Back in old days, sometime around or after crusades when Truish empire was knocking(no banging) on the gates of europe, some turk with an evil genius thought of an idea, an idea which still manifests its self in so many ways. Turks used to abduct or capture young christen boys, would be given in custody of army . Army would raise these boys to be ferociuous soldiers, in modern day words , “killing machines”. They were called Janisaries. the Janaisaries were best of the best, they knew nothing else but fight to kill. These young boy were used against their very own people (speaking in broader terms of religious connections). destroying the very palces they belonged to ….
I just finished a book last night called, the reluctant fundamentalist. and a couple of pages of tht book seemed so relevant to me , they hit me right inside, though the situation described was slightly different but one thing that author used as a foundation for his whole argument was related to janissaries.
this book is about a guy who graduates from princton , gets into top fincnail firms and has the best of life in NY , while his parents in Pakistan , and as 9/11 happens something dawns on him , things tht he never tried to understand earlier, he is not a religious zealot , he is infact a liberal who drinks and had had sex on numerous occasions , but he becomes aware of his connection as an ordinary citizen of a muslim devleoping country to larger world politics. that is where the author uses “janissaries” to explain his state of mind. he is working for the same america that has always been in some way or the other involved in the suffering of his homeland , and has been playing a role in emergence of an impending war(with india at that time) on the very place this charachter comes from , and he never realised he is working at a place which is at the heart of american imperliasm.
this has been bothering me since last night , as the situations which he mentioned are more relevant to today’s time, with american genrals and congressman threatening to inflict war on the same areas I come from , where my family lives, where my friends live, where my forefathers are buried
and yet i am dreaming to become a part of their(american) grandeur, a degree from columbia and a job at jewel of world economy
this book indeed has made me a reluctant dreamer
