Three Pashto proverbs

Let me draw upon three Pashto proverbs to make sense of the current quagmire we are stuck in and how well and smoothly could we possibly steer out of it as a nation of shared destiny. The first proverb says, “Villages cannot be populated through force.” This proverb highlights the limits of using force to get things done. It is always tempting to get quick results that, many people believe, are possible by resorting to caoercive means rather than allowing an organic socio-political evolution. There is every possibility that using force may be effective in short term but it certainly backfires in the long run.

The US used its full military and economic might to stabilise Afghanistan and make it a vibrant democracy, but it miserably failed. The key reason, many analysts believe, was the disproportionate and most often indiscriminate use of force that led to alienation among large sections of the population. Many individuals, who were otherwise pro-democracy, joined the Taliban to avenge their loved ones who were killed by the US in cooled blood.

The US, after spending trillions of dollars and staying put for 20 years, finally left Afghanistan with humiliation. Instead of engaging the Taliban and negotiating with them, the US preferred to use force as a means for nation building. It is, therefore, necessary to use diplomatic and peaceful means to bring about change rather than depend exclusively on force to fix complex social, economic and governance problems.

The second proverb says, “The village (dwellers) laugh at the madman and he laughs back at them.” This proverb, seemingly paradoxical, conveys the essence of divergent perspectives. Life, which itself is full of contradictions, can be better understood by looking at it from multiple viewpoints. An idea, decision or an action, which may appear bizarre to one person, can be perfectly rational and meaningful to another. To understand others, it is necessary to look at things from their vantage point.

A shepherd, for example, while passing through a bazaar, might be thinking that the shopkeepers have a very miserable life as their busyness doesn’t allow them to enjoy nature. How happier and healthier life they would have if they had bought a herd of goats and move around in mountains and the plains according to weather conditions! The shopkeepers, on the other hand, looking at the shepherd having no permanent abode and comforts of modern life, might be feeling pity for him. He would have been advised, if they ever had a chance, to sell all his goats and invest in business so that he could have a peaceful and comfortable life.

Now how can one decide who is right and who is not? It is an unsettling question as it relates to difference of perspective. We all would be better off if we could suspend our judgment about others regarding their beliefs and actions. They may have good reasons that we might not be aware of and therefore we need frequent communication with one another to be able to have better understanding of our commonalities and differences. Let’s embrace each other with open arms and live together as equal but different individuals.

The third proverb is more telling and relevant. It says, “Let bygone be bygone, count the coming waves.” This proverb depicts the audacity of perseverance in the face of failure to achieve something important in life. It is quite natural that setbacks and the hangover effects of history bog down most people. Instead of locking oneself in history, it is essential to learn from it and move on. One cannot undo the history but it is possible to change future for better through careful planning and hard work using the necessary tools.

Lamenting the past hardly makes any difference either to the present or future except that it makes one more lethargic and fatalist. Successful people always try to start all over again if they have not achieved the desired results. Someone has rightly said those who are proud of their ancestors but do not do anything worthwhile now are like potatoes whose best part is underground. Past, both good and bad, is gone; let it be the present and future that should catch our imagination.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2023.

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