What our youth actually needs
Pakistani society is vibrant, especially its youth, which is as vivacious, lively and noisy as they are anywhere else in the world. Local juvenile community, however, is divided into two distinct categories: Those that are deprived of exposure to English medium schools or government run institutions and are forced to acquire education in madrassas or seminaries, while the others are considered a privileged lot.
The segment of youth that actually goes to high-end educational institutions in Pakistan, being in the minority, is at times pampered and spoilt and does not mince words in expressing its opinion. The section of youth that receives education in the religious seminaries is considered shy and reluctant in expressing its opinion, apparently not being exposed to activities like debates, declamation and impromptu speeches, practised in elite as well as the government run institutions. Contrarily, the seminary students too excel in the art of elocution and oratory. They are prepped to address the faithful from the pulpit and indulge in debate with those who question religious canons. Thus advertently or inadvertently, both segments grow up with exceeding confidence in expressing their views either with vim and vigour bred from free speech of the public and private institutions or defending their covenant with the self-assurance of religious diction.
In a nutshell, Pakistani youth, irrespective of its background, is self-assured in expressing its views, irrespective of which side of the social divide it hails from. What is lacking perhaps in grooming both groups is the art of moderation because both indulge in emotional outburst in their art of vocal expression and at times challenge authority or their superiors, even resorting to violence.
In this milieu, while it would be a good idea for some good Samaritans from the Occident, who are preaching communication, creativity, interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, empathy and diplomacy, which they claim are all going to be increasingly in demand in the global and the Pakistani marketplace, need to review their petition. There is no dearth of Hyde Park style orators in Pakistan, who can bring the house down in a crescendo of loud blood curdling speeches, intimidation and abuse.
While these well-wishers of Pakistani society preach the development of soft skills, they themselves need to comprehend the élan vital of the people. Debating skills and the art of discourse is not deficient here. One only needs to spend a session in either House of Pakistani Parliament. Legislators with even modest educational background indulge in extreme rhetoric; unfortunately, they play to the gallery and most of the debate, though time consuming, is often devoid of results in evolving constructive edicts or statutes. Orientals already have the gift of the gab and given the opportunity would spend countless hours indulging in unproductive oratory.
Thus in the current Pakistani milieu, it is imperative to develop the soft skill of motivating the youth to contribute towards the productive utilisation of its time, energy and proficiency in applying them diligently in achieving their targets (both academic and professional). The kind of rhetoric which is being envisaged by the west, comprises launching a series of debates centered on some of the best universities in 12 of the biggest cities in Pakistan, where the youth is being tasked to think, debate, discuss, argue, challenge and question what kind of Pakistan they want in 2047. Prima facie it’s a noble thought but given the extreme divide in Pakistani society, with one group pushing Pakistan towards orthodoxy while the other is endeavouring to attain greater permissiveness, follow Occidental trends and also perhaps break the taboos of local social traditions, norms and mores, there is bound to be a dreadful collision.
If the Occidental protagonists are genuine well-wishers, they must eschew their traditional “divide and rule” policy, which in the past, earned them opulence and riches but left behind friction and conflict in its wake.
Pakistani society already has more than its share of racial, sectarian, religious and ethnic prejudices, some of which have fatal results. The need of the hour is to supervene upon the breaches in Pakistani society and create a healing environment. If the fecundity and productivity of Pakistanis is to be invested in and the future of the youth, let’s say by the time bar of 2047 (100 years following Independence), is set by those who want to hone only the debating skills of the youth would be advised instead to encourage them into expending their maximum energy into application of their professional skills.
If Pakistan needs to achieve its true potential, it has to shed its lethargy, uncanny habit of wasting time which is a scarce resource and develop the soft skills of persistence, assiduousness and methodical application.
The religion of Islam, practised by the majority in this country, also preaches moderation. Every healthy and progressive society shuns extremism of all forms. The founder of Pakistan laid a lot of emphasis on unity, faith and discipline. The soft skill that the Pakistani youth needs to have ingrained in its work habits are the essence of the legacy of the Quaid. His bequest of these three key words has somehow been distorted by bigots, changing the order, placing faith before unity and discipline. Imagine twisting the quotes from one of the most brilliant legal minds this subcontinent has ever produced, about whom Stanley Wolpert in his biography Jinnah of Pakistan states: “During the last decade of his life, in fact, Jinnah may have been the shrewdest barrister in the British Empire. He was certainly the most tenacious. He crossed swords with at least as many great British-born as Indian barristers, defeating them all in his single-minded pleas for Pakistan.”
The soft skills Jinnah wanted his nation to acquire were to remain united, have faith in itself and its vocational pursuits and be disciplined in its attitude to life as well as its work practice. With these soft skills bestowed upon Pakistanis by the Father of the Nation, they do not need to chase mirages being set by the Occident.
