Adil Najam
This video needs no explanation. It says so much more than what it says. It deserves a lot of thought. And, for those of us not from Baluchistan, a head hung in shame.
I saw it first in a post on the blog Cafe Pyala, which got it exactly right:
Many of us have often had a laugh about Americans’ woeful knowledge about the rest of the world.
Well, what would you say to this? A BBC Urdu correspondent roamed the streets of Punjab’s largest and most cosmopolitan city, Lahore, to ask random people on the street how much they knew of Balochistan. His report is compiled under the heading “Punjab Balochistan Ko Kitna Jaanta Hai?” (How well does Punjab know Balochistan?). Keep in mind that Lahore is not a rural backwater where media is not easily accessible, that Punjab’s population comprises some 60 percent of the Pakistan’s population and that in the last three years, the issue of Balochistan has probably been one of the most talked about issues in domestic politics. Think for a moment what it says about our educational system, our media, our democracy, our policy-making, our national integration and yes, our majoritarian chauvinism.
If this does not actually shock you, you’re made of sterner stuff than I am.
As I said, this video needs no explanation. It says so much more than what it says. It speaks to the facts that we too often do not speak of. It reminds us of the killings, the disappearances, the murders that we wish to wish away. It deserves a lot of thought. And, for those of us not from Baluchistan, a head hung in shame.
In India …..even in Mumbai ..no one knows anything about South India . They can’t tell which langauge comes from which state !! I think there is nothing shocking about the Video this is average Desi Intelligence
Many years ago I made an effort to see Pakistan, I did some camping in Islamabad and then went to Kalam (Swat). See how good my memory is, loved Bahrain beautiful waterfall, things very close to the Nature.
But it went all down the the hill when half of the village showed up to protest because I took a picture of a little girl working in the field and about quiet an adult looking man happened to be her (to the best of my knowledge) husband was having fits thats when I felt very endangered, insecure and strange in my own country. Fine I lost my camera that I gave it to them but I really felt for the possible Korean and Japanese tourists who tend to love photograph.
There is no way I am going there anytime soon and I think the same about Quetta Baluchistan.
I think they all are bunch of weirdos, exotic as some would say but I am not taking the risk. Like the religion wild interpretation was not enough than there are tribesmen shenanigans, a rotten cherry on top.
No Sir Thank you.
There are many and many and many cities in the world that are fun fun fun to visit and learn about.
I leave the horror limited to the movies and Imaginations.
Touche, Ian.
But isn’t that explanation in the excerpt below the fold?
Maybe Adil is giving a hint to readers like you that its time to learn Urdu :-)
Actually it does need some explanation for your readers who don’t speak anything but English. :)
Thank you for highlighting this video. We have to know our own country and our own people first and then worry about rest of the world. ATP is doing a great service in making that happen. The mainstream media is NOT.