Tribalism Within

 The need for security and a sense of belonging are natural human desires. The requirements are satisfied when individuals with similar mind sets and customs come together and amalgamate themselves into one homogenous group. Hence, the formation of tribes started a thousand years ago, during the Neolithic era (Stone Age), when primitive man showed early signs of development. The natural instinct for safety developed through the notion that man was safe in the company of another person or a group, similar to the notion that people tend to feel safer when they enter a dark room together rather than entering individually.  

 People within tribes show a social connection to one another. That very struggle for a sense of purpose and an identity is what pulled people towards joining tribes in the olden days. In a book named ‘Tribe’; written by Sebastian Junger, it is noted that decades before the start of the American Revolution, some American settlers found themselves joining the Native American tribes. According to Benjamin Franklin, rarely did any Native American choose to join the foreigners on that land. What the foreigners saw was the heroism and freedom found within those tribes despite adopting PTSD due to on and off wars. Early human need for raw freedom was satisfied by tribal behaviour regardless of the backwardness they displayed.

 Being part of a tribe slowly started gaining importance. Tribal behaviour meant: to protect ancient cultures and religious beliefs, which were seen as sacrificial duties to those who were a part of one. These duties still carry the same importance to the tribes striving in today’s modern world. Tribes are described as a group of people ‘who have followed ways of life for many generations that are largely self sufficient’ by anthropologist Stephen Corry. The leader is chosen according to personal charisma and leadership skills by the tribal people themselves. They don’t feel obliged to rules and regulations laid down by government systems, which gives them freedom and a motive to achieve self driven accomplishments within the tribe. 

 The subcontinent is a region well distinguished for embodying a vast spectrum of cultures and tribes. Pakistan shelters a large number of disparate tribes that add historical significance and cultural richness to the country.  Ancestors of these tribes originated from different locations before they settled in to the area, bringing along with them unique customs and traditions.

 The oldest recorded history of ancient tribal settlements in Pakistan was of The Soanion tribe. They were people residing in the Soan Valley near Islamabad fifty thousand years ago. Tribal behaviour continued after them, forming various different tribes in different locations with only a few dominant ones. The Huns were violent barbaric nomad tribes men settled in northern Pakistan. The ‘White Huns’ arrived in ancient India in the fifth century bringing with them fierce wars and barbarism. They introduced the belief of fire worshipping into the subcontinent which was in later times destroyed by Muhammad Bin Qasim and his army of Arab soldiers. A part of these invaders called themselves ‘The Arians’ and settled down in the areas of Sindh and Punjab to become a tribe solely dependent on agriculture.

Aspects and cultural traditions, in minute hints if not blatantly obvious, have seeped into modern day Pakistan. These ancient tribes have transformed into much larger ones that dominate the country’s politics, economy and social status. The Punjabis, Sindhis, Muhajirs, Balochis, Pashtuns and various others which hold valuable ancient history and are given polity in government affairs of the country.

 In villages and rural areas, tribes and nomadic clans still exist today. However, individuals in cities, despite living progressive modern lives, are still devoted to their tribal heritage. The basic desire to belong to something or to have an identity, keeps people from detaching themselves from the grips of tribalism. A sense of purpose is developed when one feels the need to protect cultural traditions and beliefs, and that duty is fulfilled by staying with one’s tribe, be it physically or mentally

Sometimes, that purpose leads to violence. Recently, on April 16^th, three people were killed and six were injured when an 

armed conflict occurred between two tribal groups in Balochistan over insignificant dissensions.

 Before the creation of Pakistan, tribal affairs were rarely interfered with and barely interacted in every day politics. After the partition of the country, interactions of different ethnic groups increased violence and rejected the idea of being controlled by foreign bodies (in this case, the migrants from India). Many tribes saw themselves as important and powerful as others. Ethnic violence sprung up in Sindh in 1952 between two major groups; the Sindhis and the Muhajirs. In 1985, Karachi’s deadliest wave of violence erupted when a college student, Bushra Zaidi, was killed in a traffic incident by a truck driver belonging to the Phatan ethnicity.  The incident sparked conflicts between the Phatans and the Muhajirs, making Karachi the hub of violence. Tribal instinct and protection came to the people naturally. It felt like a duty to protect one’s sect leading to constant riots and ethnic violence across the country.

 Tribalism isn’t always seen in its primitive sense. It can be seen in governmental and political affairs. It also can be seen in Pakistan’s youth and has widened the ethnic divide amongst those who live in the country. Smaller tribes are faced with inabilities to overcome the power and influence spread by dominant tribes. These dominant tribes have managed to take over almost everything in the country, from politics to simple businesses in the local markets. However, the bigger these tribes became the more their people got scattered. The dominant tribes became progressing and congruent to the modern civilised world. The scattered progressives however, still tend to show loyalties and attachments to the cultures and traditions their ancestors were once a part of.

 Nationalism for the country and nationalism for a specific tribe is becoming hard to decipher.  We can see tribalism as something that has seeped into the mind of the modern progressive Pakistani. Completely removing tribal sentiments is a strenuous effort. Accepting the cultural diversity and working on protecting the interests of different tribes can lead to some form of tolerance if not unity. Allowing the violence to occur in a country comprising of a large number of tribes is unfavourable for the country itself.  And in Pakistan failure to stabilise tribes is a failure to stabilise the country.  

Reviews

[Surya]

Well it's more a speech than a write, admirable though...
Humanity still exists it seems...
According to me, neither politics nor humans led to the difference and inequalities and riots as you say for a particular reason.....But it's a state of mind that encourages one to do such things....
Everything can be stopped if people start to see the world from different perspective a broader one, Like with an open mind, But I feel traditions should be encouarged as well, It shows the vale and dignity of our ancestors...It's just my view...no offense..
Overall, i learnt much from this...Thank you..:)

[pia]

Oh no i didnt say cultures and traditions shouldnt be followed
I merely hinted at them being reformed so the backwardness is removed and cultures are brought up to be at par with the 21st century so that people can get along easier and understand each other better

[pia]

A state of mind can only be changed through reformation and open mindedness

[Surya]

Yeah that's true...Hope for better days to come..:)

[Abhishek Asthana]

emphasis has been made to fall on the removal of backwardness... a great concept to write about... really appreciate the way you have highlighted the key points... massive piece of writing

[pia]

Thanksss !!

[Joey Nizz]

You wrote this perfectly, I liked the way you described the tribes, even if we all are in different tribes, in the end we all represent one country.

Thanks for sharing.

[Glen Yumang Manese]

Interesting concept of the subject matter, was this for an assignment of sort...by the way the words seem to suggest that in the style and form for which this was written...gives the readers an insight into something different and yet the basis of it all reflects in the everyday...

[pia]

Not it wasnt for an assignment
I just like researching on stuff and deriving my own analysis on it and sharing it with the world !!

[Glen Yumang Manese]

Well, then...that makes two of us...I often R&D and then get a feel --- start writing it down and the focus is there...thanks for sharing your input...great day...

[pia]

Thats great !! Ill check out your stuff then !!

[Glen Yumang Manese]

Alright, will do the same...with the rest of your work(s)...

[Farhan Shaikh]

It feels really good to know much about tribes, It's first time i am reading about them..
You've taken a very good step
By writing this..