KLF: Raza Rumi book launch

Rise in extremism in Pakistan is fabricated, people should challenge it, says journalist and author Raza Rumi.

KARACHI: The rise in extremism in Pakistan is fabricated and the people of the country should challenge it, journalist and author Raza Rumi said on Saturday.

He was speaking on the launch of his book, Delhi by Heart – Rumi’s first book, at Karachi Literature Festival here at Beach Luxury Hotel.

“We know there is no dearth of extremist ideologies in India and Pakistan and that the jingoistic narratives are still being pursued from both states,” he said, “Despite knowing this fact, we must not forget that the two countries share a long common history.”

Speaking on his book, Rumi said that his book is not about India-Pakistan relations, it is about the people of this region who share similarities in their cultures, cuisine and many other things.

The moment Rumi took his seat on stage, the host of the session asked him why he chose Delhi over other historical Indian cities like Lucknow, he immediately replied: because I did not have the visa of Lucknow.

“As a Pakistani, I was always told that India is Pakistan’s enemy. But when I was exploring Delhi and making up my mind to write a book,” Rumi recalled, “I saw people from different faith living together, worshiping side by side and eating with each other this was quite opposite to what I read in Pakistan Studies books.”

He also said that the narrative that India is Pakistan’s enemy and that it will attack it is highly questionable.

I wanted to write about the people of Delhi, the common history of this region something that we all miss today. Where are the stories of the people and why are we always fed with the stories of kings and darbars when there is much to tell about common people of this region? he asked the participants who thronged the hall in a big number to listen him.

Replying to a question from a participant, he said, “I wrote this book in English language to reach the new generation of India and Pakistan but I will soon translate it in to Urdu,”

In not more than a 25-minutes session, participants lauded Rumi on his candid views on various occasions. He informed that the first edition of the book has been already sold that is in last seven or eight months.