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.
Why are you equating a tank top wearing woman with running around naked? As long as a person is not truly naked (ie no private parts showing) let people wear what they want. I remember me and my cousins were in Karachi as kids and being from “liberal” countries we just wore our swimwear and decided to walk to the beach with nothing else on as it was so close. The whole time we were out people were staring at us as if we were green little martians with antlers sticking out of our heads. Traffic was slowing down, and it seemed to us it was the first time those people had seen someone going for a swim at the beach. But did we give two cents? No we had our fun and walked proudly back home. People ogling at others because they are in swim trunks/bikinis is unheard of anywhere in the world, maybe except the most extreme countries like Saudi Arabia. If Pakistan’s “social norms” deal with such trivial things then I truly feel sad for them. Like someone above said, how would Muslims feel if their right to dress the way they want is taken away? Every Pakistani dosen’t hesistate to condemn France for banning headscarves but oh no people inside pakistan can’t be allowed to wear what they like cause it clashes with the majority’s “moral lines”
Inetestingly, what would happen to me if I decided to do the same thing today? Would I get arrested for walking to the beach in Karachi in my trunks? I’m 19/male.
When you live in a society you follow the norms of that society – while you can run around naked on nude beach (if you like) but if you do that in NYC, you will be booked. So this whole notion of “I can do whatever I like” or “do not impose your views on mine” – these only go to a certain extent, if you cross the social and moral lines of the prevaling society ineffect – soemeon will stop you (if not the state) – that’s how it works, even in the most advanced so called liberal world.
I have skimmed through the comments on this post. It is my view that this ad is in no way “exploiting” the woman in question. The very first thought that hits my brain upon seeing this ad is how stunningly beautiful the model is. From a business standpoint, it is excellent advertizing considering the originality of the commercial, plus the fact that the airline’s tagline was “The most relaxing way to fly”. This and other commercials like it are not exploiting women. On the contrary, they are celebrating women. A woman is the beautiful side of humanity, the more loving half of humanity, the more deserving of freedom. Why force every woman in the country to lock herself up or cover every inch of her skin while out in public? If your mother, sister, wife etc does not want to be “indecent” then by all means let them live as they wish. But to say that this is offensive is partisan. Its only a tank top. How does a tank top cause even remote offense unless you are a bigoted, self righteous, self appointed guardian of morality? I am not flaming any person who posted here, but the zealots who tear down billboards bearing the images of women in Pakistan.
I am perfectly okay with my girlfriend, wife, mother or daughter appearing in any commercial she wants to. Why should somebody else impose his ideology on her? The bottom line is that liberalism and tolerance mean that you live others live the way they want to, even if it is against your own beliefs. If you don’t like it, don’t look at it. Don’t force your religious ideas on me or my family please. This ad would not appear in the press today because of the religious constraints. That is why I believe this ad is such a symbol of Pakistani liberalism.
As for this ad being an accurate representation of the 60’s Pakistan, from what I have heard from my mother/grand mother/father about old school Pakistan, it is at least semi accurate.
A string of thought that I think can knit all these factions of thought is that Islam is not concerned purely with indivisual’s faith.So therefore in the early Caliphate did live the aforementioned masses of non-muslims;no one is forced to pray,do Hajj wear hijab(well it is a social-cum-personal issue)or have darhhi.
Islam has a more holistic goal of collective benifit for everyone.An influential majority is aimed at believing that if Allah’s orders aren’t obeyed, the concerned indivisuals may have to face the music sometimes.It is analogous to all of us thinking robbery a crime,smoking bad and raping evil.This combined with a true altruistic concern and compassion for others should force us to stop such wrong things from happening.
Such an approach help those who are at a weaker level of goodness(like me).Such people are analogous to those who think robbery is wrong but may do it when needed.By providing a social ambience in which one is compassionately explained and even forced not to think about doing wrong do alot of good to us all.
I think we have a society the elements of which have different yardsticks of what is right and what is not.
Publicly striping,using obscene language and the likes are totally unacceptable,drinking may be fine somewhere,movies and music have fans as well as refrainers while males not wearing proper shirts seem accepted at large.It is when an act is dislocated from your spectrum to someone else’s that clash arises.
If an Islamic country state should be allowed to force a Islamic lifestyle on the people – should in the governments in secular countries be allowed to exclude expression of faith from public life? If it is ok for the government or mullah’s to force wearing of hijab then is it ok for the french Government to to forbid Muslim girls from wearing hijab? If we are going to accept the mandate of forcing Islamic lifestyle on other people then we should also accept forcing of non Islamic lifestyle on us.
I think my point was very aptly made by MSK when he said: Decisions of faith SHOULD be based on people’s personal faith might be. That also means everyone has the right to do things according to THEIR faith. I would certainly be very very worried if Muslims living in a country where the majority is non-Muslim were forced to act against their faith and according to someone else’s. The same should be true for non-Muslims in Muslim countries, no?