Sitting Ducks

JUNE 1999 - Hats off or since we are not into hats, whatever else off, to the gentlemen who have exposed Reema and Attiqa Odho (not a bad idea actually) for having displayed anti-Pakistan sentiments and ruined our national image by singing the Indian national anthem. Now, as these gentlemen and others who are equally inspired to defend our honour, bay for the blood of the two ladies, one can only marvel at the dedication of people whose singular purpose in life seems to search on for evidence of anti-State activities.

Why Attiqa Odho and Reema were carried away to sing the Indian national anthem, we might never know. In fact if I can recall the charge sheet as reported in the press, they are accused of joining in the singing of the anthem. Of course the forces of evil which surround the nation are always at work and it is likely that given the tensions of the border, current these days, the two actresses might have been lured by that fiendishly cunning RAW to start belting out the Indian national anthem. Reema has denied already that she disgraced her country, either by dress, behaviour or vocal talents and has said that on the contrary she, as always, did her best to bring the country a good name (not the easiest of tasks these days). She blames a newspaper for having started this campaign of slander against her and is very upset at having been taken to the national moral conscience cleaners although she is innocent. Ms Odho has not responded so far. Perhaps she is out of the country and is elsewhere, undoubtedly singing some more national anthems of other countries hostile to our existence.

Of course this is not the first or last time that artists are being subjected to this kind of abuse. It has been happening with monotonous regularity. There is a section of self-guided zealots who wake up every morning to catch all those who, in their blessed opinion, are working against the interests of the State and aiding our enemies. All kinds of sinister motives are attributed to them and all kinds of charges are laid at their doorsteps. After a while, the charges fizzle out, the issues are forgotten and new targets are located. The merry charade begins all over again. Faiz, Ahmad Faraz, Naheed Siddiqui, Nur Jehan, Junoon, Mehdi Hasan….the list is endless and transcends every kind of regime we have had. Najam Sethi was a recent addition to this illustrious band of national figures who have on one occasion or another, brought disgrace to the country. The funny thing is that those who have really sold this country down the river, have made fortunes and moved into oblivion with great comfort.

I have yet to see once the same action brought against those who first initiated the moves and then very conveniently withdrew into the shadows. But then accountability is a very funny word here. Those that actually harm and have harmed our national interests and further ruined our tattered image, are quite often the ones who are behind such attacks, which have official sanction if not full support. The fact is that all of us who travel abroad, officially or otherwise, on business or for pleasure, as parts of money-begging delegations or delegates to conferences and the like, are all representing the country. What we say or do is important and crucial in shaping the overall conception others have about us, but who is going to decide and what is the yardstick by which these opinions are turned into bigoted hate campaigns ? Show-biz people are sitting ducks because they represent a world of glamour and create more envy and heartburn amongst the ugly crusaders who are only driven by hate and plain jealousy. Consider the outrage here when Junoon opened their mouths in India and talked of peace. It was considered that the heavens had all but caved in when these terrible thoughts were uttered in India yet months later after that plea for peace, we are on the brink of more killing with our neighbours. The little light of peace, which had begun to flicker, is all but extinguished. There is distrust, hate and violence on both sides and it is building up. In the end, some wisdom might prevail and we will avert a major catastrophe, but you will agree the odds don’t look too good. Last May we were nuking mountains and deserts this side and that of our borders and this summer we are shelling, straffing and killing soldiers, civillians, men, women and children on either side. And this the last summer of the century ? What irony and what a failure of leadership on either side to let things come to this.

The truth is that the only chance peace has in the subcontinent is when ordinary people on either side are given the opportunity to bridge the divide of hate and distrust. In such a fairyland scenario, current reality being what it is, gifted people on either side can truly play a great role in making us all believe that there can be peace and coexistence without compromising national interests. If Nur Jehan praised Lata and was villified, the loss is ours. If Junoon have been hounded off PTV and banned for all intents and purposes, it is still our loss. And when Naheed’s craft is dismissed as ‘Indian’ it is one more blow to the little hope that we all nurture for peace and goodwill. I don’t know whether Reema and Attiqa joined the chorus and sang vociferously when the Indian national anthem was played at the function abroad, but even if they did, or stood quietly in respect or murmured the words, what cardinal sin did they commit ? It would be rather similar to put the Prime Minister of Pakistan on trial for hosting a sumptuous dinner for his counterpart in Lahore, not too long ago.