Every morning, when I sit on my computer to read the newspaper, I went through a deep grief and anger which always leave me with numerous stinging questions about myself and my homeland. I usually open the newspapers of two countries: Pakistan as it is my homeland and South Korea where I currently live for my studies.
When I compare the headlines of Pakistani and Korean newspapers, I came across the feelings of whether I should be optimistic or realistic and what does it mean to be optimistic or realistic?
The Korean newspapers read the news of latest technology, the spikes of their booming economy and their action-based will to become the Asian Tigers whilst the newspapers of Pakistan are full of news about the huge scale killings of innocent human beings through suicide attacks, bomb blasts, drone attacks and other inhuman activities ; people crying of the extreme hunger with no drinking water, clothes, shelter, jobs and basic human needs; unreachable rise in the prices of everyday commodities; politicians at their throat of one another to grab more and more opportunities for corruption; violation of basic human rights; mismanagement and chaos at each and every level across the board.
Whenever our politicians, political analysts and scholars are asked for their comments, they ended the discussion either by blaming others or give us the future fantasies that everything would become better in future.
The intellectuals in their debates always emphasis the bright side of the picture and give us the lessons of optimism. It is beyond the shadows of doubt that optimism acts as a backbone in the progress of a nation but only that optimism which is based on reality.
We, the Pakistani, as a nation do nothing and hope for a broad level change to be happened automatically. If someone tries to point out our weaknesses, we stop him by exaggerating our qualities and ask him to be optimistic. Now my question arises from this point, should this general behavior be named optimism or we as a nation have addicted to day dreaming so that we could close our eyes to the ground realities.
If one checks the performance of the current government, it is not different from the previous civil as well military eras: The scale of corruption is growing by leaps and bounds; the judiciary itself fights for the justice so the justice for a common man is out of question; the highly soaring prices of everyday commodities are out of reach even of a middle class family; in political arena the ever-red blame game continues; the rich get richer and the poor get poorer; there is no planning to cope with the future whether it’s the in the form of war against terror or devastation of natural disasters; the media is banned if it dares to show the real image of the government in the same way as was done by the dictators: Pervaiz Musharraf and Zia ul Haq; there is no one to follow the Quid’s philosophy of faith, unity, and discipline.The story is the same; only the characters are changing.
Being an individual, the behavior of most of the people is not much different from the government: There is no unity, discipline, and political awareness amongst the people. Most of the people living in Pakistan don’t know their basic human rights. We talk a lot about the change and when it comes to practical grounds, by and large we just sit on our hands. For the most part, the educated people in Pakistan don’t cast their vote at first or otherwise go with the flow of religion, creep, family or cultural waves.
We do not believe in the power of individual. We hesitate to believe in truth, honesty, cleanliness, and basic moral deeds both at individual as well as collective levels. We are trained from the very childhood to think as Suni, Shia, or Ahmedi; Pukhtoon, Punjabi, Sindhi or Baloch. Where from the thinking of Pakistani would arise then? Why we have forgotten the struggles of our forefathers for making Pakistan?
Today, Pakistan is under the clouds of troubles and we are facing enormous challenges….
Now is the time to rethink our thoughts and actions. We have to accept that we are not on the road that will lead us to the prosperous Pakistan which Allama Muhammad Iqbal dreamed of and Quad-e-Azam struggled for. We have to change our behaviors as well our actions. We have to come out of the day dreaming of fantasy-based optimism and rethink our thoughts and deeds in accordance with the demands of ground realities. As a bottom line, we should first be realistic and then optimistic.
So true.Problem is well highlighted that overall we are not balanced nation. We are extremists whether in one form or another.Be its religion, politics, or any other aspect of life.Either we adapt too idealistic approach or leave the matter to misery.
Thanx for the comment man.
You are right. Extremism is our enemy in any case. We believe in black to white only……but there is always a gray in between and i am unable to analyze, what is the current or future probability of our nation on that level from black to gray.
I think the solution lies in a fact that how sincere we are towoards changing the current situation.We all try to be part of problem and not the solution.On every media channel of Pakistan, I see people from every walk of life debating on issues and no one ever came with a simple and practicle approach.We all just love to talk of problems.
Isnt it an irony that we call ourseleves Muslims but just by words not practing the real values of Islam.
Every one goes for short term solutions.Actually we lack patience.How could you expect an overnight change when the issue is pending from decade or more.
I think, the proper education system can lead this nation towards better future.But if you see none of our leaders or governments spent money on these project.Because they all belong to feudel families and want people to live in ignorance. 70 percent of paksitan population live under these lords.
In cities, I dont see middle class families casting votes.So what you expect from all this.
People who are waiting for revolution are just daydreaming.Because as Iqbal said:
“Khuda ne aaj tak us qoum ki halat naheen badli…Na ho jisko khayal aap apni halat k badalnay ka”…
and that is fact.Just read the history of today’s properous nations.
There is no rocket science required to change this country but we dont want to change it with sincere efforts.
People complain about corruption, dont they see they are also doing the same.
I see even a fruit seller having beard, praying regularly tries to sell you rotten stuff.
A corrupt businessman putting big signs of “Mashallah” on their banglows.Whats that?? Did any wife asked her corrupt husband the source of his earnings or his children dare to question about it.Why dont they bycott their parents or family members.
Changes occur slowly and need sacrifices and we are not ready to give it.
So I would say just stop crying or just start it from your home if you want a change.
You have done a very good analysis towards the solution. If i try to conclude it:
(1) We have no patience.
(2) We are not sincere.
(3) We are not serious as we talk a lot but actions are nil.
(4) We use Islam to cover our bad deeds.
(5)The solution to most of the problems is education.
(6) But the leaders don’t want us to be educated.
Now to bring the education in the country we need sincere leadership which can’t be expected from the people currently in power. That change is possible only if people from the educated middle class get the power or a sincere dictator(may be sounds weird) takes the power in his hands. I would quote the examples of French revolution where middle class got the power and the Korean revolution where a dictator brought the changes. I don’t know when it will happen but if that didn’t happen, we will lose our country.
Reminds me of a PM lecture about customer satisfaction and expectation. It has 3 levels: 1- costumer is satisfied if product expectations are fulfilled(middle ground) 2- Costumer is happy if his expectations are exceeded by additional features at the same price ( high ground) 3- costumer is dis-satisfied if product fails to reach expectations(low ground)
But if the whole market is sub par or if the costumer does not know what to expect, he will settle for whatever he gets.
In our case expectations are human rights, they have been marginalised for ages and common people are simply unaware of them. So all they expect from their votes is to have a slightly reasonable road for their village, someone for sifarish to get their sons into a low paid job or get out of a minor trouble. It is rare that the elected official will do these things but if he does, they are indebted to him for life and the generations will vote for him. Middleclass simply avoids reality by paying their way out of it!
So, I endorse point 5 and 6 to be the main issues, rest are excuses and delusions!
really nice SIR… i realyy got impressed of ur views.. love u sir
Salman….I am glad you like it. Thank you so much.
No dear revolution comes from people who have heart for change…
and dictators ..huh..we already experienced them for more than half century in one form or another…aint we??
Wait for another generation, if till than pakistan survived( I pray) , only then things will change.
you know why?? because we people only talk..and advice…
the next generation will listen it from their childhood and will be able to have the values..only if we make individual examples in our homes..only…
I totally agree with that individual’s thing. I personally believe in the power of individualism and in fact there is left no other way for us. If we ourselves keep just talking and do no practical steps, there is no difference between us and our corrupt politicians then.
But it is also a fact that not all individuals will become good citizens by their own because all individuals are not the same. There has to be a system from the upper level that will keep check and balance.
The individual’s goodness counts only for the acceptance of a good system not to correct the whole society. If the individuals are good they will support a good system but to implement that system you need a huge change from the upper level and i think that change is impossible with a revolution…..by revolution i mean a whole new body that will run your government.
Ok.I got your point. But then again, who will act as a first drop of rain?
I think from chaos there arises a leadership.As in case of judicial movement, we saw Aitzaz ahsan at forefront. Maybe, just an opinion. :S
Yeh the example you quoted is fair enough. Let’s hope for a bright future.