Progressives must band together or be damned

Getting a reincarnation, though not in full, the Viewpoint needs very special reading and circulation by the leftist elements in Pakistan who can envisage a new paradigm based on social justice, tolerance and pluralism. I am a student of some of the great living minds in Pakistan hence I circulate my amateur write-ups among some of them for an applause which encourages me most. Keeping that in mind I circulated my last piece, run by Viewpoint, called 'Reclaim the mosque' and got invaluable comments from my senior friends. After reading the article Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy was very sorry for my having been personally assaulted by the clerics. Dr Isa Daudpota, who used to write for Viewpoint, was very happy at my contributing to this rational voice.

Activist and educationist Baela Raza Jamil appealed to the rational few for a coherent strategy. She wrote: "What can we do to practically offset the terrible propaganda/jingoism of our extreme minds is a question that we need to ask. Some suggestions for our actions could be: the discourse is important and its widespread spaces must be found [at least] amongst us. The texts in curriculum need to be offset where found bigoted by supplementary texts on diversity and tolerance. Need to bring in effective interactive creative learning tools, so well done by Fauzia Minallah and many others so that children may express, dialogue with teachers about subjects considered taboo including violence at home and neighborhoods etc, loss of siblings to extremism; a family member part of Talibanisation [and] how to cope with extremism and articulate it with the extended community without guilt. The training for teachers pre and in-service needs to be supplemented by specific sections on how to offset bigotry, extremism, intolerance and refusal to acknowledge Pakistan's 10,000 years of heritage .We need to begin at the beginning. This is our 1947. Let us start this with other caring people, and there are many. Let us be structured and consistent". Baela's points are significant keeping in mind the upheavals of today's Pakistan.

Prominent journalist Raza Rumi commented: "We need to free ourselves from the stranglehold of obscurantist and their apologists. Otherwise, we are doomed - sectarianism is a bottomless pit!"

Researcher Imtiaz Gul commented: "One reason why the mullah can wreak havoc is because our ruling elite has been compromising - relentlessly. The burly Maulana Attaurrehman as the minister for tourism!!!!!!!! Isn't this a fraud on this nation? Isn't this a slap on us all? How many people have spoken and written about it".

Social philosopher and writer Aziz Ali Dad wrote: "Agreed with your observation about reclaiming the mosque. Somebody has raised a pertinent question here that who will replace mullah at the mosque? The greatest blunder of secular class is that it left a place like mosque at the mercy of mullah, who became spokesman of religion. If we continue at the pace, declaring others Kafirs we will surely end up being Kafiristan."

A reader Shanu remarked: "It's disgusting how quickly the folks with the holier-than-thou attitude will declare someone a kafir just because s/he is unwilling to pass judgments or issue tickets to someone to go to hell." The popular culture critic and columnist Nadeem Farooq Paracha commented, "I have been writing on these issues, but will try to address them even more directly in the future. Best of luck and do keep in touch. The few of us must band together."

All these replies are very encouraging. We know that we have been left with no choice here in this land of the pure. We must also keep in mind that obscurantist forces will always resist a rational discourse in Pakistan because bigotry has always been in the interest of the bourgeoisie. The moment one raises a dissenting voice; one is labeled as an atheist or a communist. The later label is even dangerous. Thanks to Cold War and its pious mercenaries in Pakistan!