“Tragedy is like a strong acid—it dissolves away all but the very gold of truth”—D.H. Lawrence.
From slight nudges to a blow with a sledgehammer, human beings are constantly subjected to warnings that if heeded, can possibly avert great catastrophes. Of course, this happens if the process of learning is adopted. Some are able to check themselves at the right time thus avoiding serious injury whereas there are the many obstinate ones who eventually fall off the precipice as they, in their arrogance, disregard the alerts that the universe keeps sending their way. Ignoring these conspicuous or subtle signs means that either people are fools or are so infested with their ego that they deliberately want to continue with their asininities.
They say that the future cannot be seen. Fair enough. However, experience tells us that certain acts would inadvertently result in certain consequences. So if there is a rock on a walkway, chances are high that pedestrians may trip over unless they are watching their steps closely. Solution? Remove the rock. Similarly, the probability of a non-swimmer drowning in a lake would be greater than a swimmer. Solution? Non-swimmers should abstain from jumping in lakes and oceans. An illiterate person is more likely to be deceived in the case of a written agreement compared to someone who can read and understand. Solution? Learn to read and write. So obviously, to avoid specific repercussions there is a need to take specific steps.
On the canvas of history that encompasses the entire world, past and present generations splash the colours of their ideologies and actions creating either beautiful or extremely hideous pictures for future generations to see and draw conclusions. Students of mathematics know the concept of probability and how it is worked out just like the artists, who can easily decipher the outcomes of mixing colours. Both are important subjects that are well-researched and scrutinised by enthusiastic scholars shining new light on emerging theories and experiments. However, politics in the third world appears the only area that is devoid of learning, which can also be referred to as inhumane as well.
16 December is a date that has witnessed two major events for the people of Pakistan, which, if occurred elsewhere would have in their aftermath, revolutionised the polity of a civilised society. We, on the other hand, have swept the negatives away falsely glorifying what needed immediate attention, thoughtful consideration, and reform. In short, the lessons we had to learn got lost in the haze of our poor foresight compelling us to merely repeat our mistakes, and use colours that tend to erase yesterday’s grotesque pictures only to further blacken our world.
16 December always brings in its wake the horrors of events that have engraved our hearts with a thick blood-ridden mark of grief that no amount of condolement can obliterate
16 December 1971 left Pakistan mutilated in a way that was not a clean amputation but accompanied by much bloodshed, hatred, revenge, and eternal feelings of disgruntlement with a governance that was lacking in humanity and empathy for a region and a nation. Bangladesh which emerged from these ashes of inferno proved beyond doubt that had serious mistakes not been committed before 1971, Pakistan could have become a power to reckon with in the world. How this honourable nation got back on its feet is not only commendable but also speaks volumes of the tyrannical way in which the rulers of united Pakistan undermined its capabilities. Perhaps, we are now paying the wages of these atrocities that we to date deny with audacity.
Pakistan has suffered a lot since then. The years between 1971 and 2014 have experienced much political unrest with a series of coups, military dictatorships, terrorist attacks, regional disharmony, the rise of fascist politics, economic collapse, debt enslavement, rampant corruption, and most dangerous, the rise of religious fundamentalism among leading Islamic sects. With the demonisation of sophisticated cultural activities whatever little was left of human brotherhood was also fast declining and ultimately culminated in another incident that not only shook the foundations of this country but sent a terrifying shock wave across the globe—16 December 2014—Army Public School Peshawar’s tragic morning.
There are no words to express whatever transpired on that fateful day. There is nothing that can console the families of those innocent children and adults who were barbarically butchered by six terrorists (one Chechen, three Arabs, and two Afghans) affiliated with Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The death toll was around 149 making it the world’s fifth deadliest school massacre. Conducted like the horrific 2004 Beslan School three days siege in the North Ossetia Alania region of the Russian Federation in which 334 people including 186 children were killed. One wonders what kind of morons are handling the affairs of billions of people who have no part to play in their brutal acts or decisions, yet are subjected to unspeakable agony.
We all wish that when we reminisce it would bring fond memories of joy and happiness but unfortunately for Pakistanis, 16 December always brings in its wake the horrors of events that have engraved our hearts with a thick blood-ridden mark of grief that no amount of condolement can obliterate. More depressing is the thought that we continue to replicate past mistakes perhaps in the hope that this time results would be different but then history is notoriously known for repeating itself.
Warning bells have been ringing for a long time and can still be heard by those whose hearing sense is intact but not for the deaf. Those who are in no position to make important decisions are apprehensive about what the future may hold but those who have the authority are too engrossed in their myopic vision and self-interest that they are unable to perceive the approaching razor edge over which not them, but the innocent would topple over. One can only pray that our decision-makers enhance their frequency well enough to reflect on past follies and amend their policies so as to avert tragedies from occurring in the future.