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The News International - No. 1 English Newspaper from Pakistan - Saturday, December 30, 1899
'Chak de!'
By Nadeem Ul Haque
You can tell a lot about a civilization by its stories and myths. An important record of modern-day civilization will lie in movies and the subjects that are chosen for them. In most advanced societies, the heroes of movies are professionals -- firemen, teachers, lawyers, policemen, gunmen etc. In fact many of the heroes even have flaws, physical handicaps, psychological problems, domestic issues. They are human but exceptional and society celebrates them by telling stories of their achievements in movies and books. What are being celebrated are their talent, discipline, dedication and hard work even if they were less than perfect. In countries like Pakistan, we continue to focus on power and its symbols.
India has reached that point if we watch the evolution of Bollywood and the Indian media. No longer are raw power and the mighty role of the sovereign being celebrated. Instead, their movies and stories are about the ordinary, talented, and dedicated – but flawed – human achiever.
Shahrukh Khan in 'Chak de' plays a Muslim hockey player -- Kabir Khan -- who came very close to winning the World Cup for India in a sensational final with Pakistan. Unfortunately, he hogs the ball at the last moment to try to score the goal on his own instead of passing it on to his team mate. Because he is a Muslim every one thinks he threw the match to Pakistan.
He spends many years in isolation and despair unable to tell his story.
Years later, an Indian women's hockey team is being prepared for a world championship. Kabir volunteers to coach the team to vindicate his own name as well as to prove to himself his professional capabilities. He works hard to shape a team out of raw recruits with diverse cultural backgrounds and approaches.
Much hard work and dedication lead them to win the World Cup. The audience can see that without the professionalism and the dedication of Kabir, this feat would not have been possible. The team resents his pushing and rigid discipline but succumbs to it in recognition of his talent and dedication.
The hero here is Kabir. And what makes him a hero is his dedication and professionalism. The movie and the country celebrate professionalism and dedication through this story, and the discerning viewer can see the subliminal message that India has entered the 21st century and now has the professional depth, rigorous discipline, team spirit and the celebration of talent to make it competitive in this globalised world.
The sensitive Pakistanis had tears in their eyes. They realized how far we lag. We celebrate the chaudhrys, the generals and the bureaucrats -- the rich and powerful with their phoney Hermes ties, Saville Row suits, expensive watches. Professionals are not even recognized!
All this came rushing to me when I heard that Ayub Omayia, one of Pakistan's finest, died recently. A noted neurosurgeon, celebrated in the US, an inventor, researcher, a renaissance man. He wrote books, made discoveries, healed people, and still has patents in his name. He was an accomplished opera singer, a learned man.
One would have thought that his death would have made headlines, stopped schools, dedicate monuments. What shocked me was the silence! Only a few people who knew of him have whispered in private "a great man is gone! Let us spend a moment in silence!" Mowahid Shah wrote a remembrance. But the rest of the Washington (he lived in Washington DC) community was silent. No meetings of remembrance! No moments of silence! No eulogies! Only dinners for the rich and powerful!
But then I recalled, sadness deepening, that Pakistan has never celebrated talent or professionalism. We are the only country that does not recognize its Nobel Laureate --Abdus Salam. He was never really allowed to teach or deliver lectures in his own country. He was denied a memorial or a decent remembrance. Today, our children do not even know his name.
How far have we parted -- India celebrates professionalism, we have no value for our professionals. Our values celebrate power and wealth.
The powers that be are always promising us economic development if only we entrust them with mega projects. A cursory reading of history should convince all that development is not a result of mega projects! Development is truly "Chak de"! -- the celebration of professionalism and all that it stands for excellence, teamwork, discipline, dedication and back-breaking hard work. All to win a medal -- not designer suits, expensive watches and toys.
'Chak de!'
By Nadeem Ul Haque
You can tell a lot about a civilization by its stories and myths. An important record of modern-day civilization will lie in movies and the subjects that are chosen for them. In most advanced societies, the heroes of movies are professionals -- firemen, teachers, lawyers, policemen, gunmen etc. In fact many of the heroes even have flaws, physical handicaps, psychological problems, domestic issues. They are human but exceptional and society celebrates them by telling stories of their achievements in movies and books. What are being celebrated are their talent, discipline, dedication and hard work even if they were less than perfect. In countries like Pakistan, we continue to focus on power and its symbols.
India has reached that point if we watch the evolution of Bollywood and the Indian media. No longer are raw power and the mighty role of the sovereign being celebrated. Instead, their movies and stories are about the ordinary, talented, and dedicated – but flawed – human achiever.
Shahrukh Khan in 'Chak de' plays a Muslim hockey player -- Kabir Khan -- who came very close to winning the World Cup for India in a sensational final with Pakistan. Unfortunately, he hogs the ball at the last moment to try to score the goal on his own instead of passing it on to his team mate. Because he is a Muslim every one thinks he threw the match to Pakistan.
He spends many years in isolation and despair unable to tell his story.
Years later, an Indian women's hockey team is being prepared for a world championship. Kabir volunteers to coach the team to vindicate his own name as well as to prove to himself his professional capabilities. He works hard to shape a team out of raw recruits with diverse cultural backgrounds and approaches.
Much hard work and dedication lead them to win the World Cup. The audience can see that without the professionalism and the dedication of Kabir, this feat would not have been possible. The team resents his pushing and rigid discipline but succumbs to it in recognition of his talent and dedication.
The hero here is Kabir. And what makes him a hero is his dedication and professionalism. The movie and the country celebrate professionalism and dedication through this story, and the discerning viewer can see the subliminal message that India has entered the 21st century and now has the professional depth, rigorous discipline, team spirit and the celebration of talent to make it competitive in this globalised world.
The sensitive Pakistanis had tears in their eyes. They realized how far we lag. We celebrate the chaudhrys, the generals and the bureaucrats -- the rich and powerful with their phoney Hermes ties, Saville Row suits, expensive watches. Professionals are not even recognized!
All this came rushing to me when I heard that Ayub Omayia, one of Pakistan's finest, died recently. A noted neurosurgeon, celebrated in the US, an inventor, researcher, a renaissance man. He wrote books, made discoveries, healed people, and still has patents in his name. He was an accomplished opera singer, a learned man.
One would have thought that his death would have made headlines, stopped schools, dedicate monuments. What shocked me was the silence! Only a few people who knew of him have whispered in private "a great man is gone! Let us spend a moment in silence!" Mowahid Shah wrote a remembrance. But the rest of the Washington (he lived in Washington DC) community was silent. No meetings of remembrance! No moments of silence! No eulogies! Only dinners for the rich and powerful!
But then I recalled, sadness deepening, that Pakistan has never celebrated talent or professionalism. We are the only country that does not recognize its Nobel Laureate --Abdus Salam. He was never really allowed to teach or deliver lectures in his own country. He was denied a memorial or a decent remembrance. Today, our children do not even know his name.
How far have we parted -- India celebrates professionalism, we have no value for our professionals. Our values celebrate power and wealth.
The powers that be are always promising us economic development if only we entrust them with mega projects. A cursory reading of history should convince all that development is not a result of mega projects! Development is truly "Chak de"! -- the celebration of professionalism and all that it stands for excellence, teamwork, discipline, dedication and back-breaking hard work. All to win a medal -- not designer suits, expensive watches and toys.
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