Tariq Ahsan: A Forgotten Foot-soldier of Democracy

Re:#18
Point Well taken
I think a piece not based on personal experience lacks soul and conviction. However overemphasis on legwork, sometimes robs an article of its beauty, which comes from presenting facts in an aesthatically presentable manner. I find it sometimes fascinating, how ordinary experiences of life have the potential of being transformed into an interesting narrative.
tariqz

Re: # 8

Yaar, the piece is quite fine. It is in fact, quite well-written. The simplicity of style held my attention.

Any one can spin words! However, it is the legwork -- the compilation of real materials which makes a piece exciting and worth reading, IMHO.
:):):)

sure, suit yourself. :-)

u seem to be a very artificial (masnooyi) man . i dont want to waste my time with halka log like you mr C

Re: # 13
and your unprovoked attack on face on an interact reek of nobility, grace and "good breeding". peace.

fck stands for Faheem Charles Khan and Tahir is my takhallus

ur crude interacts devoid of any grace indicate that you lack good breeding mr charlie

This made me think of Faiz's "Khat'm hui baarish-e-sang".

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Re: # 9 u seem to be a very smaaart aleck .huh

This was a good read indeed. It's the same story all over again and again- when it comes to interrogation of a suspect by the authorities. I agree with the author, the mental trauma is unparalleled in such cases- look what it did to a brilliant mind.

On a different note, Agha Amin sahab, didn't like your being judgemental on others about why they didn't interact. If they didn't, its up to them isn't it? This article remains a good article no matter who says what.

Re: # 5
A simple tale based on simple plain truth. Do tell me how I can make it more interesting
author(tariqz)

the few interacts on this brilliant article shows that most interactors on chowk are here for fun and nothing serious.i specially refer to pakistan about which my publisher friend brilliantly said " only sex or religion sell in pakistan"
Agha Amin

I was not familiar with Tariq Ahsan until I read this article. I personally met Nazeer Abbasi a few times until he was arrested in the early 80s by Zia regime and tortured to death under custody, by the ISI. Establishment has zealously eliminated every free-spirited leadership and organisation of the people.

A rather simple but disturbing tale of the sidelining of talent -- unfortunately not atypical or even unusual in those settings!

The feudal lords (like the two Makhdooms mentioned by Pavo) who now rule the nation in the name of democracy are far worse than the dictators we talk about. The dictators' victims are generally urban middle class idealists with names, faces and fans. The feudal lords victims are the great poor rural hordes who remain nameless and faceless, with no one to write their horrible stories of tortured lives filled with daily humiliations and deprivations. The only time the rural poor like Ajmal Qasab make headlines is when they are recruited to commit high-profile international acts of terror.

Here's an excerpt from Time that implies feudalism drives young men like Qasab to join the terror outfits:

"Faridkot is not the hardscrabble village conjured up by common perceptions of extremist origins. It straddles a paved road about 2 1⁄2 hours' drive from Lahore, and two new gas stations mark the village boundaries. Beyond those are factories and fertile farmland. There is even BlackBerry service. But it is, undeniably, the sort of place that fosters frustration. Feudal landlords own the farmland, and villagers feel trapped by the status they are born into. The good life is tantalizingly close, yet for most residents still unattainable. For men like Qasab, one of the best ways out is jihad. "In a developing country, youngsters who are sensitive, concerned, they talk about 'How do we change what is going on here? How do we get rid of corruption?'" says (Pakistani psychologist Sohail) Abbas. "And if in some sense you find that jihad can help you in those aims, then why not?" It's a convolution of the adolescent craving to stand out. And Pakistani society, steeped in nihilistic passions fostered by the state sponsorship of jihad, condones it."

You can read more at: http://www.riazhaq.com/2009/03/feudal-punjab-fertile-land-for.html


Riaz Haq, PakAlumni Worldwide