Nayab Fareed – My Bit for Change

Our Shackled Patriotism

So, August arrives again. Like every year, channel logos change to green. Youth begins placing flags on their roof tops, buying badges and flags only to find them on the floor beneath our feet the next day. More deceitful promises and more lies by dearly loved leaders; more national songs and a load of new revolutions.

No one really understands the importance and the privilege of being free. We all jump on the bandwagon because everyone else is, everyone else is because the entire world is hence joining the trend. We are all consumed by a false sense of freedom and independence. We are all living in oblivion celebrating a few days in a year convincing ourselves that we’re “Independent” and we’re “free” but our minds and hearts are chained and we’re probably the most naïve nation there could possibly exist. What exactly are we celebrating? – False sense of freedom? Our deceptive “brotherhood” where no one is willing to help none but himself? As someone who has lived abroad all her life, something that pinched me the most when I shifted to Pakistan for education is the reluctance to help others. What exactly are you celebrating and what exactly are you wishing and praying for with all that calling out to Allah on your religious transmissions and morning shows if you’re unaware of the basic courtesies that make up a stable society? Let alone a stable society we’re not even a society yet. A society that is hell bent on discrimination between different cultures and different religions, a society that thinks its own interpretation of religion from a sea of misunderstood interpretations bewilderingly mixed up with culture is above the genuine religion this country’s creation was based upon? What are we celebrating? Sure every country has its flaws but societies work towards making them right which unfortunately is a mere fantasy in our case. Ours, sadly, is a society of miserable fools looking for a reason to celebrate and it could be anything. Don’t blame my fellow countrymen since Pakistan is one of those countries that have seen the worse of worst yet the people try to remain buoyant but is it really strength or is it just being numb and immune? It won’t be wrong to say that the general public has run out of energy to outrage. So numb that we’re not even bothered about the rulers who rule us in the name of democracy. No, not anti-democratic but certainly not pro-make-a-fool-out-of-me-again. Remember the phrase “Fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me” we’ve been shamed so many times, probably lost count.

Don’t mistake this for cynicism. I used to be insanely Patriotic but I didn’t actually understand what patriotism truly was. Patriotism isn’t chanting slogans it’s not hollow rhetoric and meaningless emotions you exhibit on the social networking sites. Patriotism is much more than that; it’s about owning what you have. People who change their profile pictures and statues are the same people who are likely to abandon their homeland for a foreign land and an overseas passport. One wonders where all this patriotism vanishes then? Your patriotism is not living in oblivion about the state of your country. It’s not ignoring the wrong doings of your people. I’m sorry but I cannot call myself a “proud” Pakistani right now. I do call myself and Pakistani, always had and always will but not a proud one. I choose to be conscious rather than living in denial.

Chanting slogans doesn’t help. Singing national songs is nothing but pretense if you’re a greedy leech oppressing the ones below you, seizing someone’s right, misusing your authority you’re nothing but a hypocrite lying to yourself. It’ll be clichéd to write a long list of things we all ought to do as we all know our role, so I won’t go there. I’ll just hope and pray, because that’s what I can do. I hope that one day, hopefully one day we’ll have a country that Jinnah would be proud of. Not a society where people merely live, or rather survive, because they have to but because they want to, thankfully. Not a society that survives on the basis of corruption, wealth and power but a society that accommodates all the caste religions and statuses peacefully. And I hope that someday, soon hopefully, someone like me does not sit down and think about their independence in the manner I have.

Feminism – Are We Doing It Wrong?

Feminism (Oxford definition) – the advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes.

EQUALITY! Not supremacy. Feminism is all about advocating women’s rights not advocating their supremacy above any other human being and certainly not about loathing men like some sort of filth. Then why exactly do some self proclaimed “feminists” tend to mistake this equality as being treated in a special way? As strange as this article may seem, considering a girl herself is questioning feminism, I really want to say I feel for all those men who have fallen prey to this sort of unfair and manipulative ‘feminism’ or I’d rather call it feminazism. The kinds of feminists I have come across are nothing but a bunch of loud, crude and irrational women. Seldom do I see rational and smart feminists. Most of them are just, downright irrational, confused and silly. Here are a few types of feminists who I have actually come across myself.

– Those who have had bad relationship experiences and perceive all men as evil little despicable creatures just cause their partner turned out to be err not so loyal. Hence pledging themselves that they will not let any man live guilt-free for being a man.

– The confused ones. A very famous Bengali writer also a feminist (will not mention her name) tweeted once saying why don’t men wear women’s attire? That seriously came as a shock to me and made me question the present concept of feminism. What I fail to understand is that why exactly don’t such women understand that when they say this, they’re going against the law of nature. That’s like saying why can’t the Sun revolve around the Earth why does it always have to be us. Yes, that’s how stupid it sounds.

– Then there’s this other kind, the kind that goes nude for no apparent reasons at all. These ones will go nude for the most trivial things. I bet even for a protest against this very article. Almost everything that offends them. What this lot needs to understand that at the end of the day, they are entertaining the same men they’re standing against. They’re merely objectifying their bodies, which is not really helping, come to think of it.

Many of you may not agree and if you’re one of the types mentioned above you might be angry by now but I genuinely believe that the concept of feminism is being badly misunderstood by today’s women. What’s disappointing is that most of the women who luckily are born into societies which grant women their due rights don’t take feminism seriously the reason maybe their lack of understanding the matter as they themselves haven’t really been subjected to double standards and gender bias. I personally feel if educated and rational women take up feminism, it can change the state of the women around the globe. The main reason feminism is not taken seriously anymore is that most of the women chanting slogans about equality aren’t really talking about equality themselves. They’re mostly unreasonable and apologetic.

All in all, I’m all for feminism. I believe women are no less of a gender than men but I also believe exaggerating and ranting about almost everything that is unchangeable, that we clearly know is natural and cannot be changed whatsoever, is plain stupidity. You want to compete? Compete on a mental level not on a physical one. Women surely do have the capability to outdo men mentally and the rising numbers of girls topping in different exams in our country is a proof of it. So ladies, know that you’re no less and that feminism is all about embracing yourself and your femininity, acknowledging the fact that you’re a woman and definitely not weak. You have the power to change the world and shape the future generations. You go girls!

Democracy or Feudal Dynasty

What comes to your mind when you think of the word Democracy? Rule of the people, Equal rights of all citizens, Freedom, but if you’re a Pakistani, this may not be the case. I, for some reason, fail to understand or connect to the present form of democracy in Pakistan. When I, as a Pakistani, think of democracy, equal rights and freedom does not come to mind but political dynasties, monarchy nepotism and the rule of the elite is the picture that I see.

Democracy in Pakistan is not the power of the people, it’s actually their weakness. It’s being used by the rich to exploit the poor. Yes, it is freedom but freedom of corruption, freedom of looting, freedom of fooling and freedom of exploiting; the irony of extremely rich ruling the extremely poor. How do you suppose a man who spends millions on shopping, lives in mansions, wears nothing less than the most expensive brands, travels in posh cars, can feel the pain of a poor masses living below the poverty line? People are being killed everyday.. Quetta, Karachi,Peshawar, you name it. And what is our democratic government doing about it? Don’t worry; they’re using our money wisely on foreign trips. The representatives of people disappear the moment the people who elected them actually need them.

Aslam Raisani, Baluchistan’s former CM is the biggest example. Just when the Hazara Shias of Quetta needed him the most, he decided to fly out of the country. And how can one forget President Zardari? Who decided to go for the overseas tour during Pakistan’s worst floods in 80 years. The most this “democracy” can do is form committees and more committees. Never ending heart rending tragedies, constant vocal meaningless condemnations and hollow sympathies is all what they have given to us.

The democracy is Pakistan is all about manipulating and deceiving. The nastier, the better. The naïve masses are being emotionally exploited in the name of democracy to gain votes. There are no political parties but political dynasties and ongoing slavery. The constant juggling of power between the big feudal families of Punjab and Sind has left the country abortive, dysfunctional and helpless as the power keeps running in the family, passed down to generations as they further suck on to the blood of the poverty struck masses.

No, the point I’m trying to make here is not that Pakistan does not need democracy or it will do better without it. Democracy is what Pakistan needs but..

the kind of democracy that gives us the liberty and equality and where the rulers fear the power of people and not vice versa.
the kind of democracy with people’s representatives not the representatives of the 0.0001% of the population
the kind of democracy where the leader is chosen by the people is from the people for the people, the one who understand the day to day problems of his people and is capable and eligible to lead the nation of 180 million
the democracy which does not deprive us of our basic rights and
the democracy which will lead this country into progressive times where each and every individual will count.

So before voting, and deciding your fate and the fate of 180 million people, think wisely. Are these really the leaders we need in these trying times? Is this the kind of democratic system we want?

Think!

Is an Average Pakistani a Super Human?

Scorching heat of summers in Pakistan, along comes Ramadan. The heat makes me crave cold water. I sit right in front of the fan and don’t bother moving an inch. Just when I start to relax.. BOOM! The power goes off. Leaving me appalled wondering whatever happened to all the promises that were made to the naïve nation about very little load shedding in Ramadan? Profanity, frustration, anger comes naturally in these sorts of situations. What happens after the power goes off can’t really be described in words. I’m sure 90% of Pakistanis would agree with me on that. Cursing the Government, WAPDA, KESC, etc. While the world progresses we’re going back, back to the Stone Age. While the world discovers new ways to generate electricity, we on the other hand are still struggling to get the oldest form of it.

I’m a Non-residential Pakistani and spending a few days in Pakistan makes me wonder how do Pakistani citizens cope with these kinds of situations? Usually Electricity doesn’t seem so important and vital, but in Pakistan, It could be used as a synonym of blessing. The day when there’s very little or no load shedding is considered lucky. People joke about how good the day was because there was no load shedding. Such is the situation in my land of pure where certain people are bent on turning it onto the complete opposite of pure, where people are deprived of their basic rights. The rich here keeps on getting richer and the poor, poorer by day.

According to Pakistan’s Planning Commission, poverty rate has jumped from 23.9 to 37.5 percent in the last three years. Thanks to leaders chanting slogans like “Roti Kapra aur Makan” the same old slogan has now become ‘zaher, kaffan aur Qabar’, literally, the suicide rate due to the poverty has risen tremendously. “Two-thirds of the country’s population is reportedly suffering from depression, and a trend of suicide among the people has seen a sharp increase in the first quarter of this year.
Lack of financial resources, insecurity and identity problems have pushed the suicide rate up by 24 percent as compared to last year” – Daily times

A recent incident in which a 12 year old burnt himself to death because he could not afford books shook me as I thought to myself how awfully unfortunate we are to have people who want to educate themselves, something which is everyone’s basic birthright regardless of his social status, but is forced it give it up.

It doesn’t end here. While he struggles to make the ends meet, he’s being bombarded with enormous issues like unemployment, terrorism, corruption. Unemployed due to illiteracy, if literate, yes you guessed it right, he need a “Sifaarish” because just a degree, doesn’t work. Hence, most of the competent and talented people leave the country as they are offered much better job opportunities abroad and the incompetent corrupt leeches are left sucking our blood and cycle goes on. It hurts me to say this, but if you are poor, life in Pakistan is terrible. While our leaders are busy in their usual dirty politics and mudslinging, each claiming he’s “Ghareeb awam ki awaaz” the poor die every day sometimes of hunger, sometimes of target killing, drones, suicide bombs and the list goes on. USA has attacked its targets in the northwest of Pakistan since 2004 in the name of “War on terror” in which scores of innocent bystanders have lost their lives along with some suspected militants. Most of them were commoners like you and me. Makes me wonder, what exactly is our definition of “war on terror”? War against terror has become terror itself. It’s hard for me to distinguish between “friend” and the enemy. And if a drone or a target killer hasn’t killed you, worry not, we have suicide attacks and other forms of terrorist attacks, where again it’s a poor Pakistani who suffers. From the summer of 2007 until late 2009, more than 1,500 people were killed in suicide and other attacks on civilians.

Why is he being punished for something he has not done? Be it drones, target killings or suicide attacks.. It’s the common Pakistani who suffer not the elite, not the politicians, not the bureaucrats. A poor man’s fault is his poverty and death is his punishment. This simple innocuous man does not know who his President is. He’s unaware of his Prime Minister. He’s unaware of the ghastly politics. He’s unaware of his Chief justice. Moreover, he’s unaware of his own rights. His main concern is shelter and bread for his children then why is he being punished for something he knows nothing about? Why is life so terrible for him and every day the same?

“When the rich become a slave to their desires, the poor are exposed to all kinds of exploitations”

It’s he who deserves awards like tamgha-e-imtiaz for bearing so much yet remaining hopeful, not someone who lives in mansions, owns Ferraris and Lamborghinis, flats and villas abroad and will be the first one to flee if, God forbid, something goes wrong.

Let’s put ourselves in his shoes. We whine like kids for the slightest displeasures in life yet he still manages to smile. Despite all the hardships and torture he goes through, he’s still hopeful for Pakistan and prays that someday he will live in a country Jinnah dreamt of where everyone will be treated equally and no one will sleep hungry. Let’s hope and pray to the Almighty that He bestows upon us a responsible and God fearing leader who feels the pain of the poor, who knows there are millions of people out there who would sleep hungry and millions who don’t have a roof on their heads and who is aware that he is answerable to Someone, Some Day, for the people’s plight living under his rule.

I’m A Liberal Fun-damentalist!

Extremism in any shape or form is wrong, be it religious or secular. Unfortunately, most of the critics tend to focus only on the extreme part of Islam and the people exploiting it for their own interest. They either do not know or deliberately hide the fact that Islam as a liberating religion; something that it actually is! Islam doesn’t stop us from living or enjoying ourselves. It only stresses on acknowledging the fact that I’ve been created by the one and only God-Allah and I am only His slave and answerable to Him only and should try my best to avoid His disobedience. People have rights over me and serving humanity should always be my first priority. Is that too much to ask for?

Our beloved Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is a great example who made smiling a Sunnah! It’s a virtue in itself. He has asked us to gather as much knowledge as possible. What could be more beautiful than that? I’m thankful to Allah that I was born a Muslim and follow a religion that gave women their rights 1400 years ago and made me a princess where a man is responsible to earn for me. Yes, I am free to work too and wow, my man has no right over my money. Doesn’t that sound great?

Yes, I’m free to be educated, free to choose my own groom and no, I cannot be forced to marry someone I dislike. No, my religion does not oppress me. I like hanging out with my friends, dining outside, attending family events/weddings and love sports and gym. I like following latest trends and like every other girl I love cosmetics! And someday I would love to go scuba diving too! Did I mention swimming? I love adventures, hiking and travelling! My all time dream is to travel the entire world before dying!

I’m liberal but thankfully not like the ones you see these days who believe in mocking others religion and beliefs. No, I don’t believe in bigotry and I don’t abuse people or call them “fundo” when they don’t agree with me. No, I don’t make cartoons of other’s religion’s holy personalities and call it “freedom of expression”. There’s something so wicked about freedom of expression, it’s barely used where it should be and actually used and abused, where it’s not really required. If you ask me, it’s a way of creating rifts between people. And no, I don’t blast out whatever comes into my mind without thinking about its repercussions and cover it up with my “right to speak up”. I believe if I’ve got the power to express myself I would rather do it in a more educated manner and when someone tries to defend their opinion, I don’t call them intolerant or fanatic.

I’m liberal but it doesn’t mean I look at everything as a rebel. What is wrong remains wrong and I have no authority to change the rules of the Creator. I’ve seen Pakistan’s English press lately trying to promote things forbidden in Islam by somehow turning it all into legal and permitted. Oh no, don’t mistake me as a liberal who prays five times a day but believes that homosexuality should be legalized. Nor do I stop praying when a brainless person does something dumb in the name of religion. Yes you’ll find 200 blogs for gay and lesbian rights but when it comes to burning the Quran they would rather call it “freedom of expression”. They are willing to write a thousand blogs on Veena Malik’s “boldness” and praise her guts for standing up to a mullah but will not speak a word when it comes to Aafia Siddqui. They are for women rights but Aafia siddiqui deserves no rights. Let her be raped every day, let her be sexually harassed and it is none of our concerns. Sadly, you would be considered a hate monger or a bigot if your opinions are different from theirs and more towards religion. Funnily, you’re likely to be called a modern version of Taliban if you say you’re liberal but want Islam at the same time.

Why isn’t it possible? Why is the world bent upon portraying that we can’t afford to take religion and this world together? Religion is not how some people have defined it to be, it’s actually a way of living. I am not a scholar, but what I have learnt till today is that Islam is the most beautiful change you can bring into your lives if you decide to follow it properly. I’ll try my best to stick to my religion and call a spade a spade and ready to be called a fun-damentalist!