Banning O Level Urdu Textbook

you shouldn`t be so shocked by such actions of the government ali...arent they the descendants of the same ppl who who filed suits against manto and chughtai ? arent they from the same gene pool that cringes at sadequain`s work?
accept the ground reality ali...tumhain kya lagta hai k aaj ek middle-class tabkay ka baap apni beti k haath mein ismat chughtai ki short story Lihaaf dekh ker khush ho ga?
nahi ! he wud grab her by her hair and throw her out with the book still in her hand ! yeh sirf hum tum jesay log hain jo martay hain manto-raama khareednay k liye...jo martay hain k kahin se to koi brutally honest baat mil jaye pharnay ko ya sunnay ko...woh baat jis per parental control ya even social ya so-called moral control na laga hua ho...
believe me sum are content k sachi baatein likhnay walay mar khap gaye...buhat kam log hain aaj jo aesay writers ki talaash mein hain...
remember Iqbal?
pila deh mujhe woh mei pardah soz
k aati nahi fasl-e-gul roz roz
woh mei jis se roshan zameer-e-hayaat
woh mei jis se hai masti-e-kaainaat

Syed Ali sahib,

(The discrepency in the educational standards of madrassh system,govt schools and the private schools must be removed by positive action.)

Godspeed but sadly very impractical. If India`s experience is anything to go by govt schools by and large (barring some exceptions like Kendriya Vidyalayas) particularly those in remote areas, villages, slums etc. would remain abysmal.

Regards

As for majumdar, I am sure that adamkahan`s detailed reply is sufficient.I just wish to point out that Pakistan needs a radically reformed educational system.The discrepency in the educational standards of madrassh system,govt schools and the private schools must be removed by positive action.Getting rid of the O/A level system is not the solution.Instead,the govt must try to bring improvements in our local system(And please get rid of the historical stereotypes and negative propaganda in history)
Rather than wasting its time and resources on banning excellent pieces of literary work,the education ministry must strive to bring changes in our local syllabus.
Syed Ali

Re: # 12
#12 is by Syed Ali

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pacifist
Thanks

Ijaz-gul,rozaiba, unstruly,ballukhan,tahmad32,
The dilemma with our nation is that such purely academic decisions are taken by bureaucrats, without any experience in such matters.These people tend to label any writer with anti-establishment literary matter as a traitor or maverick. History decides the real position of such writers. Manto and Faiz are living examples of this fact
Anyways, thanks for your sane and sincere opinions.Govt has banned this book but civil society must continue its protest against this arbitrary decision.

Good for nothing bureaucrats - they made a mess of public education, so now they need a reason to justify their existence. And these damn maulvis are everywhere, corrupting islam, corrupting Pakistan.

Adamkhan sahib,

Its nice to know that only a few schools are following the Brit system and by and large education process in Pak is indigenous. Now if the quality of that is bad, it just requires some improvement thats all. If India can produce a reasonable decent education system at the school so can Pak.

Now as far as the disparity between students is concerned thats a fact of life even in India where by and large domestic Boards rul the roost, good quality public/missionary schools offer far better facilities as compared to most govt/ municipality schools. In any case wealthy students have far better backup in terms of home environment, tutions, computers at home etc.

Regards

Only a blessed few can have the opportunity to follow the British Education System in Pakistan. The biggest obstacle in this regard is the amount of fees charged by the institutions following this system. It makes sure that only the children of the rich and affluent can go through O-Levels and A-Levels.

The indigenous equivalents i.e. Matric and FSc, are ``pathetic`` to say the least - the syllabus is decades old and does not prepare the students adequately for academic challenges in the future.

There has been a recent surge in interest regarding the British Education System. Although it bodes well for the future of the students who are lucky enough to avail this education, it also puts the students going through the Pakistani system at a huge disadvantage.

This difference in education is especially evident in subjects relating to science.

This difference gives the students passing through A-Levels an edge over their F.Sc. counterparts, something that would greatly influence their probability of getting into more prestigious universities and thus getting better paying jobs.

From the looks of it, this difference has the potential to further exacerbate the disparity in incomes between the upper and lower classes of Pakistan.

So how do our beloved Maulana Sahibs grapple with this situation? They call any attempt to change the syllabus as a ``Sayhooni Sazish``. It is ironic that Qazi Hussain Ahmad is so vehemently opposed to any change in this regard, because he sent his own son to do an MBA from the USA.

Pardon me for asking such a basic question about Pakistans education system. I am afarid I don`t know much about it. In India examinations at the Class X and Class XII are conducted as per CBSE or ICSE or State Board curriculum-wholly indigenous effort- very few schools if any offer O-levels or A-levels.

But from my limited knowledge it seems that Pakistani schools are by and large still following the British education system. Is that so and if yes, why? I am sure it does not require rocket science to devise an education system, exam system and curriculum locally.

Regards

``Our teacher used to bring newspaper clippings which related to the content of the stories and our literary society also staged a powerful drama on these themes. This interactive learning is only possible with such a book containing vibrant themes. ``




Simple......the Islamists are scared of people thinking and appreciating Manto.........

hmm.. After reading some of the rather scandalous (to O level students in an Islamic republic) passage (Thanks, #5 poster), I am not convinced that the banning of this book in schools is not altogether a good move, or at least one consistent with the philosophy of educational outcomes and objectives in the country.

The write of the email produced in #5 also makes a valid critque of the Panjab Curriculum board`s excsising of the 1927-1940 period from the Pakistan Studies books.

i recieved a nice email from Dr Nasir M Khan regarding new curriculum issue that is complaint with my ideas and views about this curriculum so don`t want to say anymore..

Be in mind , its the proof that Pakistan intelligentsia is not silence as you mentioned on this dreadful joke.

Below is the Dr Nasir email text:

It is a saying that if you want to foresee the future
of a nation, visit its educational institutions. These
are places where the future of a nation rests, where
the youth are inculcated with the sinews of
morality and spirituality.

Education is a sensitive issue because it ``trains the
brains``. Teachers and books play a pivotal role in the
education and training of students.

They learn whatever their teachers and books impart.
If the way of teaching is negative and unclear, it
will simply ruin the capabilities of the children.

One can figure out the U-turns on political and
economic fronts taken by Gen Pervez Musharraf led
government after 9/11. But one does not understand the
dreadful U-turn on the educational front.

No doubt, 9/11 has changed the world, but it cannot
change the history and culture of Pakistan and Islam.
However, Education Minister Lt-Gen (retired) Javed
Ashraf Qazi, whose overt and covert capabilities have
already brought Pakistan Railway to the zenith of
progress, does not agree with this contention.

He thinks that the rotten curriculum having ``fake`` and
``irrelevant`` stories of our so-called heroes like
Khalid bin Waleed, Mohammad bin Qasim, Tariq bin Zaid,
Ahmed Shah Abdali and Tipu Sultan is the main
hurdle in progress.

He claims that until and unless the incumbent
curriculum is ``modified``, the nation cannot progress.
Let`s see what kind of changes he wants and has
brought.

A book namely ``Pakistan Ki Kahanian`` (stories of
Pakistan) has recently been introduced in the O level
curriculum, and is being taught in garrison academies.


It has been published by a prominent publishing house
located in Urdu Bazaar, Lahore , and is in line with
the reviewed curriculum of Cambridge University .
However, no information about the consultation
board or supervisor is mentioned in the book.

A random reading of the book suggests that whatever
material was found from ``here and there``, has been
collected and given a shape of a book. The writing
style is abstract and complicated, which is difficult
for an innocent brain to understand.

The book is filled with abusive and objectionable
words and phrases.
For instance, in a story called ``Thal``, the word
`Haramzada` (bastard) has been used on page 56.
Similarly, words `Haramzadi` on page 60, Kaminay
(ignoble) on page 65 and `Haramzada Kuttay` on page
66 have been used.

In another story ``Kappas Ki Kahani`` (story of cotton),
phrases `Uloo Key Pathay` (son of owl) on page 81 and
`Ashiq Hogai Hay Sali` on page 79 have been published.

Look at the sentence written on page 83, ``Salman Bara
Kamina aur Ghatia Admi Hay. Uloo Ka Patha Hay`` (Salman
is an ignoble and cheap man. He is son of owl). On
page 164 of the book, the word ``Kanjar``
(pimp) has been used.

Now, one can understand the moral future of the
students and teachers who are learning and teaching
such kind of sentences.

Sentences used in most of the stories are in defiance
of our religious and cultural traditions. These
entences merely reflect the frustration of adults,
which is impossible for the innocent children
to understand. Such sentences will not merely spoil
their innocent brains, but also make them adults
before time.

Similarly, on page 66 of the book, it is stated, ``when
he came back, Nisho had his child in her tummy. No
doubt he was a licit child``.
Now, if you are teaching a minor student about licit
child, then you automatically have to tell him about
illicit child and the procedure.

Page 24 states ``when she wore her clothes, he took her
into the room, hugged her and started to laugh``. In a
story titled ``Baghwan Das Darkhan``, there is a line on
page 36, ``when Sheeren left her parents`
home and reached her husband`s, he only spent the
wedding night with her in a fashion whereby he
disrobed her, teased and pinched her for the whole
night, and sent her back to her parents the next
morning``.

In another story, `Kaffara` (compensation), it is
written on page 45, ``death was standing near me, and
seducing me. She was sexy and lustful. Her sexy
thighs, and round buttocks were about to tear off
her skin-hugging skirt``.

On page 80, story ``Kappas ki Kahani``, the hero
comments on the heroine as ``during journey, I had
various chances to be romantic with her. But sometimes
she escaped, sometimes I avoided``. Page 81 states
about opposite sex-friends ``Yes, Salman was her old
friend before me and more closer than me. But Salman
told me someone had been much closer to him than us in
the past``.

Mr general, the people of Islamic Republic of Pakistan
want to know what concept of friendship between males
and females do you want to introduce in our society?

In `Mughal Saraya`, the author sates on page 132, ``the
boy was walking in an ordinate position, and his left
arm gripped the girl tightly``.

In story `Kashti` (boat), unduly suggestive sentences
have been used. ``She was carrying two ripe fruits
under her clothes. When he held her while she was
climbing down the stairs, he felt as if he had
caught two warm pigeons``.

It is difficult to say whether Gen Qazi has ever read
this book, but being the education minister, would he
like to tell the people whether it is a story book or
sex guide?

In `Pichal Pairy` (female ghost) story, it is stated
on page 154, ``You know the beauty of a poor woman is
like a pond in the village…. Her beauty is like a
field of sugarcane, where anyone can snatch one or two
sugarcanes and suck them``.

On pages 169 and 170, story `Mang`, the author states
``she was assuming that her marriage was like marriage
of a doll. She was assuming her husband like her
father or brother. But when she slept with him, the
inmates heard her screams and sound of slapping in the
midnight``.

On page 176 of the same story, it is stated, ``Her
brother removed her Shalwar (trouser) and rolled it
down``.

The education ministry has also not spared the
syllabus of Pakistan Studies of the intermediate
class. The Punjab Textbook Board has either removed or
curtailed the events happened during 1927 to 1940.
A common Pakistani knows that it was the most
important era during Pakistan movement.

During these 13 years, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali
Jinnah presented his famous 14 points in reply to the
Nehru Report, Allama Iqbal gave his famous Allahabad
address, Congress had refused to recognize Muslim
League, two roundtable conferences were held, and the
untoward attitude of the Congress ministers towards
Muslims.

Following the removal of these 13 years from the
syllabus, our future generations may ask that if
Muslims and Hindus had cooperated with each other in
1916 Lucknow pact and Khilafat Movement, then what was
wrong with Muslims who launched struggle for
independence?

Gen Ashraf Qazi and his ``wise`` aides must keep the
fact in mind that history is based on incidents that
occurred in the past. Different people can depict
these incidents in different dimensions and
meanings, but cannot destroy them. If someone distorts
history in the name of enlightened moderation, it is
nothing more than a dreadful joke.



Dr. Nasir M. Khan,

Javed Qazi`s only qualification to become the minister of education is that he attended a high school before getting recruited into the army.

As a matter of fact same is true for all the military goons serving as heads of several corporations in Pakistan. What an unfortunate people and country.

of course javed qazi is a `sincere` and `well intentioned` man and personally a `good guy` and so its not his fault incompetence reigns supreme under his ministry :D

No one really listens to the writers of these stories...they would do better to hit their heads against the wall than try to convince Javed Qazi of his stupidity.

When I did Senior Cambridge, we were not allowed to study Faiz. We were told that he is a traitor. So in a book `Jawahar Parey` published by Ferozesons, there was no Faiz.

I have read this book and I feel that the Gurus have some problem with Minto and his satire.

Cheerios