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During his long career, Terzani had plenty of opportunity to
write on the myriad aspects of life. However, his passion lay in
writing letters. Though journalism enabled him to do something
similar, it always had a limitation of space and required a
particular style. After his "retirement," he was free
to let his pen follow its natural course. His first letter from
Orisgna, Italy, which was on the 9/11 "Pearl Harbor,"
titled "An opportunity," appeared on 16 September,
beginning his crusade for peace. He had written all he wanted
to: the motive of terrorists, the Muslims world’s dramatic
confrontation with modernity, the role of Islam at the global
level, the need for the West to avoid a war of religion, and
finally a possible way to come out of such a tenacious situation
through non-violence.
The next letter,
which he addressed to one Oriana Fallaci, a journalist, who had
replied to him through the Corriere, demanding punitive
action against the perpetrators of terror, advocates
non-violence. A firm believer in Gandhian philosophy, he argues
that violence is not the best way to defeat violence, as no war
has ever been able to put an end to war. Speaking against the
weapons of mass destruction and the possible threat of their
use, he says, "we should ask those of us who possess
nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, chief among whom is
the United States, to give their solemn pledge that they will
never be first to use them, rather than ominously reminding us
of their existence." He has openly criticised the USA for
its involvement in West Asia. He claims that the root of all
problems of the West, especially America’s, lies in the
region, "as it is the West’s obsessive concern to ensure
the region’s oil reserves remain in the hands of regimes which
are ‘friendly.’"
In a letter from
Peshawar, Terzani narrates his visit to border villages in
Pakistan, which are largely inhabited by Pashtuns who are known
as the most feared warriors in Afghanistan. In the company of
two university students well acquainted with the region, Terzani
chances upon a world of fanatic jihadis whom he calls the
product of madrasas. He recalls his meeting with a
paranoid fanatic who truly believed that "miraculous hands
would appear in the sky at just the right moment to prevent the
American bombs from falling." Here he hears speeches full
of fanaticism, superstition and certainties based on ignorance.
However, a visit
to Kabul, which he describes in a letter, leaves his heart
"pierced, mutilated and burnt." The city, of which a
poet once wrote, "My home? here is my home: a drop of dew
amid the petals of a rose," had been reduced to a pile of
rubble. The pathetic look of gutted houses, mausoleums, domes
and temples told the tale of how this paradise was lost. By
bringing out the true picture of the war, Terzani tries to
highlight the destruction and devastation it can cause. Apart
from discussing reconstruction and development works in
Afghanistan, he has tried to present the "real" role
of "peace forces" during operation "Enduring
Freedom."
In a letter from
Delhi titled "Hei Ram," Terzani takes up the current
India-Pakistan situation. Expressing his disappointment over
India mobilising troops against Pakistan, he reminds India of
its own strong, deep-rooted spiritual culture. He suggests that
instead of waging a war, it should go to its roots to rediscover
the ancient language of non-violence. He wants both the
countries to work towards greater integration to make the
subcontinent burden-free.
A staunch follower
of Gandhi, Terzani in his letters has successfully shown in
total sincerity the other face of the war. His message is clear:
sooner or later man will have to change course and renounce
violence. Take your time reading this thought-provoking book.
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THE
book under review is a collection of letters written by famous war
correspondent Tiziano Terzani. Born in Florence, Italy, in 1938, he
worked with the German magazine Der Spiegel as reporter from
Asia for 30 years, after which he moved to India in 1994 with his
writer/wife, Angela Staude. A keen student of the Asian continent,
he has authored several books based on experience he gained during
wartime as well as peace. His works—A Fortune-Teller Told Me:
Earthbound Travels in the Far East and In Asia—have
been well received by both critics and readers across the world.
