Pakistan’s elite might be considered the counter balance to the extremism that lives here: a minute percentage of the population that is educated and monied, urbanized off-spring of wealthy feudal landowners, an enterprising Upper Middle Class of mostly migrant muslims from India, and some expatriates who are returning to Pakistan and bringing a glimpse of a “better life” to the country. I myself would be considered an Upper Middle Class migrant expatriate – no blue blood for me, but I married into a feudal family (thankfully another expatriate), so I can safely say I represent each of these categories at some level.
Eqbal Ahmad once said that, with only minor exceptions, revolutions and advancement are iinvariably brought about by the Upper Middle and Upper Class of any nation: the intelligentsia, the intellectuals, the enterprising, the thinkers. Revolutions wrought by the masses are rare and happen in the face of extreme oppression. That level has not yet touched the average Pakistani, so for progress to happen in the country, we have to rely on people like me.
The problem with that, however, is this segment’s drastic dislike of our own nation, an inherent contempt for being Pakistani, while at the same time, a casual appropriation of its resources and assets. For our intelligentsia, the road to progress lies in emulation, not innovation, adoption or adaptation, not creation – step-by-step imitation of either India or America. Take our arts and entertainment industry, for example.
The majority of the social elite that graduate from the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture (Karachi’s top art school) today are indeed well-spoken, and highly creative. They are good at their jobs, and they work hard and diligently (as 4 years in that school will teach you, sleep is not an option!). The highlight of their time in Indus, however, was their trip to India (which now is a regular thing. When I was at Indus, we travelled to Moenjodaro, Harappa, Taxila – all remnants of ancient civilizations in Pakistan). Their idea of a great time, or a fund-raising event would be a ball, preferably one where an Indian star makes an appearance. They aspire to be, not local artists and architects, but the best of British, American and Indian artists and architects. Their idols and icons are not Pakistani, nor muslim; they are, you guessed it, Indians, Americans, Europeans.
We have 30 new TV channels in Pakistan – together their viewership comprises less than that of Star Plus and Zee Entertainment (both Indian Channels), and almost every new production on TV today is modeled on an Indian show. This regardless of the fact that TV in the sixties through to the eighties was not only entertaining, it was highly original and creative, and it was the source of inspiration of numerous Indian TV shows (to the extent that entire scripts were reproduced with Indian casts). Having taught at Indus (the prime source of HR for the entertainment industry), I found NO students who had aspired to the talents of our past performers, writers, producers or artists – their role models were all either Indian or Western.
Admittedly, Muslims are far behind the Western world in almost every aspect of life, from basic civic sense to intellectual advancement and innovation. From the end of the Crusades onwards, muslims have managed to reject every opportunity for progress, from ignoring the potential of the printing press to branding anything Western today as “evil” and “unIslamic”. From a muslim’s point of view, the end of Reasonable Debate (Ijtihad) within Islam itself was catastrophic for Muslims and probably lends a lot to the popularity of Fundamentalism (and perhaps extremism?) among us today. Admittedly, the icons of the muslim world are difficult to find, let alone relate to.
I don’t believe, however, that a lack of role models is reason to forgo our past altogether. How about creating our own, new icons? How about taking the long road, for once, instead of taking the easy way out? As artists, we have the opportunity to build personalities outside of the political arena, to create images and environments that give us pride in ourselves, in our people – instead, all we hear from the artists community is everything that is wrong with Pakistan, and everything that is right about India.
When will we show the world that we too are talented, intelligent and capable of original thought? I know we are, I believe we have the potential to be great. Isn’t time we became great?