EVERYBODY is unique and deserves due respect. However, in Pakistan people generally believe that the one who possesses more material assets is more ‘successful’ and ‘important’, and is worth talking to and keeping relations with. This indicates the degeneration of moral standards in society.

According to a social code that has been prevalent in the Nordic countries, nobody can say that he is better than the others. A minimalist approach is followed by them and is much appreciated. As such, our religious teachings also emphasise the significance of social equality. But we have never put such teachings into practice.

Had we done that, we would not have seen the cult of ‘appearance worship’ so prevalent in our society where the more money one has, the more successful, the more likeable one would be. The more money one has, the more acceptable one would be in society. This statement itself tells a lot about the kind of society we have become.

As things stand, I wish Pakistani people could learn from the cultural concept of Nordic societies and adopt minimalist tendencies, serve the humanity, and stop participating in the mad race of accum-ulating more and more wealth.

Nurturing the qualities of modesty, collectivism and egalitarianism, and discouraging any sense of individual superiority and shallow boasting can do a lot of good to us. After all, how much money does one need to live a happy life?

Ghazala Anbreen
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2024