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In
1963 a group of Hazara youths who had just stepped into adulthood and were
resident of one particular vicinity Nichari and Nichari Camp raised a
football team under the president ship of Ghulam Ali Haidari
by title of “Taj Foot Ball Club”. They rented a small
room, within the vicinity where they lived. When they were not playing
football, the small rented room would become a place of social gathering.
They would discuss any subject related to every day life. But very often
the discussion would lead them to one particular point “Problem of The
Community”. These include 1) high illiteracy rate, 2) extreme poverty, 3)
child labor as most of the families would prefer their male children to
assist the family head by earning what ever they could, 4) a state of
destitute combined with the feeling of social dislocation due to
non-availability of basic facilities such as school, medical care center,
job opportunity due to practice of nepotism, 5) social evil practices, by
this term they meant certain expenditure which rich and poor had (has) to
bear with on the eve of death of a family member and during wedding
ceremonies, 6) addiction to lineage, causing disunity amongst Hazaras as
the one experienced during general elections. The players of the football
team and their close friends attending the “Club” would contribute towards
the “Club” fund to meet the recurring expenditure. They had no other
source of income. It was during these informal but very regular meetings
that they agreed to establish a community based organization with sole
purpose of redressal of “Community Problems”. They had seen the fall down of such an
organization before them. It was “Anjuman-e-Falaho Behbood-e Hazara”
literally meaning “Hazara Welfare Organization”. With its office set in a
rented room 50 yards away from them. Such members of community who were
mostly Government employees and could be termed as educated class
established the welfare organization. By virtue of their positions within
the community that they were educated people, the conveners of HWO were
quite successful in getting the huge financial support of the community elders in
general. Its total setup consisted of a managerial bureau with its office
bearers and nominated members, from amongst the community well off
individuals, who could donate fixed amount towards organization funds. As
far as the aims and objectives of the organization, these included,
providing financial support to needy students, inculcating unity amongst
members of the community and bringing an end to the social evil practices.
By 1970, the organization, when it was decomposed, out of all those aims
and objectives envisaged, it had only managed to extend financial aids to
a few Hazara students. As for the other prescribed agendas, the
organization itself was disintegrated due to internal rivalries that had
surfaced amongst different clans on the eve of general election of 1970 in
Pakistan. The term rivalries cited here denote a very peculiar phenomenon
in which every individual member of the tribal society is involved. More
than any other reason this type of rivalry is, may be hidden jealousy, not
sensed in every day life but on occasions like elections, may surface and
some times trigger blood feud too. Hazara’s, like rest of other ethnic
groups are addicted to genealogies.
However among Hazara's greater emphasis is placed on lineage genealogy.
They have given names to the segments at different levels in the tribal
genealogy. The said election, two of the contestant belongs to two
different lineage of “Jaghori” and “Ourazgani”. As the members of the HWO
were akin to one or the other of the two candidates by virtue of their
lineage, intentionally or otherwise they joined two different camps and
ultimately causing the dissolution of that setup.
The
new CBO i.e. Tanzeem-e-Nasle Nau Hazara Mughal, literally meaning
“Organization of Hazara Mughal's new generation”, had accommodated all the aims and
objectives stated by diminishing HWO with wider range of dynamic and
progressive future vision. However the basic difference at the time of
commencement between the two were:
1.
As per name of the organization the managerial staff and office
bearers were all youths under 25 years of ages. In this regard they had
imposed limit of age for membership in the managerial setup.
2.
Instead of nominating particular individuals they started an open
campaign for the purpose of fund raising. Ordinary membership of the
organization could be obtained by contributing Rs. 2/= per month to the
organization which was open for all.
3.
They were committed volunteers and with the enthusiasms and
ambitious which possessed them, they were more practical than the workers
of the HWO. They started tuition classes for children of all ages, even
adult literacy programs, while they themselves were volunteer teachers.
They would take out small arranged processions consisting of their
students and workers carrying banners inscribed mostly with two prominent
slogans one “Death to separatists, dividing us into clans”, two “We are
but one integrated Hazaras”.
Within five years of its establishment Tanzeem, as a social welfare almost
every person within the community recognized organization. By then it had
enlisted more than 1000 ordinary members who would contribute the monthly
membership fee regularly. In 1972 it had shifted to its present offices. A
religious establishment Anjuman-e-Asna Asharia Mcongi Road on certain
terms and conditions leased this piece of vacant plot to it. However the
said religious Association, some how or the other on the instigation of
some local clergies did try to nullify the leas deed.
Some
explanations is needed here for proper comprehension of this situation.
Prior to 1977 the Shiat clergies disposing their religious obligations
were mostly Hazaras from Afghanistan. After completion of their primary
level course in their local religious schools mostly a Mosque in the
locality they had attended some Madras (Howza) in Iran. Common people as
the most respected center of Shiat faith have always considered by Shiat
clergies and under their influence Iran as a Shiat state. May be more than
Vatican City to Roman Catholics. After the establishment of Tanzeem, their
opposition of Tanzeem, void of any motive was mere criticism of this
organization. Tanzeem's cultural activities, particularly musical stage
shows were Un-Islamic for them hence sinful deeds. During this period
(Monarch's Rule) Iran's official dealing with there clergies were very
limited. The consulate general of Iran in Quetta and his Iranian staff
would attend religious gathering, make donations for the construction of
Mosques and had donated precious sets of carpets to two of the Mosques as
well. The situation became more intense, when in 1975 Tanzeem while
launching its program of construction of a free medical center for women
and children did mention the number of Mosques present in the locality.
While highlighting the need for construction of such a center, I being one
of the speakers of the occasion said, " We are residing within a limited
area, and we have constructed more than eleven number of Mosques here, now
it is the time that we should have a medical center as well". This was a
general public meeting attended by number of Hazara formally invited
dignities as well. As the occasion was the first direct interaction of
Tanzeem Youth with Hazara elderly people, it was quite an achievement for
Tanzeem, because not only public donation was made but the plan was
appreciated fully. However the reference made to number of Mosques did not
go unnoticed in the clergy circles. It was interpreted by them as Tanzeem's
disliking of Mosques hence an antireligious attitude. No doubt this cold
war between Tanzeem and clergies. The clergies approached some of the
donors and told them that they could not donate towards Tanzeem's fund out
of religious pooled money. According to Shiat School of faith every
individual has to pay annually one fifth of his total projected balance to
his choice high ranking clergy. Known as Mujtahid or Ayatullah. This is
one of the five basic compulsory obligations to be fulfilled by Shiat
believers; the Ayatullah or his appointed representative is the sole
authority to disperse the amount, thus pooled to needy ones and religious
causes. The individual payer to be dispensed to legible needy person by
himself can retain a fixed portion of this amount. In that particular
situation Tanzeem was declared by clergies as illegible and therefore
deprived of a nice source of income.
One of
the political doctrine advocated by leaders of the new Islamic Government
of Iran after the successful revolution was "Islam does not recognize
political and geographical boundaries". While advocating this doctrine
they, including their spiritual supreme leader late Ayatullah Khumeini
declared segmentation of Muslim Umma (Muslim was a Whole) into Arab,
non-Arab, tribes and ethnic identities as contrary to Islamic principles
of Muslim unity. They condemned categorically every one who would talk of
such identities. Within one to two years of Islamic rule in Iran the Shiat
clergies in Quetta had already joined movement for the implementation of
Shiat jurisprudence in Pakistan, a Shiat resistance movement against
government’s Islamaization of Pakistan in line with the doctrines of
Sunnic school of Thought. By 1980-82 the first ever established Shiat
Theology college, totally funded by Iran, next to Tanzeem's main office,
had become fully functional. Fresh Hazara graduates from Iran’s Islamic
university of Qum and Mashhad were the appointed academic staff. A
Pakistan wide students wing of the said “Shiat movement under the title of
“Imamia Student Organization” was opposing Tanzeem’s agenda of unity under
the pretext of Umma unity as preached by Iran. A full scale anti Tanzeem
propaganda war was launched with clergies as focal persons. On july 19th
1986 during a clash between the Pro Tanzeem students and the activists of
Imamia Student Organization the leader of the former group was
assassinated brutally.
The
accident proved to be a vital point for Tanzeem. By that time Tanzeem had
expended its sub offices in some other towns of Pakistan and one in
Denmark as well. From this point on ward Tanzeem had to face much more
complex situation than it had envisaged. It had to carryout its promised
agendas and it had to defend itself against all odds. The worst being the
fact that it was claiming to be the champion of Hazara unity but its very
existence was causing division amongst Hazara Youth in particular. The
undesirable situation for Tanzeem reached its climax, during Russian
intervention in Afghanistan. Tanzeem volunteers would go inside
Afghanistan to disperse relief goods in areas where they needed these. A
religious decree (Fitwa) under the signature of 10 prominent clergies of
Hazaras included two from Quetta was circulated all over the areas visited
by Tanzeem workers. The Fitwa was addressed to common Mujahideen and their
leaders mostly clergies, without discrimination of ethnicity. It said,
"Killing of Tanzeem boys, wherever found in Afghanistan shall be a service
to Islam and God Almighty. This is an organization of unfaithfuls based at
Quetta. Following are the names of their leaders. The hand written Fitwa,
then contained the names of 9 important figures of Tanzeem beginning with
the name of Chair Person G.A. Haideri at the top.
Now
there are important question for NGOs, can they afford such opposition
from the people for whom they are committed to work? Is it possible to
avoid such situation through comprehensive knowledge? Particularly when
nations of the world, from region and out side, are involved too? What is
it, fair or fowl? To stand against the very people, whom one claims to be
working for? Or may be everything is fair in war and love and commitment
is another expression of love.
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Political
implications
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Tanzeem
in its capacity as a social welfare organization did not contain direct
involvement in politics, as one of its sphere of activities. But politics,
for all practical purposes, in this region, as for as general public is
concerned, has remained confined within the folds of very specified and
limited activities. Irrespective of party manifestoes or programs voters
are drawn to ballot boxes through exploitation of differences. These
ever-existing differences, void of rationales, are deep rooted in the
history and are passed on to coming generations. It does not need to be
elected for national or provincial parliament seat, but contest for a
seat in the municipal cooperation trigger the same sentiments. As already
discussed that the immediate cause for dissolution of Hazara Welfare
Society was the division of its member into two opposing camps of
electioneers. The general election of 1977 in Pakistan initiated the same
phenomenon for Tanzeem. In the said general election, Tanzeem's prominent
member in their individual capacities as a member of this or that Hazara
clan would not dare to ignore clan's decision in favor or against some
contesting candidates. In closed tribal societies of Pakistan and
Afghanistan one may accept the wrath of God but to face the curse of one's
own lineage is beyond imagination. In the aftermath of the said election a
tangible number of its members belonging to a particular subsection of the
community, not only ceased to work with Tanzeem but became sort of anti
Tanzeem too. The phenomenon did repeat itself whenever there was an
election.
While
defending itself against elements from out side, Tanzeem had to bear a
fierce blow from its own supporter within its ranks. They were a group of workers,
who fell in the grip of conspiracy which led to subservient role of anti-Tanzeem. Not endorsing Tanzeem's slow and steady
agenda for social awareness and national cause they had organized themselves into another
Tanzeem within Tanzeem. And when they failed in their attempt to change
Tanzeem from a national orientation into one of radical political setup, they
quitted it. Besides these there can also be a number of other reasons
including regional political scenario, for the development of this
situation.
Describing Tanzeem’s achievements in terms of its aims and objectives,
inspired by Tanzeem, now there are numbers of CBO's working in smaller
vicinities. As the founder member of most of these has enjoyed membership
in Tanzeem, these organizations are basically perusing the very lines set
by Tanzeem. They have concentrated more and more on promotion of education
in their localities. Women participation, in other than religious
gatherings, once strictly forbidden, now, as a result of Tanzeem's social
action plans, is at par with male presence. The role of elderly persons as
the sole leadership within clans and subsections of the community has
changed. Now they not only seek the view of younger generations, but in
some of the situation, final decisions are made by youths only. Just 30
years back any one wearing the particular robe and turbans of Mullas could
be respected as authorized clergy, but today not only they are placed in
categories of well learned, learned and simple literate, but they can be
refuted, criticized and challenged even by common community members. It
does not mean that they have lost all their authorities, but they cannot
lead the people as they wish. It is true that such changes can be termed
as out come of urban life, but equally true is the fact that Tanzeem had
kindled the first spark in this regard.
Another of its achievement is the fact that the Hazaras of today in
Afghanistan are not shy to identify himself as Hazara. In Dec 1904, King
Habibullah of Kabul had announced some concession for Hazaras, but in
practice the treatment of these people as out casts and second class
citizen, by Afghan officers, ordinary officials and by common Non-Hazaras
till soviet intervention in 1979 continued. In fact Hazaras were the worst
marginalized section of the Afghan society. Deprived of all social
facilities and having no sociopolitical status, these people were
ridiculed and humiliated every where in that country. Referring to them as
Hazara mice eaters, Hazara scavengers, Hazara load carriers and such other
odium, have resulted in alienation of these people. They would hide their
identity as Hazaras, would not speak in their original mother tongue and
would ridicule some of their cultural practices even themselves. There
were Pakistani Hazaras who upon meeting a fresh arrival from Afghanistan,
not only would cut jokes but express his view of him in a disgusting
manner. By negating their roots these Pakistani Hazaras were creating
another conflicting point, which would ultimately end in bringing further
division within these people.
Tanzeem’s campaign for the integration of Hazaras into one unit, though
did not bring the desired results, yet it was successful enough to
eliminate the elements of alienation from within Hazaras at large. And
once again, for example playing of Damboora and singing of Hazara folk
songs revived on occasion of childbirth and marriage ceremonies. Singing
of Hazargi folk songs on Damboora was not only forgotten but would be
ridiculed by presenting it in prodigal forms. True, in the process of
acculturation, replacement of some social activities by another practice
is, an accepted phenomenon, but to be scornful against it is off course
alienation.
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Present conflicts and Tanzeem |
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Quetta, where Hazaras of Pakistan live, is the first major
city of Pakistan for any one coming from Afghanistan and Iran.
Hazaras constitute only 5-7% of the total population of this
town. As Pakistanees they share the sorrows and happiness of
Pakistan with the rest of the country. But being Shiat they
are to feel the impact of changes and happenings in Iran
particularly through religious circles. Now that these
clergies are well organized, well funded have introduced
certain changes in their activities by sponcering and
establishing not only NGO’s and school, how long tanzeem with
all its limitations is going to match them. Again Hazaras here
are not immune to effects of situation created in Afghanistan
because of their ethnic affliction with Hazaras of that
country. In an atmosphere, where all sorts of prejudices,
conflicts and discrimination-ethnic, religious, sectarian,
political and socioeconomic-prevail, its quite a challenge to
cope with the problems of a minor community such as that of
Hazaras in Quetta. Here is again the question how far
commitment can work and to what extant knowledge could prove
helpful in a situation like this. Tanzeem, in spite of the
fact that the situation is still very fluid in the region, has
developed a vision for sustainable peace and security. It
contains the creation of Peace-loving Human Society, through
promotion of education, elimination of religious, ethnic
social and sectarian conflicts and inculcation of human values
as envisaged by human himself i.e. freedom, equality and
justice for all. We believe that dialogue, more dialogue and
still more dialogue between conflicting groups, is the only
solution. Yet again, to avoid clash of civilizations, dialogue
is possible, but what to do with the clash of interests, more
interests and still more interests |
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