CULTURES & SOLIDARITY

Karachi, nice lesson against received ideas!

Destroying clichés, open-mindedness, mutual respect and discovery of the other … these are the words which symbolise one of the characteristics of the World Social Forum (WSF) in Karachi. More than any other WSF, this meeting will have permitted to set out in a very strong way an alternative to the restrictive and often negative vision given by media about Pakistan and its inhabitants.

An image which deeply affects Pakistanis since they are conscious of the view the rest of the world takes of them and which revolts them: not all of them are fundamentalists and they refuse to be typecast in such a radical way! At the opening session, Samina Peerzada, famous director and involved activist says it: “Look around you at all these men, these women, these young people who are singing and dancing, who are joyous. This is the real face of Pakistani people!” A desire to restore the truth that is visible with all the Pakistanis: in the streets, in the hotel, in the forum, everywhere people are questioning foreigners on their perception of the city and its inhabitants.

More than ever, interculturality will have been in the centre of WSF: it will have enabled to meet, to discover oneself and to get to know each other better. All the members of the CRID delegation [1] are unanimous: thanks to the WSF, the image they had of Pakistan has changed. Faced with the prevailing joy, with the omnipresent celebrations and the Pakistanis’ hospitality, the apprehensions we had before coming vanished. Regarding Reuel Velarde, from the Filipino association PHILNET, he has really appreciated to be able to better understand the Pakistani realities: thus he has felt closer to those who live in his country.

A new perception of the other one which is not only one-way! Amanullah Kariapper already knew it, but after his participation in WSF, he is convinced about it: this young Pakistani volunteer at WSF is far from knowing his own country. He still remembers with surprise the intervention of a participant from Baloutchistan talking about the education system condition in his province and who started his speech by correcting the interpreter: “Us, we are not “djaahil” (uncultivated), we are just illiterate”. Moreover, according to Muhammad Atif Khan, teacher at the Karachi University, following WSF, the view taken by Pakistani people of Europeans has also changed. They have understood that not all Europeans supported Denmark and the Mohammed caricatures and that they are not all opposed to the Muslim religion.

Lastly, one of the most intense moments of this historical event in Pakistan was the meeting between Indians and Pakistanis. Of course, they have had already the opportunity to meet and struggle together, in particular thanks to civil societies from both countries who have lead incessant actions for the peace process for the last 20 years, but WSF will have marked an additional step in the connection of both countries. Because of barriers set up by governments and continuing tensions between the two countries for more than half a century, apprehension of Indians who had never crossed the boarders was huge. Nevertheless, after a few days of exchanges and sharing, the cultural proximity becomes obvious and links get weaved …

A WSF which will have been for everybody a nice lesson against easy hotchpotch generalisations and received ideas!

Frères des Hommes

[1] Architecture et Développement, CRID, CCFD, Frères des Hommes, CGT, l’Humanité, Alternatives Québec / ATTAC Québec