O P I N I O N S

GROUND ZERO
Rahul and the importance of being earnest
Raj Chengappa
Rahul is finally developing a more cohesive political discourse that is beginning to gain traction across the country. But given the anti-incumbency mood of the electorate he and the Congress face an uphill task.

Fifty fifty
The big fat Indian wedding sangeet
Kishwar Desai
Different kinds of sangeet functions are becoming popular, where the family is uninvolved. For the past few years, for those who can afford it, the trend is to invite Bollywood stars to perform at the sangeet.

Guest column
Time ripe for action against militants in Pakistan
Nasim Zehra
Militant violence has increasingly alienated their supporters and even the fence-sitters. When militants kill polio workers and declare polio drops un-Islamic, sympathy for them starts waning.

Fifty fifty
The big fat Indian wedding sangeet
Kishwar Desai

Different kinds of sangeet functions are becoming popular, where the family is uninvolved. For the past few years, for those who can afford it, the trend is to invite Bollywood stars to perform at the sangeet.

There is nothing like an Indian wedding to make one realise how well integrated this country is. No matter where you are — the Indian ‘shaadi’ is something everyone celebrates with great gusto. And there is also an enormous industry that is geared for it with traditions from various parts being assimilated rapidly.

East, West, North or South there is little difference, as the rising middle class now aspires for exclusivity and routinely hires wedding planners and art designers and culinary advisors. Indeed, weddings generate both jobs and joie de vivre.

But admittedly, there are a few special functions which dominate wedding festivities, and perhaps the most popular among them is the sangeet, adapted from our very own Punjab. While Punjabi weddings are also becoming increasingly elaborate — it is the sangeet which seems to have captured the imagination of more sedate parts of the country, as it obviously gives a chance to let one’s hair down and party!

And how much this once-simple sangeet has changed! I remember — as would so many readers of The Tribune — of a time when the sangeet comprised of just a group of women sitting around, casually, on the floor, at the bride’s home, a few days before the wedding. Turn by turn, each of the relations present among them would be asked to get up and dance — and accompanied by some slightly risqué lyrics — they would gyrate with abandon. It was just a family function attended by close friends and others from the mohalla or the neighbourhood. There was nothing professional about it. But, slowly, people lost track of the authentic lyrics — and the ‘buas’ and ‘maasis’ and ‘tais’ could no longer manage either the ‘dholki’ or the spoon with which they enthusiastically kept up the rhythm. So families began to hire outside singers, who were more professional and knew the words and the music. From an occasion where women could simply enjoy each other’s company as they teased the bride or the groom — it escalated to a far less private affair.

Gradually, the professional singer now came accompanied by a group, and the function became more and more organised and slick so that the singing was done by outsiders completely while the family became onlookers. The venue also shifted from the home to a hotel or a club, and the audience and participants grew larger and more diverse as well. Invitation cards began to be printed, quite separately, for the sangeet — and a certain formality was introduced. It was no longer just a get-together — but a regular performance.

Having just participated very enthusiastically in the ‘sangeet’ of a close relation — let me assure you, the entire process and organisation has evolved even further. In fact, the sangeet has been lifted to a whole new level. For instance, not only did we have carefully re-mixed numbers to dance to — we all had a proper stage to perform upon. Choreographers taught us our ‘moves’, so that we were in perfect synchronisation, Bollywood style. It was quite an amazing — and frankly fun — experience. What came as a surprise to me was how well trained everyone seemed to be, when the curtains rose on the sangeet day! Despite the fact that we had few hours to practice, everyone took the whole thing rather seriously.

There were showers of confetti, background dancers as well as a kaleidoscope of lights which no doubt flatteringly presented us as far better dancers than we were, though some amongst us could undoubtedly have given Katrina Kaif a run for her money.

But at least ours remained a vastly enjoyable family function, with a personal touch, where we entertained, and got to know one another, since both sides of the family were involved. The ‘performances’ also provided a quick introduction to various family members — as aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, parents all took to the stage briefly. It was a quick way to identify the main members of the family, which was a possible rationale for the sangeet of olden days as well. In those times, too, when a particular relative got up to the dance, her relationship with the bride or groom would be made apparent in the song.

But I have been told that other kinds of sangeet functions are becoming extremely popular, where the family is completely uninvolved. For the past few years — for those who can afford it, the trend is to invite Bollywood stars to ‘perform’ at the sangeet. In that case, family participation (which was there in our sangeet) would automatically cease.

Talking of just my own experience, I have to admit I quite enjoyed my few moments of fame on the stage, as did others as well!

Guest column
Time ripe for action against militants in Pakistan
Nasim Zehra

Militant violence has increasingly alienated their supporters and even the fence-sitters. When militants kill polio workers and declare polio drops un-Islamic, sympathy for them starts waning.

"You hit us once and we will hit you twice. That’s what people like in my area. They say Nawaz Sharif is doing the right thing now," explains Adil, the man who lives in Bhara Khau on the outskirts of Islamabad.

Adil had been in awe of Lal Masjid’s prayer leader Abdul Aziz Sahib, who is now in the Taliban team nominated for negotiations with the government. Adil had rejoiced the return of Lal Masjid to Aziz and helped them repaint the mosque. He would also bring the weekly Taliban supported newspaper from Rawalpindi. Adil vocally supported its editorial thrust on how Pakistani society must be "cleansed of all evil". Often he would recall its stories about Taliban providing prompt justice to the corrupt and the immoral in society. When all else did not work the way Adil — from the less advantaged segment of Pakistani society — wanted, the Taliban panacea was attractive.

Supporters are turning away from militants.

And so a narrative was born. The killing machines of the militants found greater resonance in the hearts of the poor than the state machinery’s constitutionally approved killing machines. It began some decades ago with the Afghan jihad in the ’80s bankrolled by global powers.

But in recent weeks much appears to have changed. Millions of Pakistan’s Adils are now watching with shock the videos of beheaded soldiers, paramilitary and the police. Deadly bomb blasts are routine and so are the militants’ messages taking responsibility. Their justification for turning Pakistan into an expanding killing field ranges from wanting to impose "real Sharia", extricating Pakistan from a US war, to asking for an end to drones.

What may have appealed to many, including some of the political leaders, is now cutting almost no ice. Now the loudest voices are of those who are opposing militants and demanding use of force against militants who don’t surrender unconditionally. The young PPP chairman, Bilalwal Bhutto, wants no talks with the ones of a beastly character. "They want Islam promoted from the seas of blood that their terrorism is creating in Pakistan," Bilawal thunders. When he seeks a peaceful Islam that has been Pakistan’s pre-Eighties legacy, even non-PPP supporters sit up, listen and nod in agreement.

Militant violence has increasingly alienated their supporters and even the fence-sitters. When militants kill polio workers and declare polio drops un-Islamic, sympathy for them starts waning. Many of the militants have publicly trashed the Constitution and talked of forcing their own version of Sharia. This combined with the gross beheading clips has given it the unlikely but powerful title of ‘pornography of death".

The stronger the militants’ actions against the people and the State, the greater the space for government action. Some has already begun. Air attacks in different regions of FATA, including in Mir Ali and Tirah Valley, are on. Often intelligence sharing between Pakistan and the US helps pinpoint militant hideouts.

The government is in no hurry to launch a quick operation but clearly that is what the signs are. Regular meetings are now held between the President, Prime Minister, Interior Minister, army chief and the ISI chief to devise plans for a ground offensive. The Prime Minister has called a meeting of the four chief ministers to discuss timings, impact and blowback.

Humanitarian problems are emerging in the form of displacement of local population. A similar ground and air operation against the militants in Swat — Operation Rah-i-Raast — was conducted in July 2009, which prompted 2.5 million local people to leave their homes. Similar dislocations will likely accompany news of military operations in North Waziristan, the preparations for which have been underway for the past two months.

The political leadership, which is also the army’s constitutional authority, is now almost all decided on the operation. They know that the Adils of Pakistan may now be far more receptive to such action, which needs the support of the people of Pakistan. How much support is generated will depend on how the government communicates its motives, plan and compulsions for the operation.

The message from the government still lacks clarity on the reasons for the operation. While the confusion over timing and the kind of action the Interior Minister is adept at creating may have a reason, the articulation of why an operation is required will brook no clumsy takes. The message has to be convincing. The narrative has to touch people’s hearts. As in other societies, with the many divides across class, religions, regions and parties, a less than convincing narrative can create resentment once the fallout of an operation hits the civilians.

In the coming days, better articulation is expected while the army prepares to put its best foot forward to clear the militant bases from where terrorist attacks have haunted million of Pakistan’s Adils and others.

The writer is a Pakistan-based columnist and TV anchor