The Good Monster: Musharraf's Cultural Legacy

Another well written article Nadeem.

Although I am not from the socialist communist or whatever other ideology you adhere to, I am a keen and ardent supportor of the grassroots movement taking root in Pakistan to have Musharraf become president for life.

If Cuba can have Fidel
Libya can have Qaddafi
Palestine had Arafat
Venezuala can have Hugo Chavez (almost)
Bolivia can want Evo Morales

Why can Pakistan not have Musharraf as a life long dictator? Yes, I am not sugar coating anything. He would be a beloved and forward looking dictator. The results would either be prosperity or a bloody revolt that would throw out the complete elite institution! A win-win in either case.

That's why I am supporting this grassroots movement, and perhaps, so should you!

"A military dictator’s cultural impositions actually gave birth to a newborn sense of democracy."

Maybe true to a certain extent, but perhaps a greater contributor has been the internet providing easy acess to ideas and information floating around the globe.

Can i get some fries with this musharaf-kiss-ass-carnival puhleez.....nfp u r putting mushahid ganja 2 shame .....2 bad that Q still won't give u a time of day..cause u r just not talented..stop embarrassing urself

Yes it is amazing -- isn't it -- such an uncultured dictatorship can bring so much culture to the culture-deprived youth of Pakistan -- especially by muzzling the uncultured fundamentalist channels like the GEO TV.

I think Musharraf sahib has flooded the hapless country with so much culture through his Cultural Emergency -- it may drown after that "free fair" cultured election.

GEO Musharraf GEO -- paanch keya duss saal aur GEO -- "nau arzoo mein kut gaye duss intezaar meiN".

Long live Musharraf!

Musharraf President and dictator for life!

Pakistan Zindabad!

Nadeem, I do not understand the Pakistani art scene well enough to comment on this piece, but it represents an interesting change of pace from you. Interesting parallels between ZAB and the Mushy! Historically, many absolute monarchs – whatever the merits or demerits of their reign – have proved to be genuine patrons of arts. Perhaps in some little corner of his heart, the Mushy does believe in the freedom of expression – as long as it does not get in the way of other khaki-rules-the-roost expediencies!

"There are no plans to end curbs on Pakistan's private television channels with the lifting of the state of emergency" (Musharraf)

A 'timely' article indeed -- more culture to you NFP.

{In 1995 he {Imran Biyan Khan)denounced the West with its "fat women in miniskirts" (presumably the skinny ones in miniskirts Khan had dated were okay}
{ Khan Artist
Imran Khan, the man who sparked the Newsweek riots: Islamist politician by day, London playboy by night.}
{One charge constantly raised against Khan is that of hypocrisy and opportunism, especially in light of his vociferous criticism of President Musharraf after having supported his military takeover in 1999.}
{During his days as a cricketer, when he was once romantically linked to Susannah Constantine,[34] Khan was known as a London socialite and playboy.}
{Khan allegedly has an out-of-wedlock daughter, born a few years before his marriage, with British heiress Sita White, daughter of Gordon White, Baron White of Hull. He has denied paternity but a judge in the U.S. ruled him to be the father of Tyrian Jade White after he failed to appear for a DNA test}

Surprising there is no comparison of Musharraf with Kemal Attaturk. Mushy is a dwarf compared to him any way, so it is not surprising that there is no comparison of Musharraf with Kemal Attaturk

Re: # 9 Muqaddam
Actually there is a very apt comparison between AtaTurk and Musharraf. Both truned out to be highly polarizing figures in the history of their countries.

I do not think it is his cultural legacy. English newspapers were always more liberal due to the limited readership they have. So no change here. As for the vernacular press, it has been sieged many times.

Pakistani fashion designers like Bhatti etc had already made their mark abroad while Zia was still in power. Cultural liberation if you call it that way came in the form of girls wearing jeans and vests on TV, removal of dupatta and lowering of necklines.

Fashion shows were even then held but in confined and selected environments.

As for electronics media; a need was felt to counter Indian channels like Zee News, Sahara and Star world, During Kargil it was felt that PTV was just not up to it. So this media growth owes much more to a policy contour than to any conscience effort. It was also about generating more revenues and providing jobs to youngsters etc.

I do not understand what Cultural Revolution is Paracha talking of. If he implies rave parties etc, then its a different story.

Cheerios

Even though I’m not such a huge Mushy fan, but this is one of the most well written and sincere portrayal of at least the cultural aspect of Mushy’s dictatorial legacy. Well done NFP.

Re: # 12

Ijaz Gul Saheb,I did not see the word “cultural revolution” mentioned in this article at all. Wonder where you’re coming from? As I see it, by cultural legacy I think Paracha is commenting more on the culural implication’s of Mushy’s rule on the politics of urban, middle-class Pakistan.

A truly 'hands-on' write-up in his delightful style [NFP has been very contributive in "revival" of the cinema, and quite a voracious commentator on the 'culture-bug' of our younger generation.]
I personally agree that PM has been 'enthusing' our 'art lovers', encouraging a 'softening' of the veneer of unwanted, harsh conservatism in personal mores!
Thank you for your usual - and 'prancy' - read, NFP!

musharraf's culture: lie from sunrise to sunset. cling to your position until dragged away weeping and crying. joke about rape, than lie and claim you never joked. let mullahs loose on the population, and stop only when a foreign government pulls your ears. send armed men out to kill peaceful demonstrators.

musharraf represents "culture" no doubt - the culture of lies and deceipt and self-glorification.

The part about ZAB is true since ZAB successfully achieved a durable popularity of folk culture and celebration of ethnic identities / languages plus respectability of local dress etc. in place of mimicking of kala saheb/gora saheb as in Ayub's time.

musharraf on the other hand tried to reverse the entire national identity through loot sale of mass-produced off-the- shelf 'enlightened moderation', and by his first official family photograph looking more like a debauched filipino vacationing in Hawaii than a Pakistani.

But for that, he had Lal Masjid, Waziristan and Swat (in that order), and yet to come is his being dragged in the streets (or whatever remains of him Falluja contractors' style) in lounge suit and all.