Creativity and innovation are crucial ingredients for the development and prosperity of modern societies. In this regard, the western world is more progressive and flexible because they foster the principle of critical thinking, freedom of exploration and expression, and respect the autonomy and liberty of citizens. In contrast, eastern societies have emerged as repressive, autocratic and stagnant with a dogmatic way of thinking and excessive intrusion in one’s privacy through surveillance. As a result, individual initiatives get badly gagged and at times crushed, leading to societal creativity and productivity evading in the process.
Even if the societies do not turn out to be stagnant, at times they cease to progress because they are moving in reverse. Taking Pakistan for instance, the country continues to move backwards with regard to politics and economics as creativity and innovation remain extraneously missing. Our economy is producing the same low-value exports, and with excessive regulations on economic activity, we are unable to synergise our potential to give our products a competitive edge. Moreover, in the social domain, the hovering concept of conformity to vacuous brands of religiosity and patriotism has heavily impaired our ability to question and think critically. Likewise, dynastic politics has paved the way for political manipulation leading to the erosion of democracy. With such increasing stagnancy, creativity and expression is sucked out of the very heart of our nation. Instead, what lies before us is a populace that is converted into programmed robots and a minuscule minority who struggle to retain their freedom against all odds.
However, the silver lining in this situation is that no matter how much our country remains backwards in innovation and creativity, it has the capability to re-emerge due to young talents and an active civil society. And at this point in time, it is pertinent to call a spade a spade with the narrative that democracy in the country should thrive in letter and spirit, and not under the guise of covert autocracy.
Hadia Mukhtar
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2020.
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