The Youth Blog

Celebrating Independence: Between Hope and Despair

• Maryam Azhar
• August 13, 2023August 13, 2023
• 6

Since childhood, 14th August has always been one of my favourite days of the year. I remember picking out a green outfit, placing flags, wearing a little green and white badge on my arm, and blasting national songs all day long. Patriotism cannot be restricted to one day, but this was always the day when it was enhanced for me. The urge to give my everything for my people and my land was intensified on this one day.

This year around, the urge is as strong as ever – perhaps stronger – but there is no excitement and little hope.

I’m sure there are many who feel the same way. This article is essentially an outpour of vent up frustration and pain on seeing my country suffer so much, yet being absolutely powerless to do anything about it. August is a month of celebrations and hope for this nation. However, this August is falling heavy on our shoulders, making us question what we are ‘celebrating’ in the first place.

When I think of celebrating, I stop and think of the 50+ people who lost their lives in an election campaign in Bajaur on 30th July [1]. I think of the hopes and dreams these people would still have had that brought them to the election process – no matter how wrecked – in the first place. I think of how their lives were lost and forgotten, just like the lives of those 200+ Pakistanis who were victims of one of the deadliest accidents in the Mediterranean Sea a little less than two month ago [2]. I think of how suffocating the lives of my fellow countrymen have become.

My celebrations are further hindered by the reality that hundreds of thousands of my people – educated, qualified and full of dreams – have left Pakistan in the last couple of years. I think of how a majority of my own university batch has moved abroad. Those who have not yet, are trying to, or are frustrated that they are unable to. I observe the level of hopelessness and distrust young people with fresh ideas and high energy levels have in the system and their ability to serve their nation. Many of the brightest minds are moving abroad because they are unable to display their talents here. My heart aches at the realisation of my country not only going through a brain drain, but also losing out on future prospects. The hardest realisation is that I cannot even blame any of these people who are leaving.

I still try to bring myself to celebrate, but then I am reminded of the fact that the most popular leader of the country is in jail, and his supporters are not even allowed their constitutional right of protest. My heart goes to those political workers, journalists and civilians who are languishing in jails for the past three months. Many who are still missing. Others who don’t have the right to free trials. My mind stops and wonders whether publishing this particular piece is safe or not? And suddenly, I feel suffocated. I feel unsafe in my own home.

Every inch of my body wants to celebrate MY country. I am still one of those people who cherish this country more than my life. I am still one of those fanatics who would never consider leaving this country. I can be the last voice but I will still chant on the top of my lungs about why this country remains a gem, and we should be proud of it. Yet, in the middle of all this love, somewhere I feel tired and caged. How does one celebrate independence when they feel caged?

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[1] Reference: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/31/pakistan-holds-funerals-as-government-vows-to-hound-those-responsible

[2] Reference: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/22/at-least-209-pakistanis-among-victims-of-greece-boat-wreck#:~:text=Pakistan’s%20Federal%20Investigation%20Agency%20says,sea%20disasters%20in%20the%20Mediterranean.

^{The author is a Management Sciences major from Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and an aspiring civil servant with a knack for writing}.