Amit Kushari IAS (Retd)
‘Zindagi’ is a new TV channel introduced recently which has become a subject matter of discussion in the whole of India, specially in northern India where Urdu is easily understood — admired and respected also. This channel has been sponsored by the famous actor, Mrs. Kirron Kher, who is also the BJP MP from Chandigarh. By sponsoring this programme, Ms. Kher has done a great service to the Indian audience who yearned to watch Pakistani serials. ‘Zindagi’ gives an opportunity to the Indians to watch Pakistani serials which are known to be serious and full of emotional and human content. Pakistan serials have always been popular in India in the same way that Indian movies are popular in Pakistan. Thank God there are no linguistic and literary barriers between the two nations, although there are huge oceans of differences and misunderstandings between the two nations which appear to be unbridgeable indeed. The political and religious differences between the two nations are so huge that an ocean of tears separate them. I do not know why Pakistani channels are not visible from India. Is there any official ban? I have asked atleast 3 cable operators to supply me with at least one Pakistani channel so that one could take an impartial view on political matters, but nobody could oblige. At least through this new channel, which is available on most cable networks, one could have a glimpse of what Pakistani society is like.
It appears that Pakistani women have a very meek, submissive and subordinate status in society, compared to Indian women in general, who are fairly aggressive and well aware of their rights. Even the Muslim women in India are far better placed than Pakistani women because Indian laws, in general are far more progressive and liberal and are modelled on Western laws. Perhaps that makes the difference. True, Muslim women still suffer in India compared to other women because the Islamic law still guides their personal matters, like inheritance, divorce, marriage etc. but since the overall frame work of law in India is secular, egalitarian, progressive and liberal, even the Muslim women are beneficiaries of this system. In India nobody can tell a Muslim woman that her testimony in court has half the value of a man’s testimony. Nobody can tell a Muslim woman in India that if she is raped, she has to produce a male witness to prove her point even if the rape has been witnessed by another woman. This is unthinkable in India. I remember once I heard a Muslim woman lamenting, “I can’t even visit my parents for a week, in peace because on my return I may find another woman in the house, thanks to the polygamous system.” This misery still continues because common civil code has not been introduced in India as yet. The Muslim women are still looking towards Prime Minister Modi with the hope that he will be able to end the system of polygamy and triple Talaq prevailing among Muslims.
The Pakistani women appear to be very diffident and timid because all laws in Pakistan are Islamic in nature. Non Muslims of India have very little idea of Muslim society because 99% of the serials, movies and other media productions depict only Hindu and Sikh societies. Hindus donot have much idea of matters like ‘mehr’, ‘iddat ki muddat’, ‘halala,'( which deals with remarriage to a previously divorced wife). Zindagi is now educating the non Muslims of India about the Muslim society. The average Hindu only knows that a Muslim can have 4 wives and a Muslim wife can be driven out of the house by a simple talaq, at the drop of a hat. No wonder that many Indian families are now a days glued to the Zindagi channel. Other Indian serials appear to be so flimsy and unreal compared to these Pakistani serials. Indians can easily appreciate the themes of these serials because we have a common history and cultural background. The emotions displayed are so genuine that they really touch the chord of one’s heart. Kirron Kher deserves our accolades and gratitude.
Watching these serials I can understand what a great loss our Pakistani brothers and sisters have sustained due to the partition of India in 1947. They are deprived not only of real democracy but also the protection of the Supreme court of India in Delhi. They are so unfortunate that they could not properly honour their nobel laureate daughter, Malala, just because she stood for women’s rights and education. They could not properly honour their nobel laureate physicist, Dr. Samad, because he was an Ahmedia, considered a non Muslim in Pakistan. By only making defence equipments they cannot compete with India which is miles and miles ahead of them in every aspect.
(The author is former Financial Commissioner J&K Feedback to the author at 09748635185 or amitkus@ hotmail.com)
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