The Last of the Mughals RiazHaq #60 {"But 1492 stands out as the year that marks the turning point in world's balance of power, although the Ottomans still power for a while longer, even threatening Vienna in 1529."}

Riaz,
You are right about the watershed year of 1492 with the conquest of Granada and the "discovery" of the "New" World by the enterprising Christians of Europe. But the Ottomans were a significant power way beyond 1529, threatening Vienna again in the late 1600's after taking chunks of Ukraine and southern Poland, and holding on to Hungary for over 150 years. The St. Stephan Cathedral to this day has visible damage from the siege of the last Ottoman offensive. The English "ambassador" Hawkins arrived in India in 1609, just in time to see Maharaja Shri Salim take over as the not-so-last Mughal.

The Last of the Mughals Also, Beej Bhayya, for those who are insidiously referring to Bahadur Shah Zafar as a "coward" a "weakling" or a Giddar, as a few have blatantly opined, here is something for them to consider. The man was around 7 feet tall and presented a powerful presence. Of course, as you noted, he was 82 years old in 1857. Too bad, Tahmed Sahib and Hamidumdum Sahib did not run into this benign man in a dark alley while he was in his youth in 1797 or so. God knows both of them would have to get on top of each other just to strike at the Badshah's chin.

The Last of the Mughals {"However, it is evident to even the casual reader of Dalrymple’s book that the separation that would occurr in 1947 was only the finale of a long-running event whose Act I occurred in 1857 itself. ...The most serious fallout of the 1857 event was the split/rift within the Indian Muslims themselves. The king had exerted authority over the ulama – who obeyed him as the khalifa, though criticizing him for having picked too many “Hindu� practices. Once the king was removed from the picture, there was no restraining hand to moderate the radicals. ...Will the last Mughal ever make it home? The home where he rightfully belongs?!

Perhaps a day will come when the average people of the subcontinent can see the power of this benign individual to bring about togetherness between communities and grant to him the one thing he really yearned for – to be buried next to his forefathers. .."}


Beej Bhayya,
What a pleasant surprise! You have analyzed a very difficult subject and in an objective manner, you have brilliantly connected the excesses and cruelties of 1857 to the stupidity and nonsense of 1947. As an avid historian, I found your intellectual discussion of "The Last Mughal" very interesting and quite convincing.

By the way, I had read somewhere that Bahadur Shah Zafar was half Hindu and did not east beef. His father, Akbar Shah II, had apparently married a Brahmin woman. If true, then this "Last Mughal" symbolizes the fusion that we have loved as Mughal Hindustan. As for Hodson, I have read that he was extremely cruel and insulting as were his Sikh horsemen known as "Hodson's Horse." Lucknow and more so Delhi suffered greatly at the hands of these "civilized" Christians. For the most part, what became Pakistan escaped from the brutality - only because Punjab became the British favorite after its soldiers were used to suppress the insurrection.

Very good article and I truly enjoyed your amazingly refreshing perspective. Thank you.

Salim Ahmed Chauhan

The Shrinking Boundaries of Sikhism {"The process of circumscribing Sikhism with ever tightening boundaries is not yet over. There is sometimes talk of tightening the definition even further to exclude those who have cut their hair or are not baptized as amritdhari. If the talk turns into action, this definition would exclude the overwhelming majority of modern Sikhs from any new definition."}

DM Sahib,
Very informative article and I must say that this mad rush to "standardization" is bound to hurt all religions. The more purity one imposes the more adulterated one's faith becomes.

The Ever Changing MQM Panahguzeer is a Farsi word meaning "one who seeks refuge."

The Ever Changing MQM #9 Posted by nkg on May 15, 2009 12:24:14 am
("Re: # 5salim k'tua...whuile discussing about muslas, why you bring human names like Thackereay etc...why don't you keep confined within the sub-human species of muslas....? ")

Nkg,
That says a lot about your own dubious claim to be human.

Demise of Pukhtoon Nation ...and Guru, how is Kasab Bhayee?

Demise of Pukhtoon Nation Guru,
You should write a book - "Connecting All the Dots on a Blank Piece of Paper." :)

Demise of Pukhtoon Nation nkg #67 {"If there is a mole of honesty left within Paki admin...they should divert fund, they have received from USA, starting fom the time of Russian - Afghanistan conflict to this region"}

nkg,
It's probably going to snow in Mumbai, because I do agree with you. In addition to investing in NWFP and improving the health, education, and infrastructure for the Pathans, there should be an end to the FATA nonsense. Either FATA is part of Pakistan or it is not.

Demise of Pukhtoon Nation Khyber #64 {"YOUR POST IS A REALITY OF 21IST CENTURY,thats what is needed in Pakistani society,unfortunately Pakistani elite used religion for their political gains and mullah always played as their pimp.I personally think that religious fanaticism was started in Pakistan,when AHMADIS were declared non-Muslims which was against the philosophy of Jinnah."}

Dear Khyber,
Yes, our moolas and their unreliable allies among the feudals, the army, and the elite class are the true enemies of Pakistan, its people, and Islam. These insidious and selfish people keep creating conditions of adversity from which it takes decades, if not generations, for our people to recuperate. Meanwhile, the creme de la creme enjoys the toppings. But let's remain hopeful, the people are getting wiser. First to fall was the army, next will be the moolas, then the real devils - the feudals and the bureaucrats.

Demise of Pukhtoon Nation #63 {"hmm, so how many hours did it take you to recover from your "uncontrollable wrath" and start making bad puns about "fanny flogging", etc "}

111,
Why is it that you appear to be so interested in fanny flogging? Why don't you try kicking a Tally Ban in the beard?

Demise of Pukhtoon Nation I have known Zeena as an interactor on Chowk for several years. She comes across as a genuinely compassionate and immensely patriotic Pakistani, proud of her Pathan and Punjabi ancestry. Her emotional post is obviously motivated by sadness, anger, and extreme frustration.

When I watched those horrible videos of the terribly cruel Tally Ban murderers slicing the throats of fellow Pakistani civilians and captive soldiers, I too felt an uncontrollable wrath against beards, raised shalwars, black turbans, stupid Sharia, and even Pathan butchery. Then I realized that almost all the victims of this barbarity are Pathan themselves and the supporters, mentors, and "spiritual" guides of these "holy" bastards can be Punjabi, Mohajir, and Pathan. This realization restored my emotional balance and diminished my irrational moment of racist bias.

What is needed now is not finger pointing, not recrimination, and certainly not a divisive urge to label entire groups of Pakistanis as barbaric, cruel, or treasonous. The foremost matter is to stop this obvious rebellion by armed criminals and murderers. Despite our political leanings, we need to support the national army in suppressing and even destroying this murderous menace we call the Tally Ban. Once they have been disarmed and preferably destroyed, we can then examine, analyze, and rectify what caused this disease to run rampant in our country?

Surely, our future actions will need to consider the importance of secularism, liberal education, restoration of Islam as a personal religion and not a devouring monster ready to devour the last breath of life from the poor people of Pakistan. Inshallah, God will help us as we fight these devils that crop up among our people every odd century or so.

Sincerely,
Salim Ahmed Chauhan

The Ever Changing MQM Ali Sahib,
An interesting and timely article about a rare bright spot in Pakistan. I have heard some good things about MQM as far as municipal administration and improvement of the infrastructure in Karachi are concerned. Having talented and dedicated public servants like Mustafa Kamal certainly presents MQM in a better light.

Now, allow me to stop there. When citizens have to depend on a party to protect their rights, deliver services, and provide security, something is terribly wrong with that country. Images of the Nazis, Baath Party, Awami League, PPP, and of course the antics of BJP/RSS/VHP/BD/JS/SS come to mind. To this nonsense, add the influence of "charismatic" demagogues like Adolph, Sadman Houston, Modi, Thackeray, Bajrangi, Mujib, and Bhutto, and you have completed the perfect scenario for tragedy.

People of Karachi should channel their philanthropic and organization skills into helping Pakistan as Pakistanis and evolve from this 1930's type of reliance on fascism.

Having said that, my theory of relativity states that the MQM is a minor worm in comparison to the awful and horrible, throat-slitting, head chopping, female fanny flogging dragon we call the Tally Ban. May God rid us of all cruel and murderous monsters.

Sincerely,
Salim Ahmed Chauhan

Demise of Pukhtoon Nation Khyber #8,
You may have valid points in all the blame against Russians, Americans, ISI, Zia, Soodis, and the rest. The fact remains that the most bitter enemies of the Tally Ban were the Northern Alliance comprised of Tajiks, Uzbeks, and even Hazaras. So, while one can say that the Tally Ban are the result of the American sponsored, Soodi-financed, ISI-planned Jihad against the Russians, the fact remains that almost half of the non-Pakhtun elements did not go along with the AL Kayda and did not mutilate into the Taliban.

Demise of Pukhtoon Nation {"Pukhtoon needs to wake up and fight against every one who is taking this great nation for a ride. Be that the Talibaan or MQM. We must stand up and fight! It’s not late to go back to our basic tribal ways as “Hum tou doobain gay sanam… Pur… tum ko bhee lay doobaain gay!"}

Farhad Sahib,
From my own experience, I have learned that generalizing about human beings is bound to result in disappointment and fallacy. Whether we lump people in racial, linguistic, provincial, religious, or even municipal terms, we are asking for trouble. Pakhtoons are a linguistic group and vary as much among themselves as Punjabis, Sindhis, and Mohajirs. Your comment about the unfortunate, illegal, and murderous killing of innocent Pakhtoons in Karachi is valid and the MQM has not only shame, but blood on its hands and on its face. As a Mohajir, with both Urdu-speaking and Pashto-speaking Pathans for relatives, I am saddened by yet another attempt by our enemies to exploit ethnic rivalries to damage Pakistan. Pathans are my brothers and sisters - just like Punjabis, Sindhis, Baluchis, and Kashmiris. A dead Pathan is a dead Pakistani and a weaker and sadder Pakistan. The current offensive in Swat and the prior butchery in Swat by the Talibans have torn me apart from the inside. All I can say about the too little too late action in Swat is that I hope it is swift, successful, and permanent. The Taliban are the enemies of Pakistan, Islam, and mankind - especially womankind.

But you cannot go on blaming others for the demise of the Pakhtoons. Taking on an anti-Pakistan stance from the beginning, flirting with Communism and the Soviet Union, being friends with India only to antagonize Pakistan, and then using Pakistan and Pakistanis as a base for the hit and run guerilla war against the Russians were all actions for which some Pakhtoons need to take responsibility. Wasn't Afghanistan one of the few nations to oppose Pakistan's membership in the UN?

Granted that the Russians, Americans, ISI, and the Soodis have all used Pakhtoons for their own selfish interests, but isn't there any responsibility on the part of the victims to recognize hypocrisy, stupidity, exploitation, and self-interest?

Farhad, please explain to me what is so Pakhtoon about slitting throats, beheading people, flogging women, persecuting minorities, and doing everything possible to defame Islam as an institution. Making videos and then publicizing macabre acts of deprivation and cruelty are something that our enemies would do - not the so-called "warriors of Islam."

If Pakhtoons really love their own people, if Pakhtoons are truly Pakistani, then you must:

Stop using force and violence to settle matters
Stop misusing the name of Islam to commit cruelty
Stop suppressing women - even (or especially) Pakhtoon women
Stop this FATA nonsense - either you are in Pakistan or not in Pakistan
Stop blaming others for the stupidity of Pakhtoon leaders - like Moola Fadloola, Moola Bait Loola, and other sadistic bastards
Stop using suicide bombers to terrorize Pathans, other Pakistanis, and the world
Stop hosting international terrorists and murderers like Osama Bin Laden, Zawahairy, and the assortment of Uzbek, Chehen, and Arab "Knights Templars"

Farhad, the best course is education, secular yet Islamic spirituality at the individual level, emancipation of women, and fairness for all. Inshallah, if we escape "Islamic" extremism, the normal course of human interaction will make us one people within a few more generations.

Salim Ahmed Chauhan

Land Mafia Havens in Karachi #5 Posted by Zyxius on May 5, 2009 10:03:48 pm
{"MatloobZ,

When you start believing the sponsors of Baitullah Mehsud (Americans) who clearly have another agenda for Pakistan, you delude yourself and bring potentially catastrophic misunderstandings into the mix. "}

Zyxius Sahib,
This is a very surprising and somewhat interesting claim. What proof can you offer that the US (even via CIA) is sponsoring Bait Loola? That would explain a lot of things that I just can't understand. But, seriously, my friend, what evidence, real or circumstancial can you offer? Thanks