Independent Minds By Oroba Tasnim

Distasteful as it may seem, much to the dismay of the general populace, Pakistani politics has plunged into a greater abyss than ever before, with hopes of illumination afar and distant. With the outburst of vehement aggression following the panama leaks, colliding with the already very sensitive opposition, things look to be going downhill.
With the opposition, a united façade, actually weak in spirit and distrustful of each other, there is still a bout of air to inhale for the leading PML N. Yet, there is triumph and vocal assault when it comes to the opposition parties. PTI and PAT already on the roads, and the PPP, persisting, gauging the twists and turns of the outcome, for a sensible government, now is not the time to heave sighs of relief.
But the time to act. To think.
To ponder. To perceive.
To doubt and to rethink. To propose.
And to implement.
With growing onslaught from all sides, and with the euphoria and zeal growing onto the 14th of August, apart from the political stakeholders of the state, there are others pondering upon the realm of action. 69 years to that historic moment, that momentous occasion, unexpected, unduly covered yet still a reality.
Independence.
Oft it is assumed and casually tossed around. That one word, the people of this region have bled and sacrificed for. Yet, we persist and persevere, towards self-arousing acts, personal vendettas and the lustful unknown.
Granted, there is a very stark comparison or contrast we may say, between the two extremes, the bipolar. The opposition and the government. The military and the civilians. The mullahs and the liberals.
The vengeful phrases, the bickering chandeliers of the elite, the rusty grumbles of the distressed yet still overpowered by the endearing, ‘empathy-laden’ chants of the leaders.
Leadership.
Stooped beneath the tenets of humanity, growling and howling over the morsels of wealth. Bumptious and Tanzanian in quite solitude. Troublesome, selfish, broken loose.
The power of the populace designated to democratic minds has taken far too long to suffice. With the evolution of a strong military, tangents of an unsteady democracy, the wobbly state has turned towards a new leaf. Or as we assume. With the same leadership in place, the same concepts of democracy and independence engraved amid them, there is little or no hope for a common man. Or so we believe.
We are a forgetful nation. We require a man of charm and charisma, most times but not always. In the darkest of times, individuals have risen.
Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Abdul Sattar Edhi. Malala Yousufzai. Marium Mukhtiar. Amjad Sabri. Arfa Kareem.
To name a few. While some craved public support, others designed their lives in an independent manner. To the sounds of their own music, to the melodies of their own orchestra. Insignificant to many, but significant to eternity.
The lesson being, it is far easier to blame and point fingers, then it is to put that finger down and act yourself. When disaster strikes, it is easier to grumble, mourn and grieve then it is to pick up the pieces and move on. Learn and remember, but move on, with swanlike grace and overwhelming courage.
We are in dark times, there is no denying it. But there is a spark of light at the end of the tunnel, a rope binding you to it. It is in your hands to grope for it and climb towards that light or to free yourself from the rope and disassemble therein, through the darkness and gloom that embraces you. Far easier to say than to do, but harder to attempt. And on this day, I urge you to try, to attempt, to fail and then try again, but never to let loose and despair for it is rightly said:
Wo mard nahi jo dar jaye, mahol kay khooni manzar se
Uss dor me jeena lazim hay, jiss dor me jeena mushkil ho

by webmaster@insaf.pk (tkiadmin)