Rewriting history by administrative fiat

WHEN the mood caught him, my late father would observe frequent national bouts of glorification and say to his children, tongue-in-cheek: Tumhari qaum naaron pe jeeti hai (your nation lives by sloganeering).

The longest day of the year, June 21, once again saw the same frenzy across the country but particularly, in the twin cities.

The occasion was the birth anniversary of Benazir Bhutto although it was otherwise, a sombre affair given her tragic death only half-a-year ago.

While an icon like Ms Bhutto deserved the salutations and outpouring of tribute seen on her 55th birth anniversary — the first after her assassination — profligate indulgence at the official level dented the genuineness of emotion.

Not that it was the first time such a forced exercise was undertaken. The Land of Indefatigable Slogan has been refusing to cede ground to sobriety and reasoned approach for as long as one can remember.

In their enthusiasm to appear more loyal to Ms Bhutto and her legacy, top government functionaries from Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani down on to his party leaders with administrative clout left — as they say in popular parlance — no stone unturned to carry the day.

The prime minister announced to rename Islamabad International Airport as Benazir Bhutto International Airport.

Similarly, Rawalpindi General Hospital and the famous Murree Road were also named after the two-time former prime minister.

As it is, this was a heavy dose of homage with a less-than- concealed attempt to lend it permanence. But there was more to come.

The next day, Federal Information Minister Sherry Rehman, who has the additional charge of the Ministry of Women Development, moved swiftly to name all women development centres falling under the ministry — currently, 24 in number but to be raised to 64 — after Ms Bhutto.

Clearly, the eulogy is out of proportion and ignores a few basics about historic significance and public acceptance as well as such fine principles as commanding — as opposed to demanding — respect.

To begin with, changing names of public landmarks, which in the case of Islamabad Airport, Murree Road and Rawalpindi General Hospital bear significance, is no ordinary thing.

There is the small matter of history, which has been completely overlooked. Nations, which are proud of their roots and value history, passionately preserve these. Landmarks such as Murree Road have a history behind them, which only deserves the deepest respect and a willing hand of protection.

Temptation to rewrite history with a simple stroke of a pen should therefore be resisted. Then, there is also the issue of public acceptance. Approximately, 165 million people live in this country. There is great diversity in this population with more than cultural, ethnic and linguistic dimensions. How can this fact be ignored in taking such a lopsided decision?

Let there be no doubt about the stature of Benazir Bhutto. The spirited struggle for democracy was but one facet of her towering personality.

Ms Bhutto’s politics and its merits can be discussed till kingdom come but if there is one outstanding hallmark, it is how she pushed the limits as a progressive woman leader of a patriarchal set-up in a retrograde country — ruled for more than half of its existence by the military.

These are good enough reasons for Ms Bhutto to have been included in the pantheon of greats and even qualify to adorn the name of an important institution or two — with a reasonable degree of public acceptance — but to turn a tribute into a national reverence, on the back of administrative power, is quite unreasonable.

The prime minister also announced a grant of Rs50 million for the Rawalpindi General Hospital where Ms Bhutto breathed her last. A helpful gesture on its own, it invites the obvious question about merit: why the distribution of the national kitty only to RGH?

To be sure, most of the medical facilities in twin cities are in need of a similar financial injection but singling out one for governmental patronage will lead to raised eyebrows.

A phenomenally expensive photo exhibition at PTV in Islamabad as well as a chain of televised and print dedications by the Sindh Government — at public expense — and its demand to declare December 27 as a national holiday also contributed to the hype.

Last but not least, naming all the women development centres, whose number the government has promised to raise to 64, borders on excess.

Benazir Bhutto’s legacy deserves better. Her memory will linger on genuine emotion, not forced plaques under flashing bulbs.

The writer is News Editor at Dawn News. He can be reached at: kaamyabi@gmail.com