Do people who still choose to delve into the annals of history rather than fritter away idle hours on social media or streaming platforms truly still exist in our society? I believe, unequivocally, yes. While I won’t attempt to quantify their numbers, I’m convinced they endure.
They are the connoisseurs of culture, who identify nations not by the fleeting display of colourful flags, but by the rich tapestry of their social norms, enduring cultural values and the luminous legacy of their literary icons. For them, the question of identity is not merely academic, but deeply serious.
It’s within this evolving landscape that a disquieting piece of news has surfaced regarding some ‘right-sizing’ recommendations that have reportedly been advised to the prime minister, one of which is apparently to merge the esteemed Pakistan Academy of Letters into the National Language Authority, and subsequently, to subsume the latter into the Urdu department of some university.
Identical recommendations have reportedly been forwarded for the Urdu Science Board, Lahore and the Urdu Dictionary Board, Karachi. This proposal is particularly alarming, given the Pakistan Academy of Letters’ considerable reputation, both nationally and internationally, and its established network, comprising a head office in the capital and five provincial branches.
These institutions are far more than mere governmental departments; they are the very national, civilisational, literary and cultural cornerstones of our country. While I refrain from recounting their extensive historical contributions, current activities and potential future achievements in exhaustive detail, one point demands emphatic highlighting: their singularly vital role in safeguarding and perpetuating our national and civilizational conscience.
To acquiesce to or remain silent on such ill-conceived advice would betray a profound lack of seriousness regarding our civilisation, culture and literature, and a reckless disregard for the integrity and solidarity of our youth in the times to come.
The fundamental identity of a nation and a country is primarily forged by its cultured personalities and the enduring institutions they establish. While visionary individuals undoubtedly initiate literary circles and civilisational bodies, it is these very institutions that subsequently assume a pivotal, continuous role in shaping society for successive generations. They are the essential mechanisms for transmitting and fortifying national values among the populace. There is, frankly, no need for extensive brainstorming sessions or grand round table conferences to elucidate the self-evident importance of such institutions for a country and a deeply rooted nation. We are all inherently aware that a nation’s unique identity is inextricably defined by and built upon its civilisation, literature and culture.
Today, a ruthless materialistic approach has become a pervasive tide, completely engulfing the human world. The perceived worth of almost every task or endeavour in our lives is now chillingly determined by its immediate material gain. Consequently, it’s hardly surprising when voices from within bureaucracy or financial establishments advocate for shedding "non-commercial value" to achieve fiscal austerity. This reflects a pervasive tragedy of our modern age: countless minds seem trapped by the financial dimension, unable to perceive the intrinsic value of even the most moral and immaterial aspects of human existence.
While no one can genuinely ignore the material necessities of life, the human being is profoundly more than a mere physical entity. We are endowed with a soul, alongside our physical body. The requisitions of the soul are, in truth, what truly establish and elevate the value of a person within this vast human universe. Should these vital spiritual needs remain neglected or overlooked, there would be no discernible distinction between a human being, an animal, or even an automaton. Indeed, in purely physical terms, an animal or a robot might even appear more ‘beneficial’. A soulless human being carries a chilling potential to be far more ravenous and treacherous than any beast.
The devastating storm of modernism has profoundly impacted our collective existence. When a nation or a civilisation confronts such a tempestuous situation, there seems little recourse but to face its fury directly and patiently endure until it subsides. This predicament resonates with historical wisdom: the eminent scholar Oswald Spengler, observing his own society’s deep immersion in materialistic pursuits, famously pronounced the decadence of the West. Offering a profound guiding principle for survival, another great thinker, René Guenon from France, wisely advised people to preserve the essential seed of civilisation until the storm fully settled, thereby enabling its eventual recasting and nurturing anew.
Significantly, social scientists and educators across Europe and the US have, over the past few years, converged on a critical realisation: an education focused exclusively on disciplines like rocket science, technology, artificial intelligence, statistics and political science is simply inadequate for the new generation. They now emphatically recommend, and often suggest it be made mandatory, that young people be thoroughly introduced to literature, art and the social sciences throughout their educational journey. This, they assert, is the only truly effective pathway for the younger generation to cultivate a vital emotional acquaintance and connection with other human beings.
Our current educational system is woefully inadequate, failing to align with the crucial requisites of our time. In this already precarious context, the reported plan to merge the Academy of Letters, National Language Authority, Urdu Dictionary Board and Urdu Science Board into the Urdu department of some university is a profoundly damaging decision. This move is nothing less than an open attempt to crush and demolish national institutions that have, for five decades or even more, diligently and tirelessly promoted literature, art and culture across this country.
Every sane individual understands that the world’s civilisations are currently engaged in a strenuous struggle. They are, quite literally, working on a war footing to keep their individual identities intact within this rapidly shrinking global village. The relentless tide of time is revealing a new, constantly shifting scenario. It requires little imagination to envision the direction in which the human collective of this global village is heading, and the kind of life one is destined to lead ahead. If one feels any genuine connection to their civilisation, supporting it in one form or another becomes an inescapable imperative.
Yet, in stark contrast, our bureaucracy and political establishment are paradoxically planning to merge these vital institutions merely to cut their budgets. It is a truly lamentable situation, a profound pity, that while the government readily purchases and nurtures white elephants, the meagre budget of a few sparrows, these invaluable cultural entities, is deemed expendable.
While it is indeed saddening that the bureaucracy may lack the foresight to fully recognise the importance of such institutions, the political government, at the very least, must acknowledge their irreplaceable role. After all, they are equipped with experts and advisors specifically to guide them on such delicate and far-reaching issues.
I vividly recall Senator Irfan Siddiqui addressing this very matter in the National Assembly. He courageously advised the government to refrain from such a decision, warning explicitly that it would not only cause significant harm to the nation internally but also irreparably tarnish the country’s image on the world stage. The senator not only accurately judged the immense gravity of this issue in a timely manner but also articulated his concerns without any reservation whatsoever.
We must pay close attention to the voice of time and endeavour to visualise the critical situation we, as a civilised nation, are about to face. We must make sincere, collective and unwavering efforts to protect, strengthen and allow our civilisation to flourish at any cost. This, and this alone, is the only way we can effectively preserve the invaluable seed of our national and civilisational identity for future generations.
The writer is a writer and poet, and a member of the Board of Governors of the Academy of Letters, Pakistan.