Breaking shackles of the past
Reviewed by M. Rajivlochan

Pakistan: Beyond the ‘crisis state’
Ed Maleeha Lodhi. Rupa, Pages 391. Rs 495.

Whither? This has been a major question for the nation states of South Asia. Associated with it is the feeling that the leaders of South Asia have failed their respective nations and people. India grappled with these issues for 50 years before it embarked on the economic upswing of the 1990s and the noughties. Then the people began to ignore their government except for heaping ignominy on it. Pakistan has begun to mull over this question as democracy becomes stronger in that nation. The present book is part of one such collective wonderment.

The dedication of this book sums up the tenor of the papers that follow: "For the people of Pakistan, who deserve better".

The contributors include some of the most important public intellectuals of Pakistan, a total of 17: Ayesha Jalal, Akbar Ahmed, Muddassar Mazhar Malik, Maleeha Lodhi et al. Between them they discuss many things, including Pakistan’s contortion of history to suit its contemporary Westward leanings, the Islamic turn to a perfectly secular state, the importance of the army as a modernising force in an essentially feudal society, the army’s current inclination towards fundamentalism, the Pakistani struggle with democracy, the increasing involvement of groups other than Punjabis in the governance and army of Pakistan and the impact of such inclusiveness on Pakistan, the constant demand and shortage of superior economic and technical skills for a country on the path to economic growth.

The image of Pakistan that emerges from these essays is that of a vibrant country and people trying to break the shackles of past mistakes. The strengths of Pakistan are identified; its ability to be able to resurrect democracy is noticed. The constant struggle that the institutions of governance have put up against a predominant feudal core is explained. Pakistan’s troubled relationship with India is noticed as also the unfortunate growth of organisations like the Jamaat-i-Islami that brought a bad name to the army and fomented much trouble for the country. The heavy costs that Pakistan has had to pay for the rise of terrorism in South Asia is explained as also the problems that the country has because of its peculiar relationship with America.

India comes in for especial comment for trying to subvert Pakistan’s standing in the comity of nations and also fomenting trouble within Pakistan. In a somewhat left-handed fashion, the Indian secret establishments might take heart that at least some in Pakistan think that their cloak-and-dagger actions are efficient enough to do such mischief. In India at least there are many who doubt the ability of the ‘secret ones’ to do anything let alone mischief that might undercut another nation and influence any western nation.

The repeated assertion by different contributors that governance in Pakistan is incoherent only suggests that Pakistan shares with its other South Asian cohorts this peculiar trait. What most authors fail to mention is that the strength of these nations lies in the ability of the South Asian people to be able to function as reasonable societies despite the many failings of their governments and political leaders. Almost all the contributors notice that a rightward shift in Pakistan, either within the society or within the government, is fraught with unfortunate complications for the future. How this could be prevented is a matter that attracts concern but little is said by way of how to change the course of the future in a constructive direction.

On balance, the very realisation that something is wrong with the present is an important step towards charting the course towards a better future. Unfortunately, it is still believed that the army has to play a key role in achieving that future. As Munir Akram says succinctly: "Pakistan has been a strategically challenged state from the moment of its creation—facing hostility from its separating neighbour, India; gross inadequacies in the military, financial and bureaucratic structures, and a huge refugee influx`85.Several of these challenges are internal—mis-governance, extremism and terrorism, economic stagnation and social breakdown`85.Despite the confused political circumstances and inadequate governance, a start has been made towards confronting some of these challenges. This start—as so often in Pakistan’s history—has been initiated, directly or indirectly, by the Pakistani army".

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