Daily Times

Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s message about keeping religion and state separate which he expressed in one of his important speeches needs to be remembered today. He made it clear that anyone’s faith should have nothing to do with the business of the state. It is rather unfortunate that the religious lobby hijacked Jinnah’s Pakistan and his message of inclusiveness and pluralism.

According to the UK-based organisation Minority Rights Watch, Pakistan is the sixth most dangerous country in the world for minorities. Ahmadis, Christians and Shias face serious discrimination on a daily basis, ranging from difficulty in getting jobs to the heightened risk of terrorist violence. This is due to a combination of long-standing, culturally ingrained prejudices and the recent upsurge in extremism.

Like every year, December is here with some crazy sales, decorations across the world. Hot chocolate, family dinners and wish list presents are the top priorities of everyone. We know Christmas is celebrated to remember the birth of Jesus Christ and people around the world celebrate the occasion regardless of their Christian faith. Family and friends come together and remember the good things they have. People, especially children, also like Christmas as it’s a time when you give and receive presents. But the important question here is that no one knows the real birthday of Jesus Christ. While having discussions with some literary people, I came to know that no exact date is given in the Bible. So why is it celebrated on December 25th?

Christians in earlier times did not celebrate Jesus’s birth on December 25th, as they believed that the actual date was in the early spring, placing it closer to Easter, the holiday commemorating his resurrection. Various Christian groups had proposed several different days, one can find references of two dates that were widely recognised and also celebrated as Jesus’ birthday.

One is December 25th in the Western Roman Empire and January 6th in the East (especially in Egypt and Asia Minor). However, some modern Armenian churches continue to celebrate Christmas on January 6th. However, December 25th gain more acceptance. So this blessed day in history remained in myth and mysteries, but it does have its own importance and significance.

Meanwhile in Pakistan, December 25th is a public holiday, but the reason for the holiday is Jinnah’s birthday and not Christmas. There are more than 5 millions Christians in Pakistan. On Christmas, a big procession takes place, in Lahore, from St. Anthony’s Church to Cathedral. It takes hours to reach the Cathedral for the services. Before and during Advent, spiritual seminars take place to help people prepare for Christmas (which means the ‘Big Day’). This expression is very popular, even among Muslims in Pakistan. In many Christian areas, churches and schools, various groups perform carol singing. I remember in my school days, there was always a tableau performance by the students. All the St Peter’s school premises used to be decorated for the big day. It always gave a mesmerising look and the celebrations helped create a sense of brotherhood between Muslim and Christian students.

During this day, Christmas tree is also an important decorations. Sometimes there are crib competitions and people exchange Christmas cakes just the way we do on Eid.

But security is a concern for the Christian community in Pakistan celebrating Christmas. They continue to face discrimination and most have to live under constant threat given the wave of violence against the minorities. All minorities in the country Hindus, Christians, Ahmadis and even Shia Muslims feel that the state has failed to protect them, and is even complicit in the violence. And those who talk and support these minorities are brutally assassinated, how we can forget the two staunch advocates of minority rights Salman Taseer, Governor of the Punjab and Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minister for Minorities.

Security is a concern for the Christian community in Pakistan celebrating Christmas. They continue to face discrimination and most have to live under constant threat given the wave of violence against the minorities

It should be acknowledged that a minority in Pakistan has always punched well above its weight in every sphere of the country’s make up. Their contributions in sports, in education and in teaching are countless. How we can forget the legend Cecil Chaudry, the veteran comrade Naeem Shakir, Arthur Nayyar, Bapsi Sidhwa and Comrade Sobho Gianchandani etc.

As a Pakistani, let’s honour the dream of Quaid and promise to the minorities and celebrate a festival which is important to them just like Eid is to us. And if we promise to come together as a nation and agree on giving space to each individual to think and feel free to do what he or she likes, Pakistan will wake up to a brighter morning. We need to respect our minorities and become a part of them, just lie they immerse within us. We need to realise, understand and embrace the fact that we are all one.

The writer is a social and political activist based in Lahore. He has done his Maters and MPhil in Communication Studies. He can be reached at salmanali088@gmail.com, tweets at @Salmani_salu

Published in Daily Times, December 20^th 2017.