Journalist and Daily Times Editor Raza Rumi said the Pakistani society is moving in the right direction and the youth today is more politically and socially aware than ever before. He expressed these views while addressing the launch ceremony of his book ‘Being Pakistani’ at Books n Beans Café in Lahore on Monday.
“Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had given a clear direction about the society and country but bureaucracy censored his speeches and deliberately excluded his progressive statements from textbooks to further its own narrative. After 40-50 years, public is now discussing as to what kind of Pakistan Jinnah wanted. All other parts of our history that were distorted or kept hidden are being studied now, and this suggests the society now wants to embrace the change”, he said, adding that he tried to explore these changes in his book.
Raza further said a wave of censorship prevails in the country, but at the same time the expansion of new media has given a voice to the youth. He added that globalization of technology has made it easier for the ordinary people to raise their voice about the ongoing political and social issues. “There is an unprecedented quest for self-expression in Pakistan.”
In response to a question about the growing intolerance in India, Raza said Pakistan is going towards moderation but India and Bangladesh seem to be moving in an opposite direction. “Incidents of killings over beef in India indicate extremism is on the rise across the border. He said Pakistan, on the other hand, has introduced a number of progressive legislation in the past few years including laws against domestic violence, killing in the name of ‘honour’ and violence against minorities. “Nawaz Sharif was seen as a right-winger and progressive segments used to criticize him when he took over the government in 2013. But his government passed some progressive laws, much to the surprise of many.” He said this shift in paradigm was because of the fact that there is a consensus among the elite of the country that the flawed policies and actions made in the past will have to be undone.
Talking about the book’s essay on content of Indian dramas which have audience in Pakistan and Bangladesh as well, he said the book discusses how such dramas reinforce patriarchy by showing submissive women being oppressed.
Journalist Sabahat Zakariya said there is an appetite for politics in Pakistan, but culture as a topic is not popular and analysis of the culture is also rare. ‘Being Pakistani’ presents a narrative about the society and culture of Pakistan beyond the issue of terrorism, she said, adding that Raza makes use of new media to provide opportunities and platforms to the youth.
Columnist Yasid Peerzada, while lauding the book, said it explores questions about culture and the society whose answer were nowhere else to be found.
Writer Raza Naeem said everyone should take culture seriously, because it is a good time to be talking about culture as a means to challenge the extremist narrative. “Raza provided a connective link between Pakistan, India and Banladesh. Many intellectuals have sought to define culture and it became contesting ground during Pakistan’s early decades between progressives and right wingers”, he said.
Naeem further said that during the dictatorial era of Zia-ul-Haq, culture became a tool of resistance and resilience and this is all beautifully depicted in the book.
Academician Yaqoob Bangash said the country needs to reclaim its culture, art and history, and added that visual violence and efforts to distort our history also affects the way we develop as citizens.
Published in Daily Times, August 15th 2018.