Whitlam’s legacy
Our society does not need a free laptop scheme, it needs access to quality education
Gough Whitlam is not a household name in Pakistan. I had never heard of Gough until about two years ago. My introduction to his views and his impact came through my interactions with my Australian colleagues who are engaged in global public health. These fine men and women from Down Under are working in far-off lands in Asia, Africa and Latin America with a mission to make life just a bit more equitable for the most vulnerable, to bring quality healthcare to those who are stuck in vicious cycles of global and local poverty. I will also add that among the countries that continue to punch well above their weight in global health and global development, Australia ranks among the very top. The commitment, innovation, engagement and global social consciousness are both, inspiring and contagious.
Good, but so what did Gough have to do with any of this? It turns out that Gough Whitlam, who became prime minister of Australia in 1972, leading the Australian Labour Party to victory for the first time in 23 years, had a role to play in shaping the higher education landscape in the country. Despite the fact that he remained in office for barely three years, he changed the Australian higher education system forever. Soon after coming to office, his government eliminated the university fees altogether, thereby, creating an unprecedented opportunity for the social sectors that previously could not afford to get higher education. The working class Australians, for the first time, could now go to university and be a part of an engaged, learned and innovative society. Coming from poorer parts of the country, many of these young men and women had a passion for development, poverty alleviation and equity. These brilliant minds, through this opportunity, have done incredibly profound work around the world, in creating a more just world. Many of my colleagues engaged in global public health and development, who have been a source of deep inspiration for me, owe their education and training to Whitlam’s government. They would not have had the chance to impact the world, had it not been Whitlam and his government. Whitlam’s model of higher education in Australia has evolved over the years, but the essence remains the same to this date. University, according to him, must be accessible to all who show passion for learning and an aptitude for knowledge.
In many ways, Pakistan is not like the Australia of 1972 — many of our problems are unique. The security situation and the deeply rooted intolerance is, unfortunately, unprecedented. But in many ways, our problems are also similar. Many of the youth are unable to make a mark on society because of limited access to quality higher education. The social and economic barriers are becoming insurmountable for vast sectors of society. Our bright young men and women, in the absence of government support for education and high inflation, are not reaching the heights they are capable of reaching.
Our society does not need a free laptop scheme for a select thousand children in a country of 200 million, for shameless publicity. Our society needs access to quality education, where mentors and teachers engage, motivate and develop students for a challenging world within and outside Pakistan.
Perhaps, the biggest lesson for our politicians lies in taking a long-range view of history, should they bother to study it. It does not matter whether one stays in power for long or not, it is the vision and the deep passion for doing the right thing that bends the arc of history. Whitlam’s government did not stay for long. In an unprecedented constitutional crisis, which continues to be a black mark on Australian politics to this day, he was dismissed in 1975 by the then governor general. Yet, despite the short duration of his rule, the long-term impact of his policies on education, immigration, universal healthcare, human rights and land reforms for the marginalised, made Australia a better place and gave Australians an opportunity to shape the world for the better.
Gough Whitlam died last week. His enduring legacy lives on.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2014.
Good, but so what did Gough have to do with any of this? It turns out that Gough Whitlam, who became prime minister of Australia in 1972, leading the Australian Labour Party to victory for the first time in 23 years, had a role to play in shaping the higher education landscape in the country. Despite the fact that he remained in office for barely three years, he changed the Australian higher education system forever. Soon after coming to office, his government eliminated the university fees altogether, thereby, creating an unprecedented opportunity for the social sectors that previously could not afford to get higher education. The working class Australians, for the first time, could now go to university and be a part of an engaged, learned and innovative society. Coming from poorer parts of the country, many of these young men and women had a passion for development, poverty alleviation and equity. These brilliant minds, through this opportunity, have done incredibly profound work around the world, in creating a more just world. Many of my colleagues engaged in global public health and development, who have been a source of deep inspiration for me, owe their education and training to Whitlam’s government. They would not have had the chance to impact the world, had it not been Whitlam and his government. Whitlam’s model of higher education in Australia has evolved over the years, but the essence remains the same to this date. University, according to him, must be accessible to all who show passion for learning and an aptitude for knowledge.
In many ways, Pakistan is not like the Australia of 1972 — many of our problems are unique. The security situation and the deeply rooted intolerance is, unfortunately, unprecedented. But in many ways, our problems are also similar. Many of the youth are unable to make a mark on society because of limited access to quality higher education. The social and economic barriers are becoming insurmountable for vast sectors of society. Our bright young men and women, in the absence of government support for education and high inflation, are not reaching the heights they are capable of reaching.
Our society does not need a free laptop scheme for a select thousand children in a country of 200 million, for shameless publicity. Our society needs access to quality education, where mentors and teachers engage, motivate and develop students for a challenging world within and outside Pakistan.
Perhaps, the biggest lesson for our politicians lies in taking a long-range view of history, should they bother to study it. It does not matter whether one stays in power for long or not, it is the vision and the deep passion for doing the right thing that bends the arc of history. Whitlam’s government did not stay for long. In an unprecedented constitutional crisis, which continues to be a black mark on Australian politics to this day, he was dismissed in 1975 by the then governor general. Yet, despite the short duration of his rule, the long-term impact of his policies on education, immigration, universal healthcare, human rights and land reforms for the marginalised, made Australia a better place and gave Australians an opportunity to shape the world for the better.
Gough Whitlam died last week. His enduring legacy lives on.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2014.