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7/2/2002 - The Building of a Nation: A Conversation with Begum Kaniz Sakina Wajid Khan by Leena Z. Khan

ICWA LETTERS Since Institute Current World Affairs Crane Rogers Foundation provided fellowships enable outstanding young professionals outside United States write about international areas issues An exempt operating foundation endowed Charles R Crane Institute supported contributions minded individuals foundations TRUSTEES Joseph Battat Mary Lynne Bird Steven Butler William F Foote Kitty Hempstone Pramila Jayapal Peter Bird Martin Ann Mische Dasa Obereigner Paul A Rahe Carol Rose Chandler Rosenberger John Spencer Edmund Sutton Dirk J Vandewalle HONORARY TRUSTEES David Elliot David Hapgood Pat M Holt Edwin S Munger Richard H Nolte Albert Ravenholt Phillips Talbot Institute Current World Affairs The Crane Rogers Foundation Four West Wheelock Street Hanover New Hampshire 03755 U S A LZK SOUTH ASIA Leena Z Khan Institute Fellow studying intersection culture women lives Pakistan The Building Nation A Conversation Begum Kaniz Sakina Wajid Khan By Leena Z Khan JULY KARACHI Pakistan As I finalizing preparations leave Pakistan return states May I feeling anxious I decided return U S following blast outside Karachi Sheraton killed French engineers The Sheraton bombing place miles A weeks later another exploded outside heavily guarded buildings Karachi U S Consulate I quite familiar U S Consulate I there register I first rived Karachi These blasts different those previous months place familiar roads I traveled daily I given myself under month furniture goodbye family friends My anxiety selling belongings findi tenant compounded daily violence Each would explode eerie would envelop Although police machine would deployed every street corner situation under control Karachiites becoming panicky gloomy Everyone I spoke faith corruption ridden force I packed belongings sense resignation silently hoped turnaround events terrorists within Pakistan borders would caught brought justice government would treat sectarianism I desperately wanted believe I could writing interviewing women maintain profile But I decided caution return U S During those frenzied weeks before departure I interview Begum1 Kaniz Sakina Wajid Khan Begum Wajid oldest living social workers Pakistan Begum Wajid NASRA School2 extensive network schools providing education middle income children Karachi Since position general secretary school education trust My first impression Begum Wajid reserved woman might Her weathered wrinkled silvery white neatly As invited office handed pages titled Curriculum Vitae Kaniz Sakina Wajid Khan This If still learn questions dryly I puzzled intrigued comment That night I neatly encapsulated I interested learning about begum The Begum Urdu married woman Named founder Mrs Nasra Wazir Ali Begum Wajid office Nasra School begum conjured image wealthy woman comfort Somehow Begum Wajid seemed different other begums I married bureaucrats dignitaries dabbled social pastime Although Begum Wajid privileged family background engaged social story typical When I second office sitting reading something This smiled offered customary As began corridors Pakistan history I realized I presence living legend Her reads fairy Begum Wajid north Indian princely state Kotwara Her father taluqdar commissioner passed three Her mother years later Circum stances thrust young Kaniz brother Indian Court Wards She Cainville House English boarding school station Mussourie where spent significant childhood adolescent In environ adopted British manners etiquette While other children returned their homes vacations Kaniz remained Mussourie adopted family She first years boarding school lonely traumatic Human beings resilient I learn myself early company developed independence I spent boarding school vacations As I older I never visit relatives Kaniz returned Kotwara Mussourie after completing Senior Cambridge3 Her brother Syed Sajid Hussain recently completed academic Edinburgh University Scotland married Princess Selma Sultan granddaughter Otto Caliph Sultan Murad V In Princess Selma ranged Kaniz marriage Dr Sahibzada Wajid Khan western educated civil servant widower three children years senior Because husband Secretary Chamber Princes found herself rubbing shoulders viceroys belles Delhi society Maharaja Jaipur other princes princesses I found myself being called begum I never liked All begums I ordered their servants around never lifted finger You would never saying pandaan bring container beetle spices Even after marriage I things myself I never impressed person status Money clothes jewelry never LZK really interested nonchalantly Begum Wajid encounters brass times cherished Mohammad Ali Jinnah Jinnah returned India years imposed exile London command Muslim League In March Jinnah presented nation theory address meeting Muslim League Lahore This later became known Lahore Resolutions which manded independent Muslim state basis Hindus Muslims belong different religious philosophies social customs literatures belong different civilizations which based mainly flicting ideas conceptions They different different heroes different episodes Musalmans Muslims nation according definition their homelands their territory their state Begum Wajid Jinnah focused equally women efforts mobilize Indian Mus He supported equality sexes deplored oppression women public rallies encour development women Muslim League every major As symbolic gesture Jinnah sister Fatima along everywhere The Begum first meeting Jinnah Mus League meeting Del At party hosted Jinnah husband remarked Sir I sorry I cannot Muslim League ardent supporter Jinnah responded without hesita Then happy better Jinnah sharp wonderful sense humor Begum Wajid about She described Jinnah graceful versed fellow guests ladies elegant compliments Liaquat6 Ali Khan first prime minister Pakistan Jinnah close common continued Both studied abroad vision Pakistan modern secular state Jinnah business background whereas Liaquat landed elite background Liaquat everything joined politics Jinnah referred state Republic Pakistan It after death under constitution referred Islamic Republic Pakis Jinnah again religion business state Begum Wajid passions ignited Paki Movement Women moved direc encouraged their energies relief social welfare She found herself drawn helping orphans uplifting women I tered social Delhi Aruna Asif Ali known political social worker squat villages A later Begum Wajid moved central Indian state Johra where husband appointed prime minister There became chairperson Central Indian Red Cross organize relief effort After India gained independence England Begum Raana8 asked organize Women National Guard Rajshahi East Pakistan modern Bangladesh Begum Wajid Women Na tional Guard signified break tradition women stepping their homes first Women National Guard violated rules purdah seclusion women appearing public interacting strangers collect funds selling patriotic badges propagating Pakistan Begum Wajid women generation holds Begum Raana esteem With launching All Pakistan Women Association APWA Begum Raana mobilized thousands women resettlement Muslim refugees Pakistan APWA actively encouraged trained refugee widows perform income generating activities embroi sewing APWA received government This evident governor almost always appointed chief local organization Begum Raana appealing women forward Begum Wajid It civil defense training women introduced newly created Pakistan The concept women being trained independent weapons defense system country unprecedented She ahead times Following Partition there present Pakistan would attacked India Begum Raana event another conflict women Pakistan would prepared fight As campaign Begum Wajid 4Anwar Syed Pakistan Islam National Solidarity It important Muslims united independent Pakistan The supporters movement generally adhered Sir Syed school thought The trend initiated Sir Syed evolve socially progressive ethos which particularly relevant women It among Sir Syed followers first advocates women educa See LZK Sir Syed Ahmad Khan Those opposition typically ulema religious scholars socially conservative Islamic parties Both schools thought believed played raising consciousness Indian Muslims Liaquat Ali Khan denounced ulema being enemies Islam meant disrupt destroy Pakistan War Independence England Begum Raana Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS learned rifle trained other women Begum Wajid recalled darkest periods continent history bitter communal sions continually erupting between Hindus Muslims Jinnah called direct action Calcutta Muslims becoming passionate decided stage protest procession A group Hindus prepared caldrons boiling water which threw procession In those hundreds Muslims being killed Subsequently Muslims would react Hindus The Hindu Muslim clashes Begum Wajid scious Muslim identity I ample happening country My husband I traveling Calcutta Mushidabad train A began knocking compartment asking whether I servant board I replied Well killing I compartment panic going servant thrown train being attacked angry platform They trying Without think I pushed through managed I shoved train compartment train about A cursing running after I climbed train I close My husband still compartment happening The outside started throwing stones window Glass tering around I never rayed I couldn shaking until reached station Feelings people would worked nothing My servant Kashmiri Muslim something offended Hindus Anyhow I saved As Begum Wajid related incident I could chilling parallels between Hindu Muslim riots partition India those place earlier Indian province Gujarat The violence Gujarat began after Muslim attacked train carriages carrying Hindu activists The activists supporters campaign World Hindu Council which attempting construct temple Hindu Ram century mosque Ayodha Following mosque destruction Hindu militants Hindu Muslim violence claimed thousands lives Since February police officials BJP Bharatiya Janata Party Indian People Party direct involved killings dreds Muslims Ahmedabad Gujarat In cases police known charge derous Muslim homes villages The ernment engineering massive cover state involvement violence Most APWA activities concentrated urban areas Karachi Lahore Rawalpindi Peshawar In Begum Wajid husband posted Rawalpindi Minister Kashmiri Affairs In founded first APWA branch Because parents young understand established special orphans The program encouraged families sponsor children living camps orphanages Social workers sensitized understand psyche phans This program later developed first legal child placement program Pakistan abandoned babies Urban women belonging middle upper joined APWA large numbers For APWA members represented opportunity participate activities outside Women could afford opened schools health centers industrial homes trained women income erating skills trades In those everything needed Begum Wajid Those could afford We proud country willing everything build nation After creation Bangladesh Begum Wajid worked Abdul Sattar Edhi resettlement rehabilitation Behari10 refugees Karachi Edhi later became founder Edhi Foundation largest social welfare system Pakistan today The Foun dation provides rehabilitation addicts funeral shrouding family planning services exten chain hospitals burial unclaimed shelters orphans disabled Today Edhi Foundation doing finding homes orphans People trust Edhi which money He getting donations helicopters planes ambulances world No matter where there accident Edhi ambulance there within minutes If there someone house Edhi pital Today Edhi known internationally called Mother Teresa Pakistan Through APWA efforts Family Laws Ordinance We Have No Orders Save You State Participation Complicity Communal Violence Gujarat Human Rights Watch report Vol No April A large number Beharis Urdu speaking refugees Bangladesh migrated Pakistan For Edhi Foundation website foundation LZK enacted The Ordinance significant piece legislation women still considered first towards protection married women Pakistan The Ordinance discouraged lygamy regulated divorce providing procedures It stipulated wanted would first obtain present request front bitration council which consisted representative party chairman local council The Ordinance eliminated customary abused practice declaring divorce repudia Declaration repudiation divorce abused Islamic countries whereby divorce deemed valid after husband pronounces talaq divorce three times Under Ordinance husband required written notice chairman local council The written notifica started period during which bitration council reconcile If reconciliation reached divorce became effective period Another significant clause Ordinance introduction nikah marriage contract compulsory registration marriages The nikah contains clause which agreed parties marriage protects woman delegating right divorce The clause known talaq tafwid gives ability dissolve marriage without court She still notice dissolution chairman local council In other words Or dinance stipulated marriages divorces registered order recognized before court The practical application nikah however limited In cases clause stipulating favor conditions either blank crossed members I amazed discover practice occurs urban educated families A large number educated If pregnant divorce became effective after delivery INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Placards encouraging people Yes President Musharraf Signs these plastered weeks leading election The government claimed percent votes Yes This meant another years office general married woman I spoke either there clause granting women right divorce chosen leave blank avoid confron tation groom family riage ceremony Those women avail selves protective conditions nikah their accord because sighted enlightened relatives Though welcomed women activists right direction Ordinance criticized strong enough It considered moder comparison reforms family other Muslim countries Iran Turkey which already outlawed polygamy declared extra judicial vorce invalid given rights divorce women Predictably ulema criticized Ordinance being totally Islamic All Pakistan ulema opposed measure condemning attempt tamper Qur Maulana Maudoodi right conservative religious leader argued taking other right Islam The Ordinance would encourage mistresses friends Women understandably responded giving speeches holding demonstrations Begum Wajid called march Lahore organized group women culminated burning effigy Maulana Maudoodi front Punjab assembly Begum Wajid criticized ulema During leading creation Pakistan ulema belong Jamat I Islami party opposing Jinnah entire concept Pakistan Today setting themselves great patriots We Jinnah Quaid Azam ulema referred kafir Azam The ulema always vocal strong When APWA started abandoned babies accused encouraging women I challenged ulema asking where written Qur Women Pakistan Two Steps Forward One Step Back Khawar Mumtaz Farida Shaheed Vanguard Books Quaid Azam means Great Leader whereas Kafir Azam means Great Infidel LZK child comes world should killed lowed They stupid arguments reply these questions In Begum Wajid worked APWA setting schools Malir Lyari oldest areas Karachi In Malir there schools buildings trees fields So I gested place teach Something better nothing I subsequently wrote education department proposed school built The groundwork APWA formation other NGOs Social activism While different necessary Per there would never Women Action Fo WAF there APWA If there never WAF there would countless NGOs today working toward empowerment women throughout country Even today APWA still recognized principal governmental organi zation country consultative status ernment Pakistan various UN agencies Begum Wajid believes reliance I involved project I delegate tasks I organizer I identify problem I solution I believe munities should solve their problems I others I needed anymore I doing praise adulation others My conversation Begum Wajid place shortly after April Referendum16 I asked thought This referendum differ referendums The referendum General Zia Hag atmosphere All political parties banned I agree tamashas antics being carried Gen Perves Musharraf I still On Referendum I Karachi polling station women great looking forward voting Musharraf He thing happened Pakistan People should being critical passionately station Considering country technically still under martial military dictator I struck several occasions General relatively liberal attitude toward dissent Throughout country Referendum rallies without inter ference government Today Begum Wajid drives herself insists living alone She proud independence If boarding school I might ended other begums order their maids around Her legacies tangible institutions bettered lives She thing Urdu which I thought articulated neeyat barkat hothee intentions great rewards The timing interview Begum Wajid sumed added relevance context Pakistan inter Islamic feuding She among vanguard individuals struggled independent Paki As pushed state these pioneers aside their differences divided along tarian religious lines To raise gerously divisive questions sabotages chances Islamic unity blatant contradiction spirit Pakistan Movement For Women Action Forum WAF LZK The April referendum first referendum since General Zia Haq The other referendum military ruler Pakistan under Ayub Khan In referendum people asked whether supported Zia Islamization policy In current Referendum people being asked whether General Musharraf remain president another years The Zia percent affirmative Zia referendum challenged before after major political parties challenged Musharraf including Paki People Party PPP Jamaat I Islami Jamat Ulema I Pakistan Awami National Party others The April Refer endum upheld Supreme Court Pakistan INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Institute Fellows chosen basis character previous experience promise They young professionals funded spend minimum years carrying signed programs study writing outside United States The Fellows quired report their findings experiences field month They write subject formally informally The result unique reporting analysis assessment interna tional events issues ICWA Letters ISSN published Institute Current World Affairs Inc exempt operating foundation incorporated New York State offices located West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 The letters provided charge members ICWA available libraries professional researchers subscription Phone Fax E Mail ICWA valley Web Site Executive Director Peter Bird Martin Program Assistant Brent Jacobson Publications Manager Ellen Kozak Institute Current World Affairs The Crane Rogers Foundation The information contained lication reproduced writer permission Author Khan Leena Z Title ICWA Letters South Asia ISSN Imprint Institute Current World Affairs Hanover NH Material Type Serial Language English Frequency Monthly Other Regions East Asia South America Europe Russia Mideast North Africa Sub Saharan Africa