Re-Imagining Pakistan

Professor Sahib,,, nice motivational speech.

``The genius of the American system is that we have created extraordinary results from plain old ordinary people.`` (Phil Gramm, Senator from Texas).

There are gigantic cracks in the foundation of Pakistan. It was created on the basis of “differences” so how can you expect its citizenry not to follow that ideology?

I am speechless. Hoodbhoy saheb this is brilliant! I wonder if the graduates had any idea of the relevance of your words and the tremendous message they were receiving.

Could you please have some respected Urdu professor translate this and spread the message in Pakistan. The real majority of the people do not understand the importance of your speech and I think it would do them a great service if they could read and understand it in Urdu (or even other regional languages).

May the Almighty grant your wishes for our nation.

Mr. Hoodbhoy,

You are representative of the intellectual facade of the corrupt and oppressive social class that has occupied Pakistan. The Jinnah`s Pakistan does not work because this class because of its moral bankruptcy won`t let it. It will keep the system corrupt and spread the moral corruption among other citizens in the name of modernity so that fewer and fewer people would rise up to challenge it. I would say that the so-called intellectual likes yourself, who are on the patroll of this evil social class and also represent the inetersts of you western colonial masters in our country have successfully created a mindset in Pakistan where a considerable majority have started beliveing that Pakistan can never change and corruption and oppression is just their fate.

YouN he chale gi tere jabar ki hawa kab tak
ruki rahe gi mere sabr ki jaza kab tak
GaRhi haiN Sir ki saleebaiN ch-har soo Ya Rab!
ChaRhaiN gay daar par mardan-e-Basafa kab takk

What a brilliant speech! Three cheers for Pervez Hoodbhoy -- my question is why this Pervez is not the President of Pakistan.

Diversity and pluralism -- India`s gain -- Pakistan`s bane.

Re: # 4

Because Pluralism negates the Paki Ideology and it`s founding principles...

But it`s time pakiland got over its obsession with ``paki ideology`` and paranoia that discarding it will destroy the nation. In fact,as things stand now, the opposite is true... if pakistan continues with this ideology, sooner or later the country will be destroyed......

Pluralism is a necessity if the country wants to survive and progress... paki ideology has failed in all respects and must be discarded... People like Hoodbhoy are making a good start in that direction....

Re: # 3

Mullah Mian - you are wrong - People like Hoodbhoy is your only hope....

Look at NYtimes report on Corruption Index based on NY parking tickets... Pakiland is in top ten - with a bunch of other islamic nations...

Re: # 5

One of the most rabid hindu religious nut on the chowk telling us what is good for us - need I say more?

Dear Mr Hoodhbhoy,

Your article brought a smile to my face. Here`s something I wrote to the Pakistani High Commissioner a little while ago. Yes, the below praises and gives too much credit in some areas but regarding your idea on creativity, I think I was sort of aiming for the same thing...

[On 14th August 2007, Pakistan will mark its 60th year of existence. It would have, as its code and catalyst, the personalities of Iqbal and Jinnah - one a mystically inclined renaissance man; the other a successful lawyer responsible for altering the course of history, modifying the map of the world and creating a nation state.

If Pakistan were a river, its stream would emerge in the time of Sir Sayyid Ahmed Khan, gain recognition in the partition of Bengal and define itself in the rejection of the Cabinet Mission Plan.

If Pakistan were an animal it would boast 150 million brains, 300 million arms and eyes of all shades, and 96,000 million muscles of all strengths. Nuclear intelligent, it would carry battle scars of three wars and its arteries would throb with the blood of those who have fought, and defeated, both ancient and modern superpowers. It would express itself through 150 million beautiful faces and experience all four seasons. Karakorum, Himalaya and Hindu Kush would constitute its spine. Pakistan would beat to the drum of 150 million hearts: hearts expressing the humanity of Bilquis and Abdul Sattar Edhi, the resilience of Mukhtar Mai, the courage of Major Aziz Bhatti, the ambitions of Imran Khan.

It is the birth place of Guru Nanak, Waris Shah, the Nobel Prize wining Dr Abdus Salam, and the resting place of Sayyid Data Ganj Baksh. Pakistan is the bearer of a Road that had welcomed a Macedonian called Alexander and a Turk named Babur. And now that Road, the Grand Trunk Road, bears colourful trucks displaying poetry painted by the most wonderful of hands.

It is home to the ancient Mohenjo-Daro, Harrappa, Taxila and the world’s earliest University. There are grand Mughlai mosques adorning cities whose skies come alive during Basant. And there is Mela-e-Charaghan, and Eid, and Nauroze and the Utchal of the Kalash too.

And there are the Gulgees, the Sadeqains, and the Mantos and the Chughtais. But it is the spirit of creativity within the millions of artisans, the every day people, which commands respect. It is within the grooves of wood; it is in the curve of a pot; it lies within the paintworks adorning trucks, it is in the richness of the blue of a Kashi tile that never fades. And if you looked carefully enough you would see in that fanaticism for detail something of their makers. Within the creative act they are, at once, warriors, scholars and truth-seekers.


...I am driven by the belief that our societies do not fully value or capitalise on their creative people. I believe that every organism - every organisation - must change with time in order to survive. It can only do so after it has been presented with viable ideas. Ideas are the work of creative people. Any collective which does not appreciate its creative souls is headed for extinction because it denies the very fundamental mechanism, rooted in life itself, by which a living cell, a tribe or a civilisation survives and competes.]

Umer M.

Re: # 8

``rabid`` hindu, sure... religious, not at all... if it takes ``Rabid`` hindu to kick some sense into your thick head, then so be it.... :)

Thanks Dr. Hoodhboy,
I am excited that you included Creativity on your ambitious wish list. Creativity should be on every wish list. Everyday we should ask our selves, ``What creative thing did I do today?`` Because mental science has shown that it improves health. I myself keep crayons in my room and also in the car and whenever I get the time I will draw something on a piece of paper. I used to admire the ancient early man because they drew all kinds of animals on the walls of their caves. And then I realized, ``Why cant I do that?`` So now I hang my own paintings and drawings and famous quotes(my own) on the wall. Sometimes I will draw a red circle with a blue background and I will think, Wow did I just do that? In micrsoft word I use all types of fonts and colors to make the document more interesting. One day I realized that my corolla was in very bad shape. There was beach sand in it, there were remains of pizza crusts and all kinds of papers and the back windshield had a dark lamination which did not allow sunlight in the car. So very reluctantly I started cleaning it. I shampooed the carpet and the rugs. I scrubbed the wheels and then I began peeling the dark tint from the windows. That was difficult because it comes out in thin strips of plastic and you have to use this small blade to peel the tint slowly. While I was doing this I wanted to slap myself. Because it was taking very long. But after a while of making an effort I was able to visualize my car as shiny, clean and respectable. And this feeling of being engaged in an effort to acheive an imagined goal drove me to not only finish the job but over do things. Because later on I got some cutips and started cleaning the coin holder. I was no longer doing what was nessessary. I was on an artistic journey. I used this thing called turtle wax to shine the interior dash board and even found an air freshner that smells like freshly picked oranges from florida. After I was done, I knew that it was the cleanest corolla in the universe. I was scared to sit in it. Then I went and took a shower and drove it. Then I sold it because we got a camry. So what is the point? ...that when something is not completely clean and excellent, we call upon the power of creativity to make it excellent.

#11 wow!

#5 by mohar11 on December 13, 2006 2:20pm PT

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Because Pluralism negates the Paki Ideology and it`s founding principles...

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Dunno how you define Pakistani ideology. Right now your hateful expressions are sure the symbols of Bihari ideology. Centuries long bhook nung has taken away even the basic decency from guys like you.

Mullahs the archbiships of hate are the same as the once from India land. In fact every Mullah from a to z was against Jinnah and Pakistan. You know why?

In fact Mullahs were in cahoots with Congress. In Pakistan Mullahs got some value only during the face off with Commies so near and dear to the India. Now that the commies are gone, Mullahs will disappear as well.

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#4 by nasah on December 13, 2006 2:06pm PT
..............- my question is why this Pervez is not the President of Pakistan.

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Hoodbhoy the kind maker and not the king. We need more king makers of intellectual kind.

Interesting article, I agree with your creativity inclusion. I also feel that in Pakistan students have this robotic notion. In exams they just regurgitate what they have learnt in their textbooks and tutions. More commonly known in urdu as RATA LAGAY TEY HAY.
We should be encouraged to think outside the box at times, like you said a certain element of creativeness is present in all scientists, thinkers, etc.

#9 why only 150 million brains & 300 million arms - what about the non-human animals?

Re: # 14 by ABAM on December 13, 2006 3:43pm PT

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Interesting article, I agree with your creativity inclusion. I also feel that in Pakistan students have this robotic notion. In exams they just regurgitate what they have learnt in their textbooks and tutions. More commonly known in urdu as RATA LAGAY TEY HAY.
We should be encouraged to think outside the box at times, like you said a certain element of creativeness is present in all scientists, thinkers, etc.

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There are many ``English Medium schools`` that emphasize creative thinking. However schools are only the first step in developing ``scientists, thinkers, ``.

Here is some food for thought for you.

During the British era, South Asia produced world class philosophers, mathematicians, physicists, etc. And all that was done from the government run schools and ``rata laga kay`` (rote learning) students. Once the British left, there was a sudden drop in the number of ``creative thinkers`` in the whole of South Asia.

Why?

Even when the British government was a ``colonial power``, it allowed an open and nurturing environment that helped create ``thinkers, lawyers, and scientists``.

After 1947, the whole region was taken over by close minded nationalists and the result was an awful drop in the numbers of ``free thinkers``.

Pakistan still pushed along, but the creativity was dealt with the final blow by Bhutto`s communist regime.

Bottom line is that nationalistic, Islamist, socialist, and communist ideologies may look different on the surface, but they are the equal opportunity destroyers of the ``creative thinking``.

Sure we should improve our schools, but we must remove from Pakistan the disease of nationalistic, islamist, and socialist choke hold. It is going to be difficult, but that`s the only way out.