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E-mail from readers the world over
Date sent: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 15:54:51 -0400 I was very interested to read the article 'Plane to Pakistan' by Syed Firdaus Ashraf. It is interesting how minorities do one of two things: debase their own identity as they think they gain favour by doing this or become militant. Mr Ashraf is an example of the former. Making fun of Islam and Islamic traditions is not funny to any right thinking mind. Who does he think he should pray to? Or maybe not pray at all? That is fine, but the tone of his writing suggests that it is ridiculous to pray to Allah for the safety of his flight. Was there a need for that tone? Next, let me suggest a hypothetical case where he goes to England and realises he cannot speak English very well. Would he then report that in the same way as he has reported his inability to understand chaste Urdu? After all, he went to a Urdu speaking country. What did he expect the people to speak? And if his knowledge of the language is inadequate, surely that is nothing to crow about? I asked the hypothetical question as it illustrates the conditioning of 200 years of slavery.......Mr Ashraf would be thought a fool if he made the same statement that he made here, with the exception of changing the name of the language. Since to us conditioned sons of former slaves, to speak English is to be 'educated' and to speak any of our own languages and that too well is something to be ashamed of. Does he know that Urdu is perhaps the most Indian of Indian languages....no matter how many ignorant people think it is the language of the Muslims. The Muslims in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, numbering a few million don't speak a word of it and the language of the Qur'an and Islam is Arabic and not Urdu. But when we Muslims have been conditioned to be ashamed of our religion and heritage and taught to hold ourselves guilty for the formation of Pakistan, to please the majority some of us demean ourselves and make fun of our own traditions. What would you and Mr Ashraf say if I expounded the theory that Pakistan was formed not because two million Muslims wanted it, but because many million more Hindus couldn't care less? Then the responsibility would rest where it really belongs -- on the shoulders of Nehru and his friends who wanted power at any cost. The Muslims in India actively made a choice to live here. The Hindus are here by default. However, we Muslims have been conditioned to feel ashamed about the formation of Pakistan (for no fault of ours), and are made to pay the price for this periodically in lives and blood. I have written an article on this and sent it to you but I wonder if you have to courage to print it. His comments about the state of Mohajirs are interesting and illustrate the fact that Pakistan is a particularly badly run place. However, the attitudes towards race and community, and the loyalties and alignments towards both are reflective of our own country. Pakistan was a great mistake made because we are a nation that allows itself to be hijacked by half baked politicians who only care about themselves and their power bases. That is why we continue to have corrupt people who should really be in jail, to lead the nation. The only exception is Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, though in the whole unholy mess of the Jayalalitha, Swamy and others, I have no idea how long he will last. May I suggest that Mr Ashraf learn to develop a pride in his identity or try changing it for something that he can be proud of? Whether he likes it or not he is an Urdu speaking Indian Muslim. There's no hiding that. In case he gets caught in a riot like the one that Mr Thackeray organised in Bombay, he should realise that his lungi will be torn off to determine his identity and then he will be slaughtered. At that time the only one who can save him is the same Allah who keeps the planes in the air. M Yawar Baig (Proud to be Indian. Proud to be Muslim. Proud to be Urdu speaking.) Mr Baig: Like many other Muslims, Syed Firdaus Ashraf and his family suffered great trauma during the Bombay riots. They were displaced from their home and sought refuge elsewhere to save their lives. Eventually, they had to sell their home and move into smaller premises. The article is an Indian's representation of Karachi, and not an attempt to hurt anyone's sensibility -- Editor
Date sent: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 13:30:15 -0400 Extremely hilarious, but how true. The only thing Syed missed was -- he should have gone to Lahore too. More fun than Karachi on any given day. Mark
Date sent: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 12:42:46 -0400 Very interesting reading. Narration was very non-judgmental which is nice. I do hope, though, that he was able to convey to his relatives, and perhaps others, that what they hear all the time is not necessarily the truth.
Date sent: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 12:42:46 -0400 It was a good memoir, except that it missed a closure. L Udeshi
Date sent: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 10:30:51 -0400 I found this article very interesting. It's nice to read about the lifestyles of the people of Pakistan. Being part of the new generation in India, you're flooded with all this anti-Pakistan propaganda. You never get a chance to hear the other side of the story. Maybe, the propaganda is true, maybe it is not. It was nice to read that Indian films are a huge hit there!
Rajesh
Date sent: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 10:22:12 -0400 "Plane to Pakistan" and "If there is a police force in Karachi, it must have been in hiding" by Syed Firdaus Ashraf make very interesting reading. Although I felt the article ended abruptly.
Date sent: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 09:15:38 -0400 Plane to Pakistan was very good. I loved it.
Harkirath Rehal
Date sent: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 09:24:13 -0100 Great article. Should have more of these. Only way we can bring these two or three countries together to live in peace and harmony. How about inviting people from Pakistan to come and visit India and meet their relatives in India? Asit
Date sent: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 01:31:14 -0700 Generally, an objective and excellent feature -- thoroughly interesting. A couple of points beg to be made, however, that disprove Syed's inference that Hindus are happily assimilated into Pakistani society: 1. What happened to the 10 to 15% Hindu population that has dwindled to less than 1% now? 2. Naturally Hindus have to live a quiet existence in Pakistan -- can one even fathom a Hindu-Muslim riot there? It would be a massacre -- a la Noakhali! No Hindu issues can be raised -- one wonders what happened to the temples that were pulled down after 1992 that was shown on CNN. 3. If over two million Muslims sacrificed their lives for Pakistan, let me assure you that they ensured that double that number of Hindus had to die as well to create Pakistan. It would be very interesting to talk to a Pakistani Hindu -- a rare race! On the flip side of the coin: 1. The article was excellent, and I'm sure that the author was objective as per natural perspective. 2. One hopes that Muslims will be free in India to slaughter and eat whatever they may choose to do -- thegovernment should not have a say in these matters that do not affect lifestyle. Anyway, I'll be going back and reading more of Syed's past articles. Madhukar
Date sent: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 12:43:46 +0530 Plane to Pakistan is an eyeopener to many of us in India. Being an Indian Muslim, it was really nice to see the coverage given to this feature. It actually reflects the feeling of our neighbouring citizens who are very much like us. They too, as normal humans yearn to meet us -- "the Indians" across the border. All this hatred and animosity in a common man's heart is created, thanks to the butchered minds of politicians who for their evil ends have made us the means. Rediff is doing a a great thing by actually showing the true Pakistanis in today's light. The media has a lot of power -- provided it is utilised in the right way. KEEP UP THE GREAT JOB AND SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF PEACE WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT IN TODAY'S TROUBLED TIMES.
Date sent: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 09:35:36 +0530 This was really good. I guess it would have been more interesting if it were an official visit by Syed Firdaus Ashraf. I would love to read more such articles in future. Thanks for the Rediff Special and special thanks to Syed Firdaus Ashraf.
Date sent: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 23:18:58 -0500 The article by Firdaus Ashraf is a gross misinterpretation of facts and is degrading and insulting to any Pakistani audience. I am a Pakistani and proud to be one. I am in the USA where most of my friends are Indian and Pakistani nationals. We all blend together very well and have no communication problem whatsoever. As street spoken Hindi is very similar to Urdu and that's what is spoken in Karachi. The article portrays Pakistan as being a land of Indian haters. As commonly known -- 'hatred' between these countries is a political matter, and is not at all the people's sentiment. Maybe the author was portraying his own opinions by trying to arouse anti-Pakistan sentiments among his readers. I have close relatives in India. I have visited them and they have visited Karachi. I have lived all my life in Karachi and never have I encountered the kind of "danger" to Indians that the author mentioned. Such kind of journalism is an insult to the reputation of Rediff. Indians and Pakistanis have no animosity between themselves. It is people like Firdaus that incite the public by deviating from the truth and creating a false impression to people who know less. Muslims and Hindus have separate religions and a unique identity as flag bearers of different nations -- even though both are so alike. I have family friends in Pakistan who are Hindus and who are very religious. Obviously, majority of the people in Pakistan are Muslims and so the author did not find people from the the opposite religion as is common in India. But I guess the author did not bother to look in the right places and was very prompt in forming an opinion based on his short stay (if at all) in Karachi. We should try and learn from our past, and understand each others sacrifice and suffering. Instead this article tries to arouse negative emotions of hatred and mistrust. I am sure any person regardless of race, religion or nationality will agree. Being a Karachiite, the article was quite upsetting. I could have slandered and abused Indian people and Hindus in response, but then I would have been none better than Mr Ashraf. "Get your facts straight Sir and research before you blindly cast a generalisation and your opinion on a race and nation." I hope appropriate amends will be made to rectify the damage (emotional and in terms of false impressions) caused by this article. Farhan Patwa
Date sent: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 22:23:49 -0500 I liked this article very much. Coming from a middle class Hindu family, I don't know enough about Muslims, especially those in Pakistan. An article such as this therefore made great reading and puts things in perspective. Thanks for a very good article. Thanks to Syed Ashraf. Very well written. Abhijit
Date sent: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 20:44:37 -0500 This was one of the really good articles I have read in Rediff or anywhere for that matter. I liked the fact that he wrote it from a third-party point of view. Clarity was the essence in this feature. Keep it coming. Ajith
Date sent: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 21:00:28 -0400 Syed Firdaus Ashraf's article shows a whole new side of Pakistan which we didn't know. It was very informative. Nagendra R
Date sent: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 17:27:54 -0700 I think it is pretty cool. Being an Indian, I always wanted to know how life in Pakistan is and how would Indian tourists be treated over there. Good job. Keep up the good work!!! Sanjay Kini
Date sent: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 23:57:17 EDT Nice article!! I always wanted to know more about Pakistan, and I always believed that there is more to Indo-Pak equation than the arms race, religious hatred etc. I would like to read articles which explore the mind of Pakistan with a dispassionate analysis. Venkat Kesraju
Date sent: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 16:17:37 -0700 I will be interested in finding the author's view on education and literacy as he observed there. Is it possible for him to post an adjunct? Jeydev
Date sent: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 19:03:57 -0400 Congratulations on writing this great article. It was extremely refreshing to read an article written as a mere spectator without any judgmental overtones. Good luck! Saurabh
Date sent: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 21:28:55 +0000 This was a great article. Ashraf gives a very different perspective to Pakistan as viewed by an Indian. Overall, I think Rediff's travel/culture articles are top-class. Anand
Date sent: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 16:34:17 -0400 Very cool piece! Thanks for the eyeopener. What is a "jhuggi?" The more we see ourselves in our neighbours the closer we come to peace.
Rakesh Raju
Jhuggi is a tenement.
Date sent: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 19:34:01 EDT I have two words for Syed Firdaus Ashraf's article: 1. Informative 2. Entertaining Anil Bhat
Date sent: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 15:17:58 -0400 Nice article, need a more in-depth one later. Am very curious about the average Pakistani... Suvrat
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 14:32:02 -0400 It is refreshing to see one of our own (apart from Kuldip Nayyar), writing impartially about our well-hated-neighbour on the west. Coupled with my encounters with Pakistanis in the US, it does not seem that bad at all. The man on the street there is ALMOST like any Indian. He does not hate the other without a reason. Venkateswara Rao K
Date sent: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 13:57:58 -0400 Thanks for an interesting story. Can you get a story where a Pakistani can narrate his experience of visiting India or get Syed's relatives to visit him in Mumbai!! Thanks to Syed for interesting narrative.
Date sent: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 19:53:38 +0200 Great reading. Thanks for this super report. Keep it up!
Date sent: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 10:40:17 -0700 (PDT) Great article "Plainly Speaking." After reading the article I felt that American and Britian are not the only countries separated by the same language, Pak and India are too! Thanks Ashraf (oops! Shukriya!) Rao Yerramilli
Date sent: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 10:04:01 -0700 We all know that Mohajirs are not treated well. But I can tell you that nine out of 10 of my fellow Muslim students in college owe their allegiance to Pakistan. The university does not discriminate against them and instead of feeling happy that this country has made them employed engineers which ghetto-oriented Pakistan couldn't, they feel proud to support Pakistan when it comes to cricket matches etc... Let Syed Firdaus know it from me that most law abiding educated Hindus have only one word for such people -- namak haram. Kamal
Date sent: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 11:39:46 -0500 I liked this article very much. I feel the media can play a great role in bridging the gap between the citizens of these two countries.
Date sent: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 14:14:00 +0800 The subject material was quite interesting. I think there should be a regular column featuring lifestyles in Pakistan. Subu R Iyer
Date sent: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 08:31:59 -0400 Hindus have not been "assimilated in Pakistan." They have been DECIMATED, ETHNICALLY CLEANSED. This Firdaus should know if he has any semblance of love for facts and truth.
Date sent: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 11:21:39 EDT Enjoyed reading the article written by Mr Ashraf. I too was laughed at when I spoke to Pakistanis in Urdu. However, I didn't go to Pakistan. I met them in the United States instead. Along with millions of Indian Muslims, I also have strong predilection towards Pakistan and its inhabitants just because, I assumed, they too are Muslims. My assumption was right, but my predilection was met by strong scepticism. (Of course, there are a few exceptions in every society.) From here onwards I felt betrayed. On the other hand, my love toward Indians doubled. Despite the fact that my friends are non-Muslims in India, they respect me more as a Muslim than most of the Pakistanis I met in the US. This is sad and a slap on Indian Muslims's face. I hope Indian Muslims understand that their countrymen love them before they start liking Muslims abroad. Indeed Muslims are brothers regardless of their nationality. However, you should receive the same kind of liking from them too or else that love will be unilateral and is of no use. For this reason, I request my Indian Muslim brothers/sisters to understand their countrymen/women's love. Now I miss India. Whoever said that saying, it is very true for me: That is ghadey ku zafran ki kya khadar. Azhar
Date sent: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 15:44:11 -0700 Enjoyed the about first hand observations about people, particularly the young generation of Pakistanis, and was shocked to find out how government and other political entities in Pakistan are systematically whipping anti-India sentiments in those young minds. Wish more articles like these come out to show the world what this Paki establishment is all about! Keep up the good work and thanks for the eyeopener. Your avid reader. How Readers reacted to Dilip D'Souza's recent columns
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