When slogans are hollow and meaningless
Friday, 27 November 2009
Shamsher Chowdhury
FOR weeks now I had been seriously pondering over the media hype by a select few agencies of both the electronic and the print media on the pet slogan of the time -- 'Time to change' or 'Now is the time to turn around'. The much-hyped slogans are carried in bill boards at some major intersections and erected on the sides of main thoroughfares in the city. Slogans and propaganda materials do have their own purpose and objective. But if drummed up as a political weapon, it often losses its purpose and turn out to be counterproductive.
The much-hyped slogan appears to me, to be, carefully choreographed between a powerful section of the media and the present ruling party. As much as there is an urgent need to change ourselves into a better bunch of people, the fact remains when viewed against realities on the ground they appear to be too utopian and hollow. Besides, the success of any slogan to be meaningful in the eyes of the public at large depends on the sponsors and the propagators, in this case the ruling party and the concerned media Gurus.
One of the core message of the slogans being eradication of corruption, my point is, are all those behind such much-hyped slogans themselves completely free of any form of corruption materially or otherwise? Are these people beyond any reproach and of impeccable character?
I am of the view that in time to come these lofty slogans would die a natural death without having any impact on the people whatsoever. Corruption is only a part of the gigantic problems faced by the society at large in Bangladesh. Besides, it happens to predominantly present amongst a segment of the population belonging to the so-called rich and the powerful, and the neo-rich more than the others. Under the circumstances, the truth of it all, is that it will take more than mere slogans to act as agents of triggering a social movement for change. Without a pronounced commitment on the part of the government and the political parties there can be no real changes, let alone heightened slogans of any kind. Do you really see that forthcoming? I do not.
Let us now turn our attention to some of the progress that we have achieved without recourse to any kind of slogans and propaganda exercise. There have been noticeable developments in our overall communication systems including the information technology (IT) sector. We have made progress, too, in the readymade garments (RMG) sector, the trickle-down effects of which have also touched a certain section of our poor and the disadvantaged. There has been a phenomenal growth in the construction industry, particularly in constructing of high rise multi-purpose multi-complexes. However, of late, experts have opined that it failed to take into consideration the environmental concerns of the metropolitan cities in particular. There might be a few more that I might have overlooked since this might distract my attention from the present topic of my discussion. I do not wish to proceed any further on this particular aspect.
Despite all that, there are a number of key issues of critical importance that have impeded our development particularly in the field of education. Ponder for a while the state of our education from primary levels and beyond. If anything, it has been continually on the downward swing. Education and educational institutions have turned out to be mere tools of obtaining degrees and not learning as such. So bad is the progressive regression, try to converse with a university graduate of today, with the exception of a few, you are bound to be disappointed. I have come across many matriculates of the pre-independence days to be better informed individuals, compared to the many university graduates. So bad is the state of our educational institutions that prospective students, seeking higher education, are rushing to private universities which they prefer only because they are free from political pollution compared to the public universities caused by vandalism of the so-called student cadres of various political parties including the ruling party of today? Not only that public universities are infested with teachers who are lackeys of different political parties Trust me; the prevailing scenario is simply dismal. Frankly I see no possibility of turning things for better in any foreseeable future. It will take more than slogans to put things back on the right path. I believe, what we need is a firm commitment on the part of the administration and the political leaderships of the country. Rosy and progressive-looking policies alone will not trigger a reversal for better relating to the existing pitiable state of our education.
What of the judiciary? Has it been functioning independently since we gained our independence? Judiciary is the most important functionary of a country anywhere in the world. Here in this country the judges and not justice appear to be the dominant factor in the Judiciary. I guess it is sacrilegious talking about our judges one way or the other. Not too long we had a judge who had a fake certificate of a degree in law. Remember the highly controversial ex-judge who once headed our Election Commission? He was not only unduly arrogant but also was charged of defalcation of state funds and working away beyond the jurisdictions of his authority. Relevant to the prevailing status of our judiciary I would like to make a remark once made by that famous American Lawyer Robert Ingersoft: "A government founded on anything except liberty and justice cannot stand."
A proper judicial system alone is capable of guaranteeing human rights, dignity and the worth of human person, whereas, often our judiciary tends to put emphasis on judges and not justices. This leads us to the vital question of selection of Judges. With reference to this, I would like make an oblique reference to what once Winston Churchill had in the House of Commons said: "Judges are required to conform to standards of life and conduct far more severe than that of the ordinary people." More than this I cannot say at this point of time.
Over the years there have been no changes for better in our law enforcing and intelligence agencies. They have been famously known for all round corruption, indulgences in all forms of tortures of people in their custody etc.
The state of our public services organisations like the Municipal Corporations, Department of Land Administration and the BRTA, if anything are despicable.
One might question as to what relevance has all this with slogans? I say there is every relevance if we the people are to change for better, it is imperative that the government and its key institutions/functionaries delivering slogans alone will not do the job. Has the administration been able to deal effectively with corrupt elements within its management structures? On top of it, if I may say so, peoples' confidence and trust is at its lowest rung ever.
I say, "Physician heal thyself", before anything else.
The writer can be reached at e-mail: chowdhury.shamsher@yahoo.com
FOR weeks now I had been seriously pondering over the media hype by a select few agencies of both the electronic and the print media on the pet slogan of the time -- 'Time to change' or 'Now is the time to turn around'. The much-hyped slogans are carried in bill boards at some major intersections and erected on the sides of main thoroughfares in the city. Slogans and propaganda materials do have their own purpose and objective. But if drummed up as a political weapon, it often losses its purpose and turn out to be counterproductive.
The much-hyped slogan appears to me, to be, carefully choreographed between a powerful section of the media and the present ruling party. As much as there is an urgent need to change ourselves into a better bunch of people, the fact remains when viewed against realities on the ground they appear to be too utopian and hollow. Besides, the success of any slogan to be meaningful in the eyes of the public at large depends on the sponsors and the propagators, in this case the ruling party and the concerned media Gurus.
One of the core message of the slogans being eradication of corruption, my point is, are all those behind such much-hyped slogans themselves completely free of any form of corruption materially or otherwise? Are these people beyond any reproach and of impeccable character?
I am of the view that in time to come these lofty slogans would die a natural death without having any impact on the people whatsoever. Corruption is only a part of the gigantic problems faced by the society at large in Bangladesh. Besides, it happens to predominantly present amongst a segment of the population belonging to the so-called rich and the powerful, and the neo-rich more than the others. Under the circumstances, the truth of it all, is that it will take more than mere slogans to act as agents of triggering a social movement for change. Without a pronounced commitment on the part of the government and the political parties there can be no real changes, let alone heightened slogans of any kind. Do you really see that forthcoming? I do not.
Let us now turn our attention to some of the progress that we have achieved without recourse to any kind of slogans and propaganda exercise. There have been noticeable developments in our overall communication systems including the information technology (IT) sector. We have made progress, too, in the readymade garments (RMG) sector, the trickle-down effects of which have also touched a certain section of our poor and the disadvantaged. There has been a phenomenal growth in the construction industry, particularly in constructing of high rise multi-purpose multi-complexes. However, of late, experts have opined that it failed to take into consideration the environmental concerns of the metropolitan cities in particular. There might be a few more that I might have overlooked since this might distract my attention from the present topic of my discussion. I do not wish to proceed any further on this particular aspect.
Despite all that, there are a number of key issues of critical importance that have impeded our development particularly in the field of education. Ponder for a while the state of our education from primary levels and beyond. If anything, it has been continually on the downward swing. Education and educational institutions have turned out to be mere tools of obtaining degrees and not learning as such. So bad is the progressive regression, try to converse with a university graduate of today, with the exception of a few, you are bound to be disappointed. I have come across many matriculates of the pre-independence days to be better informed individuals, compared to the many university graduates. So bad is the state of our educational institutions that prospective students, seeking higher education, are rushing to private universities which they prefer only because they are free from political pollution compared to the public universities caused by vandalism of the so-called student cadres of various political parties including the ruling party of today? Not only that public universities are infested with teachers who are lackeys of different political parties Trust me; the prevailing scenario is simply dismal. Frankly I see no possibility of turning things for better in any foreseeable future. It will take more than slogans to put things back on the right path. I believe, what we need is a firm commitment on the part of the administration and the political leaderships of the country. Rosy and progressive-looking policies alone will not trigger a reversal for better relating to the existing pitiable state of our education.
What of the judiciary? Has it been functioning independently since we gained our independence? Judiciary is the most important functionary of a country anywhere in the world. Here in this country the judges and not justice appear to be the dominant factor in the Judiciary. I guess it is sacrilegious talking about our judges one way or the other. Not too long we had a judge who had a fake certificate of a degree in law. Remember the highly controversial ex-judge who once headed our Election Commission? He was not only unduly arrogant but also was charged of defalcation of state funds and working away beyond the jurisdictions of his authority. Relevant to the prevailing status of our judiciary I would like to make a remark once made by that famous American Lawyer Robert Ingersoft: "A government founded on anything except liberty and justice cannot stand."
A proper judicial system alone is capable of guaranteeing human rights, dignity and the worth of human person, whereas, often our judiciary tends to put emphasis on judges and not justices. This leads us to the vital question of selection of Judges. With reference to this, I would like make an oblique reference to what once Winston Churchill had in the House of Commons said: "Judges are required to conform to standards of life and conduct far more severe than that of the ordinary people." More than this I cannot say at this point of time.
Over the years there have been no changes for better in our law enforcing and intelligence agencies. They have been famously known for all round corruption, indulgences in all forms of tortures of people in their custody etc.
The state of our public services organisations like the Municipal Corporations, Department of Land Administration and the BRTA, if anything are despicable.
One might question as to what relevance has all this with slogans? I say there is every relevance if we the people are to change for better, it is imperative that the government and its key institutions/functionaries delivering slogans alone will not do the job. Has the administration been able to deal effectively with corrupt elements within its management structures? On top of it, if I may say so, peoples' confidence and trust is at its lowest rung ever.
I say, "Physician heal thyself", before anything else.
The writer can be reached at e-mail: chowdhury.shamsher@yahoo.com