| July 16, 2007 | Monday | Jamadi-us-Sani 30, 1428 |
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KU observatory
Students in seminaries of Karachi
SEPA performance
Misperceptions about Urdu
Flood in Kech dist
Casualties due to negligence
Call for fair play
Lal Masjid
Sadism?
Readers are requested to restrict their comments to a maximum of 400 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for reasons of clarity and space. Letters, including those by e-mail, should carry the complete postal address of the sender. The views expressed in these columns do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.—Editor
THIS refers to Moin Ansari’s letter, ‘Maligning feudalism’ (July 9), wherein he, while countering Dr Bhatti’s thesis against the curse of ‘feudalism’ (July 2), has very surprisingly come out as its vociferous proponent.
It appears that he has failed to appreciate the very meaning and implication of this most derided term which has become anathema of eastern society.
The word ‘feudalism’ as per ordinary lexicon means a mediaeval political order in which land is granted in return for service. It is derived from the Latin feodum, for ‘fief’, and ultimately from Germanic word meaning ‘cow’, generalised to denote valuable moveable property.
Historically the feudal system first appeared in definite form in the Frankish lands in the 9th Century western Europe from the dissolution of Charlemagne’s empire to the absolute monarchies. This system continues to spread throughout Europe till the creation of the communication system which broke down the isolated manor, assisted the rise of towns and facilitated the emergence of burgess class.
This process was greatly accelerated in 14th Century and finally the system broke down. It was not completely destroyed in France until Revolution in 1789, in Germany until 1848 and in Russia until 1917. In the subcontinent too this system remained in full form as an established institution till the fall of Mughal Empire (which depended on feudals for raising levies in return of grants) and later on as it vestige till 1947.
The Indian National Congress learnt the lesson from European models that feudalism being an outdated system was a stumbling block in future development of society. Therefore, it made it a part of its manifesto to do away with this mediaeval social order. Therefore, as soon as indigenous government took control of the national affairs, the first thing they did was to abolish the obsolete repressive system of feudalism which was still available in the form of big landholdings.
To say that big land holdings were abolished in India because Muslims were big landlords is to do injustice to this lofty cause as by then it was an established fact that Europe achieved preeminence in every field of human creativity because they got rid of this archaic order.
Feudalism, which indubitably is an antithesis of democracy, is no more an established social order recognised anywhere within the world either in form or in substance. However, this term is still in vogue within underdeveloped countries which by implication means ‘feudal mindset’.
This pernicious frame of mind is forte of not only big landlords but newly emerged nouveau-riche industrial-cum-commercial entrepreneurs are equally suffering from this indolence as can be observed from their profligate style of living etc.
However, notwithstanding quite a few land reforms introduced during the last 60 years, some of the big land holdings are still unbroken, mainly because of joint family system which is still intact in this part of the world. The women are physically tortured, mentally strained, socially ridiculed, economically exploited and physically marginalised not because of feudalism but on account of the lack of education. In this era of fast communication when the world has become a ‘global village’, these inhuman oppressive tactics cannot continue to exist long if education is spread to every nook and corner of the country.
The example of Mozambique is totally irrelevant here as with the transformation brought in the dynamics of society, no such feudalism in essence is left anymore. I do agree with Mr Moin that our industrialists have failed to capitalise on an export-based economy but at the same time it will be highly inappropriate to shower praises on a few big landlords, as it will amount to depriving our underprivileged agrarian class, comprising more than 65 per cent of the total population, of their contribution; as it is they who are instrumental in keeping steady flow of food to our growing population and not the feudal lords.
MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi
SEEMI Jamal’s write-up on Karachi University observatory and a passing reference to PIA's Karachi Planetarium (June 25) is timely to the extent that it has brought into focus the two institutions before their demise, tragically under-utilised as these are.
Karachi University’s ‘observatory’ was never intended or planned to be one. A telescope, imported without any real objective, merely to serve as a status symbol has remained little more than that. Admittedly, back in the 1960s and 1970s Karachi was a laid-back town whose expansion on the side of Hasan Square would not be foreseen by the most optimistic. Yet those whose concern lies in observational astronomy and its future would know better. Soon the city lights, dust pollution and other lesser factors detrimental to any meaningful observation of the skies would render this telescope or any other fixed telescope useless for the purpose for which it was acquired.
Despite the grim situation of the 1970s, there was a solution, as there still is: move the behemoth to the hills. Karachi (near Thana Bula Khan) is a rough, three hour drive from Karachi. It is unlikely to be affected by any kind of pollution over the next 40 or so years, that is almost forever.
All observatories worth their salt are situated far away from negative factors. Only such observatories can play any purposeful role and contribute to the cause of astronomy and astrophysics. A four-acre plot at Karachi will not cost much and the university can invite astronomy enthusiasts to undertake observation of the skies’ round the year for a nominal fee to meet a part of the upkeep. As for PIA Karachi Planetarium, back in the 1980s and the early 1990s there was a fairly large number of amateur astronomers associated with it. Our observation of the visiting comets, star groups and nebulae was not only of great significance but fun too. Dozens of them had their own telescopes which were all portable, including one of Karachi Planetarium’s.
Karachi Planetarium went into a stupor for the same reasons: false prestige but not enough will, know-how or the necessary business acumen. In the world of today (i.e., WW II onward) no organisation can function without infusion of capital on a regular basis. It is required for updating the equipment and services, training of personnel and new display and production techniques. Not where intrigue, ineptitude and monopoly is the name of the game.
ARIF ALI ABBASI
Karachi
THIS has reference to a report by Reema Abbasi and S. Raza Hassan, ‘Few ripples in Karachi over Lal Masjid stand-off’ (July 6). I was astonished to read the report that about 1,400 seminaries in Karachi have some five million students.
According to the 1998 census, out of 9.2 million population of Karachi, 4.3 million were in age group five to 24 years. That was about 47 per cent of Karachi population. In my view, in 1998 Karachi's population was about 11.5 million, since the Census left out from official count over two million people (mostly illegal immigrants from Afghanistan and Bangladesh).
Keeping that in view and migration to Karachi from all over Pakistan, I have estimated that Karachi's population in 2007 is about 15 million. If 50 per cent are in school-and college-going ages, and for a moment we accept that five million are attending seminaries, it means about 66 per cent are attending these seminaries.
Can our correspondents tell us then where should we put those who are attending the English-medium and other private schools, colleges and universities (mushroomed all over the city), government-owned educational institutions, those working as child labour in the informal sector, and many more either employed or unemployed or girls sitting at home.
By the way, according to the 1998 Census report, about half ( 2.23 million) of the total school/college-going persons in Karachi were in schools or colleges. Of these, 1.98 or (89 per cent) were enrolled in below primary, primary, middle, matric or equivalent classes; 203,000 (nine per cent) were attending colleges or universities and only 43,000 (two per cent) were not in formal educational institutions. Perhaps they were attending madressahs.
The total population of Karachi has increased by 60 per cent over the past nine years and even if there is a slight increase in enrollment at seminaries, not more than 75,000 students are currently enrolled there. I am puzzled from where the correspondents got the figure of five million.
DR MEHTAB S. KARIM
Professor of Demography
Aga Khan University, Karachi
IT must be surprising to everyone living in Sindh that, besides the continual and somewhat irreversible degradation of environmental conditions in the province, the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), which is also responsible for the enforcement of Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997, has not yet referred a single case to Environmental Protection Tribunal (EPT).
According to the Sindh environment secretary: “We cannot counter these pollution creators boldly unless we get concrete evidence. That is why we have not referred any case to the tribunal so far” (July 5).
At least it is clear that there are some “pollution creators”. I would suggest that he come up with concrete evidence, conduct monitoring and measurement of various pollution parameters against the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) established and approved by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Council.
This action can be taken under clause (i) sub-section (1) of section 4 that states: “Federal Agency shall establish systems and procedure for surveys, surveillance, monitoring, measurement, examination, investigation, research, inspection and audit to prevent and control pollution, and to estimate the cost of cleaning up pollution and rehabilitating the environment in various sector”.
On conducting such activity, if they find that limits are exceeding the established limits, then these “pollution creators” can be prosecuted.
NASAR U. USMANI
Karachi
THIS is with reference to Dr Tariq Rahman’s article (July 3) written in response to my letter, ‘Languages: creating a new reality?’ of June 18.
He has created some distortions in my statements and the message I was trying to convey. First, he has said that I had charged him with belittling Urdu. As stated in my letter, it was Dr Tony Wright of Britain, who had spoken right after him, who had said that, besides advising him not to play with the people’s sentiments.
Second, he says that I took offence to some of his statements during the talk and I had also made some ‘allegations’. I had not taken offence – it wasn’t anything personal – but can rightly be said to have been concerned, as a Pakistani and a devotee of Urdu. Also, an allegation is something that is said without evidence and may be untrue. What I wrote was either based on his earlier article of April 24 or what he said at the Aga Khan University seminar.
Furthermore, I wasn’t the only to be disturbed by his remarks; Dr Wright, some of the other speakers and, most importantly, the audience, notably including some of the delegates from India, had also appeared upset by his allegation that Urdu and Hindi were one and the same language, which was evident from their audible reactions.
Coming now to the justification he has tried to give to his observation in the article, he says Urdu had been known by several other names and only came to be known as such in 1780. Also, that the common root of Hindi and Urdu is the same. Let’s consider the case of English.
It was born after the Angles and Saxons from Europe invaded Britain around AD 450 and was then known as the Anglo-Saxon language. Then came the Norman Conquest of AD 1056 and the language evolved completely until it was called Middle English. Thus, the Old English of Chaucer can hardly be understood by anyone now. Later, it developed further into “Modern English.” Can Dr Rahman say that this English is one and the same as the Anglo-Saxon or even the Norman English? Certainly not. So, why insist on erasing the great difference between Urdu and Hindi? Also, it wasn’t due to Hindi but the economic policies followed in India since the 1990s that led to India’s remarkable development.
K. PERWAIZ
Karachi
THIS refers to Dr Tariq Rahim’s article, ‘Misperceptions about Urdu’ (July 3) .
Around August 1947, the time the two independent dominions of Pakistan and India came into being, the proponents of Urdu and Hindi were at war with each other which was as intense as the Pakistan movement and opposition to it. It looked like Hindu-Muslim divide.
But now that things have cooled down and reason is getting better with both the sides. Dr Tariq Rahim has rightly asserted that both Urdu and Hindi are really the same language. He alludes to certain attempts to make Hindi look artificial by overburdening it with Sanskrit words (also by eliminating Persian and Arabic words) and by the other party similarly trying to make Urdu difficult by overloading it with Persian and Arabic words (and also by eliminating Sanskrit words).
Without going into the controversy, I may quote an interesting event. A brother of one of my friends (a fellow traveller) went to Moscow for higher education. He used to attend some of the functions relating to art, music, drama and ‘mushaira’ organised by Indians there (Moscow and St Petersburg). There he met a Russian beauty who knew Hindi very well which she learnt by attending classes conducted by Indians. She was also well versed in Indian dance and music.
She had travelled to India and been to its historical and religious places. She drank deep into Hindu culture. She married my friend’s brother and are living happily in Russia. They occasionally come to Karachi to visit relatives. I happened to meet them. The Russian lady told me that official Hindi which she was taught in Moscow was not in currency in bazaars and conversations in Delhi, Lucknow or Agra. But the language, call it Hindi or Urdu, is the same as at Delhi, Lucknow, Agra or say at Karachi or Hyderabad (Sindh).
She had to relearn the language to speak and converse with the people generally. Language is only a vehicle of communication. It makes you to understand others and others to understand you. The other important thing she said was that Urdu has played a worthy role in evolution and development of Hindu culture, Hindu music and manners.
Dr Tariq Rahim is right in saying that the “unofficial language of streets (of both countries) are very close to each other.”
ROCHI RAM
Karachi
I WOULD like to draw the attention of the donors, philanthropists and the relevant authority to the recent flash flood which hit Kech district on June 26. Due to torrential rain and cyclone, the Kech river broke its bank and washed away everything the people possessed – homes, crops and livestock. The flood-affected people remain stranded to this day.
Another colossal destruction was done by the Mirani Dam. Most of the villages are inundated in the catchment area of the dam. Hundreds of thousands of people who lost their belongings are in distress. These people have to be rescued and provided shelter, food and clean drinking water. Also, the district government must take immediate action to remove the dead animals to avoid outbreak of diseases.
The most important problem is the rehabilitation of those who have lost their belongings.
BARKAT ISMAIL TURBAT
Union Council Apsor, Kech
OVER 200 human lives were lost owing to the recent rains but there is no expression of grief or feeling of remorse. On the contrary, a game has started with one responsible office blaming the other.
As a first step, the provincial government if they have any consideration for human lives — all these either individually or collectively submit to the people the amount collected from those whose billboards fell and having compiled the total should charge 10 times this amount from all such agencies whose billboards collapsed. All the amount so collected should be judiciously and responsibly disbursed to all those who died and/or were injured. I am aware that our greed has grown so much that even Zakat money is misappropriated.
Moral degradation has sunk to the lowest. Hence all this exercise of money collection and disbursement should be done by an independent agency controlled by the AGPR. The city government should beware that the monsoon is not yet over and I dread to think what would happen to the city — city dug at every nook and corner — if the rains come hard. The roads need to be repaired soon if such catastrophes are to be avoided. I hope someone is listening and would act for the welfare of the people.
MAHER ALAVI
Karachi
THE American and British governments are so aware of Muslim activities in their countries and in Muslim countries too but they are unable to see what is going on in the name of religion right under their own noses.
In America there is a channel which abuses and defames Muslims nonstop and recruits crusaders of Christ and announces their soaring number every day.
They start their tirade against Islam and Muslims. I direct my question towards the educated and influential people in the US and England and appeal to them to ponder over the number of innocent students and citizens who were not involved in any crime but were killed because of thoughtless prejudice being projected by their media day in and day out.
If Muslims deserve punishment, then those who are running these channels to malign Muslims should receive double punishment in the name of justice and fair play.
MRS RAHMAN
Karachi
IT was disturbing to see army spokesman Maj-Gen Wahid Arshad smiling while giving the gruesome details in which innocent children and women were killed. A few yards away, the tormented relatives of those besieged children were crying their hearts out.
Somebody should have told the general not to degrade public sentiments and to show some sensitivity towards the innocents who were caught in the basements of that killing field. It clearly shows how detached the army mindset is when it comes to public emotions
GHAYUR AYUB
London
THIS is with reference to the report that 81 illegal immigrants from Central America were found locked inside a truck in Mexico. The 81 included women and children and they were trapped underneath a truck's false floor. They had been without food and water for two days till they were rescued by Mexican authorities near the US border.
I am sorry if I sound sadist, but I feel relieved to know that there are people other than Pakistanis who do such things.
RIZWAN YASSIN,
Karachi
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