Adil Najam
Did you know that today, December 6, was “Sindhi Topi Day”?
I did not. But I now do. I also now know that it was celebrated with great fervor. I am glad that it was.
Even though some have raised concerns about how such a celebration might “isolate” Sindh from the rest of the country, especially in the wake of the violence that the country is in the grips of, I think the idea of celebrating our heritage is a good one. In fact, I hope that it will be followed by the “Pakol Day,” the “Karakul Cap Day,” the “Kulla Day,” and days for celebrating all the diverse and rich array of caps and turbans worn all across the country.
I mean that in all sincerity. After all, we at ATP have been celebrating the Caps and Turbans of Pakistan right from the beginning (here and here).
What I cannot understand, however, is why the centerpiece of the celebrations seemed to be guns and fancy firepower, even more than ajraks and Sindhi caps?
This was so not just in this picture, but in a number of other pictures too. And it is by no means specific to this celebration. All across Pakistan, we see this morbid fascination. Guns at Basant are as disgusting as guns at weddings or guns at college graduations. And yet, the insecure amongst us cling to them in shallow bravado and false machoness. In ordinary times, the spectacle are merely disgusting displays of bad taste. In times like these, such acts become ominous reminders of how the validation of violence (also, here) is a deep deep scar on all of our society.
The picture above is particularly disturbing, not only because of the ugliness of the weapon but for the obvious glee on the lady’s face (from the photo’s caption, she is a “political activist”) – not to mention that in her glee she forgot to don the Sindhi Cap she is supposed to be celebrating. One assumes that the child clinging to her (in a state of shell shock, as he should be) is her’s. One wonders what lesson he is taking back from this episode?
But the bigger question really is, what lessons are we teaching our children about violence and the validation of violence?
Three past posts from ATP still haunt me to this day – the first about an angry mob burning a thief alive, the second about WAPDA engineers opening fire at protesters, and the third of a man beating his wife a his son looks on. All three are really stories about the validation of violence; stories that we have had to write again and again.
The question, indeed, is: with all this fascination with guns and all this violence thick in teh air, what have we become ourselves and what are we teaching our children to become?
This sounds more like a counter NRO scheme from Zardari to show that this weaking zardari still has a few cards in his dirty pocket.
Pakistani should learn to see who is saying what and what they have done positively or neatively for the mankind and fellow citizen personally and with their money Rs. (rupees) and actions.
Guns are not part of culture,we are not wild wild West; remember we are people of sufis !
I like the Maulla Jatt picture on the front page to go with this.
We are becoming a nation where everyone is a Maulla Jatt!
It was not a day of celebration of Sindhi Topi and Ajrak, it was actually a day of defiance against the state of union of Pakistan. Every body that I could see yesterday on the news channels were talking in a very arogant manner rather in the same manner as Mr. Zardari was speaking few days ago while addressing to PPP rallies. Completely out of context and relation to the situation.
The speakers were threatening of dire consequences to those unknown parties or people who are trying to destroy the Sindhi culture and the government “of PPP”.
They were threatening of dire consequences if anyone tried to take any action against Sindh and its culture including Kala Bagh Dam and NFC award.
I really wondered why mention Kala Bagh Dam & NFC Award at this occassion, I understand that Sindhis have concern about these but that was not the place and time to talk about such issues.
We are a nation of disstorted people and leaders, we do not have direction and neither do we want our children to have one therefore we are running after stupid and corrupt leaders and celebrating these days which are not neccessary at all.
I agree.
THis fascination with guns is disturbing. Specially now that we are seeing the results of this in the Klashnikov culture that has taken hold everywhere.
You rightly point out that it is everywhere in Pakistan. And that is what is disturbing.
If we had a normal society, I would have said we should ban and enforce the ban on ALL public display of weapons. But can we?