As I looked at the power of the people when Baba Ram Dev was leading a protest against 'Kala Dhan' in India I could not but compare what is happening in Pakistan and was apprehensive as to whether we would ever be able to create that kind of society where spontaneity for public action would automatically arise. Let me then try and look for the sociological aspects of our society in a different manner than the one normally done by the sociologists.
There are generally (sweeping as this statement will be but it is for the purpose of meaningful analysis) two types of men who appear as leaders in times of change. On one side are the large-minded - who have no confidence in the people, who have no passionate convictions, moderate men, who trust to education, to general progress (including their own) and to lack of endurance, to time who believe that all reforms and change is from the powerful to the less powerful and that they are the true harbingers of change. They regard with contempt the popular conscience. These kinds of leaders are visible in our political system.
Opposite to these are men of faith (not religious) but those who believe in goodness, belief in justice, in righteousness, above all belief in truth. Men of faith consider conscience of more relevance and importance than knowledge. A man of high and noble sense will be only possible when the conscience is well developed. These leaders are not looking for self conveniences but are looking for what is honourable, for what is good and for what is just. These are leaders that walk the tight rope. Life for them is of no use if it is used for the gratification of the self.
Unfortunately, however, the civil servants of today - the inheritors of the ICS legacy, shirk all kinds of dangers and are not of the ilk that Shahabuddin in his Shahabnama so eloquently indicates. How Amir Khan in his film Lagaan takes on the might of the colonialists. That is how history is to be remembered and positive myths created. That is where the seeds of nationhood come. Here in the Punjab, my home province the civil servant dies many times before entering the tyrant's room - civil or military. Punjab's culture of slavery is predominant and the 'toadyism' that is prevalent is catching up elsewhere. In that sense humans have to learn to go for the calling that is of their own making. Dishonour is not to be preferred to death over one's convictions. Men of high moral nature carry with themselves some principles in to their daily life. How many of us care to live if we do not live honourably? The toadys (civil servants created slaves by the political power structures' threats and innuendoes) of Punjab who believe in satisfaction of their immediate conveniences against anything that will destroy that convenience. There is nothing that can convince them otherwise. In one such meeting the secretaries industries and livestock kept on saying Chief Sahib Ka Doodh (he had just entered the process milk market) till someone reminded him that it was buffalo milk and not Chief Sahib Ka Doodh. He kept on insisting it was Chief's milk. Katey ko chowe rahe ho!! (getting milk out of ...) Then milk the chief as much as you want to.
There is no such thing as a moral truth - it cannot be scientifically enquired - just as there cannot be any absolute right or wrong. Prosperity does not follow virtue nor are defeat and failure natural consequences of vice. Surprised!! Certain virtues like temperance, hardwork, and reasonable limits command their own reward.
Modern western systems try and convert everything to money matters. Eastern wisdom (Anna Hazare and Baba Ram Dev of India) has been, to that extent, subverted by western materialism. Sensuality, idleness, and waste commonly lead to ruin. The western banking systems and the rule of wastage in the developed countries are examples of this kind of ruin. That the Western agencies can only follow the acts suggested by their lack of imagination leads to ruin of the developing countries. The actions of the West that are not in harmony with nature and environment are leading examples that the common person can, if diagnosed properly, understand. The Western model of urban development has serious drawbacks. And yet we follow these examples blindly and even eulogize them.
The question then arises: Does the subcontinent have any government that is morally correct and acceptable? Do right and wrongs not convert themselves in to principles of utility and social convenience and serve the powerful for satisfying their greed. You might like to talk of enlightened selfishness. These matters may well have been resolved by higher and deep thinking but alas that is not to be for you and I no longer have the people that can give off themselves to the nation. The nation is left with only grabbers and takers. The leaders of today are only projecting high hopes in the future knowing only too well that that will be beyond their responsibility. Meraj Khalid, the caretaker PM and the CM of Punjab during the times of SZAB used to talk of making Lahore like Paris (he lies in his grave unable to be able to do despite that many years of power). Why? Lahore had its own identity and why a copycat be? I can only say that those that are takers resolve a psychological weakness that is inherent in themselves. Are then the CMs suffering from inferiority complex or are they really inferior? I would not know and may be I am being unfair to them. Maybe and just maybe reasons and analyses are not on my side. But what is the harm in making a statement?
When the selfish hypothesis is propounded is there moral bankruptcy of honour and character? Do they not know that all lies in serious matters end at last in broken heads? Remember Monem Khan the tyrant of East Pakistan. He lost his entire generation when he lost power.
Talking of conscience, let me categorically state, is not the function with the privileged for it is inherent in all poor and rich, weak and powerful. Similarly, to be generous and unselfish is no prerogative of the rank and or of the intellect. What would you have a man of conscience do? Shall he stand against the powers that be, a lone man and fight his battles or shall he refuse to take the odds on? Shall one then die for truth and honesty? Shall one in modern times be painted as the devil with horns and the modern media used for this purpose of sullying citizen's reputations? Is that what the developing countries have come to? Are you men of conscience? Then make your choice. Should the instruments of government be used by the political power block for their own ends? If not where is the safeguard for the citizen? The Punjabis or as the Bengalis used to call Punzabis (there is no J in their alphabet) have to do well and not be a sand paper; ever heard of a non-abrasive Punzabi. I leave you with the thought.
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