Dawn is a venerated newspaper in Pakistan, started by Father of Pakistan, Jinna himself. I often read the newspaper to get an idea of how pakistani literate class is thinking about pakistan( as if that matters. I should be reading what newspaper Military Establishment is reading to get an idea of power center's thoughts).
In anycase, I often read the opinion page by various writers. Here is what I think of them.
Javed naqvi:
Mr. Naqvi seems to think that social/political goals can be achieved through nihilistic violence. He suggests that Mumbai terror is due to Muslim Alienation because they have not been part of recent Indian Economic growth. He doesn't realize that most of India is not participant in the recent Economic growth.
In Maharashtra itself, we have farmers committing suicide( the so called most developed state ). In Gujarat we had massacre based on religion which was not even contained, but rather infalmed. In Bihar and UP, where there is significant muslim population, Laloo and Mulayam Yadav have worst governance record. Only place I could think which have done well so far is Southern States. In this malaise, everyone's lot in India is precarious unless you are an old royalty or big business house scion. To suggest that these terror attacks, given the pervasive poverty, were results of economic depravation is malicious and it hurts Muslim economic and political cause.
I do agree with his point that Muslims in India do not have to put their patriotism on the lapel. They are as Indian as any one else, and perhaps more so. Most of our leaders are Hindus and see what they have done for us.
CowasJee:
He seems to talk about persians in India/Pakistan most of the times. He, more often than not, dwells in past. And thinks that India in 1933 was a great place when we are fighting for our freedom with our lives, and Bhagat Singh was dying for the nation. It is possible that He finds present day India/Pakistan worse that what he was living in British India. This shows that nations are never homogeneous entity and there are always people who are at top, comfortably ensconced and not aware of the problems masses were facing.
What I find fascinating is his enmity towards President Zardari and support for General Musharraf. He doesn't get it that Zardari is an elected president and always points out his foibles. He fails to see that he is a legitimate leader. In fact, that may be the fundamental difference between India and Pakistan. We get the lousiest leaders in the world, but those bastards have the rights to rule us since they won a fair election. If you think otherwise, please go organize and vote. Pass a legislation to put criteria for leaders. But once elected, dont smear their legitimacy, just because PM Bhutto arrested him long time ago.
Kamran Shafi:
He is a retired Military General, I believe. He never deals with real issues, but talks about what fun time he had in jaipur or whereever he went. And what great sort of people he knew. And how in India Military doesn't get royal treatment....He should see our politicians....thugs....
Saturday, December 13, 2008
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