Federal govt suspends cultural activities in Sindh’s universities

This is direct intervention by federal govt in matters strictly provincial and will not be tolerated, says PPP leader

KARACHI: Does cultural diversity complicate nation building or does it mitigate divisions and contribute to the intergenerational process of building a nation? These are the questions which have surfaced following the federal government’s decision to slap a province-wide ban on cultural activities in Sindh’s public universities.

Politicians, educationists, rights activists, student unions as well as several other members of the civil society have however condemned the government’s idea and see it as a move to use unilateral decisions to further polarise an already divided nation.

The issue came to fore when the Federal Education and Professional Training Department in a letter issued to the Sindh government said that certain events concerning sub-nationalism organised in a few public universities are guilty of glorifying sub-race cultures.  “Ethnicity and sect based activities in education institutions are likely to result in sub-nationalism,” the letter, written by the section officer (C-II) on behalf of the Chief Secretary asserted. The letter further advised the provincial government and university administrations to discourage such events and refrain from hosting activities which may foster sub-nations ideals.

The said letter was written on account of annual Sindhi Cultural Day, which is organised and celebrated by the people of Sindh during the month of December, as an ode to the province’s centuries-old culture. In response to which, Dr Kamal Jamro, who has worked extensively on culture and language and holds has a doctorate in folk music said that culture is the very way of life and cannot be kept from celebrating. “It [culture] refers to our shared language, beliefs and norms and no nation can be recognised without reference to its culture. Thus all of us living in Pakistan should instead work towards protecting and preserving our culture for the generations to come,” he said talking about the significance of culture.

“There was a time during General Zia’s tenure in the 1980s, when he had issued a similar circular imposing a ban on Sur Marvi, a folktale from the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.  In the tale, Bhittai portrayed the characteristic qualities of a woman and her patriotism and courage which willed her to refuse the offers of a tyrannous king” recalled Jamro, while speaking to The Express Tribune. “Radio Pakistan at the time had strict orders from the Zia government to not run the poetry in any program but the ban was removed with restoration of democracy in the country,” he added.

Speaking on the issue, writer and journalist Qazi Asif quoted the Prime Minister’s foreign visits where he proudly speaks of the Indus Valley Civilisation, drawing parallels to Mesopotamian and ancient Egyptian civilisations.  “Pakistan came into being in 1947 and its diversity reflects in the multiple cultures here. These cultures, be it Sindhi, Balochi, Pakhtun, Punjabi or Saraiki, these cultures predate Pakistan and have been here long before us. How can people give up their centuries-old identity which is shaped by their language and culture? That is simply not possible. Many countries in the world today are focusing on the preservation of their cultures and here we are trying to impose a ban on ours,” Asif lamented.

According to MPA and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Culture Wing President Qasim Soomro, the ban on cultural activities is a direct intervention by the federal government in matters that are strictly provincial and will thus not be tolerated. “Such music, cultural and traditional events promote inclusiveness and create a pluralistic society. In that view, my party will take the issue to the provincial assembly and party leadership to insist on withdrawing any circular or notification issued by the provincial government on the matter,” he commented

Advisor to Chief Minister on Universities and Boards Nasim Ahmed Khuhro deemed the federal government’s decision to be against the spirit of constitution. “It is against provincial autonomy and freedom of expression. I protest it and will write a letter to the federal education minister to undo the decision,” he said adding that with the decision, the federal government wanted to impose ‘One-unit’ in the country and run all spheres of the provinces from Islamabad. “The poetries of Bulleh Shah, Shah Abdul Latif and many other Sufis reflect the culture of their respective areas. Just because the federal government is obsessed with cultural activities does not mean that they can place a ban on the poetry of these saints, which speak volumes on nothing but love, peace and tolerance,” Khuhro told The Express Tribune. 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2020.