Mukhtar Mai's December 11th Fundraiser in Sacramento

I had stated earlier, I do not know where, that Pakistan may leap-frog India in the progress to democracy. This is quite commonplace in technology, but let me try to guess why it may be true for a social process.

A long time back, in India but in a region as uncivilized as that in Pakistan where Mai got raped, a woman called Phoolan Devi got raped. Rape has more to do with power, at times political power, than sex. Phoolan reacted against that dominant power structure by taking up the gun and mowing down hundreds (according to the press tens) of those who propped up that power structure. But she did not have any "alternative" as a replacement, she had the "same". This "same" helped her get elected to the Lok Sabha down the road and also got her killed in front of her "protected and exclusive" residence in Delhi. The "same" that she did not change, survived ... just like that which the romantic youth (getting killed in Swat and Waziristan) are willing to die for, guised in a different name. Of course, romantics like zeemax here, will build on the romance oblivious to the "ability for change".

Mai has done something different and something which is not "romantic" at all. She has tapped into "historical, i.e. long term assets for change" instead of the romantic "gun". She has tapped into "stuff" like schools. I do not know much about Pakistan, but I do know that in Chattisgarh (India) the guys who are the first to be killed by thec mafioso unions are "teachers" and doctors who "EXPLAIN THE DISEASE BEFORE PRESCRIBING DRUGS".

Good luck Pakistan.

Ras,

I meant .... "could I be of any financial help". Sorry for sounding crass, but that is all that I can do.

Ras,
Good luck for the event. I am her fan. Let me know (through chowk's personal mail system) if I can be of any help.

ahmedmadani sahib,
I may have got you wrong, and if so I would like to apologise. But why is it wrong to criticize or totally trash a country or nationality? I know that you have something up your sleeve, something that I am not seeing. Could you please let me know? If it is the "kashmir" "angle" then I understand and you need not reply.

Regards.

What's this; Fund raising for a woman falsely accusing some persons of the opposite gender as rapists?

I wish good success to fundraising etc.
Hope people donot just take opportunity to pain people pakistan as backward and feudal and oppressor of women and chance to criticise pakistan and present political system. It may be bad no need to bring problems in world stage , they need to be addressed to president and related officials. Not some where in usa these internal things which is going others peoples business and just opportunity to general when make mistake of remark about canada visa stuff. This is reason one should be like cautious of "do gooders" at cost of reputation of country for personal glory and money collection.

Ras:

On Dec. 8 (I can be fllexible for 9th), I am hosting a very small dinner at Amber India, Santa Row, for president and director of Women's World Banking. They are visiting from NY. Women's World Banking is world's largest micro-financing organization. Its member institute's are very active world-wide, especially in South Asia, Middle East including Jordan, Africa, South America and Eastern European countries including Bosnia. Later in January, I planning to organize an event to introduce silicon valley's south asian community to this finest micro financing instution.

Please let me know at (anilkapuria@yahoo.com), if you can help me invite Mukhtaran Mai to this small dinner at Amber India.

Good job, Ras! Hope you get overwhelming response. I also recommend not to make it an exclusively Pakistani affair - the empowerment of women ought to be considered a sub-continental issue.