A Paradise Lost
‘Paradise lost’ is story of mankind right from its origin, aptly described by John Milton, the 17th century English poet, in his epic works under the same title. Indian scholar Dr. Harkirat Singh in his book Yaadan Ganjibar Diyan (English version titled Paradise Lost) tells the woeful tale of the family’s forced migration back to India at the time of partition. In case of Pakistan it is the usual sob story of a nation which, some seven decades back, was vying to acquire a piece of land as its home country. The homeland, achieved sixty seven years ago in the shape of Pakistan, is now searching for a nation which, may I dare say, is nowhere to be seen. Whatever the claims, our deeds do not fit into the definition of nationhood. It is a motley crowd of different, self-serving ethnic groups moving in opposite directions, completely defying Iqbal’s ideology of an Islamic state.
The Muslim history of the Subcontinent is written from the day the first Muslim set foot on this land of the non-believers some thirteen centuries ago but it was the vision of Allama Iqbal that gave us a sense of direction for a separate homeland for the Muslims. Quaid-e-Azam held the fort from then on and glued the Indian Muslims into one nation. It was a miracle of sorts that he carved out a homeland for the Muslims from the Hindu dominated Indian subcontinent. Hindus enjoyed the evil patronage of the British colonial rulers in the unjust division of the country. It was virtually like snatching victory from the jaws of defeat against all odds. The promised paradise became a reality for which a very heavy price was paid. Sacrifices of lives, property and honor were countless.
“Pakistan is in the thick of a raging war; against the extremist militants at the home front and evil adversaries on the international level.”
The end result after achieving the coveted paradise should have been like riding a merry-go-round for the celebrating nation but that was not to be. The honeymoon was short lived. Things started going awry for Pakistan in its formative years, due to the untimely death of the Father of the Nation. The promised heavenly eloquence of a paradise was nowhere to be seen. Browsing through the sixty long years of Pakistan’s existence many thoughts roll in front of my eyes as if through a kaleidoscope. Justice was not done to those who lost so much at the time of partition. Curtains of gloom and doom were gradually drawn on the new found paradise by none other than our very own leaders. What we lost to taste freedom was forgotten in no time.
This nation of over 180 million has become a hostage to self acclaimed democrats, religious fanatics, the ‘so called reformist’ militants and civil and military carpet-baggers. The rest are the silent majority. It was man’s disobedience that caused the loss of Paradise at the time of the origin of mankind. The prime reason for Adam’s fall from grace and departure from the Garden of Eden was Satan who revolted against his very own Creator and allured Adam to disobey Him. We too as a nation have disobeyed the Almighty in all possible ways and the results are now showing. Our paradise, like the one in the afterlife, too has its angels and Satans, the later outnumbering the former, being responsible for the ensuing pandemonium in the country. The silent majority too cannot be absolved of their obligation to the society but they are weak. A weak and ineffective ‘silent majority’ reflects poorly on the character of a nation.
There are certain basic requisites to run a system smoothly failing which the repercussions are unimaginable and beyond control. A society sans justice is liable to deteriorate while the one where justice prevails, progresses at Godspeed. Pakistan is in the thick of a raging war; against the extremist militants at the home front and evil adversaries on the international level. These wars are adversely affecting our economy and social fabric. They need to be won to stem the rot. Churchill’s famous words to the account that ‘a war cannot be lost in the presence of an independent judiciary’ should be given a serious thought especially in third world countries where democratic norms are more of rhetoric than practice. The only true principle for humanity is justice, justice for all.
Accountability is of prime importance for the dispensation of justice. Selective accountability tantamount to injustice. Our laws are like cobwebs, where the small flies are caught and the great ones break through. Elections without accountability are absolutely meaningless and an exercise in futility. It should not be done away with in the name of national reconciliation. NRO is downright mockery of justice. National reconciliation should be worked out for matters of national interest, not for personal gains. The rhetorical parroting of ‘best national interest’ has befooled the public for decades. Such utterances come from the undemocratic rulers who in turn are slaves of their foreign masters. We need leaders not rulers. They should lead by example. The legendary water carrier ‘Bachha Saqqa’ also ruled by default. He was not made of the leader-stuff. We as a nation are already self sufficient in this ignominious commodity of Bachha Saqqas and do not need any more of them.
“Our laws are like cobwebs, where the small flies are caught and the great ones break through.”
Our rulers talk of austerity but do not practice it themselves. There is a huge credibility gap between their words and deeds. These lesser mortals must realize that leadership is a relationship, with credibility as the cornerstone. The leaders should set personal examples if they want to rule the heart of the masses. Rulers of a country, already on the brink of default, do not deserve the princely life they are living. Misuse of special VVIP planes with unreasonably large entourages, sumptuous living in official palaces and luxury limousines, all on taxpayers’ expense, are not meant for rulers of a pauper state surviving on the dole money lent by World financial bodies like World Bank, IMF and the like. We as a nation are on a perpetual begging mission forgetting the fact that God has made these hands for working and not for begging. I am at my wit’s end to swallow the bitter facts as to how cleverly our rulers devise means and ways to strip the common man of his right to survive with two square meals a day while they themselves decline to compromise on their luxurious living ways. Setting up of a polo ground in the PM house and a shooting range in the Presidential palace, a ‘God fearing’ president attending his son’s graduation in the US (mis)using the President’s plane and perks or going partridge hunting in Sindh with all the government machinery in attendance, and the spending of millions of rupees from the government coffers for a private trip to London by a military dictator, are few examples which are just the tip of the ice burg. We, the electorate, who voted these pigmies to power are also responsible for this rot and accomplice in the corruption mafia. The list is long and painful and shows the dearth of any credible leadership since ages. There is a maxim that says the fish starts rotting from its head. Should we call it the beginning of the rot process or is it already on?
Our Quaid gave us the motto of unity, faith and discipline. People of Pakistan have great potential. They have shown moral strength and unflinching unity in the 1965 Indo-Pak war and also during the 2005 devastating earthquake but they seem to have lost faith in the leadership. The word discipline has been replaced by ‘disorder’ in our national dictionary. So much for the Quaid’s motto. Pakistanis have forgotten to laugh. They are queuing up for subsidized bread and sugar and are looking up to Providence for other commodities necessary for subsistence. Life has become miserable, unlivable and without self respect. XYZ support programmes in different names have turned us into beggars, blowing our self respect and integrity into thin air, as if these rulers are dishing out this money from their personal accounts.
Today we stand at the cross roads as a nation: one path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other leads to total extinction. We are on a cliff hanger between the ‘devil and the deep sea’. Let us hope our leaders take us out of this quagmire by choosing the third path; of survival, hope and happiness which, though difficult, is certainly not impossible. It is high time they come good, show some collective wisdom and give their people a genuine ray of hope, inculcate self confidence in them and restore their national pride. The begging bowl, oft claimed to have been broken, should be buried once and for all before it resurfaces it’s ugly head as usual, and austerity be observed at the highest level in the government offices as well as by the ruling elite. A ‘farewell to alms’ is the key to national pride and sovereignty. The clergy too has a big responsibility on its shoulders. They should help untangle the youth from the alluring cobweb of an imaginary paradise leading to suicide attacks. Religion teaches moderation not militancy. They are two opposite poles.
Epilogue: As a nation we have become so used to irregularities in our daily lives that many a time I have heard people saying ‘yeh Pakistan hai’ (this is Pakistan) to cover up their wrong doings. This attitude is disappointing and shameful. We should mend our ways and set ourselves right in individual capacity in order to regain our lost dignity in the comity of nations. All cannot be left to the leaders. Our chivalrous knights and self styled champions of democracy too should leave us alone and mind the business they are entrusted with and duly paid for. The real middle class is the economic pillar of a society; it should be saved from dwindling. Heaven is generally construed as a place of eternal happiness. Let us all work to make Pakistan a heaven on earth and save this land of the pure from the stigma of ‘a paradise lost’. A paradise lost by Dr. Harkirat Singh in 1947, which he is still wailing about, should not be lost to us. We have paid heavily for it. Amen!
Written by Dr. Shahid Qayyum
The writer is a dental surgeon, and can be reached at: dsq006@gmail.com
