The reading list

Critical thought by individuals, criticism of those in authority are not just discouraged, they are stamped out

Last week, the former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi suggested that everyone in the parliament should read George Orwell’s book Animal Farm. I think this is an excellent idea. Mr Abbasi suggested that he is willing to buy some 200 copies of the book for his peers in the parliament. I really wished that he actually had bought the books and distributed them. Who knows, someone might have actually read it. If he is unsure of whether this is a worthwhile investment, I am happy to pitch in for a few copies — I am sure many others will do as well to de-risk his investment. Animal Farm is a classic — allegorically rich and profound in its impact. The book continues to be an endless source of meaning nearly 75 years after its publication in 1945. While I do believe that many in the current government can benefit from reading it, those who occupied the high offices in Mr Abbasi’s government were not entirely angelic in their character either. Just take a look at who got to benefit from the previous government contracts, and it does not take one long to see that some animals were more equal than others.

I think reading Animal Farm is a great idea — but there is a book that is even more apt for the present time. It is by the same author, titled 1984. While Animal Farm was a story of poor governance, chaos and corruption, 1984 has been prophetic in capturing the reality of our time and our state. In 1984, the idea of a “Big Brother” is introduced — one that should be all too familiar to everyone. Private lives of the citizens are regulated and many people are actually fine with this arrangement. In 1984, people are forced to give up their basic rights to a state that seems benevolent on the outside. Critical thought by individuals and criticism of the actions of those in authority are not just discouraged, they are stamped out. You can become an “unperson” if you are not in line. An analysis of recent laws, including those regulating speech in Pakistan seems uncannily similar to what Orwell portrays. Just look who is rounded up and who is let go?

Beyond the current realities in the country, there is also another issue here. Somehow we are unwilling to see big brothers any more. We aspire to become countries where rights of people are eroding — where public criticism of the government is simply unacceptable. The big brothers are not just in government, but also in large corporations. We are equally blind to them. Our current political leaders in science and IT are smitten by the Facebooks and Googles of the world — ignoring the real issues of privacy, civil rights and ethics. Technology can be remarkably empowering, but without a sense of ethics, it can take away our most prized possessions. George Orwell reminds us what happens in a world where such a deep fondness for big brother overtakes all values.

Reading Orwell is a good idea for yet another reason. He talks about the common person — the ordinary citizen, one who struggles and finds meaning in simple things of life, and one who is often on the receiving end of manipulations by power. It is important to read him at this time, when our ministers are more likely to appear in talk shows than in public town halls, when they are more excited to take selfies at movie awards than spend time with the bricklayers in their constituency. Connecting with the common person would do us plenty of good.

In my heart of hearts, I know that few, if any will read Orwell — not because his prose is hard, but because reading is not a priority. But I do hope that the parliamentarians read something that makes them think, reflect and become better. To quote George Orwell — as he writes about Charles Dickens — “if men would behave decently the world would be decent”. We need more decent men in our parliament.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2020.

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