Published in pridenews.co.uk
Published in Frontier Post on 28-12-2009
Milan Kundera, a French and Czech novelist once said that “Optimism is the opium of the people”. Optimism is the only thing that has kept this nation on its feet. If it wasn’t optimism, we would have figured in the League of Nations, which are booked in the text books of history for the students to read and comment. Such is the effect of this opium that the people who are deprived of their basic needs like food, security and shelter are still hoping that someone will pull a rabbit out of the hat someday.
We are infected with many countless problems. We have a nuclear bomb but there is always an acute crisis of food commodities like rice, sugar and wheat which are considered as basic human necessities. Today everyone can make a phonecall from his cellular but can’t get gas to fire his stove. People have a fan to get rid of the stiff summer but have no electricity to make it running. These internal problems apart, we live in a country where our government demands huge amounts of taxes from us but is not able to protect us from the terrorists.
A common man is living in a rule which is unable to provide him basic necessities. The internal security situation of Pakistan has gone from bad to worse in the last couple of years. People are uncertain when they leave home that whether they will be able to come back or not. Imagine what happens to a father who does hard work all day long, fights with transporter over nominal fares, gets hammered by his employer every now and then on petty issues and when he comes back to home at night and discovers that he has lost his kid in a terrorist attack for whom he did all he can to make him to good person, to give him a good life ahead.
It is such a misery that our rulers just don’t understand all this. They don’t have any affiliation with a common man living from hand to mouth. These rulers, who have their children studying in the elite universities abroad, running large enterprises in the foreign don’t know the agony of its elector.
It is ironic that politicians who are elected and bureaucrats who are paid to "serve" the people often end up as civil masters instead of being civil servants. They place their own administrative convenience above citizens' needs.
The system which is implemented on us totally contradicts the ideology of a common man. Democracy, which was ploughed in the field of capitalism, has ruled over majority of the world but none of them was able to bring any harmony between its people. Capitalist system, as its name suggest, only runs upon the desire of the one who has the capital in its hand.
All these problems look scary and dreadful, but people are still living in a hope. People of Pakistan believe that one stroke of luck can turn their fortunes around. Judicial crisis showed us that this nation can stand for anything which they consider as something based on truth and justice. As a citizen of Pakistan, which is the fifth largest army having modern ammunition in its arsenal, one of the best agricultural state, having the best intellectuals serving in the biggest corporations of this globe, we believe that one day our misery will end and we will one day stand as the best and prosperous nation. We still believe that, if needed, we can counter any challenge only if our leadership is sincere and the system which is produced from our ideology i.e. the Islamic ideology.
Pakistan has a lost a lot in this war on terror. This war has brought all the problems to Pakistan. We are in a complete dark situation but NIGHT IS THE DARKEST BEFORE DAWN. One day we will triumph.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Identity Crisis
Published in Frontier Post on 13-10-2010
Last week I was able to attend a concert organized by US consulate in Pakistan. The concert was in memory of the famous Wall Street Journal Journalist Daniel Pearl, who was killed in Karachi in 2002. Being a student of International Relations in a university having a campus in Islamabad, I was able to attend the mesmerizing event with the help of my university administration but I had to give in my mobile before entering the premises because of the security of US diplomats.
The concert was full of Rock & Sufi music and held the audience to their feet. I, while enjoying the stampede of sounds in the gigantic auditorium of Pakistan National Council of the Arts, was hit with a jolt. My mind was struck to a standstill when I saw the portrait of smiling Daniel Pearl on the stage. I immediately understood what it means to be an American or a citizen of First World Country. Even after your death you are remembered as much as they can.
On my right side, I had a friend whose wife and kids both were US nationals. I was plunged into an identity crisis. Till then I was a 22 year old student of International Relations and a Government Employee who was a staunch critique of US’ policies and ideologies. Now there I am, sitting among the audience having US diplomats, senior Pakistani Govt. officials and the children of our so-called elite class celebrating life and music as the slogan on the stage was reflecting. I was unable to differentiate myself and the question for me was WHO REALLY I AM?
I was a great example of paradox at that time. Recalling the book ‘The Way of the World’ written by Ron Suskind in which he narrates the story of an Afghan Student, who through a student exchange program goes to US and lives with an American family. That student, Ibrahim Frotan faces the dilemma of his own identity and gets himself entangled into the clash of civilizations. My condition was almost the same like that of Ibrahim. I was strongly in opposition to these values and that night I was a part of it. Paradox!
While moving with the tunes and rhythm of the music, I was wondering who am I? A Muslim who like every other Muslim is angry over the US’ policies and oppression or the one who is helping them to achieve their agenda by setting up the stalls at the main entrance promoting brain-drain and cultural exchange.
Clouded by the identity crisis, I just came to know about the value of human life and suddenly another question rang into my mind. If Dani Pearl is still remembered even after 8 years of his murder then why can’t the senior US diplomats sitting in the audience glance on the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui? Isn’t she a human? Doesn’t she have a family like Daniel Pearl? I learned the rule of quid pro quo in international relations but I wasn’t experiencing the same here.
Sitting shell-shocked in the auditorium while my other university fellows were dancing and singing along, I could easily have been spotted out due to my vague expressions. I remember during the introductory remarks from the guests, the Chief Guest Additional Secretary Ministry of Culture, Pakistan responded to the fact pointed out by the Wall Street Journalist that Pakistan is the most deadly country for journalists by saying that Pakistan is a place full of love and harmony, there was a strong meaningful roar from the crowd.
The evening of celebration of life and music was nearing its end and I was still quizzed in the auditorium when I heard Meesha Shafi singing a very popular Sufi track ‘Alif Allah’ and the response of the audience gave me all the answers to my fuzziness.
We are people, who for all our problems are still strongly attached to our ideology. The standing ovation from US diplomats said it all. It was a night, organized to pay tribute to Daniel Pearl in a country where he was murdered and in the same country which has been labeled as terrorist a lot of times, was rocked by performers who were Muslims. Muslims, whose ancestors rocked the world and lead this whole world to peace and humanity. I got my answer.
No matter whatever crisis we are in, the bond of Islam keeps us united which was further elaborated when they sand ‘Bijli aaye ya na aaye, Dhol Bajay ga’ meaning whether electricity comes or not, the drum will be banged and later the slogans from the audience for the country which was created in the name of Islam ended my identity crisis. I was a Muslim and still am who really thinks that we will stand up again lead this world with our own ideology.
Last week I was able to attend a concert organized by US consulate in Pakistan. The concert was in memory of the famous Wall Street Journal Journalist Daniel Pearl, who was killed in Karachi in 2002. Being a student of International Relations in a university having a campus in Islamabad, I was able to attend the mesmerizing event with the help of my university administration but I had to give in my mobile before entering the premises because of the security of US diplomats.
The concert was full of Rock & Sufi music and held the audience to their feet. I, while enjoying the stampede of sounds in the gigantic auditorium of Pakistan National Council of the Arts, was hit with a jolt. My mind was struck to a standstill when I saw the portrait of smiling Daniel Pearl on the stage. I immediately understood what it means to be an American or a citizen of First World Country. Even after your death you are remembered as much as they can.
On my right side, I had a friend whose wife and kids both were US nationals. I was plunged into an identity crisis. Till then I was a 22 year old student of International Relations and a Government Employee who was a staunch critique of US’ policies and ideologies. Now there I am, sitting among the audience having US diplomats, senior Pakistani Govt. officials and the children of our so-called elite class celebrating life and music as the slogan on the stage was reflecting. I was unable to differentiate myself and the question for me was WHO REALLY I AM?
I was a great example of paradox at that time. Recalling the book ‘The Way of the World’ written by Ron Suskind in which he narrates the story of an Afghan Student, who through a student exchange program goes to US and lives with an American family. That student, Ibrahim Frotan faces the dilemma of his own identity and gets himself entangled into the clash of civilizations. My condition was almost the same like that of Ibrahim. I was strongly in opposition to these values and that night I was a part of it. Paradox!
While moving with the tunes and rhythm of the music, I was wondering who am I? A Muslim who like every other Muslim is angry over the US’ policies and oppression or the one who is helping them to achieve their agenda by setting up the stalls at the main entrance promoting brain-drain and cultural exchange.
Clouded by the identity crisis, I just came to know about the value of human life and suddenly another question rang into my mind. If Dani Pearl is still remembered even after 8 years of his murder then why can’t the senior US diplomats sitting in the audience glance on the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui? Isn’t she a human? Doesn’t she have a family like Daniel Pearl? I learned the rule of quid pro quo in international relations but I wasn’t experiencing the same here.
Sitting shell-shocked in the auditorium while my other university fellows were dancing and singing along, I could easily have been spotted out due to my vague expressions. I remember during the introductory remarks from the guests, the Chief Guest Additional Secretary Ministry of Culture, Pakistan responded to the fact pointed out by the Wall Street Journalist that Pakistan is the most deadly country for journalists by saying that Pakistan is a place full of love and harmony, there was a strong meaningful roar from the crowd.
The evening of celebration of life and music was nearing its end and I was still quizzed in the auditorium when I heard Meesha Shafi singing a very popular Sufi track ‘Alif Allah’ and the response of the audience gave me all the answers to my fuzziness.
We are people, who for all our problems are still strongly attached to our ideology. The standing ovation from US diplomats said it all. It was a night, organized to pay tribute to Daniel Pearl in a country where he was murdered and in the same country which has been labeled as terrorist a lot of times, was rocked by performers who were Muslims. Muslims, whose ancestors rocked the world and lead this whole world to peace and humanity. I got my answer.
No matter whatever crisis we are in, the bond of Islam keeps us united which was further elaborated when they sand ‘Bijli aaye ya na aaye, Dhol Bajay ga’ meaning whether electricity comes or not, the drum will be banged and later the slogans from the audience for the country which was created in the name of Islam ended my identity crisis. I was a Muslim and still am who really thinks that we will stand up again lead this world with our own ideology.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Ideologies and New World Order
It is must for an ideology to make itself stable and prosper and also propagate itself to other part of the world. This is the ideology which has made the countries superpower. The Muslims ruled this world just because of its ideology and the system implemented on them, which obviously was emanated from Islam. Same goes with the once mighty U.S.S.R. and the still mighty but entangled with crisis all over United States of America.
Witnessing the history of the world, we can easily resolve that for a country to be a worldpower, it should have a system which matches the ideology of its people. Like in United States, the system and law guarantees personal freedom that is aligned with the ideas of the people on which the system is implemented.
History of the world is testament of the fact that it wasn’t the natural resources or education alone which helped them to establish their hegemony over the world. The Great Britain, a very tiny empire had no natural resources or any other significant component which could lead to power except for their ideas and military capability and they ruled the world.
Looking into the current state of affairs, the world has no longer been a unipolar one. After the Afghan and Iraq wars and the economic meltdown all over the world, bulging out from United States of America, US has started to lose its grip over the world. United States, once drenched with mighty power is now declining to its very end. People from within have started to raise their fears against the system and policies of the state.
Capitalism in United States is nearing its conclusion. The people in US have lost their homes and jobs on a massive scale due to its fragile capitalist system. Capitalism, as its name reveals, is a system formulated to protect the one who has the capital. The price United States paying for the love of capitalism is as heavy as it could get. While the American dream has become a nightmare, it still is trying to export its ideas to the outer world, eventually leading to en masse disapproval of their system. General public of United States has lost its trust on this system it is inevitable that the US is reaching its end after reaching its pinnacle.
Many people and analysts have suggested that the New World Order is in place or on its horizon. China and Russia (both socialists) have started to assert their power in the international arena. China is expanding economically and both militarily while Russia is countering US in every aspect, be it dealing with Iran or an attack on Georgia. While these socialist giants establish their power, there is another force rising: the rising wave of Islam or the Political Islam. Islamic World, under the oppression from colonialists and imperialists are looking for an alternative and perhaps going back to the basics is the panacea for their ills.
Think tanks in US and other countries have already started raising their fears regarding Political Islam and every day we hear senior US government officials talking about Political Islam and its threat to Capitalism. Islam may prove to be the final nail in the coffin of capitalism.
The role of so-called superpower in the world is now up for grabs. 20th Century and the naught of 21st has seen the very high of socialism and capitalism and also its decline very quickly. Only the Islamic ideology was the one which longed for much longer and paid the dividends to the humanity like expansion in technology, education and arts. It sound very romantic that Islam would again come back on the front stage, especially when the Muslim World is at crossroads but there is one good thing about the crossroad is that it always has a right path.
Be it Islam or Socialism, it is evident that the New World Order will be according to the ideologies as it always has been.
(Writer is a Government Employee and a Student of International Relations)
Witnessing the history of the world, we can easily resolve that for a country to be a worldpower, it should have a system which matches the ideology of its people. Like in United States, the system and law guarantees personal freedom that is aligned with the ideas of the people on which the system is implemented.
History of the world is testament of the fact that it wasn’t the natural resources or education alone which helped them to establish their hegemony over the world. The Great Britain, a very tiny empire had no natural resources or any other significant component which could lead to power except for their ideas and military capability and they ruled the world.
Looking into the current state of affairs, the world has no longer been a unipolar one. After the Afghan and Iraq wars and the economic meltdown all over the world, bulging out from United States of America, US has started to lose its grip over the world. United States, once drenched with mighty power is now declining to its very end. People from within have started to raise their fears against the system and policies of the state.
Capitalism in United States is nearing its conclusion. The people in US have lost their homes and jobs on a massive scale due to its fragile capitalist system. Capitalism, as its name reveals, is a system formulated to protect the one who has the capital. The price United States paying for the love of capitalism is as heavy as it could get. While the American dream has become a nightmare, it still is trying to export its ideas to the outer world, eventually leading to en masse disapproval of their system. General public of United States has lost its trust on this system it is inevitable that the US is reaching its end after reaching its pinnacle.
Many people and analysts have suggested that the New World Order is in place or on its horizon. China and Russia (both socialists) have started to assert their power in the international arena. China is expanding economically and both militarily while Russia is countering US in every aspect, be it dealing with Iran or an attack on Georgia. While these socialist giants establish their power, there is another force rising: the rising wave of Islam or the Political Islam. Islamic World, under the oppression from colonialists and imperialists are looking for an alternative and perhaps going back to the basics is the panacea for their ills.
Think tanks in US and other countries have already started raising their fears regarding Political Islam and every day we hear senior US government officials talking about Political Islam and its threat to Capitalism. Islam may prove to be the final nail in the coffin of capitalism.
The role of so-called superpower in the world is now up for grabs. 20th Century and the naught of 21st has seen the very high of socialism and capitalism and also its decline very quickly. Only the Islamic ideology was the one which longed for much longer and paid the dividends to the humanity like expansion in technology, education and arts. It sound very romantic that Islam would again come back on the front stage, especially when the Muslim World is at crossroads but there is one good thing about the crossroad is that it always has a right path.
Be it Islam or Socialism, it is evident that the New World Order will be according to the ideologies as it always has been.
(Writer is a Government Employee and a Student of International Relations)
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