Pakistan, a Nation of Resilient People

Guest Blog by Farrah K Raja

I write this with great pride, Pakistan homeland to Muslims. I want to thank Mohammad Ali Jinnah for leading the Muslim nation and negotiating on their behalf, convincing the British as to why Pakistan is so important for Muslims living in India.

Sentiments and emotions are important; Muslims of India never lacked it, they were failing to present their case objectively to the British.  Jinnah was that bridge, determination, courage and his sincere efforts, strength of character forced the British to listen to him.

Miraculous within a short period of 1906 when he started the political carrier to 1947 he had finally succeeded in getting Pakistan. No other nation has been so fortunate, so determined, so focused and so passionate to get a free homeland as were the Muslims of India, before even boarding the trains people knew they could possible be dead but so much was the passion and valour of people it did not deter them to board the those trains to Pakistan, many were not fortunate to reach the destination but that is not important, what is important is that they boarded the trains to free country, they had hopes, dreams and passion to live a free life. They died as free people that is what is so important.

Being a citizen of Pakistan, and being a woman citizen of Pakistan I am so proud of this country. It has given me so much, the love, the warmth, the humanity, the neighbours, the streets, that we have progressed. In the journey from 1947 we have made a number of sacrifices but despite all the odds we have progressed beyond even our wildest imaginations

We are not tired even as yet, we have not given up hope, our people have potential and we will continue to move forward, some of the challenges thrown at us have been beyond comprehension, but our resolution to raise our head high will empower us to strive ahead.  We are defiant and Pakistan is a huge country, the only country in the world created for the Muslims out of a political struggle of Muslims. No wonder we have the toughest challenges.

We lost Bangladesh; with a sad heart we were forced to accept that as a fact. The People of Pakistan are united, sectarian, political, ethnical and regional differences make us Pakistan. It is this vibrancy that brings us different point of views yet we laugh together and join to celebrate our Eids, our Ramadan, our prayers and our faith unites us with whole of Muslim world.

We have been put to test, Liaquat Ali Khan was shot dead in political rally, our head of state with top generals, Gen Zia died in a mysterious plane crash, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged and later Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in broad daylight, despite all this we continue to survive. We have together survived a number of calamities, the floods from Chenab to Ravi, the terrible earth quakes of Quetta and Kashmir and we have also survived the Kalashnikov-cum-drug culture from Afghanistan. We have survived sanctions from USA. We may be a little battle worn tired, but survivors nevertheless

We are not a third world country, people do not sleep hungry on footpaths. Nowhere else but only in shrines of Pakistan one gets free food, flowers and free love, everyone from a mother to a father, to a neighbour, everyone is so ready to help each other.  This well wishing and open heartiness, this love, we will continue our journey, tough times never last but tough people do.

We are not terrorists, nor extremists, neither a failed state. We work for peace ,our army has served in United Nations for peace keeping around the world.  Believe in yourself, and work for your own right a collective goodness will emerge. We may sound difficult, proud, arrogant, but I like that opinion and differences is what makes us human being.

I am so hopeful for this nation, I am so proud of Pakistan. I am not afraid or ashamed of anything, everything is mine everything is ours with our weakness ,with our strengths .As long as we keep acknowledging them and keep moving.  This is our journey of progress do not be afraid of challenges and turmoil, we will out last them. As Jinnah did.