BLACK BURQA

By: Khurshid Khan

Swat is a valley of typical pukhtun culture like other pukhtun areas. Purdah is an essential part of this culture. This is observed by wearing various form i.e. paronai, Bangla or Behari Burqa, caped or shuttle cork Burqa, and a new entry of Ninja or Arabic Burqa. No one can deny purdah in any form. The Maulanas stressed variety is the shuttle cork Burqa with special emphasis on black Burqa in Swat while the logic of black colour is quite known to them only. On the contrary stress on wearing Burqa with white colour is given by the Maulanas in Khyber Agency. It will be well and good if a choice of wearing white, red, Blue, green etc colours of Burqa as may be given so that the use of caped Burqa would be communised.

People are blaming Maulanas for opposing female education. Until now we have not seen a praise worthy change in our society brought about by the female educated slot. Their education is limited to speaking Urdu and Fashion. It means that the problem is not with female education but with education system in itself. Educated women do not like to be called by children with name like Moor, Abai, Bebai, while they feel proud to called with names like Mummy, Ammy, Mama, and Mom. Thus bringing alien culture without any logic. Has any educated women ever raised her voice for women rights, in our society. On the other hand they are exploited the women folk more than males. So the Maulanas are justified in opposing female education. Maulannas are blamed for opposing polio vaccination, if a child is destined to be handicapped, who can save it.

What the electronic media is doing in this scenario is just to promote the various products of multinational companies and western culture. The T.V dramas, musical shows do not reflect the Pukhtun, Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi, and Seraiki culture. The result is that the mass media is creating opportunities to be opposed. The poor Mualanas are innocent in this case.

All the battles and uprisings, during colonial era, in the pukhtun areas were being led by the religious figures like Sartor Faqir, Sandakai Mula, Hada Mula, Haji Sahib Turangzai and Faqir Api, if the Maulannas of swat are organizing movement or collecting force, they are having a contribution in past.

The Maulanas seem to be allergic from NGOs. The reality is that NGOs (except few) are confined to arrange seminars, conferences, workshops and meetings in air-conditioned hotels. No drastic change has been observed in the lives of vulnerable segment of the society. Thus they are setting a stage for the Maulannas of the areas.

The common man is fed up with hospitals, Police, Politicians, Patwaries, School, College and other line departments. Where should he go and where should he knock at?