THE 59th CANDLE ON PAKISTAN’S BIRTHDAY CAKE

(This editorial for the first issues of critic magazine is as valid as today ... )

By Farhan Noor, Editor, Critic Magazine

I am not an intellectual; this is a product of common sense, not intuition, not pessimism—nay, in fact, a judgment grounded on facts, empirically verifiable, and contextualized, however demoralizing and frightening, or insensitive. No—I will not sweeten the bitter Truth or self-delude lest I send the very thoughts into captivity and deprive this paper the words, however unspeakable, a chance to embody. It feels like writing an obituary. If words could weep, it would, but this is the Truth—Pakistan is dying. Lo! I can even hear the funeral bell tolling!

—perhaps I am being dramatic, or sensational, or a tinge prejudiced, or maybe controversial, for each has its own charm, but what I see, as a Muslim, as a Pakistani, and as a student, is not promising. Socially, we have become a nation: unfit, culturally adulterated, economically poor, ecologically polluted, politically unstable, and spiritually hypocritical; the latter shrouding the former. Individually speaking, as human beings, we are a disgraced lot, labeled, laughed at, and ridiculed, all around the world, even in the Heavens.

Who are we? What is ours? Politically: we are run by Uncle Sam, socio-culturally: by Hindi Entertainment, and economically: by Jewish Banks—all tagged ‘Made in Pakistan’ and ‘Halal’ by our self-elected officials. As I sit here, contemplate, and seek for my identity, I find, I am neither a Muslim, nor a Pakistani, or a student, in the strictest sense of the word—but only superficially, like the rest of us, lest our conscience gives way to internal turmoil. Needless to say, we are a Nation without face, head without brains, and heart without love. Welcome to Pakistan: please park your car where ever you please.

Either this is a comedy of errors or a tragedy of terror—I cannot yet fully say for I am not yet fully qualified. Remember I am just a student. My knowledge is limited. I believe in what I am told. I do as what they say. And they are telling me right now to shut up. If words could indeed weep, it would, but this is the Truth—Pakistan is dying. Lo! I can now hear the mourners mourning.

What has become of us? We adulterate essence and nomenclature of all Truth with Falsehood and all Virtue with Vice; blasphemy is euphemized into freedom of speech, nudity into freedom of expression, adultery into freedom to love, and abortion into freedom of choice. We indoctrinate young defenseless minds and institutionalize corruption through feudalistic politics, capitalistic economics, and materialistic culture. Under the umbrella of Islam we have done what no pagan could ever do—believe in God and worship ourselves!

If Pakistan indeed is dying—Lo! I can see them preparing for burial—no, my mistake, my apology; but then what can we do to save her? Before I proceed to prescribe the cure, allow me to first introduce to you its administrators i.e. the intellectuals, the decision takers, the policy makers, the trendsetters, and the influential. Understand this: we, the laymen, are only spectators.  Our voices go unheard, actions: unnoticed, and counsels: unheeded—in short, are simply ignored, but you, the intellectuals, are not only heard, noticed, and heeded but are also celebrated and adored, not only in Pakistan but worldwide over.

I, as a Muslim, as a Pakistani, and as a student, in all these twenty-three years of my life, has come to discover this: these self-proclaimed flag-bearers of Islam and those highly-educated ism-loving fanatics have caused the most mischief; the former through ignorance and the latter through knowledge. This tussle between Mullah-style Islam and the Liberal-kind establishment is squeezing the life out of Pakistan; her identity is being stripped, substance reduced, purpose redefined, dreams smashed—is there any refuge except in death? Lo! Maybe I am seeing them prepare for burial after all.

Alas! Enemy of our enemy is not always necessarily a friend—no; what do economists seek in socialism and communism, the educationists in: Dewey and Froebel, the poets in: Milton and Goethe, the writers in: Shakespeare and Elliot, and the philosophers in: Hegel and Nietzsche? —alternative systems? Hurray! But lest we embrace each other with hugs and kisses let me quickly prescribe the real panacea to the ills of contemporary systems i.e. Al-Quran! (there goes my readership)

This is where the Mullahs have miserably failed and only the intellectuals can truly succeed—to justify the Book of Islam! Whereas other Books demand faith, Quran facilitates; it proves not asserts; and challenges not shy away. Allah says in 4:82 “Will they not ponder on the Quran?” —ponder upon what? No, not really on raising the pillars (already raised) but in establishing the roof—the roof of socio-cultural, political, and economic systems of Islam under which Justice then can truly be served. This Quran and your cerebral prowess is the solution to the problems of mankind and the only cure for Pakistan’s illness. There is however one glitch—the intellectuals I am eulogizing about must come from the next-generation, not the present, no.

Brother, if words could only weep, it would, but I swear I tell you the truth—Pakistan is indeed dying. Lo! I can even see them approaching. If you are an intellectual then contact the Quran, address: your topmost shelf. As for me, I say, so what if the words cannot weep—I can, but I won’t, for you—Pakistan, was created to bring smiles to us, and not tears.

Pakistan Zindabad.