Side effects of the Azadi March

Amid slogans and songs, containers, dancing and jeering crowds,the bold charge of Imran Khan into the uncertain and dangerous,has made for a riveting week for all Pakistanis, especially those glued to the TV like me. The media coverage was awesome, with drones adding a new dimension to the way we see demonstrations and events. Whether Khan succeeds or fails, what I liked about these events is that the man on the street has gone to the houses of the powerful and privileged , and demanded to be taken seriously. This New generation of Pakistani is no longer the cowering voter Of the old order who would be begging the chaudhry or the big gun of the area for justice as a favour, without raising his voice, and always mindful of past ehsaanaat of the village chaudhry. Unfortunately, this kind of old style politics still prevails outside the major cities of Pakistan,which are not many to begin with.In the last week, through the media, this country has witnessed a new,boisterous and irreverent Pakistan, which demands justice as a right rather than a one- off favour, and keeps it's humor intact despite the severe issues it is protesting, such as election rigging and murder of more than a dozen Pakistanis by a government. Through it's resilience, this crowd has forced an arrogant and disdainful government, whose cabinet members were spewing venom at it and aggrandizing it's imagined concessions to it, to treat it with respect, accept it's right to protest as citizens on any issue it wants to. In my opinion this in itself is a great achievement Of the Azadi March, even if it is a by product of it. What I found disconcerting was the attitude of the government, the contempt and disdain with which it's functionaries eyed the protestors at first. But the media, other political parties and even the armed forces compelled the government to Treat the crowd with respect, and finally the "mob" graduated to the level of protestors. But it took the extreme demand, the resignation of the PM, to get the attention of the government on two issues that are genuine, legal and the right of the protestors. Accountability of the killings in Model Town in June,and election rigging charges. Is it because PML N has become too comfortable with it's comfortable majority in parliament and considers itself invincible? I was shocked by the belligerence and Self righteousness of the govt members. Even if these were all misguided people asking for the moon, atleast their fundamental rights should have been recognized . It is really an old order clashing with a new one, old ways of behaving, perceiving and reacting, while the new generation is marching on regardless. It belongs to a different class from the voters of PML N, so it's responses are not recognizable by the party. This is not what PML N leadership is used to. It is used to being addressed as "Quaid e Muhtaram", not " Oye Nwaaz sharif"! In the red zone! But life, power, politics is strange. Power slips from ones hands like sand. It is definitely a wake up call for PML N mid term. It should keep things real, and not forget to eat humble pie once in a while. We are all humans, and in a democracy, leaders are only first among equals, and that's it. It would do well to recognize this fact and make changes in it's political philosophy. Whether the new order can Whether these people are weirdos, poor, rude, what they think and want should be a concern for the government, nt a condescending acknowledgement of concession that since" bacchian" were there, we let them in" when in reality, the governemnt could not afford to stop them by force.would it change the old way of perceiving the citizens of pakistan, is a question for future events. Change even in perception, is a value addition to society.

Options

"I am considering my options", have you discussed all the options?" " will discuss the options', "i had no other options". I think my readers can think of many other variations that i have missed here of the same question. What to do and what not to do. To be or not to be, what to be, what not to be. Every moment each human being is presented with so many options. So many vistas to choose from, and each path taken or not taken defines us and our life path. But are we really that free to choose, to exercise free will? Does life really gives us that many options? A friend once said to me, as i chafed at the inequalities and constriants of my life, " perhaps kulsume, life doesnt have as much to offer (as u expect).That made me wonder, do i really expect too much from life? i was born with an innate faith in God. it is fortunate that i have never doubted the presence or power of God. So, i said to myself, when i believe that God can do anything, then is it too much if i want or expect him to fulfill all my dreams and wishes, which i want sincerely and not at the expense of anybody else's happiness? Seemed fair enough.Life is strange. One has one's own agenda and but God has his own. So many options that are presented to us everyday seem like options because we never took them, as we could choose only one of many. And we look back and think, oh i could have done that too if i wanted to, but i didnt. i tried to do that but couldnt. if only... but only the spiritually enlightened know that at that moment in time, we had only one option. The one we TOOK. It was to be, and, is,perhaps, as it should be. However, i like to think that options that a person has are based on larger issues, and choices. Lets say I want to be a crook, i have the choice of becoming one of so many types of crooks. But I will only become the type which fate allows me to be. But since I wanted to be a crook more than anything else in the world, I will become one.That is how life balances Will and Fate. The values we carry and our larger dreams usually come true, but what shape and clothing they wear is determined by our circumstances. So my friend who wanted to become a Chairman of some orgsnization might not become one, but if he stands fast he will get recognition and fame and respect and perhaps a little more money, if he tries hard in that direction, and since these are his larger hopes and desires, thats good enough. Being the permanent optimist and believer in the correlation between human effort and divine help, I think we have always have the option to dream and aspire, to live according to our values and goals. We always have the option to refuse to do whats wrong and to do what is right, what our heart says is right. And that is enough choice. Keep expecting more and aspiring for more,nothing wrong with daring to dream. Our dreams have as mauch chance of coming true as not, so why not give them a try. One will never know if one never tries.Its not easy and gives us pain and pleasure,makes us insecure and scared at times, but life should not be lived in half measures. If we had all the answers at the outset, our life would be like a book whose last chapter we read even before starting its first. Where our choices take us is the beauty and mystery of life, which is beautiful despite its pathos and pain, and we are lucky to be alive.

Rights are ok, but what about responsibilities?

Complaining is the staple diet of many people around us. What the government could have done but didn't, what the others should have done, why don't they like me,nobody loves me enough, I'm so busy that I can't find time to do what I want, and the rest of the world is having a blast...what's so great about her that she got praised and I didn't? It seems that Pakistanis have made blame shifting, a permanent feature of their mental landscapes. It is everybody's fault but theirs. But somewhere, this attitude also denotes the sense of helplessness that all of us feel at how things are and why any of us are unable to do anything about it. Many of us who try to do the right thing have a feeling of acting in isolation and getting more and more distanced from those around us, and many of us fall in with the usual ways of our society just to identify and feel that we are not alone. Unfortunately, the fact that people are less and less certain of punishment for wrongdoing, makes it clearer to them that crime pays and it is ok to live selfishly, shirk personal and societal responsibility and to blame it all on some vague idea in the end: the system, the government, or ,well that is how it is. What many of us do not realise is that societies are based on individuals giving up some of their rights to secure collective rights, and these collective rights become the responsibilities of each individual living in a society. Due to lack of education, lack of social cohesiveness, we do not appreciate this. Therefore, we want our rights, but no responsibilities. One of the biggest reasons for lack of social cohesiveness is the lack of equality among us. The largest amount of population which resides in Punjab and Sindh provinces is still divided in castes, rural hegmonies and clans, with the same tendencies in its educated classes too. Though i admire the Pathans for their independence and egalitarian approach, tribal approaches still mar their relatively more egalitarian society. Blaming the government is good, but it is made up of people. One of the biggest failings of government as well as the educated class of Pakistan is to spread education and instruments of equality to the grassroots level. This collective failing has led to collective feelings of helplessness among those who want to do good. In the segment of society which can make the biggest difference, the middleclass, there is the most apathy, especially in the younger crowd which has led to spoofs like "Slackistan". The educated class and especially the younger crowd are underestimating their ability to make an impact. It is imperative that they realise their own responsibilities before asking the state to do everything. If we stand up for collective rights of freedom, equality and justice for each indiviual in society and also spread the word, it can make a difference.Guarding the rights of others and remembering our responsiblities is the only way to ensure our personal rights. We need to help others, not through charity, but by enabling them with the necessary awareness and tools to change their lives. If we do that, they will take care of the rest of their lives. The english speaking (and reading class )of Pakistan should stop thinking of the rest of pakistanis in the same terms as the colonials saw them, and called them the White Man's Burden. And for starters, just make sure that you are not impinging on anybody else's rights through your actions. Thats the easiest step which all of us can take. But only if we think about this in the first place.