George Santayana believed, Intelligence is the ability to see things as they are, not the way we desire them to be. I have always thought that will there ever be anyone, who can knock some sense into the delusional psyche of Pakistanis, who consider apeing other cultures more than their own. Pakistanis should avoid finding an identity in a fictional drama. We have had thousands of years of real identity of Indus civilization, why cling towards the barbaric conquers, even if they were Muslims? Its human nature to seek refuge in the glorification of the past when the present is so grim.
What a quest we are engaged in: finding our roots in Arab history. Evidently there is nothing that can help us as it is not our history. Turkish model is the new one we want to adapt too. But that is irrelevant also . History in every single nation and time is propagandist via the use of popular media. Some like the Americans and Brits are just better at this propaganda than others. The Turks are catching up. Pakistan can be found in Pakistan only: a real Pakistan, a plural Pakistan and a relevant Pakistan.
World is multiracial. In Pakistan there needs to be unity among diversity. All ethnicities must be equally treated. South Asian Muslims always praise Turkish, Persian, Afghan and Fergana’s conquerors. No ethnicity is superior or inferior. This should be the lesson of 1971.
A dilemma with Pakistani nation is that we get inspiration from everyone except our own. That’s the only hurdle in our unity as a nation. Day we start glorifying own cultural diversity, ethnicity, languages, land and everything which comes under the ownership of Pakistan, we rise as great and proud nation.
We have to understand our roots are neither Turkish nor Arabic. The treatment meted out to our workers in the Gulf countries should make us aware where we stand. Only way to command respect in the world is to earn it by excelling in science, technology, sports, economy, literature drama, cinema, arts and more. Only by glorifying the beastly nature of aggressors, we are going more towards the old days of anarchy and farther away from gains of civilization.
The community members of an area in Lahore are so smitten by the Turkish television series, based on the character of Ertugrul, that they have paid a tribute to him by erecting a statue in their neighborhood. We are smitten by everything foreign (especially Arab). Instead of being proud of our centuries old rich history, culture and heritage. We as a nation display a sorry picture of confusion, and our present condition says it all.
Missiles named after Afghan warriors, major port named after Arab invader, Lahore Cricket stadium named after Libyan dictator, TVs full of drama portraying Turkish heroes. But there are rarely any universities or roads that can be named after our own. We refuse to accept our own history and heritage. We run to embrace the identity of everyone else. We should know at least that our ancestors were not the invaders but actually suffered the invading armies. It’s ironic. Celebrating those who attacked your own.
We perpetually try to find our identity because we keep denying our identity. Pakistanis should be aspire to reach a stage where our country is an inspiration for the rest of the world by embracing our own values, traditions, diversities, heroes and heritage
