In the wake of what happened at PTIs public rally in Kasur, isn’t it the time to pause and rethink the fallout of “tsunami” and “revolution” on our society? Do we, as a society, even understand the very basics of a revolution? It would help to start with the most elementary; what is a revolution after all? A condition when the social order which has been woven so carefully over centuries goes topsy-turvy and when the country is suddenly up for grabs and for a certain class the new situation becomes a zero sum game!
The ‘revolutionary’ uprisings in the Middle East seem to be contagious. Coupled with Imran Khan’s over-simplified rant, the misguided notion of revolution may have adverse fallout on our society! Our urban, educated, middle class, and especially the youth has been particularly vulnerable. If twitter and facebook is anything to go by then they are dying (metaphorically) to revolutionise Pakistan under the ‘heroic leadership’ of Imran Khan. Borrowing from Karl Marx, this bourgeoisie class of ours carries smart phones, dines at modern trendy cafes’, and owns private properties. What could be the possible fallout of this ‘revolution’?
While deliberately bypassing the lessons learned from the French revolution of 1789 (great Chinese revolutionary Zhou Enlai said “It is too soon to say” when asked on its impact) let’s imagine that the Pakistani society has been “revolutionised” along the lines of the Bolshevik Revolution! Remember Dr. Zhivago the movie! It may be a fine work of fiction as most movies are but it has a clear message for our bourgeoisie class; sacrificing self interest for the welfare of the whole society! Imagine our servants and his/her family (proletariats) barging into our home and making it their own and there is nothing we could do about it! The concept of private property ownership simply disappears out of thin air. The state is not willing to do anything since it was in our servant’s name the revolution took place in the first. What would be the reaction of our trendy bourgeoisie class? Sharing isn’t exactly our national trait or is it? What was it, how many of us share our wealth with our less fortunate brethren in the form of taxes?
Or what if we turn into a ‘born again’ society! And which religious parties or inclinations would we follow, giving the prevailing sectarianism. Or would we prefer a rainbow alliance of various factions of Al-Qaeda inspired and supported Pakistani Taliban! Remember in Iran there are only (almost) Shias’, so it was rather easy for them to accept a fellow traveler as their messiah, but not the case here. The “revolutionaries” here would have to accept one cleric over the other! But you know Iran could have very well turned out to be the Socialist Republic of Iran had the communists of Tudeh Party not been outsmarted by the Ayatollah and his supporters! How would this ‘revolution’ be received in the heartland of Punjab (read Jhelum-Chakwal) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where almost every family either directly or indirectly is associated with the military? If you recall, scores of Shah’s trusted lieutenants were ‘sorted out’ by the Ayatollah’s regime, after the Shah fled. The Islamic revolution certainly stung them bad. And how many Iranians today, if they were to do it all over again, welcome the Ayatollah? That I leave for you to ponder!
To make Pakistan a better place is one thing, defining what is ‘better’ for us and knowing its fallout, another. “Revolutionising” Pakistan may very well be the empowerment of our servant over us or the other sect over ours. Would that be acceptable to us? So instead of venturing into the unknown, it would be better if we do something unprecedented; vote. Change the existing system from within by being part of it, rather than rocking the boat from outside with unforeseen and unpredictable consequences. Beware what you wish for in this abode of the pure!
TAIMOOR ASHRAF,
USA, December21.