The Mujra is a dance that has been a part of Pakistani culture since well before there ever was a Pakistan-since the days of the Mughal Empire, in fact. Yet, it is an art form that is under the gun these days in Pakistani society, according to this post from Renegade Eye-
The dancing girls of Lahore, the cultural capital of Pakistan, are on strike in protest against the tide of Talibanisation that is threatening to destroy an art form that has flourished since the Mughal empire.
The strike, which is supported by the theatres where they perform, was sparked by the decision of Lahore High Court last month to ban the Mujra, the graceful and elaborate dance first developed in the Mughal courts 400 years ago, on the grounds that it is too sexually explicit.
The Pakistani courts have attempted vainly to encourage dancers to move to what the article calls "family friendly" dances, but the girls who make up the dancing community have balked, and went on strike, with the support of the theater owners. As a result the ban on Mujra has been lifted. Unfortunately, the main danger is not so much through the courts, but through the atmosphere of vigilantism they have spawned, resulting in acts of terrorism directed against many of the "juice bars" and DVD/CD stores of Lahore, which is the cultural capital of the country.
Unlike the dancers and their supporters, many within the Lahore community fear to speak out against the oppression for fear of further retaliation by religious extremists. As explained here-
A striking feature of those suffering persecution from fundamentalists is not their fear but their acceptance that, if they had encouraged immorality, they deserved punishment. The main centre for selling CDs and DVDs in Lahore is Hall Road. But when one of the tough-looking shopkeepers received a threatening letter accusing him and others of selling risqué films, the mood was not one of defiance, but of submission. The traders heaped up the forbidden DVDs and CDs in the middle of Hall Road and made a giant bonfire. "I swear we sell no pornography," said one nervously.
Following is a YouTube video of a Pakistani dance, featuring a dance troupe consisting of both men and women.
There are many such dance videos of Pakistani dancers on YouTube, though whether this particular one is accurately described as Mujra is hard to say. It might well be more of a Bollywood style, or some hybrid. Yet, whatever the case, it is easy to ascertain that the objections of the rigid fundamentalist Islamic radicals put all such endeavors in danger of extinction, or at least being pushed far underground. Their goal is evidently not just to suppress, but to wipe out all vestiges of what they consider an un-Islamic culture.
Thankfully, there are some within Pakistani society willing to stand up for their rights, though obviously at great personal danger to their well-being and their very lives.
I think the strength of Islamism in Pakistan is exaggerated.
ReplyDeleteNo Islamist has been able to mobilize people, to come into the streets, as the triumphant return of Benazir Bhutto. The strongest single political party is the PPP, which is secular.
As for the ISI, that's another story.
Well, they do have strength, as evidenced by the presence of the innumerable madrassas throughout the country, but you have a point. Their strongest angle appears to be based not so much on Islamic fundamentalism as Pakistani nationalism. Whatever their approach, it's a powder keg and they're in the middle of it.
ReplyDelete