Revolution of Thought
Revolutions, political, economic or cultural, may be started
by a few visionaries, but the changes they instigate can only be sustained by
quiet everyday actions. It is the willingness of the many to become part of the
change that really ensures it takes root in society. It may be a lawyer
fighting for the unfair dismissal of a client, someone who gives a scholarship
to a street child, a designer who invents devices for the disabled or even a
stand-up comic who lightens the hardships people face.
The real revolution is the revolution of thought, leading to
personal transformation. It can be a sudden realization, the aha moment, or
take generations to be truly absorbed.
Everett Rogers, in his seminal book, the Diffusion of
Innovations, written in 1962, explored in great detail, how new ideas are
absorbed or rejected by society. Dynamic equilibrium is achieved when society
is ready for that change, as for example, the introduction of mobile phones. Static equilibrium describes a situation when
an innovation has no impact on society, such as the ground breaking process of
cloning. Disequilibrium is evident when the society is not ready for the
innovation, such as resistance to the use of polio drops in parts of Pakistan.
Change starts as an act of faith, an optimism for a better
future. Nevertheless, history shows us that in time, disenchantment sets in or
unanticipated consequences arise. By
then, a point of no return has been reached, and the only way out is another
seismic change.
When small communities came together to form the first
cities, they relinquished the authority of the family elder to the state, in
return for the assurance of security, jobs and social organization. When those
cities developed class distinctions, and enforced labour, people willingly left
their feudal agrarian communities to work in factories when the Industrial
Revolution arrived. This brought its own poor working conditions that had to be
addressed by social reform, and the power of kings was replaced by capitalist
business magnates.
Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web in 1989. It is
said to have it roots in the counterculture of the sixties that rebelled
against state authoritarianism. The World Wide Web has lived up to its promise
of empowering ‘everyman’ across all countries, enabling people without power
and wealth to connect, express themselves, and develop their own businesses. Something that was meant to be free was soon
monetized, and became a platform for influencers. The impact of ChatGPT and AI
on personal autonomy, a central motive for every social evolution, is still
being assessed.
Individuals have their own personal revolutions – a change
of job, a decision to move to a new city or country. The birth of a child
creates its own revolution in a family, as all previous life is suspended to
centre around the newborn.
While Pakistan has never experienced a traditional revolution,
it has experienced upheavals that changed society radically. The Partition,
soaked in blood and trauma, also saw migrations from and to Pakistan that
changed the cultural landscape. The secession of East Pakistan did not just cut
the country in half, but also its culture. The nationalisation of industries,
educational institutions and banks in the 70s, killed the collective spirit of
enterprise and lowered educational standards, just as the subsequent
re-privatisation inculcated greed. Instead of a revolution of thought, it
became a revolution of thoughtlessness. Being pulled into two Afghan wars introduced
unheard of weapons and drugs, bomb blasts and a world reputation for harbouring
terrorists, that bewildered the nation. In the wake of the extremist jargon,
religion became stern and prescriptive instead of gentle and tolerant.
Yet quietly, a sensed but not seen humanitarian revolution
was taking place. The legendary philanthropist, Edhi, first became a hero when
he gathered together the torn limbs of victims of Karachi’s first bomb blast,
to reduce the distress of relatives. Charity and philanthropy spread from a few
rich families, deep into the social fabric. Where government failed, people
opened charity schools and hospitals. When local jobs dried up the overseas
market was tapped, leading to the economic and social uplift of the working
class. New business models emerged with the spread of the internet.
In recent years the rumble of a new revolution of thought can
be heard across Pakistan. It remains to be seen if it will take root or is just
being carried with the flow, like Akbar Allahabadi’s handful of dust: goh musht-e-khak
hain magar aandhi ke saath hain. (Although only a handful of dust, at least
I am part of the storm).
Durriya Kazi
February 9,
2025
Karachi
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