ESSAY

LIFE WITHOUT CONTROVERSY IS NO LIFE. BUT WHY ONE SHOULD NOT CHOOSE THE SAFE HEAVENS OF CONFORMISM.

OUTLINE:-

1:- Introduction:-

Undoubtedly, life without controversy is fruitless. Controversy develops when a person/ nation holds different opinion than other person/ nation. If people had not left the safe heaves of conformism then the progress which we are observing today would not have happened.

2 :- People become controversial because of holding different opinions

3:- Controversy is natural in a society

4:- Controversy and then civilised way to deal with that controversy lead to development of progressive, tolerant and an egalitarian society

5 :- Controversy and democracy go hand in hand

6 :- If people had not left the safe heavens of conformism we would not have witnessed progress.

A. Socrates, Hegel and Karl Marx

B. Romantic movement of poetry in Europe

C. Progressive movement of poetry and afsana in Pakistan

7:- All the revolutions in world happened because people left the safe heavens of conformism and chose to become controversial.

A. American Revolution

B. French Revolution

C. Muslim revolution in the subcontinent

8:- People choose safe heavens of conformism over being controversial because of the violent ways of dealing with controversy ---- it's causes

A. Illiteracy

B. Religious dogmatism

C. Lawlessness

D. Tribalism and feudalism

E. Ethno-nationalistic tendencies

9. Impacts of this on society

A. Stagnation in a society

B. Populism

C. International conflicts

D. Provincialism

10. What should be done to deal with controversies in an civilised way.

A. Education --- rational and scientific

B. Rule of law

Independent judiciary

Rule of might is right should be curtailed

C. Promotion of democratic values and decrease influence of tribalism and feudalism

D. Decrease ethno-nationalistic tendencies

11. Pakistan: A case study

12. Conclusion:-

To conclude is to say that it is need of the hour to develop a civilised way to deal with controversy so that people can fearlessly leave the safe havens of conformism, otherwise civilisation will perish.

There is no any iota of doubt that life without controversy is fruitless. A person/nation becomes controversial because of holding different opinion than other person/nation or simply defying the prevailing trends. Controversy is natural in any society. Controversy and then to deal it in a civilised way is a cardinal feature of a tolerant and an egalitarian society. Controversy is the basic tenet of democracy. Where there is no controversy in a country, it means that country is ruled by an authoritarian where dissent is crushed under the feet of that tyrannical ruler. If people had not left the safe heavens of conformism like Socrates, Hegel and Karl Marx did, we would not have witnessed progress in literature, political science and philosophy. Romantic movement of poetry in Europe and progressive movement of poetry and afsana in Pakistan are a manifestation that people left their safe heavens and afsana and poetry reached at pinnacle of glory. All the revolutions in the world happened because people became controversial and bore the brunt of sufferings. American revolution, French revolution and Muslim revolution in the subcontinent are few to mention here. There are many societies where people fear to become controversial. Because in such societies, controversy is dealt with an iron fist. These societies are regressive ones. Because illiteracy, religious dogmatism, lawlessness and ethno-nationalistic tendencies overpower reason, religious rationalism, rule of law and patriotism. These very societies are burdened under the scourge of stagnation, populism and conflicts. So it is need of the hour to promote all the democratic values so that intellectuals, scholars and people with innovative ideas can fearlessly leave the safe heavens of conformism and love to become controversial so that societies can tread the path of progress and prosperity. If status quo is left to dominate the dissent then the very foundations of the civilisations will crumble down.

It is a natural and universal law that when two or more people live together, dissent is inevitable. If a person holds different opinion than the normally held beliefs then it is
obvious that he will become controversial. It is totally fine to held a different opinion on anything than that of others. Freedom of expression is the fundamental right of every individual. This very right has to be preserved at every cost. But, one thing has to be kept in mind that freedom of expression in a polite way should be practiced so that it should not hurt the sentiments and emotions of others. Article 19 of the 1973 constitution of Islamic republic of Pakistan envisages this right of freedom of expression to every individual. Be it a Muslim or a Non Muslim. If a controversy is generated then it is imperative to solve it in a civilised way.

If controversy is not dealt in a civilised way and controversial person is harassed and intimidated then that society does not progress and deep seated roots of stagnation tightens grip. There was a time in Medieval Europe when scholars and intellectual persons who defied the commonly held norms were treated harshly and burnt at stake by the Roman Catholic Church. Examples like Galileo, Bruno and Socrates are few to mention here. Galileo was forced to recant the truth that earth is revolving around the sun. But he did not cave in to the threats of death and he uphold the truth by embracing the death. Intellectuals, Philosophers and Scientists were fearful of their life in that barbaric time to leave the safe heavens of conformism and bear the unbearable agonies. That's why that time period is known as Dark Ages. Dark because of the intellectual dearth it created by fear and repression.

On the other hand, Iraq was booming and flourishing with progress and prosperity. Because when Roman Catholic Church was gagging the dissent, at the same time the pious Caliphs of Iraq were patronising it. People were free from any fear to hold different opinions. There opinions were given due consideration. These were debated upon and if found sensical then these very opinions were adopted as a norm. Europeans felt proud to study in universities of Iraq. After returning back to their countries, they felt superior. The Mutazzalizm movement also started in Baghdad. This was the reason that Baghdad became the centre of creativity and innovation. Under these circumstances Iraq progressed in science, theology, philosophy, mathematics and other fields. So Age of barbarism in Europe coincided with the age of enlightenment in Iraq. It is now evident from these facts that those who hold the freedom of expression in high veneration are the ones who paves the way for development.

Not to mention, democracy is the name of implementation of democratic values like freedom of expression, life, liberty, tolerance and forbearance. Therefore, being controversial in a democratic country is beneficial than being controversial in a an authoritarian country. Opposition in a democratic government perform the function of a critic. Opposition does not oppose for the sake of opposition. It accolades the positive achievements of government and criticises its bad policies. Western countries like USA, UK and Netherlands hold the ideals of democracy supreme. That’s why, they are developed and way ahead of third world countries in dealing with controversies. Because controversies there are dealt in an educated and civilised manner. However, third world countries are mired with the dictatorial regimes. Dissent is forbidden. Dissenters are imprisoned and prosecuted for treachery against country. Pakistan is not immune to this phenomenon of tyrannical coup d'etat at many times. Indeed, healthy criticism is the essence of democracy.

No one remembers those who choose the safe heavens of conformism and do not become controversial. History remembers those who left the safe heavens of conformism and chose to become controversial for the greater benefit of society. Socrates is one of them who defied the traditional norms and rituals. He asked questions and also taught his students to question each and every thing to find the truth. He imbibed in them the idea of using logic and reason. Socrates was the founder
of a theory called dialecticism. It means negation of the negation. Simply putting it, there is a thesis, it has an antithesis that leads to synthesis. And this synthesis is much superior to the thesis and antithesis. No one at that time was able to question the existing norms but Socrates. Resultantly, he was charged with the allegations of corrupting the youth. But, his intellectual mind taught his followers to question and to renounce the blind following of traditional beliefs and the age old customs. dialecticism was followed by Hegel in his Idealism. It was Karl Marx who scientifically used it in challenging the idea of capitalism with his own idea of communism. All three are the bastions of dissent.

Moreover, poetry in Europe was entirely about classicism. Then came the revolution in the domain of poetry. The romantic movement of poetry started where old rotten themes of were replaced with the new ones. Dissent opened the floodgates to the diffusion of values of universal humanism in poetry . Liberty, life and freedom of speech were the subject of the poetry. Keats and Shelly were the pioneers of this new surge in poetry. Hence proved that the ones, who leave the status quo and choose to become controversial, are the ones to be praised for progress and development.

Furthermore, the wave of modernism also changed the discourse of poetry and afsana in Pakistan. The archaic poetry consisted exclusively of wine, goblet and love. The progressive movement kick started which depicted the human sufferings, exploitation of man by man and social vices that were rampant in our country. Ghalib, Faiz and Faiz and Faraz are among many. Ghalib mirrored the human nature in his poetry. He was the pedestal of universalism. Faiz and Faiz and Faraz reflected the downtrodden people in their artistic work. So these great poets combined the classic values with modern problems. Urdu short story writers also shifted from old patterns of writings to new patterns. Saadat Hasan Minto and Ghulam Abbas are two leading figures in literary horizon. The glimpses of human psychology are brilliantly reflected in their work. The novel "open up" is the masterpiece by Minto in which mental condition of a girl who is treated badly by a barbaric male is mentioned. By all means, it is now clear that controversial people, who leave the safe heavens of conformism, are the best friends of human being who break the status quo which is the symbol of stagnation.

Revolutions do not come in any society from outside. Impulse for the change in society is inherently present. Time decides to push impulse to the level of explosion. And when this happens, either of the two things happen. Change of regime by peaceful means or bloody civil war. Same was the case with the Americans. They were ruled by the British. The British were ruthless masters who were imposing there cruel and barbarious acts over the people of today's America. Few Americans like George Washington, Adam Smith and Thomas Jefferson left their safe heavens of conformism and revolted against the Britishers. The people of America followed their great leaders. The American revolution was won by the Americans. And in the end, they got their independent homeland. Likewise, French revolution followed American revolution. The ideas of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness were so overwhelming that French people revolted against their despotic monarchs. Additionally, Muslim revolution in the subcontinent was also the brainchild of a few great personalities of subcontinent who loved to become controversial for the sake of a new homeland. Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal are two prominent among many other personalities. They worked day and night and left no stone unturned for the creation of Pakistan. People like them are born in decades.

Having said all that, it is important to know the causes because of which people choose their safe heavens of conformism and do not become controversial. First of all, Illiteracy is the major factor that hinders the development of rational thoughts in people. They are totally unaware
of the basic human rights. They are ignorant of the values of democracy like freedom of speech, tolerance and forbearance. As is said, "Ignorant man is a burden on society".According to PSLM report, the literacy rate of Pakistan is almost 58 percent. This is a very stark situation that Pakistan is among one of the most illiterate nations in the world generally and Asia specifically. Rational education should be promoted so that the true values of democracy and human rights are taught to individuals at very basic level. Article
25A of Pakistan states to ensure free education for all aged 5 to 16. For this reason, Education based on logic and reason will turn the tide for world generally and Pakistan specifically.

Second, when some people use religion for personal benefits then they mould the religious teachings. It creates religious dogmatism in a society. These religious bigots use religion and spread misinformation among general populace. In result, religious chauvinism and fanaticism takes deep roots in a society. That society becomes very conservative. Any new idea is faced with animosity and hatred. And the propounder of that idea fears for his life because of lawlessness. Many a example are in front of us. Recent incident of Mashal khan reflects the conservative mindset of our society and sheds light on the lawlessness of our country where law gives the picture of law of the jungle. It is need of the hour to promote religious rationalism. The role of Ulema is important here. These religious people should interpret the true teachings and spread it through modern means. The work of Javed Ahmed Gamdhi is important to get a mention here.

Third, obscurantist societies fear change. People in these societies follow what their forefathers told them. They are floundering in status quo. They do not move an inch from their held norms. They are putting up resistance to every change. People giving rational view on religion are labelled as Kafir (infidel). These orthodox elements were prevalent during Taliban's rule in SWAT and other adjacent areas. Reason is alien there. As Bertrand Russell said that when something is based on logic and reason then it is possible to discuss that at the dinner table. But if anything is based on fundamentalism and chauvinism then it is impossible to deliberate on that. Tribal and feudal societies are the perfect example of obscurantist societies. The orthodox elements are the masters there. These obscurantist societies can move from backward and underdeveloped to forward and developed societies if they are sensitised with rational education based on reason and logic. Dissent will become the core of progress in Fata and Northern areas in Pakistan.

Last but not the least, ethnic and nationalistic tendencies are the factors that compel people to choose safe heavens of conformism. Pakistan is a multiethnic, multilingual and multicultural country. There is discord among provinces from the first day of the creation of the country. This discord is because of mistrust. These tendencies have already cost Pakistan a great harm. Pakistan was dismembered and Bangladesh was created because of these ethnic and nationalistic tendencies. People who talked on rational basis were incarcerated. They were given serious punishments. Even in some cases people were killed. So this created atmosphere of fear among intelligentsia and they chose to remain silent. It is imperative now to curtail these ethnic and nationalistic tendencies so that our country can tread the path of glory. This can only happen by imparting rational education and ending that mistrust among the provinces.

To cut the story short, If a society has to march on the path of development then it has to value the dissent and listen to the opinions of other people. So that they can fearlessly leave the safe heavens of conformism and love to become controversial. West has already adapted that. Third world countries should follow the suit. If status quo is remained to prevail then
stagnation, populism and conflicts will arise more than often. To end this with the quotation of Voltaire, " I disapprove of what you say but will defend till death your right to say".

Nice attempt.

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WA-TU-IZZU MANTASHA; WATU-ZILLU MANTASHA