By Ruchhita Kazaria
Among the participants of the Seventh edition of Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival (AKLF) was Pakistani freelance journalist Reema Abbasi, former Project Manager Aman ki Asha and a recipient of UNESCO’s Gender in Journalism Award 2003.
A journalist for almost two decades, Abbasi’s recently published book, ‘Historic Temples in Pakistan – A Call to Conscience’ was launched at the iconic Victoria Memorial on 16 January, 2016, Day III of AKLF 2016.
A day earlier, I sat among the audience at a stimulating panel discussion at AKLF titled ‘Crossing the Line’, moderated by Sandip Ray; Senior Editor at Firstpost.com. The venue was the heritage Oxford Bookstore on Park Street, which in its last season had hosted the phenomenally talented Mohammed Hanif.
Book Release at Victoria Memorial (Day III). Photo courtesy AKLF
A fascinating bit of information Abbasi shared at the discussion was that ‘Two or three temples in Pakistan used to have tunnels that priests believe led to Mata’s mandir in Kolkata. Now because of the shifting of plates, they are little orifices’.
Abbasi has in her book made an bold and honest attempt to record the history of an Islamic country’s Hindu past. She contrasts stories of desecration of temples, whether due to a backlash or land disputes or commercial gains, with visits to shrines that represent a fusion of faiths, untouched by social disturbances. The well-researched narrative is accompanied by magnificent photography.
Explaining why she chose to do the book, Abbasi said, ‘The text books are politicized and controlled. The historical places are hostage to faith. I am not talking about faith. I am talking about heritage … Heritage which unites us!’
I felt encouraged hearing her views that I found pragmatic and refreshing.
Reema Abbasi signing the book
At Oxford Bookstore – After the discussion
She advocated that history needs to be ‘disintegrated’ and we need to ‘release ourselves from the hostage syndrome’.
‘The vengeance holds us hostage. Sadly, the voices of terror tend to be louder, noisier and harmful. They drown us out,’ said Abbasi.
Speaking about Bangaldesh, she termed 1971 ‘a big mistake’. ‘Pakistan needs to acknowledge what happened in 1971. We need to put the past behind us in order to move forward and establish a better dynamic between neighbors in the region. I truly think that every thinking Pakistani owes an apology to Bangaldeshis. For the last thirty years, we have been raised on lies. It’s a South Asian problem. In schools they don’t teach history. They teach the ideology of history. The issue is that we don’t want to face the truth. With the State controlling the learning, we are not taught history in the way it should be taught’.
Book Jacket
About the book
‘Historic Temples in Pakistan – A Call to Conscience’
By Reema Abbasi
Photographs by Madiha Aijaz
Published by Niyogi Books, India
Contains detailed accounts of Hinglaj Mata, Shiv Mandir, Panchmukhi Hanuman Mandir, Naval Mandir, Katas Raj, Balmiki Temple. Rama Pir Mandir and other historic temples in Pakistan.
Festival directors’ views
‘ Dialogue needs to be maintained’
Festival Directors AKLF-2016 Maina-Bhagat and Anjum Katyal at Oxford Bookstore
‘Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival aims at highlighting the shared history and the creative, literary works of Indo-Pak. The enormous talent emerging from across the border is a very strong binding factor, towards bringing peace in the region. Dialogue needs to be maintained and literature definitely ensures that!’
– Maina Bhagat; Festival Director; AKLF 2016
‘People to people contact is most important’
‘Across the subcontinent, the people to people contact is most important. To ensure harmony and better understanding, there can be no better way than to interact through the medium of creative arts. Music, books, visual arts, cinema – they all bring us closer, serving as vehicles to reach out. The Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival reasserts that literature is an indispensable part of ensuring cross-border interactions’.
– Anjum Katyal; Festival Director; AKLF 2016
Ruchhita Kazaria is a former journalist with Education Times, Times of India and The Asian Age. She is a branding professional and an independent book editor with various publishing houses. Photographs: Ruchhita Kazaria and AKLF 2016.
