Atta Rasool Malik
Former US President John F. Kennedy once said: “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” For the last one year, the Dutch Ambassador to Pakistan Mrs Ardi Stoios-Braken is precisely doing the same. She is making the difference between Pak-Dutch relations.
Mrs Ardi Stoios-Braken recently visited SOS Children Village in Lahore; the facility where children without adequate parental care, are taken care of, to reassure Pakistani youth. A Dutch paint firm, Akzo Nobel, organised the unusual event. The chief guest, Mrs Braken, saw different sections of the village and gave away gifts and prizes to the children. She said, “Pakistan is a beautiful country and the people’s hospitality is legendary. I am trying to cement Pak-Dutch ties.” Earlier she also spoke to young Pakistani lectures and professor all across the country and encouraged them to achieve excellence in their field.
I am contrasting the Dutch politician and opposition leader Geert Wilders who had called upon its government (Netherlands) to close down all mosques and Islamic schools and put a blanket ban on Muslim immigrants a few months earlier. The Dutch lawmaker even suggested holding blasphemous cartoon competition to ridicule the religion of Islam and its followers. However, after sincere diplomatic efforts of Mrs Ardi, the event in the Netherland was cancelled.
Long time back, I had worked with few military officers of Netherland in UN mission in Africa and found them remarkable people. There, quite often, we discussed the military and civil culture of both nations and narrated stories. We appreciated each other perspective and looked upon many noble values of both cultures. Dutch officers acknowledged the family system of Pakistani society. In a lighter mood, we particularly agreed over one thing; in young age, one should reside in the Netherlands and in old age, Pakistan is the heaven.
After around 25 long years, now I am shaken over the behaviour of senior Dutch politician and his freedom party promoting hatred and Islamophobia. How far the political extremism has crept in the Netherlands.
To most people in Pakistan, Netherlands is Holland. Although Holland is the northwestern province/region of Netherlands. The capital of the Netherlands is Amsterdam. However, the government and all its administrative offices are in The Hague. Very few people here in Pakistan know that Netherlands is a monarchy with its official name Kingdom of Netherlands.
The people of Pakistan associate Holland, with rivers, gardens, milk and beautiful women; a kind of similarity to paradise. The Geert Wilders with its freedom party turning it to hell by preaching Islamophobia, spreading nudity and encouraging unnatural sexual practices ‘gay parades’ in the name of freedom and liberty. But there is no point to despair people like the ambassador. Ardi are many who project truth and promote peace. She is also portraying the real image of Pakistan and sees in it a lot of potential for investment.
With almost 17 million inhabitants – (Jul 2018 estimate) – the Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe. It is said, everyday life in Netherland is structured down to the smallest detail. Private life and work are carefully planned, and nothing is left to the unexpected. Ad-hoc changes are not appreciated, and extremes are absent in society; extreme emotions, extreme richness or extravagant lifestyles. However, surprisingly political extreme is taking roots in Dutch society.
I am recalling a few other exciting things about the Dutch. They don’t offer twice. Suppose a Dutchman gives you a drink, and you decline. This means you won’t get that drink. He just assumes you don’t want another drink while the truth is told, you were just polite by Pakistani standard.
The Dutch are mistakenly called stingy. Might be it is British uneasiness with Dutch people. To me, Dutch simply hate to waste anything from food to money. Maybe it is this virtue that made this small country an economic power.
Unlike Pakistani society elderly people in the Netherlands are not looked upon for their wisdom and experience. However, they are well taken care of in comfortable old-age houses, once they are unable to carry on the journey of their lives at their own.
A large number of Dutch society is irreligious. However, prominent religions in Dutch society are Roman Catholic, Protestant and Islam. The Roman Catholics make up approximately 23% of the Dutch population, and Protestants make up nearly 14%. Muslims make up 8% of the population. Buddhists make up 1%, and Hindus make up 0.9%. Dutch birth rate is low at 0.38%, minimum 1.1 % birth rate is essential for the survival of any culture or nation. The median age is 40 years.
The Netherlands has an egalitarian society. Status and respect are obtained through skills and knowledge and not through family ties or old age. Nevertheless, the Dutch Royal family is very well respected and looked upon.
Dutch Ambassador Ardi Stoios-Braken deserves special tribute from the people of Pakistan. She is a well-wisher and genuine friend of Pakistan. Despite the recent odd people of Pakistan still, associate a soft image of Netherlands and Dutch society.
