Express Tribune: While imagining Pakistan as a bipolar patient, M Bilal Lakhani, in his article “Pakistan’s bipolar disorder” (September 28) cites two hypothetical groups symbolising the ‘highs’ and ‘lows’ of Pakistan’s psyche: “On the one hand, you have Pakistanis who believe that Pakistan is inherently a great nation and simply needs a saviour to rescue it from foreign powers and a self-serving elite class.
At the same time, you have Pakistanis who are convinced that their country is corrupt beyond repair and cannot be saved.” Mr Lakhani’s is the latest among a series of articles using a psychological lens for understanding a society driven to the brink by its own contradictions. In a widely quoted article last year, columnist Ayaz Amir argued that “religion has made Pakistan a schizophrenic society” trapped in conspiracy theories and paranoid delusions. Then British-Pakistani journalist George Fulton — who bid farewell to Pakistan after nine years — compared Pakistan with a “self-destructive, irrational and grossly irresponsible” beloved, displaying “megalomania and paranoia” typical of a schizophrenic.
Categories: Asia, Behaviour, Double Standard, Pakistan
It is very easy to pass judgements on Pakistani identity by authors like Lakhani, Ayaz Amir and others. And letting the discussions go tangent on Jinnah’s 11th August speech.
It is time that the subject of “why this national psyche in Pakistan?” is studied in historic perspective with the blame game and prejudices.
Beyond World War II, a New World Order was in the making. British were retreating. The New World Order had no place for “religion”. The earlier clash between Western Christianity, which had been the “religious arm” of the British colonials, and which was countered by the “religious strain” of the Hindus and Muslims of India for almost hundred years, suddenly became outdated as far as the New Realities were concerned. In the void thus created, the only concept of God which human society could afford to have faith in was a “Secular God”.
At that point in time, the religion of the two emerging powers was on the one hand “In God We Trust” by the USA and “there is NO GOD” by the USSR, on the other. All other “gods” were pushed in the background, and were not supposed to play any role in the affairs of humankind.
In such a scenario, when the west and the east had taken a leap forward, defining a concept of “God” (The Creator) and the Humankind (the created as a species), the lagging behind of the mindset of leaders – both political and religious – effected the national psyche of peoples of Indian Subcontinent.
Gandhi Ji used religion (Hinduism) in politics; Nehru opted to remain secular leaning towards socialism. Jinnah on the other hand opted for constitutionalism.
All three main characters had the same goal – to safe guard their interests after the British quit India.
Gandhi Ji did not see beyond the Independance of India. Nehru adultrated socialism with Gandhi Ji’s “religious politics”. Jinnah gave mixed messages. It was a cocktail of Islam, constitutionalism and secularism.
Jinnah*s message left a room for the religious as well as the secular listener to relate to his 11th August speech according to his own interest. Thus we have in Pakistan politicians from left and right twisting Jinnah’s speech to their respective advantage.
There was no clear cut message to the Mussalmans of India, that in the new “New World Order” which was taking shape the older concepts of “one religion is superior than the other” cannot function and it must be redefined.
None dared to declare the new concept of a “Secular God”, which was the first step towards the required psychological shift to interact with the rest of humankind on the basis of equality.
The only nations who lagged behind during the Bi-Polar Moment were those who stuck to their own “gods” and refused to accept the new realities.
Beyond 9/11 Moment, the international scenario has taken another leap forward. It is the “Era of Exposure”, in which “Science” and “Religion” start their convergence. In this transition, even the concept of a “Secular God” is bound to evolve and become more clearer to the common man.
World leaders – in all fields of human activity – perforce would have to pay attention to this new reality – of the evolving Universal Human Civilization with a Universal Morality. In such a scenario the older concepts of “monopolization of salvation” by this and that religion has no place.
MAV
Sweden
Jinah was the founder of a great nation. He should have another 5 to 10 years to build the nation. The country was premature and was grabbed in the hands of opponents of the creation of Pakistan. This is the result of current bipolar, mania and schizophrenia of the nation. Mullah, Taliban and uneducated, money launderers are the leaders of the nation. What do you expect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!