The big emotional cost

When it comes to day to day events in the country, I do not always have an insider’s perspective, but a view from the sideline, that is shaped by candid interactions with family, friends, colleagues and periodic visits. I recognise that there are many challenges associated with such a frame of reference, yet it also offers an opportunity to observe things that may not often get attention when viewed from inside.

It is easy to look at economic indicators and come to a conclusion relatively quickly. The economy is not doing well, and has not done well for quite some time. We know well that the population continues to grow rapidly and the resources are getting fewer. There are a whole bunch of other metrics and indicators. But what is often missing in these news stories and indicators is a perspective — measured at different intervals over time — of the emotional health of the society.

In my most recent trip to Pakistan, the real tension in emotions and outlook was palpable. Nearly every student (in high school or college) that I spoke to candidly was frustrated, and many simply wanted to leave the country. I have also observed this with a sharp uptick in the number of applications for aspiring graduate students and post-docs from Pakistan who have written to me in the last few months. The reasons mentioned to me by students were not simply economic or political, they were also based on their own reading of the future of the country. It had nothing to do with their love of the country or their sense of belonging. They all loved the country deeply and were proud of their heritage and identity. It was simply coming to terms with a reality that was staring them in the face. This anxiety also had nothing to do with the political allegiances of the students or their parents. It was across our divisive political spectrum.

It would come as no surprise to anyone that there was anxiety in the marketplace, a real worry about inflation and expenses. Those with modest means were angry at not just the current government, but also with the long reign of injustice that they have experienced under successive governments. This much I was expecting, and perhaps anyone following the news would expect. What I was not expecting was the tense body language, a short fuse, raised voices even in normal conversations, and frayed relationships. I felt that people were increasingly edgy, angry and simply unwilling to trust anything except what came from their political fraternity. Most people I met seemed drained, exhausted and unhappy.

It is not hard to imagine that the emotional toll of the current situation has been high. What is, however, troubling is that there is not enough conversation about the societal cost of this emotional toll. Political leaders are eager to extract maximum personal mileage by raising the temperature. Media houses are cashing in on the high consumption of empty analysis, bombastic rhetoric and the political betting markets. The race is on for the next breaking story and the exclusive report — not about what this frenzy is doing to the emotions, psyche, attitudes and outlook of people. There is no interest taking a step back and talking about the emotional and mental health of the individuals and the communities. Few seem to care that a society that is on the edge is unhealthy and is neither going to be productive nor empathetic. It will also take a long time to heal. Institutions of learning are unwilling or unable to be the place of debate of ideas, and instead are either hyper polarized or oblivious.

Today perhaps more than ever before it is necessary that those of us who have the emotional, physical and financial means to check up on others, including (and especially) those who we strongly disagree with and make sure they are ok. One day, when this all will end, we do not want to wake up and recognise that there is no energy or will left to pick up the pieces and rebuild.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2023.

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