APROPOS the letters (May 22 and 23). True that the local TV channels are pouring out soap operas that desire a lot of improvement to compete at the international level, but that does not mean that we outright reject and condemn them across the board.

It is believed that Ertugrul played a significant role in Turkish history. In fact, he was the father of Osman I, founder of the Ottoman dynasty. However, according to historians nothing is known about Ertugrul’s life in the absence of recorded history, except that he died in 1280.

There are two different versions about the name of his father. One tradition says he was the son of Suleyman Shah. Another one gives his father’s name as Gunduz Alp. Coins minted in the Osman I reign bear the following inscription. “Osman, son of Ertugrul, son of Gunduz Alp”. The stories associated with him were written a century later by the latter Ottomans. Thus authenticity has to be ascertained while following these fictional episodes.

Coming to the present times, Prime Minister Imran Khan has advised that the play should be watched for inspiration and to refresh ourselves with Islamic history. Agreed, but how would that add value to our history or resolve our identity crisis in the present times?

Every nation usually assesses its own priorities according to the circumstances and its situation, and takes initiatives which best suit it. In fact, when the Caliphate was abolished in 1924, Kamal Ataturk made the decision independently looking at the circumstances that prevailed at that point in time, disregarding the strong support for its continuation by the Muslims of the subcontinent.

So it is well advised that we should produce serials based on local personalities, who are the sons of soil. I am sure that we can find many such persons in our history books, keeping prejudices aside.

Why not emulate them? Why not produce dramas based on their lives, authenticity of which can also be easily verified. The government could support such ventures with local sponsors.

It is high time we reconciled to the idea that we are part of South Asia and will remain so for all times to come. So why blindly follow other far-off nations, some of whom are not even eager to treat us at par.

Khaled

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2020