State is meaningless sans purpose

French political philosopher Jean Bodin has said, “The main purpose of the study of history is to understand the state and its functions, not only to understand the needs of its structure, but also to grasp it prosperity and decline.”

Chinese jurists, who gained great influence in the last centuries Before Christ, used to tell the kings that everything and every person should serve the state. Human history has many examples of states that have presented themselves as pioneers of promoting prosperity. Socrates’ goal of sharing wealth was not just to make one class happy, but to achieve maximum possible happiness for the nation as a whole. Emperor Ashoka also seems in one of his inscription wishing for protection, self-control, justice and happiness for all.

The people of the West adopted such concepts centuries later. America’s declaration of independence, originally in 1776, carries the slogan of life and freedom and the pursuit of happiness. The French constitution of 1793 tried to get the new nation to agree on the resolution that the purpose of society is common happiness. British thinker Jeremy Bentham philosophised that a good government is one that provides utmost happiness for utmost numbers of people. All western governments in their duties promise to provide protection, prosperity, justice, science and education and make every possible effort to fulfil it. Ancient Athens also had these two paths. When new deposits of silver were discovered, General Themistocles, also a politician, said it should be used to build 200 new warships. But other people insisted that ten drachma (Coin of Silver) should be distributed to each family.

States are strong when their people are prosperous and happy. The ideal thing is to run the governments in the common interest instead of the rulers’ own interest. Roman scholar Cicero writes, “He who takes care of only one group of citizens and neglects the rest perpetrates to introducing the deadliest element in the city, by which I mean anarchy and hatred.” That is why 4^th US president James Madison says, “All governments depend on opinion. The states appear bigger than tall buildings, mirrors and armies, but they all depend on whether people trust them or not. Keep in mind that heads of states and officials can’t even take breath without proving their privilege.” When asked to sum up his message, famous Russian history writer Nikolay Karamzin said only one word, “Voruiut” meaning “all are thieves”.

If the opinion of the 250 million people of Pakistan about their rulers is sought, their unanimous reply would be no different from Karamzin’s. There will be a very little difference between the majority of our rulers and thieves. A thief looks at everything with enticing eyes and can never be trusted. He never hesitates to take advantage of every opportunity, and never admits himself being a thief. He becomes obsessed with accumulating wealth and that obsession keeps him restless all the time. The more wealth he accumulates, the more his obsession grows. It is impossible to recognise a thief before his deeds. Every thief thinks of himself as the world’s greatest cunning and devious being. While stealing, he thinks he is not leaving any evidence, but in reality he leaves evidences everywhere.

Our 76 years are a witness that we have had to endure a whole baraat of thieves in the form of rulers. We have spent our whole life in the service of these thieves. The funny thing is that we are the ones who had extended the invitation to this baraat of thieves with great respect to rule us. Then obviously, they had the right to enjoy the feats and then steal our everything and run away. If they are the ones who had only decided to keep themselves and their partners happy and prosperous, why should we be angry with them? Why should they be badmouthed? Therefore, by getting angry with them, we should never take the risk of spoiling our health. The sooner we learn to be happy in our sorrows, pains and ruin the better it will be for us. Otherwise no one will be able to stop us from entering the hospital.

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

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