LAHORE: The second day of Afkar-i-Taza ThinkFest saw a larger crowd and more discussions on a variety of topics. One of the important sessions was on the #MeToo movement, essentially a movement against sexual harassment across the sexes (men, women and transgender persons).

Moderated by Aisha Sarwari (Women Advancement Hub), the panel included country director of UN Women Jamshed Kazi, Shaista Aziz (Labour Party UK) and Marvia Malik (first transgender news anchor).

Ms Sarwari said the victims of sexual harassment who step forward to break their silence were usually women – but instead of being believed they were demeaned and face consequences because of speaking out.

She added that the men who were accused of sexual harassment did not in fact suffer too much and were more or less socially accepted or even glorified after being accused.

Jamshed Kazi spoke about the UN WOMEN campaign of ‘Jahez Khori’ and said the word ‘Khori’ denoted greed and something dishonourable which would perhaps make some difference in shaming people. He said instead of investing on education the women themselves were investing in dowry.

Maarvia Malik said although the transgender community had not yet started joining in the #MeToo movement as women had, it did not mean abuse against them had ended. “Many fear for their safety for speaking out but there were now responsible representatives of the community who could speak for their community.”

BEING PAKISTANI:

Journalist Raza Rumi’s book ‘Being Pakistani’ discussed with an almost full hall, and a very responsive audience.

The talk focused on identity of a Pakistani and while Rumi spoke of his question of ‘Who is a Pakistani?’ his research and narrative for his book going beyond only politics, taking into consideration popular culture as well.

“I wanted to investigate and celebrate Pakistan’s diversity and all this talk of being ‘one’ and ‘the same’ eventually hides the beauty of regional languages, customs, folklore and poetry of our different people. We have a complicated past and we should embrace it,” he added.

Journalist Nadeem Farooq Paracha, a panelist, said why it was something so unbelievable that Pakistan was made of the people who were polar opposites of each other. He said there was so much more to Pakistan’s identity but it was not accepted that we could all be as Pakistani as the other.

Mosharraf Zaidi was also part of the panel and it was moderated by journalist Sabahat Zakariya.

SAMADHI:

A session was held on the Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh under whom the Sikhs ruled Punjab for decades. Nadhra Khan, whose book was under discussion, said the Sikhs architecture had never been given as much attention in Pakistan even though Sikh buildings existed all over Punjab and the rest of the country.

In a slideshow, she presented the Samadhi’s layout and architecture – which was situated right next to the Lahore Fort and the Badshahi Mosque. She showed how the river Ravi had flowed right next to the Samadhi.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2019