Shah Faisal
By looking at the history one can easily understand the fact that Revolutions, which occurred throughout the world history were not just natural happenings in human behaviours but were responses to the extreme form of injustice. Whenever people have faced the dilemma of extreme oppression and classification on the basis of rigid social structure in their societies, they have broke into mad mobs, which has crushed each and every sign of oppression.
French Revolution which originated in France changed the entire social and political structure not just France but of whole Europe. But here the question arises why this happened? What led French people question and ultimately destroy the ancient regime? For understanding the real causes we need to dive deep into the history of pre-revolution French society because this is where the seed were sown. Pre-revolution French society consisted of three rigid social classes called Estates of Clergy, nobles and the commoners.
Of these three classes the most oppressed were the commoners. Apart from the right to life they had no rights, no idea of good life. They had to pay the taxes despite their inability to pay while the clergy and nobles were exempt from this burden. Inflation and unemployment rose to such an extent that they were unable to feed themselves but even then they had to pay tax.
This constant persecution of the lower by the upper led to the chaos. Enlightenment philosophers and demagogues also played their part by brainwashing the commoners. Their appeals about justice and reason were very much compatible with the wishes of the common people.
At that same time the middle class was on rise and this new class was more politically and social aware than their predecessors. They started to question their unjust persecution because they were the only class subject to tax collection, affected by inflation and unemployment. And then at last when they could no more bear a mob angry French erupted like an active volcano and attacked the Bastille (a prison for the rebels and miscreants in France) and it was the start of a revolution which had to change the whole social and political structure of Europe.
Whenever chaos and injustice replace justice and peace in a society’ revolution occurs. Comparing the social and political structure of Pakistan with that of the pre-revolution France there is no such difference. All the elements that contributed in bringing the revolution to France are present in Pakistan at much larger scale. Injustice, chaos, unemployment and inflation are on rise. Our society is divided into Upper, middle and lower class. According to UNDP report out of total population of Pakistan round about 38 per cent are facing multidimensional poverty that is too high.
The lower and middle classes are subject to intense tax collection while the upper are subject to tax only in theory. Mass exploitation is on rise; unemployment coupled with inflation has compelled the people to work even on very low wages. The state is unable to absorb the young educated unemployed population the number of which is on rise. Justice has become relative which has given rise to the standards of justice. The standards of justice for the rich and powerful are different from the standards set for the poor.
There is always a limit to everything; these happenings in Pakistani society are not without its effects. Whenever the limits of persecution and injustice are crossed, there will be no so called democracy no so called justice and peace. The superstructure no matter how powerful is will have to succumb to the wishes of the people. And the struggle will go on until a just and peaceful society is established, where there will be no standards of justice no exemption for the wealthy and powerful.
