When did intolerance culture started in Pakistan’s politics?
Is it a post independence phenomenon or its roots lies in Independence movement?
Re: History of Intolerant political culture in Pakistan
Indian society was always divided, but we are taught, that gora was makkar and they divided and ruled us :D.
Re: History of Intolerant political culture in Pakistan
before gora : Muslim Hindu ek glass se pani peete the :D
Re: History of Intolerant political culture in Pakistan
On a serious note , I got some material in respect of tussles between Muslim League Leaders before Independence. The writer is from Jama'at e Islami and he says that though there were leaders in Congress with different and opposite views, but Hindus always respected their leaders and kept their pictures at their home with respect. Muslim public was very much hostile against their leaders. On one side nationalists called Mr Jinnah as British Agent and on other side Ali-gaRh's students came naked before Molana Azad. As per writer, these all things were promoted by Muslim leadership and didn't teach their youth to respect the political difference. Same is the situation in Pakistan from its inception.
This whole Independence phenomenon was a result of intolerance.
Re: History of Intolerant political culture in Pakistan
before gora : Muslim Hindu ek glass se pani peete the :D
Hmm, Sir Robert clive ke kehne par Aurangzeb ne apne bhaiyyon ki gardan utaari thee, aur kaurav-pandav ko ladne ka sujhav (Salah) Lord hastings ne dee thii :D
On a serious note , I got some material in respect of tussles between Muslim League Leaders before Independence. The writer is from Jama'at e Islami and he says that though there were leaders in Congress with different and opposite views, but Hindus always respected their leaders and kept their pictures at their home with respect. Muslim public was very much hostile against their leaders. On one side nationalists called Mr Jinnah as British Agent and on other side Ali-gaRh's students came naked before Molana Azad. As per writer, these all things were promoted by Muslim leadership and didn't teach their youth to respect the political difference. Same is the situation in Pakistan from its inception.
Muslim league always followed constitution, they even rejected quit India movement, more or less, muslim league is what Hindu RSS was then. These were the only two against quit India movement. And before Jinnah they were mostly drawing room politicians :)
Re: History of Intolerant political culture in Pakistan
Hmm, Sir Robert clive ke kehne par Aurangzeb ne apne bhaiyyon ki gardan utaari thee, aur kaurav-pandav ko ladne ka sujhav (Salah) Lord hastings ne dee thii :D
Muslim league always followed constitution, they even rejected quit India movement, more or less, muslim league is what Hindu RSS was then. These were the only two against quit India movement. And before Jinnah they were mostly drawing room politicians :)
I was shocked to read that A K Fazl ( A Muslim league leader from Bengal) was given title of Sher e Bengal for threatening that if Hindus act against Muslims in Punjab and UP, Bengalis will take revenge from Hindus in Bengal. This was a public statement and earned him title of Sher e Bengal.
Re: History of Intolerant political culture in Pakistan
I was shocked to read that A K Fazl ( A Muslim league leader from Bengal) was given title of Sher e Bengal for threatening that if Hindus act against Muslims in Punjab and UP, Bengalis will take revenge from Hindus in Bengal. This was a public statement and earned him title of Sher e Bengal.
Bengal remained quite because of one-man boundary force of Louis Mountabatten, Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi took pledge from Shaheed Surhawardy that he will gaurentee peace if not a single hindu is touched in any part of east bengal and asked Surhawardy to stay with him like Nehru did. Surhawardy did what he said and peace was ensured. Louis Mountbatten called him, one man boundary force, because full manned Punjab Boundary force failed to contain situation in Punjab :)
Re: History of Intolerant political culture in Pakistan
I for one don't think Pakistani political culture is 'intolerant'. Dirty? Yes. But then again, politics is a dirty, dirty business no matter which country you look at it.
Pakistan for a country that had first ever peaceful transition of democratic power after 67 years. is not doing that bad. It could have been worse.
Re: History of Intolerant political culture in Pakistan
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that means it was there before independence
Re: History of Intolerant political culture in Pakistan
This intolerance goes far beyond partition. The area was always divided into various countries, credit should be given to the Moghuls and them British for forming a union. The differences we can observe even nowadays.
Re: History of Intolerant political culture in Pakistan
I for one don't think Pakistani political culture is 'intolerant'. Dirty? Yes. But then again, politics is a dirty, dirty business no matter which country you look at it.
Pakistan for a country that had first ever peaceful transition of democratic power after 67 years. is not doing that bad. It could have been worse.
IMO its both dirty and intolerant. It started from Dirty (like example of Ali-gaRh student's coming naked before Molana Azad) and end up in violence. Now Pakistan political culture contains both the characteristics, where every other party can go to any limit to make rival look bad. There are no ethics in Pakistani politics.
Re: History of Intolerant political culture in Pakistan
that means it was there before independence
Yes it was there before, but it has become far more apparent and far worse post. This is speaking very generally though.
Re: History of Intolerant political culture in Pakistan
It was always intolerant, in past, in the name of religion and after India got independent, in name of regionalism. People who cannot tolerate birth of their own daughters, how can they tolerate each other :)
Re: History of Intolerant political culture in Pakistan
IMO its both dirty and intolerant. It started from Dirty (like example of Ali-gaRh student's coming naked before Molana Azad) and end up in violence. Now Pakistan political culture contains both the characteristics, where every other party can go to any limit to make rival look bad. There are no ethics in Pakistani politics.
But that's like that everyone, it's just in Western countries, they have a mature political structure and established system and therefore the politcal mud slinging from parties doesn't look too bad. I must also add that decolonisation was an ugly, ugly business.
Did the modern day Pakistan ever had a genuine political culture to define any ethos? Had democracy was given a chance, perhaps things would've been much difference. We had plenty of political experiments but never a political culture.
I would also say people of Pakistan are either easily impressed or disappointment, they are quick to form hardline judgements over minor things. I clearly remember during elections time, you made a pretty big deal about Imran referring to NS as 'O Miyan Saab' - despite both men belonging to the same age group and sharing a bitter-sweet history. Imran was unjustly criticized for that whereas in Britain - one of world's oldest and greatest modern democracies - the PM can call opposition leader sitting right in front of him a 'turkey' and no one would get so massively upset and emotional. Imagine had the same banter taken place between NS and Khureed Shah? I guess after saying that, I am just proving that Pakistanis are quite intolerant and tragically lack a sense of humour. Things can only be black and white, there's no in-between.
Re: History of Intolerant political culture in Pakistan
But that's like that everyone, it's just in Western countries, they have a mature political structure and established system and therefore the politcal mud slinging from parties doesn't look too bad. I must also add that decolonisation was an ugly, ugly business.
Did the modern day Pakistan ever had a genuine political culture to define any ethos? Had democracy was given a chance, perhaps things would've been much difference. We had plenty of political experiments but never a political culture.
I would also say people of Pakistan are either easily impressed or disappointment, they are quick to form hardline judgements over minor things. I clearly remember during elections time, you made a pretty big deal about Imran referring to NS as 'O Miyan Saab' - despite both men belonging to the same age group and sharing a bitter-sweet history. Imran was unjustly criticized for that whereas in Britain - one of world's oldest and greatest modern democracies - the PM can call opposition leader sitting right in front of him a 'turkey' and no one would get so massively upset and emotional. Imagine had the same banter taken place between NS and Khureed Shah? I guess after saying that, I am just proving that Pakistanis are quite intolerant and tragically lack a sense of humour. Things can only be black and white, there's no in-between.
There have been lots immature things in Pakistan's politics. Shaikh Rasheed's statements about Benazir, Benazir's mimicry of Shuja'at Hussain, Arbab Rahim's beating in Sindh Assembly, Ayub Khan kutta slogans by public at large, have been some popular actions in Pakistani politics.
I'm personally against these things and as you referred Imran Khan's 'Oye Miyan Saab....' I didn't like it or don't like it today, because I perceived IK as mature and was not expecting all this from him to cheer up the crowd like his opponents. In a polarized society, we need to promote respecting the rivals and their views without going to lower level like them.
Re: History of Intolerant political culture in Pakistan
There have been lots immature things in Pakistan's politics. Shaikh Rasheed's statements about Benazir, Benazir's mimicry of Shuja'at Hussain, Arbab Rahim's beating in Sindh Assembly, Ayub Khan kutta slogans by public at large, have been some popular actions in Pakistani politics.
I'm personally against these things and as you referred Imran Khan's 'Oye Miyan Saab....' I didn't like it or don't like it today, because I perceived IK as mature and was not expecting all this from him to cheer up the crowd like his opponents. In a polarized society, we need to promote respecting the rivals and their views without going to lower level like them.
I don't quite understand whether it's who have seriously high standards and a particular vision it's Pakistani political culture that's intolerant.
Re: History of Intolerant political culture in Pakistan
I don't quite understand whether it's who have seriously high standards and a particular vision it's Pakistani political culture that's intolerant.
I'm talking of the culture that had life of common men miserable. Not a single week goes without traffic jams due to rallies by political parties. There is no sense in political leadership to address this issue.
These issues start from a statement and then political workers show street power to block traffic and sometimes destroying public property. Not a single political party has any concern about this situation, because they don't find it odd.
Statements against someones character were given since per-partition era. Today, Imran Khan is called playboy, Mr Jinah had also got some titles (not to be mentioned). Shaikh Rasheed was quite free to compare Bilawal with Faisal Saleh Hayat, but in per-partition, Muslim League workers labelled wife a Muslim Congress leader as 'Kafira', though the lady had nothing to do with the politics and remained under purdah all her life.
Re: History of Intolerant political culture in Pakistan
It is unfair to judge pakistani political culture separately. It is perfect reflection of south asian politics. I don't see any difference.
All the traits about personality worship, family worship, political dynasties, bullying tactics, show of street power etc are part and parcel of south asian political culture.