The Pakistani Spectator

Raza Rumi is a Pakistani blogger who maintains a weblog Jahane Rumi devoted to arts, literature, South Asia culture, history and Sufi thought. Raza is also regular writer at All Things Pakistan and not so regular contributor to Desicriticsa and IM blog. In addition, Raza also writes for a Pakistani weekly The Friday Times on myriad topics such as history, arts, literature and society. Raza is a social scientist by training and has worked in Pakistan and abroad in various institutions including the United Nations. His interests other than writing include exploring world civilizations and cultures, painting and mysticism. RR is also a self taught amateur artist. Some of his works can be found here. Check him out on flickr too.

Could you tell us what made you decide to blog?
It was rather accidental actually. I write for the Pakistani publications and was looking for a space to post the writings until I came across the ‘art’ of blogging. As I set up this , much of the pent up energy on expressing and sharing my interests found an outlet. Initially, it was quite private but I was hugely encouraged by the response I received from Pakistanis as well as bloggers and internet users across the globe. Here I am – now addicted to this medium and earlier this year I moved to my own domain.
I’d like to say a few words on the title of the blog as well. I am a devotee of Maulana Rumi not just in terms of seeking the Truth or following a spiritual path, but also for an inter-faith understanding and articulating a message of Love – as a verse from Urdu master Jigar states: mera paighaam mohabbat hai, jahan tak pohanchay. The first misraa is also instructive to note: unka jo kaam hai woh ahley siasat janey.
This is why I had adopted the name Rumi – replacing my surname. So what could be a better way of describing my space: Rumi’s world – here the great mystic and his sinful follower are both covered.

What do you think sets your blog apart from other blogs?
Ah, I have no pretensions whatsoever about my blog – I am just a novice in the complex, well-populated blogosphere. However, my blog, I suppose like my finger prints and soul reflects me as an individual. So whatever two-pence individuality I have been endowed with or I have cultivated is well reflected in my blog. JR attempts to stay focused – not too much on the inane details of my personal life (I have other means to record that) or endless rambling on politics (there are many better blogs already doing that). My passions – art, culture, literature (with heavy doses of poetry), Sufism and of course celebrating the civilization and heritage of Pakistan and South Asia etc. feature prominently on this space. Finally, JR ventures to give space to new writers and poets including those from the subcontinent. Am not sure how different this is from many other blogs (smile).
If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success, what would it be?
Good grief – success is a loaded term. I could say that my blog has attracted diverse readers – Pakistanis at home and abroad, Indians, Non Resident Indians, Americans and Europeans have been communicating on the blog and via email as well. I suppose it is message of human understanding that has been the cause of JR’s appeal.

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?
That top most travel destination would have to be Turkey. I am fascinated by the confluence of civilizations and cultures that is embedded in contemporary Turkish reality. You move from one town with Greek remains and enter into an area where Roman splendours or ruins await you and then you hear the sound of azaan and it just becomes an incredible journey into history and world cultures. And of course, Konya where Rumi lived is also in Turkey.
My second choice would be Indonesia: another country with beautiful rainforests, mountains, beaches and rich history. I love Java Island and have written a little bit about it as well here.
I suppose the third choice is the African continent. There is immense, raw beauty there that brings once closer to the primordial connection with Nature. I want to go there again and again. I haven’t been to Western and Southern parts and am eager to go as soon as I have some savings for this purpose.

What is your favorite book and why?
This is a tough one as I love dozens of books that can easily be branded as ‘favourite’. However, let me try and take liberties with TPS. I think Divan-i-Ghalib is my all time (and possibly life-long favourite). The poetry has beauty, grace, pathos and a sense of humour that can lift my spirits up at any time. Also, the depth of meaning also makes me think and reflect about myself, the humanity and the universe. So you can imagine that Ghalib has a pretty powerful impact on me. Urdu novelist Qurratulain Hyder’s Aag Ka Darya and Akhir Shab ke Hamsafarhttp://www.razarumi.com/2007/09/24/end-of-an-era-qurratulain-hyder/; Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude; Bronte’s Wuthering Heights; Rumi’s Divane Shams; Fariduddin Attar’s The Conference of the Birds are also in the favourite category. Let me stop here before TPS considers chopping this rambling!

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?
I think it is the eyes – oops this is too clichéd. They say eyes are the windows to the soul. The other important feature is articulation – I love to converse and appreciate when people are forthcoming and expressive (in any language that I can understand!).

Do you think Pakistani politicians could benefit from the social networks and things like twitter?
Sorry I am not too familiar with the twitter. Yes, Pakistani politicians can benefit from anything that brings them in touch with what the people think and demand. However, knowing these characters, it would take them years to catch up with the advances in information technology. On the other hand, participation in social internet based networks/utilities would be heavily biased in favour of the urban, educated classes while the prime focus of the leaders ought to be on the dispossessed poorer sections. You could argue that our politicians are entrenched in their local, real networks such as biradari, tribe and caste..

How Pakistani bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?
Theoretically they can. I haven’t really benefited much as yet! So can’t say more.
Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?
This is not true. Success in the modern sense is a function of time management rather than absolute quantum of it. It has to do with a blog’s genuineness, its relevance, attracting internet users with reasonable quality stuff that is somewhat, fresh, a bit out of the box and which connects their inner selves (Internet browsing remains in many cases a very personal thing).

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 political and social force?
In the West, blogs (and the internet) is already a social and political force. However, this is not true for countries such as Pakistan. Our vital statistics are not conducive to it yet – the internet access is a minute fraction of the burgeoning population (and whatever it is google search estimates shows is devoted to the word ‘sex’). In urban areas, social web and the new media could be useful to connect with the youth.

What do you think where the Pakistani blogosphere is right now?
It is in the infancy stage. Abhi Ishq ke Imtihan Aur bhee hain

Who are your top five favourite bloggers in Pakisan?
I think there are more than five I would consider as my “favourites” - foremost is All Things Pakistan for its range and attempt to maintain quality (though one cannot say the same for the comments there); there is Shirazi’s the Light Within and related blogs; Omer Alvie’s Olive Ream, Awab Alvi’s Teeth Maestero are most incisive; Sabahat Zakriya’s has a refreshing blog Silsila-e-Mah-o-Saal, IFaqeer connects Pakistan with global audience; Pak Spectator is an energetic space that is inclusive and generates very good debate; Cubano’s Eccentric Optimism and Nauman’s Not the Whole Truth. My friend Hasan Abbas also manages a great blog called Watandost that is most substantive and the recently launched Pakistan Policy Blog holds great promise. Ali’s Eteraz blog and Hanging Odes are thought-provoking. I am missing out on others here but that is just a function of memory late at night as I respond to these questions!

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger in Pakistani blogosphere?
All Things Pakistan started by Adil Najam is the example that comes to one’s mind. I may be biased as I write there frequently. However, I am note sure if it is truly a “Pakistani” considering that it is managed in the main by overseas Pakistanis; and a good number of readers are not in Pakistan (like myself) and they bring in a peculiar sensibility.

What is the future of blogging in Pakistan?
Blogging has a tremendous potential for growth if the early signs are something to consider. I think its main utilities are still unexplored in Pakistan – in the office environments, academic institutions etc. With time this will grow as internet usage and Urdu softwares become more sophisticated.

In political respect, can we say blogging a ‘democracy of message’?
Yes indeed – blogging lets a thousand flowers bloom; and gets an uncensored version of reality across. What more can one ask for? Even though some countries are cracking down on bloggers but at the end of the day blogging defies all conventional wisdoms and many forms of censorship.

Can Pakistani blogosphere play any notable role in the forthcoming elections, if they happen at all?
Yes it can in a very limited sense: to the extent of urban, well-to-do readers, a sizeable number of which does not vote if the election studies/trends of the past are true.

What are your future plans?
As my blog is kinda personal and a bit of everything (for readers who understand Urdu: na hi Khuda Mila na wisaal-i-sanam), I want to start a new site that would be a little more serious and would deal with South Asian politics and societies.
In the long term I want to find people who can be my guides in setting up a centre for Islamic renaissance; work on education sector in Pakistan and of course I intend to paint more. I have two books in the pipeline, if only I can overcome my laziness and create more time for such pursuits..Hazaron Khawhishain Aisee….

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?
Message sounds too formal – I will take this opportunity to rant: Pakistani bloggers have an extra responsibility to paint a rational and corrected version of their country given the image of Pakistan within the mainstream media as well as the new media. I know many can challenge this by saying that blogs are personal after all and there is far greater freedom of speech in the blogosphere so why care? Well, we are unfortunate victims of world politics and post-colonial construction of Islamism and ‘terrorism’. Therefore we should attempt to send a message to the world that while we are proud of our faith and our country yet at the same time not all us are Talibans and followers of Bin laden (at least me and thousands I know are not). This is a message that is most crucial to our country’s future as well. Fighting intolerance and forces of retrogression is of prime importance in these troubled times and nobody can do it for us. We will have to undertake this Jihad – albeit of another variety - ourselves! This is my personal view and I have no prescription here.

Thanks to TPS for this opportunity…

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