Kipling: The burden of ignorance

Aijaz Zaka Syed in his article, “The Mess in Afghanistan” (Nov. 5), praises Rudyard Kipling, a writer whose star in the West has sunk somewhat because of what is called “political correctness.” Kipling certainly wrote some magnificent prose and poetry rooted in India and his formative years there; that prose and poetry has given delight to many, me included. Syed evinces some knowledge of Kipling’s works though not, I see, with the facts of his life. Where Syed goes off the rails is in the following: “But having spent most of his life in Her Majesty’s service in the Indian Subcontinent as a soldier and journalist...”

The one word that is accurate in that phrase is “journalist.” Let us examine some facts, which it appears Syed has not done. Rudyard Kipling was born in India in 1865; at the age of six, he was sent back to school in England. He did not return to India until 1882. He spent the next seven years working as a journalist, first in Lahore and then in Allahabad. He left India in 1889 and did not return for any prolonged period of residence. He was never a soldier. Kipling died in 1936; his life was long and eventful but he did not, by anyone’s correct reckoning, spend “most of his life...in the Indian Subcontinent.” As a responsible writer who should be writing to inform, enlighten and entertain, Syed should at least get his facts straight. When one mistake is found, it calls much else into question. If the writer gets his basics wrong, how can we trust him to have got everything else right? In conclusion, one of my own favorite books is Kipling’s “Kim”. To mention Kipling in the context of what is currently happening in Afghanistan and Pakistan and not mention “Kim” is a serious sin of omission. Seldom can there have been a popular book that so perfectly illustrates the mindsets of both East and West. We should all wish that those making policy there had at least read a bit of “Kim.”

Edward Flood, Jeddah published 7 November 2009

What ails Pakistan

Zafar Raja (Nov. 6) remains the most slippery theorist on Arab News letter columns, but he represents a larger problem — wishful, off-the-mark and patently false opinions. All along we have been told, “Terrorism emanated because ‘root causes’ were not addressed.” Then we were told that the terrorism in Swat was a “struggle for Islamic justice.” Last week we were told by Raja (Nov. 1): “Unlawful outfits keep springing up because they despise the Pakistani government and the root cause is poverty,” adding that India may have been involved. Now there is no ambiguity. India, he asserts, is responsible for all terrorism in Pakistan.

I was wondering what these Pakistani outfits were trying to achieve by killing innocent people in Mumbai. What have they achieved by bombing more than hundred innocent people in Peshawar? Why Pakistanis keep looking for evidence from India when the evidence is in their faces on a daily basis? As a sign of absolute hopelessness now Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik comes up with the discovery that India is involved in terrorism in Pakistan.

My humble submission is this: The snake has begun to bite the hand that fed it. All these terrorist outfits were created and nurtured by the very people who are being forced to fight them under duress and in lure of greenbacks. The US would do well to take part of the blame — at least increasing the audacity of Pakistani establishment by providing regular unaccounted military aid.

Can anyone deny that all major Al-Qaeda terrorists were captured and sent to the US from Pakistan?

The Kerry Lugar Bill gives ample glimpse of what the US thinks of this “theater of the absurd”. Yet the sensationalist, clueless, under-pressure media actors in Pakistan keep throwing far-fetched theories. Now, on the one hand Zafar Raja wants us to believe that the US, India and Israel are working in tandem to create mayhem in Pakistan; on the other he wants the US to help the Pakistani people.

Time has come for Pakistani analysts of all shapes and sizes to take responsibility and own up to all that is wrong with Pakistan. Only Pakistanis can help build a better Pakistan based on realism and facts. Wallowing in self-pity and blaming the entire world for all that is wrong with Pakistan is a bad start. Making huge bombastic claims of sovereignty is great but it requires a leadership that does not run to other powers to settle its political differences. The defanging of the ISI and bringing it under strict political control of a civilian leadership which is endowed with the virtues of truth and responsibility will be a good start.

When all three governments in the neighborhood — India, Iran and Afghanistan say that Pakistan is sending terrorists to their country and Pakistan has accepted responsibility in case of Mumbai who would the world believe? Are there any terrorists in south Punjab (Pakistan)? The truthful answer to that question and its redress will lead Pakistan to the path of an ideal recovery and forward movement. If the answer to that question is no, then we will see history repeating itself in the near future.

Manish Pandey, New Delhi published 7 November 2009

Unmarried women

This refers to the report, “96 women inmates enter into wedlock” (Nov. 5). The Reconciliation Committee in Makkah has arranged marriages for 96 women inmates in various shelter homes in the Kingdom. According to the report, they were all convicted of violating moral regulations but later repented and learned to memorize the Holy Qur’an.

Some men use their daughters to get as much money as possible from their prospective suitors. They don’t allow girls to marry unless they find someone who will satisfy their greed for money. This forces many girls to postpone their marriage or to remain unmarried. Tribal customs also stand in the way of girls getting married. At the same time men can marry at will.

All this happens only because we Muslim don’t follow Islamic teachings in these matters.

Khan, By e-mail published 7 November 2009

Blame ourselves, not US

I would agree with Dr. Nazir Khaja’s assessment of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Pakistan (Nov. 5). He is also right when he blames the Pakistani media for fanning anti-American feelings across the country. The right-wing Urdu electronic and print media and most of right-wing/conservative parties are very vocal denouncing America for every ill this country is passing through.

In my opinion, being a sovereign nation, we should make our own decisions and be brave enough to take the responsibility for our actions. If the US was instrumental in establishing thousands of madrasas in the1980s to prepare Mujahedeen for anti-Soviet war in Afghanistan, then it was Pakistan’s fault not to have controlled the madrasas’ growth after the Soviets were routed out of Afghanistan.

As per one estimate, the number of madrasas has grown from 3,000 in early 1980s to above 20,000 by the turn of the century. Students or their supporters from these institutions have been involved in religious and sectarian violence and in jihadist activities in neighboring countries. Why the US should take the blame for such activities that were either known to Pakistani authorities or were carried out with their consent? If the gap between the poor and rich has increased several folds, if education, health care, infrastructure development and social sectors are suffering due to lack of funds, shouldn’t we blame our tax system wherein the agricultural sector is exempted from taxes only because they belong to elite ruling class? After a decade of dictatorship, a civilian government is now in power but again all of the right-wing media and political parties have joined hands to pull its legs. For these people, issues such as Kerry Lugar Bill, NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) and the 17th amendment of the constitution are more important to be settled now. They are trying their best to create disunity and to weaken the public support for the army that has ultimately taken the responsibility to crush Taleban. Apparently their goal is to intentionally or unintentionally covertly support Taleban, but for how long they will be able to fool the public?

Masood Khan, Jubail published 7 November 2009