Adil Najam
We have used the ‘Jahalat‘ caption before in headlines (here, here and here). It is time to do so again.
This picture is from PPI and the caption reads:
“A physically paralyzed girl lies half-buried in sand at the banks of river Indus. Local mythology suggests burying paralyzed children in sand and exposing them to solar eclipse helps overcome paralysis.”
Need one say more!
I guess even a solar eclipse is no cure for jahalat.
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This way I see this image is that a desperate family’s willingness to try whatever they can to cure their loved ones. Obviousley, I dont know the whole story as what kind of medical treatment they have already tried, but my understanding for paralysis is that there is no cure for it yet!
By the way, do we have this family’s permission to make their private moment public? I just hope that anti pakistan media does not publish this image as “pakistani about to bury a girl alive” or something more ridiculous.
Daktar saab, I do not wish to belittle your profession as a number of my very close family members are doctors. However, I will say this that medical science is not the last word and it is a fact which most people are aware of, educated or non. Members of this profession will be the first ones to admit that too.
The practice of looking down on anything beyond the realm of modern medical science is very common in the medical profession. Allopathic doctors look with disdain at homeopathic practitioners and vice verse.
All I am saying is that this is not a clear sign of jihalat. This is more of a sign of a situation where you are at your wits end and will give anything a try. A drowning person will still grab at straws even though knowing full well that the straw will not help him one bit.
I think jihalat is a sign of a closed mind rather than an open one.
Dear Expat
Unfortunately, my ‘walk’ to them would cover 500 miles and cross two oceans.
From your comments seems like you are going to walk to them, and I wish you best of luck in that. When you do, please send me a way to contact them and where they are and I can promise you that even if I cannot do so myself I will insure that they get the best medical advice available. My worry is whether they will take it or not. But I can promise that.
I will await those details from you. Good luck on your ‘walk.’
I have been looking at this picture, more than once.
What frustrates me , is that (I can only presume it) that these good people have come to this situation, to this “End-station”
From a perspective of pshychology I am capable of understanding that they are not using the “Ratio” /Vernuft ,
-they might have tried other remedies (inclusive medical treatment), or they might not have done so.
They are as parents, and as a family are trying everything possible for the sake/benefit of their child/sister.
What frustrates me is the fact that I don`t have more information.
I am not able to judge them.
May The Almighty give shifaa` to the girl,
Ameen
@Expat (again, sorry for the many messages, I will stop after this).
If I was there, I would and I am sure there are many physicians who will help them and without any benefit. Physicians in Pakistan do a lot of good work for free and they would.
But if everyone is “bucking them up” on this jahalat and “supporting” their act of burying a poor girl in sand out of “desperation” instead of pointing out what is and is not right to them, I doubt if the most well-meaning physicians can get through. As long as society as a whole is supportive of such acts, as even the highly educated ATP readers seem to be, then we cannot hope for change in individual acts.