Suddenly, we have been overtaken by a Nouveau Force Majeure. It is commonly called: The E.Media.

Luckily, a large majority of us, is not literate. Heirs and successors of the British Raj, made extra efforts to keep our literacy at the lowest wrung! The so-called, “Opinion” amongst our rank and file, remained limited to the print media beneficiaries. Since they were opinionated, hence they would subscribe to the newspapers and journals that suited their bent of mind. In those good-ole-days, even the “Stop Press flash” was well over 8 hours stale to the readers. Radio, too, had its hay day, but it was short lived. The advent of state-owned and operated television was a mixed novelty. It did bring “The Masters’ Voice” within our homes. Since the masters’ attitude, seldom changed, hence the “message” remained the same and stero-typed. Some entertainment, though, came as the enticing sub-let.

Private and commercial TV is a kid-glove gift of General ® Perez Musharraf, to this nation. It is here to stay 24 /7. Sometimes fool-hardy confidence, can be counter-productive?

Please pardon the aforestated, this scribe, in no-way, intends to present the history of the media. 'Am just amazed at its potency and potential for good or for bad. Economical and accessable state-of-the-art technology for printing or transmitting does help. But it is not the whole story. The competence, dedication and organization of the people – who adopt the media as their vocations – makes the qualitative difference.

On October 10, 08, I had the pleasure to witness a function of South Asian Woman in Media. And that should also explain, why I just witnessed, not participated. It was SAWM’s first Pakistan National Conference. But it was well-organized.

Mehmal Sarfraz, happens to be one of the host organizers – although not mentioned in dispatches. She would never file a claim, but I am sure, her enthusiasm and due diligences would be duly rewarded. And that too, during not too distant future?

She had invited me to “witness” their party. Maybe SAWM’s promoters wished “minority’s” presence, to broadcast their message. It was loud and clear and well received.

We are a bunch of close-knit, well-meaning senior citizens. On 10th of this October, we were planning to celebrate: Worlds (Male) Mental Health day, soaked in 100 proof spirits. That we had to put-off. Old people are considered endangered species. In drone collateral causalities, they are always counted along with women and children. Hence I did convince a friend to join me, with much less persuasion, to witness SAWM meeting.

Sayed Imtiaz Alam had launched South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA). It is a voluntary platform for inter – SAARC Communications. Its declared aims are several to the likes of: back channel diplomacy, a.k.a track II etc. It’s assumed SAWM would have tangential association with SAFMA.

Rubina Saigal has elaborated and compiled a comprehensive “key” pro-note about the pros and cons of several prevalent versions of “freedom of speech or expression”. She has recorded authentic examples of national and global “Bulls!” For the reasons of visibility, she has quoted recent incidents (may read accidents) of E. media. The print media was left: high and dry!

She has made a rather excessive and extensive use of a Biblical expression: “Patriarchy”. Rubina has prejudiced this phenomenon only in biased and negative shades. For this scribe, that was not exactly equitable. Room for improvement in that aspect, does exist?

Imtiaz Alam has made a very significant and qualitative contribution. And he can’t be classified as patriarchal – by any stretch of imagination or definition?

Mehmal Sarfraz does not wear any hat. She always covers herself with a scarf as hijab, and earns lots of appreciation for her style, scholarship and substance. While coordinating the SAWM function she, however, did not choose to wear slippers. She was barefoot, for the careful ease of her movements within the hall and the dining hall. Contessa? No. just without pretences! She does evoke positive patriarchal vibes. And that accorded me the rare and pleasant opportunity to listen to seasoned seniors and rising stars of the SAWM fraternity. Had I stayed for lunch, maybe I would have met Imtiaz Alam – after quite a few decades.

Permit me to place on record a few regrets.

• Being a semi-literate, and with deficit facility in English language, I could not comprehend the opening para of Rubina Jamil’s key-note address – as presented in the printed format. Some text or grammar was missing?
• Asma Shirazi, introduced, critical vital factors in Pakistan’s nascent media, which merited a pristine poetic Shirazi tradition? Hopefully it would have a follow up.

GENDER BIAS ILLUSTRATED.

Please bear with me. I must submit the transcription of a SMS, which I received in hy-brid language, as thus:

“A Pakistani gentlemen hunted a deer, with the tacit approval of the state functionaries, deputed for the protection of wild life! He distributed the spam and himself cooked the prime meat.

With patriarchal affection, he rushed back home with the delicious dish, for his grown up children. To add mystery he decided to quiz his

offsprings. He said: “You can easily guess what this delicacy is”. Your mom usually refers to me with the similar sounding word”. As helpline input, he suggested “darling” as an associated word.

But the bottom fell out of that festive mood, when the younger one yelled:

“Aapa, Bhaijan, don’t touch this damn thing.

“Yeh kuttay ka gosht hai! The kid sure knew the pet name, mama often used for papa!