benazir (media and identity)

8/9/2019 Benazir (Media and Identity)

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The edifice of an individual identity and self can be witnessed to be a bit exigent and

thorny. People have an innate oblige to appraise their own attributes and abilities, which

they do by comparing themselves with others. It is no longer possible for an identity to be

constructed merely in a small community and only be influenced by family. Differences

in perceived similarity between the self and a comparison standard can determine the

occurrence of contrast or assimilation in self-evaluation. Self is the understanding or

determination of one's own nature or basic qualities, one consciousness of own identity.

The self-concept is the accumulation of knowledge about the self, such as beliefs

regarding personality traits, physical characteristics, abilities, values, goals, and roles.

Identity can be defined as what identifies somebody or something: the name or essential

character that identifies somebody or something or (Encarta English Dictionary) or

State of being a specified person or thing: individuality or personality (Collins Gem English Dictionary). Identity (also called sameness) is whatever makes an entity

definable and recognizable, in terms of possessing a set of qualities or characteristics that

distinguish it from entities of a different type. I accept as true that identity is somewhat

that is build over a period of time and can constantly be updated or changed completely.

An autobiography, from the Greek autos , 'self', bios , 'life' and graphein , 'write', is

information about one's own life written by that one person. In it, it tells what that

person's life is all about. An autobiography focuses on the "life and times" of the writer.Through autobiography, a writers self-expression or self-representation ability can

convey extra undoubtedly defined sense of self into a superior sense of value for his/her

own life experiences and helps readers to understand writers self more clearly.

Biography of Benazir Bhutto

Benazir Bhutto, BB, (1953-2007), Pakistani political leader,

did not plan to be a politician, served as first female prime

minister of a Muslim country, she served for Pakistan from

1988 to 1990 and from 1993 to 1996. She was born at Pinto

Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, on June 21, 1953. Her

mother, the former Nusrat Ispahani, is the daughter of an

Iranian businessman. Her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was a

member of one of Pakistan's wealthiest landowning


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families, an Oxford educated lawyer, a cabinet minister and ultimately Prime Minister of

Pakistan. Benazir Bhutto was the first child of Zulfikar and Nusrat Bhutto. They had

three other children: Mir Murtaza, a son, born in 1954; Sanam, a daughter, born in 1957;

and Shah Nawaz, a son, born in 1958. Benazir Bhutto's early childhood was spent

primarily in Karachi where her father opened his law practice, and at Larkana at the seat

of the family estates, Al-Murtaza. she started nursery school when she was three,

attending the Lady Jenning's Nursery School in Karachi. At age five she was enrolled at

the Convent of Jesus and Mary School, run by Irish Catholic nuns. At boarding school, a

branch of the Convent of Jesus and Mary School in Karachi, Benazir Bhutto had to fend

for herself. In 1968, she completed her Olevel exam and in April of 1969, at the age of

16 years, she was accepted to Radcliffe College, a part of Harvard University in

Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1973, Benazir Bhutto graduated cum laude from Radcliffe,which has since been absorbed by Harvard University. Benazir Bhutto entered Lady

Margaret Hall at Oxford College in the fall of 1973. After three years at Oxford she had

completed her second Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy, politics, and economics.

She then decided to stay on for another year to study international law and diplomacy and

to make another run for the presidency of the union. In December 1976, after a very

energetic campaign, Benazir Bhutto was elected president of the Oxford Union. She

served a three-month term which began in January 1977 the first Asian woman to serve

as president. Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan in 1977, after spending eight years

studying, first in the United States and then in England, Her intention was to find a job in

the foreign service of Pakistan she had moved into an office next to her father's office.

But soon, she witnessed her father's overthrow by a military coup and then she had to live

through the next year and a half of her father's persecution and imprisonment, which

ended with his execution on April 4, 1979. Five-and-a-half years of persecution and

incarceration ended, and Benazir Bhutto was finally truly free for the first time since her

arrest on September 29, 1979 when she was allowed to go abroad. She moved to England

in 1984. On July 18, 1985, the second male member of the Bhutto family died when

French authorities were able to determine that Shah Nawaz took the poison in a diluted

state. On December 30, General Zia lifted martial law. On April 11, 1986, she once again

returned to Pakistan. Prior to returning to Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto made three trips. She


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visited Washington, Moscow, and made a religious pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

After her return to Pakistan, she got married with Asif Zardari, belonged to well reputed

Zardari landlord family, ran his family's construction company and played on his own

polo team, the Zardari Four. A seven-pound baby boy was born on the morning of

September 21, 1988, by cesarean section. The happy parents named their new son

Bilawal, which means "one without equal." She married a wealthy landowner, Asif Ali

Zardari, in Karachi on December 18, 1987. The couple had two daughters: Bakhtawar

and Aseefa. General Zia's death in a mysterious airplane crash in August of 1988

instantly thrust Bhutto to political center stage. As per announcement of Zia, the national

elections would be held on Wednesday, November 16, 1988, with the provincial elections

to be held on Saturday, November 19, 1988. In spite of split mandate, on December 1,

1988, President Ishaq Khan invited Benazir Bhutto to become prime minister and to forma new government. The assemblies was dissolved by President Ishaq Khan due to

corruption allegation and Bhutto was defeated in the 1990 elections, and found herself in

court defending herself against several charges of misconduct while in office. She

continued to be a prominent focus of opposition discontent, and won a further election in

1993 but was replaced in 1996 as again assemblies were broke up this time by president

Farooq Ahmad Lagari, The last male member of Bhutto, her brother, Murtaza, died in

1996 (while his sister was in power) in a gun battle with police in Karachi. In self-

imposed exile in Britain and Dubai, she was convicted in 1999 of corruption and

sentenced to three years in prison. She continued to direct her party from abroad, being

re-affirmed as PPP leader in 2002. Bhutto returned to Pakistan on October 18, 2007,

after President Musharraf granted her amnesty on all corruption charges, opening the way

for her return and a possible power-sharing agreement. Bhutto's homecoming rally after

eight years in exile was hit by a suicide attack, killing 136 people. She only survived after

ducking down at the moment of impact behind her armored vehicle. Bhutto said it was

Pakistan's "blackest day" when Musharraf imposed a state of emergency Nov. 3 and

threatened to bring her supporters on to the streets in mass demonstrations. She was place

under house arrest Nov. 9. Bhutto called for his resignation four days later. Emergency

rule was lifted Dec. 15. Bhutto was killed when an assassin fired shots and then blew

himself up after an election campaign rally in Rawalpindi on Dec. 27. The attack also


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killed 28 others and wounded at least another 100. The shooting and bombing attack on

the charismatic former prime minister plunged Pakistan into turmoil.

Benazir Bhutto, beautiful and charismatic, the daughter of one of Pakistans most popular

leaders, has been mentioned as "The world's most popular politician" in the New

Guinness Book of Record 1996. The "Times" and the "Australian Magazine" (May 4,

1996) have drawn up a list of 100 most powerful women and have included Benazir

Bhutto as one of them.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) came into being in Lahore on November 30 December

01, 1967, with four cardinal principles i.e. Islam is our faith, democracy is our polity,

socialism is our economy and all power to the people. Bhutto was determined to bring

down the dictator who had betrayed the nation. To achieve this goal, he needed a political

organization and a political platform. When Ayub resigned in March 1969, an interim

military government took over and announced elections for December 1970, PPP

contested these elections on the slogans of "ROTI, KAPRA AUR MAKAN" (bread,

clothing and shelter) and "all power to the people." In poll, party received masses

response and won the elections. From Dec. 20, 1971 to July 5, 1977, the PPP government

made significant social and economic reforms that did much to improve the life of

Pakistan's impoverished masses. In March, 1977, when Bhutto called elections, as per spirit of constitution, nine opposition parties made a alliance Pakistan National Alliance

(PNA) with the slogan "Nizam-I-Mustafa" (Islamic system). PPP amended its manifesto

and publicly promised for the same. PNAs incomprehensible ideology fueled the success

of PPP in elections once again. Rigging and fraud charges gave a free rein to crusade of

violence and openly called for the military to take over the government. This agitation

paved the path of dictatorship and military led by General Zia-ul-Haq theatrical

overthrow and seized power on July 5, 1977. Immediately following the coup, the

Martial Law regime let loose a baseless campaign against the PPP and its leaders and its

founder was framed on a murder-conspiracy charge and executed. During Martial Law,

PPP faced rigorous temptations from army authorities, several workers were put to death,

thousands were lashed and tens of thousand suffered long imprisonments and detention in

jails and torture cells. At last, Benazir Bhutto liberated and rebuilt the party from scratch,


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leading an epic movement for the restoration of Democracy and led the party as

chairperson of party. After the tragic death of Zia, PPP took part in elections, announced

by Zia in his life, held in November 1988 and PPP emerged as a single largest party. PPP

government was dissolved by Ghulam Ishaq Khan, and party faced defeat in interim

elections held in 1990. After the dismissal of Nawaz Sharifs Government in 1993, PPP

won the fore coming elections in November, 1993. This time again, PPP government was

dismissed by Farooq Lagari, President of Pakistan. In the consequences of the 1997

elections won by Nawaz Sharif, PPP and its leaders faced political victimization, and BB

adopted self imposed exile. General Pervaiz Musharraf took over on Oct. 12, 1999 by

removing corrupt and inept Government of Nawaz Sharif. PPP took part in the elections

announced by Musharraf in 2002 with new party name Pakistan People Party

Parliamentarian (PPPP) headed by Makhdoom Amin Faheem - at that time PPPleadership was not in the country. PPP "egalitarian democracy objective came into

existence when BB returned from exile and she decided to go for election on February

2008, but the realization of this objective was came into after the assassination of BB,

when General Pervail Musharraf announced his resignation.

Benazir Bhutto:

Development of Identity and self and projection though pen (Medium)

I had faith in myself. I had always felt that I could become Prime Minister if I wanted.

Benazir Bhutto (BB), extraordinarily a most charismatic woman and former Prime

Minister of Pakistan, wrote her autobiography in mid eighties. Many of people have

asked BB to put in writing not about her fathers experiences and achievements but about

herself but she was ambivalent to write about herself, because she was combating the

most imperative political battles and also for her, writing a book is very easier said than

done and it breathe life into the pain of the past However, a sole proclamation had

transformed her mind: "What is not recorded is not remembered and she had made her

mind up to put the events and experiences on papers. She experienced the glory of her

fathers regime, the heartbreaking assassination of her father, the ominous years of

Martial Law, soreness of exile, cataclysm deaths of two brothers and mixed feeling of

being elected and ruling out from government twice first Muslim woman Prime


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Minister who lead a post-colonial Muslim state. Daughter of East is an autobiography

of BB but it has the inherent qualities of a history a history that is all time relevant. This

is also stated by BB in the preface of her autobiography;

This is my story, events as I saw them, felt them, reacted to them. It is not an in-depth study of Pakistan, but a glance into the transformation of a society from democracy to dictatorship. Let it also be a call for freedom.

Zia ul-Haq, BBs father's purportedly loyal army chief of staff, had well thought-out his

soldiers in the mid night to remove her father from power, sent him behind bars,

sheathing a cynical allegation, took unanimously recommendation of death sentence by

Supreme Court and finally hanged in the early morning hours of April 4, 1979, inside

Rawalpindi District Jail. This unpleasant incident had left an un-forgetful impression that

she felt completely empty and that her life had shattered.

How could I go on? In spite of our efforts, we had failed to keep my father alive. I felt so alone. I just felt so alone. "What will I do without youto help me?" I had asked him in his death cell. I needed his political advice. For all that I held degrees in government from Harvard and Oxford, I was not a politician. But what could he say? He had shrugged helplessly.

After the execution of her father, everyone thought that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)

would boycott the elections proclaimed by Zia, but BB had showed believe in herself and

hope which was deep rooted in her soul. After few weeks of her fathers death, in a

general meeting of her party she augmented; "By continually changing the rules, Zia has

lost his confidence". "We must not lose ours. We swept the local bodies elections and we

will sweep the general election, too". This courageous statement impacted a lot and

elections were postponed and she was remained in detention numerous times over the

subsequent years at her home and even in jail. She was in detention for three years before

being allowed to depart the country in 1984. She settled in London, along with her

mother and two brothers. She tried to reunion herself, brushing the plant of hope and

courage which her father bowed in her. Her father, with intent, guided her daughter on

numerous occasions when he was in power or in imprisonment. In her last meeting in

death cell with her father before the execution of death statement, the words of fathers

had made a notion:


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with the counsel and aspiration of her father, she joined different societies especially

Oxford Union to get hold the power of oratory, to build up debating abilities, to work

under stress and pressure as a lot writing is required for these societies. BB said that she

had learned the lesson of acquiescence versus defiance when my father was addressing

UN Security Council. He said:

"There is no such thing as a neutral animal. You take positions," "You(Britain and France) have to either be on the side of justice or on the sideof injustice, you have to be either on the side of the aggressor or theaggressed. There is no such thing as neutrality."

BBs first international appearance was Simla, June 28, 1972, a summit between her

father, the president of Pakistan, and Indira Gandhi, the prime minister of India. The

future of the entire subcontinent depended on its outcome. BB had attended all meetingsas an observer and took spur-of-the-moments of negotiation styles, diplomatic dialogues

and ceremonial gestures. She spectacled proceedings of five intensive negotiable days

and comprehended the realization of Simla Accord. How to keep identity alive at a

place where one did not want to stay but for most important principle, a person

convincingly execute it in opposition to the force, like my father did. She said:

"When I was in India with my father during the negotiations with IndiraGandhi, my father refused to sleep in his bed but slept on the floor," I

called out in my own contribution to my prepared speech. "'Why are you sleeping on the floor?' I asked him. 'I cannot sleep in a bed in India,' heanswered, 'when our prisoners of war have nothing to sleep on in thecamps but the ground.'" And the roar rose.

Native country was always remained in mind and she always thought about it. She never

really contemplated not returning to Pakistan during her stay at Oxford and Harvard. Her

heart was there. She always worried about Pakistanis. Sometimes small events can

produce impact on an individual self. Alike impact is expressed by BB in her small

dialogue with an officer at Britain airport. She expressed like as:

"Where are you planning to stay in England?" the immigration officer asked me, studying my passport.

"Oxford," I replied politely. "I'm a student there."


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"Oxford?" he said sarcastically, raising his eyebrows. Fighting irritation, I produced my student identification.

"Bhutto. Miss Benazir Bhutto. Karachi, Pakistan," he said in acontemptuous tone. "Where is your police card?"

"Right here," I replied, producing the up-to-date police card all foreignerswere required to carry in England.

"And how do you plan to pay your bills at Oxford?" he said withcondescension. I resisted quipping that I had brought pencils and a tincup with me. "My parents send funds to my bank account," I said, showing him my bank account.

Still the nasty little official kept me standing there, going over my paperstime and again, looking up my name, which he obviously didn't recognize,

in a big, fat book."How can a Paki have enough money for an Oxford education?" he finally

said, pushing my documents back to me.

I was furious as I turned on my heel and strode out of the airport. If that was how immigration officials were going to treat the daughter of the

prime minister, how were they going to treat other Pakistanis, who werenot as fluent in English as I was or who were not as aggressive?

After winning the election and elected as President, BBs father selected a most favorable

army chief (Zia) over six most senior army officers believing that In our culture, onedoes not betray one's benefactor. During that period BB had completed her studies and

she was returning home with an aim to join foreign office an inclination of BB. At that

step, she said, my father again had given the direction for new endeavor:

"Let us make a pact to understand each other. You are a motivated person. How can a motivated person want the desert to be without heat or the mountains to be bereft of snow? You will find your sunshine and your rainbow in your values and in your inner morality. It will turn out to be

perfect. Both of us will work together for a laudable achievement. You bet we will make it."

MMB always visualized her father as a role model and a source of inspiration. She said

the: My father's imprint on me, however, keeps me going. Endurance. Honor. Principle.

The Bhuttos always won a moral fight. Due to inspiration, BB got lot of courage and

build herself so strong that she can face any challenge and remove any hurdle. After one


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year of her fathers death, when dictatorships clouds remained dark and military

marched her house many times, but she always showed determination: "If I am the only

person left resisting the tyranny of the regime, then so be it". When she talked with army

men or Marshal Law administrators personnel, she was cleared in mind what stance

must be taken. For her:

"Islam is the submission before the will of Allah, whereas Martial Law is submission before the army commander. A Muslim submits only beforethe will of Allah.

Although BB had faced brutal circumstances of Marshal Law; she had faced restriction,

detention and exile but she never be unable to find the hopelessness for democracy:

"Violence only breeds violence," "That kind of struggle cannot deliver anything

lasting to the people. Any permanent change must come peacefully and politically

through elections, backed by the mandate of the people."

When she came back after her exile, people of Pakistan welcome her with great passion

and at that moment few politicians advised BB to leave politics and few warned that

following this track she could meet the fate of her father and brother. But the self-

assurance she gained through continuous training by her father made her rock solid. The

fact that womans identity adds to the insecurity of her position. Many on Pakistan's

religious right feel that women should be restricted to activities within the home. She saidMy answer to all of them was that I know that Pakistani political arena was not for

women, my party workers will protect me from danger. I have willingly taken the path of

thorns and stepped into the valley of death."

The self-confidence, audacity, hope and strength of mind of BB was at pinnacle when she

was addressing a crowd comprising of 99% male audience. She said:

"People think I am weak because I am a woman," .. "Do they not know that am a Muslim woman, and that Muslim women have a heritageto be proud of? I have the patience of Bibi Khadija, the wife of the

Prophet, Peace Be Upon Him. I have the perseverance of Bibi Zeinab, the sister of Imam Hussein. And I have the courage of Bibi Aisha, the Prophet's favorite wife, who rode her own camel into battle at the head of the Muslims. I am the daughter of martyr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the sister of martyr Shah Nawaz Khan Bhutto, and I am your sister as well. I challengemy opponents to come and meet me on the field of democratic elections."


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The identity she had developed over a span of long struggle of thirty three years, alike her

father, she positioned unbreakable against traditions at the time of her marriage and asked

groomed: I chose to keep my own name. I had been Benazir Bhutto for thirty-four years

and had no intention of changing my identity. a tradition girl put her husbands name

after her own name after marriage.

On December 2, 1988, at thirty-five, Benazir Bhutto was sworn in as the youngest heads

of state in the world and the first woman to lead a Muslim nation. In her first speech as

prime minister, Benazir Bhutto said:

"We will choose the path of love. We will eradicate hunger and poverty. We will provide

shelter for the homeless. We will provide employment for the unemployed. We will

educate the illiterates." She went on to promise that women will be given full partnership

in Pakistan.BB updated her autobiography, The Daughter of East (1953-1988), in 1997 and new

chapters are added covering the events of BBs removal from power, 2 nd term as Prime

minister, death of her brother Ghulam Murtza Bhutto, her exile and events till her

assassination. The revised edition of autobiography is not available, so the impact of

these events on her self and identity are not presented her.

Due to insufficiency of material in early edition of her autobiography, I tried to capture

few occasions, where the reflection of BBs self and identity can be envisioned. Here I

am quoting few thoughts of BB taken from an interview given on October 27, 2000,

London, England:

In life there are challenges, but I think leadership is very much predicated on the capacity to absorb defeat and overcome it. Now, after having been in politics for more than two decades, I have come to the

strong conclusion that the difference between somebody who succeedsand somebody who fails is the ability to absorb a setback. Because on theroad to success there will be setbacks, and there are those who give up,and those who say that, "No, we are going to go on." So it's that capacityto absorb a failure.

For me idealism has been the motivation. I think power for itself isuseless. If it was just power, how could one -- politics is an obsession. Youcannot just be in politics -- or if you really want something -- it is not aneight to five job. It's an around the clock job. So if it was just power I think


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it would be very empty. I think idealism is very important. The need tochange, to bring about change.

"If you believe in something, go for it, but know that when you go for it there's a price to be paid. Be ready to pay that price and you cancontribute to the welfare of society, and society will acknowledge you and respect you for it. And don't be afraid. Don't be afraid."


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References:

www.ppp.org.pk

www.bhutto.org

Benazir Bhutto, (1989), Daughter of East an autobiography. Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, 1989.

Academy of achievementshttp://www.achievement.org/autodoc/pagegen/index.html
http://www.ppp.org.pk/http://www.bhutto.org/http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/pagegen/index.htmlhttp://www.ppp.org.pk/http://www.bhutto.org/http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/pagegen/index.html


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Index (a) - Publications Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is the author of two books:

1. "Foreign Policy in Perspective" (1978)

2. "Daughter of the East" (1989), her autobiography.

Several collections of her speeches and works have been compiled which include:

"The Way Out",Pakistan Foreign Policy,Challenges and Responses in the Post-Cold War era in "After the Cold War"

by Keith Philip Lepor Male Domination of Women offends her Islamic religion in "Lend Me Your

ears: Great Speeches in History" by William Saffire

She has also contributed to many periodicals and to the books:

"Predictions for the Next Millennium" by Kristof and Nickerson"Book of Hopes and Dreams" published by Bookmaster Inc


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Index (b) - Awards and Honorary Degrees

Bruno Kreisky Award of Merit in human Rights, 1988.Honorary Phi Beta Kappa Award (1989), presented by Radcliffe College,

Harvard University.

Highest Moroccan Award "Grand Cordon de Wissam Alaoui"Highest French Award "Grand-croix de la Legion Honneur" (1989)The Noel Foundation Award, 1990 (UNIFEM).Honorary Fellow of Royal College of Physicians - 1990The Gakushuin Honorary Award, Tokyo (1996)Award by the Turkish Independent Industries and Businessmen Association

(MUSAID) on account of providing assistance to the people of Bosnia.Golden medal Dragon of Bosnia awarded by President of Bosnia (1996)Key to the city of Los Angeles, presented by the Mayor of Los Angeles

(1995)Presidential Medal, Paul Nitze School of Advanced International Science

(1995)Medal by University of California at Los Angeles (1995)Honorary Doctorate of Law, L.L.D Harvard University (1989)Honorary Doctorate of Law (Honoris Causa), University of Sindh (1994)Honorary Doctorate from Mendanao State University, Philippines (1995)Honorary Doctorate of Law (Honoris Causa), Peshawar University (1995)Honorary Doctorate of Economics, Gakushuin University, Tokyo (1996)Honorary Fellowship by Lady Margaret Hall, University Oxford, (1989)Honorary Fellowship by St. Catherine College, University of Oxford,

(1989)Honorary Professor of the Kyrghyz State National University (1995)

Kyrghyzstan.Honorary Professor of Yassavi Kazakh Turkish University, Kazakh-Turkish

International Language University, Kazakhstan, 1995.Honorable Member of OHYUKAI, Alumni Association of Gakushuin,

conferred by OHYUKAI Tokyo (1996).Awarded the 2000 Millennium Medal of Honor by American Biographical

Institute, Inc. in November 1998.Awarded American Academy Award of Achievement in London, October

28, 2000Awarded World Tolerance Award 2005 by Women World Awards in

Leipzig, November 29, 2005Awarded 'International Woman of the Year 2006' by the prominent

European Publishing House based in Dubai as part of "Emirates Woman Awards2006'.

Nominated Chair of "Muslim Women for Human Rights and Democracy"Oslo, Norway, May 6-7, 2007


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Index (c) Keynote Addresses

Joint Session of US Congress (1989)World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland (1994)French National Assembly (1994)

Parliament, Republic of Ireland, (1994)UN Conference on Population Planning, Cairo (1994)UN Commission for Human Rights, Geneva (1994)Fortune Global Forum, Singapore (1995)Princeton University, USA (1995)School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University (1995)Women Conference, Beijing (1995)

benazir (media and identity)

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