By Sidrah Gufran and Mohammed Ammar Bin Yaser
Seventy years ago, on this very day, a group of visionaries stood in front of a crowd in what is now Iqbal Park at Lahore and resolved to carve out a nation from within the Indian sub-continent. Seven years after that declaration, history was made as their very words turned into reality. Despite utterly difficult circumstances, the goal that had been set was achieved and it took a firm resolve to make it happen.
If we analyse our past, we find that one of the perpetual forces, which has carried us through the thick and thin of history, is the unflinching faith of the Pakistani youth in the spirit of the declaration made on March 23, 1940. As a crucial segment of the country, every young Pakistani since 1940 has treasured the significance of this idea which lies at the core of our identity and defines for us the meaning of nationalism. It was this belief in the ideology of Pakistan that steered the nation forward with an inexhaustible supply of optimism in the darkest of times and to date continues to nourish Pakistan.
Pakistan has moved well beyond its golden past and some argue that in today's changed scenario the youth doesn't cherish the same aspiration about the Pakistan Resolution as their ancestors.
However, notions are deceiving and there is more to this theory than seems otherwise. At a glance it may appear that over the years the Pakistani youth has abandoned its ideology and mannerism and has adopted the western culture but the fact remains that even the mere mention of Pakistan's name stirs in them the same emotions as were seen in the past generations.
In fact, Pakistan's current standing in the world and the unfortunate criticism that the country is presently braving has made the youth more sensitive towards the overall image and well-being of the country.
The dynamic youth of Pakistan is brewing with creative yet practical ideas to serve their country. The positivity and the will to improve the current situation that the youth displays not only reinstates the hope and courage that our forefathers bestowed on us, but also makes one feel proud of being a part of the present generation.
When asked about his personal resolution on Pakistan Day, Zia Siddiqui an undergraduate student of IBA said, "I want to abolish the medieval tradition of feudalism as it is a major hurdle in the progress and enlightenment of Pakistan's population. I believe the scourge of feudalism has to be scrubbed clean from the face of the Pakistani society if we are to aspire for a better tomorrow."
Ahsan Reza, a final year student of Mass Communication at the University of Karachi (KU), strongly voiced the opinion of many students and thinks that discrimination on the basis of language is a key issue and needs to be given due attention as it is a major factor that is keeping the social fabric of Pakistan divided. "We need to decide who we are" says Ahsan, "Officially there should be a single language of instruction, at all levels, be it English or Urdu.
There is a need for uniformity so that the Pakistani society is not linguistically stratified." Ahsan feels that the language gulf between the social classes causes more rifts in our society than Pakistan is prepared to tolerate.
Improvement however, doesn't always have to start on a macro-level. Ammara Adnan, a student of NED, is all for micro-level improvement. She believes that the young generation of Pakistan should first bring about positive changes at the individual level. "We need to think sincerely first" she argues, "I resolve to take my society and whatever challenges it's facing seriously from this day on and set an example for my peers". "I am not saying I have the cure for every social ill that grips Pakistan today, but I staunchly believe that as young Pakistanis if we start to look at our problems with the pure intention of tackling them, we will definitely find solution" she adds.
Such a high dose of optimism serves as a ray of hope in the current crisis stricken state-of-affairs. Though efforts are continuously being made on both small and large scale to improve the condition of the country many are still hopeless about the political process. "We need a series of reformations in our political process" says Sharjeel Khan. "We have to work out a process that leaves no rooms for 'personality worship' in our political set-up, democracies are run by parties and not individuals" says Khan, who works at a local TV Channel.
The youth of today is not just concerned about the political up-lift but also about other issues facing Pakistan. Among these considerations the sorry state of the environment is also a major concern for many, as Sidra Rizvi, a student of English Literature at KU puts it "Pakistan is one of the most hard-hit victims of global warming and pollution today, but little is being done on this front. I as an individual would like to see my country clean therefore this year I resolve to use recycled papers for all purposes and will also encourage my friends to do the same"
Working to alleviate poverty and illiteracy has almost become a cliché that everybody blurts out when asked about ideas to solve the real problems of the Pakistani society. However, on a more positive note and on a more practical front it has been observed that the youth who are actually involved in community development efforts are contributing a lot to their society through their efforts in various fields.
An example of this is an initiative of a group of students from KU who have come forward to teach the children of sweepers and cleaners of the university twice a week in the afternoons. This step has received much appreciation by the parents of these children as well by the students and teachers of various departments of KU, who are willing to volunteer in the program too. This small expression of 'concern' tells us a lot about the zest of the youth of Pakistan.
It must be pointed out here that despite all the exuberance of our youth and brimming optimism, one can't ward off the sense of looming pessimism that seemingly runs all over Pakistan. Every other day we hear shallow rumors about our country that instigates one, especially, the youth to run away and settle abroad.
Running away from reality, however, is no solution instead stepping forward and helping in building a stronger nation should be our goal. Positive thinking, effort and instilling optimism in others are the only factors that can help us in this journey.
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