Page 20 - Pakistan Link - July 16, 2021

P20 – PAKISTAN LINK – JULY 16, 2021 COMMENTARY
n By Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy What to Learn from China? where the country hopes to be 20-30 years
Islamabad, Pakistan from now. No one takes the Planning Com-
mission of Pakistan seriously.
hen Prime Minister Imran Khan Third, Weber would confirm that strong
categorically endorsed China’s work ethics leads to high labor productivity,
Wline on Uighur Muslims he suc- the backbone of economic growth. Although
cumbed to political expediency: “Because he knew only of Protestant-Calvinist workers
of our extreme proximity and capitalists, the qualities of diligence, dis-
and relationship with Chi- cipline, responsibility, punctuality and hones-
na”, he said, “we actually ty of the skilled industrial workforce extends
accept the Chinese ver- into the cultures of China, Japan, Vietnam,
sion.” A savvier politician Korea, etc.
facing the Chinese media In contrast, Pakistan’s labor produc-
might have tried a little tivity is appallingly low — less than half of
hemming and hawing China’s. Many economists and businessmen
rather than dispense with have pointed out that producing an item in
truth, human rights and Muslim solidarity. high-wage China is cheaper than in low-wage
Still, one must not be too harsh on the PM; Pakistan. Poor productivity owes to poor
any country which owes its life to a power- worker skills and general dissatisfaction. Ex-
ful patron has little leeway. ploitative employers pay minimum wages, ig-
Much loved by some but feared by oth- nore principles of fairness and disallow griev-
ers, China today is an economic superpower. ance mechanisms. But the ethics of workers
Geopolitics changed in 2017 when its GNP are also low. Few take pride in or enjoy work,
shot above that of the US. But what accounts are diligent, or take initiatives. Like our par-
for its phenomenal rise and ferocious prog- liamentarians and professors, most are shirk-
ress? Equally, one may ask: why has Pakistan ers who need to be reminded of their duties.
been on external life support from 1947 on- These poor habits start from Pakistani
ward and barely limped along? The difference schools where kids are forced to focus on
cries out for an explanation. exam techniques and taught just enough to
Max Weber, the 19th-century German get by. Cheat-ing is tolerated. Some parents
sociologist, would have an answer. Since — including those who emphasize religious
his pioneering work, social scientists know everything that American students learn — tory of Kargil-like dead-end adventures and rituals — encourage their children to cheat as
economic growth goes hand-in-hand with but better. Today’s gaokao — the cheating- the military stays clear of trade matters. The a way to get ahead. But, at a still deeper level,
a society’s collective worldview and culture. free university entrance exam — is a carry- warrior ethic is firmly subordinated to the quality education for all is impossible given
Through data-driven research, Weber ex- over from the rigorous exam system (keju) of capitalist ethic. extreme wealth disparities.
plained why Protestants and Calvinists had ancient China’s civil service. In Pakistan’s case, warriors define the In China such disparities had been
far outpaced Catholics in generating wealth Reputed to be the toughest in the world, evened up by Mao’s communism. Although
and industrializing Europe. He concluded gaokao beats even that for various IITs (In- This attitude sets the tone for huge excesses happened in the Cultural Revo-
that progress-friendly cultures demand belief dian Institute of Technology). Unfortunately, education, both in school and lution, education was universalized and hard
in rationality, rule of law, planning, punctual- educated in a memorization-heavy culture work celebrated. China is reaping dividends
ity, deferred gratification, and expectations of steeped in religious matters, most Pakistani university. Knowing that universities from its communist past. Pakistan never saw
reward in this life rather than the next. university professors — including those who are the engines of progress, China any such evening-up. Leaders of the Pakistan
Certainly not how minorities should be are HEC certified and with hundreds of re- is super-careful about who gets Movement — Jinnah and Allama Iqbal (the
treated! But there’s much else that China can search publications — would not clear Chi- admitted. At the level of language, post-1930 Iqbal) included — were staunchly
teach Pakistan. nese university entrance exams. reasoning and math skills, Chinese anti-communist. Some were big landlords
Were he alive today, how would Weber Second, a reborn Weber would see Chi- who saw danger in educating their serfs. Edu-
see China in relation to Pakistan? na clearly defining its national interest with students are expected to know cation was a low priority in 1947 and remains
First, China’s worldview is — like that of economic advancement being at the very top. everything that American students low.
19th-century Protestants — entirely future- As a rationalist-materialist country China learn — but better. Today’s gaokao — Curiously, the country that Pakistan’s
focused and this-worldly. Notwithstanding aims at becoming the world leader in space founders feared and disliked most (after Rus-
the pride Chinese people take in their ancient exploration, brain science, quantum comput- the cheating-free university entrance sia) is now Pakistan’s closest ally. It does bash
science and civilization, there is no deep nos- ers, electric cars, biopharmaceuticals, renew- exam — is a carryover from the its Muslims; the evidence is irrefutable. Yet —
talgia and no calls for Ertugrul-like men on able energy, etc. Five-year plans are followed rigorous exam system (keju) of ancient other than how religious minorities should be
horseback to resurrect some ancient king- to the letter; there is no empty chatter or arbi- China’s civil service handled — China has much to teach Paki-
dom. Whether for good or bad, and whether trary wish lists. stan. Among the most important lessons is
under Mao’s revolutionary communism or At the next level of priority is politics. creating a skilled workforce, giving dignity to
under Xi Jinping’s capitalistic communism, To reunite with Taiwan, China rattles its sa- national interest. Googling ‘national interest’, labor, distributing wealth and public resourc-
the Chinese are a plain, hard-headed lot. bers from time to time. Nevertheless, China- I found occurrences in speeches, university es reasonably, emphasizing birth control,
This attitude sets the tone for education, Taiwan economic links are strong. Taiwanese theses and in National Defense University and encouraging a mindset oriented to the
both in school and university. Knowing that companies have invested about $60 billion publications. All such references were secu- future rather than the past. If Pakistan wants
universities are the engines of progress, Chi- in China, and one million Taiwanese people rity and India related. In this single-minded to break the crutches of foreign dependence,
na is super-careful about who gets admitted. live in China with many running Taiwanese approach, Pakistan-India trade remains hos- that’s the way to go.
At the level of language, reasoning and math factories. The Chinese political leadership tage to Kashmir being resolved on Pakistan’s (The writer is an Islamabad-based physi-
skills, Chinese students are expected to know keeps its military in check. There is no his- terms. Nowhere to be found is a plan for cist and author. Dawn)
Dilip Kumar: He Always Chose to Step up and Speak up

n By Rakhshanda Jalil dence Hindi cinema, Dilip Kumar’s and producers-directors. At a seminal able, organizing food supplies for those
Delhi, India ouvre reflects the social and politi- meeting of the Indian Motion Picture who were going hungry for days as
cal cross-currents of modern India. A Association held at Dilip sahib’s home, communal riots ravaged Bombay, and
s tributes tumble out at the hapless farmer, an outlawed bandit, a several landmark decisions were taken later mobilizing money and legal aid
passing of Dilip Kumar aged fiery student leader, a trade unionist — to break the impasse that gridlocked for those who were unfairly detained
A98 — with Amitabh Bachchan Dilip Kumar essayed the new face of a the industry: actors, it was decided, under the draconian Terrorist and Dis-
going so far as to declare that when new India as it unfolded. If Raj Kapoor would not take on more than three ruptive Activities (Prevention) Act. Of
the history of Indian cinema will be was the loveable tramp, Dev Anand the films (on the floors) at a time, and course, he paid a price for this. When
written, it shall always be “before yodelling Peter Pan, Dilip Kumar was the directors-producers, on their part, Pakistan honored him with its highest
Dilip Kumar and after Dilip Kumar” everyman. would prune the shift timings to more civilian award, the Nishan-i Imtiaz in
— we shall leave it to the film critics Not content with mere stardom, humane hours. 1998, it was met with outrage in a
and the serious student of Hindi cin- Dilip sahib was possibly among the Appointed Sheriff of Bombay cross-section of society, with not
ema to assess his impact on the Hindi earliest Indian actors to lend his star (now Mumbai) in 1980, he worked for merely threats and abuses directed
film industry. For now, let us see him status to a variety of causes — an early the improvement of the city’s infra- against the thespian, but regurgitation
as the man who always chose to step patron of the National Association for structure, giving it the iconic Joggers of the old “Pakistani spy” gossip by his
up and speak up. When the moment the Blind (NAB) who never missed its Park, where he himself went for his old nemesis, the Shiv Seva.
came to speak truth to power, here annual fund-raising train run, he chose early morning walks in later years. As Javed Akhtar puts it best when
was a superstar who chose not to be to lend his name and face to charitable a Member of Parliament from the Ra- he says that there is a virtue that has
content with his superstardom but institutions such as this and the Ali Ya- them from rooftops, before ending jya Sabha, he ploughed the MPLAD become obsolete and that is dignity
to put it good use, as and when re- var Jung Institute of Speech and Hear- at Azad Maidan. All through the late (Members of Parliament Local Area — Dilip Kumar was a personification
quired. ing in Bandra rather than modelling 1950s and 1960s Dilip Kumar, along Development) fund into improving of that virtue. “Eik tehzeeb thii jo kho
Born as Mohammad Yusuf Khan for commercial gain. The film lyricist with Sunil Dutt, also visited troops sta- the Bandstand Promenade and the gayii hai,” he says, ruing a lost culture.
in Peshawar in 1922 in the home of a and director, Gulzar, remembers Dilip tioned at border postings for morale- Bandra Fort area. However, it was the “To be cool, happening and contempo-
fruit merchant, he went on to enjoy a sahib organizing donation drives and boosting interactions with jawans. Bombay riots of 1992 that saw Dilip rary are on the borderline of rudeness.
career in the movies spanning five de- rallies during the Indo-China war that Gulzar sahib also recalls Dilip sahib truly come into his own: turn- Decency, reserve, measure, these have
cades, blessed with a longevity enjoyed began at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, wound sahib stepping up for similar interac- ing his home into a command center become un-cool and obsolete.”
by few of his contemporaries. Along their way through Crawford Market tions for the benefit of the film in- for relief work, rescuing those trapped (Rakshanda Jalil is a Delhi-
with Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand, the and the gullies of Bhendi Bazaar, where dustry, lending his moral gravitas and in burning shanty towns, arranging based writer, translator and literary
reigning triumvirate of post-Indepen- money would be literally showered at serving as a bridge between actors police protection for the most vulner- historian. The Hindu)
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