Intelligence is sexy, period By Daily Post

SUKANT DEEPAK

No talking about her skin-hugging jeans or the lovely black boots. Not a whisper about the way her long fingers caress her hair and make you so glad to be alive the moment you’re in front of her.

“Why is your guy taking so many pictures?” she asks. You die. Why can’t there be a holy war against those who take her pictures?

Author Fatima Bhutto can easily overshadow anyone on the third day of the Jaipur Literature Festival. Oprah Winfey included. And she wants to talk serious. Only serious.

A young, intelligent woman like her in the Pakistani society which seems to be falling apart — rising inflation, starvation, an army which may take over anytime... Is something wrong in the state of Denmark? The celebrated author offers a fascinating smile, “It must be understood that in the Pakistani society, the gulf between those in power and the ones who are being ruled has been widening at an alarming rate, with the former choosing to be absolutely insensitive towards the issues concerning the masses. Do you know, millions are starving, there is a tremendous energy crisis. In my country, people stand on one side. Power stands on the other. Sad, but true.” But there must be a silver lining. “Of course there is, interesting things are happening. People are trying to make themselves heard. Judiciary is waking up. However, the real issue still remains — people. Read the newspaper headlines in Pakistan; they all scream of who will get the power. Why do we fail to understand that power doesn’t ‘belong’ to anyone. It is very complex phenomenon.”

Mention the never-before role being played by the civil society in Asia in recent times, like Anna Hazare’s crusade against corruption in India, and the lawyers’ protest in Pakistan, and Fatima is quick to respond, “Who is the civil society? Do you know that most people in Pakistan may not even know about the protests being held, thanks to the fact that there isn’t enough electricity to feed their television. And also, why do we take only Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi into consideration while talking about Pakistan? Again, the issue of ever-growing gulf emerges. The most important issues including food, health, land reforms, energy aren’t taken up by the civil society. The problems being faced by far-fetched parts of the country are being ignored. Why aren’t we being sensitive to the needs of the majority? It’s so surprising!”

Now they say that for young Pakistani, India is no longer the enemy… “Yes, America tops the list. That’s because their occupation of Afganisthan is illegal and unjust. The drone attacks inside Pakistani territory are testing our patience like never before. I really wonder how many more Pakistani soldiers will need to be sacrificed at the American hands for us to realise that we don’t need them.”

As an educated young woman, does she feel that feudalism, still a dormant part in the Pakistani society also has a lot to do with the present-day chaos in Pakistani, though she also belongs to a huge landed family. “Sure, it is one of the factors, but then in every sphere- be it the industry, political power or any other institution, only a handful have all the power in that country.”

She has already made it clear that she would not join politics but remain a “critic”. So, how does she perceive the rise in former cricketer Imran Khan’s popularity? “Yes, he does have a personality. The question is whether he’s any different from the other politicians? The guy has always made it clear that he’s pretty cozy with dictatorship. He supported Zia, he has defended Musharraf. And yes, as a woman, I will worry if he comes to power. If you know, he has voted against the woman’s bill and his views with regard to the fairer sex are very orthodox. Don’t forget, that in 2009, he voiced that he was in favour of the Shria law.”

Bring up Kashmir, and she’s quick to respond, “It would not be fair to comment on this issue as there is no Kashmiri in attendance…”

Signing an autograph for a Canadian fan, she whispers, “Also, don’t you think internal borders restrict us to a great extent…?”

Source:http://www.dailypostindia.com/news/10234-intelligence-is-sexy-period.html

Voices from Pakistan: Controversial author Fatima Bhutto speaks out about India's western neighbour By ROHAN VENKATARAMAKRISHNAN

Oprah might have been the big attraction at Jaipur Literature Festival on Sunday, but a few metres away a packed house got a glimpse of two famous visitors from across the LoC.

Controversial Pakistani author (and Benazir Bhutto's niece) Fatima Bhutto and renowned historian Ayesha Jalal spoke about the complex dynamics of India's ever-turbulent western neighbour at a panel featuring a huge audience - and a very vocal cow.

'A nod of agreement from a cow,' said panel moderator and television talk show host Karan Thapar, after a loud 'moo' interrupted Bhutto's assertion about the immense gulf that separates the powerful and the ordinary in Pakistan. 'That's a very holy thing in India.'

The cow would make itself heard a few more times after the first 'moo,' particularly joining in with the audience's loud applause when Bhutto made clear her distaste over the rise in popularity of another Pakistani who is well-known on this side of the border.

'Is he (Imran Khan) a saviour?' Bhutto asked and answered her rhetorical question, to sustained applause, with a 'No, I don't think so.' She listed a number of strikes against the World Cup-winning playboy cricketer-turned-politician whose anti-establishment message has been gaining tremendous popularity.

'As a woman, I worry very much about Imran's politics. I worry about a person who voted against the Women's Bill in 2006,' Bhutto said, informing the audience about the legislation that attempted to amend - to some extent - a Pakistani law that holds rape victims guilty of adultery.

She questioned Imran's credentials as a genuine alternative to the current political class, saying he didn't seem to be any different from the pro-Army, pro-Islamist characters who dominate Pakistani politics. On a lighter note, she also critiqued the effect the former cricketer is having on the country's punditry.

'We've got this enormous country with so much in it, and we only seem to be able to talk in cricket metaphors,' Bhutto said to laughs. 'It's embarrassing.'

The problem with Pakistan, for Bhutto, is that the political class is too far removed from the issues that affect people on the ground - the lack of food, devastating floods and the conspicuous absence of energy distribution.

Jalal, who teaches South Asian history at Tufts University, agreed. She pointed out that despite Khan's apparently unending support, his party had already began making compromises by accepting politicians who didn't share his outsider status.

'I don't see a major change. What we see is parliamentarians and politicians seeing him (Imran Khan) as the horse to bet on,' Jalal said. 'Which will hurt Imran. It will tie his hands.'

As an alternative, Jalal suggested that Bhutto could get into the political game. 'Fati can join a party. I will join her,' Jalal said, before Bhutto interjected saying she wouldn't do that.

'The difference between Pakistan and India is in terms of structures and institutions,' Jalal said. 'India has institutions that function. In Pakistan, the only institution that functions is the army. What you're witnessing now is that uncertainty because change is in the air. Still, I think that the army will continue to be the final arbiter for years to come.' It was grim thought to carry back home.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2090367/Voices-Pakistan-Controversial-author-Fatima-Bhutto-speaks-Indias-western-neighbour.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

'Chasm Between Pak Commoners and Elites Growing'

One of Pakistan's leading young voices and estranged scion of the Bhutto family, Fatima Bhutto today lamented the fact that the chasm between the people of her country and those in power was widening by the day.

Speaking at a session to discuss Pakistan and its burning issues, Bhutto said while there is a huge gulf between the two sides of Pakistan, the people in power had little compassion for those they are supposed to take care of.

"There are two separate sets of people. One side is the common people and the other side is those who are in power," Fatima said.

"While millions are starving in Pakistan despite the fact that it is an agricultural country, there is disconnection between people and those in power," she said.

On the civil society in Pakistan, Fatima said while Pakistan was not new to street protests and movements, the basic problems of people had not been addressed.

"Still a larger section of society lack electricity and other basic needs," she said.

Comparing the institution of civil society in India and Pakistan, academic and author Ayesha Jalal said civil society in India was much better prepared to take to the streets.

She said energy crisis, food security and non-performing institutions were the major issues of concern there and these needs to be highlighted.

Jalal said while Pakistan is a society undergoing change, the Army is still likely to remain a dominant institution in the near future.

Source: http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=748634#.TxzGtBv_dIQ.twitter

Days of military rule over in Pak: Fatima Bhutto

Jaipur: Allaying any fear of military coup, Fatima Bhutto said that the days of army rule in Pakistan is over now. “In the eyes of most Pakistanis, army is discredited, especially after the Abbottabad incident where Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was killed under the nose of the army by American soldiers. Moreover, army support to Americans in Afghanistan has not gone well with the average Pakistanis,” said Bhutto, attending the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival on Sunday.

Talking to Karan Thapar, another panelist Ayesha Jalal said that Pakistan army will continue to play an important role in the decades to come and it will be the final arbitrator in running the government. On Pakistan army’s need over US, she said that it’s the army which is most dependent on Americans. “But any action against the Haqqani network by Pakistan army is very unlikely,” she stressed.

On the growing popularity of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, Bhutto said that the emergence of Khan has once again demonstrated the personality-based politics in the country. Rubbishing the theory that Khan is the future of country, she said that he could not be a saviour of Pakistan. His coziness with military and his defence of General Zia-ul-Haq’s legacy are well known to every one, added she.

Jalal said that though Khan has been plausibly projected as a good leader, he lacks organisational base.

Source:http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/RAJ-JPR-days-of-military-rule-over-in-pak-fatima-bhutto-2781214.html

Fatima Bhutto Blasts Imran Khan

There was a short-lived rumor last month that Fatima Bhutto was flirting with the idea of joining Imran Khan’s opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.

Speaking at the Jaipur Literature Festival on Sunday, she made it clear this was unlikely to happen. Ever.

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“He has an incredible coziness not with the military but with dictatorship,” Ms. Bhutto said of Mr. Khan, a cricket legend-turned-politician who has been billing himself as the face of change in Pakistan.

Ms. Bhutto accused Mr. Khan of defending the legacy of former dictator Gen. Zia-ul-Haq, who came to power in the late 1970s after overthrowing Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Fatima’s grandfather and the founder of the country’s ruling Pakistan People’s Party. She also mentioned Mr. Khan’s support for a 2002 referendum allowing Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who had come to power with a coup a few years earlier, to extend his term.

That’s not where it ended. In what appeared to be a well-rehearsed argument to debunk the political credibility of the former cricket captain, Ms. Bhutto went on to list more reasons why she opposed his political foray.

“As a woman I worry very much about Imran’s politics,” said Ms. Bhutto. She spoke of his opposition to amending a 2006 woman’s bill in favor of victims of rape. She also questioned Mr. Khan’s commitment to secularism and to defending minorities.

“Is he a savior? No, I don’t think so,” said Ms. Bhutto during a Pakistan-focused session at the literary festival.

“Well, that’s the end of Imran Khan,” said news anchor Karan Thapar, who moderated the panel.

Mr. Khan’s political weight, long dismissed as irrelevant, started to gain new relevance in recent months.

Although he started his party more than 15 years ago, only now is it starting to gain traction. On Christmas Day, over 100,000 people turned up to his rally in Karachi, where he vowed to stand up to the U.S. and to fight corruption.

In October, he drew an even larger crowd in Lahore, leaving some wondering whether the next general elections, slated for 2013, may “mark the moment that PTI went from being ridiculous to respectable in the mainstream,” as an article in The Caravan magazine recently noted.

Mike Clarke/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Fatima Bhutto at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Hong Kong on March 3, 2008.

At the literary festival, where Ms. Bhutto shared a stage with the Pakistani-American historian Ayesha Jalal, the tone was one of disillusionment with Pakistan’s political class. Ms. Bhutto spoke of the “gulf” that exists between the people in power and the rest of the country, saying that food scarcity – not squabbles between institutions – is the bigger worry for most people.

Despite her political lineage (another former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, was her aunt), Ms. Bhutto has long eschewed direct involvement in national politics. Best known as a writer and a journalist, Ms. Bhutto hasn’t spared members of her family in her political critiques. Her “Songs of Blood and Swords,” a 2010 memoir centered on the Bhutto dynasty, exposedfeuding in her family and was damning of her late aunt.

Spokespersons of Mr. Khan’s PTI party did not respond to emailed requests for comment. Attempts to reach Mr. Khan or his spokespersons by phone were unsuccessful.

Source:http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2012/01/22/fatima-bhutto-blasts-imran-khan/?mod=google_news_blog

Fatima Bhutto [The Outlier]

Born into one of Pakistan’s most influential political dynasties, Fatima Bhutto is the granddaughter of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the niece of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and daughter of Murtaza Bhutto, but she has emerged as a political powerhouse in her own right. An author, journalist and poet, Fatima Bhutto’s rise to prominence began with the publication of her first book, a collection of poems, titled Whispers of the Desert. Her book titled 8.50 a.m. 8th October 2005 records those affected by the 2005 Kashmir earthquake. She is a tenacious supporter of democracy, critical of the birthright policies of her late aunt’s “Bhutto cult,” and her latest book, Songs of Blood and Sword: A Daughter’s Memoir, recounts the tumultuous history of the Bhutto family.

Describe your personality in 10 words or less.
Loyal.

If you were reincarnated, who or what would you like to come back as?
I’m not sure it works that way; I don’t think you get to choose.

Name your favorite …
Contemporary musician : This is entirely mood dependent. At this very moment I’m listening to Beirut.
Comfort food : Arabic food, all of it.
Wild animal : dolphin
Instrument : drums, only because I imagine I might be able to learn how to play them.
Founding Father : I’m afraid I don’t have one of those. Do you mean to suggest most people do?

What do you consider your greatest professional accomplishment?
My work ethic.

What are you pissed about right now?
Pakistan’s continuing flood crisis. The country has been inundated by rainwater for the second year running thanks to gross political mismanagement and corruption. In Sindh, 5 million people are still suffering the effects of the flood — some three months after the monsoons — and are homeless, without access to medical aidand food. (http://www.merlinusa.org provides medical relief to conflict zones around the world. If you’re interested please look it up and support its relief efforts in Pakistan)

What tunes would be on the five-song playlist to your life?
I couldn’t even give you the play list to last week. It changes constantly. But this week there would be a bit of Otis Redding, a little Dolly Parton, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Kanye West. And I’m also listening to a charming Pakistani punk band, The Kominas, this week, too.

What is your greatest fear?
That people have already become complacent about Pakistan. That Pakistan’s corruption doesn’t bother anyone anymore, regardless of its effects.

Who is the most interesting person you have ever met (and why)?
Professor Dennis Dalton. He taught me political theory in college and changed how I saw the world. His book on Mahatma Gandhi should be on every shelf.

Name three things you cannot live without.
Books. I can live without most other things.

You get one wish …
Justice.

Source: http://www.malibumag.com/site/article/fatima_bhutto_the_outlier/

In conversation with Fatima Bhutto

Home > Interests > Culture
Amean J




Condé Nast Traveller contributing editor and author Fatima Bhutto picks her favourite authors, countries and the literary festivals worth travelling to

Tell us a bit about yourself and what shaped your journey into writing.
It's what I always wanted to do. It’s a journey that's constantly being shaped. As JG Ballard once said "If I don't write I begin to feel unsettled and uneasy, as I gather people do who are not allowed to dream.” I’m currently working on a book on Karachi.

How would you describe your city?
It's a mad city, a mega city, a monster city; that’s filled to the brim with people (no one really knows how many - between 16 and 18 million) and sits on the shores of the Arabian Sea. It's where political battles are fought and lost, often violently. It's an uncensored city – liberal, diverse, complicated which makes it the sort of atmosphere that easily inspires joy and fear, usually at the same time.

What are you expecting at the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival 2012?
I’m looking forward to great audiences and compelling authors, which Jaipur does exceedingly well. I'm terribly excited about Ariel Dorfman, Richard Dawkins, Jamaica Kincaid, Hanan al Shaykh all being in Jaipur.

Who are some of the authors who have had a profound influence on you?
This changes constantly, but currently – Joan Didion, VS Naipaul, Rsyzard Kapucinski.
DID SHE SAY WHY?

Which book are you currently reading?
I’m reading George Orwell's Down and out in Paris and London. But anyone who hasn't read Oblivion by Hector Abad must – really – and go find it. I can't recommend it strongly enough.

Do you see Asian authors now having a greater influence on the world?
Certainly. But haven't Asian authors always had a profound literary influence? Rabindranath Tagore, Mahmoud Darwish, Edward Said, Eqbal Ahmed and there are so many others like them.

A country you most enjoyed travelling in?
It's really hard to beat Cuba. Really,really hard.

Your favourite Indian destination is?
I have yet to visit a part of the country I didn't immediately decide was a new favourite. My most recent though is Kovalam.

Your recommendation for a not-to-be-missed literary festival would be?
I'm not sure there's a city in the world without a literary festival now so you're really spoilt for choice. Ubud has an extraordinary festival - I'd have to say it's my favourite.
Condé Nast Traveller contributing editor and author Fatima Bhutto picks her favourite authors, countries and the literary festivals worth travelling to

Tell us a bit about yourself and what shaped your journey into writing.
It's what I always wanted to do. It’s a journey that's constantly being shaped. As JG Ballard once said "If I don't write I begin to feel unsettled and uneasy, as I gather people do who are not allowed to dream.” I’m currently working on a book on Karachi.

How would you describe your city?
It's a mad city, a mega city, a monster city; that’s filled to the brim with people (no one really knows how many - between 16 and 18 million) and sits on the shores of the Arabian Sea. It's where political battles are fought and lost, often violently. It's an uncensored city – liberal, diverse, complicated which makes it the sort of atmosphere that easily inspires joy and fear, usually at the same time.

What are you expecting at the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival 2012?
I’m looking forward to great audiences and compelling authors, which Jaipur does exceedingly well. I'm terribly excited about Ariel Dorfman, Richard Dawkins, Jamaica Kincaid, Hanan al Shaykh all being in Jaipur.

Who are some of the authors who have had a profound influence on you?
This changes constantly, but currently – Joan Didion, VS Naipaul, Rsyzard Kapucinski.

Which book are you currently reading?
I’m reading George Orwell's Down and out in Paris and London. But anyone who hasn't read Oblivion by Hector Abad must – really – and go find it. I can't recommend it strongly enough.

Do you see Asian authors now having a greater influence on the world?
Certainly. But haven't Asian authors always had a profound literary influence? Rabindranath Tagore, Mahmoud Darwish, Edward Said, Eqbal Ahmed and there are so many others like them.

A country you most enjoyed travelling in?
It's really hard to beat Cuba. Really,really hard.

Your favourite Indian destination is?
I have yet to visit a part of the country I didn't immediately decide was a new favourite. My most recent though is Kovalam.

Your recommendation for a not-to-be-missed literary festival would be?
I'm not sure there's a city in the world without a literary festival now so you're really spoilt for choice. Ubud has an extraordinary festival - I'd have to say it's my favourite.


Source:
http://www.cntraveller.in/content/conversation-fatima-bhutto