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Kuwait-the country I like the most
I am referring to the news flashed today Mon 10th Sep 2012 in Arab Times, Kuwait saying that an Indian school did not allow a 9 years old Pakistani girl student to attend her class for none of her fault except that her face could not be seen since she was wearing veil on her face but the best part is that the student’s complaint has been taken up at the right level which inspired me to pen on it.
The news is that the father of the student went to the school to enquire about the sad incident. He eventually met the teacher concerned and asked him as to why his daughter was not allowed to enter her class and the teacher replied that since it is a Christian school and therefore we do not allow any student to enter any class room covering her face with a veil. Quite naturally, the father was not at all satisfied with the arguments advanced by the teacher but he could do in such like situation and thus he had no alternative but to lodge a serious complaint against the school with Directorate of Private Education, Ministry of Education which oversees all the private schools in the country. The father in the complaint has stated quite explicitly that such like behavior on the part of the teacher is nothing short of discrimination tinged with hatred and her daughter has undergone serious mental and psychological stress and strain for absolutely none of her fault. Interestingly it is very common in Kuwait to find many local girls and women of all ages covering their faces alike and none has objected to them on this account. These veiled students can be found studying in various schools, institutes, colleges and universities. They can also be seen clad alike and working both in public and private sectors and shopping in the markets.
Dr Yousuf Al-Sager a Kuwaiti national who heads Kuwait Human Rights Society taking immediate cognizance of the fact has straight away contacted none but the minister of education and minister of higher education Dr Naef Falah Mubarak Al Hajraf apprising him of the sensitivity and gravity of the incident. Minister informed Dr Yousuf that his ministry took an immediate action the moment it got the news and the concerned officials are already actively investigating the case to fix the responsibility on the persons who defaulted in this case. Minister has also assured that come what may the defaulters will never ever be spared under all circumstances rather on the contra they will be punished according to the governing laws of the country.
Dr Yousuf was quite loud and clear in stating that his society does take care of all those who live in the country and need their help irrespective of their nationality and or the gender. He further stated that primarily his society guarantees that all those rights and liberties which have been bestowed upon the people by the constitution of the country must be fully enjoyed by the people without any fear and favor. He also mentioned that many times his society has taken up various cases where people have suffered or victimized on one pretext or the other but with the intervention of the society the complaints of all those who suffered wrongly were eventually redressed.
Sadly there is a general and common misconception amongst all irrespective of their topographical location that a poor always goes to wall which I also believe in to some limited extent but nevertheless it is not true all the time at all places and under all circumstances whatsoever. Let me be very specific so that my argument can be understood in quite crystal clear terms without any ambiguity and shadow of doubts. Per capita income of a country establishes as to what is the level of affluence of the people in a country and hence in terms of per capita income of Kuwait and Pakistan it is undoubtedly very true that the two are miles apart and can never ever bridge up the wide gap existing between the two. As per International Monetary Fund (IMF) rating of the year 2011 it is found out that Kuwait is listed by it at serial 11 with per capita income of US $ 41,691 whereas my beloved Pakistan is at serial 137 with a figure of just US $ 2,787 and quite naturally the difference between the figures of 41,691 and 2,787 is so enormous that it may be take many centuries to bring them even nearer what to talk of equaling the two which is next to impossible in any case. Moreover many Pakistanis are employed in Kuwait whereas I have my very serious doubts if any Kuwaiti is working in Pakistan except diplomats very well proves itself where we stand on the ladder of affluence.
However, in Kuwait it is not the money which always counts otherwise Kuwaiti Dr Yousuf Al Sager who comes from a very rich family (above than 49,691) had not entertained Pakistani father whose income stands at 2,878 but yet Dr Yousuf took it up simply because he realized that a poor Pakistani has been victimized in his country which is too much and as such it must not be ignored by him. Secondly it should be noted down that the complaint of the Pakistani has been taken up at the top of the ladder though quite naturally there are many people working in Human Rights Society and not just him but still Chairman Dr Yousuf took it up himself though it could have been handled by his juniors as well. Then Dr Yousuf instead of reaching others in ministry of education met the minister also proves how humanitarians are Kuwaitis towards all those who live in their country.
Shouldn’t I be proud and pleased to continue living in Kuwait where I am since 1978 in any case? Shouldn’t Kuwait be called the second home for Pakistanis? Dr Yousuf your noble gesture has rightly earned our hearts and therefore long live Kuwait is the one voiced prayers of Pakistanis.
Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait
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