A growing number of countries across the world are grappling with the rise of mediocrity. There is a fair amount of confusion about how mediocrity has taken such firm root. A number of theories are put forward. Some lay the blame on educational institutions, where the standards of education are lowered as more young people from varied backgrounds enroll. Equally accountable are mediocre teachers and administrators.

With the exception of a few elite universities, the average higher education institutions tend to marginalise the more capable, even resorting to mockery, intimidation and questioning their loyalty. This leads to a sense of alienation, resulting in a silencing or resignation.

There is a culture of “good enough” or “chalay ga” that permeates many institutions, industries and services. Mediocrity’s aim is to ease the work load, get away with the least effort, avoid accountability and ensure perpetuity.

Mediocrity is comfortable with vague goals and moral platitudes. The most used phrase after a tragedy occurs in Pakistan is “jitni bhi mazamat ki jai nakafi hai” [any words of condemnation are insufficient] with little attempt to address the specifics of the tragedy.

The ancient Greek historian Herodotus advised Periander on how to rule by walking through a wheat field and cutting off the tallest stalks of the crop. Periander understood the message and decapitated the best men around him.

Mediocre literally means “halfway up a mountain — a person who is content to occupy the middle level. Mediocre is mistakenly equated with average. Where average meets the minimum standard and has the possibility of improvement, mediocre is sub-standard and static.

Capitalism prefers a homogenous society that shares the same tastes for its products and the same ambitions to support its businesses. Governments prefer to rule with no questions asked, whether in a democracy or a dictatorship. Even within government, the core leadership prefers a compliant assembly of lawmakers.

Quota systems make the striving for excellence irrelevant. Quotas were intended to limit, for example, the number of students to be admitted, exports and imports of goods, or the number of migrants allowed to enter a country. Conversely, they also create access — a step up for those who were deprived of opportunities. In the US and UK, quotas are created to benefit people of colour in an all-white society.

In Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan introduced the quota system in 1948 to encourage Bengalis to join the Civil Service. In 1973, it was instituted in Sindh for 40 years to allow rural areas to improve their educational institutions, but instead it has been extended for another 20 years. Today the Civil Service of Pakistan selects only 7.5 percent of applicants on merit, while 92.5 percent are selected by quota. This combined with the Lateral Entry System (LES) of the 1970s, that allowed external appointments, demoralised cadre government workers.

Mediocrity may be acceptable in personal lives but destroys public institutions which are expected to spearhead progress and development.

Meritocracy, or selection by merit, is a term invented by British sociologist Michael Young, in 1958. It has proved difficult to implement in most countries. An example of its value is Singapore, which under the 30-year leadership of Lee Kuan Yew, transformed a swampy, backward island into one of the world’s richest countries. Setting aside Western interpretations of democracy in favour of discipline, Yew followed Plato’s concept of the “Guardian” and the Chinese bureaucrat scholar, the “Mandarin”.

Today, who strives for excellence? It is the ballet dancer, the Kathak dancer, the tabla nawaz, the singer who participates in competitions, the chess player, the Olympic athlete, the professional cricketer and footballer, cutting-edge doctors, the developer of artificial intelligence. These efforts are all practice-based and are challenged by equals.

Too many of us use excuses such as, “I don’t have the right degree”, “I’m too old”, “It’s too hard”, “I don’t have time” or “No one will let me”. The only way to break through the thick crust of mediocrity is to follow Aristotle’s advice: excellence is not an act but a habit.

Durriya Kazi is a Karachi-based artist.

She may be reached at durriyakazi1918@gmail.com

Published in Dawn, EOS, June 26th, 2022