Dead Poet Society

Throughout the course of history, intellectuals have played a pivotal role in shaping societies. They serve as the embodiment of their respective countries and raise their voices against societal malpractices. During times of turmoil, societies often turn to intellectuals for guidance, even though they frequently face the ire of social and political establishments. Nonetheless, they bravely persist in questioning the prevailing status quo.

To be recognized as an intellectual, one must possess specific characteristics, including original and independent thinking, a diverse knowledge base, socially relevant ideas and perceptions, a connection to society, and, if associated with an academic institution, a scholarly contribution extending beyond classrooms and professional research writings. Additionally, intellectuals should remain unwavering in the face of social and political challenges. Therefore, educated professionals may not necessarily meet the criteria for being considered intellectuals.

History illustrates that several countries have harbored anti-establishment sentiments toward intellectual figures. For example, the United States represented an anti-establishment voice for figures like Noam Chomsky. In India, despite the deep embedding of Hindutva in society, intellectuals such as Romilla Thapar, Irfan Habib, Amartya Sen, and Arundhati Roy have emerged. England has boasted figures like Eric Hobsbawm, E.P. Thompson, and a group of New Left thinkers, while German-American thinker Herbert Marcuse played a significant role in advocating for student revolts during the campus uprisings of the 1960s.

Turning to contemporary Pakistan, there is a noticeable absence of effective and meaningful intellectual discourse. Throughout history, resistance often stemmed from fiction writers, poets, and literary critics. Alongside Progressive critics like Mumtaz Hussain and Mujtaba Hussain, there were those who favored traditional narratives, including Muhammad Hasan Askari, M.D. Taseer, Mumtaz Shireen, and Saleem Ahmed. The battleground of ideas was primarily in the domain of literature.

Writers of prominence from the social sciences, addressing Pakistani socio-historical realities and proposing ways to navigate the country out of its horizontal and vertical conflicts, have been scarce. This analytical and visionary approach was not readily available for political struggles, which, for the most part, remained short-sighted and temporary, failing to propel the country toward loftier democratic goals. The lack of socio-economic analysis compelled political movements to heavily rely on poetry to rally supporters, though this fell short of fulfilling the objectives these movements earnestly sought to achieve. Sociologist Hamza Alavi contended that, in the absence of critical social analysis, poetry tends to function as opium, providing momentary solace and a fleeting boost to the common people.

Regarding the limited intellectual output from universities and the scarcity of intellectuals, several factors can be identified. Public universities operate under stringent official control, with autonomy existing only on paper. The education system, particularly higher education, is directly and effectively controlled by the central government, to the extent that even the curriculum is officially determined. This leaves the majority of faculty with little choice but to adhere to imposed conditions rather than exercising independence and generating original ideas.

Anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of history recognizes the value of critical scholarship and a genuine intelligentsia in society. History itself indicates that, despite the challenges, it is the inherent role of the intelligentsia to carve out a space for itself, formulate original and critical ideas, and establish connections with society. Consequently, the responsibility falls squarely on the intelligentsia to rise to the challenge instead of merely lamenting adverse circumstances.

Courtesy : Express Tribune