What is a “me-ra-si” culture? Afzal Tahir

Term “me-ra-si culture” used by Ansar Abbasi  in his urdu piece published on 31^st Jan. 2012 in daily Jang, (Ansar Abbasi's article an example of feudal superiority) criticising the opposition and anger  both by public and media against  a resolution passed by Punjab Assembly banning music concerts on the premises of education institutions. This was in spite of the fact that the music concerts had been organized by students themselves for a healthy socialization, interaction and better understanding among student community.  

The music concerts are the only alternative socialization creating better understanding by cutting across colour, tribe, religion, sect or gender division.  The ground reality is that Pakistani society has been and is deeply polarized and is very intolerant towards each others.

Target killing and attack on places of worship on sectarian basis become norms of daily life.  Terrorists are roaming around freely. There is no administrative or ideological counter point to the terrorist and sectarian driver for power.  

Keeping the above situation in view, the state must have to encouraged and invest in alternative venues for socialization where people could have chance to mingle themselves as human beings regardless of colour, gender or sect. This would certainly help to create harmonious trends both among individuals and as whole.  The musical concert by students themselves is a ray of positive hope.

The irony that the women MPA who had proposed resolution, belonging to a party that was cloned by Mushraf and his government.  The Alhamra incident where young students Sara Nawaz, Maheen Naseem and Nimra, lost their lives. (possibility of a terrorists conspiracy to scare people off) God bless these little souls who become victim of ill management, greed and conspiracy by terrorist so that to scare people off from socialization.  

Instead of proposing a resolution to check on short comings and to improve safety standard, they opted to ban concert so that the terrorists could have more chances of recruitment. 

Ansar Abbasi clearly had supported a culture that is alien to a cosmopolitan life. He is still living purely with a racial mind-set yet enjoying the facilities of modern innovation.  There are some questions, one need to ask him because he is an investigating journalist.  Is it possible for a person of his mindset which is clearly visible from his piece, could do justice with his professional duties? 

Q-1: What does he mean by "meerasi culture."?   To the best of my knowledge, there is nothing called  "me-ra-si” culture.

Q-2: Term "mee-ra-si" is not a cultural term but a profession specific to trabo-agrarian culture of 18^th 19^th and early 20^th centuries. The term "mee-ra-si" been used for entertainers especially for feudal class and considered to be low class.  Is he considered them even today as lower class of human being?  

Q-3: The structure of tribo-agrarian/feudal society was mainly feudals (jagerdar) with big lands, peasantry with small and medium land holdings. Their productive activities mostly confounded to agriculture and live stocks.  Abbasi knows very well that the structure of society is very well socially grounded based on social unit. Not based on race, tribe, religion, sect or colour. Yet different tribes do not enter into marriage relationship just because inferior and superior concept in spite that both tribes may be of same religion and sect.  How he would fit a “me-ra-si” in this situation?

Q-4:  The other very important aspect of that society is, other classes an essential part of tribo/agrarian and feudal culture.  The landless people known with different titles and professions are: Harris (tenants);  Lohar (blacksmith);  Mouchi (Shoe maker); Naaie (barber);  Kuumar (crockery producers); Kasbee (cloths manufactures); Dooms & Meerasi (entertainers/musicians). The place I born and brought-up was having bajai wala (bagpipe, a connection with Scotland) and drum. These people known as “kami kameen” mean low race. They are part of social unit of society but land owners, poor small or big don’t enter into relationship with them in spite of same religion or sect.  But when these “kami kameen” and land owners, small or big went to industrial cities, to work in steel mills, shoe factories; become co-worker, co-employee and start entering into relationship.  Are you suggesting that Pakistani are still living in 19^th century where “me-ra-si” and other low classes considered to be low of lowest human being? If you still hate people just because of their profession, what kind of Islam you are upholding?

Q-5: Are you upholding a specific image perception of a person? Are you suggesting  that people with beard are from superior class? If  you perceived a beard man is the criteria, then what about Abu Jhail and Abu Lab? They were having beard too.  

I hope people would unite to resist against hate mongers and discriminators. Mr. Abbasi must have to offer his unconditional apology by calling artists as “me-ra-si” and cultural activities  of indigenous people “me-ra-si culture. There are not one, two or three, but  dozens of prophetic traditions for socialization, music and singing.  People are mature enough to decide by themselves about their faith (pick and choose Islam don't work). They don’t want people like Abbasi or some one else to tell them what to believe and what not to believe?  What to wear and what not to wear? What to eat and what not to eat or whom to meet and whom not to meet?