A Wind of Change Blowing against Elitism
By Khalid A.
London , UK
I want to narrate to your readers ‘A Tale of Three Centuries’ starting from 1815 to 1979 and finally to 2010.
When Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon in the historic Battle of Waterloo in 1815, he declared, “The battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton”.
Eton is an expensive and prestigious private school (established 1440), much favored by the elitist class. Those were the days when being an Etonian facilitated one’s rise to higher ranks in civilian and military careers. Duke of Wellington was an Etonian.
Today, in Britain, a wind of change is blowing against elitism. Mr David Cameron who is the leader of the Tory party and is very likely to become the next Prime Minister, is also an Etonian. It may surprise your readers to know that his link with Eton is considered as a stumbling block for his political ambitions. He has been openly and repeatedly apologetic about his elitist background. Most politicians here promise that they would be sending their children to State schools rather than private schools. The rich are considered “filthy rich” and most of them are too embarrassed to put their wealth on display. They reassure others about their humble backgrounds and excess wealth is generously being donated towards charitable causes.
It is expected of the British political leaders to be rubbing shoulders with the common man. Mr. David Cameron rides a bicycle daily to go to the Parliament. Mr. Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, also rides a bicycle. A few years ago I read a column written by Boris Johnson who was an MP and also wrote for the Daily Telegraph. It was his interview with David Cameron. The entire interview took place when both of them were riding their bikes while on their daily journey to the Parliament. Both were blissfully unaware of their surroundings, unabashed about their tiny bikes surrounded by big expensive cars. What a breath of fresh air, in the stuffy atmosphere of the political world!
This brings us to the question of whether this wind of change will cross the frontiers to reach distant lands.
Here, I recall the ‘historic’ day of 20th Nov 1979 when President Zia ul Haq announced that he would ride a bike in Rawalpindi for ‘one journey’. The entire civil and military establishment was mobilized for the ‘great’ occasion when ‘Mehmood and Ayaaz’ were expected to rub shoulders. The people were supposed to have tears of joy in their eyes that the great monarch has joined them in the streets. That would be the day they would narrate to their grandchildren for years to come! But lady luck was looking in a different direction. A few hours earlier there was an armed attack inside the Holy Kaaba in Mecca. As usual, Pakistani clerics declared that the said incident was an American conspiracy. A violent mob was quickly mobilized to attack the US embassy. The embassy was set ablaze while the staff was trapped inside and faced almost certain death.
The entire government machinery was busy with the Presidential bicycle ride. All the top brass had gone to watch the show from their ring side seats. All attempts to contact the top brass by telephone failed (mobile phones did not exist then). A lady CSP officer was able to contact her brother, a Lt Col in Martial Law Administration and his frantic efforts to reach the top brass saved the day. A ‘sweating’ President Zia rushed to address the nation on Radio/TV, to calm their nerves and to declare that America had nothing to do with the sad incident in Mecca.
Will Pakistan ever enter the golden era wherein ‘Mehmood and Ayaaz’ will really rub shoulders, not for 5 minutes during prayers, but as part of everyday life? Let me assure your readers that such a day will surely come. I have seen its seeds in the transformed behavior of British Pakistanis who refuse to salute anyone for his wealth alone, who do not put their own wealth on display, and who are proud of their humble beginnings. They shun the apartheid of elitism and have discovered that such an attitude leads to a less stressful life, resulting in less greed and lesser jealousy. This description is true for their ladies, as well. Yes, I have a dream!
“ Lazim hai, keh hum bhi dekhain gay.”
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