Let’s take the whole ‘Syed’ concept and examine what it means for Syed females – the alleged pure lineage which has to be protected and nurtured, the inbred suffering for a higher purpose of a much coveted place in Jannat (AFTER men), the constant hand wringing and self flagellation for the betterment of humanity. In fact, let’s even place climate crisis issues as their responsibility because ever since they arrived on the planet, the planet’s just been hotting up.
Syed women, especially in Pakistan, bear the brunt of every single patriarchal construct created in Pakistan. Since keeping the bloodline pure is solely their responsibility, they don’t just wait for a knight in shining armour but have to wait for a Syed Badshah - who will also happen to belong to the same sect (there are Sunni Syeds as well). In some cases, particularly in Sindh, if that Badshah doesn’t show up, then the poor girl is wedded off the Quran because God forbid she actually ‘lives’ her life.
This hot take that has dogged them, that Syed women should live in a particular way and not be ‘allowed’ to live their lives as they please or as is their right, is simply unacceptable.
For far too long they have had to straddle that fine line between sanity and insanity as they navigate lives and manage this unbearable, cruel burden that this specific ‘type’ of females are to exemplify all that is pure and sanctimonious.
Imagine having every single act, every step, every word questioned – that’s the female experience in Pakistan.
Now imagine being questioned and also shamed for everything from the colour of your hair, to your laughter, to the way you walk to even wanting to marry someone not just on the basis of born female but as a Syed female.
It is enough to drive one to commit suicide.
And in many cases, Syed females are the walking talking dead with generations worth of suppression and oppression outdoing the alleged genetic ‘holiness.’
This example here of an old gentleman who happened to see a Syed girl dancing. Let’s flip it – she was doing something considered immoral for a Syed female. Oh dear. The real question is why was this man watching? She’s the sinner, supposedly. Why is he bringing himself to her level? And to compare her to a courtesan, reflects on the mindset of the man himself than act as a derogatory comment as a policing mechanism on a woman who simply owned her body for herself – whether it is the Syed female or the courtesan.
Never mind that Syed men will happily go around sowing their wild oats, and the bloodline concept doesn’t apply when it comes to Other Women, but that’s just them being generous with the gene pool. Pure blood, pure love.
While we’re at it let’s take a look at some of Pakistan’s Syedzadis who have not just owned the title with all its associations of piety and holiness, but also shown the country what a Syed female is capable of.
Syed women, especially in Pakistan, bear the brunt of every single patriarchal construct created in Pakistan. Since keeping the bloodline pure is solely their responsibility, they don’t just wait for a knight in shining armour but have to wait for a Syed Badshah - who will also happen to belong to the same sect (there are Sunni Syeds as well). In some cases, particularly in Sindh, if that Badshah doesn’t show up, then the poor girl is wedded off the Quran because God forbid she actually ‘lives’ her life.
This hot take that has dogged them, that Syed women should live in a particular way and not be ‘allowed’ to live their lives as they please or as is their right, is simply unacceptable.
For far too long they have had to straddle that fine line between sanity and insanity as they navigate lives and manage this unbearable, cruel burden that this specific ‘type’ of females are to exemplify all that is pure and sanctimonious.
Imagine having every single act, every step, every word questioned – that’s the female experience in Pakistan.
Now imagine being questioned and also shamed for everything from the colour of your hair, to your laughter, to the way you walk to even wanting to marry someone not just on the basis of born female but as a Syed female.
It is enough to drive one to commit suicide.
And in many cases, Syed females are the walking talking dead with generations worth of suppression and oppression outdoing the alleged genetic ‘holiness.’
This example here of an old gentleman who happened to see a Syed girl dancing. Let’s flip it – she was doing something considered immoral for a Syed female. Oh dear. The real question is why was this man watching? She’s the sinner, supposedly. Why is he bringing himself to her level? And to compare her to a courtesan, reflects on the mindset of the man himself than act as a derogatory comment as a policing mechanism on a woman who simply owned her body for herself – whether it is the Syed female or the courtesan.
Never mind that Syed men will happily go around sowing their wild oats, and the bloodline concept doesn’t apply when it comes to Other Women, but that’s just them being generous with the gene pool. Pure blood, pure love.
While we’re at it let’s take a look at some of Pakistan’s Syedzadis who have not just owned the title with all its associations of piety and holiness, but also shown the country what a Syed female is capable of.
- Syeda Abida Hussain - First Woman Chair of a District Council, First female ambassador to USA.
- Fauzia Gillani – The woman behind the man known as Yusuf Raza Gillani. Tirelessly worked to not just raise her children as a single parent when YRG was in jail but also worked alone to secure his freedom.
- Jugnu Mohsin – Politician, journalist, recipient of the the International Press Freedom Award of the Committee to Protect Journalists.
- Moni Mohsin – Journalist, author and creator of The Social Butterfly.
- Fauzia Qureshi – Principal of the National College of Arts Lahore and author of ‘Multan: A Spiritual Legacy’.
- Roshan Ara Bokhari – Classical dancer whose career spanned 47 years from 1965-2012
- Nafisa Shah – Politician, Vice President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Chair of the National Commission for Human Development, General Secretary of Women’s Parliamentary Caucus.
- Syeda Shehla Raza – Politician, Deputy Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh, Acting governor of Sindh
- Sheema Kirmani – Classical dancer who turned dance into a powerful form of social activism.
- Tahseen Syed - World Bank Country Director for Caribbean countries.
- Taiba Abbas – Publisher of Ala Books and author of ‘The Night In Her Hair’
- Noor Bukhari - actress, director, model and television host with a total of 44 Urdu Films and 20 Punjabi Films
- Seemi Syed – Hailing from the Shershah family, the first female zamindar from South Punjab to shed off the burqa and venture into farming even driving a tractor herself.
- Tahira Syed – Award winning ghazal and folk singer. Recipient of the PTV Lifetime Achievement Award, Pride of Performance award, Nigar Award for Best female playback singer
- Razia Shah – founder of Shah’s embroideries, one of the first organisations to catapult South Punjab’s artisans and crafts onto the international stage.