pakistan history

Iqbal's poetry is an institution in itself. He has conceptualized his abstract ideology to reality by the use of mere words. He was an influential leader who had the foremost constituting hand in spreading the spiritual thought of Islam. But what's troublesome is that students do not learn about the essence of Iqbal's poetry. The syllabi stress the importance of memorizing verses that one can quote to get better grades, or worse of all, learn all the dates by heart. What good does that do when one cannot fully understand the whole purpose behind the great works of Iqbal? His poetry did not only inspire the youth of that time but it revolutionized to an extent that his words helped in the creation of a country we call Pakistan.

Every November 9th, seminars and forums are arranged every year to discuss the works of Iqbal. The problem with that is they are so complex and the academicians explain his works in such obscure language that one fails to relate to Iqbal as a normal human being. Due to this, people are unable to connect themselves with his greatness and are unable to understand Iqbal's works which are so profound and inspiring.

Like Iqbal, Quaid-e-Azam is also a victim of such a system. He has been talked about over and over again in seminars, conferences, papers and what not. Sadly when asked of the youth, he is not as inspiring either. This is not his fault, certainly not. He made Pakistan. He did his job. It's not as important to learn his Fourteen Points by heart as it is to 'realize' the hardships he went through. The problems he tackled in the process of the Freedom Movement. What was his thinking and needs that made him push so much in creation of Pakistan? The long articles that run down the pages every year to mark Jinnah's birthday are written in such complex English and Urdu both. The writers should write comprehensive articles not about what he did but why he did. They should stress on Jinnah's ability and capacities to learn more about the man who is printed on every currency note of Pakistan. There is a reason he is there. 

But part of the solution to our problem is broader. It is apparent that the greatest obstacle to the admiration and acceptance of heroes in our society is pervasive and corrosive cynicism and skepticism. The best antidote to this cynicism is a realistic understanding of the limits of human nature.

We are cynical because so often our ideals have been betrayed. Quaid-e-Azam smoked the finest tobaccos and Iqbal drank alcohol and had a coterie of female friends. We need to separate the things that make our heroes noteworthy, and forgive the shortcomings that blemish their heroic perfection. But this dynamic pulls in the other direction as well: these magnificent spirits, these noble souls, amazingly, they are like us, they are human too. And perhaps, then, what was possible for them is possible for us. They stumbled, they wavered, they made fools of themselves - but nonetheless they rose and accomplished deeds of triumphant beauty. Perhaps we might do so too. Cynicism is too often merely an excuse for sparing us the effort.

We as a nation are at a verge of frustration and desperation. Internally Pakistan is losing all the unity it had, the strength that binds it. With December 25 gone as well, there was nothing better to read this year. Nothing motivating. It's time we attune our thinking to Jinnah's and Iqbal's to avoid breaking the country they made.