Need to connect
RECENTLY, the inveterate champion of women’s rights and the performing arts, Sheema Kermani, held a roundtable on rising violence, militant extremism, climate change, and poverty with a focus on women and minorities. Nothing was left unsaid in the over two-hour meeting that brought together unstoppables like Tahira Abdullah and Maryam Palejo. But then, so much is happening in this country that people are overwhelmed and such occasions allow participants to vent their anger. Can one really fault the activists for exceeding the five minutes allotted to each speaker? Moreover, such moots end up as an attempt to convert the converted. To be meaningful, such gatherings must end with feasible recommendations.
If an answer has to be found to this madness that now grips our society, it is important to analyse the causes of extremism and on the basis of that, suggest strategies to counter it. Arif Hasan, a social activist, gave an excellent analysis. But we were left wondering what should be done.
According to Arif, the downward slide started with the advent of Gen Ziaul Haq’s regime. His repressive policies denied the youth freedom of activity that had previously facilitated their self-expression. The ban on student unions meant an end to debates, sporting events, cultural performances such as dance, music, etc.
The focus of all resistance was on opposing political repression. Even today, it is believed quite mistakenly that elections and democracy will resolve our problems.
What we see today is the result of the indoctrination of the last 45 years.
Here I may further add that Gen Zia’s major achievement — if this word can be used in the context — was to change the mindset of the youth to ensure that the future of Pakistan was also changed. Soon after seizing power, he sought civilian support by enlisting the cooperation of the Jamaat-i-Islami and other religious parties. In those critical years, the JI held the education portfolio. The madressahs acquired unprecedented importance, and curricula were duly reshaped to suit the general’s Islamisation agenda.
This dimension of our educational life was never reversed even in the post-Zia era when civilian parties returned to office. What we see today is the result of the indoctrination process of the last 45 years, when generations of youth have lived the most impressionable years of their lives under a system bequeathed by Zia. Every new education policy has been more regressive than that of its predecessor. The madressahs are gaining a foothold in our education system. That is not how it was in the early years of Pakistan when I went to school.
Where do we go from here? The strategy I would suggest and have always suggested is person-to-person communication. It has never been tried in Pakistan. If anyone has come close to what I believe to be the need of the hour, it is Sheema Kermani herself. But her strategy will have to be upgraded, expanded and made reciprocal. If numerous groups of young men and women committed to change were to go out and connect with people talking to them, listening to them and exchanging views personally and reciprocally with them, perhaps they can spark a meaningful dialogue. But they are insecure and their insecurity must be addressed.
I can give three examples of women I have met who claimed to have tried this approach and found that it had an impact. They were Khushi Kabir of BRAC in Bangladesh, Dr Roop Rekha Verma of Saajhi Duniya in Lucknow and the American feminist activist Gloria Steinem whose logo read, “Talk, listen and connect”.
This approach is more effective because to speak to a person on her turf has a greater impact and she is comfortable there and has confidence. Besides a crowd mentality is dif-ferent from a small group’s mentality. A crowd is always dominated by its leaders who do not allow any of its members to deviate from the given line. It is easier to have a dialogue with individuals rather than a huge gathering.
Khushi told me how her groups walked from village to village to talk to the women in informal gatherings where they were given full freedom to articulate their point of view. Verma, who left her job as the vice-chancellor of Lucknow University to connect with women, continues to advocate for the cause of gender equality and communal harmony in Narendra Modi’s India.
I think in present-day Pakistan this strategy is worth a try using mixed groups. After all, Mashkoora of the Ali Hasan Mangi Memorial Trust, Kheiro Dero, talks to men about family planning on equal terms. If a beginning were to be made, a critical mass of moderate thinking might be created that could generate its own momentum for change.
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Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2025
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