Lack of Literary Revolutionists
 

Today,after an electricity failure of more than 18 hours, i was thinking that what is the fate of my Motherland? i peeped into the past and then pondered on the prevailing situations (energy crisis, leadership crisis, and many more), i found one huge vaccume in the field of literature. we do not have literary revolutionists, like Sir syed, Iqbal, Haali, Hafeez, Habeeb jalib, Faiz and many others feeling the pains of the Motherland, among our contemporary literary community and if there is someone, he is not on the scene for the time being. history reveals that Great men revolutionized the lives of people with the power of PEN. but now youth have their own affairs they feel good using net instead of reading some good books. perhaps this is the reason of our downfall (social, economic,moral etc.) that we have turned our side from the value of literature in our lives......

The changing time has changed our priorities as well. I used to have some books on my bedside table but now-a-days a laptop is there. Book fares were much sought after events and visiting old bookshops around Anarkali was must every now and then. Libraries were good place to spend time. In past, i was member of all the libraries of Lahore. :mellow Sometime we used to visit Pak tea House in order to see the literary figures sitting there. I am not sure what the youth of today are doing in search of knowledge, but it is for sure that books and libraries are not so popular as they used to be in recent past. And literature is spread through books and magazines not through the net. :nono

[QUOTE=Sociologist PU;292813] literature is spread through books and magazines not through the net. :nono[/QUOTE]
[SIZE="4"][U][I][FONT="Comic Sans MS"][COLOR="Purple"]I thi:thinkingnk almost all good books are available in soft copy formate. and when we have an easy access to knowledge through net, then why to dig into hard copies?[/COLOR][/FONT][/I][/U][/SIZE]

[QUOTE=jiashah;292698]Today,after an electricity failure of more than 18 hours, i was thinking that what is the fate of my Motherland? i peeped into the past and then pondered on the prevailing situations (energy crisis, leadership crisis, and many more), i found one huge vaccume in the field of literature. we do not have literary revolutionists, like Sir syed, Iqbal, Haali, Hafeez, Habeeb jalib, Faiz and many others feeling the pains of the Motherland, among our contemporary literary community and if there is someone, he is not on the scene for the time being. history reveals that Great men revolutionized the lives of people with the power of PEN. but now youth have their own affairs they feel good using net instead of reading some good books. perhaps this is the reason of our downfall (social, economic,moral etc.) that we have turned our side from the value of literature in our lives......[/QUOTE]

Its a bitter truth of our time that there is lack of literary revolutionists. Neither we have good writers nor good readers. Writers reflect their society in their works. But unfortunately we don't have such writings these days. We have changed our priorities now. You have rightly pointed out the fact that this is the reason of our social, economic and moral downfall. We have forgotten the power of PEN.

@ Ultimate CSP

Soft copies may be available on net but one need an internet connection, computer and electricity to reach them. The electricity is short and net is not in the reach of everyone. And the reading of book by holding it in your hand has no match to reading it on screen of a monitor. :8:

yeah i agree... electricity is a real drawback...

[QUOTE=jiashah;292698]Today,after an electricity failure of more than 18 hours, i was thinking that what is the fate of my Motherland? i peeped into the past and then pondered on the prevailing situations (energy crisis, leadership crisis, and many more), i found one huge vaccume in the field of literature. we do not have literary revolutionists, like Sir syed, Iqbal, Haali, Hafeez, Habeeb jalib, Faiz and many others feeling the pains of the Motherland, among our contemporary literary community and if there is someone, he is not on the scene for the time being. history reveals that Great men revolutionized the lives of people with the power of PEN. but now youth have their own affairs they feel good using net instead of reading some good books. perhaps this is the reason of our downfall (social, economic,moral etc.) that we have turned our side from the value of literature in our lives......[/QUOTE]

Good topic indeed!
Since the very inception of this country ,we have been suffering from paucity of electricity despite having natural resources in enormous amount.
Thar coal is ample proof in this regard.
As far literary revolutionist are concerned,the youth,we witness today,have enough time to use face book or other social networking sites instead of inking the present scenario for the posterity in black and white.
Needless to say,the interest in education,two or four decays ago,was on the peak.
People of this country did not only write good articles,novels,books and poems but also contributed in different fields nicely.
Today,people of this country,just get education only for their livelihood not for the betterment of Pakistan.

[QUOTE=Sociologist PU;292830]@ Ultimate CSP

Soft copies may be available on net but one need an internet connection, computer and electricity to reach them. The electricity is short and net is not in the reach of everyone. And the reading of book by holding it in your hand has no match to reading it on screen of a monitor. :8:[/QUOTE]

I agree with sociologist tht a buk in hand has no match to reading on the screen. some buks r like precious treasure and meant to b preserved, worth to b quoted. a simple example, apart 4m electricity failure, we can read QURAN at internet (i knw QURAN has no comparison) so it means that we should not keep it at homes? authorz put there blood in their creations, i have Kuliyat-e-Iqbal, whenevr i read it i visit a new worldworth living and amazing.

With due respect,I partially disagree with Jia while quoting QURAN in comparison.Their r certain religious and spiritual bondings with this Holy Book,so why people keep it and also read it.As far as the decay of literary revolutions is concerned i believe in one word answer and that is Materialistic approach of our society..:closedeye

ravian am sorry if i failed to convey my message. i qouted that Quran has no comparison, dear... what i wanted to say was that there are many books which are worth to b preserved, and there are many books which are clear cut TAFSEERS of Quran because our lives, as Muslims, revolve around this BOOK. and as far as Materialistic approach is concerned, we have been materialized due the ignorance of books......

AOA
Pen bring revolution in any state.it is real drawback of our country that our young genration like to spend more time on internet with use less activites(chat etc).
inspite of reading books even the trend of outdoor games is no more and this is common words of youngs "thori dair internet use kar lian fresh ho jian ga".
is internet is source of freshness?
i remember in my school ther is 1 class in week as a library class and every student is bound to take book and read it and write it in his or her own words. i think very good trend. but alas after my masters i visted few days befor my school and teach there for 1 day. now this trend finish. instead of library class now that is computer class for computer practical. i feel sorry at that time and think that some old trends are good which must be kept as it is.
as book in hand is worth reading. us ka tu maza hi alag hota ha.
but there is also 1 drawback that some books are just for earning money there is no knowledge in them. puri book parhna ka bad pata chalta ha khuda phar nikla chuha.
regards

By the way, i am coming back to books. :shy
The reason is loadshedding. :dd As one can atleast read a book/newspaper in the light of a rechargeable light and time is spent in good and constructive way. If u have books at home you have easy access to them and can read them again and again as Jia said and every time you enjoy. Further, the books can be read by other family members as well and promote reading culture in the family. Kids develop their interest of reading only if they found books at home.

[QUOTE=jiashah;292698]....i found one huge vaccume in the field of literature. we do not have literary revolutionists, like Sir syed, Iqbal, Haali, Hafeez, Habeeb jalib, Faiz and many others feeling the pains of the Motherland, among our contemporary literary community and if there is someone, he is not on the scene for the time being. history reveals that Great men revolutionized the lives of people with the power of PEN. but now youth have their own affairs they feel good using net instead of reading some good books. perhaps this is the reason of our downfall (social, economic,moral etc.) that we have turned our side from the value of literature in our lives......[/QUOTE]

I am agree with you but its not only literary revolutionist, we are deteriorated in every aspect of Fine Art. Look into the situation of literature, movies, theater, dramas, T.V, everything department is plunging towards a deep abyss. Today, on one side we don't have any Sir Syed, Iqbal, Haali, Jalib, Faiz and on other side we don't have any Waheed Murad, Muhammad Ali, Rushddi, Noor Jahan, Nusrat, Alamgir, Tariq and a list of legends we had in the past.

[B]What are the factors which brought us to this situation of haplessness. In my opinion the Zia era of stereotypical Islamism was a turning point. [/B]

@jiashah
 

You have already named several literary revolutionaries. Arent they enough to bring forth a mental revolution? But the problem is darling, we dont read even these so it doesnt provide any impetus or encouragement for any more to come out of closet. How many of us have tried reading Iqbal or Faiz, let alone understand it? Whatever these poets or philosophers have said a 100 or 200 years ago still rings true today because basic human nature and response remains unchanged. We need to ensure that our kids read these philosophers at school early on to induce their spirit.

I am agreed with aphordite.She mentioned one cause.But that is very valid.How many of us know about Iqbal philosophy.For example who know the real philosophy behind this ;

kabe Ae! Haqaqite muntazir,
nazar Aa Libas e Majaz me,
key hazaroon sajdey tarap rae he mairy jab'aein i niaz me,...
To bacha bacha ke na rakh key tera A'aina he wo a'aina

key Shikasta ho to Azir tar he Nigha e A'aina saz me.

But youth like Shezad Roy and Arar ul Haq are alluding,imitating these great poets.Problem is not about books and Net,but we need persons to write the books,which will serve the pakistani nation as served by Iqbal to Muslims in sub continet.

Literary revolution needs intellectuals.The intellect is hybrid of genius,knowledge,and observation.Creativity comes from thinking.And from thought new ideas sprung. @Ai ,HE rightly said that we need artist too.These artist if represent true culture than our whole society will becom revolutionary.

Now pakistan leadrship lack vision because they have no innovative ideas.They have'nt read the books.But they are born kings of Pak dynasty.

well,the reasons for me are.

(1)media expansion & population explosion:

media:entertainment round the clock.
population:if we have 5-6 children per family in a small house,how can they read or develop reading?

(2)Media giving less importance to the literary figures:how many of us know about AQ Khan,samar Mubarak,Engr Farooq and the likes as much as we know shahrukh and co?

(3)Wrong execution of Zia's Islamization process(as said by ali ahmed syed)

(4)Teaching in our country is (mostly)served by those who have remained mediocre/weak students in their times.they make our youngsters emulate them(buy short notes,rot them,disgorge them in exam and that's it).

[QUOTE=aphrodite;294017]You have already named several literary revolutionaries. Arent they enough to bring forth a mental revolution? But the problem is darling, we dont read even these so it doesnt provide any impetus or encouragement for any more to come out of closet. How many of us have tried reading Iqbal or Faiz, let alone understand it? Whatever these poets or philosophers have said a 100 or 200 years ago still rings true today because basic human nature and response remains unchanged. We need to ensure that our kids read these philosophers at school early on to induce their spirit.[/QUOTE]

yeah u are right. we don't bother reading these poets. in fact i got this thinking when i was reading about the "ADABI TEHREEKEIN" when people specially youth was motivated to listen to the poets and authors live at some JALSA etc. now with the passage of time we are let alone with the books with an option to read them ore put them in our closets and whenever we need, to boost off the COLLECTION we have.
@SADIA
you rightly said that most of us don't even know about the philosophy of many of our leading poets and writers. i wonder when youngsters say that "HMAIN TOU IQBAL SAMAJH E NAI ATTA" i want to ask whether anyone has ever bothered to open the books of such writers? only literature students read them and perhaps... just for the sake of passing the exams...

Literary personalities instead of taking extra pains are themselves in pain. So, it would be quite difficult for them to make their life more painful and go for a better future. if we really want practical solutions of our predicaments then we should turn to our culture and 1st and second generation of Pakistan. Think of the corruption your father, mother, brother, sister or son has done-and most of you will say that your father is incorruptible. Now you are enjoying luxury and thinking of improving the lives of people. The first thing is to report on your relatives and get them arrested. then the whole talk of solving the grievances of the population will hold water. The ideology of Pakistan is not Islam it is "Hypocrisy".
Thank you.

This is true our desensitized society is in dire need of literary revolutionists. Because we do have competitive youth. The competition is harder, smarter than ever. Youth is more aware than ever. But they hardly think on a broader level of making a contribution to the betterment of community and country.
Plus trending also has majority individual types who are either totally selfless, hopeless romantics or the one's who are totally materialistic, progressive and hurtfully selfish. There needs to be a balance. Competence and integrity should go hand in hand. Existence of one without the other makes little difference, if any, on a broader level.