By Fazal Khaliq
People in Swat faced the ugliest phase in their history when extremism engulfed the scenic valley in 2007. Luckily, peace has returned after a full-fledged military operation where life is tracking back to its normal state, however, the three years of bloodshed has left inerasable tracks on minds and hearts of every Swati.
Where commoners express their experiences in daily talks and corner gossips, the educated class is shaping them in words for future generations.
Recently, a book titled “INSURGENCY IN SWAT: Conflict Settlement and Peace Building (2001-2011)”, published which is authored by a young Swati woman. The book received high reaction from the readers and is being sold as hot cake.
For Swatis it is not an ordinary book but a documentary proof of a chapter of Swat’s history. It is a chronicle of ugly events that marred the beautiful face of the valley during the era of extremism.
Tabassum Majeed, a young intelligent daughter of the land, wrote the book as part of her MPhil research. Today, she is not only a lecturer in the Government Girls Post Graduate College in Swat but also a social and education activist.
It is a bitter reality that very few research projects in Pakistan are turned into formal books and a majority of such research is placed on shelves where it withers and ultimately disappears with the passage of time. Such researches have no benefits to mankind and prove to be a waste of time or a big loss.
Researches involve continuous labour of both brain and body, and are meant to benefit readers, students, scholars and researchers on a specific topic. Unfortunately, few of them fulfill that role because not many leave the shelves, get published, and become available to readers.
Ms. Majeed’s book, “INSURGENCY IN SWAT: Conflict Settlement and Peace Building (2001-2011)” holds global importance because it is among the few books written on the Swat insurgency. It will no doubt serve as a reference book for those who undertake research on militancy and Talibanization.
The book is authentic and genuine because it was written by a writer who belongs to Swat and herself experienced and witnessed the insurgency. The book is also important to understand the reality of the Swat insurgency as it spreads light on the background of insurgency tracing back to 2001.
It reveals, in detail, the factor and causes of the insurgency in Swat and removes uncover some bitter facts that how the country’s think tanks failed to stop the extremism in Swat, and how the wrong policies helped spread it in the paradise valley.
The book will provide invaluable information about a crucial chapter in Swat’s history. And I am sure the book is a precious addition in the literary circles of Swat, the land of fertile minds and learned people.
Some information about the authoress
Ms Majeed received her early education in her hometown. In 2010 she received the gold medal for her Master in Political Science from International Islamic University Islamabad. She did MPhil in International Relations from the Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad in 2013 with A grade.
She taught in the University of Swat as a visiting lecturer from September 2012 till January 2014 and then joined the Higher Education Department of Khyber Pakhtunkwha after passing PCS. Since then she is working as lecturer of Political Science in the Higher Education Department Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and is one of the favorite teachers of many students.
One of four siblings, she is fortunate to have a moderate and education-loving father who encouraged her to study higher education and reach the present position.
The book is available at Shobi Sons Publishers in Swat, Saeed Book Bank in Islamabad and University Book Agency in Peshawar.
