Opportunism is a characteristic of human nature. Some people may adopt it to retain their status, privileges and property, while others use it to get more power and favour from the ruling authorities.

However, there are examples in history where some individuals declined their chance to become opportunists, defied political authority and refused to change their loyalties under new circumstances.

After defeating the Qin Dynasty, Kublai Khan, the Mongol conqueror, became the ruler of China. Since he needed experienced Chinese officials to run the administration, he was eager for the old bureaucracy to support and cooperate with him. Most of the officials submitted to Kublai Khan but there was one minister reputed for his honesty, efficiency and loyalty to the past government, who rejected the offer saying that he could not serve two masters. The Khan disapproved his response and ordered his execution.

Another example in the history of England is of King Henry VIII who wanted to divorce his wife and marry another woman. He asked his chancellor Sir Thomas Moore to pursue the pope for permission to remarry. Moore refused to oblige the king; infuriated, the king ordered his arrest. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London, tried on fictitious charges and finally executed. By setting an example of ethics and morality, Sir Thomas Moore left his name to posterity.

These are the tales of those who refuse to bend before the prevailing winds, and are broken as a result.

On the other hand, throughout history there are many examples of individuals who compromised national interest, changing loyalties from one authority to another for the sake of personal benefits. When the Mughal emperor Humayun invaded Gujarat, defeating the ruler Bahadur Shah, one of Bahadur Shah’s nobles known as Rumi Khan betrayed Shah and joined the Mughal forces to help them occupy Gujarat.

He was denounced by the people of Gujarat as a traitor. One day when Humayun was in his court, Rumi Khan arrived to pay him homage but much to his dismay, he was received by Bahadur Shah’s favourite parrot in a cage hung from the ceiling, chanting ‘Rumi Khan ghaddar, Rumi Khan ghaddar’ (Rumi Khan, the betrayer).

These chants echoed in the silence of the court and Humayun and the courtiers were stunned, while Rumi Khan’s head was lowered in disgrace. The parrot apparently had learnt these words from the people around him who had been calling Rumi Khan a traitor.

Humayun told him that if these words were uttered by a human, he would have executed him immediately, but he could not take any action against the bird.

In another example, Nadir Shah invaded India after defeating the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah, but agreed to a ceasefire after accepting Rs2 crores to return to Afghanistan. But Saadat-ul-Mulk, an ambitious Mughal noble who had just arrived from Iran was furious at the Mughal emperor for appointing Nizam-ul-Mulk at the post of Amir-ul-Umra as he wanted the post for himself.

So he decided to take revenge at the cost of his loyalty to the Mughals. He told Nadir Shah that the Rs2 crores which he accepted from the Mughal emperor was a pittance and that the Mughal treasury was full of riches which he should plunder. Nadir Shah changed his plan to return to his homeland and instead occupied Dehli, taking away the centuries-old Mughal treasury to Afghanistan.

Opportunism continues from the past to present. In Pakistan, we have many examples of bureaucrats, politicians and intellectuals who compromised national interest for personal advantage. Qudratullah Shahab, a top bureaucrat during the dictatorship of Ayub Khan undertook the job to close progressive newspapers because of their opposition to the dictatorship. To please Ayub Khan, he also established the Writers’ Guild to get the support of intellectuals for the government. However, in his memoirs Shahabnama, he projects himself as a democrat and a champion of freedom — a sharp contrast to his real self.

When Gen Zia came into power, he also approached writers to support his Government. He started to hold the Ahl-i-Qalam conferences and invited leading writers to Islamabad to attend and participate and present their literary writings. With the exception of a few, the majority of writers accepted his invitation without challenging the way he had come into power.

Hafeez Jalandhari after attending one conference remarked that it was due to Gen Zia that the writers of this country had access to the presidential house. He was the same poet who composed poems during World War II, urging the youth of India to join the British forces. Later on, he composed the national anthem of Pakistan and earned respect and reputation in society.

We can also find opportunism in the community of journalists and politicians who join one party after another violating all norms of morality. The people of Pakistan are accustomed to the examples of opportunism so these people are neither looked down upon nor disgraced in the society, instead they enjoy high status and privileges at the cost of honour and dignity.

When opportunism prevails in a society, it causes decline of moral values and promotes dishonesty, disloyalty and corruption, which consequently weakens the very foundation of the society.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, February 8th, 2015

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