Pakistanis, being a nation, can clearly be declared as
one of the most befuddled nations. What are the factors that make me give such
a big statement? What are the reasons that make this nation stand among such bewildered
nations? Unfortunately, there is a big majority of our population, which
does not really know as to whether it makes up a nation or it is just a
confused crowd? Maybe because even after the independence of over six decades,
we are still trying to figure out who is our real enemy i.e. Indians, Afghanis,
Americans or Taliban? Maybe because we have raised a generation who considers
it disrespectful, or shall I say “uncool”, to be well –versed with its
country’s history, as if there is anything dark and sinister about it. Maybe
because even after having enjoyed independence for over 6 long decades, we are
still not sure what form of political system is perfect for us i.e. democratic,
dictatorship or Islamic way of caliphs?
I cannot help to notice the irony of the situation
that while being so unsure about our present, past and future, we are busy in
pointing fingers at the world at large and distinguishing who is the culprit and
who is not. From the oil reserves of Saudi Arabia to World Trade Centre New
York, Pakistanis are busy disclosing all the related conspiracy theories. We
are a nation that is all the time pinned on among numerous conspiracy theories.
It is like a lady, who has been divorced four times, is advising her friend
about the matrimonial issues. We are basically our own enemies who chose to
suffer.
Some of our blue-blooded country fellows do agree to disagree
with these points and argue that Europe has achieved their democracy after an
evolution of hundreds of years and it is but natural for a nation’s life cycle
to go through these hardships in order to achieve the easy street and do well.
I will only respond to them by saying, that neither two wrongs make one right
nor denying our problems will prevent us from damage, just as a lack of belief
in gravity will not prevent us from tripping. The only effect these denials
have, are that we will be stumbling in the dark for a longer period of time if
we do not mend our ways.
The first step towards solving a problem is, accepting that
there is a problem. Only then we would be able to plan and strive to achieve
big hit. Even with a bird’s eye view, we can find out that discipline is the
most basic ingredient to convert a mob into a nation. For many years, Pakistan
has been a helpless victim of growing indiscipline in all walks of life. From certain
political parties and selfish political leaders to government servants or shopkeepers,
everyone has played its part in shaking up the state. There has been indiscipline
among the masses, resulting personal gains of ulterior motives. We have been
noticing a very ruthless phenomenon of strikes, demonstrations, public violence
and uproarious processions and aggravating rampages. Unemployment, economic
depressions, cultural erosion, intellectual lethargy, crisis of character, all
wet concept of liberty and way off understanding the purpose of education are
among the chief contributing factors of our present undisciplined crowd.
We Pakistanis are perfect example of creating chaos in public
places by our undisciplined behaviour. We show lack of adequate and manners in
everything we do. It does not matter how trivial or consequential it is. Be it from boarding buses and trains, driving
on the roads, standing in a queue to choosing our leaders or running a million
dollar organisation. There is an alarming rise in the crime graph of country,
due to the lack of discipline.
A little wiser approach will be to
start on individual level. We should start criticising ourselves first then to
blame the world and the government for the injustices they have done. We should
have an everlasting criticism of where we are at present and where probably
will we end, if we keep on following the same road. We must start looking
beyond our own personal lives and our own personal interests. We should start
looking at the bigger picture. We must always be very critical of how we use
our authorities, which way our society is heading and how we can imagine of a
world where abuse of power is no longer, where want and violence is no longer
and where society is the epitome of philanthropic behaviour.
Above all, we should recognise that the
promotion of courtesy, benevolence, culture of decency, responsibility, et
cetera, is only a matter for individuals, not governments; that on a societal
level, it is a matter of culture and custom, and is not a matter of law. In a nutshell, if we do get the picture
of the problems we are exposed to, we must act prudently to take ownership of
it, and try to solve them without recourse to coercion.
Since at the moment, we are under an impression that
democracy is the only way out, therefore we must understand the importance of
self-discipline. We are a nation, unlike some nations, where democracy was
never a child of masses, but actually was a gift of some enlightened leaders
which fortunately were present at the time of partition, it followed that our
ideology has never been democratic and indicating contrast, the laws have
always been. So the contrast between social ideology and legal ideology is
blatant in many aspects and is also sowing the seeds of these issues.
If a nation dreams of achieving power and success then it
must have leaders, those who dare to see a little farther, to believe that they
can lead a better life than present. And if the nation wants this perception to
be an inevitable result, it must not forget that having a vast army of citizens
capable of understanding and following these leaders intelligently is also
paramount. These citizens must have an understanding of the government’s
actions and policies, from the smallest town election to the highest assembly
of the country. It must be no closed book to them, and each one of them should
be willing to carry his own particular responsibility to the best of his abilities
or else, the whole army will lag.
The biggest responsibilities lie on our educators and our
parents, who have the power to change the criteria, definitions and value
systems used by us. Those systems do not need to be reformed, they need to be replaced.
We need values that demand the practice of peace, love, patriotism and
understanding the same way we now practise war, terrorism, violence, aggression
and intolerance. Our nation is capable of achieving absolutely everything. We
only need to take the right road. It all comes to the choices we make. Either
we want to live together as brothers or die together as fools.
``You can build a wall, or you can build a bridge. It all
depends on the love you give. If you build a wall, your world is very small,
but if you build a bridge, you can conquer all.''
