Exclusivist politics: language, ideology and Karachi

I am right — you are wrong!

The last few weeks’ development in Karachi, following Altaf Hussain’s anti-Pakistan harangue, and the ensuing media coverage reminded me of Orwell’s ‘Duckspeak’ in Nineteen Eighty-Four. To speak lies is bad but to speak lies for the good of ‘The Party’ may be good; depending on what being said is in following with the ideals of ‘Big Brother’. In the Orwellian conception of totalitarian society, Ingsoc (English Socialism) is the dominant political system enforced by mandatory requirement for all citizens to use a language called Newspeak.

In an appendix to Nineteen Eighty-Four, Orwell explained that ‘the purpose of newspeak was not only to provide a medium of expression for the worldview and mental habits proper to the devotees of Ingsoc, but to make all other modes of thought impossible’. Thought is not entirely dependent on words but language plays a mammoth role. The odious expose of the incendiary sloganeering and hate-speech by Altaf Hussain for Pakistan has caused public outrage and boiled the blood of many including mine. The initial reaction was to revoke the nationality and punish any voice that utters distasteful remarks ridiculing the sanctity of the nation. After discussions with friends, having command of politics and history, I realised passion is impetuous.

It is important to be rational when it comes to politics. George Orwell claimed ‘in our age, there is no keeping out of politics. All issues are political issues’. In simple words politics is power; apart from controlling the resources it means to control the behaviour and values too; Absolute power to control. Playing the game of power politics in a democracy is an art.

In order to secure and accumulate power in a democracy, a strong vote bank, and mass support base is indispensable. Votes come from public and political supporters. Public needs to be persuaded that you, as a leader, strive for the same what they crave for. To achieve this, an ideology is formed. According to Louis Althusser theory, we acquire our identities by seeing ourselves mirrored in ideologies.

In the context of the prevailing political situation, ‘Muhajir’ is not only an ethnic sentiment but a political ideology as well. The Muhajirs primarily comprise the Urdu-speaking community who migrated to Pakistan from northern India after partition and largely settled in Karachi and areas of urban Sindh. Distinct language and culture play a huge role here as makers of an exclusive identity. Punjabis who travelled from Jalandhar and Amritsar in 1947 shared language and culture with the inhabitants of Punjab, hence they were integrated like a dissolvable stitch. Eventually, the term ‘Muhajir’ disappeared. However, in Sindh, Sindhi language and culture was not able to absorb the Urdu-speakers and their culture; a surgical suture.

Where did we go wrong? It’s important to address root causes that have contributed to Muhajir community’s sense of alienation and marginalisation. Arguably, the unfortunate episode of August 22 did not happen overnight. It is deep-rooted. “No, we will not hire you Indian Muhajir” sowed the seeds of alienation. The party was formed for a good cause but few members started conniving under the blanket of ideology. Today we hear the leader of the party demanding help from foreign countries to help him coup. But the educated and wise Urdu-speaking people know now!

A Chinese politician of the Qin Dynasty, Zhao Gao, was regarded as having played an instrumental role in the downfall of the dynasty. Allegedly he was contemplating treason but was sceptical of support from other officials, so he decided to test them. He presented a deer to the Emperor but called it a horse. The Emperor laughed and said, “Is the chancellor perhaps mistaken, calling a deer a horse?” Then the emperor questioned those around him. Some, hoping to ingratiate themselves with Gao, said it was a horse, and others said it was a deer. Gao covertly assassinated all those who said ‘deer’ by manipulating the law instilling fear in others. Gao gained power as a result. (tr. Watson 1993:70). For years, power through fear made the MQM chant ‘Jo Quaid ka ghaddar hai wo maut ka haqdar hai’

Linguistic determinism implies that people of different languages have different thought processes. With this argument, if seen in the political context, it is possible to use language to construct an ideology. If we look at the same scenario from Muhajir perspective in Pakistan, the MQM, since the time it was formed, has developed a vote-base of 2.5 million people in Karachi. The time has come that the Urdu-speaking community should be given political and social space to see the black sheep in their midst who have used their deprivation and grievances as a pretext to perpetuate their vested political interests. The personality cult of Altaf Hussain, considered to be a benevolent guide without whom transformation to better future was thought to be impossible, needs to be addressed. No one other than the Urdu-speaking community can do it.

The audience is confused. ‘Doublethink’ is being impudently promoted. Like Orwell’s ‘Black white,’ status quo is the product of fear and indoctrination. The post-speech press conferences have brought to light illogical uncertainties caused due to repression of one’s individual critical thinking; loyal willingness to say that black is white and vice versa when party discipline demands this.

We need to accept the fact that language and culture affect one’s thinking process. In a democratic milieu, people should be free to think and process in whatever language they feel comfortable with. However, taking advantage and forcing an ideology based on language and under the counterpane playing dirty games in order to dismantle the same community is an act of stabbing in the back. Urdu is the national language of Pakistan. We don’t need newspeak. Let’s strengthen oldspeak.

It is imperative to reinforce the perception of equality otherwise days to come can be detrimental to the way society is organised. With daylight everything becomes visible. It’s useless calling a deer a horse.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2016.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.