Some un-named sage has said that second marriage is a triumph of hope over experience. Whosoever has said it didn’t have just the word ‘marriage’ in mind, but also the word ‘government’ and the word ‘revolution’.
In democracy when ‘incumbence’ is voted out of power and an alternate government is voted in, people actually vote ‘against’ what they have experienced, and ‘for’ what they hope to experience.
When a revolution occurs or strikes, it is a loud and clear manifestation of the people’s total loss of faith in their ability to make their votes effective instruments of bringing about a change of the desired nature, in the desired direction.
Frequently the ‘need’ for the third marriage has arisen. Then the fourth. And the fifth.
In Pakistan’s case, each new marriage has ended up in ruins. The cruel winds of ‘experience’ have always blown out the fervently-lit candles of hope. And in no time.
In terms of ‘democratic change’ and ‘revolutionary experience’, Pakistan enjoys a unique distinction. Governments have often been voted into power, but none has ever been voted out. Benazir Bhutto’s government was twice voted into power, but wasn’t even once voted out. Both times it was dismissed by the so-called ‘powers-that-be’. The same can be said about Mian Nawaz’s two tenures in office too. Both times he was awarded with ‘thumping mandates’. And both times he was thrown out of his office with ‘majestic ease’.
Pakistan’s revolutionary experience’ has never been ‘Khomeini style’. It has erupted from the ‘power’ that the four-star uniforms enjoy. And it has always put ‘all past’ to sword, announcing the advent of a golden era of goodness, fairplay, justice and progress.
Each revolutionary experience has ended in a prayer of similar nature.
‘Save us God Almighty, from further crucification on the alter of our hopes!’
09-11-2013
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