Being a self-critical Mirpuri, I had been searching for a while for a word, preferably borrowed from the world of literature, that would encapsulate what I am about to describe. Then came the Butler enquiry and the revelation that Dr Kelly had been described by an official as a Walter Mitty character, someone with an inflated sense of their own importance. The character of that name in the short story by James Luber was prone to extravagant flights of fancy, day dreaming of being a brave pilot or a daring naval officer navigating the ship through choppy waters.
The people I am referring to are just as banal. They are Mirpuri men, aged over 55, with a keen interest in politics, particularly Pakistani/ Mirpuri politics. They like to copy the style and deportment of Pakistani politicians. You can see them walking on the streets of Bradford and Birmingham, clad in their white shalwar-kameez dresses, overlain by fine gilet-type garments, just like their political heroes in Pakistan. Often, they alternate traditional smart dress with a suit and tie, again much like Pakistani politicians.
Why do I liken them to Walter Mitty? Because of their inflated sense of self importance. You can read their statements, or news about them, in the one of many sub-standard Urdu newspapers that have proliferated in areas with a high number of Pakistanis. These are filled with such pabulum as ‘Mr X arrives back to the UK from tour of Mirpur’, even though the ‘tour’ was nothing more than a family visit. Or a report announcing ‘X demands withdrawal of US troops from Iraq’, the demand having been made to the ‘editor’ who met the demander while shopping at the local market.
Mirpuri is not a literate language. As such, it has something of a reputation as a language not suitable for ‘educated’ people. To overcome this, our Walter Mitty characters pepper their Mirpuri conversations with words in Urdu, again much like the Punjabi speaking politicians of Pakistan.
There is nothing wrong with being interested in politics. Indeed, quite the opposite. Interest in politics is a very healthy thing. But for the people I am referring to, it’s an ego thing.
Monday, June 20
Monday, June 13
‘How mumbo-jumbo conquered the world’
‘How mumbo-jumbo conquered the world’, by Francis Wheen has attracted some rave reviews. I have a rule that I can buy only two books a month, dictated by my finances. However, intellectual curiosity got the better of me and I decided to buy this book, even though that would exceed my monthly quota.
Though a minnow like me should be wary of criticising the intellectual outpourings of those who know better, I cannot agree with some of the praise that has been heaped on this book. Sure, it contains some useful apercus on the influence of pseudo-science and airy-fairy bunkum. It rightly sniggers at the self help books that are filled with truisms and bromides. Apart filling the pockets of the writers, these serve no useful purpose.
Yet the author’s hyperactive pen strikes at too much. You may disagree with monetarism, but it is a perfectly arguable position to have. And is the left’s critique of US foreign policy so unreasonable as to be in the same league as the balderdash that is the marriage of business and mysticism.
I would have preferred a book on the rise of pseudo-science and its use by politicians, business leaders and the public. At times the book does this, for example when it describes the Blairs’ predilection for weird rituals. It also lays bare the baser financial motives behind the rise of mumbo-jumbo, particularly in the mystification of the pursuit of profit. Yet, for me, the book failed because it gave the impression that anything the author did not agree with amounted to mumbo-jumbo.
Though a minnow like me should be wary of criticising the intellectual outpourings of those who know better, I cannot agree with some of the praise that has been heaped on this book. Sure, it contains some useful apercus on the influence of pseudo-science and airy-fairy bunkum. It rightly sniggers at the self help books that are filled with truisms and bromides. Apart filling the pockets of the writers, these serve no useful purpose.
Yet the author’s hyperactive pen strikes at too much. You may disagree with monetarism, but it is a perfectly arguable position to have. And is the left’s critique of US foreign policy so unreasonable as to be in the same league as the balderdash that is the marriage of business and mysticism.
I would have preferred a book on the rise of pseudo-science and its use by politicians, business leaders and the public. At times the book does this, for example when it describes the Blairs’ predilection for weird rituals. It also lays bare the baser financial motives behind the rise of mumbo-jumbo, particularly in the mystification of the pursuit of profit. Yet, for me, the book failed because it gave the impression that anything the author did not agree with amounted to mumbo-jumbo.
Wednesday, June 8
Some thoughts on third world development issues
When I was an undergraduate, I remember being surprised about the amount that is written on third world development issues in academic journals and books. It is a very complex area, and no doubt a profitable one- ironically- for the academics who research these issues. I also wondered in jest whether any of the trees chopped to make the paper the journals were written on came from developing countries.
Yet one thing has become clear to me over the years. The debate is only complex because, at the end of the day, it boils down to a question of how some of the more glaring symptoms of world poverty can be alleviated without harming the prosperity and high living standards that prevail in the developed world. It is not about how the third world can come to enjoy the same standards.
Economics is a zero sum game. Sure, new success stories can emerge, such as the Southeast Asian tiger economies. But every single country on earth cannot enjoy the average living standards of the UK; the world economy cannot grow in that way. The Southeast Asian countries are small and the amount of economic activity they can attract poses no threat. India and China are another story. Increasingly Western policy makers stress the need to maintain competitiveness in the face of these behemoths.
Another reason for the complexity of the debate, which arises from the need to balance self interest with helping the poor, can be found in the plethora of duties and regulations that prevent third world countries from penetrating first world markets. If these are not in place to protect indigenous industries, why are they not removed? Removing some of these restrictions could lift entire communities out of poverty within months, especially agricultural communities. But in the zero sum game of economics, such a move could devastate domestic industries.
Yet one thing has become clear to me over the years. The debate is only complex because, at the end of the day, it boils down to a question of how some of the more glaring symptoms of world poverty can be alleviated without harming the prosperity and high living standards that prevail in the developed world. It is not about how the third world can come to enjoy the same standards.
Economics is a zero sum game. Sure, new success stories can emerge, such as the Southeast Asian tiger economies. But every single country on earth cannot enjoy the average living standards of the UK; the world economy cannot grow in that way. The Southeast Asian countries are small and the amount of economic activity they can attract poses no threat. India and China are another story. Increasingly Western policy makers stress the need to maintain competitiveness in the face of these behemoths.
Another reason for the complexity of the debate, which arises from the need to balance self interest with helping the poor, can be found in the plethora of duties and regulations that prevent third world countries from penetrating first world markets. If these are not in place to protect indigenous industries, why are they not removed? Removing some of these restrictions could lift entire communities out of poverty within months, especially agricultural communities. But in the zero sum game of economics, such a move could devastate domestic industries.
Monday, June 6
Election 2005 and Sparkbrook, Birmingham
It emerged last week that the Respect party have petitioned the High Court to challenge the general election result in the Sparkbrook constituency. The party’s candidate claims she has had enough complaints to warrant court action. I am not sure what the details of the case are, but there are reports of people turning up to vote and being told that they had already voted by post. It will certainly be interesting to see how the case proceeds.
Although George Galloway’s victory in London was well-reported on election night, the result in Sparkbrook was a bombshell of sorts too. Salma Yaqoob, the Respect candidate, lost the election but managed to turn Labour’s massive majority, greater than 16,000, to around 3,000. Should the election be declared void, Labour could find itself behind the eight ball in Sparkbrook.
I believe Respect could have won the seat in Sparkbrook if more people were convinced that they represented a credible threat to Labour. Many people made the same mistake as I did. While agreeing with the sentiments of the Respect party, there was a feeling that the Respect party was an outsider, a novice, with no prospect of defeating Labour. We thought only the Liberal Democrats could do this. We were wrong. The Respect campaigners I debated with before the election were insisting that they were sensing a massive mood change from the door steps. At the time I somewhat arrogantly thought they were misinterpreting anti-war feeling as evidence of support for their party.
Although George Galloway’s victory in London was well-reported on election night, the result in Sparkbrook was a bombshell of sorts too. Salma Yaqoob, the Respect candidate, lost the election but managed to turn Labour’s massive majority, greater than 16,000, to around 3,000. Should the election be declared void, Labour could find itself behind the eight ball in Sparkbrook.
I believe Respect could have won the seat in Sparkbrook if more people were convinced that they represented a credible threat to Labour. Many people made the same mistake as I did. While agreeing with the sentiments of the Respect party, there was a feeling that the Respect party was an outsider, a novice, with no prospect of defeating Labour. We thought only the Liberal Democrats could do this. We were wrong. The Respect campaigners I debated with before the election were insisting that they were sensing a massive mood change from the door steps. At the time I somewhat arrogantly thought they were misinterpreting anti-war feeling as evidence of support for their party.
Iraq
Several months ago, as the rate of attacks fell, the US felt confident enough to say that the Iraq insurgency was dying off. With daily attacks on the rise again, US personnel on the ground are now admitting that the insurgents are able to switch things on and off as they please.
Far from being a beacon of democracy for the entire region, Iraq has become a dangerous place where death and destruction have become common. When under pressure to democratise, Middle Eastern potentates can now say: ‘Is this what you want us to become?’
If the US was serious about spreading democracy, may be it should have started with some its friends, especially ones less divided on ethnic and sectarian lines. These would have had greater chance of becoming beacons of democracy, perhaps even spurring the populations of neighbouring countries to look at their own system of government.
As things stand present, Iraq is the very opposite of a beacon of democracy. Most people in neighbouring countries see it as an occupied country governed by a class of janissary politicians created by the occupiers to look after their strategic and corporate interests.
Far from being a beacon of democracy for the entire region, Iraq has become a dangerous place where death and destruction have become common. When under pressure to democratise, Middle Eastern potentates can now say: ‘Is this what you want us to become?’
If the US was serious about spreading democracy, may be it should have started with some its friends, especially ones less divided on ethnic and sectarian lines. These would have had greater chance of becoming beacons of democracy, perhaps even spurring the populations of neighbouring countries to look at their own system of government.
As things stand present, Iraq is the very opposite of a beacon of democracy. Most people in neighbouring countries see it as an occupied country governed by a class of janissary politicians created by the occupiers to look after their strategic and corporate interests.
Friday, June 3
European constitution
Across the EU, political classes- whatever their perspective on European integration- are discussing the implications of the French and Dutch thumbs down for the proposed constitution. Most ordinary mortals are aloof from this discussion. For them it means nothing. The whole debate about the EU can all too often sound arcane.
That is one reason why most people voted in the referenda on the basis of considerations that were extraneous to the proposed EU constitution. The constitution itself is an innocuous enough document, seeking to formalise and define decision making within the EU. This was a revolt against the ruling elites of Europe.
That is one reason why most people voted in the referenda on the basis of considerations that were extraneous to the proposed EU constitution. The constitution itself is an innocuous enough document, seeking to formalise and define decision making within the EU. This was a revolt against the ruling elites of Europe.
Wednesday, June 1
Pleasant memories
Whenever I feel down in my constricted urban existence, I recall one of my visits to my ancestral village, Chattroh, in the Pakistani part of Kashmir. There are two particular benevolences of nature that I like to recall.
The first memory is of beholding the snow capped mountains, many miles away, silhouetted against the blue sky. It is an awe inspiring sight. I am not sure which mountains they are or on which side of the India-Pakistan border they are situated. This lack of information about them adds to the mystique.
The second memory is of the River Jhelum. Early in the summer, the snow on the hills melts and flows into the river. There is then a pleasant contrast between the heat outside and the cold water. It’s quite a wild river and swimming is not recommended for novices, but paddling and just standing in is enough to send a frisson of excitement through the body. On the surface the water is warm, but if you stand in the river, you can feel an undercurrent of icy water.
I could sit for hours on the banks, listening to the sounds of nature. In high summer, walking barefoot on the warm pebbles on the river bank is actually quite therapeutic. The heat enters through the soles and permeates the whole body. It’s a most relaxing experience. Occasionally the calm is broken by small waves caused by passing boats and the folk songs of oarsmen. Or vultures gathered around carrion on the hill.
Alas, having taken on a massive mortgage, and faced with job uncertainty, I am not sure if I will ever behold these wonders again.
The first memory is of beholding the snow capped mountains, many miles away, silhouetted against the blue sky. It is an awe inspiring sight. I am not sure which mountains they are or on which side of the India-Pakistan border they are situated. This lack of information about them adds to the mystique.
The second memory is of the River Jhelum. Early in the summer, the snow on the hills melts and flows into the river. There is then a pleasant contrast between the heat outside and the cold water. It’s quite a wild river and swimming is not recommended for novices, but paddling and just standing in is enough to send a frisson of excitement through the body. On the surface the water is warm, but if you stand in the river, you can feel an undercurrent of icy water.
I could sit for hours on the banks, listening to the sounds of nature. In high summer, walking barefoot on the warm pebbles on the river bank is actually quite therapeutic. The heat enters through the soles and permeates the whole body. It’s a most relaxing experience. Occasionally the calm is broken by small waves caused by passing boats and the folk songs of oarsmen. Or vultures gathered around carrion on the hill.
Alas, having taken on a massive mortgage, and faced with job uncertainty, I am not sure if I will ever behold these wonders again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)