Politics as a vocation?

Age is not decisive in any aspect of life that has to do with mental power. The only way that youth can have an unfettered edge over the elders is when it comes to physical work. If one was to think out of one's skin then the important aspect is the relentless training that in viewing the realities of life, and the ability to face such realities and to measure up to them inwardly? This subject is not normally available in any university nor is it going to be available in the future nor is it going to be available in any form of higher education - no matter how many PhDs are going to go for higher education wherever they may acquire these degrees. The number of PhDs is not a measure of what I am about to discuss.
The purpose today is not to declare how things are or a precise political outlook or social analysis or a set of positions or moral philosophy a la Adam Smith. Neither is it a memoir nor a critique of the system that governs us. It is merely a ruminate on the experiences and principles (I hope) of action. The difficulty of such a venture is to put some arguments behind what I am going to state. It is territory that is not chartered and is largely unexplored for the simple reason that every country must find its own level.
If activism was carried out by the lawyers for the judiciary in its proper spirit what are the consequences of that activism? This will vary as a result of one's placement in life. By definition then there can be no right or wrong answers. Do the university degrees tell us 'How should I think about what to do'?
Will our education system measure up to the governance requirements? Will it deliver what the nation wants it to deliver through the various governing instruments? With elections round the corner how will the system play itself out? Will there be gross accusations and gross abuse? What should be the role of government functionaries in all this? The protest that is visible in Pakistan everywhere has a meaning that goes far beyond protest. It is in some and many respects the action against oppressive forces. Balochistan has been simmering for a long time - just as the then East Pakistan was (and I was there and warned the government of what was to follow). I went to Sindh during the MRD movement and was horrified at the lack of understanding. Are the educated policymakers deaf and dumb when not understanding the rage of the people affected? Irrespective of the government the oppressive forces need to be understood. The universities do not teach any way which way to do this. Can we then have exponential experienced people teach more homely, more practical knowledge that will take us places rather than the esoteric ways in which we are brought up? I have seen economic teachers pass on western economic theories as if they were the last word without ever analysing the fact that these are not germane to Pakistan or the developing world. Given that the politician is even less versed than the average bureaucrat can they then palm off all the ills of this society on to them? The TV shows are full of pious people who have done no wrong.
Can politics then take us to collective action through a process of networking? That was the purpose of political parties not as a hierarchical system as we see in the government sector. Pakistan has seen much suffering. Any area may be analysed and there you have it. These matters will not go away by merely wishing. One has to deal with bigotry, slavery, brutality humiliations of many kinds that are perpetrated on the weak and the poor. The recent happenings in Pakistan are a case in point. But then there is suffering elsewhere too. North and South Waziristan and the peripheral areas where unnecessary action has waylaid the people of the area. Irrespective of who is responsible can we repair the damage? It will take a man giant to suggest solutions and yet these have to be found if we are to survive.
Have we taken steps to manage the world of crime(s) or are we still fondling raids on houses of people and taking in prostitutes without any rhyme or reason. I have witnessed some of these raids and I have found innocent people made to look like criminals. In any case these karwais are hardly our current problem. The problem is more severe and if we have 'Bakris' (as IGs) in position who cannot stand up to the abuse of the elected representatives diatribes what respect will he have in that force? The public servants have tendency to wriggle away from serious issues and get involved in petty aspects which they then highlight as their great action(s). These problems are warning signals of worst things to come and unless the obvious action is taken and the root cause eliminated the matters will go from bad to worse.
Status quo will never thrill - not even the conservationist what to speak of the liberal. Is there any one that works towards improvements not salvation? When we talk of Allah ki marzi we are in the realm of salvation. Was it Allah's will that we took on the war on terror? Was it the Giver's will that we should kill indiscriminately in Karachi and in Balochistan? Is there pride in the public servants - however you may define them? The pride and the passion of the civil/public servant are in his pride and passion. What is the right spirit? What are wrong motives for they not only take you through a wrong turning but also likely to bring bad results. Can the average Pakistani be all that he can be or is he working well below his potential? Are there serious limitations of mind?
Will a PhD or an MPhil or an MBA resolve these issues? Will the giving of 400,000 laptops increase the exponential experience of these guys or is this merely bribes to the electorate? Why use the system to abuse it? Is this the way to win votes? Any political party that uses assets from public services for election purposes ought to be banned. The senior civil servants were told to go to the staff college for a crash course in computers. I asked the Principal what was the experience. All of them were guilty of using the computer for pornographic channels. There you have it. Junk. When elected representatives like the MNAs from Lahore and the right marble of the CM defend these issues as having been given on merit. The merit is whether you have used public funds for privately getting in to power?
Can the Pakistani be all that he can be? Or are we where we despise duty? Do you take responsibility for the worthiness of what your society is or are you embarrassed by what you behold? Is the staff work for action decent or is it merely creating hurdles? Are we true in our assertions? Did our forefathers not leave Pakistan in a better form than what we will leave for future generations? Our current moments in life were bequeathed by their moments in time. Battles they lost are still inspirations, battles they won for us to be free is still an unfinished work. We still have battles for the equal rights, decent working conditions, and not the kind of experience we had in Karachi where Charles Dickens's 'Tale of Two Cities' was enacted live for all to see.
Our duty derives from a passionate love for other humans, for humane actions, for actions that believe in providing access to all the benefits of independence. Pakistanis must dig deep inside (like a cricketer who comes up against greater odds) and plunge into the psychological and philosophical thickets and ask 'do I really love my country? Am I hurting my country by what I am doing? Will my claims be recognised by posterity? Benign love turns into hate. You may lie to yourself and get away from it but were you taught for that purpose? Can we live in a vast darkness and blindness? Of late, are you a victim to senility and sinecure functions where the ability to tell the boss has been limited because of conveniences and circumstances? Can we disappoint our boss by our candid but honest opinions? Take it or leave it. There is no compulsion just the desire to make this country a better place for our future generations.
Will the politicians behave? It is not even a toss up. The election commission has still not analysed their assets. They are richer than the country. What is the use of getting them to do so if they are not going to be analysed? Next time I will do it for you.