Just wondering. How did it start? What are its roots ? A colonial left-over from the era of the British raj and memsahibs ?
To a good extent, Yes. It originates from that era, but it has mor to do with continuation and propagation of same ideals over generations. Alienation from hindu traditions and a desire to establish a new, true and uniquely identifiable culture played a major role as well. However, the problem started when they started looking an easy way out, i.e. borrowing traditions not values from the western culture. That eventually led to the arrangement of cocktail parties at the President house during Sikander Mirza's reign, open drinking during Yahya khan's era etc. Unfortunately that developed a pseudo-English culture that lacked a solid foundation.. as Shakespeare said, "It's a mingled yarn - good and evil together"
easy to blame it on britsh raj. lets not forget our history books and see what the lifestyle of the aristocracy were during moghal rule.
All the nawab and rajay maharajay did not come into being because of the brits but were around before that. I dont think that mujras in bara-darees was started by the brits.
yeah so we adopted everythign bad from teh brits, does not mean the society did not have its own issues prior to that.
I wonder why we did not pick up a few of the positives, like discipline and punctuality.
In the Modern sense it's a british raj invention..but they just Westernised a very old concept in India...I think one reason for it was the various sub continent invaders. Each attempting to hold on to their culture while ruling the locals.
Re: VIP culture in Pakistan
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*Originally posted by Nadia_H: *
Just wondering. How did it start? What are its roots ? A colonial left-over from the era of the British raj and memsahibs ?
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The VIP treatment is usually reserved for royalty, wouldn't you think it was embedded in the Mughal culture. How everyone placed a high emphasis on respected the ruler, and always gave them superior treatment.
It reminds me of a incident I observed in Lahore, where the bus seats they saved for the VIP people were right up front next to the bus driver, whenever the bus stopped and opened its doors the VIP people would get a whiff of the mucky air and the aroma of all the reeking passengers that boarded the plane and knock legs as they tried to stumble past them just in time before the bus started to move…the VIP seat wasn’t a very appealing option and certainly not something I envied.
PM,
the realtime VIPs in pakistan dont actually travel in buses.
today i was passing through this biggest road in karachi and was suddenly surprised to realize that the car on my right side, a toyota twin cab4wd, had 4 armed uniformed guards at the back holding their semiautomatic guns as if ready to fire. their uniform at first appeared similar to that of the rangers; the dark grey shalwar kameez. that impression impulsively took my eyes to the registration plate to check out how high a military official was inside, but I was shocked to see an ordinary civilian regn no and an additional shield on the side attached to the bumper that read "MNA".
the govt has not provided the MNAs such protocol or the permission to seek extra privileges through such advertisement of their power and authority. yet, most MNAs or MPAs have such plates fixed on their vehicles.
getting back to the MNA i saw today. he was a stereotype feudal; cotton shalwar kameez, epensive sunglasses and watch, big moustache, heavily built, a relaxed 'i can send you out of this world in no time and even your angels wouldnt know' look, reclined on the seat inside the airconditioned car while his bodyguards, much needed to protect his body that must have tormented many a body, sit under the open sky in karachi's scorching 40c.
with such VIPs to run our country with a population of a 140 million non VIPs and a rough 1 million VIPs i really don't see much hope for the non VIP.
whatever the origin of the VIP culture worldwide, it's consequences are dangerous. one of the main characteristics, reasons or originating factors i think is the gap between classes. everyone wants those privileges but only a few get them. when Marie Antoinette thought her countrymen wer stupid not to switch to cake if bread was short, the not so smart countrymen of her's designed tne guillotine.
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*Originally posted by Haris Zuberi: *
PM,
the realtime VIPs in pakistan dont actually travel in buses.
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Hey I know that was the same thing I was wondering, but they had a seat reserved for the "VIP" there was a purpose behind that, but hey its a AC COACH why not not travel by bus?
What rangers wear shalwar kameez in karachi? They are either frontier corps or jahbaz/mujahid force.
hmmm...
nadz, i think VIP culture exists in every culture/country in some ways, its not just Pakistani society...?
the rich and elite are always more privileged than everyone else and there is always a class separation right...? or are you referring to a certain trend in paki VIP culture which u dont find anywhere else....? :)
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*Originally posted by Imdad Ali: *
What rangers wear shalwar kameez in karachi? They are either frontier corps or jahbaz/mujahid force.
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the official uniform of the Pakistan Rangers is dark grey shalwar kameez. they have different fatigues for different duties in different areas and different natures of duty. like the light green shirt anbd dark green trousers of the sachal and bhittai rangers in sindh and recently introduced, the new light brown camouflage which is very similar to the US army's desert field operations gear. the frontier corps remain in the frontier province only and their uniform is light brown/khaki shalwar kameez.
[QUOTE]
Originally posted by Haris Zuberi: *
**he was a stereotype feudal; cotton shalwar kameez, epensive sunglasses and watch, big moustache, heavily built, a relaxed 'i can send you out of this world in no time and even your angels wouldnt know' look, reclined on the seat inside the airconditioned car while his bodyguards, much needed to protect his body that must have tormented many a body, sit under the open sky in karachi's scorching 40c. *
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That's an extremely vivid description. i can almost picture exactly what you mean.
Incidentally, not that this is related to the thread, but that's how feudal zamindars in Pakistani dramas are portrayed...pointy moustache, heavily built, expensive sunglasses and watch, a relaxed casual 'i am master of this world' look on his face... it was exactly how you described it.
Irem,
You are absolutely right, elitism exists in every society. hmmm i don't know if there is a particular 'trend' i am referring to that applies specifically to Pakistan... :~S i guess not :~S :~/ i guess i was thinking about this issue because i remembered, a long time back, maybe late 1980s, Imran Khan had come from Pakistan to Dubai...we were all excited, of course. i think it was for a cricket match or something. Anyways, while he was there, he gave a few press conferences and he was talking about improvements he would like to see in Pakistani society. The media lapped it up, i lapped it up because he was talking extremely idealistically but sensitively about getting rid of corruption and elitism etc. He sounded so very down to earth, it was really refreshing Masha'Allah to hear someone of his status talk like that. His pictures and interview were printed in the newspaper. They showed a picture of him sitting at the Dubai airport's waiting lounge, but not just your usual waiting lounge for regular folks....in a very very plush lounge, in one of those humoungous sofas, underneath a huge sign that said "VIPs Only" or something like that. And of course, he zipped from the airport to his hotel in a luxury mercedes. Khair, a letter-writer to the newspaper subsequently highlighted the contradictory element to this...regarding why Imran Khan was talking about ridding society of elitism and on the other hand, he himself was very much a part of the elite culture. :~S i guess that sounds kindof stupid now that i've typed it all up...but in a way - i think the letter-writer to the paper (Khaleej Times) had a valid argument.
hmmm that makes no sense i know. :~]
yeah Nadia,
i remember the time imran khan took a tour of the ME. it was in late 1992 after his post worldcup victory retirement. he was just begining his career as a welfare worker and perhaps that was when the poltician in him was starting to wake up. i remember attending functions and matches in his honour in saudiarabia. i agree, Imran Khan belongs to the same class of VIPs and influentials in our country, but about his preachings going one way and actions the other, i think he is the closest any VIP in Pakistan has ever been to the miserable masses. i have heard of him eating at roadside labourers 'hotals' and resting on charpoys during his long road trips between cities of pakistan, and that not during the election time but as a regular habit. in his on words he has often said that he isnt doing all his political work for any gains, he had enough money, fame, reputation and contacts to live a content life after retirement anywhere in the world, unlike most of our politicians who keep blabbering about how much they love the common man and never step out of their protocol vehicles once they have been elected.
so initially though he was born of the so called blue blood(his family has always been among the country's richest), it doesnt seem right to categorize him with other VIPs or seasoned professional family politicians or feudals whos words are as humble as their actions are lavish and outragous.
hope this made sense, written in a hurrry, the match's just starting! ;)
Actually I know a few who have gone against the VIP culture..Musharraf when he first took over and even now till the recent assasination attacks would travel simply and with a small entourage...
Punjab Minister Mairaj Khalid was famous for the simplistic way he lived both as a person and as a PM. Personally I know of one former Awami National Party Senator who lives in a katcha house and had to ask his neighbours to help him feed important guests when they visited him.
More recently one of the Jamiaat Islami MMA Ministers was visiting Lahore and Karachi and he took an ordinary bus along with his secretary.
The problem arises when people in public service confuse privilege with a right..
every culture develops it's own elite.in some cultures it is the highly educated,in others the wealthy,in others the military.they all reside in the pecking order somewhere.it's like a food chain. and yes ,in all cultures the religious elite are there.
Damn it, i hate those uneducated idiots who go around showing off that they are MNA or whatever! Like i care! Come down to Gullistan Colony Son,. and then well see who’s the daddy!!!
I hate these idiots!!! And your right VIP culture is in every society and country, why just recently David Beckham and Notable Footballer in England hired 20 Bodyguards to protect his wife and two kids. And recently while on a shopping trip in London, his guards blocked the roads while Queen and King Beckham could enter their £350,000 Bently.
This kind of action needs to be preapproved by the police and is only Reserved for Royalty and Special Diplomats and Heads of state. If a poor englishman would try to do that, he would get arrested and fined. But because he is a hoity-toity VIP, he is free to go… 