The Dream

Zee

WHat can i say..I`m gobsmacked at the content but amazed my yr writing..yet again you have written to touch the soul..this has got to be your best yet...the sadest thing...this being fiction i assume is not far from many truths in our part of the world...may we all learn a lesson and if possible go someway, whatever possible to eradicate such torture..

lov always da Twerps friend:))

Re: actually, shahgul, this is not altogether fictional .. neither are the newspaper reports about what happens to many unfortunate women in squeaky clean land...the land of the pure...oh yeah!

shahgul #48,

Good points!

It is unfair to evoke the name of the `Land of the Pure` in connection with every fictional account of rape. Let us look at this in this context:

If you have watched the movie, `Prem Rog`, in which a young widow is raped by her brother-in-law, would you in honesty, conclude that all Indian brothers in law treat their sisters-in-law the same way? I don`t think so!

Therefore, it is unfair to come to such a conclusion from a piece of fiction about `The Lan d of the Pure`.

To the writer: You tried your best to condemn others of their sins, but succeeded only in exposing yourself as part and parcel of the same society.

You senteced the heroine to death, because she was raped. Honor killing???

Your mind could not concieve `life after rape`, where she could redeem what she had lost. Avenge herself. Defeat her enemies. No, she was raped, so she had to die a sudden and meaningless death

fairdinkum #46

Thanks for your reply, including about your experience and others`.

I agree that evolution is better than revolution. I just hope `right-thinking` people can do all it takes, (in both India and Pakistan) esp. wrt fundamental principles they believe in, say, such as equality for all and the sovereignity of representative government.

And at the very least, in both countries, one would hope the moderate public would stir itself to develop a little more nuisance value on every issue which affects them adversely whether dowry deaths or unemployment or `religious`/political intimidation.

Sadhana

Sadhna #44

“Anyway, its a puzzle how and why so many(though not all),welleducated and wellinformed people with all the right attitudes and motivations in our countries tend to be `outsiders` with limited influence on the harsh everyday realities of the same system that after all created them, too.”

I don’t know about India, but in Pakistan (and I suppose in most third world countries a similar situation exists) we have a small minority of ruling elite. They are also well educated and well informed, and they have devised very clever ways of keeping the majority of well-informed and well -educated & ill informed and uneducated people at bay. They regard people of Pakistan and the ‘state’ as two separate entities. State consists of the ruling elite and it is always fearful of the people… People are considered a threat and for the greater glory of the state, they are controlled and brought into submission by various tried and tested methods. The most effective weapon is violence. If they (anybody from the majority) insists on having a greater say, or if they are too enthusiastic about changing the harsh realities of every day life, they are threatened with, and more often than not, subjected to violence… I have been there and done that! Apart from violence, there are many other ways to keep the majority ‘outside.’

Perhaps you are aware of all this and a lot more, and understand these issues in greater philosophical / academic depth – and perhaps this is all too simplistic, ‘un-witty’ and ‘un-cool’ an explanation for you, but that’s how I understand it. I am sure one day we will be able to change things… small steps…. one at a time…there are things you can do even if you are an ex pat…and many people I know do their bit…whatever they can…even a letter to the local high commission expressing displeasure over government’s refusal to change the ‘honor killings’ laws is better than doing nothing….and believe it or not, but I started getting replies from them a couple of months ago….a pleasant surprise indeed!…I don’t agree with their explanations/excuses, but hey, at least they are listening and making an effort to reply…. It’s a start!

How will it all change? What are the steps we need to take? Will it all happen itself because of market forces and economics and technology and changing times and various other factors? I don’t know. I believe in evolution rather than revolution…a catalyst to speed up the evolutionary process would be handy…..However, the renaissance we are all waiting for may not happen for quite a while. It may be slower than what we would like it to be, but I am sure it will happen!

Wow! ... i know i am no great shakes as a writer... tho i do try hard! ... but this story seems to have got zahra bibi going... :)

critical appraisal always leaves the writer out, concentrating on the strengths and weaknesses of the writing itself... right?

Zahra #41
``I am tring to inculcate sense of responsibility and having a vision.``
I`m really happy to hear that, good for you. May your numbers increase.

``Overlooking that aspect``
Not really in general, I have to say. Maybe on this thread, yes.

Anyway, its a puzzle how and why so many(though not all),welleducated and wellinformed people with all the right attitudes and motivations in our countries tend to be `outsiders` with limited influence on the harsh everyday realities of the same system that after all created them, too.

Sadhana

scout #39
Thanks for the names and the website. I`ve seen Ankahi and Tanhaiyan, I`m not sure these were really aimed to present social issues in any compelling way ?
Sadhana

Re: Criticism on this piece

My first reaction after reading this piece was as follows:

“Urstruly,
Against your sound advice, I read it. Yeah, definitely belongs in Akhbar-e-Jahan`s teen auratain teen kahanian. “
Yes, it is not the best piece of writing I have ever read. And yes, it’s not subtle or spellbinding. And yes, it is not a very good example of breath-taking story telling…. I agree that it diminishes the pain and suffering that Farzana went through, and so many others like her have to go through in that unfortunate country we call “land of the pure.”

However, this is a true story, and despite it’s literary shortcomings, I appreciate the courage with which the author shared her experience with us.

Albert Einstein once said:
“When you are out to describe the truth, leave elegance to the tailor”

And the following is for the mentally agile and farsighted lady – replace “man” with “woman” and “he” with “she” where relevant (with thanks to Brat):
“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.``

-- Teddy Roosevelt

PS. Some mentally agile people probably missed the subtle sarcasm in temporal’s comments when he said, ``Another story in the finest traditions of Islamic heritage perceived and vociferously practised in the land of the believers!``

And he said: Speak to us on Giving ?

Princes,

It was a relief to read your thoughts, good to hear that some are mentally alive. I hope the writer gains some insights from these interactions.

The prevalent irony among our people is - lack of:-
a)farsightedness
b)mental agility

They can see, write, read, listen, talk, smell, eat, drink, but they resist thinking. Personally, I abhor reading a weak flow of thoughts, no matter how damn articulate it may be! Anyway, one does not have to waste one`s time reading everyone. [

princes #37

Well said!

sadna #22,

Some good ones are Waaris, Khuda ki Basti (based on the novel), Sitara aur Mehrunissa, Aahat, Asavari, Ankahi, Tanhaiyan, Marvi, and others that I can`t remember off hand. There`s a good website that reviews dramas:

http://website.lineone.net/

Re: princes

True Khadija was independent business woman but that was pre-islamic era!!!!

Zeejah #26:

real writers don`t just reflect reality; they also hint at solutions. They go that extra step, which is what separates them from journalists. good writers just make it look subtle.

Temporal #1 wrote:

``Another story in the finest traditions of Islamic heritage perceived and vociferously practised in the land of the believers!``

Come on, you have to be kidding!!!

The prophet said, ``Pursue knowledge even if it means going to China.`` Any parents denying the girl`s education are acting in an un-Islamic way. The prophet`s wife Khadija was an independent businesswoman--he LIKED educated women.

Forcing marriage on any person, especially a woman is un-Islamic. A well-established hadith: A woman approached the Prophet and outright refused a match for herself with a well-respected person. The Prophet agreed that the wedding could not take place (because she did not agree), but expressed his surprise. She replied that she was not serious in refusing the would-be suitor, but had only said ``No!`` to emphatically establish the fact that the woman has an equal right in independently deciding her fate.

As for rape, I won`t even go there.

This story represents the heritage of mis-guided muslims...Who knows when we`ll get our act together...