Kites in the sky?

The remarks by the Punjab governor, at a book-launching ceremony, that he will indeed celebrate Basant, is certain to add to the debate currently raging in Lahore. Salmaan Taseer stressed that it was the fundamentalist lobby that had campaigned against Basant and that it was 'time to decide' what kind of society we wanted. The remarks will encourage those who hold that the event is an integral part of Punjab's culture. Among these are the traders who sell kites and the thousands involved in manufacturing them. The issue of whether or not the colourful festival of Basant was to be marked this spring cropped up again recently in the Punjab Assembly. Responding to remarks that the event was 'un-Islamic' the law minister had given an assurance that the kite-flying fiesta would not go ahead. He had cited the incidents of injuries and deaths caused by sharp twine as the reason for this. The gory incidents we saw regularly, resulting in a ban being slapped on Basant some two years ago with a provision that the government could lift this for two weeks each spring, were undoubtedly distressing. The tragedies caused by razor-sharp twine have left dozens of families devastated. But one must ask if a ban is the right answer to the problem. Kite-flying has been a part of Lahore's cultural tradition for centuries; the pastime is one of the few shared by the rich and poor alike; it offered joy and a source of entertainment opening up a window of light in an often claustrophobic environment and it presented to the world, quite literally, a brighter side of Pakistan as kites in all hues flickered across skies, swooping and diving gracefully. In our present situation, any event that can bring in tourists or enliven lives surely needs to be encouraged. The focus should be on making kite-flying safe, by banning metallic twine or string coated with chemicals that can cut instantly through flesh. It may be possible to establish kite-flying zones in open spaces or restrict it in the most congested areas. The fact is that kite flying continues in Indian cities like Ahmedabad, where Basant remains a huge event. We need to examine how this is possible, why there is no controversy there over deaths caused by the sport and to make every possible effort to keep alive a tradition that brought joy to the lives of millions. We welcome your comments!