Pakistan Day: The Unreached Journey
The journey of Muslims in the sub-continent, which
started right after the war of 1857, has encountered every kind of brutality,
prejudice, and viciousness. The English emperors not only overthrew the rule
but also continued to dehumanize Muslims for years. Eventually, they barricaded
them into complete isolation, misery, and bloodshed. The price Muslims paid,
just because they belonged to a minority group, was massive. Both the Hindus and
the English implicated that they did not want Muslims around them. Although
this period in the history of Muslims was intolerable, there was strong Muslim
leadership that continuously worked for the betterment and progress of Muslims.
This strong leadership was the reason the Muslims’ movement reached the
milestone of Lahore resolution in 1940, in which Quaid e Azam declared the
decision of all Muslims that was an independent state, Pakistan. For seven more
years of sacrifice and struggle, Muslims got their independent state on 14th
August 1947.
Tired,
tormented, and agonized Muslims, in the hope of liberty, peace, and a better
future, were now in Pakistan that was supposed to be safe heaven. The nature of
struggles changed after the partition. There was still a long journey ahead,
and that was to make Pakistan a strong state. It would not be incorrect to
claim that Pakistanis were determined to achieve the excellence required to
make a country earn a prestigious place among great nations. Finally, youngsters,
who were not allowed to dream before partition, could be seen hoping for a
better tomorrow. In the upcoming years, a visionary Pakistan was in construction.
On 23rd
March 2021, after 74 years of waiting and hoping, one is forced to think about
what could have gone wrong in “the land of pure.” We were supposed to make this
country an example of religious harmony and peace. We had promised to make
Pakistan a state in which there would have no place for extremism, inequality,
discrimination, or barbarity. This state was made while fighting against hate
and intolerance. Where did we go wrong that now there is a culture of bigotry
and loathing that is continuously perpetuating? One is forced to look at all
the chapters in the history since partition, and one gets confused about
whether to talk about the failure of political leadership or the uncertainty
that came along with four wars against India or the instability three martial
laws brought with them. On one side, there is the deceit of civil leadership,
that corrupted the whole system. On the other hand, a lot of damage came from
military governments. With such history, problems like poverty, unemployment,
illiteracy, economic decline, and extremism were inevitable.
Not only did we
fail to make our foundation strong, but we have also built such a system that
our nation and people have not even a shred develop in their intellect and
wisdom. We are facing a crisis in which forces like authoritarianism and
ignorance are growing. While in the modern age, there is space for
enlightenment, democracy, and tolerance; we are still stagnated in the
superstitions and social norms that have no place in the modern world.
Stagnation of reasoning does not lead towards progress. A society thrives when
its people are allowed creativity, exploration, and critical inquiry.
Advancement in science and technology demands freedom of thinking. Islam
encourages queries and freedom of thought. In Surah Al Imran, Holy Quran says,
“Behold in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of
night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding ...”
Unfortunately, we have secluded ourselves from any kind of learning and
research.
It is
heartbreaking that the journey, that started so long ago and that had cost us
our lands, lives, and dreams, is still incomplete. But there is always hope for
a better world. It is important to understand that systemic changes only occur
when the root issues are addressed. Change starts at the ground level. In
today’s world, Illiteracy is our major barrier towards a successful Pakistan.
People, who do not have the privilege of education, are unable to develop their
intellectual skills. Consequently, they adhere to the same primitive thinking that
is rotting our system. The only way to end this is to make people understand
their rights and responsibilities as citizens of Pakistan. Only with unity and
a genuine sense of brotherhood, we can help and lead Pakistan towards a better
future. The journey of Pakistan day will meet its destination when every
citizen enjoys his basic fundamental rights. We need a state where social
justice is established through the law, a state where there is socio-political
education in schools. We want a Pakistan that has an environment of equality,
universal brotherhood, and unity. Together, we can strive and make Pakistan the
Quaid’s Pakistan.
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