Modern Day Quixote

 

MODERN DAY QUIXOTE

Fd Marshal Asim Munir can be compared with the seventeenth century fictional character, Don Quixote, who lived in his make believe world, having read about the exploits of tyranny of the Islamic invaders who plundered our country in the last millennia. Quixote, also assumed the title of Don as his modern day avatar Asim Munir has anointed himself Fd Marshal. Quixote tilted at the wind mills, and declared himself the winner, so did the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan. Anyone else in his position would have quietly resigned having suffered the ignominy of being reduced to suing for peace within four days after having sworn to deliver a resounding victory for his forces. 

He also reminds me of another fictional screen character, Soorma Bhopali of Sholay fame, I am sure most Indian readers would be familiar with his name. ‘Soorma' meaning brave  warrior in Urdu, would narrate stories of his valour to the hangers on as to how he single handedly caught two ruffians by the scruff of their neck, when the heroes Jai and Veeru suddenly make an unannounced appearance forcing him to change his tune totally. Asim Munir too has sold his own narrative firstly to himself, and then to his gullible countrymen. His country as we all know is famous for only two kinds of export to the world, one of course is terrorism and the other being donkeys. Having been rearing assess for so long their wisdom too has gone on a long recess, wonder whether it will ever find its way back.

Terror organisations and extremist groups have their own self styled rank structure with many of them donning the mantle of Generals. That is reason enough for Munir too to declare himself a Fd Marshal, as when these rag-tag forces can have their very own Generals, Pakistan Army ought to have a Fd Marshal. Genuinely intrigued by this promotion, I started to peruse the etymology of this rank itself, and to my surprise I discovered that the term traces its origin to the Middle Ages, where the keeper of the horses was supposed to be Field Marshal. Horses are now only for ceremonial purposes in modern armies, so may be in keeping with the age old traditions, this ceremonial rank was bestowed upon him as well. Interestingly Pak Army is supposed to be a big business enterprise and their Quarter Master General (QMG) must be a highly coveted appointment and sure enough Munir had tenanted that very same appointment right  before becoming the Chief.

Not satisfied with this elevation, he went ahead and invited himself to the Washington Military Parade itself till the White House Administration was forced to issue a clarification to the contrary. If there is one award that he truly deserves that would be the Goebbels  (Nazi Propaganda Minister of the Third Reich during Second World War) Award for spinning the wildest possible propaganda yarn of the millennium.