KARACHI, May 1: Leading figures of creative and performing arts are unanimous that the promotion of culture can boost healthy activities and minimise the religious extremism which has plagued the whole Pakistani society.
“We derive all our ethical and social values from our religion, which all reflect our culture whereas extremism is egoistic and has no relation whatsoever to religion,” Talat Hussain, eminent actor and director, told Dawn.
He said cultural activities reflected the civilised society and represented the spiritualism, which was the real spirit of the religion.
“Culture ignites and nurtures sensitivity of heart, which soothes the soul. Allah has given human beings the freedom to choose, which cultural activity promotes and extremism snatches away,” said Mr Hussain.
Great theatre icon Umer Sharif, also Sindh’s junior minister for culture, said culture had great potential to remove anxiety and relax the soul, which was a huge power to counter extremism.
“Extremism is a byproduct of frustration while culture targets and defeats such nuisance and aggravation in society,” said Mr Sharif.
He said the promotion of culture within the social limits of the Pakistani society could help create a feeling of relaxation within society as a whole.
Painter and sculptor Shahid Rassam said culture was forced to take the backseat during General Zia’s regime that encouraged sectarian hatred and religious extremism.
“Culture represents emotion and reflects the fragrance of human soul, which prevailed until General Zia’s regime, which banned all cultural activities by falsely terming them un-Islamic and sowed the seeds of extremism, which is now haunting the whole society.”
He said cultural activities enriched the aesthetic sense that had enough power to counter the extremist thoughts that were menacing society.
Tasneem Peerzada of the Rafi Peer Theatre said it was about time to give culture a chance to dominate and fend off all extremist threats.
Noted poet and critic Sahar Ansari said culture emanated from aesthetics, which was a strong force to prevent violence and extremism.
“We all should resolve to promote our art and culture to get rid of extremism in our society, to ensure freedom to women, the most vulnerable section of our society, within our social limitations and make book-reading a norm and enjoyment of painting and drama a custom, as it had been our mores till only a few decades ago,” said Mr Ansari.
