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?
All these ‘Topi Days’ in Pakistan are no more than ‘Topi Dramas’.
We Americans do not have any such days, in fact we even have underwears (chaddi) of Old Glory (national flag of the U.S.), still we are more patriotic to our country of choice than Pakistanis are to their country of birth. Reason is simple: We have justice and fairness in US.
guns are a status symbol in Pakistan, and it is acknowledged by the government in “licensing” all types of armaments. Violence begets violence. All the countries with the lowest crime rate in the world have a total ban on any kind of weapons – Japan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand are examples. On the other hand “licensed” weapons tolerating countries have high violent crime rate – USA and Pakistan are big examples.
As long as arms are tolerated in the society, we should not be surprised at the crime rate. Government can, in one minute, revoke all the arms licenses without exception and only special police units should be allowed to bear arms while in uniform. But what would happen to the Pajero / Land Cruiser driving, mobile phone to ear, Sindhi Topi wearing gun totting politicians ? Its all in the status.
I WISH
I only wish the entire Pakistan had participated in this wonderful day of such colourful celebration of TOPI and AJRAK! That would have mitigated any hidden negatives and shown us the way to honour other cultures of Pakistan.
Once again, the Political and Civic leaders failed to recognise and cease the opportunity and affirm the UNITY IN DIVERSITY that is Pakistan.
I fully endorse that Guns have no place in any civilised society:
Guns are not Toys.
Guns only Kill.
Take away Guns and you will witness how Peace returns to our neighbourhoods.
Such Topi Dramas all political gimmics of these rotten political parteis of our country trying to divert attetion of people from real problems and issues.
The day should have been Solidarity Day to pay our respect for armed forces and Shaheeds who were martyred in Pindi Fauji mosque a day earlier.
Some comments from the ATP Facebook Page:
– “TOPI DARAMA”
– “paka drama!”
– “i Wonder we never saw any of this Cultural day since Pakistan came in to being,,, how this is created and who “discovered” this day . if this is some cultural day then it should be celebrated through out all Pakistan.”
– “The point in the post about gun culture is exactly right. It is usually cowards with low self-esteem who get fascinated by guns. And this picture is just hillarious in a sad sort of way. Good commentary on this violent culture.”