Our Society and Revolution

It has become a common opinion about Pakistani society that it is a corrupted society and everything has gone wrong here, so nothing can be done about it. Some even argue that this nation does not need Islam, and therefore, we do not need any revolution. The talk of revolution everywhere is merely superficial discussion and fanciful speculation.

Societies go through phases of deterioration and improvement. This is a kind of dialectical process, but no society becomes entirely incapable of accepting good and improvement. If it does, it ceases to exist and is destroyed, with its own actions justifying its destruction. This is a principle evident from the conditions of various nations described in the Quran. There is no doubt that we have deteriorated significantly and that almost every kind of corruption has entered our society, but we are not entirely beyond repair as a collective entity.

Here we need to understand what complete corruption entails. Undoubtedly, deviation from principles is a serious problem, and moral decay and other societal issues are various forms of this deviation. However, these are issues that can be addressed. In this context, complete corruption is not merely a deviation from principles but a rejection and denial of them. This level of corruption does not exist among us, and therefore, there is no justification for despairing about the possibility of societal change or revolution.

However, this perception did not arise without reason. Many believe that prolonged collective struggle has not yielded results. While results are indeed important, it is crucial to analyze that the results being referred to are political outcomes. The importance of political outcomes is undeniable, but we must remember that in the context of revolutions, political results are the final outcomes, and several other results precede them.

The political result here is not limited to just electoral results. The history of revolutions is shaped differently from electoral paths, but the main point is that the political result is like the sunrise. Once the sun rises, the focus shifts from the possibility of sunrise to the daylight itself. Similarly, once a revolution occurs, most discussions related to it become irrelevant. From this perspective, seeking and determining results other than political outcomes is more significant regarding the possibility of revolution.

It is evident that the need for unity is felt amidst chaos, and the demand for revolution arises from pervasive corruption. While problems have always existed, they were not so widespread as to break through class boundaries and affect every individual in society. While issues were superficially managed, the system has deteriorated to a point over the past eight to ten years where no one remains unaffected. The universality of this experience is crucial. It is true that lower classes have their grievances and the middle class, traders, and industrialists have their issues, but fundamentally, their experiences are not different. The important thing is that this experience is tangible and solid, and no argument or pretext can counter it. Temporary solutions to persistent problems always lead to the same outcome. However, the noteworthy point here is that this shared experience beyond politics not only justifies revolution but also signifies its possibility.

Alongside this shared experience, the trend of resistance is also important. It is true that currently, there is no visible resistance, but the desire for resistance is present everywhere, and the business community has set a small example of this resistance for various reasons. The government has largely succeeded in breaking and suppressing this resistance, but this success is such that a new form of resistance could emerge at any time.

In these circumstances, it is essential to identify, encourage, and support the process of shared experience and resistance. Without this, the situation will remain fluid, and the necessary force for revolution will not be generated.

Pakistani society is uneven and somewhat complex at the mental level, given its socio-economic background, political divisions, and affiliations. One level and wave of messaging cannot be sufficient, nor will it ever be. Therefore, the forces working for revolution must consider every aspect of these levels. Both idealism and realism are necessary for a revolution. Revolution cannot come solely from idealism or realism; a combination of both is essential. We have experienced extremes in this regard, leading to many problems. The point is that there is a strong possibility of revolution in society because the conditions conducive to revolution have emerged. However, favorable conditions alone are not enough; revolutionary strategy is also essential for a revolution.