SAARC Literature against Extremism and Terrorism

Abstract

The basis of true philosophy is to look at life through knowledge as a means to look within oneself and to transform the world into a beautiful place for human beings to live in, with that vision. Doing this, a sense of peace and happiness for the entire world naturally emerges through the growing knowledge of one’s inner reality. The world, especially SAARC countries are facing religious extremism and terrorism as well. Poets and writers in SAARC region are bruised by violence and concerned for humanity. Creative writing of the SAARC region will continue to transfer their dream of peace into reality as literature has power to act. The world is in the hand of sensitive thinkers. SAARC countries who have suffered much should join together to counter extremism and terrorism.

 

Introduction

Terrorism, in its broadest sense, is defined as the use of violence, or threatened use of violence, in order to achieve a political or religious aim. In recent times, terrorism is considered a major threat to society and therefore illegal under anti-terrorism laws in most jurisdictions. It is also considered a war crime under the laws of war when used to target noncombatants. such as civilians, neutral military personnel, or enemy prisoners of war. [1]

 

A broad array of political organizations have practiced terrorism to further their objectives. It has been practiced by both right-wing and left-wing political parties. nationalist groups. religious groups, revolutionaries, and ruling governments. [2]

 

Extremism is a complex phenomenon, although its complexity is often hard to see. Most simply, it can be defined as activities (beliefs, attitudes, feelings, actions, strategies) of a character far removed from the ordinary. In conflict settings it manifests as a severe form of conflict engagement. However, the labeling of activities, people, and groups as ‘extremist”, and the defining of what is ‘ordinary’ in any setting is always a subjective and political matter.[3]

 

The world is in such an age where physical and mental crises prevail. Materialism is playing influential role in this earth. Weapon is disintegrating everyone. There is fear, distresses everywhere. At this time of universal friction, the world is looking towards writers and contemplating on their philosophy. The world is not the object of hatred. Writers know, the will of God is to love all. Writers are here with love regardless of cast, community, creed, color or faith. Their purpose is to release their soul and show the world the value of love, humanity, equality, and righteousness. They expose themselves in the world with sincere devotion towards man and God. They dedicate themselves for the betterment of man’s character and personality. They lay their emphasis on universal love. The feeling and thought of literature is to contribute to this world in a positive way. The beauty of literature lies in its ideology of universal brotherhood, moral values, and service to mankind. There is a hope in creation. People found, there is power in writing. With this thought in mind they liked literature. Literature has given a place for all to think, it is hoped.

 

It is a time when the world is divided by religion, language, culture and color. Conflicts, quarrel and fights are regulated. The time is calling men like a writer for the respect of human lives and feelings of others. This is an appropriate time to introduce human message. There is great literary urge in the contemporary world.

 

The truth is that men are living amidst huge terror. Every morning, they are bound to hear about some major incident, They have lost trust in those who engage in war, even if war is fought for the sake of peace. At this troubled time, it is believed, literature can be guidance for today.

 

Countering terrorism in South Asia is a most, because, 'Terrorism poses a serious threat to peace and prosperity, stability and security, co-ordination and co-operation, fraternity and friendship among the nations. Terrorism is a threat to life, liberty, economy and religious pluralism'. [4]

 

Usually the person or supporter of extreme doctrine or practices take arms and create terror in society. Discord, now, is in high degree. It is extreme. Turmoil has gone to great length. Arms are used exceeding in an unusual and unexpected way. Political desire of extreme change of social order has not gone in its ordinary way. They take the path of radicalism, or extremism. The world is in extreme danger. Terrorist is reaching in the highest degree. Demands of the extremist are uncommon. Instead of opinion they are using weapon which is severe. The extremists are taking extreme measures. They are discarding ordinary way and are showing extreme reactions. They are acute, intense, rigid, uncompressing and immoderate. They are going beyond the limit with their radical, outrageous views. They hold extreme political or religious views and advocate extreme action. They are showing fanatical, revolutionary and militant appearance in the world. Their drastic measure is far from moderation and has been harmful to the society. The world is unwilling to go to the extreme of any kind of war of words and of arms. People are unwilling to go the extreme to find peace. Especially the political extremists who are advocating extremism are creating trouble in the world. The extremity of the terrorist attack concerns us much, now.

 

People cannot live in extreme pain and fear. People cannot bear the extreme political condition. People do not like the person, politician, or the ruler who advocates his measures beyond the norm. People now due to the radical views of the terrors are in the extremity of despair. Evil is in the extreme. Change is in mutation, deviation and flux. The great time is in blood and arms. Dialogue and reconciliation are in deadlock.

 

Terrorism and Extremism

The waves of terrorism currently afflicting South Asia flow from a long, complex history. Since their independence, both India and Pakistan have used proxies to affect each other’s internal dynamics. This has led to wars, crises, and even secessionism with the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. Before 2001, India and Pakistan were the focus of attention due to proliferation concerns and the implications of being self-declared nuclear powers after the 1998 tests. After 2001, South Asia became the epicenter for the war against al-Qaeda. The problem of terrorism has become so complex that a spectacular terrorist attack could happen in any part of the region. [5]

 

The world now lives in fear. We are afraid of everything. We are afraid of flying, afraid of certain countries, afraid of bearded Asian men, afraid of shoes airline passengers wear; of letter and parcels, of white powder. The countries allegedly harboring terrorists, their people, innocent or otherwise, are afraid too. They are afraid of war. of being killed and maimed by bombs being dropped on them, by missiles from hundreds of miles away by unseen forces. They are afraid because they have become collaterals to be killed because they get in the way of the destruction of their countries. [6]

 

Terrorism is threatening the viability of a nation-state, bringing about economic crisis, instability, a threat to tourism, energy-sector, civil-aviation, maritime, transportation and civil transportation. The problem of terrorism has refused to go away instead; it has kept people in perpetual fear, robbing people of freedom and security. Thus, the world as a whole is voicing concerns over the menace of terrorism, extremism and radicalism. No country goes unaffected by international terrorism, for these reasons the global community can no longer turn a blind eye on terrorism. [7]

 

SAARC Writers against Terrorism and Extremism

The dawn of 21^st century has brought many changes in international politics. Terrorism threatens the security and ability of the people to live their lives in peace. Though it is not a new phenomenon and existed since ancient times, however it came into limelight after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 on world Trade Center in New York. September 11 became a watershed in world politics which changed politics at domestic, regional, and global level. [8]

 

Saman Zulfqar writes analytically about the terrorist attacks in Mumbai- ‘He believes the attacks were launched by Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and al Qaeda to disrupt the peace process between India and Pakistan and to provoke a war in South Asia and thus disrupt the global counter terrorism operations in Afghanistan.' [9]

 

9/11 has its effects on the literature produced in English, Urdu and other languages of Pakistan, and extremism and havoc has been strongly condemned in these literatures. In Pakistan few fictions and novels depicts this situation, in which The Reluctant Fundamentalist, No Space for Further Burials, and A case of Exploding Mangos, can be especially mentioned. In fiction, Asim Butt has worked with special attention. Similarly, in Urdu fiction, the topic has not been dealt with any worth mentioning attention. However, Mustanser Hussain Tarar has written a novel and few other pieces and poems have been written in Urdu. In poetry, Kishwar Naheed, a renowned poet, has written on the topic with more concentration and attention. However, the topic needs much more deliberation and thoughtfulness. Other local languages, Sindhi, Saraiki, Punjabi, and Balochi have little samples on the topic, as there is no major work in any local language. However, literature in Pashto language has dealt with topic with more seriousness and attention as compared to other languages. The reason behind this dealing in Pashto language is obvious that the events are directly related to and effecting Pashto literature and society. A glimpse presented with reference to the Pakistani literature depicting the effects of 9/11 and the abundant Pashto literature is elaborated below. [10]

 

A research paper titled ‘Literature in the Times of Terror’ presented at the SAARC Writers Conference in March 2009 in Agra, India, observes that, “Like other art forms and mediums of social expression, literature is also a dynamic, evolving collation of human and social experiences. The very fact that there are Pakistani poets and writers challenging the rising tide of extremism and violence regardless of who the originator of such crises may be – is a welcome shift and a testament to the rich heritage of Pakistan’s literary history and its alive present.” [11] This strongly shows how Pakistani literature condemns terrorism in all ways despite of their planners and executors and when Pakistanis are facing terrorism on their land and people, the situation is illustrated deeply in literature.

 

An excerpt from another paper presented during first SAARC Writers Conference, Agra, noted that literature in Pashtun geography of Afghanistan and Pakistan explored new horizons due to the war. Sabotage of peace and terrorism has become the focal point of Pashto literature:

 

Increasingly regional writings are also making powerful statements of rejection, of the culture of violence for instance, Pashto literature has undergone several changes since the advent of violence and fundamentalism to the region especially after the Afghan war and the ensuing crisis of nationhood in Afghanistan. Traditional Pashto literature has been nationalist and based on glorification of past by invoking traditions and folklore. This new dimension within Pashto literature is reflective of the changing nature of Pashtun society especially in the context of the NWFP (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and its surrounding regions”. [12]

 

Saif-ur-Rehman Saleem is one of the top class poets and his work is mostly based on romance but also has the beautiful didactic and modern tone. His last published collection “Da Waro Waro Khudayano Day Banda Krum” (Oh God you made me slave of minuscule gods) which has poetri from his previous collection “Sandryz Shaquna” which means “musical horizons”, has direct reference to Osama and Taliban and the violation oflaw and order in the region. [13]

 

Peer Muhammad Karwan is prominent among Afghanistanpoets with reference to the incident of 9/11. Before 9/11. Karwan illustrated the picture of Afghan war and after 9/11 too, he presented the story of war destruction both in poem and Ghazals. Thus, he basically creates poetry on destruction of Afghan people and their land’s geography to demonstrate and register his reaction. Peer Muhammad Karwan is a poet of high standard and quality both in poems and Ghazals. Basically, portrayal of the effects of Afghan war is his main concern. In the artistic meter of ghazalhe mourns the bullets that hit towering mountains, villages and streets. [14]

 

When the security centers and business towers were dismantled in violent attacks, when children were killed in cities and towns, when plots were made for a mid-air crash of several international flights, when attempts of attack were made in major cities for several times, when journalists, aid workers and hostages were beheaded, when Wall Street was blasted, airliners were exploded, barracks were bombed, when bombs were hurled in temples, churches and Masjids, when leaders were shot, when peace workers were gunned down, when human- rights activists were shot dead, when writers were threatened, innocents kidnapped, and students were made hostages, when hospitals, schools, malls, restaurants and buses were destroyed by bombing, when the world is feared by bombers, gunmen, hijackers, revolutionaries, radicals, guerrillas, and anarchists, poets were composing prayers for peace in their poems. [15]

 

Role

With time moving ahead towards such an uncertain future and human peace and security constantly being endangered, poets could not remain indifferent therefore, embarked upon their inner heart searching for something. They, thus, entered this thought with the conviction that peace is nowhere but right within the self of ones inherently good and powerful human nature. So in the world where people are traumatized by mental and physical violence, they found humanism a really practicable way. When they arrived at the resolution that terror and selfishness are the principal problems in this world, they explored their own in particular and the human being’s relation to the world in general and sought their voice asserting humanitarian literary voice can be a voice for today. There are dreads and horrors everywhere. The earth is filled with psychological fear and shock. When the whole world is generally under a spell of terror, they feel great relief because of their belief in the merits of literature.

 

Peace is clean arid reconciliation is not a dirty truth. This is the day of correction. Writers can correct the world. SAARC writers should come forward to make people feel that their world is here. they are not homeless. SAARC can be the retreat house of innocents. The writer can place the world in order. SAARC writer can take this responsibility. Positive change is in positive thought.

 

Literature is a domain of beauty, strength of time, and identity of nation. SAARC literature sharing democratic hands to the people of South Asia should nurture the feelings of the world. Fight for poverty, illiteracy, disease, malnourishment, and unemployment is one way to solve the extreme problems of the world. Mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of another’s problems, the objective of the SAARC, can help to reduce extremism. [16] To confront the international challenges of terrorism and extremism writers can make proper use of their pen. In their literature the hungry should be fed, women should be empowered and the peace fighter should be emancipated. All the humanity should be saved in literary cost. Man should not be the victim of terrorism. They should write against all forms of terrorism- militant and dogmatic religions. Writers can save democratic value, safeguard human rights and restore peace in the world. Every peace loving writer can work for meaningful world and can help man to live in this beautiful world.

 

SAARC literature is running through humanitarian ground. SAARC writer can play an important role to join their nations in the world arena with the touch of humanitarian pathos. Writers can co-operate the politician to bring this harmony. Pen can draw attention of the people, can educate and inform people, empower them in social life. The truth is that writers can rule the world with knowledge and idea. They can come forward and connect their nations with thought and philosophy. The world is seeking justice, freedom and peace from their literature. Writer can cooperate regionally disseminating their humanitarian voices across the borders and bring lasting order. SAARC writer can stand in the world with their human sentiment, work and unceasing time. They can bring Buddha for their message, Gandhi for their prayer, Malala for their bravery. They can entirely use their pen for crime-free world. People are waiting to see honorable day. SAARC is standing with people who are demanding civilization, history and culture of their own tradition and concern. Writers of SAARC regions are not willing to show extreme characters in their writing. They discard any extremity of any character’s view. The literature of SAARC countries is moving towards post-post modernity with humanitarian concern.

 

Conclusion

The challenges for human beings in the present age are linked with extremism and if people fail to defeat those who support such imbalance, it is impossible for peace, equality and freedom to make their presence known in this age. Also, no one should try to run away from a common responsibility to avoid such polarity. For activities that exhibit extremism in this world, are threats to all who cradle humanistic thoughts for humanity.

 

SAARC poets and writers may come one day like a rising tide and reject all violence of extremism and terrorism and reveal our honorable world. Literature can reveal the truth and seek solution to the trouble which we forget to solve in our world if we use it powerfully. Literature has given proper guidance to mankind since its genesis. Writer’s unselfish concern for others belongs to the entire humanity.

 

Writer’s main subject of concern is heart and brain. The world now in ruled by brain, not by heart. We can see no equal functioning of the heart and brain now. Brain without heart is mishandling the world. We can reveal literature to reveal our honorable world. The world now is in great turmoil, discord, confusion and uncertainty. In such a time of great turmoil and uncertainty literature can be a thing of consideration. Most countries like SAARC, are suffering from extremism and terrorism due to the one sided handling of the brain. New experiment in new humanism is needed. Literature can be the remedy to this effect.

 

The world is craving for emancipation from fear. Literature can be a panacea to all the terrors of the world.

 

References

         1.      Hoffman, Bruce (1998). Inside Terrorism. Columbia University Press. p.32. ISBN 0-23 1- 11468-0. See review in “Inside Terrorism”. The New York

                  Times.

2.      Ruby, Charles L. (2002). “The Definition of Terrorism” . Retrieved 20 10-02-22.

3.      Peter T. Coleman and Andrea Bartoli: Addressing Extremism. Pp. 3-4.

4.      Jabeen, Mussarat and lshtiaq Choudhry. "Role of SAARC for Countering Terrorism in South Asia."

5.      David Albright, Kathryn Buehler & Holly Higgins. “Bin Laden and the Bomb.” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 58 no. 1 (January 2002)/ [See information            on Dr. Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood in Feroz Khan, Eating Grass: The Making of the Pakistani Bomb (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press,

       2012): 360-63.]

6.      “Multilateral Protection of Countries Threatened by War of Hegemony.” Excerpts of speech delivered during the XIII Summit, held in Kuala Lumpur. 24-             25 February 2003.

7.      Nimma, J (2007). Terrorism and Global Security. Retrieved from .

8.      Saima Afzal, Hamid Iqbal &  Mavaralnayay. "Terrorism and Extremism as a Non-Traditional Security Threat Post 9/11: Implications for Pakistan’s Security.

9.      "Avoiding Armageddon America, India and Pakistan to the Brink and Back" (Brookings Institute Washington 2013), IPRI Journal.

10.    Dr. Hanif Khalil. "Condemnation of War and Terror in Pashlo Poetry- Post 9/11 Scenario." A Journal of Peace and Development, Volume: II, December               2012, FATA Research Center, Islamabad

11     "Literature in the Time of Terror in Pakistan." < http;//southasiaspeaks.wrldpress.com/l>  009/06/23/>.  retrieved on. July 22, 2010

12.    "Literature in the Time of Terror in Pakistan.   009/06/23/retrieved on July 22. 2010

13.    Saleem, Saifur Rehman. Da Warowarokhudayano Day Bandakrm. Peshawar: University Publishers, March 2008. Pp.18

14.    Saleem, Saifur Rehman. Da Warowarokhudayano Day Bandakrm. Peshawar: University Publishers, March 2008. Pp.18 

15.    Critical Discourses on Gopal Parajuli.  California: Robertson Publishing, 2007.

16.    Declaration and Statements. Kathmand: Eighteenth SAARC Summit. 26–27 November 2014.

 

  22nd February 2016