Colours of a country reinventing itself
C.M. Murshed finds a new work on China enlightening
".…In your quest of knowledge, go even as far as China" -Al Hadith. The publication of Raana Haider's book, China:Contrasting Contours, is timely, particularly since China has suddenly burst onto the global consciousness having achieved a successful economic and social order in a very short time --- after centuries of struggle to alter its 'opium-smoking' feudal image. There are valid criticisms of mistakes made in the recent past, even those made during Mao's rule of several trials and errors using different economic models most of which resulted in a "great leap backward" until the Chinese hit upon a transmutation of Marxism combined with the best aspects of capitalism that included entrepreneurship, hard work and ethical behaviour towards the less fortunate. They have hit upon a system that not only has generated maximum wealth but also a mechanism by which the wealth is distributed more equitably. Raana Haider's work describes the smooth transition from the traditions of 5000 years of continuous feudal history to an economic and social system that works for the large majority of the people of China and thereby has made the country more exciting for visitors from all over the world. The inexorable process of historical changes is very poignantly described in the events that took place during the last days of Emperor Pu Yi. Traumatic historical upheavals on other occasions of world history were not repeated in China. China did not undertake the equivalence of the execution of Louis XVI's family in France or that of Tsar Nicholas in Russia. In fact, I believe Chairman Mao allowed the last emperor to live out his time in the Forbidden City as a botanical advisor, a discipline in which he had developed some skills. Raana Haider, herself being the daughter of a diplomat as well as the wife of another, has a lot of experience of different countries and cultures. She has applied her undoubted writing skills to describe the many changes taking place in China for visitors, particularly as facilities have been so meticulously transformed to meet the requirements of masses of tourists who descended on China for the 2008 Olympic games. The cover of the book shows a picture of the main stadium known as the "Birds Nest." It was designed by a Dutch architect and has been host to major Olympic athletic events. The design, which is a radical change from those of stadiums all over the world, is an indication of the innovative transformation that is taking place in China today. Although China Contrasting Contours is a travelogue to describe to prospective visitors the fascination that is Chinese culture and history, the historical context is meticulously given. There are of course, descriptions of the main cities: Beijing, Shanghai and Kunming, including inevitably those of the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Great Wall and The Shanghai Museum. The chapter on 'Chinese Cuisine and Chinese Tea' could have been more elaborate but I believe she has touched upon the important aspects of Chinese life in such a manner that visitors are attracted to experience the real thing. I do not know if Tai Chi is still practiced on a mass scale on Tiananmen Square in the early mornings, but this surely is a confirmation of the French saying, "the more things change (in China) the more it remains the same" (see also Raana Haider's chapter on Taichiquan motions). In the context of the discussion on the fifteenth century Great Admiral Zheng He, who was born in Kunming, Yunnan Province and criss-crossed the world's oceans and seas, I would like to mention the political contacts that existed between medieval Bengal and China. The imperial court of Ming Emperor Yongle received Ba-Yezid as a diplomatic emissary from Bengal. The then Sultan Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah of independent Bengal early in the fifteenth century dispatched Ba-Yezid to China. Interestingly, in Chinese chronicles, Ba-Yezid was corrupted into Payet-sin. So too does Chinese history record Ghiyasuddin as Gaise-tin. Sultan Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah is possibly buried in the old capital of Sonargaon. Although China has still a long way to go when compared to the western level of development, Raana Haider in her book describes the spectacular achievements reached only in the last twenty years; having put behind the mistakes of the past and by adopting a pragmatic policy on politics and economics. To a large degree China has up to now been outside the tourist circuit, except of course Hong Kong. Infrastructural development in the last two decades provide the most modern tourist facilities; so that the many glories of past Chinese culture so beautifully described in China: Contrasting Contours can be experienced and enjoyed by all. The quality of paper and printing of this book is excellent; as is the type which makes for comfortable reading. Every chapter of the book is introduced with a very apt quotation as well as a monogram using Chinese characters, which puts the reader into proper psychological mode. Raana Haider's style of writing English prose is in the best traditions of sub-continental writers in the English language who have succeeded recently in winning many literary prizes in the United Kingdom. Her extensive travels and education in English together with sociology puts her in a special position to be able to describe her experiences in a manner which attracts myriads of readers of English prose today.
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