Adil Najam
PIA print advertisement from the 1960s (Originally uploaded by PakPositive.com which is a blog that highlights the positives aspects of Pakistan).
Let me continue with the ‘Image Pakistan’ theme in choosing the picture for today. I find this advert for PIA absolutely fascinating; both for what it says about how PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) saw itself and how it saw Pakistan (or wanted Pakistan to be seen).
Was this the reality of Pakistan before theso-called ‘darhi wallahs’ took center stage? Or was this ‘image’ of Pakistan as much out-of-sync with the reality of what was Pakistan then, as the image of the bearded-gun-totting-bomb- throwing-jihadi-Pakistani is today?
Speaking of ‘image’ and ‘brand’ the Association of Pakistani Professionals (AOPP) has recently launched an initiative on the subject and held a thoughtful and thought-provoking event on he subject in New York on June 3. I was asked to moderate part of the program, and found the discussion to be mature, reasoned and reasonable–something we should have more of.
Interesting post…my interpretation of this picture is “Freedom”. From looking at this ad it seems like If someone or a corporation wanted to take out an ad in which a female was wearing a tank top, they could have done it without much public concern. Atleast I dont recall any riots outside PIA Office (Not that I was alive at that time).
I obviously dont want to start an argument here but the point is the maturity of our nation or any nation or a people should be judged on the way they tolerate others with different set of values living next door to them.
On another note, why arent the dargi walas against men beings shown topless on TV….I always said, God is a woman !
It was considerate of you to clarify your position and address my misunderstanding. Upon re-reading the post based on your reply, the meaning is clearer. Regarding your last sentence, I completely agree with you, and myself am among those uncomfortable with both extremes.
Zuberi saab, on this one there may well be a misunderstanding. Or, maybe, I was unclear.
The ‘positive aspects of Pakistan’ line was describing the stated goal of PakPositive.com, which had originally posted the photograph. Nor is there an attempt to equate darhee wallahs with bomb throwing. On the contrary, my point is that both this image and the prevalent image of bearded-bomb-throwers are inaccurate because they miss the complex and multidimensional social realities of Pakistan; both now and then. I have no way of knowing what the ‘majority’ of Pakistani feel. But I do know that (a) both extremes do exist within society, and (b) there are many who are uncomfortable at either extreme.
I hope I misunderstood your point, but I’m rather saddened to see a scholar of your caliber equating the exploitation of female sex appeal with “positives [sic] aspects of Pakistan” and darhee wallahs with bomb-throwing. To see the world in such narrow, black-and-white vision is not a healthy sign in anyone. I’m not sure why certain factions in our society want to measure Pakistan’s “progress” with the yardstick of skin exposure and abuse of feminine charm. This approach, in the context of Pakistan’s society, is rather hypocritical, because the vast majority of Pakistani men and women (I’m not sure where you personally stand) would not want their wives, daughters or sisters to even be represented in this way, much less be involved in such endeavors.
The picture is accurate. Pakistan was much more tolerant society back then. The trouble started with Communist invasion in Afghanistan.
Unfortunately our intellectual class was already left-leaning so the anti-communist fight was picked up by the religious zealots. Rest of it as they say is history.
Mullah and it’s interference was just a need for the hour. Now the need is over, so will the mullahism. You will see it vanish in the next 30 years.