Jashn e Azadi in Perspective

Waiting in the car while my sister went shopping today, what i did was to introspect about the reasons of our plight of moving away from nationalism, as i saw the small stalls everywhere around me, green flags hanging in variety of sizes, but nowhere did i see the crowd of buyers, no annual azadi splurge could be witnessed. The former traditional shopping mania in bazars was missing. The Stalls that have been abandoned now, in the days gone, used to be occupied by small kids ready to empty their pockets in the fervour of Celebrations of AZADI.

It got me nostalgic, remembering how JASHNE-I-AZADI had been celebrated in my childhood. Rising early in the morning and be dressed, pinning that little Pakistani flag badge on our chest portraying image of an army soldier with prompted perception of dignity of a real patriot. It was a celebration considered no less than EID. Hugging and wishing “AZADI MUBARAK”, greetings through cards to friends, buying the crispy green jhandiyan and hanging the dainty layers in every corner of the street in commemoration and celebration of the great event.

Even after knowing that a spell of rain was obligatory on every 14th August, our futile efforts continued breaking our backs, climbing up the poles and trees.. We kept praying 'oh Allah! let the rain go away and make it come another day because all our preparations would be in vain.' We couldn't stand the wet flags dangling and falling down making a mess in the street, getting crushed under the feet of passersby.

Pakistani flag was considered sacred and holy. Even while decorating we were not to let the Pakistani flag drop down because we used to make believe it was Sinful, in the event it ever had mistakenly dropped, we'd pick up and kiss it and clean it until we were satisfied to have been forgiven. It was a real sorrow and pain to see the flags scattered around. It was the purity of our beliefs that we respected even the flag of our country so much back then, where now even human lives are not paid any respect and are falling mercilessly on the grounds and buried under the ruthless walk and crushing of the same humans. It just aches my heart.

Down the memory lane, I remember the zeal, zest and youthful exuberance with which we used to plan for the glorious Azzadi celebrations. The Azzadi countdown on national Television starting from 1st till 14 August. Those 14 days seemed like an eternity, how we craved for that day just to come in a blink of an eye.

PTV always added a little spice to our celebrations, listening to those patriotic milli songs full of vigour and then practicing them to sing on the special day. Those long awaited azadi films and documentaries based on the life of Jinnah and partition infused a wave of fresh blood in the bodies in the context of occasion and event.

The emotional and motivating screenplays which would shake our souls and are still fresh in our memory and hearts. Oh how we're missing all these little things today in the glimpses of mirror. The times were different when you used to hear poetic verses and motivating speeches and see Ceremonial Parades on TV vis-a-vio reminding us of the strength that bestowed us with the countless blessings in the manifestation of liberty through independence .

Now a days TV channels don't seem to care two pence and just don't pause to ponder about the importance of nationalism upon its youth but rather emphasis on celebrating it in such a way it no more gives a feeling of patriotism. No intellectual, informative and education imparting discussions are witnessed on TV channels anymore. In fact the distorted information and clichés are displayed in the name of Independence day celebrations. Channels are rather busy getting higher ratings. Competing in the race of 'who shows more violence and cover and shows more jalsay and rallies and heated debates on pathetic talk shows.

Pooh, pooh! the days of yore. A lot has changed just in a few years time. Pakistan has gone through a tremendous change towards tabdeeli. Imran khan is right when he says 'Tabdeeli aeygi nahi tabdeeli a gai hai'. Certainly, the ploy of politicians has been successful in bringing the notorious and so-called change as we complied to their wants. Our hearts and minds have been deviated and directed to an different and indifferent directions.  Expostulating which, I urge every Pakistani, not to fall for these dirty political tricks of these so called leaders and get back your hearts and mind attached to one green flag, which is waiting for your hands to fly high. Let it fly for it has not been profiled at the pedestal it ought to have been.

The one day which has now been devoted to carry out rallies and chaos, the  youth indulged in getting their bikes ready with silencers out, prepare banners and slogans and practice chanting 'NAYA PAKISTAN, Sheikh ul Islam INQILAB Zindabad, Sher aya sher aya, BHUTTO KHAPPAY', rather then the long forgotten 'PAKISTAN ZINDABAD'.  This depicts a picturesque as menace and hindrance to country's development. The parading roads have been turned into Awam's Marching Roads, where buying a flag now is even a trouble. We have to make choices between two flags, because the divisions have clearly been made within us. One can either hold their party flag or that of their country and obviously they chose the former because sadly it has become our real identity now.

I yearn and pine for the day when we will celebrate 14th August once again with the same vigor, hoping for a prosperous Pakistan. Our hearts no more feel happy when the day arrives we just keep praying with our hearts terrified to get rid of all these vultures who are keeping an eye on the remaining resources and beauty of Pakistan.

I wish our hearts would turn and bleed green too, like the stalls around us still do.