Every youngster is revolutionary: Pak author

Neha Saini

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 14

Call it a reflex thing, but the moment we see a Pakistani woman talking about feminism and political Islam, the first question hurled at her is about why women in Pakistan do not have any rights? “Well, this is a misconception. I mean, the face of modern Pakistan is Malala Yousafzai,” says Aneela Zeb Babar, a celebrated Pakistani author and researcher. In the city to be a part of the opening of a pop up book café at Majha House, Babar also talked about her book — We Are All Revolutionaries Here — and the story behind it.

The book talks about gender equality, women rights and Islam, but all through different cultural and social lens. The immediate question that she is asked is what is a good and bad Muslim? “There is no particular definition of Muslim in social or even political context. I feel that every 10 years the definition of Islam changes in Pakistan, largely due to political or cultural influences. So it’s the State that decides a good or bad Muslim. We also have a good or bad Taliban now for that matter.”

Talking about the fluid definitions of Islam that her book reflects through instances where women have attempted to challenge the State or military through protests, she says that Islam is multifaceted and in Pakistani context cannot be a big equaliser. Her book mentions the infamous siege of Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in Islamabad that was a conflict between the religious fundamentalists and the General Parvez Musharraf-run government.

“A lot of young women had been part of that protest, a movement to impose sharia law in Pakistan. Comparing that with the image of women guards parading at the 60th anniversary celebration of Pakistan, one is forced to think where and what changed over the years?” she asks. Her title uses the word revolution in the context of young women as she said that every youngster in a way is an inquilabi (revolutionary).

Another subject that is close to her heart involves Amitabh Bachchan. “Well, he has been the biggest influence, idol of my life. When Pakistan was going through strict Islamisation, my only escape was Amitabh Bachchan films,” she shared, with a spark in her eyes.