A depressing read, after all award winners are supposed to represent the best of Pakistan’s citizens. Incompetent award winners set negative role models for the next generation.
Q Isa Daudpota
For getting things right, it is best to check with people who have been doing them the longest. When it comes to recognizing citizens for their outstanding service to the country and for excelling in their fields of competence it is Britain where the buck stops. They started this business in the 14th century and have been at it since.
In the United Kingdom, honours are awarded twice a year, in June and at the New Year; about 1,500 awards each time. Most are made in the Order of the British Empire with some 15% at the highest levels (CBE and above). They are awarded for all types of service including to: those in the public services - police officers, teachers, nurses, doctors; arts practitioners and administrators - actors, musicians, painters etc; sports men and women; industrialists and trade unionists; scientists; journalists and broadcasters; diplomats and those giving service to United Kingdom interests abroad; the Armed Forces; but by far the largest number of awards go to those providing services to their local communities, mainly volunteers.
It is the italicised conclusion that needs our attention, as this group of people is largely neglected in our country.
In a recent article I described how certain individuals had refused national awards while others lobbied hard to be recognized. Otherwise pillars of propriety sink to varying depths to appear in front of the President and have him put a piece of metal (sic) around their neck or stick it on their breast pockets. Quite frankly, I am all for good people being honoured, but the stories one hears make the procedure leading to an appearance in the Presidency rather suspect.
A little investigation revealed the method adopted by Punjab for assessing the suitability of potential award-winners. Its Information Department receives nominations from individuals and other government departments, which are forwarded without sufficient analysis and verification to a scrutiny committee, comprised of elite experts and bureaucrats, headed by the Additional Chief Secretary. It is unlikely that other provinces operate differently.
An (unconfirmed) example may give an idea on the committee’s workings. Recently a well-known singer (influenced by maestro Mehdi Hassan but well-regarded in his own right) was nominated. It is rumoured that a well-known committee member opposed this person’s name “because the singer had refused to sing free of cost for him”. It is of course likely that there were genuine reasons for the rejection, but if there be truth in the allegation then a probe is called for.
The Punjab Committee recommends names to the federal government, where awards are finally assessed. Often, the Chief Minister sends names of his favorites at the last moment directly to Islamabad. Shouldn’t we be protesting such last minute ad-hoc decision making?
The high level committee in the capital is headed by the federal secretary for culture, with dynamics that ape those of the provinces. It merely assesses a larger number of countrywide aspirants.
According to a high-ranking official in the Punjab government, getting an award ultimately boils down to lobbying with the high and mighty in the provinces and following up in the capital. For them the “sherwanied” 30 seconds of fame standing in front of the head of state must seem truly worth it!
If Mirza Ghalib (South Asia’s long-deceased great poet) were to have been nominated for an award, quipped a Net-acquaintance, somebody else would get it! The master just wouldn’t have pushed it through the merit-assessing bureaucracy.
Our country desperately needs living heroes and heroines who can become role-models for us --outstanding individuals who are recognized and lauded by the state. Our icons shouldn’t be restricted to the ever-green trio of Messrs Jinnah, Iqbal and Ms Jinnah. Also not every new building, airport and park need be named after them - they wouldn’t have approved!
To learn to do better the award committees should look hard at how the Brits handle their greats. Maybe then we will move beyond the few overly used national icons.
The writer is a physicist and writes on education, environment, IT and science. He is with the Beaconhouse National University, Lahore