Anza Kanwal
14th August, is our Independence Day and is celebrated all over the country with flag raising ceremonies, tributes to the national heroes and fireworks taking place in the capital, Islamabad. President and prime minister delivers speeches and in the speech, the leaders highlight the achievements of the government, goals set for the future and in the words of the father of the nation, Quaid-i-Azam, bring “Unity, Faith and Discipline” to its people. Day starts with flag raising ceremonies in the Capital city Islamabad and so in all major cities in Pakistan. March parade and exchange of guard’s ceremonies takes place on the Quaid-i-Azam’s mausoleum. At this day we got our own identity and our own values. Pakistan came into being in 1947 as a sovereign state. 14th August is a day when, efforts of our national heroes are appreciated and celebrated and a day when we get our name and respect. Being Muslims we have our own values, traditions and religion. We Muslims celebrate this day with complete satisfaction and pleasure of being in a separate region where we enjoy freedom of living in every way.
Historically, the Indian National Congress was formed in 1885, which later on became British India’s largest political party. Major Muslim political leaders, including Muhammad Ali Jinnah, were members of the Indian National Congress and worked towards Hindu-Muslim unity and India’s independence. The All India Muslim League was founded on December 30, 1906. There was growing demand for an independent Muslim state in India. In 1930 Muhammad Iqbal presented the idea of a separate Muslim state that would geographically consist of the Muslim majority areas in the subcontinent. The word Pakistan is a conjunction of two words Pak meaning Pure and Stan meaning Land, a name coined by Chaudhary Rahmat Ali.
However, strong Hindu nationalism gave birth to the Two Nation Theory, an ideology that is accredited as being the basis for Pakistan’s creation. In 1940 the Pakistan Resolution was passed in Lahore demanding greater Muslim autonomy in British India. After World War II, it was expected that the British colonies would soon disintegrate. The Pakistan Movement, spearheaded by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, resulted in creating a Muslim state. Pakistan gained independence from the British rule on August 14, 1947. We became an independent nation, as a result of the vision and sheer struggle of the Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah. The inspiration for Pakistan was also embedded in the thinking of Allama Iqbal, but to make Pakistan a reality required a man as determined and single minded in his pursuit of a homeland for the Muslims but one where every citizen would be free and equal and the nation would move forward on the basis of Unity, Faith and Discipline.
People gave sacrifices of their lives for independence because they could not follow Islam independently and could not perform their religious duties properly in sub- continent. They were punished or disturbed when they perform their religious duties. It offended Muslims but as they were weak nation, they could not do anything. Pakistan came into being after the sacrifices of countless lives. Many of our ancestors lost their lives only for the freedom of their imminent generations, for the sake of independent land where all the Muslims can offer their religious duties with their own wish and freedom. While Jinnah saw women as being a major driving force for national development, and women indeed played a key role in the independence movement, sixty three years later women are still struggling against abuse. Quaid-i-Azam saw Pakistan as an Islamic welfare state but today the poor are becoming increasingly marginalised as the gap between the rich and them increases. Education, which the Quaid saw as essential has lost its significance for successive rulers till we have been reduced to seeing the farce of the ruling elite flaunting their fake degrees while genuine degree holders can barely get employment.
It is not that we have no achievements. Our nation has rallied around and risen from the ashes of one crisis after another. We have achieved goals against all odds including our nuclear capability. Despite economic setbacks, military debacles and a constant cyclical disruption of the state’s political structures we have continued to make progress and keep abreast of global developments, albeit at a slower pace than we could have. This land is rich in resources but these are being depleted and destroyed by a hostile and corrupt state structure and a continuous stream of inept governments. Today, it is the people who with all their suffering continue to be the hope for the green and white. It is the people who always continue to rise to defend their freedom and their country and who always will. As long as there is this nation of Pakistan there will always be hope. After all, we are Pakistan. Let us raise the standard of Unity, Faith and Discipline again.
