Hello !!!
The other day I was telling my brother about this blog and generally discussing why we do write blogs and why we don't - I was telling him that I have asked many to write but all haven't. And he told me - people write blogs when they do not have someone to communicate with what they would wish to communicate. I guess that's true - that's why Malala used to write blogs sharing her story about her experiences under the increasing Taliban influence.
I have been reading the book 'I am Malala' these days: every night one chapter. Her account makes me realize how the human element has just been overshadowed by what we read in the newspapers (daily) about the scary Talibanization. By human element I mean, whatever we read is generally about how the country needs to be saved from this menace and how the army or the civilian government should or should not negotiate with the Taliban - some even suggesting that the land 'North Waziristan' and adjacent areas which they have hijacked should be surrendered to themin hope that they will not attack other parts of Pakistan. Malala on the other hand gives a clear account of how in the first place the Taliban were able establish their legitimacy by feeding on the vulnerabilities of people - they started radio shows telling the people how their due rights had been violated by the very state they wish to protect. They started by preaching Good and of course when faith is used as a reference point most of the people give in - so did the people of Swat not knowing what was to follow. The book gives a wonderful account of a daughter and father relationship. The latter being steadfast in his dream for spreading education (especially for the girls) and the daughter at every step openly sharing her concerns and queries with her father. Both sharing their fears as well as giving each other strength - at one point when the Taliban has strengthened their hold and chanted slogans that 'girl education is haram' Malala's father is quoted as saying 'Nim hakim khatrai Jaan. Nim mullah khatrai Iman.' ('Half a doctor is danger to ones life. Similarly, a mullah who is not fully learned is a danger to the faith'). Overall the book seems to ask pressing questions and gives an insight into how the daily lives of those residing in terror goes on and a perspective of a young school going girl who is politically and socially conscious of her surroundings - a perspective largely unfound in any crisis situation.
There are many other things I am reading and writing about - and many questions seem to appear with certainly no definite answers or no answers at all. Today I read that the first Law Minister of Pakistan was a Hindu, that too of the Scheduled Caste. I learnt that he resigned from his post in 1950 and left for India. In his resignation letter he elucidated his unhappiness with the shape the new state was taking contrary to the vision held by the founding father.
Many more things to share ... For later !!!!
Ajay
The other day I was telling my brother about this blog and generally discussing why we do write blogs and why we don't - I was telling him that I have asked many to write but all haven't. And he told me - people write blogs when they do not have someone to communicate with what they would wish to communicate. I guess that's true - that's why Malala used to write blogs sharing her story about her experiences under the increasing Taliban influence.
I have been reading the book 'I am Malala' these days: every night one chapter. Her account makes me realize how the human element has just been overshadowed by what we read in the newspapers (daily) about the scary Talibanization. By human element I mean, whatever we read is generally about how the country needs to be saved from this menace and how the army or the civilian government should or should not negotiate with the Taliban - some even suggesting that the land 'North Waziristan' and adjacent areas which they have hijacked should be surrendered to themin hope that they will not attack other parts of Pakistan. Malala on the other hand gives a clear account of how in the first place the Taliban were able establish their legitimacy by feeding on the vulnerabilities of people - they started radio shows telling the people how their due rights had been violated by the very state they wish to protect. They started by preaching Good and of course when faith is used as a reference point most of the people give in - so did the people of Swat not knowing what was to follow. The book gives a wonderful account of a daughter and father relationship. The latter being steadfast in his dream for spreading education (especially for the girls) and the daughter at every step openly sharing her concerns and queries with her father. Both sharing their fears as well as giving each other strength - at one point when the Taliban has strengthened their hold and chanted slogans that 'girl education is haram' Malala's father is quoted as saying 'Nim hakim khatrai Jaan. Nim mullah khatrai Iman.' ('Half a doctor is danger to ones life. Similarly, a mullah who is not fully learned is a danger to the faith'). Overall the book seems to ask pressing questions and gives an insight into how the daily lives of those residing in terror goes on and a perspective of a young school going girl who is politically and socially conscious of her surroundings - a perspective largely unfound in any crisis situation.
There are many other things I am reading and writing about - and many questions seem to appear with certainly no definite answers or no answers at all. Today I read that the first Law Minister of Pakistan was a Hindu, that too of the Scheduled Caste. I learnt that he resigned from his post in 1950 and left for India. In his resignation letter he elucidated his unhappiness with the shape the new state was taking contrary to the vision held by the founding father.
Many more things to share ... For later !!!!
Ajay
