Living in the past? - A colonial mindset was once again reflected in Altaf Hussains remarks

asif86

MPA (400+ posts)

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/08/living-in-the-past/

By:Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad


aziz-ud-dinahmad.jpg


A colonial mindset was once again reflected in Altaf Hussains remarks on Wednesday. There was the usual attitude of looking down upon the people of Sindh who welcomed millions of refugees with open arms in 1947 and offered them shelter and opportunities to prosper. That Altaf Hussain continues to insist on calling the newcomers Mohajirs even after sixty four years is indicative of a continuous bias against integration with the local population. The attitude is reminiscent of the British racism of the colonial era when the inferior natives were considered intellectually and culturally backward. The white masters were supposed to bring fruits of civilisation to their uncivilised subjects while maintaining a distance from them.

The condescending attitude of the MQM and its sympathisers has naturally alienated the local Sindhis and raised walls instead of breaking them down. The attitude is considered an insulting expression of racial superiority. That the remarks by Altaf should have come at this crucial juncture when Karachi is passing through a bloodbath is highly disturbing.

Calling the pre-partition Sindhis the slaves of Hindu Banias Altaf ranted, We have given you independence and a free country. He then put the rhetorical question, Which country have you liberated with your own struggle? Now this is falsifying history. At a time when Jinnah was badly in need of help, the Sindh assembly was the first provincial legislature to pass a resolution in support of Pakistan. The resolution provided much needed backing for All India Muslim Leagues demand for a separate homeland.

To say that Sindhis did nothing for their province is yet another falsification of history. Sindhis fought bravely against the advancing British troops. Hoshu Shidis war cry of Sar daysun, Sindh na daysun (Ill give away my head but not surrender Sindh) in the battle of Dabba fought in 1843 is duly recorded in history. Pir Sibghatullah Rashidi, the father of the present Pir Pagara, led the Hur insurgency against the Raj and was hanged for the act in 1943 by the British government. It was on account of the efforts of the Sindhi Muslim politicians that Sindh, which had been amalgamated into Bombay soon after the British takeover, achieved the status of a separate province and joined the struggle for Pakistan.

Altaf Hussain has also rebuked what he calls the conscienceless writers and analysts teaching false history. This indicates that Altaf has a tendency for amnesia. When he said on Wednesday that 20 lakh Mohajirs offered their lives for the creation of the country and left their hearths and homes, he conveniently forgot that the worst sufferers from communal riots in 1947 were the Muslims in East Punjab. Those who migrated from East Punjab as a result of the riots became integrated in the local population across the border in no time. They subsequently neither called themselves Mohajirs, nor did they make tall claims about the sacrifices they had rendered. Let alone fighting the local population, they became an indivisible part of it.

The MQM has confined the term Mohajirs to include only those coming from provinces not contiguous with the borders of Pakistan. Thus people migrating from UP, Bihar and CP mainly are included in the term. Despite their dominant position in the civil service and a share in the armed forces jobs much above their population ratio, a narrative of their deprivation has been constructed.

Altaf has also raised the issue of quotas, accusing the Sindhis of depriving the Mohajirs of educational facilities and jobs. The qouta system is by no means confined to Sindh. Even in Punjab, quotas have existed on the basis of the rural/urban divide. Separate quotas for Muslims, he needs to be reminded, was a major demand of the Muslim community in India. This is by no mean an unusual thing in the contemporary world where proactive policies are often devised for the uplift of the neglected communities.

Two forthcoming challenges will test if the party is willing to change its narrow outlook which has led to confrontation and blood shed. The first is the Population and Housing Census scheduled for 12th-27th September this year. Unlike what the party did during the House Listing operation conducted earlier this year, it has to avoid trying to engineer results in accordance with its wishes. While there may be a need to regulate the unhindered inflow of population in Karachi from outside Sindh, all genuine residents have to be counted correctly. Any attempt to doctor the census results would further lead to the deterioration of the law and order situation.

The next test would come when the Election Commission starts delimiting the constituencies. At this stage too, no attempts have to be made to interfere in the process. The MQM needs to come out of its cocoon, shed ethnic prejudices and become a part of the Sindhi community. What is more, it needs to reconcile with the changing ethnic realities of the province.
 

elipst

Minister (2k+ posts)
Such racist, hate filled crap. Trying to twist the truth into what suits the writer. Prime example of yellow journalism.

I have no love for Altaf but at least he apologised for his words, will the writer do the same?
 

elipst

Minister (2k+ posts)
And why did the admin edit the heading to include Altaf Hussains name? Perhaps to make sure it gets a good reading... If only I had one rupee about every post here on MQM, I would have enough to buy quite a decent meal for me and my friends.....
 

humdaan

Senator (1k+ posts)

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/08/living-in-the-past/

By:Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad


aziz-ud-dinahmad.jpg


A colonial mindset was once again reflected in Altaf Hussains remarks on Wednesday. There was the usual attitude of looking down upon the people of Sindh who welcomed millions of refugees with open arms in 1947 and offered them shelter and opportunities to prosper. That Altaf Hussain continues to insist on calling the newcomers Mohajirs even after sixty four years is indicative of a continuous bias against integration with the local population. The attitude is reminiscent of the British racism of the colonial era when the inferior natives were considered intellectually and culturally backward. The white masters were supposed to bring fruits of civilisation to their uncivilised subjects while maintaining a distance from them.

The condescending attitude of the MQM and its sympathisers has naturally alienated the local Sindhis and raised walls instead of breaking them down. The attitude is considered an insulting expression of racial superiority. That the remarks by Altaf should have come at this crucial juncture when Karachi is passing through a bloodbath is highly disturbing.

Calling the pre-partition Sindhis the slaves of Hindu Banias Altaf ranted, We have given you independence and a free country. He then put the rhetorical question, Which country have you liberated with your own struggle? Now this is falsifying history. At a time when Jinnah was badly in need of help, the Sindh assembly was the first provincial legislature to pass a resolution in support of Pakistan. The resolution provided much needed backing for All India Muslim Leagues demand for a separate homeland.

To say that Sindhis did nothing for their province is yet another falsification of history. Sindhis fought bravely against the advancing British troops. Hoshu Shidis war cry of Sar daysun, Sindh na daysun (Ill give away my head but not surrender Sindh) in the battle of Dabba fought in 1843 is duly recorded in history. Pir Sibghatullah Rashidi, the father of the present Pir Pagara, led the Hur insurgency against the Raj and was hanged for the act in 1943 by the British government. It was on account of the efforts of the Sindhi Muslim politicians that Sindh, which had been amalgamated into Bombay soon after the British takeover, achieved the status of a separate province and joined the struggle for Pakistan.

Altaf Hussain has also rebuked what he calls the conscienceless writers and analysts teaching false history. This indicates that Altaf has a tendency for amnesia. When he said on Wednesday that 20 lakh Mohajirs offered their lives for the creation of the country and left their hearths and homes, he conveniently forgot that the worst sufferers from communal riots in 1947 were the Muslims in East Punjab. Those who migrated from East Punjab as a result of the riots became integrated in the local population across the border in no time. They subsequently neither called themselves Mohajirs, nor did they make tall claims about the sacrifices they had rendered. Let alone fighting the local population, they became an indivisible part of it.

The MQM has confined the term Mohajirs to include only those coming from provinces not contiguous with the borders of Pakistan. Thus people migrating from UP, Bihar and CP mainly are included in the term. Despite their dominant position in the civil service and a share in the armed forces jobs much above their population ratio, a narrative of their deprivation has been constructed.

Altaf has also raised the issue of quotas, accusing the Sindhis of depriving the Mohajirs of educational facilities and jobs. The qouta system is by no means confined to Sindh. Even in Punjab, quotas have existed on the basis of the rural/urban divide. Separate quotas for Muslims, he needs to be reminded, was a major demand of the Muslim community in India. This is by no mean an unusual thing in the contemporary world where proactive policies are often devised for the uplift of the neglected communities.

Two forthcoming challenges will test if the party is willing to change its narrow outlook which has led to confrontation and blood shed. The first is the Population and Housing Census scheduled for 12th-27th September this year. Unlike what the party did during the House Listing operation conducted earlier this year, it has to avoid trying to engineer results in accordance with its wishes. While there may be a need to regulate the unhindered inflow of population in Karachi from outside Sindh, all genuine residents have to be counted correctly. Any attempt to doctor the census results would further lead to the deterioration of the law and order situation.

The next test would come when the Election Commission starts delimiting the constituencies. At this stage too, no attempts have to be made to interfere in the process. The MQM needs to come out of its cocoon, shed ethnic prejudices and become a part of the Sindhi community. What is more, it needs to reconcile with the changing ethnic realities of the province.
mohajir brought education,money,skill,dignity, self respect, honour.so sind should thank full to mohajir not otherway round.we are sindhi bcz we live in sind but it does not mean we have to live the way illeterate sindhi live meaning .hath jod ker ser juhka ker calling some cruel wadera a sahin.as prophet says bow down to no one but allah.go to interior sind you will get the shock of ur life for example look at there tradition call wata sata.karo kari.they respect there waderas like a god they cant even show there back to them if they do they will get punished so thats how you want us to live its not possible. being a muslim its our duty to show them a right path and try to educate them and give them facility to be educated its all well and good to were ajrak and sindhi topi but that does not change anything whole pakistan should be thankful to muhajir whether they are from sindh or punjab because they are the creator of pakistan by the grace of ALLAH so stop playing this game son of sindh we are only sons of pakistan. we are muslim first then pakistani thats it, stop keep on saying sindhi gave us a favour to stay in sindh we have given them freedom and pakistan so stop writting this baseless and full of crap column everybody have right to live the way they want to live and we have to make sure only one thing that the way of living should be according to islam. MQM zindabad pakistan zindabad.
 

saint

Politcal Worker (100+ posts)
mohajir brought education,money,skill,dignity, self respect, honour.so sind should thank full to mohajir not otherway round.we are sindhi bcz we live in sind but it does not mean we have to live the way illeterate sindhi live meaning .hath jod ker ser juhka ker calling some cruel wadera a sahin.as prophet says bow down to no one but allah.go to interior sind you will get the shock of ur life for example look at there tradition call wata sata.karo kari.they respect there waderas like a god they cant even show there back to them if they do they will get punished so thats how you want us to live its not possible. being a muslim its our duty to show them a right path and try to educate them and give them facility to be educated its all well and good to were ajrak and sindhi topi but that does not change anything whole pakistan should be thankful to muhajir whether they are from sindh or punjab because they are the creator of pakistan by the grace of ALLAH so stop playing this game son of sindh we are only sons of pakistan. we are muslim first then pakistani thats it, stop keep on saying sindhi gave us a favour to stay in sindh we have given them freedom and pakistan so stop writting this baseless and full of crap column everybody have right to live the way they want to live and we have to make sure only one thing that the way of living should be according to islam. MQM zindabad pakistan zindabad.

what a huge contrast ... you are still not able to comprehend a simple fact and keeps calling yourself "mohajir" and claiming you showed them right path and educated them ? it's high time to integrate and say good bye to dirty ethnic politics for the betterment of all
 

Scorpion

Banned
mohajir brought education,money,skill,dignity, self respect, honour.so sind should thank full to mohajir not otherway round.we are sindhi bcz we live in sind but it does not mean we have to live the way illeterate sindhi live meaning .hath jod ker ser juhka ker calling some cruel wadera a sahin.as prophet says bow down to no one but allah.go to interior sind you will get the shock of ur life for example look at there tradition call wata sata.karo kari.they respect there waderas like a god they cant even show there back to them if they do they will get punished so thats how you want us to live its not possible. being a muslim its our duty to show them a right path and try to educate them and give them facility to be educated its all well and good to were ajrak and sindhi topi but that does not change anything whole pakistan should be thankful to muhajir whether they are from sindh or punjab because they are the creator of pakistan by the grace of ALLAH so stop playing this game son of sindh we are only sons of pakistan. we are muslim first then pakistani thats it, stop keep on saying sindhi gave us a favour to stay in sindh we have given them freedom and pakistan so stop writting this baseless and full of crap column everybody have right to live the way they want to live and we have to make sure only one thing that the way of living should be according to islam. MQM zindabad pakistan zindabad.

Brother,

What are Mohajirs today . . . . Inspite of bringing every thing why they have become the suppoters of thugs and Ghundas . . . .

Why the Education standard of Karachi board is the poorest after the sindh board . . . . And by the way you ll get more shock after visiting the Kachi Abadis of Orangi and Korangi . . . . A few decade back . . . . education was the only strength of the Karachi . . . . But now, as the average education has declined to matriculation, inter or maximum B Coms with standards more poorer due to cheating and Pharra Mafia but still you are not willing to open your eyes . . . . It is this same MQM which is responsible for this detoriation and has made whole communities into ghundas and Badmash . . . .

Before showing the others a right path dear . . . . First get on this part your self . . . . Than you ask the sindhis to stop from saying this thing that they gave us a favour where as you still is willing to call your self a Mohajir after 63 years . . . . And a supporter of MQM like you than talk of Islam where as your leader is a humble servant of the British Queen and call Qadiyanis as Muslim . . . .


And between Pakistan and MQM you can choose only one . . . . Its up to you to decide . . . .

And by the way the supporters of Altaf the Pig, worship him like a Prophet Nauzu billah than you blame the others for worshipping the waderas . . . .
 
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Night-Hawk

Senator (1k+ posts)
Such racist, hate filled crap. Trying to twist the truth into what suits the writer. Prime example of yellow journalism.

I have no love for Altaf but at least he apologised for his words, will the writer do the same?

Would you please elaborate which facts were twisted in this article?????????? Apologized --- bah!!!! Zulfiqar Mirza had also apologized but media went all out against him and they were right in doing so. Such racial and vitriolic rants in given scenario of Karachi and Sindh are condemn-able beyond apology. ---- Do you think Altaf's apology should be an exception?
 

elipst

Minister (2k+ posts)
Would you please elaborate which facts were twisted in this article?????????? Apologized --- bah!!!! Zulfiqar Mirza had also apologized but media went all out against him and they were right in doing so. Such racial and vitriolic rants in given scenario of Karachi and Sindh are condemn-able beyond apology. ---- Do you think Altaf's apology should be an exception?


I dont listen to any of Altaf's speeches but since his words are dissected in this forum, I listened to this one. If you listen to speech he was talking about the people who insulted Urdu speaking and the so-called ruler jageerdars of Sindh and then he called them the slaves of 'Hindu baniye' or money lenders, this phrase caused so much consternation in the writer. But if put in the proper context it makes perfect sense.

Altaf Hussain did use the word "muhajir" but he used them for all people migrating to Pakistan, he made special mention of people from East Punjab who suffered so heavily which again the writer missed probably intentionally. Then what I really liked about his speech and what i have been saying all my life Altaf Hussain said 'There is no Muhajir now, only Pakistani'. He is right, I am Sindhi, I didnt migrate from any place and neither did he.
Then he speaks in Sindhi and goes on to say he is a son of Sindhs soil and he will not let any conspiracy succeed against it, which again the writer didnt say anything about.

Before saying all this he had said he was tired of being told he wasnt Pakistani along with other Urdu speaking and asked India if they would give them asylum if there was another operation on MQM. I thought that was retarded and another example of him getting carried away by his emotions. if he wants asylum in India, go ahead, no one would follow him there.

Lastly the quota system. It has been the main wedge among the different ethnicities of Sindhi, even now. No other province of the country has an Urban-rural divide. If you refuse merit and deny people their rights, you can only get anger in return. Maybe the writer agrees with it, its his wish.


People in all articles say how the constituencies have been delimited and if there is new delimitation how it would effect MQMs chances. I think its all wrong, if delimitation is done even remotely fairly i.e. at least same number of voters in every constituency if nothing else, MQM will get 75 to 80% of the seats.
 

littlemaster

Minister (2k+ posts)
such racist, hate filled crap. Trying to twist the truth into what suits the writer. Prime example of yellow journalism.

I have no love for altaf but at least he apologised for his words, will the writer do the same?

you dont have love for iltaf..........please friends read his previous post ...munafiq kitna ghoot bolta ha.
 

elipst

Minister (2k+ posts)
you dont have love for iltaf..........please friends read his previous post ...munafiq kitna ghoot bolta ha.

Perhaps you should read it too.... Agreeing with someone does not mean you give your undying love to someone Read it all. Then try taking your racism somewhere else, preferably outside Pakistan.
 

shaheedchoudry

Minister (2k+ posts)
Well, I thought we make "durgat" of MQM here on this forum. But this Aziz ud Din Ahmad has slaughtered MQM. However I could not understand first sentence of second paragraph. Condescending attitude of MQM should have helped bringing walls of hatred down.............Can anyone help????????????