Time travel

There are some people in every era and every area who have been gifted with special skills of wisdom, extraordinary knowledge and intelligence. Such great people struggle hard to serve humanity but also love to share their lifelong experiences with others in the form of books. These widely read books are in fact guidelines for everyone who wants to be succeeded in achieving life goals.

Kautilya Chanakya, belonging to present-day Pakistan’s historical city Taxila, is an ancient philosopher whose wisdom is being acknowledged throughout the world, despite the passage of thousands of years. He was the actual king maker and man behind the successes of the great Hindu ruler, Chandragupta Maurya. The great legendary philosophe had also transferred his knowledge to next generations in the form of books, 'Arthashastra' and 'Chanakya Neeti'. Today, in the modern era, there are many international institutes which are busy in doing research on his applicable teachings.

Whenever, I visit a shopping mall or some other public place, the presence of CCTV camera forces me to pay tribute to the great legendary English novelist and journalist George Orwell. Exactly seven decades ago, he presented the concept of surveillance through in his novel 'Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)”.

Orwell, in a very brilliant and unbelievable way, presented his vision of the future which still unsettles and provokes in today’s digital era. He predicted that the world would be divided into three superstates after 35 years in 1984, namely Oceania (present day US, UK and West), Eurasia (present-day Russia) and East Asia (present-day China).

The story revolves around Winston Smith, residing in London. The city is located in Oceania, a fictional superstate whereas the state is governed by the Party, led by Big Brother. Contrary to their names, the hidden functions of the Ministry of Love is actually to harass and torture people. Similarly, the Ministry of Truth is spreading propaganda and distorting history.

According to the novel, there is rigid control of the ruling party on each and every matter. Everywhere large-sized posters warn that “Big Brother is watching you”. The focus of government policies is to present a fabricated history to the people. The novel highlights that the Party, which enjoys absolute political control in the present, used to interpret past events to achieve desired results in the future.

The main character, Winston Smith, works with the Ministry of Truth in the Records Department. The tasks assigned to him are rewriting the history for propaganda purpose. The Party is using such kind of distorted history for polluting the minds of innocent people, and ultimately fulfilling the agenda to maintain the authority. After finishing the novel, some questions are started rising in my mind. Aren’t today’s powerful countries also trying to control the people of third-world countries through propaganda, harassment and exploitation?

No doubt, God showers His blessing on some people in the form of creativity and wisdom. Anyone who uses the power of the pen in the right way enjoys great respect, dignity and honour in the eyes of the public. Similarly, other people who set their directions on the basis of their advice are ultimately succeeded in achieving their targets.

Pakistan has also been blessed with many visionary personalities. Although some of them are acknowledged after their demise, unfortunately, it is a national tragedy that we have failed to utilize their talent and God-gifted skills in an effective and efficient way. The reasons, as I analysed, are nepotism, insecurities, ego, professional jealousy and what not.

The world amid the Covid-19 outbreak is changing very rapidly. We must understand that in order to move Pakistan towards peace and prosperity, there is a dire need to avail the selfless services of visionary personalities. The presence of intellectuals in government ranks would obviously be beneficial for the country and nation. The honest opinion of journalists, intellectuals and writers must also be considered at the time of policymaking processes.

The writer is a member of the National Assembly and patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council.

Twitter: @RVankwani