The idea of the 80s having an aura of ‘simpler times when kids used to ride bicycles without a care in the world’ is an attractive proposition. It is modern enough to relate to and old enough to feel a certain degree of nostalgia towards it. Popular culture embracing the 80s by rehashing old movies as well as making new ones with similar themes is a defining feature today. But it doesn’t come without its predicaments.
Now I love the 80s, I really do. San Junipero is Black Mirror’s best episode by a mile, and part of it is because of the entire 80s music and setting. Similarly, Stranger Things, IT and various other works of television really do shine when highlighting a simple yet effective idea; a fictionalized version of a childhood we all seem to have lived. And of course by referring to 80s classics like ET and Back to the Future, they are popular with the actual 80s kids as well.
The problem arises when these remakes try to fit in a narrative that is a product of the 21st century. When these remakes bring in African American characters in titular roles, LGBT characters and strong female characters, they ignore the reality of the 80s itself. They ignore that the 80s were deeply misogynist, homophobic and racist times. They ignore the police brutality of African Americans. They ignore the divisive policies of Reagan that systematically ghettoized blacks, Latinos and marginalized poor women. When television creates a highly romanticized version of the 80s and we accept it at face value, we must consider that these were not ‘Glory Days’ for a large number of individuals.
Furthermore, this nostalgic wave makes it impossible to create original works of fiction. Sure, there are great new movies coming out every year. But the vast majority of them either borrow heavily from times gone by, or explicitly remake them under the same name. Even the notoriously popular Joker is clearly an ode to Scorsese’s Taxi Driver. Now there is nothing wrong with being inspired by works of art. But when it comes at the cost of any contribution from modern day directors, Hollywood becomes more of a cash grabbing entity than ever before. There are exceptions of course, but as long as film executives know that they’ll garner ample audiences of teenagers seeking ‘vintage aesthetic’ and older parents craving nostalgia, they know that by churning out these movies, they’ll make more profit than by actually thinking of a plot and then executing it.
A similar obstacle exists in the music industry. Although not as apparent as Hollywood, the consistent rehashing of 80s tunes, rhythms and even the beats takes its toll. Artists ranging from the Jonas Brothers to mega pop star Taylor Swift’s entire album ‘1989’ incorporate a similar tangent; funky pop songs that are pure escapes from this dark depressing world. There is however, one prominent exception. Spanish Pop whatever your take on it, is firmly established as a reliable way for artists to make bucks. The fact that they can get artists like Justin Bieber or Demi Lovato to sing a few words in Spanish and the crowd goes wild, is testimony to the fact that foreign music is gaining enough traction.
Should Hollywood stop with this 80s love affair and make unique revolutionary movies? Or should it stick to a tried and tested method, and hope for audiences to keep showing up? Either way the 80s are bustling and alive and there’s no stopping it!
This article contains spoilers about the movie. You have been warned.
By Syeda Sara Imran
Less than two weeks after its release, Todd Phillip’s fresh take on the notorious DC villain is already making big waves. Winning the Golden Lion and getting an eight-minute standing ovation at the 76th Venice International Film Festival, and rated a whopping 9.0 on IMDb, it’s clear that Joker is no joke when it comes to reception. However, with mental health discourse fast gaining traction, and especially with World Mental Health Day having just recently passed, it is an important question to ask: was Joker’s portrayal of mental illness accurate or not?
The film follows Arthur Fleck’s slow descent from a mentally ill social recluse, a self-proclaimed “mentally ill loner”, to a ruthless murderer on a rampage – the poster boy of anarchy.
Admittedly, Joker does an adept job at depicting just how hard it is for people with a mental illness to get help. Arthur is someone who shows up regularly for his appointments. Though he is not very interested in the therapy part of his treatment, he does repeatedly ask his psychiatrist to increase his dosage; he wants to get better. Yet, life still deals him a bad hand, and Gotham’s healthcare funding gets cut anyway – a nod to the fate of healthcare for mental illnesses in our modern world. One of the most poignant scenes in the movie is not in the form of a dialogue, but rather when an introspective Arthur scribbles in his journal: “The worst part about having a mental illness is people expect you to behave as if you don’t.” My own heart went out to the protagonist in this scene.
And yet, Phillips failed to carry on this level of understanding about mental illness in what was to follow. What Joker does in its depiction of its protagonist spiralling into a well of insanity and escapism, is administer a death blow to a positive public perception of mental illness. This type of error is not without consequences; what is at stake is the stigmatisation of people who have to live and suffer with mental illness. Narratives like Joker lead audiences to think of persons who are mentally ill as ticking time-bombs which will blow up if ignored and/or vilified for long enough. This is the trope all Hollywood films looking to exploit mental illness for a quick buck put forward, and this is what Joker makes full use of.
Extensive research shows that there is no evidence people with mental illness are more prone to commit acts of violence than anyone else. Studies demonstrate that “even if the elevated risk of violence in people with mental illness is reduced to the average risk in those without mental illness, an estimated 96% of the violence that currently occurs in the general population would continue to occur.”
In fact, people with mental health disorders are far more likely to be victims of violence (up to 10 times more likely than the general population) than the perpetrators. “Indeed, the vast majority of those with mental disorders are not violent…” states Carla Marie Manly, PhD, a clinical psychologist in California.
Dr Manly points to the reality of the matter, that is, the majority of mental illness revolves around depression: quiet, simmering. But of course Hollywood wouldn’t make millions writing a quietly suffering character who – surprise, surprise – remains quietly suffering till the end of the film. Thus, we fall into this pit of romanticising and fetishizing mental illness and those who suffer from it.
Let us not forget we live in the same world where an assassination attempt was made on a presidential candidate after the accused was inspired by the political assassination in Taxi Driver (a film Joker itself heavily borrows from), which he watched fifteen times, having become obsessed with the protagonist. Let us not forget that “incel” culture is on the rise, and narratives like these only add fuel to the fire.
Let us hope for more responsible filmmaking in the future, with the intent to unify rather than vilify.
Having watched Blue Valentine to the point of being religiously obsessed with the movie: I found the idea grew upon me. For anyone who was able to decipher the embedded meaning accurately, it was reasonable to become highly skeptical with the idea of love. While Blue Valentine is less a warning against love itself, the film perfectly depicts how misguided and unstable (most) relationships are often not meant to last for long. The over-romanticization of relationships devastatingly result in high expectations that at times never seem to be fulfilled consequently making either (or both) of the partner fall out of love (or the “state of infatuation”).
Blue Valentine is like a tear that will hinge inside my heart forever for its raw, emotional and much heartfelt message. That aside, the movie also did substantially well in manifesting my interest in writing about a topic that seems to have never been highlighted before: a critique of most university-relationships.
To remain cynical at the very least and in my own humble observation, university relationships follow a nebulous pattern of toxic emotional dependence blended with other forms of manipulation techniques that yet again challenge the very notion of “real love.” In a more unfortunate scheme of things, while some commitments do end up for the wellbeing of both partners, others continue for their lack of realization.
Before we ponder on the discussion above any further, it becomes necessary to have a brief overview of the types of straight relationships that are prevalent in LUMS (or any institution for that matter). Most usually begin towards the start of the first semester when perhaps the need for emotional validation and attention peaks. While craving psychological comfort under the arms of another person is a natural and a reasonable feeling to have, the question that subsequently arises is whether the relationship is a means to that end?
To put that into perspective, a relationship that is perceived as a long-term commitment, characterized by a reciprocation of emotions demands a lot of paperwork be done. When commitment becomes an impulsive decision, more often than not, that results in guilt piling up for the later part of the relationship. Guilt not just for being with the wrong person (although that is the core reason) but for sacrificing a whole range of things including friendships, academics and above all mental health.
Relationships at LUMS begin with an unhealthy (toxic) dependence on the other partner where usually the female bears the brunt of male emotional manipulation. Whether it is about the guy failing a quiz or his inability to get over his ex, the girl, unfortunately, ends up as the emotional laborer girlfriend. The relationship then progresses to the point where the man feels entitled to his ‘dependence’. And anything falling short of his expectation usually comes at the cost of psychological toll for the girl (in the form of ghosting etc). Any attempt that is thereby made to call-out the prevalent toxicity is sidelined because the girl is manipulated to accept that she does in fact have the “perfect-irreplaceable” guy.
Take a step further from the first type and let us not forget that there are also relationships existing at LUMS based upon “male social excellence.” Yes, my reference is towards the AC and JT group who somehow falsely equate the idea of ownership of a particular female with the trophy for social achievement because doing so earns them the needed validation from their BROS. In case you aren’t already aware, this trend is generally carried forward from high school where the infamous AC-JT rivalry manifests in various other problematic forms. This type usually ascribes the characteristics of its predecessor but will often end after the sheer realization that there are far better goals to be achieved than the continuation of a meaningless enmity.
While I sit to pen down the types of relationships, I have observed over my time at LUMS; I realize I might be missing numerous other mainstream forms. Take the example of having a crush on someone that at times, fortunately, yields a positive outcome for the infatuated person. But that is beside the point because the initial task of writing this piece was to recognize the toxicity ingrained within most commitments.
Having said that, I take no pleasure in stating that in LUMS, chances for a new relationship to start immediately after a breakup remain substantial.
Long story short, jump out of one relationship and step onto another.
Understandably so, for the individual involved, the breakup did cause an unspeakable amount of pain that can now be viably alleviated by finding solace in some other person. This phenomenon remains controversial to say at the very least and has always been the center of conflicting opinions. While the proponents support any immediate measures to heal the wounds of the past relationship, opponents stick with their assertion of giving space to oneself post-breakup.
I tend to associate myself with the latter school of thought solely because it’s highly unfair for the other partner. When I started this article by arguing that a relationship requires emotional reciprocation, it is meant to work to-and-fro. With the trauma and flashbacks of previous relationship appearing (in)frequently during the current commitment, there are likely to be impediments towards a full investment. But unfortunately, this form of relationship has pervasively found itself within the LUMS confinement.
Yet, the issue of obstructed emotional investment isn’t just the full depiction of the broader problem in hand. The “new” relationship often becomes a way of garnering attention and aggravation of the ex-partner as a way of showing how swiftly the said person has moved on with someone “better.” This infuriating behavior then sparks an unnecessary war, where the person irked the most ends up losing the game. All at the expense of the non-realization by the new partners who are unable to comprehend why the “affection” intensifies at times and plummets moments after.
Conclusion?
There is no conclusion. The article might have given a small glimpse of how most relationships at LUMS appear, defined by a “tale of unrecognized toxicity.”
To stay clear upfront, I do not hold anything against relationships as such. With half of my extended family from LUMS marrying within the LUMS community, I perhaps even consider this piece to be very ironic. The main goal of writing this was to highlight how a number of couples at the university are not even considering the basic elements for a healthy commitment. Eliminate all the prevalent problems I mentioned in this article, and what you might have is a perfect relationship exemplified. A piece of advice will always be to account for the mental-wellbeing of your significant other as well as of yourself because that seeks no compromise at all.
A Hindu student should have ideally written this article. No one should have to silence themselves for fear of being attacked by zealots. No one should have to live in an atmosphere where they fear not only the zealots outside this campus but also their peers on it. No one should have to beg people to listen to the plight of their community. The state exists to protect and it has failed the Hindu community of Pakistan as we have failed our Hindu peers on campus.
On September 14, 2019, a first information report was lodged under Article 295(c) against the principal of the Sindh Public School Mr. Nautan Daas on the complaint of Mr. Abdul Aziz Rajput, who happens to be the father of the student who alleged that his principal had committed blasphemy in videos that went viral online before Facebook graciously decided to take them down. The following day, a mob of “true” Muslims took upon themselves the responsibilities of judge, jury and executioner. The protesters took to the streets to demand the arrest of the “blasphemer” and called for a shutter-down strike. That those responsible for defaming Islam were held accountable was absolutely certain of as the protesters proceeded to vandalize a Hindu temple and the school. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) MNA Mr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, also the head of the Pakistan Hindu Council, alleged that the protesters ended up doing much more damage. According to his count, the protesters vandalized three Hindu temples, a private school and houses belonging to members of the Hindu community.
Jahannum ki aag feat. True Muslims at Ghotki
As often happens in these cases, Muslims from neighbouring areas soon found their conscience as well. Surrounding towns like Mirpur Mathelo and Adilpur also saw demonstrations demanding the arrest of Mr. Nautan Daas, who as of this moment is “safe” in police custody. The police have, their credit, attempted to do their job. While they failed to protect citizens of the state from being attacked for no other reason than belonging to a specific creed, they have registered three cases against the rioters. The first FIR was filed under Sections 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class), 147 (punishment for rioting) and 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object). 45 people were nominated in the FIR, out of which 22 people were named while 23 were listed as unidentified.
Another case was lodged against 150 people, 27 named and 123 unidentified, for blocking roads. Lastly, the third FIR pertaining to rioting and theft was filed against 23 people, including 11 unidentified persons, over allegations that protesters had stolen goods from multiple shops in the Shahi Bazar. In the meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan used his investigative expertise to locate the real conspiracy at the heart of this affair: was intentionally done to sabotage his upcoming address to the United Nations General Assembly.
Earlier this month, Ms. Nimirta Amarta Maher Chandani, a final year BDS student at Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University, was found dead in her hostel room. The cause of death was initially presumed to be suicide. The findings of an initial autopsy report were inconclusive and members of Nimrita’s family alleged that something far more sinister was at play. Her brother, Dr. Vishal claimed that there were cable marks on Nimrita’s neck and hands, marks that could not be made by the “dupatta” allegedly used by her to commit suicide. Furthermore, he said that he had talked to her fairly recently and everything was as normal as could be. She did not express any signs of distress according to her brother. Civil society and the Hindu community in particular were quick to take to the streets. Protests were organised at Teen Talwar (Karachi), Chandka Medical College (Larkana) and Tando Jam Agriculture University. Many demands were made of the powers that be, the most important of which was recently accepted: a judicial inquiry into the incident. The provincial government had initially requested the session court for a judicial inquiry. The session judge then went on to ask the Sindh High Court for permission to grant the government’s request, which was granted on Wednesday.
Ms. Nimirta Amarta Maher Chandani
These incidents are not one offs, as not too long ago this year, two minor Hindu girls were forcefully and converted. It would be bizarre to assume that these incidents are rare occurrences. However, one would not be at fault for not knowing the specifics of the oppression that the Hindu community has historically faced and continues to, to this day. According to the US based Sindhi Organisation, 1000 Sindhi Hindu girls between the ages of 12 to 28 are forcefully converted to Islam every year. 40 to 60 Sindhi Hindus undergo forceful conversion every month. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) reported that 7,430 girls were abducted and forcefully converted between January 2004 and May 2018. These figures do not account for all the cases that go unreported because of threats of violence and law enforcement issues.
There is a pattern that keeps repeating itself here. The victims tend to be triply underprivileged in the sense that they are Hindu girls and women who often belong to low income families. In most cases the victim is abducted and is then subjugated to sustained emotional and physical abuse often involving threats of violence towards their loved ones. The issue is symptomatic of multi-layered state failure. The state has in the past failed to socio-economically uplift the Hindu community and has kept them from acquiring power that would enable members to protect themselves. Political parties have voiced support for bills seeking to protect members of minority communities but have not been able to pass any concrete legislation on the matter. MNA Dr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani from the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) submitted the Child Marriage Restraint Act (Amendment) Bill 2019 and the Criminal Law (Protection of Minorities) Act 2019 in the National Assembly in the wake of an alleged kidnapping of two Hindu girls and their forced conversion to Islam, earlier this year. Both the bills were accompanied by a 5 point resolution which specifically called for the immediate passage of the bill against forced conversions, which had been unanimously passed by the Sindh Assembly in 2016 and then reverted due to pressure of extremist elements, from all the legislatures. Political parties must prioritise the safety of vulnerable communities over the loss of potential voters and fears of backlash from the religious right. Furthermore, law enforcement has failed to protect minority communities and courts have failed to dispense justice for victims. Religious institutions have also allowed girls and women to be converted with relative ease. Lastly, media organisations have failed to hold law-making, law-enforcing, judicial and religious institutions to account for their respective failures.
HRCP reports that the police often turn a blind eye to reports of abduction and forced conversions and thereby create an atmosphere of impunity for perpetrators. The police often either refuse to record a First Information Report or falsify information. FIRs are necessary for taking cases forward and in the absence of those, most cases don’t even get registered. False information makes cases weak and allows perpetrators to win cases even when they get registered. The police forces, which are overwhelming Muslim, generally sympathise with the goal of converting religious minorities and therefore actively assist perpetrators. On the rare occasions when police do want to investigate and perform their duties, powerful local leaders exert considerable pressure to prevent any action.
The courts have failed to follow proper procedure as well. As often happens in cases involving religious elements, the judiciary are often subject to fear of violence from extremist elements. Even when this pressure from extremists does not exist, the judges’ personal religious beliefs, ties to the local community and deeply entrenched patriarchal socio-cultural norms influence them into easily accepting claims made by the man that the victim involved converted and married of her own free will. Often there is no investigation and a conversion certificate is accepted as being sufficient evidence of consensual conversion. This obviously ignores the fact that most of the girls involved are under the age of consent and even when they aren’t, are subject to threats that render their consent inapplicable. Worse still, the victim is largely left in the custody of her kidnapper throughout the trial process (as happened in a case involving Mian Mithoo) where she is subject to further threats to force her into denying her abduction and rape and claiming that the conversion was .
One must understand more processes of the legitimation of this barbarity that are at play. For one, none of this can happen, without the existence of a culture that legitimises and celebrates forced conversions. Religious organisations happen to be responsible for that. Religious institutions like local mosques and seminaries, routinely fail to investigate the nature of the conversion or question the age of the bride. Even when they demand proof of age, they are satisfied by a simple affidavit from any member of the locality. These institutions mostly accept the word of the kidnapper and produce a conversion certificate. This is subsequently used by police and the courts to excuse violations or to grant bail. The documentary “Thrust into Heaven” names Sharif Abdul Haq (Mian Mithoo) of Ghotki and Pir Sarhandi of Umerkot as two of the most powerful clerics who facilitate these conversions.
Mian Mithoo was involved in the high-profile Rinkle Kumari conversion case in 2012. His “wife” and her family alleged forceful conversion and marriage, especially given the fact that her birth certificate showed she was 16 at the time of marriage. Even after Rinkle begged the Ghotki court to let her go back to her parents, her “husband” was allowed to take her home. Rinkle then went on to repeat her request in the Sindh High Court and the court graciously allowed her to live in a shelter home. After threatening staff at the shelter home, Mithoo’s son who I’ll call Mithoo Jr. (Mini Mithoo was almost used here), met Rinkle. What happened in that conversation doesn’t require Picasso-esque imagination. After this, the Pakistan People’s Party decided it was finally time to let Mithoo go and he was expelled from the party. He had won the previous election in 2008 with 59,000 votes. He lost the 2013 edition by gaining a grand total of 69.
Apt innuendo there if you ask me. If only he had spent time campaigning as opposed to converting young children. But, Pakistan is the land of the pure as we all know. So, in 2015, the purest of them all asked Mithoo to join the project of Naya Pakistan. Fortunately, even the PTI has standards and the public outcry at his possible inclusion into the party forced the leadership to drop him. Don’t be happy yet though – he is still an influential religious figure and has immense political power. Unsurprisingly, he was involved in the Ghotki riots mentioned at the start of this article.
Prime Minister Imran Khan thinking about Riyasat-e-Madinah with Mian Mithoo in 2015
The buck doesn’t stop with Mithoo though. The Bharchundi Sharif Shrine is renowned for converting Hindu girls. The Muslim cleric who leads it, Mian Abdul Malik, stated, “there’s no such thing as forced conversions in Islam and in Pakistan.” Similary, Pir Waliullah Sarhandi, leader of the Sarhandi shrine in the Umerkot district claimed to have converted thousands of Hindu girls and has claimed that, “When a girl is brought before a qazi for conversion to Islam, the qazi must comply immediately. If he delays the conversion even to say his prayers, he himself becomes kafir.” Some organisations, like the Minhaj-ul-Quran, actively encourage the practice of converting members of minority communities by offering rewards for successful conversions. They say that it is the equivalent of Haj-e-Akbari, or the greatest religious duty to Muslims.
The Pakistani media contributes to discourse that encourages the conversion of religious minorities by celebrating conversions without investigating the circumstances. Television programmes, especially Ramadan shows hail converts to Islam by interviewing them and inviting them. Sometimes conversions are televised in religious programmes. While I sympathise with the media industry given the vast amounts of freedom it has historically enjoyed in Pakistan, it has been criminally silent on the issue of forced conversions. English-language newspapers reported only 286 cases of forced conversions between January 2012 and June 2017. Bear in mind the fact that approximately a thousand such cases happen every year. Cases often involve influential religious and local leaders who pressure media organisations to not report cases. Reporters do not investigate forced conversions due to fears of violence being committed against them and their families. A little birdy once told me however, that one of the most important jobs of the media was to hold powerful people to account and inform voters about social and political issues.
It is unfair however to only focus on external media when we have media societies that operate within LUMS itself, especially because the societies and individuals are not as vulnerable to threats of violence as other media organisations and reporters. Search the word “Hindu” on the PLUMS website and you will find six articles. The articles are about the similarities between Pakistan and India, the importance of Jibran Nasir’s electoral campaign, Shia persecution in Pakistan, Basant, Diwali and the Kashmir issue. None of these articles were written by a Hindu student and only one of them (Diwali) puts Hindus at the centre of the conversation. An article not included in this list mentions a request by a Hindu student for a religious room to show why the administration is wrong for removing prayer mats from the Academic Block. This is not to say that PLUMS is an evil organisation, but to point out that our privilege blinds us to the problems of those around us, to the point that sometimes we use their problems to highlight our own or even dare I say, feel good about ourselves. The first step in solving a problem, is recognising there is one and the fact that this can accept and publish criticisms of itself will hopefully help us take that first step. LUMS is a supposedly safe, liberal and diverse space. If we won’t raise these issues here, how can we expect people on the outside to? No Hindu peer has come up to me to request my aid in their attempt at revolution, all they have asked for is for us to inform our families and friends about an issue that nobody wants to report on. There is another print news society in LUMS that I will not mention because I have submitted my article to this paper, but if you’re really interested you can try finding something about this issue on their website as well.
We must do more than going to vigils for minority communities in small numbers. We must hold our political representatives to account for their negligence at best and active involvement at worst. We must push for legislative change and we must push for stringent law enforcement. But above all, we must hear members from minority communities. We must listen to them. And when there are no voices to be heard, we must ask ourselves why? We must seek out those voices instead of expecting those voices to come to us. And when we find these voices, we must give them platforms such that their voices are amplified. There are two demands by members of the Hindu community that I am aware of at the moment: inform yourselves and those around you about this issue and help us get our religious space. Let us fight for these. And to the student who helped me write this: God bless you brother, it takes immense courage and bravery to do what you have done and what you continue to do. Mr. Jibran Nasir spoke powerfully at the vigil, but I find fault in his claim that, “hamara rishta Pakistaniyat ka hai”. This gives too much power to those that get to define who is and is not Pakistani.
Hamara rishta Pakistaniyat ka nahin, insaniyat ka hai.
This semester started off with a lot of changes in the LUMS ecosystem. From a playgroup-esque makeover of SDSB costing an embarrassingly exorbitant amount to the controversial fountain in the Central Courtyard, the students were met with a lot of change. One thing that hit some students very hard was the absence of the prayer “chataai” in the Academic block towards the Library side. Students who had most of their classes in the Academic Block and were used to praying in the breaks between these classes were shocked at this removal.
In typical LUMS fashion, the students mobilized on LDF and relayed their concerns to the Student Council which led to a back and forth with Adnan Khan. Adnan Khan advised students to utilize the Masjid near SDSB but students rightfully so argued that every other academic building including the Law School and SDSB have Chataais in them. Therefore, the students of Humanities subjects should be awarded the same comforts of not having to brave the blistering sun during their already too short breaks to go to the Masjid.
“I have always tried to keep up with my prayers but this is becoming increasingly difficult with the administration’s policies.”
-Mustafa Asad
The second line of defense that the administration took was that prayer mats are exclusionary of the religious minorities in LUMS. Since occupying space dictates power in society, the presence of prayer mats in the Academic block privileges Muslims unfairly over other denominations. However, the students are not asking for prayer mats at the expense of religious minorities. There was recently a call for the establishment of a religious room by Amar Ramnani, where other groups could pray freely. However, the administration argued that there were not enough minority students on campus to devote this space to.
Therefore, this argument of power equals space equals minority discrimination ironically turns out to be a double edged sword.
Muslim students on campus are not against minorities having religious rights, they simply want to be able to pray in the Academic block as other students are in their respective schools.
As far as finding a space for religious minorities goes, the masjid sits empty most of the day. The e-lab has been converted into additional offices for “further studies?” Whatever that means.
However, hope springs eternal and some students have placed their own prayer mats on the Library side entrance which people can use and fold back.
One has to ask themselves, what is the administration trying to achieve with this policy? When will the administration actually be ready for a compromise? The Student Council takes our concerns forward only to be met with disappointment. Does the administration truly believe in religious freedom or is this a power play with the student body or an aesthetic project that LUMS currently is obsessed with. A religiously tolerant campus does not mean the elimination of majority spaces simply because it caters to the majority. Instead, LUMS should facilitate the students who want to be able to pray, be it prostrating on a prayer mat or otherwise.
The smoldering day heat could not in any way change what these revolutionaries had in mind. What mattered at that point in time was the song of revolution, the song that every single farmer in Thatta hummed: “Utho Sindhu ja warison Sindhu khe bachayo” (Wake up, O’ heirs of Sindh Help us cross on this broken boat to the other side).
Kharo Chan, located at the tip of the Indus Delta, once a prosperous town with its lush green rice fields was now reduced to a barren island with not a glimpse of Indus River water in sight. The same mighty river, once known to have attracted conquerors from around the globe for its fertile mineral soil, failed to even supplement for the thirst of its indigenous community.
Kharo Chan did well to mobilize thousands of farmers across Sindh who were ready to march in protest against the worsening water shortage that had resulted in massive land losses. Blame the large capitalist corporations for being an (in)direct signatory to the ecological disaster, blame the bureaucratic officials for turning the pleas into deaf ears or blame the system for perpetually breeding a culture of exploitation. The fact that remained was that Kharo Chan was on the brink of a catastrophe.
The abysmal crisis currently impacting Thatta and its surrounding region is just a small glimpse of how the government has actively failed in solving its domestic environmental concerns. Like every year for the last three years, Lahore is expected to choke itself in the poisonous smog yet again putting the health of millions of its inhabitants at risk. The three years of condemnation have so far not manifested a meaningful solution, and the smog is hence likely to continue with its annual ritual. On the other hand, the country’s largest city, Karachi laments a similar unfortunate picture with queues of rubbish dumps and high levels of sea pollution making it one of the least livable cities on earth.
But amidst these times of despair and hopelessness, the rise of 16-year-old Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, perhaps sowed the much-needed seed of awareness about the ramifications of climate change. Her speech, while primarily considered to be a slap on the face of global warming apologists, successfully rendered a global response in the form of the Climate Strike Week.
Starting on 20th September, the world prepared itself to witness the largest climate mobilization ever known to human history. Millions of young students, activists, and individuals from all walks of life were ready to have their voices heard. With bolstering confidence, utmost dedication, and commitment towards the cause, the young generation was ready to step in and demand a radical solution to the ecological disaster. If no timely solution had been sought earlier, now was the time to turn the tables once and for all.
Keeping up with the spirits of Greta and her inspirations for mobilizing the largest ever Climate Strike, a similar demonstration was organized across thirty different cities of Pakistan. Climate March, as it is known, operated on the same footwork as that of the March for Water led by the farmers of Thatta, but possibly with the added enthusiasm of the youth population. The interest of the participants was clear: the young generation seemed to be at the most considerable risk of the catastrophic consequences that lay ahead of their future.
It was thereby a march to draw the attention of the government, big corporations (and the general public) towards the looming environmental disaster, while concurrently embedding the notion that the climate crisis is a much deeper and complicated problem than most perceive. This should also be evident from recent changes Pakistan had to experience. Take the example of the extreme summer-weather conditions affecting nearly all parts of the country where the heatwave, particularly in interior Punjab, came at the cost of hundreds of lives. Other cohesive examples include infrequent rainfall, perennial flooding, melting glaciers and extensive period of drought, all reiterating the need for a climate emergency.
I joined a group of protestors outside the Lahore Press Club under the blazing Lahori afternoon sun. We traveled there in buses organized by LEAF, a new society in LUMS built to encourage a green campus. The numbers gradually swelled with other demonstrators, all tied up to complete the kilometer walk to Alhamra Hall. While the participants of the Climate March rounded themselves in a circle with banners and placards, on my other side stood another group of individuals in support of the Kashmir Banega Pakistan movement. Peculiar, to describe the timing of the movement, one could arguably see the purpose of the Climate March being actively jeopardized. Yet, the latter proceeded with hundreds adorning to the climate cause, and soon the procession filled up the entire Davis Road.
For an outsider, not well-rehearsed with the intricacies of the consequences of global warming, the Climate March appeared nothing less than a privileged gathering of the youth. When most held placards with an inscription of text in English, it seemed as if the protest would fall short of its initial purpose of general public awareness. And to this very day, opponents of demonstrations unwillingly criticize such initiatives for failing to mind the gap between the social classes. However, it might be a lazy criticism to make with regards to the Climate March. While conceding to the assertion of the domination of the privileged, the protest on its groundings opened its ways for all, irrespective of any class differences. This can viably be validated when hundreds of farmers, workers, laborers joined the procession in cities like Ghotki, Muzaffargarh, Kasur. But it was the support for the release of Climate Activist Baba Jan, that multiplied the strength of the March even further.
As our state has regimented control over the masses through strict surveillance and censorship, not many are aware of the wrongful life imprisonment of Baba Jan, a political-climate activist from Gilgit Baltistan. When in 2011, Baba Jan organized a demonstration in the aftermath of a deadly landslide in Hunza that had left thousands displaced from their original homes, Baba Jan was arrested by the state officials under the infamous banner of “national security.” For the past 8 years, he remains in prison for lawfully demanding the rights of his fellow community members, but the government and media remain oblivious to any of his justified concerns.
The Climate March was hence pertinent for the cause of Baba Jan, not just for releasing the country’s only climate prisoner but for the sheer reminder that it undeniably remains the responsibility of the state to provide relief to all those facing the brunt of environmental damages.
Pakistan currently ranks as the eighth country most affected by global warming experiencing the impact of climate change in manifold ways. The task before us is enormous and too momentous in its undertaking. Millions have suffered in the aftermath of the past ecological catastrophes and millions will suffer in the future if no critical structural measures are sought. While climate change is still in its nascent stages, capitalism will in no time force the planet to the brink of destruction. Therefore, it is about time that the innate logic of the issue is holistically understood, so the system perpetuating the problem is challenged.
The Climate March evokes hope in these despicable times and the efforts of all those who stood up for the mother earth should not go unnoticed.
The hostel situation had been escalating to new heights every day. With reports of robberies, inadequate space and inefficient cooling systems rampant, it was hard to imagine that it could get much worse. However, LUMS has a way of breaking expectations when you least expect it. The situation reached its crescendo at around midnight on September 14, when a hostel room caught fire.
The fire started in a room on the 4th floor of F3. The fire was first seen by students walking towards the Dorm from the library lawn. According to eye witness reports, an excessive amount of smoke was coming from the building but they were unable to determine where it was coming from. Eventually they saw a window with fire inside and immediately sprang to action. They messaged the F3 Whatsapp group chat ad ran to the security office. The girls were prompt to respond and immediately started evacuation themselves because the warden was not present at the time. Interestingly, no fire detector or smoke alarm went off during this time. Had it not been for two girls walking towards the dorm from the right angle the fire may gone undetected till it was much later and could’ve caused much more damage.
The girls started waking up people asleep in the common room and their rooms as there was no alarm to warn the sleeping students. By this time the smoke had reached the 3rd floor as well and it was hard to see in hallways. The residents of the 4th floor tried to use the emergency exit as there was too much smoke in the hallway but they were locked. A student broke the glass that encased the emergency exit key but the doors remained jammed. Eventually all the girls stumbled blinding down the stairs and made it outside. In the mean time, another fire extinguisher was brought in by the security office as the one F3 was nonfunctional. Eventually, the fire was controlled and the girls were allowed back into the hostel.
The purpose of this dramatic retelling is not to recycle this tragedy for reads but to depict how truly absurd and hysterical the situation really was. Had it not been for the girls’ own quick thinking, LUMS was utterly unprepared to deal with such an emergency. Despite the fact that the girls action were heroic, the question still remains, why were they necessary?
This brings us to the question of what caused the fire. According to the esteemed Colonel, the fire was caused by one of the girls smoking in her room and not putting out her cigarette properly. He reached this conclusion by going into the room and employing his expertise at jumping to conclusions. According to the resident of the room, neither she nor her roommate was on campus for at least 11 hours. Regardless of their protests, their room was locked. They were only allowed to retrieve some of their belongings under supervision of senior student council members. For now, they have been relocated. Investigation has been going on about the actual cause of the fire but whatever the verdict, it is clear that LUMS needs to updates its fire safety system urgently.
The Student council was quick to respond and sent out a list of demands to the administration post the event. On Monday a protest was organized by the student body that demanded better living conditions for all the dorms. They raised the issue of air conditioning, space and primarily fire safety to the OSA. Following the outrage, the Dean of the OSA responded with an email of his own. He claimed that each dorm is getting renovated and evaluated one by one. He also promised for fire safety systems in the hostels and academic block.
It is important to note however, that this is not the first instance of fire in the hostels. Last year in September, a fire broke out in the Male hostels as well. Their concerns were dismissed at the time. So it is not that the administration is not aware of the hazardous condition of the hostels, it seems they are simply unwilling to do something until they are forced into it. It reflects on a general trend of the administration, especially the residence department to overlook genuine complains from students. It takes near tragedies for them to come to action and even then, their first instinct is to blame the students and pile fines on them. At this point, the incompetency of the administration seems full-blown and it is clear that further student action is needed to get actual change on the campus. In the meantime I think we can expect some more atrocities from LUMS. So I guess the real question is: what’s next?
When you belong to an affluent Punjabi family that tends to invest everything for the wellbeing of their male child, your privilege reflects itself in nearly all aspects of your life. My parents’ decision to enroll me in arguably one the best schools in Lahore was a culmination of tireless effort and financial investment equivalent to a lifetime’s fortune. If one school did not fulfill their set academic benchmark, I was then made to transfer to some better institution.
But then came O-Level, when perhaps the uncertainty finally came to a halt!
I was finally admitted to Lahore Grammar School Johar Town (LGS JT or just JT for short) with the thought incorporated into my mind that this will be my abode for the next 5 years.
As a 13-year old pampered kid, I was unable to decipher the problematic and the toxic environment surrounding (almost every) all-boys school. For me (and my parents), these aspects perhaps had only a little impact on the decision. The academic excellence, prestige, and a purpose-built campus overweighed any other factor crucial for my mental wellbeing as a teenage student.
So, where did the problem lie?
Just about a few months back, an article in DAWN raised the issue of exploitation under the hands of private institutions mainly LGS, Beaconhouse and Aitchison. To study in either of the three places (or any other private school for that matter) can cost almost as much as a kidney for the monthly fee. Include other miscellaneous expenses such as learning materials, mandatory school trips, and evening tuition services, and the cost begins to rise even further.
While the issue of financial exploitation may have gotten the necessary attention, not many people are aware of the othe problems prevalent in institutions like LGS JT that create a plethora of challenges for a student studying there.
When I now look back at my 5-year time spent at that school, probably at no point can I reminisce any fond memory I have of that place. What I will illustrate next can be relatable to a number of my fellow alumni, who will nod in agreement with me for their unpleasant times at JT.
Let me start with the deeply entrenched toxic masculine culture purposely ingrained within each JTite.
We were supposed to act in accordance with these values that were literally based upon dehumanizing women, trivializing the experiences of victims and breeding the toxic culture further within the student body.
The teacher-evaluation process provides a cohesive example in that regard. One of the students back in my O-Level years, dared to make derogatory remarks about the body of a female instructor only out of personal grudge and dislike. In another similar unfortunate situation, a guy was reported to the administration for vandalizing the walls of the school with unspeakable words about the faculty members.
Step further ahead out of the vicinity of the school, and you will find these toxic traits exhibiting in other manifold ways. While the AC-JT rivalry is not news to most Lahoris, the enmity usually turned into a matter of “ego and pride” (long story short, let’s see who has a fragile male ego). The unnecessary rivalry came at the cost of expulsions/suspensions on both ends as well as physical injuries sustained during several out-of-school fights.
In case you haven’t guessed yet, these fights were most of the times over girls who were somehow a matter of ego between the boys. These ideas of ownership of the other gender carries forward as soon as these boys reach LUMS and equate getting a girlfriend with a trophy for social excellence.
If you were someone who even remotely doubted your sexuality, then LGS JT was never your safe space to be in. Exploration was out of the realm of possibilities because you were socially conditioned to abide by the cis-heteronormative values (boys will be boys). Your eagerness to dress nicely or even listen to Lana Del Rey was frowned upon and sought the disapproval of the JT community at large for being too “feminine.” When one student came out as a non-binary individual, they were ridiculed and otherized, forcing them to drop out of the A level program just one year prior to completion. The strong inculcation of homo/transphobic values only proved to legitimize bullying against anyone who stood in defiance against these principles. And when any relevant concern was brought up with the administration, the higher authority festered the grievances further as opposed to finding any meaningful solution(s).
To make the matters even worse, some would also refrain from filing a complaint in the first place out of sheer embarrassment and unexpected repercussions. In grade 9, when swimming constituted a mandatory slot in our weekly timetable, the idea of freeing myself from the crippling academic stress through twice-a-week dip in the pool soon came to an end as a result of body-shaming and that too under the hands of my swimming coach. The event left a tear in my heart that still hangs till this very day. For the first time in my life, I felt uncomfortable with my body forcing me to undergo a long period of starvation soon afterward. But never did that day arrive, when I would expect an apology from the swimming coach or the school administration.
While empirical evidence would certainly show JTites scoring more A’s than perhaps any other institution in Lahore, the physical and mental exhaustion behind the struggle never really gets the needed validation. Behind the hundreds of A’s in A level, there are stories of students who were subjected to physical and psychological abuse under the all-respected principal of the program. When an AS student tried justifying his underperformance in the Sessional Exams on the basis of his deteriorating mental health, the principal sidelined any of the legitimate concerns by saying, “Ab tum mujhe dobara dawaiyan khatay nazar na ho” (I shall not see you again having your prescription medicines). Additionally, being even a minute late to your class could earn you a literal slap from the principal in front of all your fellow peers and friends. The act embarrassing in all the many ways, often left students traumatized for the rest of their time at the school.
Lastly, let us not forget how a number of JTites, who are now part of universities like LUMS. have actively failed to give up most of the toxic traits they picked up from JT. As someone who assimilated within the “JT group” for the first part of the freshman year, the friendships continue to be defined by the nebulous “BRO-CODE.” Individuals who willingly (yet, unfortunately) manifest a connection with their high school batchmates do so based on conforming to the same problematic values I mentioned in this article. But possibly with added severe form of emotional manipulation and ghosting pitted against the group members as well as other non-JT Luminites.
As an alumnus of Lahore Grammar School Johar Town, I seek no pleasure in ever calling myself a JTITE. My dissociative relationship with that school would always be characterized in terms of my unpleasant experiences and unfond memories I have of that place. Perhaps, the urgent need of the hour is for other fellow alumni members to step up and call-out the toxicity that remains rampant in that institution. If no timely solution is sought, we will probably witness the degradation of our new generation under the hands of “one of the best schools in Pakistan.”
While my summers might not have been as productive as I initially perceived them to be, it nonetheless provided me the opportunity to diversify my taste in music. For the very first time, I introduced myself to the likes of A$AP Rocky and other notable rappers (Drake is an obvious inclusion in that list). Additionally, I also manifested a keen interest in Indie music, which I feel, among numerous other musical genres, was missing from my life.
As I sit down to list my Top 5 favorite songs from this summer, I realize that the playlist will still come across as very generic and “basic” to some people. For that matter, I welcome any other music suggestions the readers might have, and I promise to give them a listen!
5.Sundress- A$AP Rocky
The controversial arrest of the Harlem rapper perhaps saw a surge in A$AP’s following with thousands of his fans coming out in large numbers in support of his release. Sundress, will probably not be new music to most ears but it definitely has something to offer. Rocky’s collaboration with Tame Impala was long-awaited which did reasonably well in adding a psychedelic touch to the tune. With a catchy and engaging music video relating to the insecurity and trust issues that come along (most) relationships, the song substantiates its position as arguably my favorite Indie Rap!
4.Metanoia- MGMT
If Electric Feel was made to be enjoyed on a sultry afternoon at a Californian beach, then Metanoia was your come-down song to listen to. Melancholic to describe at the very best, the unexpected shifts and turns between the seven parts will possibly transcend your inner reality to a whole new level and, that is what makes Metanoia an MGMT classic.
3.Beverly Laurel- Tame Impala
Beverly Laurel by Tame Impala will always be a palpable experience for the Impala fans who at the same time nod in agreement that the song hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves. In another controversy that arose after its release, the album categorization came under attack, where critics till this very day situate Beverly Laurel under Currents (as opposed to Lonerism). But all that said, the 3 minutes mostly instrumental musical-tune will encapsulate your soul in its entirety with its perfectly composed pitch. Listening to it will make you reminiscence those old summer days when there were less obvious things to worry about!
2. Forget Her- Jeff Buckley
The sad demise of the Californian star Jeff Buckley left the world in an unspeakable amount of pain but not at the expense of Jeff’s music losing any importance among his fan base. Forget Her is a nearly perfect yet a mesmerizing rendition that encompasses the themes of loneliness, rejection, and abandonment. Every word of the song hits you right at the bottom of your heart and one wonders how Jeff Buckley is able to express something in 5 minutes what you have felt your entire life!
Honorable Mentions:
Crimson and Clover- Tommy James & The Shondells
Porcelain- Moby
Lost on You – LP
Sweet- Cigarettes After Sex
We Turn Red- Red Hot Chili Peppers
1.Los Angeles- The Midnight
In a world full of Beliebers and Ed Sheeran fans, not many people are aware of The Midnight and that continues to be an unfortunate bitter-sweet reality. Originating in 2012, the synthwave music band has augmented its position within the electronic Indie circuit courtesy its single: Los Angeles. The song is nothing short of a metaphorical mastery that can be dissected in so many different ways. If you are a fan of the movie La La Land, start off by watching the music video and what you have is an epitome of a “perfect relationship” put into perspective. Or on the contrary, you can simply listen to Los Angeles as it is and let yourself embark on a sentimental journey to all the happier times that lie ahead. The song cannot be described for anything less than an unforgettable experience!
“We have taken this decision as a family. A new era has begun,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi proclaimed in an address to the nation on August 8, 2019. It is not lost on me that families are extremely important to the vast majority of South Asians. But, maybe sometimes irrelevant family members should shut up and allow individual members to make decisions about matters that affect them the most.
On Monday, August 5, 2019, Minister of Home Affairs and President of the Bharatiya Janata Party Amit Shah informed parliament that President Ram Nath Kovind had signed a decree effectively abolishing articles 35 A and 370 of the constitution. Article 370 allowed India’s only Muslim majority state to make its own laws in all matters except for communications, defence, finance and foreign affairs. Jammu and Kashmir was legally exempt from the Indian constitution. As a result, the state was able to establish a separate constitution and flag. Crucially, it enabled the Kashmiri government to deny property rights to outsiders. Article 35 A can be understood as an extension of Article 370. It allowed the state legislature to define permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir. In doing so, the local legislature was given the authority to forbid outsiders from permanently settling, buying land, holding local government jobs or winning education scholarships in the region. Furthermore, female residents (and their future children) were barred from property rights if they married individuals from outside the state. In short, both these constitutional provisions allowed Kashmiris to decide how they wanted to govern themselves and enabled them to prevent demographic change that would compromise their ability to actualise the former. The Lok Sabha also passed the Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganisation) Bill, 2019 with 370 votes in favour and 70 against it. The Jammu and Kashmir state will now be divided into two “union territories” directly ruled by New Delhi. The Jammu and Kashmir union territory will include the Hindu-majority Jammu region and will have a legislative assembly. The Buddhist-majority Ladakh region, which has a considerable population of Shia Muslims, will also be a union territory, but without the privilege of its own assembly.
Before Monday’s decision, prominent Kashmiri leaders were jailed or put under house arrest. Reuters reports have put the number of arrested at approximately 500. Internet and communication services along with cable networks were also shut down in anticipation of widespread unrest. An additional 38,000 troops were deployed in the region. Reports suggest that Indian law enforcement used tear gas and pellet guns to disperse a crowd of 10,000 protesters that had gathered in the state capital of Srinagar. One can write a book on how Kashmiris are caught up between the interests of different states that are unwilling to hear what they have to say. However, amidst the overblown ultra-nationalistic and at times jingoistic responses to the new status quo from either side of the border, there is an urgent need to examine the justifications given by the Indian government for the steps taken and the more obvious reasons for why this was done. The Bharatiya Janata Party led government coalition claims that articles 370 and 35A have resulted in Kashmir becoming a breeding ground for separatism, nepotism and corruption. All of this has led to Kashmir being left behind the nation in terms of development.
Our general assumptions about the state largely fall in line with this government argument. In the popular imagination, Kashmir largely resembles a less intense war zone with regular occurrences of spontaneous or planned violence. The only difference between the imaginaries of populations across the border seems to be about which actor is responsible for the violence: the Indian military or Pakistani supported terrorist militias. However, dear reader, you might be surprised about how developed Jammu and Kashmir actually is. According to census data, the state’s poverty rate stood at 10.35% in 2011-12 compared to the national average of 22%. Bihar, Assam, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat (where Mr. Modi hails from) all had poverty rates higher than Jammu and Kashmir’s. Per capita income in the region is also higher than that of Bihar, Assam and Madhya Pradesh. The state does even better in terms of social indicators. Life expectancy in Kashmir is 73.5 years while the national average is 68.7 years. Kashmir does better than all of the states mentioned earlier in this category. The infant mortality rate in Kashmir is also significantly lower than the national average and is lower than the states mentioned bar Maharashtra. 8.7% of women between the ages of 20 and 24 years were married before the age of 18 years, compared to the national average of 26.8%, according to data from the National Family Health Survey IV. In Bihar, this figure was 42.5%, and in Gujarat 24.9%, data shows. Mr. Amit Shah also alleged in his speech that Kashmiri children were being denied an education because of the state legislature’s decision to not accept the Right to Education Act. However, he failed to mention that children in the state are provided free and compulsory education until Class 8. The gross enrolment ratio in senior secondary schools is also higher than the national average. Jammu and Kashmir has 23 colleges per 100,000 residents which is much better than Bihar’s 7 and Assam’s 14.
Mr. Shah is correct about two things though. The state does have a high government debt burden and fares poorly in attracting private investment. However, both of these are a consequence of the security situation in the region. The state has to borrow capital from the central government because of its huge security expenditure. Private investors are also weary of entering a market that is plagued with violence-induced uncertainties. What is apparent at this point, however, is that Kashmir is not necessarily underdeveloped and even the areas in which it is lagging behind have nothing to do with Article 370 and Article 35A of the constitution. So, what about separatism then? There are many reasons for why separatist tendencies exist in the Kashmiri population. The first and most obvious one, is oppression at the hands of the Indian state. According to Mr. Modi himself, 42000 people have died in the last 3 decades due to violence alone. There are reports of illegal detention, torture and rape at the hands of security forces. I won’t explore this issue further because of precisely how well documented this is. What is relevant is that members of the population resort to violence against the state because of the actions of the state and the unwillingness of the state to change its behaviour and hold criminals operating within it accountable. Pakistani support for violent groups is also a reason for why members of the population become terrorists. Pakistani patronage gives violent dissidents access to resources that they otherwise would not have had. Notice however, that not only do both these broad reasons have nothing to do with both articles of the constitution, they will only be exacerbated further in response to the Indian government’s actions. With most of their political leaders in some form of state-mandated confinement and a crackdown on media, communication services and any form of peaceful organisation, the separatist sentiment in Kashmir will only get worse. This will also increase pressure on the Pakistani government to do something, given how important Kashmir is to Pakistani identity and therefore the Pakistani population and may lead to further support being given to these groups if the states current attempts at taking the issue up at international forums fails.
Why would the Modi government do this then? Jammu and Kashmir has been a focal point for Hindu nationalism ever since Partition. While Jinnah and the Muslim League considered that being a Muslim-majority state it should have been part of Pakistan and that Partition would remain unachieved so long as the whole of Kashmir remained under Indian rule, for the Hindu nationalists the state was inseparably a part of India. The transfer of one more state to Pakistan would make it stronger and India weaker. The Bharatiya Janata Party has a history of opposition to Article 370. In 1953, Syama Prasad Mukherjee, died in a jail in Srinagar where he was detained by the Sheikh Abdullah government for protesting against Kashmir being an autonomous republic within India. A year before his death, Mukherjee was the president of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh – the predecessor of the present day Bharatiya Janata Party. He saw it as a threat to national unity and famously proclaimed, “Ek desh mein do Vidhan, do Pradhan aur Do Nishan nahi challenge.” There is a strong element of territoriality within the ideology of Hindu nationalism and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Hindutva is not only based on ethno-religious categories but also on the belief that India occupies a sacred land whose frontiers matter as much as religion and language. Hence the demand for Akhand Bharat (complete, undivided India), which emerged in the 1950s and which implied that Partition should be undone to restore the natural extension of the sacred land that is Bharat. Such measures inevitably allow the BJP to secure its more hard-line electoral base. These actions will also appease party activists and politicians who lean towards the extreme right. Splitting Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories can be viewed as a unique attempt at gerrymandering to prove electoral outcomes for the BJP. We would be remiss however to exclusively focus on the Hindu right wing as has been the case with most coverage on the issue. Commentators have pointed out that this may also be an attempt by the BJP to divert criticism from India’s lack lustre economic performance. India’s economic growth cooled sharply in the first three months of this year. Gross domestic product increased 5.8 per cent from the same quarter the previous year, down from the 6.6 per cent growth rate recorded in the last quarter of the 2018 calendar year. The Indian economy also faces three huge problems: an ever-increasing population, deteriorating infrastructure and public sector corruption. Therefore, economic growth does not necessarily translate into a better quality of life for the vast majority of Indians. Triggering controversy in Kashmir takes media and public focus away from this difficult conversation and enables the BJP to dominate positive headlines. And yes, most headlines are positive. Comparing the Indian media to the work of Pewdiepie would be a disgrace to Pewdiepie (although he too has given shout outs to fascist organisations). There is also a crackdown on dissenting voices. The founders of NDTV, a channel that has been quite critical of the Modi government were prevented from leaving the country because of a “money-laundering” case. Videos published by the BBC have been called “fake news” by elected officials. As a result, most Indians are currently accessing news that portrays this as a move that was long overdue and will be in the national interest.
We must remember that Kashmiris are the primary stakeholders in this situation. They have been historically discriminated against and oppressed. They have not consented to Article 35A and Article 370 being revoked. They have been denied access to information, which is a fundamental right in any democracy. They have been stripped off their right to protest against this decision by a government that is framing its actions as necessary for the prosperity of these people. What has happened to Kashmiris historically and what is happening to them currently is unjustifiable. No actor has cared about their dignity as human beings, has respected their autonomy or stood up for their right to self-determination. We should all be outraged by what is happening in Kashmir. But we must also remain cognisant of our own shortcomings. Because there are parts in Pakistan where citizens disappear never to be seen again. There are elected representatives of vulnerable communities who have been jailed for simply trying to make things better. There are criminals amongst those responsible for protecting all of us who have not been held responsible for their actions. We must criticise the actions of oppressors, but we must also introspect, lest we have our own version of Kashmir soon.
