Today is 63rd Independence day of Pakistan, and at the moment more than one third of her landmass is underwater, with over 2000 people dead and over 20million homeless. Difficult to quantify the agricultural and economic loss, but only the loss of Cotton crop runs up to a $2billion loss! From what I hear from people back in Pakistan, most of the food items have just three to four times in price.
Many people there are hurt with the Governmental response whose corrupt higher-ups have failed to deliver anything properly including a fatherly sympathetic pat on the back to the effected people, others are angry on the International “don’t care” attitude with only $3 per effected person this time compared to $495 per person in Haiti earlier this year; speaks volume about the international preferences. But perhaps who can blame everyone else when some have even started to believe that even God has decided to leave the land for a while.
The land has been tarnished by blood of too many while it is just treated as a playground for the International strategy game. But yes realistically I blame the Pakistanis themselves over anyone else; their weakness and sad history of taking one step forward and two steps back is what has led them here. The first nation in Asia to have a successful space program in 50s to the first to have a Motorway in 90s is one looking out for help just on everything.
But since we are all time-capsules, and so am I. I still remember the time when we were achieving things and when we were progressing wonderfully, I have fortunately or unfortunately seen the potential in people. And therefore sadly I cannot stay pessimist about Pakistan for very long because that would betray the memories I have of Pakistan and her people.
Today was the day when my ancestors crossed the border in to Pakistan, bracing themselves against all the odds and staring into the madness of Human beings where a neighbour killed another and friends became blood-thirsty enemies. Today was the day when people reaching the train station in Lahore kissed the ground and for a minute really believed they have reached Paradise. Today was the day when there was a spark in the eyes of those 8 year old kids who believed their parents are sacrificing everything for a place better than the ones in the fairy tales. Today is the day when some men and women will smile and then weep because they got a country but they became orphan.
But today is also a day to ponder for Pakistanis. How they have forgotten the sacrifices of their elders and for some have let hate and foolishness enter their hearts. How they have become emotional fools who do not realize the power each of their vote holds. How they have let few families rule them over and over again like a brutal feudal! Perhaps the only tragedy of Pakistan is that she has failed to get a leader for decades now and hence is like a flock of sheep without any Shepard.
Pakistani Government has scrapped all the celebrations for the day so that all the expenditure and energy can be redirected to the people in need. But I believe we need to set up a marker and constitutionally ban all the celebrations until that mark is met again!
May Pakistanis can understand once again what they are truly capable of. Amen.
- August 14
- , 2010
