WHEN mentioning Dr. Halil Tokar and his Yunus Emre Institute these days, one thinks of calligraphy, archery, or learning the Turkish language. It’s fortunate that he organized this international conference, which highlighted his focus on cultural and intellectual matters that usually go unnoticed. When Dr. Tokar brought up the topic under discussion, two scenes immediately came to my mind. There are two aspects that require attention. One is related to culture, and the other, you could say, relates to beliefs. The cultural connection can be seen in films and dramas. Nowadays, when a boy and a girl vow to stay together for life, they pinch their necks with two fingers. We saw this trend in Indian films before. This gesture was probably inherited from Western films. The other matter relates to the Sanctity of a Promise and keeping promises, which, sadly, no longer seems important—even among religious people.
Why is this so? Here, I don’t intend to unravel the complexities of human psychology; I just want to make a couple of points. When you delve deeply into the conditions of Muslim societies, one thing becomes clear—a profound and intense sense of helplessness. This helplessness manifests in two ways. The first type is related to the global system, where Western imperialism, for its own benefit, tramples over every good value such as truth, justice and moderation. The second aspect is internal. Internally, despair arises from the fact that powerful classes have taken control of the majority of resources, leading to effects so deep that the condition has become chronic and malignant. While I don’t have the authority to pass judgment, the truth remains that this is the reality. It creates a situation of “an eye for an eye,” which leads to the kind of behaviour we see in our societies. No one cares about maintaining their word, nor does anyone bother about their social and legal responsibilities. In such a chaotic environment, it’s difficult to see others as human beings. People start viewing each other as insignificant creatures. The same level of security that is afforded to insects is what today’s human beings can expect.
The question is, why have these issues suddenly become so pervasive in our lives? The answer is straightforward but somewhat bitter. Whether you see it as a conspiracy or the upheavals of the global system, this system has excluded the Creator—God—from the formation of intellectual, economic and social existence, viewing Him as an obstacle. As a result, both those who believe in God and those who don’t have reached the same level. Non-believers obviously don’t believe, and those who do believe have a superficial belief, like a young person who takes an oath while lightly pinching their neck. Just as this oath doesn’t become a part of their heart and soul, so too is the belief in God. Whether religious or so-called modern people, both are, unfortunately, on the same level. In such a situation, how can we even think of those high values that we lament the loss of?
Now that we have reached this unfortunate conclusion, let’s talk about the topic of this conference. The point is that, fortunately, Pakistan and Turkey are the only two countries on this earth that share many similarities. Because of these similarities, they are almost identical on ideological, social and political levels. In such circumstances, can literary and cultural collaboration pave the way for positive change? Standing on the edge of the thick blanket of despair, only more despair can be spread. But since I watched the famous drama serial Ertugrul Ghazi, a faint ray of hope has emerged. It’s been a long time since someone did something like this; Nasim Hijazi and the late Saleem Ahmed once did similar work. These dramas might have brought about some change, but the dark night of dictatorship and the onslaught of Bollywood swept them away.
Now Ertugrul Ghazi has rekindled hope. You must have noticed how our youth, without fully understanding, proudly associate themselves with the Kayi tribe. The message behind this feeling of belonging is clear—a strong desire to connect with their roots. Before another flood washes away this feeling as in the past, we should solidify this desire on an intellectual level. This work can only be done on a literary and cultural level. I have a list of things that need to be done, but it would be better to organize another gathering like this one in a few days. (Delivered at an international conference on Pakistan-Turkey cultural cooperation, organized by Yunus Emre Institute [Turkish Cultural Centre], Allama Iqbal Open University, and Istanbul University, Turkey.)
—This writer is former advisor to the president of Pakistan, author & mass media theorist.
(farooq.adilbhuta@gmail,com)
