Gilgit - BaltistanPakistan
[Pictory] Mehdi Shah and the Balti Cap!
In this photograph M.A.Jinnah can be seen wearing “Jinnah Cap”. Qamar Zaman Kaira, the interim governor, is wearing a Gilgiti cap.
Why did Mehdi Shah not wear a Balti cap, when taking oath of office as first Chief Minister of Gilgit – Baltistan?
Is it important to wear caps on such occasions?
Let’s discuss.
He forgot the cap at home…. or a naughty kid must have made “Subbaaaaa” of his cap….
Or it could be that he is telling us, i am a modern person now… no need to stick to the old fashioned cap (identity) any more. or could be, now i am following “their” way, not your’s…. you know what i mean… It happens when a Jiyala becomes very ‘Ala’…
What is cap? Why area wise the shap, design with material to be made is different? What is the cultural impact, social impact of caps? Does these caps ahve any environmental impacts as well?
How the caps wearing and shape are related with the Ajamee and Non ajamee Dynesties-cum related in the prospects of Gilgit-Baltistan.——————————-
May be If I do spare Time I will endorse my view and comments in the light of above.
Why we indulge into non-issues despite having bundle of problems? Cap and shalwars are dresses and petty things. As long as the leaders perform their duties honestly these things don’t matter. We should not put unnecessary restrictions on our people. This is what the Talibans are saying. ” Raise your shalwar upto your ankle”. Let us discuss real issues.
we focus too much on apperances.rather then giving perceptions more importance we should focus more on the reality of things.
who cares what they wear.even if they wear a dhoti like gandhi it does not matter as long as they do something constructive for the people of gilgit baltistan!
In our society , a traditional cap symbolizes a man’s pride, respect and love for the people in that particular culture. I think if he had worn the cap, it would had a good impact on the psyche of the particular society as this act strengthens the sense of inclusiveness. In a nutshell, we value such kind of gesture.
It would have been better if Mehdi shah as a muslim had covered his head;but one can always improve and we must learn to FORGIVE ! Give him a chance to deliver to his people. However,
CM must respect the local Traditions and local feelings.
Haseeb ur Rehman,Rawalpindi.A fan of Gilgit-Baltistan.
although cap is not that much necessary but it really looks ugly that someone from Punjab is wearing it, and the one who owns it did nt care
@Haseeb ur Rehman
He is not a woman that he has to cover his head. What does being a Muslim have to do with wearing a cap? This is a non-issue
Well, Now Mr.Watto is the Minister of K.A & G-B and also Acting Governor of G-B.(See K2, December 18,2009). Package or no package, the area will be virtually run through the Ministry of K.A &G-B.
Who cares weather he has worn a cap or not.
Dr Saheb,
Offcourse it should be run by the K.A. Since it has been declared (technically in the package) a province of AJK rather than Pakistan) what can be expected beyond that?
The irony is that we are only the “title fighters”. Our pride is in the titles….Governor, Wazir aala, Musheer, Chairman, Sadar, Secretary, waghaira waghaira……?
God save Balgit.
Note:- My personnal proposition for the name of Gilgit Baltistan was BALGIT (Bal-Baltistan and GIT-suffix of Gilgit) which I never expressed before so please don’t be confused for this new name BALGIT.
@ The cap,
Logically, it should have been theother way round but I think Mr Mehdi Shah had offered his’ to the Kaira just prior to the oath thus leaving room for critics.
GUYS WATCH YOUR BEHAVIOUR AND WATCH FOR YOUR ACTIONS NO ONE HERE IS SUPERIOR UNDER GOD
WORK TOGETHER FOR THE PROGRESSS OF GILGIT & BALTISTAN,
THANKS GOD WE ARE NO MORE NORTHERN AREAS
ATLEAST WE GOT RID OF TALIBANS NAME ATTACHED TO OUR GILGIT BALTISTAN, THANKS GOD
GUYS THINK POSITIVE THINK FOR THE PROGRESS OF OUR AREAS FOR GOD SACK DONT WASTE YOUR ENERGY AND TIME ON SUCH SMALL ISSUES, WE STILL HAVE TO MAK ALOT MORE PROGRESS , TOGETHER WE CAN!!
PLEASE STOP THESE SMALL LITTLE ISSSUES LOOK FOR THE FUTURE OF GILGIT BALTISTAN AFTER 50YRS TIME
WE ALREADY LOST LOTS OF TIME, EFFORTS AND ENERGY ON ALL THIS STUPID AND RIDICULOUS ISSUES, COME UP WITH MODERN THOUGHT AND VISION FOR THE BEST FUTURE OF YOUR KIDS IN THE ENTIRE AREA GILGIT,BALTISTAN, THINK FOR THE GOOD FUTURE OF YOUR FAMILY AND FOR THE BETTER PROGRESS OF OUR SOCIETY, PLEASE THINK WISE, AND DO THE NEEDFUL
SEE HOW THE MODERN SOCIETY IS PROGRESSING TAKE EXAMPLE OF YOUR NEIGHBOUR COUNTRY CHINA?
LEARN SOMETHING WORK HARD AND DONT INDULGE YOURSELF IN UNNECESSARY THINGS
THINK FOR THE BRIGHT FUTRE OF OUR G&B
GOD BLESS G & B
GOD BESS PAKISTAN
Mr. Mehdi Shah refused to wear the Gilgity cap, but he wore the Balti cap at Skardu..!!! The Gilgity cap was prepared for Mehdi Shah at the oath ceremony but he didn’t wear it, coz that is how he has gained victory by assuring the people of Baltistan to widen the gap b/w both cities and accomplishing the govt’s conspiracy to divide G-B into pieces and then RULE us for the rest of our lives..!!!
PLZ DONT CREATE CONSPIRACY THEORIES:-
Dear Comrade Sb…!
Intentionally or unitentionally u r trying to misguide the people and trying to widen the gap between Gilgit and Baltistan….Plz dont create conspiracy theories, speak on realities,,,,,,The truth is that in Baltistan 70% people wear Gilgiti Cap and only rest 30% wear Balti Cap, SO how can u say that by not wearing a Gilgiti Cap Mr.Mehdi Shah was trying to please the Balti People??..
personally I think he must wore any Gilgiti/Balti/Chilasi or Hunzai cap representing our GB’s culture bcoz he was swearing in as a CM of whole Gilgit Baltistan not only a particular region.
Shuja Yabgo, Baltistan
Reference Comments of Comrade Hyder Abbas vide December 19,2009, if this is true then it should be condemned. It reminds an incident a few decades ago wher some people in Baltistan had burnt Gilgiti cap.. I wish it may not be true.
What point is Mr. Hayder Abbas trying to make here, If it is that way it is so unfortunate and a very negative sign for us the citizen of Gilgit-Baltistan.
I agree with What Dr. Sabit Rahim Sb said that we should focus on the real issues. I would like to invite our youth and all the contributors of PT to come up with suggestions and strategies as how to make the system run successfully. Do we have appropriate institutions/bodies in our area to guide our elected representatives in raising issues and their possible solutions, economic agenda for development, social sector development, improvement and provision of infrastructure, better educational planning etc. etc.
I am hopeful that the educated young professionals, our seniors like Dr. Sabit Rahim, Afzal Shigri, Uncle Qurban Jan, and those many whose names I could not mention, our young students will contribute valuably to make Gilgit Baltistan a peaceful, progressive and developed region where the residents would like to live proudly.
Sher
Dear Sher Karim
You are very right. I agree with you 100% and try to contribute my humble share through these comments. But my comments are not liked by some of our people who are emotionally very sensitive. They think that if they write any thing on this web site, it will be approved by the powers that be. Actually, not many people read these comments,which is indicated by the level of debate on non-issues like governorship and cap etc.
Respected dcotor Sb
How come neglecting a symbol of our region’s cultural identity at such a “historical” moment is a non – issue and useless debates, as you rightly pointed out in one of your comments, about who shall be the governor or member of GB Council are the real issues?
Don’t we all know that all appointments are done and approved by the military and civil establishment of Pakistan? Why has Wattoo made such a “huge” entry? Don’t we know that or we are just turning our eyes away from reality?
Don’t we know that a crippled GB Council, tilted towards bureaucracy, having serving bureaucrats and federal ministers, would be nothing more than a source of salary and status for either retired bureaucrats or influential politicians of Gilgit – Baltistan ?
Don’t we already know that the GBLA would not be able to do anything beyond what the powers that be have approved for it?
May I dare to ask, what are our real issues?
Noor
Dear Noor,
Only today, I have explored the hidden Noor. This is what I expect from my countrymen at large.
We know the problem but we also know that these problems must not be dealt through an unpeacefull way like some nationalist parties belieive. So, it is a jihad (a peacefull jihad) to make people understand of the grossroot problems through awareness. This is what the very essence and objectives of our “community organizations”. They don’t practically indulge or advice people for the ongoing political proccesses because they know the awareness level of the people inhabiting in the region (be it a Dr. or a sweeper), their average HDI (human development index) is much lover than the global policy formators.
Lots of things to discuss but the time doesn’t allow me.
Bravo, bravo, bravo.
N.B. It seems that Dr. S.Rahim is frustrated because his name is not on the governor’s list????? I personnaly favour his name to be on top of this list.
God bless Balgit
Dear Noor,
Our real issues are the “Identity of the people living in the Karakorums, the western part of Himalaya, Northeastern Hindukush and lower Pamir regions of the sub-continent” which is called BALGIT (Baltistan and Gilgit) excluding Kashmir. But unfortunately, for many decades, we ask ourselves whether we are Pakistanis, Indians, Kashmiris or vice versa????
This is the core issue of my heart burning.
I know that blogs are not the appropriate forum to discuss serious issues, learning from my past experience, I have come to the conclusion that these blogs are used for fun and a very few people make comments that are focussed on the issues or on the subject.
I have seen many times that a very serious subject were bulldozed away by comments which were off focus and based on some popular emotional events.
I personally know Dr. Sabit Rahim, (PhD in Economics from US) a jewel of Gilgit Baltistan whose talent is being wasted only because he hails from a poor family background and also from a community who are neglected in the regional politics where the rule of the game is only a number game (which sect has what number of seats in the Assembly)
They want to ensure their majority in politics, bureaucracy, judiciary, and even on different committees. Perhaps this is the policy of the central government to have the people of Gilgit Baltistan engaged in non issues and prolong their rule.
Sher
Dear Noor
This is in reference to your comments vide No.18, December 19,2009 at 5:04 wherein you said that “Don’t we know that a crippled GB Council,tilted towards bureaucracy,having 7 serving bureaucrats,would be nothing more than a source of salary and status for six retired bureaucrats and influential politicians o Gilgit-Baltistan”?
It seems that you have not carefully read Part. V -Gilgit-Baltistan Council para 33 and sub-para (a) to (e). At para (c) it can be seen that six members will be nominated by the PM from amongst Fedarl Ministers and members of Parliament. Another six members will be elected by the G-B Assembly.Where are the retired bucreats in all this as mentioned in your comments? If you think that I am pleading for retired bureaucrats,then you are mistaken. I am not a bureaucrat myself to plead for them. I am an economist and professional person. Further more, the six members to be elected by the GBLA have already been divided among the parties in the G-B LA like the technocrat and women seats. (Plase see K2 issues of a few days ago in this respect).Under the circumstances, your accusation is not justified.Let us first read the G-B order and be clear of the concepts and then debate. This is one of the real issue. The others are education, economic development, unemployment and reduction of poverty,supply of clean drinking water, eradication of corruption,nepotis, jobbery,etc;
I have already said in one of my comments on the empowerment order that we have been given old wine in new bottle.You are mirroring my sentiments in your comments. When We both are thinking in the same way,then why there is the accusations of retired bureucrats?
Once again, I am not pleading any person’s case for Governorship vehemently as some people do. As a retaliatory measure I have pointed out some names. Can the appointment of Governor and six members of your choice will alter the ground realities? I consider the obscession some of our commentators with certain personalities and cap as non-issue.If you are so concerned about it then what about its burning a few decades ago in one region? Any way if you guys think that I am overstepping my previlige,then I wiil stop commenting.
Dear Mr Yar Khan
This is in reference to your comment No.19 (December 19,2009).
I dont’know you whether you are frustrated or not, but I am not frustrated at all as I have achieved much in life. I did my Ph.D in economics from the State University of New York at Binghamton (USA) and after serving government in varius position in G-B, jioned the Planning Commission of Pakistan and retirede in BPS -20. Now I am teaching Economics as Professor in a prestiguous Univesrsity in Islamabad. Without knowing a person,you should not call him frustrated.This is climax of rudeness and unculturedness. Please first learn what is human development Index and then use it in the sentences. I wholeheartedly nominate you for the post of Governor of G-B and initiate lobbying for you in Islamabd.
Dear Dr. S Rahim Saheb,
Usually, I avoid to comment on the issues but it happens during the ‘week-end’ when I use to be in a particular mood……?
I beg your pardon for the indecent tone.
Dear Yar Khan
Thank you very much for your apology particularly when you had written it in a particular mood……. It is big heartedness to accept one’s mistake.
If you care to read my comments at Nos. 23,29,33,39,40 and 40 carefully, you will find that I have never suggested any person’s name for any post and still I am being accused of supporting retired bureaucrats and indecent remarks are passed about me. I have already pointed out that the empowerment package is nothing but old wine in new bottle. Though the old wine is always good but this wine had short coming from the very beginning. Under such circumstances, we should create awareness amongst our elected leadership to continue the struggle for real empowerment. The present package has at least recognised our separate identity. The present package is the result of ceaseless efforts carried out by the student community of G-B since early 60s. Previously, politicians from AK as well as NWFP used to claim the area. Although, we have not been given full autonmy; yet the direction is right. We can move on in this dirction. Much depends members of LA,G-B and the Council members from G-B elected by the Assembly.
Dear Dr. Saheb,
Thanks for forgiving. I do agree 100% with your comment no.26. Since social upliftng is a tiring proccess and it tekes decades to change/convert a society from primitivity to modernity, unconscious to a conscious one, illiterate into literate, backward into forward, impoverished into a developed one, intolerance into tolerance, narrowness into broadness and so on, but I am optimistic about our future. When I observe the current pace of change (particularly in our community), I am with an opinion that we’ll compete the challenges of the time ahead.
My humble request to all the blog writter, as Sher Karim narrated in above-We ALL ARE PROUD OF Dr.
Baig Ali
Islamabad
Dr. Sabit Rahim is one of the prolific intellectuals of Gilgit- Baltistan. He is a professor in a prestigious university in Islamabad. He deserves more respect than he gets. I don’t know whether he remembers me or not but I respect him a lot as a teacher. How could i forget those days when he and my father would discuss so many issues related to our country. The finest time was when i got a chance to learn Economics from him. He is very knowledgeable and respectable personality of our area. Mr. Yar khan, I hope you will not comment in an irresponsible way again.
This is with reference to comments at Nos 28 and 29. Thank you Mr.Toojik and Miss Qurban for saying good words and remembering me. Miss Qurban, I have not forgotten you. What you are doing nowa days?. Are you in Gulmit? If so pay my respect to your father.
well, the issue is not the waering a cup during an oath taking but the real issue is that still we are slave inspite of declaring and renaming our area as Gilgit baltistan. The offficial and political sword on the heads of of trhe people of GB is still hanging in the shape of Mionistry of Kashmir affairs and Gilgit batislatn. and a loyal jiyala Mr. Watto is all in all above our minietr and governer . Actualy the short story of the political and historical dilema is that we r not ready to give sacrifice for the sack of our identity. our leaders dont have such spirit to give sacrifice . they accept every ammendemnt because they are too weak that they have no option . plz plz stop giving things in the shape of gifts and opthers thinbg to these punjabies and other people . just get ur right and stay on ur demand like mahajir nation. learn to give sacrifices./; other wise namo nishan mit jaya ga us qoom ka jo apna haq layna nahi janti.