Views of an Indian in Pakistan Debsharma

Very well written. I enjoyed. Quite a true picture.

You met the fuedal. You met the nationalist drunk Pakistani. You met the Taxi driver. You probably met the liberal upper elite.

I think you missed the Mulla with his own world view. You probably also missed the single-track emotional Fauji. You missed the rural illetrate. You also missed the regional nationalists.

You have missed these views which could be completely different from each other.

In fact, the present Pakistani society is in a big internal debate on some of the very fundamental issues. Nothing is fully agreed. And nothing is a taboo or sacrosant.

Starting from creation of the country to definition of Islam to Ummah to place of military to democracy to Kashmir or India. All is on the table for discussion.

This mental chaos does create an internal energy which if channelized could do some good.

There is no shortage of Bear thanks to Murree Brewery - but you need to be a non-believer. But, in the heavens. `Sharab-e-Tahura` is promised.

nhk

Saudi Government to Demolish Prophet Muhammed’s home Farzan

Thanks. History should be preserved. Whether it is Dhows, Muhammad`s house, T E Lawrence`s uniforms or the old Arab houses with the wind-catching towers.

One can possibly live quite happily without a religion. But living without a culture, of which history is a part, is a stunted, rootless and a meaningless existance.

nhk

Through the Parsi Prism Farzana

(Why don`t Parsis express their opinion on general political matters?)

I think they have been very sensible. Their eviction from Iran was not a pleasant experience. So instead of fighting against great odds of majorities, they chose to keep quiet , live peacefully and prosper. Which they have done.

Since they do not preach and believe in conversions - and not marry outside, their numbers are now indeed dangerously low.

Zoroastrianism gave the first concepts of the Abrahamic faiths - One God, Satan, Day of judgement, heaven & hell.

Judaism was greatly influenced by the Zoroastrian practices. No preaching. No conversions. No politics. No politics. (Until Hitler`s rush of blood)

But the further off-shoots like Christianity & Islam were all for conversions and politics.

Christianity now seems to have shed religion from politics. But Islam is still in full swing.

So it goes to the great credit of Parsis to have kept themselves sublimely peaceful and tolerant through all the history. They are good people by all accounts.

But they need to start marrying outside - for their own survival so that they are not left behind only in the pages of history.

nhk

A Whiter Shade of Green NFP

That Zia was a complete nut requires no more convincing. It is a settled case.

But Musharraf is a fumbler, an average soul with a full doze of the stearotype military thinking - a Kashmir-India-Islamic Identity obsession.

He rose against the Taliban not because it was the right cause but because, as he confessed, he feared its reprecussions on Pakistan`s `Defence Assets` by US-India coalition.

So while he went after Al Qaeda, he left the other religious zealots intact as `strategic assets` for other local causes. Until they attacked him.

Going a bit back, `Kargil` was a bluder and his Agra was pompuos fool`s `No`. At an average, it takes about two years before he comes around an issue. Like transferring from `core` to `composite`.

And all his bravado become a measly wimper when pitted against the local Mullas. He is fixated on keeping Benazir and Nawaz out; and letting the Mullas gain more space.

Make no mistake. Jamat Islami has the philosophy of Al Qaeda. And JUIs of all kinds are Talibanic in thought.

Nawaz may be a goofy maulvi without a beard. And Benazir no more than a wishy-washy pretty face. But politics is for politicians and not for uniformed employees.

I hope he does not go headlong for Kalabagh Dam. Just as all the previous military rulers ended up doing ONE big fundamental screw-up, Kalabagh may not be his.

OK. He likes Wisky & that is what brings a personal liberal streak in him.

nhk

Is Secular India really Secular and Islamic Pakistan really Islamic? Ajay # 78

(I don`t understand why most Chowk articles on Pakistan by Pakistani authors, actually compare their country to India)

It is quite natural. It has nothing to do with big or small. Anyone who can read the map knows that there is no comparison.

It is more of invlovement rather than comparison. The words `India` and `Pakistan` are very recent. Pakistan has been a part of the big `Whole` for the last 5000 years.

Even if we try, we can not wish away the historical, social, linguistic and cultural links of many centuries.

Going a step further, Pakistan can not survive and exploit to its potential without a harmonious linkage with much bigger other part from the past.

On the other hand, India`s harmonious linkage with Pakistan can give it yet another filler and have a multi-pliar effect in its pursuits both regionally and globally.

India, now, with its enormous size and potential, exercises a political gravitational pull. So there is actually no need to fear and get uppety if states compare themselves to India. In fact, becoming a Datum, can be a source of pride.

At times, Veeresh and Satayamvada also feel that anyone comparing some aspect of India amounts to degrading India.

nhk

Cause and Detect Dasgupta

I agree.

Perfectly educated person would argue for an hour against the Bombers but will finally come up with a BIG BUt about the root causes. As if the Germans & the Japenese got the Americans out by bombing!

I seem to agree with Bush, howsoever dumb he may be, that NEVER APPEASE A RELIGIOUS fanatic. He will always ask for more.

My logic is simply based on self-interest. After he is through with the Jews, Christians, Budhhists etc etc, he will head for me. Why I am not the right kind of Muslim?

nhk

Losing My Religion Nefertiti # 74

(Clip it off and stop her from enjoying sex, where as do the guys lose anything with their version of the clipping....?just curious, that`s all)

Clipping off the clitoris, I assume, reduces the sensitivity.

However, removal of the foreskin in guys is wrongly assumed to be reducing the sensitivity. The sensitivity of male appratus is not at the bulb but through the blood veins located at its underside.

Some medico-religoius expert can throw some more light as to why Islam ordained the removal of the foreskin.

nhk

Losing My Religion nefertiti # 43

(Firstly, according to yr explanation,it seems to address only the males as a sign of belonging to the religion. The females I guess just tag along? Secondly, how can just this one act be the 100% sign of who .... Don`t other tenets of goodness, peace and human qualities set out in the holy book also count for anything or does it all hinge on just ....)

To begin with, you have a good nick.

It was just a friendly academic inquiry from Dost-Mitter, a good friend of mine.

I could not care less what any one believes in. Every one is free to believe what he wishes. In fact, I feel that the author has not lost anything. Maybe, by getting into this confusion, she is more wiser and free.

Finally, Circumcision has been further taken ahead by some Muslims. Women are not left behind. In Somalia, women are circumcized as well. Clipping off the clitoris so that they do not undergo the unnecessary joy of sex.

nhk

Losing My Religion Dost-Mitter # 14

(Incidentally, in case of your son, if he was not circumcised, he is zero percent Muslim)

Incidently, circumcision came from Judaism:

``Brit Mila (Covenant of Circumcision)

God said to Abraham, ``Such shall be the covenant between Me and you and your offspring to follow which you shall keep: every male among you shall be circumcised. you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and that shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you`` (Genesis 17:10-11).``

Leaving aside its pros & cons, wonder why the Christians skipped this ritual?

nhk

Pakistan’s Choice Al_Bundy #285, 286

7 Days mourning for King Fahad?

This is the price you have to pay for $ 600 million oil facility for years. You have to also visit Saudi Arabia as soon as you come to power and pay homage to the Saudis.

You have to also accept their Wahabi teachers in your Madressas.

You have to also permit them immigration free direct flights into areas of their Shikar.

And what you do with those $ 600 million - buy some stupid tanks and aircraft.

I hope that some sensible Pakistani leader pays back each & every penny of that owed amount.

I hate to live under obligations of others - it is demeaning & disgraceful.

nhk

Pakistan’s Choice What a pathetic bullxshit. Same old well known Mantras again & again.

Prescribing Aspirine where a brain surgery is required!

For starters:

Disown the Two Nation Theory.
Get Islam out of the Constitution (instead of chasing shadows of reforming it)
Give provincial autonomy.

And forget about what India does or does not do. Only exploit its nearness to your advantage if you can instead of making it yet another pain in the a... (Mullas & military are quite sufficient to do that)

nhk

Hazrat Sarmad Shaheed: The Naked Sufi Martyr Asif

Thanks. There was a time when I thought that `Saudi` Islam was simple. Just say the `Farz` and get over it. Or the Landi Kotal Pathans concept of a clear demarcation between Smuggling & Prayers.

And I thought that the Pirs & Fakirs are an anamoly and they expoit the innocent believers.

But no more - after the close encounters with Wahabism, Deoband or the Taliban.

Now it seems that the only saviours of Islam can be the Sufis & the Fakeers.

nhk

The Last Moments of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto The pilot of the C-130, Fareed, a friend of mine, told me that he was on a StandBy duty. He was woken up at midnight for the flight. He was told that he was taking the Prime Minister.

He went and settled into the aircraft. There was the usual activity. Then he asked some one. Has the PM come? He was told `Yes`.

He was surprised. He asked `Where is he?`. The reply came `in the Box`.

He said, at that moment, he felt ground slipping below his feet.

nhk

Reforms! What Reforms? Hoodbhoy

You are an idealist. Let us say 50% is being eaten up by education wallas. Every one else is eating as well. Even if the remaining 50% gets spent, that is a big improvement from the past.

But the most scary aspect is:
(This is a research project worth an astonishing rupees 5,581,000 (Rs 5.6 million) and is titled as ``Quranization of Science Courses At The M.Sc Level``)

Are we now officially into Talibanization? It is 21st Century. Leave the holy scripture sacred and for spiritual needs only; and not drag it into Laboritories for political purposes. It was never intended to be a book of science.

nhk

Our Turkic Connection Godot

I have no ego issues. You consider this article to be of a poor quality. That is fine with me.

Having said that, I think you are boxed into some kind of a perception that `quality` only means dry, boring and legalese form of communication. Yes. Statistical Summeries, formal research papers, economic surveys, reports of commisions, text books or even editorials are expected to be in that form.

But a general writing on an opinion or an idea is pretty much free from any such encumberances. This kind of general human interest subjects, I think, are best conveyed in simple, direct and conversational style. Preferably, in first person.

This article was not meant to be Chapter from History Book. For that, history books are available. This was more of a re-hashing, gleaning and analysis of history to highlight a certain specific aspect. It was certainly not stolen as you allege. In fact, in my decades of reading news papers and magazines, I have not come across any writing which has specifically dealt with this topic. There could be some but I do not know.

Despite my checking and re-checking, I did end up making two historical errors. However, what I wanted to convey, Right or Wrong, that it was mainly `the Turkic people who brought the religious & cultural influences to South Asia and not the so-called Persians, Afghans or the Arabs` was conveyed logically to some degree.

The last para was out of context but I let it go as my favourite theme.

I am not emotionally wedded to any identity - be it ethnic, relgious, national or linguistic. For me, every human being is the same. But I am curious and interested in how these identities inter-play with each other and affect our lives.

nhk

Our Turkic Connection Tehmed # 32

(even if he has not taken the trouble to put the jumble of facts in some proper structure)

The boring history had to be simplified and put shockingly to keep the reader awake. It was not intended to be a lullaby for my English Professor. If it was easily comprehendible, the purpose was achieved. Obviously, I did not create the dates and the available historical facts. I only put them in a sequence and order that best served my intended intention.

The contents had to be strictly relevant to the topic. The Turks covered a vast area and for very a long time. I did not talk about the Azarbaijanis, Georgians or even the Ottomans etc in any detail.

The tone of Godot is something that one should be willing to expect. This is a price one has has to pay for taking the `punga` of writing. I did not respond to him usefully because he seemed to be too worked up.

His observation was that the Turks identity did not come up until 5 AD and I was talking about 400 BC. My article actually talks about the first Turkic political entity in 6 AD. He apprently did not carefully read the article. And has not read the subject as a whole. There were two other genuine errors as well which he did not point out. We are talking here about a 3000 year period and the general flow of the events. Give and take a 100 years - some of which are no more than good guestimations in any case.

Why was I talking about the Turkic people in 400 BC? The Turkic people did exist in those times. And when there are no computers and cell phones but plenty of grass in the Steppes, they did what all did in those times - raise sheep & cattle.

For the present, I have had a enough of Turks. Maybe next time I should pick on my trip to Kathmandu or Buddhism, another topic that interests me. Or the village, where I will be again forced to mention the ethnic environment, still vary much a part of our rural illetrate set up.

Let us enjoy life.

nhk