By Amir Zia
Monday, July 07, 2014
The News
Gulluism makes its presence felt among many of us – if not all. It can cut across all barriers of class, social and educational background, manifesting itself in our reckless actions, ill-judged words and violent, unbalanced ideas and thoughts
Gullu Butt - the baton-wielding hooligan, who smashed cars outside Minhajul Quran headquarters in Lahore’s Model Town last month, has gradually descended back into oblivion after briefly blazing across our televisions screens, adorning the front pages of newspapers and shocking the collective consciousness of this nation. But in his proverbial ‘two minutes of fame,’ Butt became a living metaphor of our society where by-and-large disregard of the law, senseless emotional outbursts, violent behaviour and irrationality remain in vogue.
In this case, Gullu thought his political mentors and ‘police connections’ made him invincible. Unfortunately for him, the media glare didn’t let him get away with his vandalism. Now he is mercifully behind bars – showing that crime does not always pay even in this land of the pure. Luck sometimes runs out as it did even for his political gurus who in their ‘Gullu’ moments ordered the police to fire on Tahirul Qadri’s supporters, leaving over a dozen people dead.
However, one does not always need to be a ‘Butt’ to be a Gullu. It is a kind of a state of being – let’s call it Gulluism – that can afflict anyone regardless of caste, family, ethnic, sectarian, religious or political affiliations. One can be an Awan or an Ansari, a Bugti or a Burki, a Chachar or a Chandio, a Dasti or a Domki… Gulluism makes its presence felt among many of us – if not all. It can cut across all barriers of class, social and educational background, manifesting itself in our reckless actions, ill-judged words and violent, unbalanced ideas and thoughts.
A few days ago in Karachi’s Gizri area, I saw a middle-aged and an apparently educated gentleman bouncing out of his shiny, new car when it was hit by a careless young motorcyclist. The gentleman, despite his bulging tummy, managed to run a few steps to grab the fleeing motorcyclist and without uttering a word smashed a slap into his face… But he did not stop at one blow. Three more slaps followed on the face of the stunned motorcyclist, who apparently became paralysed by the sheer speed and aggression of the gentleman. It all happened within seconds, barely providing anyone a chance to intervene. The gentleman bolted back to his car with equal speed and was gone. Had this gentleman been carrying a baton, like our infamous Gullu, he would have certainly hit it right at the motorcyclist’s head. Luckily the episode occurred away from the gaze of television cameras.
And how can I forget a fashionable lady, who parked her car in the middle of the road in upscale Clifton during the evening rush hour and got into a heated argument with another car driver, asking her to clear the road and help ease the traffic jam. The woman screamed, abused and threatened the poor man, daring him to do whatever he wanted to. People gathered – as happens in all such cases – some of them amused, others frustrated or just curious. This free circus ended only when another woman carrying shopping bags took her seat besides the angry lady car driver and off they went in a huff.
One can call this Gulluism among our educated and the affluent, who in drawing-room discussions, are often seen lamenting the state of lawlessness, disorder and chaos around us. They moan and groan about Gullus, who drive the wrong-side on one-ways, jump traffic lights, park vehicles on the middle of the roads or get furious on the smallest of issue. But many of them seldom hesitate in doing what they always criticise in their sober moments.
We see such incidents of Gulluism almost every other day on our streets. Gullus, who wear handlebar moustaches, those without them and even among the fairer sex – they are all around us.
However, this Gulluism in the lower, middle- and upper-classes is just the tip of the iceberg. In terms of impact, Gulluism of the powerless or of those possessing only a tiny shred of power is limited, though it also contributes to the disorder, underlining the total disregard of the law and weak writ of the state. Sometimes when Gulluism transforms into mob frenzy, we witness mass disorder, mayhem and violence on our streets.
When Gulluism oozes out of the high-and-mighty of this land and political and religious leaders, then there is a bigger trouble. Just over the last decade or so we have seen conflicts and turmoil a number of times because the so-called ‘big men’ bade adieu to commonsense, rationality, and moderation and acted like Gullu.
Recently, Imran Khan, our once beloved cricket-hero, who has now transformed into an ageing angry politician, was seen vowing in a rally that he would hang policemen with his own hands if they try to harm his supporters. These words expose Imran Khan’s Gullu mindset and his total disregard of the law.
Urbanites, especially his women fans, should be forewarned that despite all the Oxford education, Imran Khan’s concept of justice is too tribal, too Taliban-like. No wonder, the mainstream and new media took him on. There were some interesting tweets, giving him a new title ‘Jallad Khan’, which overshadowed the previous label of ‘Taliban Khan.’
One can at least give this much credit to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari that they never threw such loose balls – at least verbally. In the good old days, Sharif had Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed to make such odd and even dirty remarks. These days, this vacuum is filled by the two Khawajas and a couple of other cabinet members. But Sharif has learned to speak with moderation – if not to act. Zardari’s team is too politically astute to come up with such rash remarks.
Sharif’s Gulluism is manifested in his actions; the way he takes on institutions and picks up unnecessary and untimely conflicts that could be avoided. Zardari’s Gulluism is reflected in his passion for percentages and the way he wheels and deals with friends and rivals alike.
The list of Pakistan’s prominent Gullus is lengthy. We can agree or disagree on their names – depending on our biases or sympathies. Gulluism taken to the extreme by religious-minded people leads to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban and a belief that salvation lies in foolish, thoughtless acts of courage or blowing yourself up in a suicide attacks, killing innocent people. When it gets on a tribal chief, he may order his followers to shower rockets at gas fields as Nawab Akbar Bugti did. His Gulluism led to a military operation in which the Nawab lost his life and triggered a chain of violence that still haunts Balochistan.
But who am I to point fingers at others without admitting that there is also a Gullu within me. A few days ago, when I was in an obstinate and confrontationist mood, I was reprimanded by one of my seniors to curb what he called ‘the little monkey’ within me that often raises his head. “You will be a bit better and productive person if you manage to rein in this monkey, which is in all of us. The art is in controlling that creature”, I was advised. Can one dispute that? What I call Gulluism, my senior called it ‘a little monkey’.
Therefore, my dear reader, the ‘Gullu’ or the ‘little monkey’ within us – whatever name you may give it – never pays in the long run. It is self-destructive. It is fatal. The success of individuals, institutions and the nation lies in moderation, respect and adherence to the law. For a better self, society and the country, we must fight this Gullu or little monkey within us. It is a constant battle. Let’s learn to be patient and play by the book. This alone can bring order, peace and progress in our society.
Monday, July 07, 2014
The News
Gulluism makes its presence felt among many of us – if not all. It can cut across all barriers of class, social and educational background, manifesting itself in our reckless actions, ill-judged words and violent, unbalanced ideas and thoughts
Gullu Butt - the baton-wielding hooligan, who smashed cars outside Minhajul Quran headquarters in Lahore’s Model Town last month, has gradually descended back into oblivion after briefly blazing across our televisions screens, adorning the front pages of newspapers and shocking the collective consciousness of this nation. But in his proverbial ‘two minutes of fame,’ Butt became a living metaphor of our society where by-and-large disregard of the law, senseless emotional outbursts, violent behaviour and irrationality remain in vogue.
In this case, Gullu thought his political mentors and ‘police connections’ made him invincible. Unfortunately for him, the media glare didn’t let him get away with his vandalism. Now he is mercifully behind bars – showing that crime does not always pay even in this land of the pure. Luck sometimes runs out as it did even for his political gurus who in their ‘Gullu’ moments ordered the police to fire on Tahirul Qadri’s supporters, leaving over a dozen people dead.
However, one does not always need to be a ‘Butt’ to be a Gullu. It is a kind of a state of being – let’s call it Gulluism – that can afflict anyone regardless of caste, family, ethnic, sectarian, religious or political affiliations. One can be an Awan or an Ansari, a Bugti or a Burki, a Chachar or a Chandio, a Dasti or a Domki… Gulluism makes its presence felt among many of us – if not all. It can cut across all barriers of class, social and educational background, manifesting itself in our reckless actions, ill-judged words and violent, unbalanced ideas and thoughts.
A few days ago in Karachi’s Gizri area, I saw a middle-aged and an apparently educated gentleman bouncing out of his shiny, new car when it was hit by a careless young motorcyclist. The gentleman, despite his bulging tummy, managed to run a few steps to grab the fleeing motorcyclist and without uttering a word smashed a slap into his face… But he did not stop at one blow. Three more slaps followed on the face of the stunned motorcyclist, who apparently became paralysed by the sheer speed and aggression of the gentleman. It all happened within seconds, barely providing anyone a chance to intervene. The gentleman bolted back to his car with equal speed and was gone. Had this gentleman been carrying a baton, like our infamous Gullu, he would have certainly hit it right at the motorcyclist’s head. Luckily the episode occurred away from the gaze of television cameras.
And how can I forget a fashionable lady, who parked her car in the middle of the road in upscale Clifton during the evening rush hour and got into a heated argument with another car driver, asking her to clear the road and help ease the traffic jam. The woman screamed, abused and threatened the poor man, daring him to do whatever he wanted to. People gathered – as happens in all such cases – some of them amused, others frustrated or just curious. This free circus ended only when another woman carrying shopping bags took her seat besides the angry lady car driver and off they went in a huff.
One can call this Gulluism among our educated and the affluent, who in drawing-room discussions, are often seen lamenting the state of lawlessness, disorder and chaos around us. They moan and groan about Gullus, who drive the wrong-side on one-ways, jump traffic lights, park vehicles on the middle of the roads or get furious on the smallest of issue. But many of them seldom hesitate in doing what they always criticise in their sober moments.
We see such incidents of Gulluism almost every other day on our streets. Gullus, who wear handlebar moustaches, those without them and even among the fairer sex – they are all around us.
However, this Gulluism in the lower, middle- and upper-classes is just the tip of the iceberg. In terms of impact, Gulluism of the powerless or of those possessing only a tiny shred of power is limited, though it also contributes to the disorder, underlining the total disregard of the law and weak writ of the state. Sometimes when Gulluism transforms into mob frenzy, we witness mass disorder, mayhem and violence on our streets.
When Gulluism oozes out of the high-and-mighty of this land and political and religious leaders, then there is a bigger trouble. Just over the last decade or so we have seen conflicts and turmoil a number of times because the so-called ‘big men’ bade adieu to commonsense, rationality, and moderation and acted like Gullu.
Recently, Imran Khan, our once beloved cricket-hero, who has now transformed into an ageing angry politician, was seen vowing in a rally that he would hang policemen with his own hands if they try to harm his supporters. These words expose Imran Khan’s Gullu mindset and his total disregard of the law.
Urbanites, especially his women fans, should be forewarned that despite all the Oxford education, Imran Khan’s concept of justice is too tribal, too Taliban-like. No wonder, the mainstream and new media took him on. There were some interesting tweets, giving him a new title ‘Jallad Khan’, which overshadowed the previous label of ‘Taliban Khan.’
One can at least give this much credit to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari that they never threw such loose balls – at least verbally. In the good old days, Sharif had Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed to make such odd and even dirty remarks. These days, this vacuum is filled by the two Khawajas and a couple of other cabinet members. But Sharif has learned to speak with moderation – if not to act. Zardari’s team is too politically astute to come up with such rash remarks.
Sharif’s Gulluism is manifested in his actions; the way he takes on institutions and picks up unnecessary and untimely conflicts that could be avoided. Zardari’s Gulluism is reflected in his passion for percentages and the way he wheels and deals with friends and rivals alike.
The list of Pakistan’s prominent Gullus is lengthy. We can agree or disagree on their names – depending on our biases or sympathies. Gulluism taken to the extreme by religious-minded people leads to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban and a belief that salvation lies in foolish, thoughtless acts of courage or blowing yourself up in a suicide attacks, killing innocent people. When it gets on a tribal chief, he may order his followers to shower rockets at gas fields as Nawab Akbar Bugti did. His Gulluism led to a military operation in which the Nawab lost his life and triggered a chain of violence that still haunts Balochistan.
But who am I to point fingers at others without admitting that there is also a Gullu within me. A few days ago, when I was in an obstinate and confrontationist mood, I was reprimanded by one of my seniors to curb what he called ‘the little monkey’ within me that often raises his head. “You will be a bit better and productive person if you manage to rein in this monkey, which is in all of us. The art is in controlling that creature”, I was advised. Can one dispute that? What I call Gulluism, my senior called it ‘a little monkey’.
Therefore, my dear reader, the ‘Gullu’ or the ‘little monkey’ within us – whatever name you may give it – never pays in the long run. It is self-destructive. It is fatal. The success of individuals, institutions and the nation lies in moderation, respect and adherence to the law. For a better self, society and the country, we must fight this Gullu or little monkey within us. It is a constant battle. Let’s learn to be patient and play by the book. This alone can bring order, peace and progress in our society.
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