In support of our elite

While we do need to aim for a general uplift of our masses, we also need to foster the gifted in all spheres.

There is a widespread and unsettling trend in Pakistan to denigrate and castigate our elites in various walks of life. Such a trend is unfortunate and not a desirable one. In world history, outstanding individuals have achieved great heights and forged progress in diverse fields of human endeavour. It is true that the general overall level of awareness and enlightenment in a society is relevant for progress. But the greatest of human achievements have been made possible by the few in number.



Creative geniuses, such as Beethoven, Van Gogh, Toscanini and Shakespeare have enriched human history with their artistic and literary works. Plato and Hegel have attained the pinnacle of philosophical thought. The level of any society is to be assessed by the achievements of its most eminent thinkers, artists, scientists and leaders.

In a column in this newspaper on December 26, 2013, “Disneyland Pakistan”, Ayesha Siddiqa referred to the profiles in a magazine of 100 Pakistani icons ranging from brilliant writers, playwrights, novelists, polo players, fashion designers, actors, singers, models and other leading notables as showing the promising side of Pakistan — these being people who can compare with their counterparts anywhere else in the world.

However, she then goes on to criticise this elite as being involved in manipulating the poor and the dispossessed. While I have high regard for Ayesha Siddiqa’s research and writings on defence matters and security issues, I find her generalisations in terms of class and classes in this particular article hard to fathom. In fact, a large number of other columnists in Pakistan also resort to untenable value judgments in examining society, politics and economics on the basis of class and classes. Such sweeping generalisations from Marxist angles usually overlook the complexities and diversities involved.

In any society or nation, the elite are the fore-runners of progress. They are the ones who break shackles and open up new ground in both thought and action. While we do need to aim for a general uplift of our masses, we need, at the same time, to simultaneously foster the gifted and talented in all spheres. In other words, there should be a raising up and not a levelling down.

While we must definitely raise the standards in our state-owned schools, we also need to foster elite institutions such as Aitchison College, Froebels and Beaconhouse. If we find it hard to raise the levels of our universities in remote areas, we should not shirk in raising LUMS and IBA to world standards. This has relevance in terms of practicalities, financing and potentialities. These are not either/or dichotomies.

It is by promoting and developing a salutary overall mental pattern in our society that we can make it a desirable and progressive one. The overall mental pattern of a society is shaped by the extent to which learning, ethics and universal aesthetics permeate that society. Outstanding individuals are the ones who usually carve out the path to development. A desirable society needs to be an enabling one — not a curbing one. Although opportunities need to be made available to everyone, talented and brilliant persons must be especially encouraged. The elite should not be disdained.

We can be justly proud of our elite in medicine, literature, jurisprudence, administration, the military, art, banking, law enforcement, science and industry. It is largely to them that we owe our progress. It is necessary to further inculcate an enabling environment in which excellence can be achieved and promoted. It is in this manner that worthy examples can be set for emulation by others. Our elite would better enable us to march forward and take our rightful place in the world at large.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2013.

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