THIS might seem a mass of nonsensical and quite meaningless words — and rightly so, for I am an amateur of amateurs. But let me say we are in a state of utter hopelessness, we are not sincere to ourselves. We do not believe what we say. We do not act what we think. We have learnt the art of being indifferent and what we now await is the disinterestedness of human spirit where all efforts, especially when they are hollow, are rewarded by nothing, but disappointment.
We do not strive to educate ourselves, yet we must talk about education aloud. We have let society follow the course that it has randomly chosen for itself without being the active participants in it. Politics is something we do not understand because we have never tried to realize its importance and donot feel it to be something that affects any individual. And we have failed to be individuals with a consciousness of the rights of others, understanding of responsibility, and respect for our obligations.
All of us are quite familiar with the perennial protest against filth that is penetrating our society. We have all different notions of this filth. Some call it impropriety, others call it vulgarity, and some even go to the extent of calling it obscenity. But have we done anything as far as controlling this misty concept of filth ? It is heart-rending to see how certain Universities are eager to remove books in English courses where ‘obscene’ words make it difficult for students of literature to seek guidance from their teachers ! If obscenity is the thing, let us also ban dictionaries. Let us also remove obscene words from our Laws and Acts; let us become unlawful.
It is only by knowing full well the nature of a disease that a cure is found. Only in that way does one save oneself from suffering, and humanity at large. Merely removing the viral sinews do not promise abstention. But let literate people do what they think is right. What about our dependence on the ‘cable’? It is hard not to notice filth of the worst kind spreading like addiction in every house where the cable is found. From sex, nudity, drugs, violence and language, everything is obscene. Parents feel inclined to let their children watch it because they know they cannot control it. Children feel no shame in absorbing the abhorrent diversity of alien cultures with unparalleled fondness.
Another type of filth, en vogue among teenagers is the Internet. Without any checks, restrictions, one can find whatever one does not want without any fear of censorship. Pornography of the worst kind is just a click away. And then it spreads like weeds. One passes it to another, the other to another and so on. The easy availability of pornographic CDs for a very cheap price worsens the situation.
Literature is largely good, so is television, and so is the internet as are the CDs but there are, within them, evils . Where they have helped mankind, they have also fostered perversion.
We all boast we are Pakistanis without ever knowing what it means to be one. Why is there an unending increase in the candidates taking O and A levels? Why have more candidates started opting for external programmes? The answer is simple. Our education system needs desperate reforms and we do not want to be the victims of uncertainty. Doctors, engineers, MBAs, and IT specialists are saturated fields. Yet there is disregard for biotechnology, languages and Humanities.
Those who should be most aware of the importance of politics are the least aware of it. Students from Matriculation to Post-Graduate level donot know the significance of politics. Some adore the military regime because it has led to an increase in the GDP. Others believe in democracy simply because it will ensure politicians their rightful place. They isolate it as something that needs time.
Even religious obligations are obeyed just because one is forced either by parents and elders or because others obey them. Just ask yourself how many times you missed your prayers? The question is why this hypocrisy? You either believe in something or you don’t. There is no middle way. Either we can improve our system or totally adopt a foreign system of education. Either we can read all literature and then differentiate what we ought to study and what we oughtn’t or stop reading altogether. We can either learn to love freedom and its meaning or become slaves of our own chosen ones. We can either be true Muslims or kafirs.
Why is it that people still have access to alcohol and other drugs? We must see where the fault lies. Lack of parental control is only one factor. We must think as to what our responsibilities are.
A nation which does not understand the meaning of democracy is also insensitive to its own rights. Public opinion is a steering force that makes laws and shapes them. Let us feel this responsibility. Let us think, let us express. Let us have opinions! It is high time that we shun this mass-mania where we shift responsibility on someone who will come to save us and make things right. Who? Godot? None!
Indeed we have hollow convictions. We have forgotten to struggle and strive. We have unlearnt to work hard and cherish. Let us promise to think and see, to decide and act, to change and reform, to improve and to long for the future, at least for those whom we place after us in our places, if not for ourselves.
‘They captured people on the street, I didn’t protest; they captured my neighbours, I didn’t protest; finally, they captured me and there was no body to protest.’
Let us stop procrastinating and learn to be individuals before it is too late.
