A real revolution is nowhere in sight in Pakistan as our carte blanche landscape indicates. Why no revolution? Plato answers: “All political changes originate in divisions of the actual governing power. A government which is united [by mafias in every sphere of life] cannot be toppled.” Revolution needs unselfish few, not crowds. Disgusted at insincerity of his followers at hindsight, Fidel Castro says, “I began revolution with 82 men. If I had to do it again I’d do it with 10 or 15 and absolute faith. It does not matter how small you are if you have faith and plan of action.
To overthrow a government, leaders and ideological parties are needed (not cult-like followers). David Hume created Congress (followed by four English successors) and Agha Khan Muslim League. Raison d’être of Mulsim League and Congress was to curry favour with the colonists. Traitors and fifth columnists scuttle revolutions. No revolt or rebellion can take place in a society distinguished for treachery and selfishness. Our land, a chunk from Indus Valley, was never short of traitors. Without traitor Kapil (commander of Mohenjo Daro and Harappa), Aryans could not have succeeded. Kapil designed the caste system for Aryans which reduced Mohenjo Daro people to a status lower than that of even a shoodar (untouchable).
Colonists comfortably ruled the subcontinent as the people ‘worshipped them for giving stipends, jagirs and titles. Though Gandhi was a mediocre student and a failed lawyer, he astutely perceived psyche of the Indian people. He reasoned (a la Tolstoy’s A Letter to a Hindu) that Indians willingly allowed themselves to be colonised for their own material interests. Otherwise there was no way 30,000 ‘rather weak and ill-looking Britons could enslave 200 million vigorous, clever, strong, and freedom loving people’ (Stegler, 2000).
Gandhi scoffed at Indians for ‘nurturing selfish thought of personal material gains generated by the perverse ethos of modern civilisation’. Indians become ‘sly sycophants and willing servants of the Empire thereby proving to the world that they were morally unfit to serve the country’. Mao, like Gandhi, was rueful at passivity and docility of his people. He wanted people to struggle (douzheng) to smash prevailing social inhibitions in such a dramatic and traumatic way that participants could never re-establish their pre-struggle relationship. Revolutions require leaders with ideologies to steer them.
Myopic Qadri conceals that Islamic rights and ‘roti, kapra aur makaan’ are not enforceable through courts. He should heed advice of the sages. Where men have no undisputed common master, the inevitable result is the anarchic war of all against all (Fukuyama). The historical lesson is that revolutions do not take place in selfish, timid societies like ours. “Avoid revolution or expect to get shot. Mother and I will grieve, but we will gladly buy a dinner for the National Guardsman who shot you.” –Paul Williamson.
AMJED JAAVED
Rawalpindi
