Re: TBegum Nawazish Ali is the strongest woman in Pakistan
^^
Not this type of makeover! It's nothing to be proud of.
Re: TBegum Nawazish Ali is the strongest woman in Pakistan
I don 't know... I have a new found respect now that I know about Begum. I must say it does fly in the face of the jihadhi/militant hotbed stereotype, but that's a good thing.
Re: TBegum Nawazish Ali is the strongest woman in Pakistan
If you have time, catch a few episodes of "George Ka Pakistan" on YouTube. This guys George Fullton roamed the country with a camera man and a producer and highlights many many differents facets of the country.
I think you'd like the show.
Re: TBegum Nawazish Ali is the strongest woman in Pakistan
Not this type of makeover! It's nothing to be proud of.
There is nothing wrong with Begum Nawazish Ali. Stop being a fundo!
Re: TBegum Nawazish Ali is the strongest woman in Pakistan
I think you'd like the show.
exactly what i wanted to recomend. there is alot to watch but great viewing for anyone looking for insight into culture of pak.
Re: TBegum Nawazish Ali is the strongest woman in Pakistan
Well, I think its a personal opinion whether there is anything right or wrong with Begum Nawazish Ali, but its clear to me that he/she is not an entirely accurate representation of Pakistan, in general. Its like saying Borat is a representative of Kazakhastan or Da Ali G represents England or Snoop Dog is representative of USA. Yes, so they are funny and are entertaining, but there is a lot more to US or Pakistan than what Snoop Dog or Begum Nawazish Ali represent.
Re: TBegum Nawazish Ali is the strongest woman in Pakistan
but the dude does represent a facet, a certain openness and acceptence and liberal mindset in pakistan that is part of what Pakistan is.
Re: TBegum Nawazish Ali is the strongest woman in Pakistan
Of COURSE, he/she represents Pakistan. Have you NOT seen the dudes dressed up like ladies on the streets of Pakistan? Before you lynch her, why don't you lynch those imposters? Its part of Pakistani culture, whether you accept it or not. And fact of the matter is, this guy has got the most wittiest sense of humor seen on Pakistani television since Moin Akhtar and Anwar Maqsood.
Re: TBegum Nawazish Ali is the strongest woman in Pakistan
^ Sure. But its a very very small facet.
Re: TBegum Nawazish Ali is the strongest woman in Pakistan
Sorry, not trying to be obstinate, but exactly what percentage of Pakistanis are khusras? Is it even 1% of our population? No. Yes, there are hijras in our society, but to say that they represent Pakistan, rightly or wrongly, gives the wrong message. They do not represent an iota of the average masses. A cab driver at Lahore airport represents much more of Pakistan than Begum Nawazish Ali and all khusras combined.
He may be very talented, and witty and humorous, and thats why the program is well-watched... but to say that cross-dressing is representative of Pakistani culture is quite over the top. Thats my whole point.
Re: TBegum Nawazish Ali is the strongest woman in Pakistan
I know you are addressing others but I thought I would throw in my two cents in what I meant how that show represents a facet of Pakistan.
Not due to the dude, or the program
but
due to the fact that people are okay with it
that people have not gone threatening him or burning his effegy
etc.
it shows that people are not as unreasonable and militant or conservative as many think they are.
its less about the show, more about public's reation to the show
Re: TBegum Nawazish Ali is the strongest woman in Pakistan
That's the thing, Faisal. By representation, I don't think I mean one needs to see a majority of Pakistanis matching up to the representation. But by having a drag queen on TV, its not so much as saying - "Look, every guy in Pakistan is a cross-dresser". Its more like saying "We have these people in our society, and we're confident enough in our value system to acknowledge that people like that exist in our society".
Besides, I don't think Saleem Ali has come up with this idea because he wants to uphold the image of hijras in our society. I think its his way of getting people to listen to his political/social satire, and make us look at ourselves and our culture. Good job he's doing of it too.
By the way, comedians before Saleem Ali have done similar things. Don't you remember Rozi, played by Moin Akhtar, or the multitude of other times Moin Akhtar has dressed up like a woman? How is that any different?
Re: TBegum Nawazish Ali is the strongest woman in Pakistan
Oh well, I don't know about that either. I only saw few installments of this program when I was in Pakistan (I don't think it is shown in any Pak channel in the US), and the dude is just entertaining. I may be missing as to what was his inspiration for starting this, and it could very well be what you are saying (to acknowledge cross-dressing in Pakistan), but it could as easily be a way of entertainment. Dude is a show-biz personality and adopted a persona to make his program entertaining. Plus by adopting this persona he can get away by saying a lot of things which a normal male or female can't. It may not have anything to do with representing a ostracized segment of society or to bring tidal waves of change in our culture.
Your point about Moin Akhtar doing such getups before proves my point as well. Its funny. Its entertaining. But there is hardly any huge societal change indicated by a cross-dresser appearing on the television.
Re: TBegum Nawazish Ali is the strongest woman in Pakistan
By the way, comedians before Saleem Ali have done similar things. Don't you remember Rozi, played by Moin Akhtar, or the multitude of other times Moin Akhtar has dressed up like a woman? How is that any different?
Akhtar never openly (at least to Western media) claimed to be bisexual. I suppose many in Pakistan don't know what that means...or perahps they think it's just another joke...
Re: Begum Nawazish Ali is the strongest woman in Pakistan
Well neither has Saleem Ali. I've read interviews of this guy, and he doesn't ever admit to being a bi, or homo. Unless if he's coming out now all of a sudden. Before, he was denying those rumors, just claiming how he's been fascinated with girls and feminism since he was a kid.
Re: Begum Nawazish Ali is the strongest woman in Pakistan
I love Begum Nawazish Ali.. She/he really is entertaining, so no surprise its such a success.
Re: TBegum Nawazish Ali is the strongest woman in Pakistan
A) I am proudly a fundo
b) Thinking this is shameful is not limited to Fundo. Britain tried to outlaw these people in the 1800s despite Britain not being fundamentalist.
What you need to do is develop a strong set of Victorian morals.
Re: Begum Nawazish Ali is the strongest woman in Pakistan
Being a transvestite in Muslim history and culture is very easy…No one cares…Abu Nawas was a gay poet in Usmania Khilafat…Amir Khusro :rehm: (though being a sword wielding, bearded Muslim) wrote hundreds of sonnets as a woman from a woman’s perspective…
The tolerance comes from the fact that it is the act of being a gay that Hudd punishments are imposed upon you…You can scream all you want on the streets and dress as gay as you want and no one will bother you…In fact, they’ll rib you…
Unlike western nations or US itself where someone dressed like a woman can be killed or beaten if he walks into a bar in Illinois…
Not that I condone this behaviour, but it’s tolerated…Even according to Islamic viewpoint, however the act is frowned upon…
Re: Begum Nawazish Ali is the strongest woman in Pakistan
^ Huh?