Preserving & Celebrating Nation’s Cultural Heritage

Ishtiaq Ahmed

Gujar Khan: Pakistan is a fast-moving and rapidly changing society. Fast, furious and often unplanned urbanization is raking havoc on major urban centres and traditional communities and their lifestyles. In Pakistan, the age of ‘mobile’ has truly taken over.

Millions have become mobile addicts, availing themselves of every single moment to be on the go, whether pushing a cart or driving a rickshaw, a motorbike, a car, a bus, a truck, or a tractor. This is not only the case in the cities but also in the rural village communities; people are constantly on the move when attending to their animals or other household chores, even women when lighting tandoors for making rotis. It has become an addiction beyond belief. I have observed people becoming literally mentally insane if the mobile battery dies out, the internet package expires, or the mobile gets misplaced. Almost every household and, for that matter, every member of the household–old, young, male, female–irrespective of income status has to have a mobile. I am unable to refute the argument of my mother-in-law, who says, “If you give a hammer and chisel to a craftsman, he will make something useful with it, but if you give the same to the unlearned, he will most likely use it to break things up.”

A simple logic born out of experience that is difficult to refute. Mobile and internet facilities are communication and educational tools, but in the hands of the unlearned and unknowing, they are susceptible to misuse and abuse. However, mobiles with internet facilities open new windows to the rest of the world, heightening aspirations and adding an extra zeal to emulating the lifestyles of developed European societies, with, for historical reasons, America and Britain being the top most role models to emulate.

This is nothing new. It has always been the case throughout history that the powerful set the pace in more than one way for all strata of society to follow. Since World War II which was essentially a European and American affair in which the rest of the world inadvertently got drawn, American and European societies have set the pace for economic and cultural advancement. They became the standard bearers of democracy, freedom, progress, and social equilibrium.Combined with the colonial legacy that we have not yet shaken off, the new American/European order after WWII continues to impact the aspirations, and cultural and social expressions of Pakistanis, particularly the upper middle and elite classes, from language to clothes to what, where, and how they eat and socialize.

They do this unconsciously and habitually, truly appreciating the pitfalls of their actions on national identity. For example, with language, clothes and food mannerism also comes an entire package of beliefs, values, outlooks, and life styles.

Another important element in this changing cultural landscape is the fast and furious urbanization of the country. Pakistan has the highest rate of urbanization in South Asia.According to the 2017 Population Census, 36.4 per cent of the population lives in urban areas. The UN Population Division estimates that, by 2025, nearly half the country’s population will be living in cities.

This rapid and unplanned shift of the population from the rural areas to the towns and cities is causing a set of huge new challenges: shortage of housing, informal settlements, unemployment, congestion, overstretched amenities such as clean water, slums, snatiation, a rise in crimes, and a raft of health and environmental concerns. It is estimated that one in eight urban dwellers lives below the poverty line.The fast and furious urbanization is taking a toll on rural communities. This is not only an economic shift but also a cultural shift–not necessarily a negative one but nonetheless a critical one. It is definitely placing the traditional lifestyles and the cultural and social fabrics of our wider society in jeopardy. With urbanization, we are seeing a rapid evaporation of traditional cultural heritage.

In this age of dominant mobile culture and the social disconnectivity that it brings with it, the rapidly changing cultural and social landscape of our towns and cities, and the ensuing upheavals of life with old habitats and lifestyles being squeezed out and suffocated, the work of the Pakistan National Heritage Museum assumes even greater importance. Established in 1982, It is Pakistan’s largest museum, covering about 20,000 square feet. This was my first visit and I am kicking myself for not visiting it before, although I only live an hour’s drive away. I presume that this may also be the case with many others like me. Anyway, I found the visit to the Museum to be an exhilarating learning experience.

The Heritage Museum is a unique and enthralling celebration of the past and present. Museums are often mistakenly perceived by many to be only interested in things of the past that may be of historical interest but have little relevance or value to today. The Heritage Museum puts this misinformed understanding to bed. It provides a unique insight into the link between the past, the present, and, in many ways, the future. The lifestyles and cultures of groups and communities in any given society do not remain static, even though at times they may appear to be resistant to change. But inevitably, they do change and evolve, assimilating a range of influences and change factors. The role of a living museum is to tell this story. The Heritage Museum is able to do this successfully.

The museum space is well planned and laid out, with each display immaculately curated and presented to a high international standard, providing a unique window to the rich ethnic and cultural mix of Pakistan. Pakistan’s cultural heritage over the years has been strongly influenced by the influx of people from Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and others. These are also beautifully presented; for example, the two sections on Iran and Turkey are most exhilarating.

In this fast-fading world of digitization and urbanization, cultural lines are becoming increasingly blurred and confused. Hence, a clear and confident statement of our past and present heritage is crucial to our understanding of ourselves. Societies that ignore or overlook their past are generally doomed. The management of the Heritage Museum is to be commended for giving us an excellent educational facility rich in diversity.

Photo Credit: Ishtiaq Ahmed