normal situation. In this context I am relieved that there is no violent snapping of equilibrium instead there appears a gradual shift towards more stability in Pakistan. This is a highly desirable situation.

Kulharee,

As mentioned by Aasif, EVERYONE in Sindh, Kolachi included, must learn Sindhi even if its not their language and don`t use it in their everyday lives.

It seems from your posts that you are anti the Mohajirs and Urdu. Why should that be? You are Punjabi why are you concerned when the Original and New Sindhis are working issues out for themselves.

This sort of ethnic bashing is just petty and is what is leading our country into further trouble, while the world moves on we are still fighting over silly issues like this. Give each province and city its due respect and kader and move on.

#47 by ahmedmadani on January 4, 2006 9:35pm PT


All foreign investors are thinking of investing billions of dallars.


Thinking?? That and $1.65 will get you a cop of coffee at starbucks..

``It is quite likely that the biggest battle for God will be fought here, on its grounds, in its corridors and on its borders.``

Yeah..thats correct. The match is already on. If Pakistan wins, ``Khuda ki Khudai`` will lose.

You people are simply great. The destiny has brought you to the point where you can change the world. You can change the way the world thinks. If Pakistan wins, we will believe there is no God and the human endeavour can reverse/change any of the natural processes. If artificiality can win, mother nature has to lose.

So go ahead. It`s between you and God. Here goes the whistle and the match is on. If you win, the crescent and the star will rule the heavens. What to talk about this world.

A well written piece and a fresh approach to things but raises some questions considering that the Left identified here signifies Liberalism or Secularism.
Is shedding of hijab and shaving off yr beard is a pre-requisite to development? Can we not achieve economic progress without getting rid of the so called symbolic Islam?
Do we need to escape from Islam in order to progress?Pakistan was created in the name of islam and is a pure ideological state and had limited linguistic,cultural,geographic pretext for its creation. Radcliff line was simply drawn because we wanted to create a state based on the principles of Islam. People in Turkey ,Egypt and Iran would still retain their identity if they were to part ways with Islam but we only became Pakistanis because of Islam.
I am no fan of the mullah but some how I believe that the so called icons of the” Left” have been mainly responsible for our inability to fully realize our potential as a nation.
1) Leadership after Jinnah until 1958 subscribed to these similar pro west anti mullah theory.Much of the present rot is due to the mistakes made in those formative years.

2)Ayub khan,again a mullah hater,a proud liberal and an extremely pro west,pro US person.His failed vision and leadership ultimately aggravated the feeling of deprivation in Bengal and laid the foundation stone of the 1971 debacle.

3)Bhuuto,the biggest villian.We are still reaping the “benefits” of his economic policies and the Islamization steps he took to appease the clergy in 1977.

4)Benazir, princess of corruption.Introduced us to new depths in the name of democracy.
Its not a left,right or centre thing.What we need is an integreted approach for creation of a just and egalitarian welfare society in line with Jinnah’s vision of modern and model Islamic state.
The so called Left domination would again give us another Lebanon or Iran under Shah both models which failed badly.

yes, karachi is on the right track for the first time since zab came to power. and the reason for the turnaround has nothing to do with implementation of left or right values. rather its due to (i) sound economic management by the government and (ii) huge improvement in law and order situation which came about after army action against mqm in the mid nineties and against the sectarian elements after 9/11. sectarian elements are largely neutralized while mqm, after being taught a lesson by the army, has morphed from mafia-type organization into something resembling a normal political party although it still relies too much on the cult of personality for my comfort.

for karachi to progress further, govt needs to focus on developing the hinterland because this will reduce the flood of migrants streaming into karachi. to develop the hinterland, army needs to use the same approach in tackling the anti-development forces that it used in karachi. this means that the government must be firm against the people causing the law and order problem in baluchistan and against the people resisting the kalabagh dam. and sure these people will fight tooth and nail like the mqm did. point to remember is that the larger awam will benefit from govt actions much in the same manner as karachi awam benefited after action against mqm.

Pakistan , as well as India should not aspire for the Left, Right, Front or Back. They should always aspire for the TOP. The only thing is that someone should show them the way.

Here is a new concept which I, humbly put forth for the perusal and consideration of all and sundry. I am sure that the concept ,as & when when implemented, will revolutionise the subcontinent and will solve all its problems.

I call this new concept as ``SAHU``. Yes SAHU, taken from the word “Sahukars” i.e. money-lenders of the past. In its expanded form it will read as ``SOUTH ASIAN HIGHWAY UNION``. The main theme of the SAHU will be ``Let the people remain divided ,let us unite the Highways.`` The total subcontinent will be converted into a world-class 8-lane Highway. The people whose Houses, Fields, properties will get destroyed will be bundled to Antarctica, if they protest. Majority-Minority problem in India will be solved by a one-time offer to the Minorities to get converted into Majority out of their own sweet will at the first instance. Otherwise, they will be forced to do so by a parliament resolution without any legal remedy at their disposal. There will not be any minority community left in India, all will be converted into Majority Community.

Pakistan will be converted into Punjabistan and will be named so. Those who disagree/protest will be given a reclaimed area to be brought up in the Arabian Sea at a later date. Till such time, they will be given shelter in tents at the Rann of Kutch. Those who prefer to stay back, will surrender their history, language and culture and will adopt Punjabi language and Punjabi culture in toto.

There will not be any poor left in SAHU. We will manipulate our Exchange Rate in such a way that our per capita income ,on paper, never falls below a certain value, commensurate with those of Scandinavian Countries. We will continue to grow at 10-15% annually by manipulating the growth data so that there is uninterrupted flow of FDI in SAHU.

Our Highways will be our pride. Only Ferraris and Mercedezs` will be allowed to run on them...no other lesser model. The Ferraris and Mercedez will be subsidised by the respective governments so that a person who can afford a two wheeler today can afford a Ferrari/Mercedez.

Our poor and downtrodden people are our greatest resources, we must remember. They will be exported as Slaves to other countries at a hefty premium(to be paid only in Dollars) so that we can earn foreign exchange to subsidise Ferraris and Benzs`.

American Army will be given a free hand to recruit our poor people and use them as cannon-fodder in its worldwide adventures elsewhere. We will take a commission of 50% out of each individual`s monthly salary who joins the elite American Forces. The families of who die in the battlefield will have to deposit 40% of the insurance/terminal benefits received by them from US Army in the Govt Depository.

Our ladies will be given a free hand in the nation-building and their talents will be exploited to the full extent. Our ladies are considered to be the beauties of the world. Rich Arabs will be given a free hand , of course after paying the requisite commission and provided the ladies are designated as ``Queens`` by the Arabs.

In the final analysis, no more India, no more Pakistan, no more SAFTA, no more SAEU, no more Naya Hindustan, no more United Hindustan, no more United India, nothing. Its only SAHU, SAHU AND SAHU.

LONG LIVE SAHU. SAHU ZINDABAD.

Vertex that is not true-

There are many liberal and secular Pakistanis who are as touchy about their Pakistani identity...

Proof by declaration?

Those who are right-leaning may well have been involved in much of the progress mentioned in 1-4...perhaps not the ruiling parties, but then I don`t think your usage of the term ``left`` is restricted to established political parties.

Identity is a very important issue...even in the west; one needs to look no further than the worries about integration of Muslims in Europe and North America that lately seem to dominate the narrative on Islam in the Western media.

In Pakistan, however, the only legitimate voices of identity seem to eminate from the traditionalist/religious crowed...the liberal ``left`` being a rehash of western values and traditions. Perhaps we are in the phase before a backlash...I mean, reading crap like this (http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/sunday/default.aspx?c=feature.htm) one can see that things are getting a bit out of control - at least for many traditionalists and even religious modernists (who I suppose you`ve included in the ``left`` under the guise of ``sufis``). It`s one thing that these things do occur, but having the media (which is a source of influence) essentially praise it is asking for trouble. Let`s see if the westernites have a backbone...

``The glass is half-full.``

I think the bottom is just wet......there is a ray of hope.............it is a lifetime of effort for a well meaning liberalist.......first he will have to push the army back to barracks...then reclaim the secular foundation of Pakistan.........then undertake legislative reforms, judicial reforms, administrative reforms......massive educational reforms.......massive financial and taxation reforms.........find some way to make mullahs and the madarassa educated illiterates productive and part of the modern capitalism................reduce military spendings.....lay off its army personnel at all levels...........


seems like a life time of effort for those who want Pakistan to be in the league of developed nations........