This publication which I read today is a version translated
by Amina Azfar and published by OUP. The book is written by Kishwar Naheed who wrote
it in Urdu. In the prologue Kishwar describes this book as the “vindication
point” in her life and for “future generations”.
The author talks about literature, language, sports, attire
and geography of the different areas of Pakistan. She gives a general overview
and does not delve into details. I discovered some mistakes in her book. At one
point she says that in Gilgit and Hunza there are twenty-two local languages
but Urdu is spoken and understood everywhere. Wacholi language, which I did not
know before to have existed, is spoken in Central Sind.
At another place Kishwar mentions that: “Because of the
conflict with the army and the bureaucracy, the people of East Pakistan decided
to establish a country of their own”. She does not even mention Bhutto’s role
in this saga. In one chapter she writes about artists and musicians from
Pakistan. While discussing historical place and shrines, she mentions many of
the forts, mosques and other historical sites in Pakistan. Moreover, she writes
about theatre, films and food in Pakistan. In the chapter on Cuisine Kishwar says:
“From Balochistan to Gilgit and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, truck drivers to tribal
chiefs are in the habit of stuffing their cheeks with snuff which they keep
sucking.” I believe this is a very generalized sentence and she needs to
revisit it. She has skipped the majority province of Punjab.
From there on she discusses festivals, sports and dresses
in Pakistan. She covers a chapter on means of communication where she discusses
the old transport methods in the country and later the airline industry in
Pakistan. She writes that in 1961 the Family Laws Ordinance was promulgated.
Following this, women were given the right to inherit and own agricultural
land. At a point in the book the author states that: “The day women get rid of
their mental bondage to men and learn to make their own decisions, our culture
will change.” In the next chapter the men of Pakistan are discussed, starting
from the Pakistan movement and the issues of unemployment they face. On page
126 Kishwar suggests that the population of Pakistan is 400 million. I believe
this figure is not accurate. Her estimations seem very random. Furthermore, in
the book issues of health care, education and languages in Pakistan are
discussesd. Kishwar says: “In Gilgit Baltistan people speak Balti among
themselves. Sheena, Wafi, Brushaski, Khawar, and Domki are also languages of
Gilgit Baltistan but they are rarely written”. This reflects her limited
knowledge regarding Gilgit-Baltistan region.
Kishwar adds chapters on fruits, vegetables and canal system
in Pakistan. Khishwar writes that: “At the time of partition river water was
also divided, under an agreement. It is known as the Indus Water Treaty. I
reckon Indus Water Treaty took place in 1960. The last chapters of the book
address novelists, poets, provinces and culture in Pakistan. Reading some part
of the book made me think that it was for tourists and at a later stage I
thought it was written to touch over all the aspects of Pakistan in one book. Most
of the times, a story narrating style is followed.
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