23rd March 2015
Once upon a time not
long ago there lived great men and women, they lived in unity and with a dream.
A dream which they all nourished with their soul and blood– a dream of dignity,
of peace, of solidarity, of equality, of prosperity, of security and above all a
dream to live in their own little world- a world where everyone is respected,
irrespective of their caste, culture or creed; a world where everyone is allowed
to pray the way they chose and a world where justice prevails.
Pakistan gained
independence from British Rule on August 14, 1947. Nine years after Pakistan’s
creation, the first constitution was implemented on March 23rd,
1956. March 23rd was initially meant to celebrate the adoption of
the country’s first constitution and its transformation as a republic. Later, the
1956 Constitution was annulled in 1958 and March 23rd became a day
to commemorate the Lahore Resolution of 1940, which eventually led to the
creation of Pakistan.
In the year 1940 Muslim
League’s general session held from March 22 to March 24 at Minar-e-Pakistan, Lahore,
Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and other party
leaders endorsed the Two-Nation Theory, and called for a separate Muslim
homeland.
The main document that demanded creation of a separate Muslim state “The
Lahore Resolution” was executed and supported by all major Muslim Leaders of
the time.
The Two-Nation theory
stated that Hindus and Muslims were from two different nations. Muslim culture,
tradition, religion, ideology, morals and language were all distinctly
different from Hindu ideals. Both nations (Hindus and Muslims) shared mutually
contradicting beliefs. Therefore, an autonomous state consisting of Muslim
majority areas of British India was demanded to protect Muslims’ political,
social and cultural rights.
Hence the manifestation
of a dream called “Pakistan”. A state which is though created on the Muslim ideology
but it contained therein respect and acceptance of every religion.
Today in 2015, although
we are living in the manifested dream of our forefathers, but I am not sure as
to what extent we are adhering to the real purpose of creation of Pakistan.
Unfortunately we have
grown as a desensitized nation, with less morality and unending greed. We have all
become opportunists who would go to any length to increase our wealth and our
so-called status. We are a nation with inferiority complex and confused
identity. We are a nation who hardly gives correct account of our justified wealth, yet we are amongst the most charity giving country in the world, a
way to camouflage our ugliness behind the veil of piety.
Wait! Then what to do? Is it all that bad? Are
we really this ugly, greedy and insensitive? Are we all bad? Isn’t there any hope
for us or our future generations? Are we all supposed to find a shelter in USA,
Canada or UK?
I don’t have any answer
to the above questions, but a whisper in my heart says to me, “don’t lose hope, for losing hope is a sin.
Peace, justice, equality and compassion
are the real ingredients of a human soul.
So
if you repent, each one of you, and make a promise with yourselves that from today
I shall not be greedy, from today I shall practice honesty, from today I will
be fair in all my dealings, from today I will not hate, from today I will be compassionate,
from today I will be at peace with myself and everyone else.
If
you can keep up with your promises, each one of you individually without
forcing them on others, then doors can be opened and light would be allowed to
enter. Only If you can keep up with your promises…”
With best wishes!
Sonya Syed. (Day 527)
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