‘Controlled change in current socio-political system not the way’

Controlled change in the present socio-political system is creating problems, pushing the country backwards in terms of development, maintaining law and order and peace, renowned urban planner, architect and social scientist Arif Hasan said on Monday. Delivering a lecture on “Feudalism and the Process of Change in Pakistan”, organised by the Hamdam Foundation at hotel, Hasan said the rural people migrating to urban centres in search of better livelihood and peace are facing problems because certain forces do not want to accept this change. Academia, civil society activists, students of engineering institutes and female entrepreneurs attended the lecture, which covered wide areas of change with a broader perspective.
Hasan, who is the author of several books on planning and development, shared his observations from the time he was working on different development schemes and visited almost every part of the country, particularly the remote areas of Sindh. “In 1968, when I visited Moenjodaro in Larkana, I saw bull carts and herds of camels and horses for the first time. But now they have disappeared and replaced by faster modes of transportation,” he said. “At that time the influx of population, migrating from rural areas to urban centres, was quite uncommon and cities were not overcrowded like they are today,” he added.
Tracing history, he said the change had started before 1980 that challenged feudalism. “Feudalism was not hereditary. The British government had allotted lands to their well-wishers and peasant families, who used to cultivate them independently, becoming share croppers. There was an understanding behind that change,” he noted. “The system tried to promote caste and tribes. Landlords used to enjoy the backing of the local administration and police to continue their traditional rule. Goldsmiths had an important role to play as the lending system was associated with gold. But when the change started, the relationship between landlords and bureaucracy weakened. Traditional artisans including blacksmiths, potters, carpenters, shoemakers and barbers pushed to find an alternative for their survival.”
Hasan said now the industrially produced goods need a market mechanism; hence the credit system has also been changed. The raw material being produced for industries in villages or rural areas have generated opportunities for urban traders, who are directly contacting the skilled people instead of landholders or chieftains.
“People do not need potters as they have plastic items available in market. They do not need shoemakers for buying handmade shoes as readymade shoes are available. Similarly, rural people have a wider market to deal with. Now traders have made their bodies to promote and safeguard their businesses in small towns and these are the signs of change that we should feel.”
The social scientist pointed out that there are different opinions regarding the status of feudalism in Pakistan, especially in Sindh. Many MPAs and MNAs, being landlords, have their traditional backgrounds. That is why land is considered a symbol of power and these social practices have a long history. Unfortunately, peasants are being exploited by the mighty landlords. Farmers are being deprived of their right to live peacefully. Honour killings are increasing in areas where feudal lords rule and the change is being forcefully stopped. Farmers do not have right to get leased their houses and in result whenever landlords decide they can forcefully displace them. Many argue that the politicians elected from rural areas are mostly feudal lords; hence they have absolute control over their constituents. This argument is based on their outdated understanding about what has happened in the rural society of Sindh.
”However, hardly a small number of people follow the tribal judiciary (jirgas) now while the majority of them challenge this system. It is change, which is being stopped by creating a law and order situation and patronising criminals,” Hasan said.
“The presently rural population is moving to urban centres because they want to live with dignity and are keen to educate their children. In this regard, we can see caste-based traditions and values declining. The majority of marriages are being held through courts, as couples do not rely on traditions. The government should realise the fact and take steps positively instead of controlling the change through illegal means. This will cause further uncertainty,” he warned.
Quoting government figures, Hasan said eight million hectares have been allocated for promoting the corporate sector in the country. “But irony is that nobody from us knows the areas and districts where the land exists for the purpose,” he added.
He said universities in Pakistan are merely producing degree-holders instead of skilled people. “There is no visible contribution of educational institutes to promote trade. Apart from this, wrong foreign policies have placed Pakistan backward in comparison with Iran, Bangladesh, Thailand and other countries,” he added.
“For a change, we need new values. Now, small traders deal with the world market for their products through the Internet, for which the people of Pakistan should come ahead with skill for an open competition. In globalisation, money travels round the world and we have to realise this now.”