The unredeemable present

We as Pakistanis seem to prefer existing in escapist, isolated, individualistic reality than face enormity of present.


Amber Darr March 20, 2014
The writer is a Barrister of Lincoln’s Inn and is presently pursuing a PhD at the University of London

Legend has it that in undivided India, sometime in the early 20th century, on their way back from what had been an unsuccessful political rally, Gandhiji and Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar happened to find themselves in the same train compartment. Whilst the Maulana, agitated as he was by thoughts of the futility of the struggle, paced up and down, Gandhiji remained focused on whatever he was writing, seemingly unperturbed by the day’s events.

At last, the Maulana could bear it no longer. He is said to have asked Gandhiji, “Are you not in the least bit concerned about what may happen tomorrow?” Gandhiji is said to have looked up from his work, a calm expression still suffusing his face and to have said, “Indeed, I am worried about both the past and the future, but the present is the only moment available to me and it is here that I propose to focus my energies.”



What the Maulana may have said or thought in response to Gandhiji’s statement is not known. I have heard it said, however, that the text Gandhiji was working on during this journey, culminated in his famous autobiographical account, The Story of my Experiments with Truth. It is perhaps, telling that to the best of my knowledge, the Maulana, despite his significant contribution to subcontinental politics and particularly the Khilafat Movement, did not leave behind a similar account either of his life or struggles.

I thought of this story several times over the last few weeks as I struggled to maintain focus on some of the most tiresome aspects of my PhD. I noticed the number of times my attention wandered and noticed all the trivialities that beckoned me away from the work at hand. I found it almost easier to relive the happy moments of time spent in Pakistan a few months ago or to surrender to the imaginary delights of my next holiday. Almost anything was preferable to the drudgery of the present moment.

It was on one such escapist spree that I came across this quote from The Power of Now by the spiritual German-Canadian writer Eckhart Tolle: “Always say ‘yes’ to the present moment. What could be more futile, more insane, than to create inner resistance to what already is, what could be more insane than to oppose life itself, which is now and always now? Surrender to what is. Say ‘yes’ to life — and see how life suddenly starts working for you than against you.”

It was upon reading this quote that I began to understand Gandhiji’s attitude in that train compartment nearly a hundred years ago. Whilst the Maulana had fretted about what had happened (the past) and what may happen (the future) over both of which he had no control, and had thereby lost the opportunity of meaningfully utilising the time available to him, Gandhiji had accepted the past and had not resisted the future. And simply by doing so, he had made his present most productive for himself.

I was still mulling over these thoughts when the phone rang. It was a friend from Karachi. It was perhaps her determined cheerfulness that forced me to ask the obligatory question about the law and order situation. “Much the same you know,” she said, “But life must go on!”

It was in that moment that I understood the import of the words of Gandhiji and Tolle. I realised then, that we as Pakistanis seem to prefer existing in an escapist, isolated, individualistic reality than facing the enormity of our collective present. Our attitude whilst capable of being explained away as a ‘survival mechanism’ does about as much to shape our future as the Maulana’s agitated pacing. What’s worse, however, is that it wastes the potential of the present moment, which may only be unlocked by an unwavering focus on and responsibility for our present.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2014.

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COMMENTS (5)

Adhitya | 10 years ago | Reply

Thanks Ms. Dar! Just shared this article on my FB Timeline. Rare delight! Keep sharing!

Ratnam | 10 years ago | Reply

Eckhart Tolle is a popular writer. However, he is not any kind of source for these ideas. The notion of "being in the here and now" is at the esoteric core of Eastern philosophy, and lies in the dharmic religions that include Hinduism and Buddhism. No where more clearly is this expounded than in the practice of meditation. The Buddha famously remarked "the past is a corpse, don't drag it around!". Pakistanis can just as well celebrate in the calmness and concentration of Gandhi. We are all part of the same tradition.

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