Interview with Blogger Farrukh Khan Pitafi

By The Pakistani Spectator • Jan 30th, 2008 • Category: Interviews • (647 views) • No Responses

Could you tell us what made you decide to blog?
I have been a columnist for over ten years now. Once stumbled across one of my columns taken up by a blogger for comment on his site. Feeling that I was getting a bit raw deal at his hands I tried to correct his facts through correspondence. But he refused to pay any heed. Now if I start answering a bloggers allegations in my column, it might be injustice to my regular readers who read my columns for fresh ideas not for the sake of my defense of already published ideas. I naturally turned to my website which until then was quite primitive. I changed the interface and switched to blogging for quick answers. Unlike the newspaper’s static 24 hour cycle blogging is quite a dynamic technology. Its use helps me reach out to my readers without word limit or time constraints. I blog here.

What do you think sets Your blog apart from other blogs?
Frankly my opinion and experience. When I started about ten years ago I was among the youngest regular English columnists of the country. If anything kept helping me then it was my readiness to express my opinion without any constraints. Times have changed and now people usually seek opinion from newspapers rather than sterile facts. This goes for the blogging too. Now only I have some more concrete experience to build my opinion on. During these ten years from the debates on national security to the machinations of political elite I have been involved or at least associated with everything. I believe that I have enough first hand knowledge that I can pen half a dozen books and I am working on a couple of them already.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success, what would it be?
The readiness to share my honest opinion with the readers. I know every author can claim that but honestly I have suffered a lot too owing to my voice. I have always been ready for all the consequences and if you do not have any fears especially fear for your life you can report or analyse quite honestly. Add to it a bit of creativity in communication. When you have read great authors like Will Durant and PG Wodehouse and have been feeding on the best current affairs material like the Economist for last twenty years creativity in non fiction is not quite a problem.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?
I had two moments that were the gloomiest to my reckoning. First the death of my father when I was quite a brat and second the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Both of these came as the gravest shock that I ever had. As for the happiest moment the birth of my daughter Oxana was indeed the one.

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?
1) Rosalyn Chapel
2) Louvre, Paris
3) The Arctic circle

What is your favorite book and why?
Well this is the toughest question by far. I read a lot and cannot really pick one out. Among the recent ones however it was Karen Armstrong’s The Spiral Staircase

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?
The person in entirety. I am quite good at judging people even though not too judgmental.

Do you think Pakistani politicians could benefit from the social networks and things like twitter?
Of course they can and the younger ones among them that I know actually are.

How Pakistani bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?
Well unfortunately in Pakistan the concept of e-marketing is not very advanced. For now of course Google ads and several other services of the sort can help. However I insist that the first interest of a blogger should be to disseminate information and opinion not money making. Like in column writing money making comes a bit later.

Do you think Pakistani bloggers tend to remain somewhat self-centered and really don’t go out of their shells? Is it the oriental style of blogging, or they are still unsure about it?
I don’t know about others but I do not feel satiated without reaching out to as many opinions as I can by the end of the day. I think the term oriental style of blogging should be used more generously than just that. If I were to judge the oriental style I would show more interest in grammar and language rather than mere lifestyle of a blogger.

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?
Nah, not at all. I think these days even the busiest people can easily blog without any trouble. Technology is such a helpful thing. When I cannot access my laptop I blog often through my 3G mobile phone.

What are your thoughts on corporate blogs and what do you think the biggest advantages and disadvantages are?
I think we have a long way to go in this aspect. As things stand today the advantages or disadvantages are not too relevant.

Does it pain you or proud you that we have made a history by electing a uniform general as our president?
It is an utter shame. My views (I daresay) are quite well known on this. I believe that every person should do what he/she is supposed to. Army has no role in politics and I do not thing any excuse can be made for its involvement.

Do you think this whole emphasis on blogs and whatever online is a significant indicator to show that the web, the social web, is becoming a very important social force?
It is indeed. I rather fear for the old ways of social communication. There was a time when we used to write lovely letters to communicate now we are turning to hastily written emails. We used to talk over phone with honeyed voice now we only have to type a few lines through our messenger.

What do you think where the Pakistani blogosphere is right now?
It is still in its infancy but interestingly even now it is becoming an important identity for the Pakistani opinion. As more voices are added I am sure it will become a force to reckon with.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers in Pakisan?
Pakistan the Land of the Pure
The Pakistani Spectator
Metroblogging
Teeth Maestro
The Insider Brief

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger in Pakistani blogosphere?
Stunned is a rather dramatic world but yes I really liked teeth maestro

What is the future of blogging in Pakistan?
Sure as hell.

In political respect, can we say blogging a ‘democracy of message’?
It definitely can by projecting the truth especially because the government’s censorship usually fails in this sector.

Can Pakistani blogosphere play any notable role in the forthcoming elections, if they happen at all?
Yes, it can especially if the bloggers can report on their blogs the negative activities taking place in their constituencies. Pre poll rigging cannot be hidden by many and by exposing it we can do a great service to the nation.

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?
Well I think it helps me more than it causes trouble. But yes there are times when my domestic life comes at loggerheads with it. Yet I know how to sort troubles out without any panic.

What are your future plans?
Do write books, do PhD and have a small magazine of my own on the pattern of the Economist.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?
Speak out and add your voice to the existing dissent against the dictatorship. That is exactly how you can secure a better future for your coming generations. We owe this much to them.