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In the last nine years or so, I am fortunate enough to have been able to travel extensively across much of Europe and Asia. More interesting (nay, alarming), however, is an observation about how rare are non-business or non-pilgrim Pakistani travellers.
For example, in Europe, if you tell someone that you are a vacationing Pakistani, you are bound to get curious looks. They only know about Pakistanis who have settled there or come only for quick business trips. Every year I find less and less Pakistani travellers on the streets of Europe or even in many Asian countries. The only ones you do see are either those travelling to Dubai or now Malaysia. However, I do come across a number of Indian travellers.
So it becomes natural for many across Asia and Europe to believe that I must be from India. This does not bother me. But it does bring to light the political and cultural perils of a nation that has just stopped travelling for leaisure.
Wise men across history have rightly emphasised the need for travel — especially how it enlightens the understanding of a person about the ways of those living outside their social and belief systems; and how this infuses in us an instinctive realisation about the importance of things like plurality and tolerance; and how tiny, rigid and delusional really is the world of an isolationist.
Of course, over the past many years, it hasn’t been easy for a lot of Pakistanis to acquire visas to a number of countries. Also, the economics has made it tough for most Pakistanis to even think about taking a vacation abroad. This is a cause for concern. I say this because the moment you step into another country, you begin to realise that life can be lived without constantly contemplating the fate of a government or the status of one’s religious beliefs. It happens to me every time I travel.
The realisation is always about how small and stressed our world has become. We work and then come back and watch or talk politics or religion, and nothing else besides. This can’t be right. The human mind is far too vast to only be cramped with cyclic political gossip (mistaken as political analysis and news), or with the constant, obsessive lashings of faith.
Raise your head out of your one-dimensionally contemplative navels, and you will notice how fast things like music, literature, sport, theatre, et al, are vanishing from our list of things to do and enjoy in Pakistan. There is no doubt about the gigantic economic and political problems we as a nation face. But think about it. Go through histories of some of the most powerful reform movements and revolutions and it is clear that none of these were complete without hefty cultural contributions made to these movements by poets, playwrights, musicians, painters, even sportsmen/women.
Our whole perspective on life, or more so, about what needs to be done has unfortunately shrunk to such an extent that all we are left with is a constant need to make lofty moral and faith-based judgments and denunciations, believing that ‘positive’ change can only come through ‘danda’, militaristic politics, or some impalpable form of religious order.
That’s all we talk about now. Faith and what gets passed these days as politics. Everything else has become unessential. It seems all of us have become myopic political animals with a narrow understanding of politics, something which now colours our understanding of the faith as well. We’ve forgotten where politics ends and faith begins.
We crave for reform, change and sometimes even revolution, and yet we have failed to understand that religion and politics alone can’t achieve these. And if and when they do, such a change or revolution will lack sympathy or admiration of what makes a civilisation thrive as an enlightened, cultured people.
Whenever I travel now, I look forward to meeting people who are not always judging me through their religious biases or figuring out where I stand politically. That can be a problem if you are a Pakistani, though. Because then all they want to talk to you about is Islam. But I don’t. I want to talk about music, sports, food, drink and art — subjects one rarely gets to talk about in Pakistan these days.
So what do I do? Let them call me an Indian? Sure, but then all they want to talk about is Bollywood and the IT! Don’t know much about that, I’m afraid. So this time when I went travelling, I decided to introduce myself as a citizen of Surinam!
I got this idea way back in 2003, when, while travelling across Europe I got talking to an Indian taxi driver. From English he swiftly switched to Hindi when I told him that I was from Pakistan. I asked him from where in India he was, and he shocked me by saying that he wasn’t from India at all. ‘I am from Surinam!’ he proudly announced.
As it turns out, Surinam, a small country in the Caribbean, has a huge Indian population. So this time that’s what I told people: I was from Surinam. And lo and behold, I got what I wanted — lots of discussions about fishing, hurricanes, beaches and drinks. Absolutely nothing on religion or politics. A fantastic time I had.
Nadeen,
I just love the tone of your columns.
They are light and still it contains a lot to keep me reading.
Unlike other columns where they are very heavy.
Keep going.I always keep waiting for you new columns
Cheers
Ashok Pandey
Finaly an article from Mr Piracha worth reading and deviod of shrillness.
Very enlightening! Thanks!
Great Article.
Dear NFP,
I guess, I am of the same age as you and therefore I fully understand the pain and agony in your columns. This one was superb; yes almost all of us Pakistanis cannot talk about anything else than religion and politics. Over the years, intelligentsia seem to have withered away and our core focus is mostly on Islam and politics. Even, if you go to the Karachi Book Fair, you will find most of the Pakistani books published on Islam only and most of the visitors want to buy only Islamic book (especially for their children). Something has gone very very wrong with us. Somebody has converted us into zombies; we cannot talk rationally, argue with logic, understand others' point of view or even think in a plain and straight manner. And this is why I start losing all hope!!
Nice and crisp!
As usual, your writing is great NFP. Truth is a bitter pill. Keep on writing. You are doing great.
Samuel, Toronto. Canada.
I don't believe in conventional notions of patriotism but, good or bad' I would never call myself anything but Pakistani. NFP, it is really shallow of you.
You clearly missed his tongue-in-cheek tone.
I don't know what makes you myopic of your religion. Not a single article of you have I seen which deals with topics other than religion. This article also indicates religion as if it were the sole problem of Pakistani people. THis exactly is myopic attitude i.t being always rigid and delusional towards your own country-men, their beliefs, culture.
Good one nfp, when I travel around,I call myself an ex-Indian, just to have a convo, ex goes un noticed but Indian does stuck in their head. It works though,just last week someone in uk said I am from Jordan !!! So now I can put Jordan to my list as well.
Come to Toronto, you won't have to travel around the world. The world lives here, you just need to be social with other cultures. In any multi-cultural social event, I quickly become the center of discussion because of the vast variety of cultural aspects to talk about especially Sufism and Qawali dancing. Not even India comes close to us because they are so shy when it comes to explain their idol worship and Gaye mata aspects. Although I was born in Kenya and moved to Pakistan in my teenage years, I think it was the most wonderful thing that happened to me. The west has no culture except hip hop and your gf/bf experiences…
It's a pity that you have to compare yourself to Indians to justify your cultural values. BTW Sufism and Qawwalis existed in India long before Pakistan was born……so to claim it as "Pakistani culture" is disingenuous, don't you think? In fact almost all Indian & Pakistani "culture" is a shared heritage of the subcontinent. The major difference being that many(not all) Pakistanis choose to highlight only the Islamic aspects whereas Indian culture is an amalgam of many diverse religious and ethnic societies. The whole point NFP is making is that open your eyes and minds to the beauty of diversity which is embodied in different cultures, it's not 'bout one-upmanship, the kind you have displayed in your juvenile comment.
I am also a Pakistani living in Toronto. I agree with everything Sumit said. Imran, at least try and hide your prejudice towards Indians and the west. Pity you have'nt allowed your mind and heart to open up to appreciate other cultures.
I disagree. I think both are being fairly narrow minded. In India, there there are much larger minorities than in Pakistan so the culture is clearly going to be more 'diverse'. And surely you can see that Sufism and Qawwali were in India long ago because long ago there was no Pakistan and the entire empire under the British was called India . Seriously. I think he (biased as he is) was talking about -region- you know. Urdu is mainly spoken in; the most well known Qawwali singers are from what is now Pakistan. But I completely agree that the countries, with Bangladesh and Kashmir have a shared culture. For me it is just a bit frustrating that people here really do not understand that the food, music, dress, customs and traditions that they admire about the Indian subcontinent are prevalent in Pakistan. If they knew, it might go some way in reducing its rogue image. But I have to say that whenever I go abroad or meet foreigners traveling or studying here, I always say that I am Pakistani. The response is mixed, sometimes political, hardly ever religious; more and more recently there's just a muteness.
Even though im Pakistani, I would have to tilt my views with Sumit. He is right.
I go abroad twice every year. I went to Venice last year with my wife and met an American couple on Rialto bridge, at first they asked me to take their photograph with their camera, which you obviously do at such locations. I did that and they were thrilled with the results. Then we started chatting. They asked me where we were from and I told them that we were from Pakistan and then they opened up. We started talking about politics but swiftly went on to other things. It turned out that the American man had a best friend who was a Pakistani American living in his neighbourhood.
It was a very good experience.
that is so true that. mention Pakistan or India the conversation is always about religion or politics. I always say im from kenya and the conversation just fires up.
nice article….ture say….
Very accurate analysis!
Its good to see a cool and positive piece from you. Its different from your usual sarcastic and antagonistic writings. Keep it up!!
People like you are on the brink of extinction in Pakistan.
Keep on the good work until you go extinct!
good points of the artical is that pakistanis must travel across world, and what we listen and discus at our media that is not very healthy for our minds.
I want to say that we must not narrow down our analytical view about any thing, it is relegion, coulture, history. fashion, what ever. if we analyse objectively we can find reality.
Mr Paracha, Can't wait for each one of your weekly columns. So truthfully & humorously written on the most serious of subjects. Most of your appreciative readers are I's & NRI's. Are'nt you going to have your e mail address published at the end of your column (like most of your fellow columnists) so you'll give us a chance to directly express our individual appreciative cmts to you for the intellectual feast you give us, every week. Is'nt NYC (which you must have visited) the best place for all from the subcontinent to unite as Desis?
The ideal way is for Pakistan to first create a secular state and let Islam take a back seat. Let other religions grow and thrive among muslims..only then International respect and peace will ensue. It is quite clear that religion cannot hold or advance a nation. Pakistan seems to have learnt this a little late..despite having people like Nadeem. Noether religion can provide security nor economy..thats the bitter bottomline message of Nadeems many columns.
incidentally, well done to the Indians for the Commonwealth Games, however, I was actually looking forward to Indian Culture, and yet all I saw was the usual Bollywood stuff, and couldn't help but think that the Indians are a one trick poney, I mean, you can sing, and dance, and, and what else, blow large horns rythmically…
I am glad that the entire Indian Modern Culture is represented by Bollywood, a farce behind a facade of orignality.
My Dear S M Shah,
So you didn't see any trace of culture in the CWG in India. Hmmmmmm ……… Pls look up the next few words in your "cultural" vocabulary – Bharatnatyam, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri( the dance form, not the language!), Kathak(not the same as Kathakali). Here's more food for thought- Rabindra sangeet, Sitar vaadan, Jal Tarang, Tabla vaadan( remember Ustaad Zaakir Hussain……BTW he's Indian!). All these were on display throughout the CWG but I guess you were so focussed on Bollywood that you missed the real deal!
Sounds like you are so obsessed with bollywood that everything else is escaping your senses. You got a problem which needs immediate fixing. Maybe you should watch the CWG fanfare one more time but this time with your prejudices set aside.
Dare I say it, it isn't easy for Pakistanis, especially the Middle Class to travel, what with Visa Difficulties and so on.
I do agree that travel does broaden the mind, and all that…But NFP, do you not feel that alot more internal tourism should be encouraged. Why not encourage the honeymooners to go back to Swat, encourage the Basant Tourist, the Hill walkers to Kashmir, the mountain dwellers to the Sea. We have amazing history and and incredible sites in our own country. If travel does broaden the mind and we can't, all be back packing around Europe, then why not slum it out in lahore, gilgit, muzzafarab, mohenjodaro, makli hill, gwadar, turbut, and many many wonderful places else.
Let the Punjabis, the Balochis, the Kashmiris, the Sindhis and the Pashtuns and everyone else broaden their horizons to the whole of Pakistan at least.
lets mingle as a nation, let us discover the wonders of our own country, lets not buy foreign exchange and instead spend our rupees in Pakistan.
I say f**k calling ourselves Surinamese, or any other non entity, lets be Pakistanis out sightseeing in Pakistan.
Incidentally, i too have travelled around on business and pleasure, and believe me I have never been accused of being from India. The culture crap does come about, but i usually point to a Kebab and say, this is us, a Daal Flour Burger Filler is them.
They get the gist.
Excellent write up Mr. S.M.Shah.
Positive thinkers like yourself should be given space to write in blogs not the constant complainers.
My guess is you've been here in Holland? Just guessing
I agree with Nadim.While in Cairo's Khalili Market many shopkeepers kalled me, Hai Amitabh Bacchan and even in Nile cruz little village along the river Nile, boy's shouted at me Hai Amitabh Bacchan.In Europe many places I heard them talking abuout Bolywood as if that is all India have.There is always some kind of identity attached with people.It is natural to ask Egyptian about Pyramids.Since Pakistanis have no other identity people ask about religion.
Music!
To me one of Pakistan's greatest contribution to the free world is its gems, Mehdi Hassan and Ghulam Ali. Would there be new generations to fill their gaping gap? It does not appear to be so.
Thank God! a worth reading article from NFP. Else it was always are satire style.
Thank You! Mr Surinam. By the way the indian presence in Surinam is from the British East India Company rule in the south american country who brought in labour from all parts of India. It too is a mix of various ethnicities just like South Africa.
It is a pity that NFP has to fake his national identity to avoid embarassment.
yes, you are right nFP. Also I would suggest that is US the indians and pakistanis are best friends ( or were till recently before 26/11).They have same culture, same basant, same food and same clothes, also same movies, gazals,music and poetry.
Its a shame that we need to leave our homes to be good neighbours.How much a change of vantage point helps!! Indians and pakistanis should travel more!!
gr8 work NFP…..keep it up………i always wait eagerly for you writing……..this is also a very realistic take on how we South Asians are doing fearmonging and gossipmonging everyday….the last para in which you describe the advantages of being surinami rather than south asian is hillarious…….i think not only religion and politics in the region but geographic position and sheer size of the region is also making people here vwery sick…….suh agr8 tradition of music, arts, food and festivals.yet we spend entire day talking about some politician or trying to make sense out of some books written more than thousand years ago…………………
This is one of the most unique ways I have come across of someone advocating the advantages of secularism. And who else to expect this from but NFP.
Really enjoyed it.
nice article.
Nadeem i am beginning to love what you write…
great piece.
Nadeem doing excellent job to save some youth brain falling with fanatics and reactionary ideas. Keep it up.
@ srikanth
It was never supposed to be a travelogue. It's trying to get a very simple point across: Pakistanis must need to start traveling more to escape from the myopia they are getting stuck in.
Secondly, NFP is right. Political change without the input of art and culture is bland and meaningless.
Rather than a travell epilogue,this is a preachy article.
@srikanth: what made you think it was supposed to be a travel epilogue?
It is the fact that majority of Pakistanis have their identity tied to Islam and can't imagine that an Indian Hindu or Muslim can have secular values.
Loved it, NFP. I agree with all that you have said. I sure wish more Pakistanis are able to travel more so they can see that life is not made up of just religion and so-called politics.
Bollywood annoys me no end. I had a Malaysian tour guide sing a hindi song off-key, an Egyptian waiter profess his love for Bachchan and a canadian do the neck shake. Seriously after Gandhi we only have Bollywood.
But more and more as I travel I notice Americans becoming increasingly discerning about India – they will ask you as to which part of India you come from.
Completely agree with you on the value of travel. It was a revelation to see how the tiny principality of Venice was governed and the extent to which the Doges worked for the people. It is humbling to see how the remotest villages in Switzerland have the same amenities that the city dwellers do. And it is a bit of a slap in face to be treated like dirt in the Middle East.
Love the idea of Surinam – but will have to learn to say maaan!!
Now here is a nice & refreshing piece from NFP. I admire his political and socio-religious write-ups a lot but this was a welcome change, especially for those who keep hammering him with the critique that his sole purpose in life is to bash Islam, defame Pakistan & defend Zardari!(in that order).
good article.
we should not discuss politics and religion every day. its a sign of narrow mindedness .
there is much more in life than religion.
for example, china. before introduction of Buddhism to them, they lived without religion for 2000 yrs . without any problem!!
A point well taken. Unfortunately, we are becoming (or have become) a nation where leisure and pleasure have become synonymous with (sinful) indulgence! We so want the "human" part out of our being(s)!
This article itself fails to take a flight away from religion and politics. Had this article not been written in an antagonistic tone it would have done good than what it is now.
Simple yet excellent way to expose that there is more to life than religion and politics. Life is beautiful when one lives and lets live!
sitaruan ke aage jahaaN aur bhi haiN
abhi ashq kay imtehaaN aur bhi haiN
Lovely article. I found it very light compared to your usual political and religious writings.
Respected Sir
It is a very nice article.i expect similar article in future also.