The writer is professor of political science at LUMS
My tentative answer is that we are not. We just look for scapegoats and foreign conspiracies. The first step will be to acknowledge that something has gone wrong in the society and there is a lot more wrong within the Pakistani state, in terms of its direction, dominant ideas and undemocratic pursuits of our ruling groups. We have new governments by new political groups in Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and in the federation that promised us peace and prosperity — perhaps, everything man can aspire to. It is too early to hold them responsible but let us see how they will be different from those who ruled us for five years, mostly leaving the country on autopilot.
I felt a great shock on June 17 — more than the one felt due to the burning of the Residency itself — arising from a comment made by the central secretary-general of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Akram Shah. Referring to the burnt Residency, he said “The house always reminded the Baloch and Pashtuns of the long period when they were the slaves of the British Empire in the Indian subcontinent”. None of us can defend British colonialism, not even the modern-day British gentlemen can, but the idea of Baloch and the Pashtuns being slaves of the British is incorrect and obnoxious. This really shows how our contemporary political leaders and representatives are ignorant of history, society and even politics, which they practise more for power than any principle or public interest.
The question is, how free were the Pashtuns and the Baloch before the British stepped foot on our lands? If being a subject was slavery, then they changed their masters with the changing fortunes of Afghan, Mughal, Persian and local tribal and caste chiefs. The social conditions of this part of the world where the Residency was built were more oppressive and inhuman than we found them to be under the reform process by the British in education and in developing and enforcing civil law, courts, bureaucracy and the economic and institutional infrastructure of the state. The way through which the Akram Shahs of our time are elected as leaders, through an electoral or democratic process, is purely a masterly intervention by the British. Slow they were in these reforms, but they routed the idea of constitutional rule and freedoms. Let political rhetoric and selfish motives not distort history and our imagining of the self.
What is a national heritage? It is everything of cultural and social value or any worth that stands on a territory. We are rich in our heritage. So many religions, cultures, thinkers and visionaries have shaped our civilisation for thousands of years. With all the faults of the principle of colonialism, it must be recognised that the British pushed the subcontinent into the modern age.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (17)
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Mr Rais you are arguing with illterates, you are absolutely right, these are the same backward thinkers who think Bamiyan Buddhas were unislamic, these people suffer from low self esteem and jealousy and convert it into nationalism and pride, they are confused people, they are destroying their own heritage to make some useless point.
@Ali tanoli: that isthe fault of Baloch.....they have money to live in luxury and 4wd vehicle convoys, and guns, then spend money on education, truth is Baloch sardars I know, have said to me personally, we dont want an educated populace, they will stand up to us then. I was disgusted to hear that, but the baloch sardar seemed proud of his statement.
what a shame on india and Pakistan just keep building worshiping national heritages and forget it the plight of ordinary peoples.
@Malik Achakzai sahib, Fully agreed sir by the way educated peoples of English medium don't study that history what u descriped it here. this is old fashion madrassa like school or freedom fighters of india studied.
Wish Rasul Bakhsh Raees Could also respond so quickly to the killings of Pakhtuns, Baloch He was quick to prove his loyalty to Pakistan but forgot that humanity comes first and foremost not Pakistaniat.
Dr. Rasul Bakhsh Rais you are respected and well known writer. And your specialization in politics makes you more nearer to the subject and practices. Here your paras makes me confused. "The social conditions of this part of the world where the Residency was built were more oppressive and inhuman than we found them to be under the reform process by the British in education and in developing and enforcing civil law, courts, bureaucracy and the economic and institutional infrastructure of the state". If the British were really reformers then why the people of sub-continent started their political movements against their presence and looting the golden sparrow [India]?.... The railways, the schools, the universities were not built for the betterment of Indians. They were only ways how to prolong British presence here in the sub-continent. Second it may be an humanity based reaction of Mr. Akram Shah having daughters and sisters in the pool of blood. Innocent female students of SBK University killed so barbarically in the first suicide attack, then brilliant officials, DC, doctor, nurses and the security men killed in the second one. It's true that the Qaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah's Residency at Ziarat is value able for Pakistan because it is her national heritage and so does for the people of Ziarat one of the most visited point by tourist across Pakistan and even the world. That's why the TV anchors, journalists, political leadership made their loud speeches, shows and interviews over it. And they made it their priority instead of human loss in Quetta. That's why It makes me [a student] sad viewing the human loss secondary in media. We know that the residency building can be restored. Those who are lost they are lost forever. Who will cry for them?...... Therefore my dear professor, lets respect human being and peace. The culture, language, heritage, schooling, railway comes secondary. It doesn't mean we hate Pakistan or its national heritage.
in seventy odd years of Pakistan and only one women university in quetta city .....
Just get over it. Why dont you talk about the innocent people massacared by the state backed religious fanatics in SBK University and Bolan Medical Complex.
We cant avoid history and Akram Shah has put the History. He told that Quid-e-Azam lived there for only week or two and that Residency was build by Sendmen and it was really a sign of slavery. Secondly he asked the Federal Interior Minister Ch Nisar not to visit Ziarat Residency before visiting the Dead Bodies of 20 innocent People in Hospital. Residency is not important than the people's lives. We need to focus on the killings of innocent people. Very sorry to say the Punjab dominant media have forget about deadiest attack on innocent student at SKB University and BMC Hospital and their whole focus were on Ziarat Residency...
Dear ignorant historian the place burnt where Jinnah was brought from karachi to kill was Afghanistan,1893 forcefully treaty turn it in to buffer zone, This is fact of history Pashtoon and Baloch were never part of India,Pashtoons are Afghans and they were Afghanistan,while Baloch had independent states.It is heritage for those who were British colonial rulers servants and who killed poor Jinnah in Ziarat.In 21st century people of Ziarat come down to Quetta for health services but think Jinnah was brought here from Karachi in that time.The real message is''Deal terrorists groups killing innocent civilians in Quetta and don't over shadow it with Ziarat residency incident..
@Author
"...... So many religions, cultures, thinkers and visionaries have shaped our civilisation for thousands of years...... "
Very well said Sir. How true! But can we clearly and honestly assess the 'thinkers and visionaries' who have brought us to our present state? Do we have the capacity and courage to openly discuss where they went wrong? Why are certain important matters still taboo?
A very well written piece. Unfortunately, most of our leaders do not have any knowledge of history. If everything colonial reminds them of British Raj, then think for a second as to what happens in India. For them, Taj Mahal and Oberoi are both landmarks of colonial rule, yet they show it as their heritage and in the due course earn accolades and money. What has gone wrong with our collective mindset? These are our buildings, yes they remind us that we were subjects of colonialism but they are "ours" now. Best way to defeat this feeling is to create bigger and better monuments of ours instead of burning / destroying mindlessly.
In fact NATO led ISAF is doing the same in Afghanistan, then why is Pakistani establishment deceiving its own people calling NATO's forces in Afghanistan as occupation forces?
Sorry to disagree with the writer... Akram Shah correctly pointed out that a residency of colonial British Raj is a symbol of slavery. Till 1700 AD India had a share of 24% of world GDP which decreased to less than 4% by 1952. The British siphoned off wealth from subcontinent by enslaving us. That however might not be reason enough to destroy the colonial-era buildings. The real reason the building was targeted by Baloch nationalist group is that Jinnah had lived there.