When a language starts dying

This refers to the letters appearing in these columns under the headline “Mixing English with Urdu”. There appears to be a prevailing wisdom in Pakistan that the mixing of English with Urdu is a negative influence. Insistence on this point stems from a desire to retain the “purity” of the Urdu language. While the motives behind this kind of thinking are appreciable, this argument fails on both factual and practical levels.

First, it is impossible to denote when exactly Urdu became a “pure” language, if at all. Urdu is not unique in this sense because all languages evolve over time. For example, if Shakespearian English was considered pure in its time, the English language even as spoken by the Queen today cannot really be considered “pure”. This problem is even more acute in the case of Urdu, given its origin as an amalgamation of the languages of foreign armies, merchants and immigrants with that of the natives of South Asia. The very meaning of the word Urdu — it is a Turkish word variably meaning ‘horde’, ‘army’, or ‘foreign’ — is a testament to this fact.

Urdu and Hindi have come from mainly from Sanskrit, an Indo-Aryan language related to English, French, Russian, Persian and many other languages, but have developed under varying influences over the last half a millennium.

Urdu incorporates numerous elements from Turkish, Arabic and Persian. Under the Muslim rule in the subcontinent, it flourished and became a lingua franca over much of the Indian subcontinent. We would do well not to confuse the undeniably rich prose and elegance of Urdu with its so-called purity. In fact, much of the richness in prose and poetry results from Urdu’s diverse roots. The oft-mentioned purity of Urdu is in fact more imagined than real. The constant evolution of languages which has accelerated even more in today’s global village makes the concept of a pure language arcane.

Even if we were to ignore the origins of Urdu, it is difficult to see how we can prevent the incorporation of new words into Urdu, or if it is necessarily good to do so.

We have already seen how ridiculous and ineffective the efforts of the French to protect the chastity of their language have been. Also, when languages stop incorporating new words, they start to die. They become less and less applicable to the everyday life of a people. One of the reasons why English is proliferating so fast is that it unhesitatingly borrows from other languages. More new words are added to it than any other language in the world.

I see nothing wrong with mixing Urdu with English — some call it Urdish — because this only continues Urdu’s long history of amalgamation with other languages. If we are to add to the vitality of Urdu and allow it to flourish, there is no other choice.

IMRAN S. SYED

Chicago, IL, USA

Study abroad scheme

MR Taj Muhammad has expressed some poignant sentiments in his letter “Study abroad scheme” (Nov 2).

In the mid-80s a similar scheme was promoted. A number of students were sent abroad on science and technology scholarships. Although a large number sat the written examination and were interviewed, only those with “connections” got selected. A large number of the “selected doctors” who went to the US and the UK left their PhD programmes and started clinical residencies/training. Most of them are now settled in the West.

One reason of Western dominance is its ability to ensure that it maintains a cutting edge in most fields. Appropriately trained people with vision are valued and empowered. Such a cutting edge of highly trained professionals would obviously be a great boon for our country. However, a system that does not reward merit would make it difficult to develop such a motivated class at the helm of affairs. This has not changed and is one reason the professional Pakistani diaspora is reluctant to return home. This is why examples like Dr A. Q. Khan are few and far between.

Another reason is that many Pakistani PhDs and highly trained people (without connections), on return, are treated in quite a degrading and deplorable manner. For petty political reasons, they are sometimes prevented from making any meaningful contribution. It has to be remembered that most of them who were successful in the West had to make it on their own steam (apart from S&T trainees).

Mr Taj Muhammad should not fret because most overseas professional Pakistanis are imbued with a profound patriotic sense. They feel greatly indebted for their initial training in Pakistan. For some, John Milton aptly describes their predicament, when he says: “They also serve who only stand and wait.” Some of them also form a strong lobby for Pakistan in the West.

The real tragedy, however, is the persisting scourge of nepotism. I fear that if the selection criteria for the Higher Education Commission scheme were not based on merit, it would be doomed again. I whole-heartedly agree with Mr Taj Muhammad that we also urgently need to address primary and higher school education.

DR RIZWAN HASAN

Cambridge, UK

Hockey: a shocking misjudgment

ACCORDING to published statistics, out of the 106 hockey matches played between India and Pakistan before the recent Hyderabad final of the Aro-Asian Games, Pakistan had won 50, India had won 37, while 19 had been drawn. The biggest margin of Pakistan’s victory came in an Asian Games’ final in New Delhi (7-1) and by bigger margins on a few occasions on Pakistan’s soil.

In the last one-and-a-half years, however, India has had the edge in the majority of the encounters. Notwithstanding this, the Pakistan Hockey Federation dropped half a dozen of its leading players, including Sohail Abbas, the world record holder, penalty corner specialist from the team sent to the Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad.

The fact that India also dropped some of its regulars does not justify the action of Pakistan’s hockey authorities in dropping a number of stars, including Sohail Abbas, for India already had the advantage of the home ground, crowd support and the facility of supplementing their squad, whenever required.

If the idea was to try some new players, this could have been done in so many other tournaments, regularly being held in various world venues. In the final, Pakistan got as many as nine penalty corners but, in the absence of Sohail Abbas, could convert only one. The difference Sohail Abbas’s presence would have made is obvious.

While sporting exchanges are meant to be played in a spirit of healthy rivalry, the emotional involvement of the people in Pakistan and India in the outcome of these sporting encounters is well known the world over, except perhaps to the Pakistan Hockey Federation. They owe it to the millions of hockey enthusiasts and others to explain their unimaginative, insensitive and inexplicable decision to drop Sohail Abbas and several others from the Hyderabad-bound team.

MANZOOR HUSSAIN

Karachi

Saadat Hasan Manto

URDU writers and critics in recent decades seem to have taken ‘due’ notice of one of the great short story writers of the subcontinent, Saadat Hasan Manto, who came from a modest family, had education only up to the intermediate level but possessed the mind of a genius.

Some of his short stories like Naya Qanoon, Hattak, Mummy, Baboo Gopi Nath, Toba Tek Singh etc., are rated as modern classics in Urdu literature. Unfortunately, for five of his short stories he had to face legal action for writing “obscene” literature.

Manto, with his meagre resources, successfully appealed in the high court against his conviction by a lower court that made four short stories (Kali Shalwar, Dhoowan, Boo and Thanda Gosht) the basis for his conviction. He, however, did not bother to appeal against the conviction for his fifth short story Ooper Neechay aur Darmian. He was fined Rs350, which he paid because, by that time, he was not only totally disgusted and fed up with defending himself in the court every now and then but also had little resources to go into an appeal.

We have been told by those close to him that Manto, who died in January 1955, in his last days had to sell his short stories for Rs20 to Rs30 each to make a livelihood.

Now that his writings are being understood by the readers in comparatively tolerant surroundings and atmosphere, would it be out of place to suggest that his conviction on the basis of the fifth short story Ooper Neechay aur Darmian be quashed so that it could be included in his published works?

ANWAR KHALIL SHEIKH

Via email

‘Need for looking inward’

I FULLY endorse the views expressed by Dr Iffat Idris in her column “Need for looking inward” (Oct 30).

In fact, I commend her heartily for her bold and clear-headed stance in airing her rationale, which may appear controversial to some. To quote verbatim: “The painful truth is that a good proportion of the blame for the dire situation of the Ummah today rests on Muslim shoulders.”

In other words, we must learn (individually and collectively) to introspect, dissect and look inwards (objectively) to find right answers and solutions. Empty slogans, emotional appeals and passionate rhetoric, which incidentally are also a form of extremism, can only incite and perpetuate more senseless violence on a global level.

Before rushing to condemn the so-called “opposition” (translated: the entire Western world), the Ummah need to ask, just as much as the American president, “why do they hate us so?” Why is it that the Muslims, more than anyone else, are responsible for damaging the image of Islam, worldwide?

Perhaps we as a Muslim community should pay a little more attention to that great English sage, Shakespeare: “The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in the stars, but in us, that we are underlings.”

ANIS ZAFAR

Karachi

Guarantees for Kalabagh Dam

THE dispute regarding construction of Kalabagh Dam can be resolved provided an assurance through a special constitutional amendment is given to the minor federating units, specially the NWFP and Sindh, that the dam will not be used against their interests and the natural flow of water will not be disturbed but to the extent of agreed terms of the constitutional accord executed between the provinces.

The grievances pertaining to the 1991 water accord may be resolved. The Council for Common Interests may also be made functional to redress complaints of the aggrieved provinces.

The proposed amendment should be inserted as Article 155-A of the 1973 Constitution, and the proposed constitutional accord between the provinces and the federation should be made as Appendix-28 of the Constitution.

In the special constitutional amendment the Senate should be given special powers of the custodian of the proposed constitutional protection, as well as powers to implement the accord through an instant amendment.

Further on the same line, an accord could be signed between the federation and the government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir regarding water and power, keeping in view that the infrastructure of the Mangla powerhouse is situated within the limits of Azad Kashmir. This accord should also be made a part of Constitution as Appendix-29.

It is further advised that the proposed accord, suggested as Appendix-29 of the Constitution, be given constitutional protection and made a part of the Constitution by inserting the new article 257-A in the Constitution.

The same amendments should be made to the interim constitution of Azad Jammu and Kashmir of 1974, and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council may be given special powers of custodian of the accord executed between the federation and the AJK government, with special executing powers to be inserted in the proposed amendment to the 1973 Constitution in the shape of Article 257-A.

These accords/amendments, as well as constitutional Protections, will, if made, remove the grievances/confusion between the provinces and the federation and resolve the Kalabagh dam issue once and for all.

SAALIM SALAM ANSARI

Karachi

Installation of KESC meters

THE KESC has started a scheme in which its authorized personnel are changing the electric meters and their locations. Originally, the meters were placed inside the houses but now the corporation men are replacing the old meters with the new ones and installing them outside the houses.

But it is very alarming that the new meters are being fixed to the walls with the help of a thin pole. Fixed at a very short height — nearly three-and-a-half feet above the street level — they may be dangerous for children.

Also, as these meters are being installed without any shade, they are exposed to heat and rain that may cause the current to flow through the walls. Moreover, these meters run much faster than the old ones.

Will the KESC authorities take note of the matter and remove the constraints?

S. NASIR RAZA ZAIDI

Karachi

Mahathir’s remarks

DR Mahathir Mohamad, former prime minister of Malaysia, while inaugurating the 10th summit of the Organization of Islamic Conference, said: “The Jews rule the world by proxy and get others to fight and die for them.”

Reproduced here is a portion of a news item which appeared in your esteemed newspaper on Oct 27: “The Egyptian Journalists’ Union denounced ‘the irresponsible and impudent’ declarations of the ambassador, who accused the Egyptian press of being aggressive’ towards Israel and of ‘falsifying the facts,’ and said that David Welch’s remarks ‘constitute flagrant and unacceptable (sic) interference in the affairs of the Egyptian press.’”

Why are the Americans and their European allies making fuss over Dr Mahathir’s remarks? The above statement of the US ambassador in Egypt is a clear indication of America’s involvement in proxy wars for Israel. Before criticizing Dr Mahathir or any other leader, they should first do some soul-searching and look into the utterances of Italian prime minister, Mr Pipes and Gen Boykin. They should go through the ‘Ten Commandments’ again — one of which says: “Thou shall not say lie”.

SHER AZAM

Karachi

Relations with India

MR Ayaz Amir has written a piece (24 Oct) on the need for building good relations with India, but has not considered the atrocities committed by Indian soldiers.

The memory of the agony of my raped sisters and the sight of scores of tortured bodies of my brothers stand in my way of accepting the Indians as humans.

There is no logic in saying that Kashmiris are fated to be so treated for all times to come. Nor will our lying low quietly help matters in Kashmir.

Such ear-bursting din against the efforts of the downtrodden Kashmiris to seek freedom emboldens the Indian soldiers, more so when India’s state terrorism escapes all criticism. This prevalent scenario is not conducive to peace in the region.

AFTAB HISSARI

Karachi

Rash driving

RASH driving is not uncommon in our country. During Ramazan, motorists do not drive responsibly, specially in the later part of the day when they start overtaking from the left, unnecessarily blow horns and drive very close to the car going ahead of them so as to bully its driver to one side.

Many motorists just give a very short right or left indication (or do not give any indication at all) before they change lanes and come in front of a moving vehicle. Some also jump the traffic lights. It is free for all.

I request the traffic police to ensure that motorists invariably follow traffic rules.

PROF (DR) ASLAM PIRACHA

Islamabad

Clarification

WITH reference to the report “Consumers to enjoy little relief in Ramazan” (Oct 26), we would like to clarify that the price quoted for Soya Supreme Banaspati of a five-kilogram tin is not correct. The report quotes its price as Rs385 and says that it is Rs10 higher than the previous year’s. The retail price of Soya Supreme Banaspati (five-kilogram tin) is Rs360 (not Rs385). This makes the retail price Rs15 lower than the last year’s when it was Rs375.

JABIHA RAZI

Product Manager, Agro Processors & Atmospheric Gases (Private) Limited,

Karachi

Prepaid mobile phone cards

IN the last six months I have bought many Jazz prepaid cards but each time after deduction of my balance for using the mobile phone, the balance is further appropriated by the company.

There is no way to check the detail of calls made or received. Some customers have complained against this malpractice through your esteemed paper but the company has not bothered to clarify its position yet.

I suggest to the company to introduced the Internet billing system, through which one can check detailed usage of the service. Will the authority concerned shed some light on the matter?

MUHAMMAD JAVED IQBAL

Faisalabad

Refund still awaited

I WISH to bring to the notice of the Pakistan Cricket Board authorities the fact that I booked an enclosure for Rs75,000 for 15 persons for the first One-Day International between Pakistan and South Africa, which was to be played at Karachi on the Sept 26.

The match was, however, cancelled for security reasons. Thereafter, I requested for a refund of the amount against which I was issued a cheque for Rs75,000, dated 7/10/03, but was told not to deposit the same till okayed by them.

The OK has not yet been received despite repeated telephonic reminders and a letter to the marketing department of the PCB, dated 22/10/03. The South African team is now back home and I am still stuck with the tickets of the match that never took place.

Could somebody at the PCB take a bit of time to sort out this issue?

KHURSHID MALIK

Karachi