Pakistan’s Identity Crisis: Unity in Diversity
Pakistan, a nation born from the ashes of colonialism and nurtured by the dreams of suppressed Muslims of India, stands at a crucial turning point. Pakistan is a land of diversity and the fifth most populous country in the world, with diverse cultures, languages, and religions. Yet, beneath the vibrant hues of its cultural heritage lies a sense of disunity. As the country fights with the weight of its contradictions, a pressing question echoes through the corridors of time: Can its diverse elements unite Pakistan? Let’s explore the dream of Muslim unity and the role of Pakistan in developing a stronger, more resilient Muslim Youth.
Beyond Talk Shows
I switched on the TV to see if there was any talk show on air. Yeah, that sounds good; a panel of 4 to 5 is deeply involved in a discussion. Wait, what?? They are kind of community leaders, concerned citizens or ‘experts’ gathered and engrossed in ‘thoughtful’ discussion about the pressing problems of the nation. (They are particular about Pakistan, based on territorial nationalism and in the camp of ‘Pakistan First’). Despite their earnest efforts, they could not reach any concrete, agreed, viable and practical solution but a unanimous conclusion. We are not a nation but a multitude of individuals. The agreed notion comes with many questions that have never been addressed.
Find the Missing Piece
How can we be a Muslim nation? What makes a group of diverse nationalities the Muslim Ummah? What causes cohesion in a social group? Afterwards, they jumped to the final ‘verdict’ or a solution without addressing the above mentioned questions. The presented solution is ostensibly straightforward; nobody is going to have any problem if the government decide to crack the whip to raise the GDP levels by focusing on productivity, having systems that do not allow lawlessness, establishing and maintaining law and order and implementing merit everywhere in the country, increasing literacy rate and finally increasing our exports, discouraging imports.
Seriously? Apart from a few deep questions, for example, how can all the above mentioned measures be taken, and what kind of structured effort will be required? What could be the horizontal and vertical landscape and much more?
Disunity is The Root cause
The first and foremost question is whether everything that has been mentioned earlier as a solution is a result of the root cause. Why do these pseudo-scholars can’t see this straightforward little tiny thing resulting from not being a Muslim nation?
We have lawlessness, a low literacy rate, a rotten education system, no merit, nepotism, sectarian violence, an increased crime rate, and any other curse that we have at the moment are the results, consequences, outcomes and aftermaths of not being a Muslim nation.
In addition, the concept of a Muslim nation (based on any reality, either Islam or territory or ethnicity) can only be achieved with social cohesion based on any commonality that is potent enough to satisfy the majority of the people. Social cohesion is the lowest common denominator to be achieved in terms of creating a Muslim nation out of disconnected individuals regardless of their religion, color or language.
“Pakistan First”: A Paradox
You may think the same, Social Cohesion based on ‘Pakistan’ – as indicated by ‘scholars’? Well, it may seem very appealing under the umbrella of practicality and pragmatism, but philosophically, isn’t it that the same we had already in undivided India – A territory, a country, a nation? Why did we not have this social cohesion based on territorial nationalism back then?
Although our forefathers were proud Indians, they were also clear about their goals and direction.
On what basis can we create this social cohesion and bond between Pakistanis if the same was shattered and broken consciously by our ancestors?
How Pakistan’s differences be overcome?
How can we create a Muslim nation based on territory/geography, language and ethnicity? Keeping in view the diversity, Pakistan, which is the Fifth most populous, second largest Muslim population, third largest country by area, with over 77 native languages and much more dialects, 16 major ethnolinguistic groups resulting into many proud clans, races and identities emanated from several ancient cultures including Mehargarh, Indus Valley and Gandhara civilisation starting from 8500 years spanning from Neolithic to Bronze and Iron age of pre-historic era. In addition to that, Pakistan has only one commonality for the majority of people – Islam.
Assabiyyah is the Key
Otherwise, we cannot stop water from flowing downwards; social cohesion and bonds based on territorial nationalism never stop there. It goes down to provincial identities and racial and linguistic nationalisms, which are fatal for Pakistan. It is the only option we have public sentiment can be attached to, create an ‘‘Assabiyyah’’ (A political concept first presented by Ibn e Khaldun. This concept is relevant till now) and to develop socio-political cohesion around consequently creating a nation!