LAHORE: A hologram of Muhammad Ali Jinnah has left the people of Kasur star-struck as a part of HIVE Pakistan’s “Aik – Better Together” campaign to reinvigorate the sense of social cohesion among the people.
Appearing in Kasur on October 13 and 14, Jinnah’s hologram has been created to instigate a culture of peace as HIVE Pakistan feels the youth of the country is forgetting what was envisaged by the founding fathers. For the purpose, the social development company conducted a research into some hundred speeches of Jinnah and created a master-speech using his own words.
In a city like Kasur, which isn’t technologically advanced but culturally enriched, Quaid-e-Azam came to deliver his vision of an equal and progressive Pakistan.
Hologram screenings were conducted at Baldia Chowk, National Bank Chowk and the Kasur Railway Station in front of thousands of people from various religious, socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. The coming together of such a diverse crowd in itself was an example of social cohesion.
“We thought that why instead of using imported symbols, which are immediately discredited by the masses, we use the ones that are native to this land in a bid to create a counter-narrative to extremism,” said Maha Usman, a representative of Aik – Better Together.
“No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you. We are victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut up within the four walls of the houses as prisoners. There is no sanction anywhere for the deplorable condition in which our women have to live,” Jinnah’s hologram said.
“It was a surreal experience because not everyone knows that Jinnah spoke about issues such as justice, minority rights and women empowerment,” said Aroon Arthur, a representative of the Christian community.
“This hologram screening is an amazing way to bring awareness in small communities such as Kasur because people don’t usually have access to the internet or libraries. Jinnah himself talking to us feels more real and intimate,” said Yaseen Ali, a youngster who attended the event.
The campaign, in its first phase, aims to go to different cities of Pakistan, both rural and urban; including Jhang, Karachi and Swat, to share Jinnah’s message and this technological experience with as many people as possible.
