Pause & Ponder

JANUARY 1998 - Of all the stirring messages that I have read on the 121st birthday of Mr. Jinnah, I have been most inspired by the one penned by the Leader of The Opposition. Gosh, it is sterling stuff and had me all shook up. Goosebumps galore if you know what I mean. There’s no doubt that the LOO, (short for Leader of the Opposition) knows how to stand up and deliver.

It started off on just the right note. ‘Rulers’ heads,’ thundered the lady, ‘must hang in shame.’ More appropriate words I have rarely read to round off a year that has seen the end of all the institutions in the country, except the mental institutions which are still up for grabs. But while I am all for heads hanging, particularly in shame, a commodity perpetually in short supply here, we may have a problem putting all the heads together. The LOO has also told the nation that the Quaid stood for equality before law. This I must confess is a bit obvious, because usually you have to stand if you are involved in things like law. You can’t sit for equality before the law, but I suppose the leader knew what she was talking about. However, it does seem that some people have been and will always be more equal than others. But of course we all know that the LOO has never been a party to that kind of thinking. Still thundering, the lady went on to tell us all already deeply impressed by her nationalism, ‘We will not allow the corrupt rulers to foist a totalitarian and dictatorial regime on the country.’ This is capital stuff and must rank amongst the most memorable lines ever delivered by a leader to the people. She should have added, ‘we will do it ourselves next time we are elected.’

Now we all know that during the time the lady was in power twice, we had it so good that now it looks like a dream. Among the things that were most wonderful during her rein, some preferring to call it ‘reign’ since the Viceroy was fond of polo ponies, everyone was equal before the law and there was no question of victimising anyone, whatever the provocation. Citizens went about their daily chores, insulting their leaders, casting slander about, secure and happy that there was no question of anyone coming after them. When I read that my leader had used the birth anniversary of Mr. Jinnah to tell the nation, ‘It is a day of introspection and reflection - to pause and ponder as to how far we have upheld the ideals for which this homeland of ours was created by the Quaid,’ I simply broke down, because one of the most striking things when the lady was in power was the high level of introspection and reflection that characterised the two stints by her government. There was constant evaluation and remedial measures were taken all the time to ensure that the government was not deviating from the path laid down by the Quaid. In fact, citizens were always amazed at the uncanny manner in which their government was able to steer such a steady course on the difficult path laid down by Mr. Jinnah. ‘How does she do this ?’ they would ask the polo ponies, who not given to self-praise, would simply snort and canter off to eat their humble jam and toast.

The great leader of the opposition further exhorted the people to remember that the rule of law was a cause that was very dear to her, and without adhering to which we were bound to disintegrate. This is indeed an inspiring thought. During her rule of law, there were only a little over a 100 legislations passed through presidential ordinances and the law making body was able to spend the time saved in attending to other important state matters like filling out TA bills, getting haircuts and watching cricket matches.

This is a country where there are more messages than people and that’s fine with me. Messages are important . Agreed that the amount of messages we are beamed at outer space on the 25th of December from Pakistan must be causing some kind of a traffic gridlock up there, and must cause Mr. Jinnah a small headache every birthday to read so much purple prose. But that is allright I suppose. After all, it is not the ordinary geek in the street who sends Mr. Jinnah messages, this right now solely exercised by whoever is in power. And look at the messages that go out like clockwork. The President and Prime Minister have called for imbibing the Quaid’s spirit. This is indeed a merry message that combines both imbibing and spirit and comes at just the right time of the year when there is fog and mist about. What I feel is that we should not confine message manufacturing to just a few occasions, but for all days of the year and for every event that we can think of. I would like to receive any stirring messages there may be for the Jhang train wreck, other than the ‘deeply shocked’ and ‘enquiry ordered’ variety. In the meantime, happy birthday Mr. Jinnah, and I hope you enjoyed all the messages this year.