EVERY few weeks there emerges a document or the like bringing out the old biases and prejudices rampant in society. It shows how we view religious minorities, women, ‘other’ groups including those defined by ethnicity, class, etc, etc.

The steady trail leaves the more sensitive and the ever-worrying amongst us aghast at the increasing vagaries of passing times. Quite often the evidence has to do with the governments in the country, and among them particularly the government of Punjab.

The proof furnished supposedly reconfirms the old stereotypical approach of the Shahbaz Sharif administration to all issues. Chief Minister Sharif may lavish some of the most modern inventions on his thankless subjects but he will forever remain suspect in the eyes of those who are so mindful of his fundamentalist Haqqian origins.

It is most certainly a manifesto that would leave the most debilitated slave with not a moment to contemplate rebellion.

Punjab is one province which has stayed with the tradition. It is one unit in the federation that has not got any break from rule by Gen Zia’s associates. Even when the unit was ruled by the PPP or its allies the chief minister, the man at the helm — be it a Manzoor Wattoo or anyone else — had to have had some kind of closeness with the general who is held responsible for everything that is bad in this country.

To add to this distinction, the province continues to periodically provide those who have a dark sense of humour a few sticks to beat it with. At one point in recent history, the subject of the debate was a description of the Baloch said to have been taken from a textbook. It projected the Baloch as a quarrelsome band that had foreign origins. Things were stirred but given that we inhabit environs that do not quite encourage offences against the Baloch it was understandable it didn’t quite reach a stage where anyone could make a real demand for inquiry.

Some of the other ‘marginalised sections’ would be happy to note that they have been considered far worthier of a protest raised in their name. For instance, women.

You would remember that a few months ago the ‘mercenaries of good causes’ were provided an opportunity with a truly imaginative step by the provincial government. In their ‘infinite wisdom’, the officials had decided to launch a programme in schools where the students were to be trained in raising chickens. They were to be put in charge of some chickens for whose welfare they were to be primarily responsible. That was perfectly plausible, remarked the observers, who were in turn very keen on winking at and linking the development to just who was running the poultry industry in Punjab.

In time, a major problem arose — how had the visionaries thought that this was a course specific to girls? The boys were left alone to pursue their own passions, and there were many elders who didn’t quite approve of these gender-specific freedoms. A mini-whispering movement was initiated against the ingenious scheme and it kind of faded away after being centre stage.

It is not clear if the government is still eager on teaching the young students the virtues of empathy via a course in how to care for weak and indefensible birds. What is clear is that the province had a surplus of desi hens on its hands.

Not too long after the school experiment, the Punjab government introduced another programme under which they were to sell a household comprising four chickens to buyers at cheap rates. In the first batch, some three thousand ‘sets’ of chickens were provided to buyers, including presumably, male purchasers since this time there was no official word to suggest that this was in any way restricted to men or women.

Those who applied late were told to wait for the next announcement, which could mean more chickens heading towards the privacy of Lahori homes. What takes place there? Who is it that eventually ends up tending to these guests? Decency demands that we mustn’t overstretch in the name of curiosity. There will be other opportunities for us to display our commitment to ending discrimination of all types — so long as there are subjects of studies that are considered male and female.

The latest addition to the long list of subjects under the category is a page reportedly taken out of a secondary school home economics course. It is specific to form and offers the exalted lady of the house an old-groove schedule of the day to best utilise the (lots and lots of) time she has at her disposal.

It is most certainly a manifesto that would leave the most debilitated slave with not a moment to contemplate rebellion. It gives an inescapable timetable filled with all kinds of household chores with stingy breaks for food. It is not cruel through and through. There’s a two-hour break for TV watching slotted so as to help the ladies avoid the shouting matches of ex-newspaper journalists who have since moved on to hosting television shows.

It is one busy schedule and should do the job of preventing the timid from continuing the subject to the next standard. But it is the age of speed, at least it is so here in Lahore. The home economics guideline is truly befitting of the subjects of a chief minister who are known for their energy and their speed in lands as far away as China. Only the mischievous lot has other ideas and must use it as an excuse to demand reform of not just what is taught at public-sector schools here but that which is prevalent generally in society.

The openness of it all is for everyone to feel. It is not just that departments today are able to declare in writing how certain vacancies in the cleanup squad were solely the privilege of non-Muslims. In the same vein, an ordinary person may be found sharing a joke in public that seeks to ridicule an ethnic group. Once you begin the trend there’s no looking back.

The writer is Dawn’s resident editor in Lahore.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2016