Adil Najam
As a rule, we try not to repeat posts too often. Sometimes, we feel that the message is either pertinent again or that the original may not have been seen by a new crop of readership. I am reposting this picture and this post, originally posted on this date last year, because the message is even more pertinent today than it was a year ago, and because I feel like I need to say it again.
For Pakistan, this has again been a year of struggles as well as achievements for women. It marked the assassination of Benazir Bhutto – clearly the best known Pakistani woman, whatever you think of her politics. It marked also an election that saw more women win on general seats than ever before in Pakistan. But there was more, much more, to the daily struggles and achievements of Pakistan’s 70 million women that we need to celebrate. Today, and everyday.
In the metaphor of the original post, the message is that we all are (not just women, but men too) crossing the road to better gender relations, but we ain’t there just yet. Not by a long shot. Read on, please, even if you have read it before. What follows is my original post from last year.
Today is March 8 – International Women’s Day. Today we wish to celebrate women in the fullness of what it means to be a woman in Pakistan. To celebrate their achievements (also here, here, here, here, here, here and here). And to celebrate their struggles (also here, here, here here, here, here and here).
I have thought much about how best to capture the meaning of this day. It seems to me that in many very important ways, this picture above does.
I have admired this picture by Jawad Zakariya (whose work we have featured before here and here) from the moment I first saw it at Flickr. I had been waiting, however, for the right time and the right context in which to use it. Today, I feel, IS that right time and right context.
There is both dignity and determination in the posture of this young woman as she tries to cross the road (Jail Road, Lahore). As in any good photograph, there are a thousand stories embedded in this one. The metaphor of ‘crossing the road’ is itself so very pertinent for today. So full of meaning.
For me, here is a woman who is not waiting for someone to ‘help’ her cross the road. She is not demanding any special treatment. Not waiting for assistance. Not invoking the chuvinism of the men around her. She is ready, prepared, even eager, to overcome whatever hurdles come in her way. She just wants to cross the road on her own; for people (mostly men) to get out of her way. That, ultimately, is what this day is about. It is not about seeking special treatment, special dispensations, special laws. It is about ensuring that women have what we men have always had. The ability to realize their own potentials. To rise to their own aspirations. To be able to cross the roads they wish to cross… on their own.
@ Beautiful ” Policen” trying to pass thru two
” shah-swaran-e-cyclaan ” what elegance.
Bravo!!!!!!!! I reread your post on women day and then i read ur post on the MASS ALIVE BURIAL OF FIVE WOMEN and i am thinking DO WE REALLY RESPECT THE WOMEN OF OUR NATION????? Are we truly the umaati of a Prophet, who used to standup when his daughter came, to pay her respect and symbolises respect for all the womenhood
despite us celebrating women’s day etc. I have just read that we are still killing any burying alive our women. Shame on Pakistan, shame on Baluchis, shame on this perverted version of Islam that we follow. Where are these politicians, the law makers. I read that PM is in Baluchistan. This spineless puppet has gone to do zardari’s bidding. I only wish he had gone to Baluchistan to personally supervise arrest of the barbaric murdered who have killed five innocent women.
Status of Womens in Pakistan should be equal to Men, they are the one who can guide Pakistan towards better future. Womens are more inteligent than Men in Pakistan.
Womens wanna be a” Soldier” and fight for love.
Mens wanna be a “Soldier” they dont know what they are fighting for.
RESPECT WOMENS OF A COUNTRY AND SEE THE DIFFERENCE.
A ceratinly very nice post. Keep it up please.
Even the comments so far are reflecting a sense of realisation of the problem by all. I tend to agree with Nimi that ‘mentalities can be improved by the law and can be sustained by education’.
I will go a little further that only laws are not enough, their sincere and strict adherence is equally important. Also, eduaction, not for the sake of material gains only, but for character building as well, is what any society needs.
This is, nonethelss, a fact that deprived lot has to stand up to get their due rights as no society ever gave it in a platter. Such, objectives can not be achieved overnight or in weeks or months. Europe is not where they were 3-4 centuries ago. Even the US women did not have the right to vote some 60-70 years ago. Slavery (both men and women) is still practiced in a few parts of the world. Civilization has covered a long distance over the centuries from the dark ages and still has to cover a lot of distance. Now we see women as heads of states, an African American woman as US Secretary of State and another black running as US president hopeful.
She is also right about behaviour of Karachiites. This is perhaps due to a better literacy rate here. But still we have separate compartments for ladies and gents in public transport in Karachi (used mosly by the less priviledged) and women folk frequently face sexual harassment unlike in Mumbai or Tehran or Kualalumpur where men and women travel side by side and no one bothers the other. Perhaps, laws and education, both are at work in shaping up these cultures this level.
One must admit, that there has been a lot of improvement lately thanks to several NGO’s and the media towards spread of realization of these issues and I think Pakistani society as a whole has to pledge for supporting itself to bring some semblance of civility to the society. Is it asking for too much!