Desicritics Comments on Artistic Expression, Male Dominance and Women Poets: Pakistan

Comment by GS

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 19:27:24 EDT

Being born and raised in pakistan, I would slightly disagree with you.It is not as bad as you think it is.Pkaistan has a lot of problems but it is certainly not a third rate country and neither are women fifth class over there.Yes it should have been a fully democratic country like India but that has nothing to do with women poets' plight. Even though India is a fully democratic country but there is a disgusting caste system present there. Here we are talking about women poets in Pakistan , there we have humans who are belittled, if you are a dalit you remain a dalit for centuries to come. It is just not Pakistan but the entire third world- and each region faces its own problems.Parveen Shakir was a very well respected poetess in Pakistan and so is Kishwar Naheed, even though labeled as a rebel- but that label does not make her a fifth class citizen, she successfully and respectfully runs an NGO, the last I knew of her. I guess the author is just trying to in Paulo Coelho's terms persuade his friend to follow her personal legend.

Comment by temporal

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 18:53:15 EDT

i am from T.O. belong to, read about, and have travelled extensively in both countries

Comment by GS

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 18:50:21 EDT

Temporal, are you from Pakistan?

Comment by temporal

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 15:32:21 EDT

(part ii) am not fooled by platitudes and phony smiles... there is more freedom today then under zina ul haque papers and magazines are freer to expose and criticise it is all hogwash and hood winking the gullible - -yet again what matters is what the occupying army does time and again - actions -- their actions speak louder than any manifestation of idle protests mushy and the nine cats have shown a remarkable survival instinct...consistently doing 180 degree turns...to appease and sail with the wind....the latest on the women's bill of rights... *** in such a stifling atmosphere any voice that yearns to dream - and to express -- is a welcome voice the women writers suffer a double whammy there...they have to face not only the male dominated administration but also they have to sail against the forces unleashed by fundamentalist forces that want to push the baby back into the womb for a woman - it is increasingly hard to co-exist in today's pakistan....notice the word? co-exist?...they can exist in one of two ways: either they acquiesce and accept fifth class status in a third rate state (harsh words - i might apologise later) or they fight back this they do in two ways -- within the system - which maybe effective in the (very) long term or do it subversively (no, they cannot do it openly - or they cannot survive - again - harsh reality) end of rant---(am sure my friends beena, bina, and others would disagree - if they read this they are invited to write a rejoinder)

Comment by temporal

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 15:10:51 EDT

gsi: the issues of freedom are intertwined and enmeshed royally there while one can argue that both countries started off at the same time...there is a functioning democracy in india while the same cannot be said with a straight face about pakistan the occupying army has strained the fabric to the degree that even a remote thought of a functioning democracy are hazy dreams for now freedom is an empty word when its manifestations are denied and trampled upon daily: --of expression --of gathering --of demand --of exercise even of dreaming is denied under the heavy khaki boots (shall continue this shortly)

Comment by GSl

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 13:11:19 EDT

I am so glad that Raza touches upon issues which are really important but unfortunately are not yet attended to by the Pakistani people.It is a sad reality in Pakistan that women who are expressive are judged a lot. Whereas no one even remotely criticizes pervert best seller poets like Farhat Abbas Shah. I hope that through expressin and dialogue we can change perceptions and attitudes of people towards women poets in Pakistan. it may take a long time but atleast we have the ball rolling. And pls tell your friend to continue to write as people like her have to act as leaders to achieve a cultural reform.

Comment by Aaman

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 12:40:47 EDT

Done

Comment by null

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 12:34:36 EDT

I will request the DC editors if it is possible. thanks for the comment though. Temporal - comment #1- has hoped that you will appear on DC one day!

Comment by The friend

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 04:50:49 EDT

Raza can you kindly correct a word in my email- it has been slightly misquoted and it is therefore changing the meaning of the sentence. It is currently- " my writing and its obsession is a figment.." It should be " my writing and its obsession as a figment.." Thanks Raza.

Comment by Raza Rumi

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 13:11:06 EDT

Temporal Many thanks for the comment. Of course I will tell my friend to keep on writing and also appear on DC :) at some point. As you rightly noted, outspoken and/or creative women face severe challenges in getting recognized. Once they establish their creative credentials, they are easily labeled as rebels and much more. It is changing now as more women have entered the workforce and occupying top positions in the government, academia, the private sector and other professions. But most often their success entails some cost or a sacrifice. Gender biases will not go easily as we know from the global experiences of women. Pakistan is no exception to the larger trend except that the retrogressive interpretation of Islam by an agressive clergy and entrenched socio-cultural practices make things a little more difficult there. and my friend is exasperated and trying to come to terms with her circumstances. I just wanted to share this on the blogosphere via the Desi Critics.

Comment by temporal

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 18:51:48 EDT

Raza: tell your friend she is not a "odd fish" she comes from a long line of poets mislabeled as rebels....in urdu fatima hasan, kishwar naheed, the two you mentioned and the doyen of them fehmida riaz while some may not truly understand what life is for a thinking women and writer in pakistan poets (and writers) have taken on the system successfully tell her to continue to write each word, each letter put to paper is a small victory ps: and someday i hope to see her here