I first met Marvi Sirmed -- a "Bindi wali Hindu" -- at a dinner in Islamabad three years ago. Apart from the fact that I loved her crisp cotton sari, her large round bindi and her shudh Hindi -- I also loved what she stood for -- PEACE. She wished for a truly secular Pakistan and debunked the two-nation theory.
I have spotted Marvi, a Muslim by birth, several times since. Always in her trademark sari and bindi. I am sure many mistake her to be Indian (read Hindu), even though Indians never step out in a sari in Pakistan (at least not in public spaces), let alone sport a bindi!
A few months ago, I saw Marvi being promoted from being "Indian" to "Indian agent" in a television show. I wasn't surprised at all. After all, my little-known and low-profile Pakistani Hindu neighbours are "Indians" too. I once raised the issue with one of the younger members of the family. "We've been living here for decades and everyone knows we are Pakistanis. Still they call us Indians, because we are Hindus!" he said. I felt sad for the boy.
I asked him if he would like to visit India. "Never," was his answer. "If we go to India Pakistanis call us Indian spies, and Indians call us Pakistani spies," he added.
Marvi, of course, is a bigger sinner. She has taken on the high and mighty because she believes in a Pakistan where Hindus and Christians enjoy the same rights as Muslims. For those of you who still haven't seen Pakistan's Jhansi ki Rani take on Zaid Hamid, famously famous for hating all things Indian and, more recently, for calling Marvi a bindi wali Hindu -- please do see this. Bindiya chamkegi!
Indians and Pakistanis were the same till the English came and sowed the seeds of discord and then our own bigots took over the unfinished work of the colonizers.
ReplyDeleteI have always admired Marvi ji's tweets and her fearlessness and her courage in a country where leave aside women, even men are afraid to voice their true opinions.
I enjoyed reading this article, not only because it praises a woman I admire, but also because it highlights the values that she stands for, sometimes in the face of real testing times.
BINDIYA ZAROOR CHAMKEGI
Dr. Mohan Doshi.
what u say is incorrect dr doshi..English had nothign to do with Hindu Muslim being different. Islam has no love for idol worshipers like Hindus leave alone being same. Its one thing to be romantic and wax eloquent of the good ole days, but reality is Islam is a nation in itself. while Christians, Jews hv little respect in Islam for being Ahle Kitab, Hindus hv none.
DeleteThe English had nothing to do with it. Hindus according to Islam are in Jahiliyat, darkness..being idolators they are reduced to paying jizya and are dhimmis, second class citizens protected only on the payment of tax with limited rights. So Dr Doshi u r wrong. Dont know whr u picked this romantic notion from. Pakistan was based on the philosophy of Two Nation Theory and Iqbals Pan Islamism. Hindus hv no place there. Pls get real!
DeleteJust because she is hindu doesnt mean Marvi has much good things to say about India. She calls out Indians whenever they make antagonistic public comments.
DeleteRoman thought virus which was first introduced in third century almost 100 years after Yogi Yeshu's death in Srinagar, India, has mutated so much that today we have lost ability to deal with it. Yeshu who spent 17 years learning Yog and meditation techniques, returned to his Aramic speaking people to teach what he learned for raising consciousness and art of living. Since his teaching was individualistic, congregation to Jewish temples started to dwindle and so also roman tax collection. That is why he was persecuted and he had to run back to India. Romans used Jesus name to divide Jewish people and created fanatic Armed Legion which we call Christianity. It defined "others" more ie unbeliever and the hate for those others. Thus started the brutalization and making new convert give up their culture, language and disown their ancestors. Such uprooted converts were ready cannon fodder in imperialistic wars. Other pagan European were then conquered and vanquished. Enslaved pagan eventually converted and they in turn started conquering and brutalizing natives of distant lands. Bedouin MohMad perfected this Roman technique. Please do not equate this devislish concept called religion with eastern Dharmas.
DeleteBritish didn't sow the seeds of discord between Hindus and Muslims. It is the mentality of RSS Sangh Pariwar that divided India. You still haven't learned anything.
DeleteBritish didn't sowed the seeds of discord between Hindus and Muslims. It is the mentality of likes of RSS, Vishwa Hindi Parishad, and Bajrang Dal that divided India. Hindus consider Muslims as Maleech (unclean), and foreign to India. According to Abul Kalam Azad and Jaswant Singh it was Nehru who divided India.
DeleteBritish didn't sow the seeds of discord between Hindus and Muslims. It is the mentality of RSS Sangh Pariwar that divided India. You still haven't learned anything.
DeleteCrush INDIA...
ReplyDeleteCrush YOU !!!!
DeletePeace to both nations.... Amen !
Come and crush india. Just saying it won't get the job done coward.
DeleteLove Marvi, very vocal about these right wingers. Put them in their place.
ReplyDelete-Raza
Dr Joshi, Thank you! Unfortunately, so far, yours is the only sane, civil and printable comment!
ReplyDeleteReally sad to hear that. I thought there would be a flood of comments praising Marviji. But then life is sometimes different from what we think. Please continue the good work on your blog highlighting these stories. The trickle of admirers will surely turn into a caravan.
ReplyDeletedr doshi while u mean well u r totally off target. English had nothing to do with Hindu/Muslim being different, dont know where u picked it up from. Maybe u havnt heard of Two Nation Theory, or read Iqbal where he invokes Muslims to be like Mahmud of Ghazni and Aurangzeb - and u most definitely do not have knowledge of Islam. Hindus are in Jahiliyat or darkness and being idolators have no acceptance in Islam at all. Indeed the Jews and Xians being of the 'Book' hv some concessions but Hindus definitely no. So Dr Doshi, sir, u r wrong.
DeleteHindus have murdered Muslims by the thousands in recent history in India. Muslims have never done this to Hinuds in Pakistan. So why all the finger pointing?
DeleteMy friend, 99% Indians and Pakistanis are of the same Lineage. The foreign rulers who came to India long time back later converted the original residents to their religion but that does not elienate any of us from each other. The hatred for no reason will divide us further. In India there are so many other religions but the brother should have one common reason that we have the same root.
DeleteThe religions should not divide the world and more we think about it the better will our lives would be.
Long live brotherhood !
This shows level of literacy and education.No use arguing or educating, I pity them .The Pakistan had a good culture and heritage.Its western indian sub-continentcivilization.,ONLY PEOPLE LIKE GREAT MARVIJI CAN SAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.Let the young blood study ,travel and see the world.First give importance to the nations development,try to wipe out poverity...let this beautiful country to be known to be famous and come first in every aspects of developments......our brothers and sisters should start thinking this.....
DeleteRoman thought virus which was first introduced in third century almost 100 years after Yogi Yeshu's death in Srinagar, India, has mutated so much that today we have lost ability to deal with it. Yeshu who spent 17 years learning Yog and meditation techniques, returned to his Aramic speaking people to teach what he learned for raising consciousness and art of living. Since his teaching was individualistic, congregation to Jewish temples started to dwindle and so also roman tax collection. That is why he was persecuted and he had to run back to India. Romans used Jesus name to divide Jewish people and created fanatic Armed Legion which we call Christianity. It defined "others" more ie unbeliever and the hate for those others. Thus started the brutalization and making new convert give up their culture, language and disown their ancestors. Such uprooted converts were ready cannon fodder in imperialistic wars. Other pagan European were then conquered and vanquished. Enslaved pagan eventually converted and they in turn started conquering and brutalizing natives of distant lands. Bedouin MohMad perfected this Roman technique. Please do not equate this devislish concept called religion with eastern Dharmas.
DeleteRoman thought virus which was first introduced in third century almost 100 years after Yogi Yeshu's death in Srinagar, India, has mutated so much that today we have lost ability to deal with it. Yeshu who spent 17 years learning Yog and meditation techniques, returned to his Aramic speaking people to teach what he learned for raising consciousness and art of living. Since his teaching was individualistic, congregation to Jewish temples started to dwindle and so also roman tax collection. That is why he was persecuted and he had to run back to India. Romans used Jesus name to divide Jewish people and created fanatic Armed Legion which we call Christianity. It defined "others" more ie unbeliever and the hate for those others. Thus started the brutalization and making new convert give up their culture, language and disown their ancestors. Such uprooted converts were ready cannon fodder in imperialistic wars. Other pagan European were then conquered and vanquished. Enslaved pagan eventually converted and they in turn started conquering and brutalizing natives of distant lands. Bedouin MohMad perfected this Roman technique. Please do not equate this devislish concept called religion with eastern Dharmas.
DeleteRoman thought virus which was first introduced in third century almost 100 years after Yogi Yeshu's death in Srinagar, India, has mutated so much that today we have lost ability to deal with it. Yeshu who spent 17 years learning Yog and meditation techniques, returned to his Aramic speaking people to teach what he learned for raising consciousness and art of living. Since his teaching was individualistic, congregation to Jewish temples started to dwindle and so also roman tax collection. That is why he was persecuted and he had to run back to India. Romans used Jesus name to divide Jewish people and created fanatic Armed Legion which we call Christianity. It defined "others" more ie unbeliever and the hate for those others. Thus started the brutalization and making new convert give up their culture, language and disown their ancestors. Such uprooted converts were ready cannon fodder in imperialistic wars. Other pagan European were then conquered and vanquished. Enslaved pagan eventually converted and they in turn started conquering and brutalizing natives of distant lands. Bedouin MohMad perfected this Roman technique. Please do not equate this devislish concept called religion with eastern Dharmas.
DeleteWell done to Marvi! I admire her for her guts and the ability to call a spade a spade... its people like her that will slowly change our country's mindset... for everyone that doesn't agree with her there are just as many who do!
ReplyDeleteA
Most of these who don't agree are 20-something presenting someone else's ideas as their own since they are incapable of any rational thinking (yet). If given an environment of sanity and rational discourse, more than half of these people would side with common sense and reality. That's just human psyche as chaos can only lead to more chaos. Even the ugliest of commentators among this lot are mostly different people with thoughts and action that don't represent their online anonymous profile when you meet them in person.
ReplyDeleteOnly education and economic opportunities can tackle their paranoia and fear that India and US are hell bent on destroying Pakistan and anyone who slightly favors them is taking their side. Our army propagated this paranoia to tackle with their own failures (based on some real facts might I add). But like France and england, there will be a day when these things would become issues of the past. Till then, I sincerely hope the sanity prevails.
-Raza
Raza, thank you for this insightful comment.
ReplyDelete@ Raza- It is disturbing to hear that those people are actually 20 somethings.. Had they been of Zaid Hamid's generation, it would have at least been something we could have ignored and lived with..
ReplyDeleteKudos to Marvi for standing up for what's right. I do have something to say about the pakistani hindus being referred to as "hindus." I'm sure you're aware of Justice Bhagwan Das, former Chief Justice of Paksitan and currently the Chairman of Federal Public Service Commission. Tej Pal Mohan, Arjun Wadia, Bheem Charan of Rani Daas Jewelers in Haiderabad, Sindh and many others are but a few names among a strong, growing and wealthy community of Hindus in Pakistani nation. Sure, there are those within the mainstream muslim community who do bear hatred within their hearts towards Indians in general and Hindus in particular. But their likes exist with equal and often, exceeding frequency within India as well. I remember a scene from the many graphic and horrible images that came out of the Gujrat riots of 2002 in which Gujarati muslims were declared to be pakistani and were demanded to exit Bharat. My point is, such hatred which is based on pure ignorance and political motivations, exists regardless of borders. To determine the character of one society based on such things is to pass an unfair judgment.
ReplyDeleteSalman, thanks for reading. Also, Gujarat is not India! :)
ReplyDelete:) I'm aware that its not a representative of India's entirety, just as those mentioned in the post aren't Pakistan, in their hatred and ignorance. Lets hope that both are able to trade their individual drawbacks with awareness and open mindedness, InshAllah. With the work you guys are doing through this blog, the chances of that happening increase dramatically. So keep up the good work! :)
ReplyDeleteSalman, thank you again! My point is in New Delhi, the capital of India, nobody has ever called me a Pakistani! And here, in the middle of Pakistan's capital my well-to-do Hindu neighbours get called Indians by supposedly educated, well-to-do and modern people :)
ReplyDeleteI apologize on the behalf of those people, for again, they do fall into the category of those who dont know better. You have to understand that Pakistan is NOT yet the "Secular" country that its founding father once envisioned. We're primarily a state, and the only other one in the world, which was solely conceived under the notion of establishing a homeland for Muslims mainly. After decades of islamisation of both this land's laws and culture in the name of political and economic gain, it is no wonder that a Pakistani is naturally assumed to be a Muslim. A non Muslim in Pakistan, by that virtue, is "assumed" (however wrongfully or naively so) to be an outsider. In this case, the term Indian is the direct translation of the word Hindu, which basically means a native of Hindustan. That native could be any of the wide range of India's brilliantly diverse population. We are yet to realize that Pakistan was not just created to be a fortress of puritanical Muslim beliefs, but should be a refuge and a welcoming land towards all those that are pure of heart, pure of intentions and pure of deeds, regardless of their faith and creed. I'm sure we'd get there some day, God Willing, however difficult a challenge it may seem to be.
ReplyDeleteOn a personal as well as societal level, I've always had great respect and admiration towards Pakistan's religious and ethnic minorities. Their adherence to any faith is at best, an element of diversity which adds to the spectrum of this land's colorful people. They deserve all the respect, recognition, equality and fair share within this homeland of theirs and ours. We have, sadly and regretfully, been grossly unfair and unjust to our fellow Pakistanis, especially those from religious and sectarian minorities. We have persecuted and turned a blind eye towards the plight of Christians, Hindus, the people of Kailash, even Shias and Ahmedis at a governmental as well as societal level. Such injustice, however, remains in a stark contradiction with Islam's teachings as well as this nations constitutional ideals. With our nations up coming Marvis and Jinnahs, there is plenty of hope for the removal of orthodox elements from this society.
Pakistan does not treat its minorities as well as some developed nations might, but it treats is minorities much much much better than India. India has had on going policy of inciting, promoting and allowing violence against its minorities. No other country in the world has massacred its minorities as India has. When this type of massacres that happen in Asam, Gujrat, Kashmir, Punjab happen in africa the world calls it genocide. Unfortunately for the minorities in India, India is very good at public relations. So it has, to degree promoted itself as a destination for peace and zen to the whities. For minorities in India it is anything but.
Delete"Pakistan does not treat its minorities as well as some developed nations might, but it treats is minorities much much much better than India."
DeleteNow that does not sound right
Well said Salman! Pakistan can surely do with more Marvis, Sadafs and, also, Salmans :)
ReplyDeleteFirst, I admire Marvi and I have a huge issue with fundamentalist maniacs in general. However, I respectfully want to point something out - First, PLENTY of Pakistanis (especially the migrants from UP and Deccan) wear Saris, in public AND wear bindis.
ReplyDeleteSecond, please dont go making statements of "Pakistan India were the same before British". This is denying history and culture of a people in the opposite extreme (the other being the Aryan-Arab Mullahs in Pakistan). We have all the respect for our Eastern neighbor, but we are not Indians, just as despite being a Farsiwan, I am not Iranian. I am Pakistani. Like 160 million others. THATS our identity. This denial of a separate identity for Pakistanis (by both Indians and some Pakistanis) is what has caused a lot of hatred over the years (also provincialism in Pakistan). People CAN be friends even when they are "not the same".
Maria, I have heard that some women still step out in a sari in Karachi, a city I haven't been to yet. But bindis I am not sure about :) In Marvi's context the issue is not about sari-bindi -- its about holding forth. Also, I agree that we can be friends even if we are not the same. However, the funny thing is that I have to keep reminding myself that I am NOT the same.
ReplyDeleteActually, I was born and grew up mostly in KPK and Lahore. Women from communities who identify themselves as Urdu speaking STILL wear Saris on a regular basis. Festivals/functions in various colleges and universities in many cities often have 'dress codes' or 'themes' which are based on Sari (or other foreign dresses/eras as well). Pakistanis are not exactly 'anti-sari', it just isnt the predominant culture.
ReplyDeleteSimilarly, bindi is not the predominant culture but MANY women use it. They are from specific ethnic groups or grew up around those ethnic groups, but they can be seen sporting bindis ESPECIALLY when dressing up on eids or weddings and so on.
Please do not make it sound as if the real issue is or if Pakistanis as a society are 'anti-bindi or anti-sari'. It is a cultural thing which is alien to us. I am not sure where you are based, but you really need to venture into the rest of Pakistan :)
(and anyone who calls someone a hindu because of bindi or sari is also an idiot personified! but not a general representative of Pakistan)
Maria, thank you again. I am in Islamabad and unfortunately none of us Indians are allowed to SEE Pakistan, much as we would love to!
ReplyDeleteLike I said in my earlier comment, the issue is most definitely not about sari-bindi. Sari-bindi came up because Zaid Hamid called Marvi a "bindi wali Hindu" :)
the Justification of why youre not allowed to "SEE" Pakistan is because they keep catching RAW agents in Pakistan.
DeleteZaid Hamid himself has a much more popular name for himself, to which we all should refer officially: Laal Topi wala Bandar!
ReplyDeleteBlogger, I came upon your blog through Rezaul Lashkar tweets and like to read a post of yours regarding Malabar Muslims who migrated from Kerala in 1947 and about their current situation in Pakistan and their language
ReplyDeleteAik bhai ne Marvi v/s Zaid Hamid ke debate ko lekar Kisi blog me likha hai ki Hinduon ko pak se nikaal do. To phir Hindustan ke 20 crore muslims ko bhi pak me bula lo. Aap khud to America se bheekh lekar roti kha rahe ho. Us samay aapka religion kahan jata h. Agar America who has killed thousands of innocent Muslims in Iraq and Afganistan wohi america agar pak ko Khairaat na de to aik din ki roti bhi pak ko naseeb na ho. Zaid Hamid ne America se dollars lekar Afgan me jehad ke naam par 10000 innocent muslims ladkon ko marvaya Pak secular banke hi self reliant ho sakta hai lekin kattarvadita ke chalte barbaad hua. See Najam sethi interview on u tube telling how hindus are being converted to Muslims and even in a talk show the anchor Muneer Bhai told how a khatoon ( Who I think was a muslim) due to property despute was abducted, gang raped for days but nobody from police and govt. attended their guardians. It is only on the personal intervention of a Khuda ka banda Mr. Muneer that IG sahib looked the matter, filed a case & assured Mr Muneer that come what may he will bring the culprits to book. If it can happen to a khatoon of a well to do family what would have been happening to lakhs of poor, destitute women. Which Islam allow you to do this ? Is is your own interpreted Islam. Actual Islam always stands for respect of all human beings whether it is man or woman. Pak me hindu 15% se 3-4 % tak aa gaye and in India muslims grown from 5 % approx to 20 %. Hamare desh me Kalaam sahib Rastrapati bane. Agar India me Muslims ka exploitatation hota to how it was possible. Azzhurdin fixing mein mulvvis paye jane ke baad bhi cricket ke captain ke taur par lakhon Indians ki ankhon ke tare rahe. In India Imam Bukhari of Jama Masjid openly declared so many times that he is an agent of ISI arrest him if the govt. dares. Even then no Hindu attacked him except protesting in a democratic way. We though are Hindus but love and like Sharukh, Aamir and Salman Khan, Daleep Kumar (Yusuf Bhai). Gujrat mein jo hua wo kuch galat Hinduon ke karan hua wo bhi after some Kar Sewaks were burnt alive at Godhara it was a reaction though it should not. Rahi Sacchar committee ki report ki baat wo report was prepared to take the votes of fundamentalist muslims. Jaise aapke Zaid Hamid jaise log hain to hamare india me bhi waise hi kuch cheap log hain. But as In India there are People like Vajpayee ji jo muslims ke vote se jeette thea . Aapke bhi insaniyat ke liye ladne wale Najam sethi aur Madam Sirmed jaise insaan hain. May allah bless Pak. HAR MUSLIM KO MUSLIM HONE PAR GARV HONA CHAHIYE AUR HAR HINDU KO HINDU HONE PAR.. Koi religion chota bada nahin hota.Kashmir ko todne ke liye jo arabon Rs. kharck kiya wahi apne pak ki gurwat theek karne me lagate to pak ki tasveer hi kuch aur hoti. Spend your energy on development, education, secularism, peace rather on paying heed to radicals like Zaid Hamid. Otherwise aaj America tumahare ghar me ghus kar Osama ko mar ke gya. Kal wo jo kuc kar sakta hai wo tumahare tassvur mein bhi nahin hai. Respect people like Marvi Sirmed Ji and Nazam Sethi Saheb. Is it only a suggestion but the final choice is yours.
ReplyDeleteLong live India, Long live Pakistan.
Sanjeev Singh Thakur, India
The issue is not her fight for minority rights but because of her categorical slandering of Pakistani institutions for all the problems while keeping mum or refusing to talk about issues that Pakistan has with India. That makes her totally intellectually dishonest and certainly bankrupt. Had issues like Kashmir not been there, Pakistan and India would have enjoyed a much more cordial relationship and Pakistanis wouldn't have the grudge that they have toward India now. Two nation theory would probably have gone into obscurity and minorities would have been in a much better shape. General Pakistani psyche has this grudge that India had been trying to bully and humiliate them from day one because they are Muslims. There were no fanatic group in Pakistan before. They were bred through the Afghan theater during soviet invasion and Pakistani security agencies let them go unchecked as a retaliatory measure against India. If she was a sane sensible honest individual, she would have addressed all the issues rationally and campaigned for resolving the issues through compromise. Instead of doing that, she tried to throw her harpoon toward Pakistani institutions. Zaid Hameed is emotional but he is lot more honest and sensible and someone who can be dealt with sensibly. This is no wonder that Marvi is getting spat and she will continue to be spat upon until she drowns. Such thugs deserve that. India had an obligation under UN resolution to hold refrendum in Kashmir but it reneged on that. Can you imagine someone in Delhi sitting live on TV and saying that India is categorically responsible for the whole Kashmir issue day after day? (S)he will be torn to pieces the next day for high treason. Yet, thugs like Marve are in one piece in Pakistan and carrying on their treacherous activities.
ReplyDeleteHad there been no Pakistan, people like this thug called Marve wouldn't probably be sitting where she is now. Given the level of backwardness Muslims were in at the time and the difficulty they were facing to make headways in education and job against the much advanced and educated Hindu community, she would probably be cleaning dishes now in some rich Sindhi household as a maid. Yet, she is out to slander Pakistan now!
Hassan
if not kashmir it is Islam stupid! Even today England is learning that with Sharia courts. Islam has problems with Thailand, Philippines,... anywhere Muslims are in minority.
DeleteSituated at the fringe of short distance to city, Sant Ritz at Potong Pasir (Singapore) in District 13.
ReplyDeletethe interlace condo
india the cuntry whose founder was a religious leader talks of secularism.... i think we shud not forget wwat happened at Babri Masjid ... india is an extremist!!
ReplyDelete