Pakistan turns 60

“There was no force to back him. He created Pakistan out of shear will and against enormous odds.” - Michael Fathers

Pakistan celebrates its 60th anniversary of its coming into existence. I would have love to celebrate it with all of my countrymen but my self imposed exile keeps me from sharing these moments of not only the joy or the success but also the pain of disappointments, constraints and, though solvable but , problems which any young country can face.

Enjoying all of the pleasures of being independent and sovereign we have forgotten something, what the Quaid Azam, Mohammed Ali Jinnah very legally fought for, and it was but the creation of Pakistan. Pakistan was born independent, Pakistan is independent and Pakistan will always be independent. Pakistan had never been dependent. It is sad to see all of the news papers and even the government celebrating the event as Jashn-e-Azadi as if Pakistan was dependent before.

It takes quite a time for an architecture or a even a culture to evolve. Even the centuries seem small or seize to exist when compared to the evolution of human intellect or some of his graceful and nicest notions, but the journalists enjoying the joy ride of BBC consider them self to be one of the elite breed by adding an insult to injury while attaching a label of “so called educated” to the Pakistanis living abroad or by using the terms like “passing the baton”.

Pakistan is quite young as a country, and as we all know that the human babies do fall but get up while learning to walk. The countries are no exception to it. Pakistan has accomplished a lot in a very short span of its life which can proudly be compared to the so to speak developed nations or even the oldest civilizations of the world. While the other nations are striving to find ways to keep their people busy by casting the spell of media upon their eyes and by inventing methods to keep them running a rat race, Pakistan is still a land of opportunities. No where in the world can a 10 year old disassemble or assemble the machines like a pro.

The education system of all of the world needs a complete overhauling and renovation. The system of education is centered around making civilized servants where as it should have been made with only a single objective and that is the grooming of the geniuses, who can craft solutions, can invent solidarity and can breed integrity of the entire human race - the people who can resolve the disputes, who have the vision and who will change the face of the earth.

I miss you Jinnah, because you had it all. I miss you, and it reminds me of the day when I was standing at your grave on the fathers day, saluting you for everything you have done for us. I look at every of my fellowmen as your shadow with the hopes to find a one and I am not disappointed and neither do I blame anyone, because I can remember your words in your typical icy accent “Musalman, museebat main - ghbraya - nahin kartay”.

So very much like Dr. Allama Mohammed Iqbal, I am not disappointed at all because I know that the land of Pakistan is quite fertile - and all it needs is a little moist.

I would like to ask for the kind attention of the government and specially of the President of Pakistan to consider the very fact that the name “Jashn-e-Azadi” be changed to something more meaningful and appropriate. I don’t consider myself to be the right person, though, for proposing a name, not only because I am sure that this issue can be resolved by a mutual consent, but also, because I know the potential of my countrymen.

For closing, I shall quote the precious words of the political genius as he was.

“I have no doubt that with unity, faith and discipline we will compare with any nation of the world. You must make up your minds now. We must sink individualism and petty jealousies and make up our minds to serve the people with honesty and faithfulness. We are passing through a period of fear, danger, and menace. We must have faith, unity and discipline.”
Mohammed Ali Jinnah
28 December 1947

By: Irfan TOOR

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