INTRODUCTION, HOW TO DEFINE SOCIAL EVILS.
“Any evil, such as intemperance, that affects society is generally
termed as social evil”. An evil is always there in a society, there could
hardly be any community which could be considered as most virtuous. It is
generally the loosening effect of law and order coupled with degeneration
of moral values in a society which results in the spread of social evils.
These social evils can be defined in different subjects for instance,
some might only be ethical and some might relate to crime or it might as
violate certain established principles like respect of elders. A society
infested with such negative norms has depicted gradual befall, as happened
in the French revolution of 1789 and numerous other incidences where
revolution became a possibility.
In modern society, with special reference to Pakistan, it is important
to note that a number of social evils have grappled our country in its iron
claws, in additions, it seems impossible to get out of its tentacles.
KINDS OF SOCIAL EVIL.
Although one cannot really draw a boundary around the social evils,
yet generally they can be recognized in the form of corruption such as:-
1.Bribery.
2.Nepotism. 3.Redtapism.
4.Black marketing.
5.Adulteration.
6.Prostitution.
But the list does not end here, in fact social evils
phenomena. The above mentioned are the general heads under
several other taboos are flourishing, which are gradually decayings
society, creating anomalies such as economic disparity, excessive
one’s authority, falling educational standard, promotion of crime and
of proper life facilities.
One can do nothing but to lament on the present
Islamic nationalism and other ethical norms whose foremost source of l
prevailing in Pakistan. This was the country created on the very edifices
was and still in present time is, Quran which is most authentic of a
a Muslim is hoped to be equipped, whereas what we observe is an a
religious books containing the lightest standard of ethical norms, of
result, we have become most unscrupulous of all, unethical in our
life coupled with worst form of immorality.
I Before the independence of Pakistan, these social milieus were
present but were not such wide spread as they are in the present day life
The founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam in one of his addresses, after
independence specifically pointed out such problems like bribery, jobbery
and black marketing, he said,
“One of the major curses from which India is suffering is
and corruption. That really is a poison, we must put that down with iron
hands. Black marketing is another curse….you have got to teach this
monster which today is the most colossal crime against society”
Thus Quaid-i-Azam in his address identified these evils to the
nation. He knew the havoc which social evils can play with the life of a
nation, yet we are so unfortunate that we have over looked the warning
given to us at the threshold of our setting a foot on the road of
independence.
One can well imagine why such warning was given, history has a
definite course to follow as said,
“Those who shall not learn from history shall relive it”. Quaid had in front of him the famous example of France. The
famous French revolution was the product of social evils. There was a
wide spread corruption in the French society. The society had developed
into two major classes i.e. most poor and most rich. The rich had the
protection of the crown. They lived with a lot of privileges, a nonplused
system of favoritism was extended to the rich class, who ruled like
tyrants. This resulted in economic and social collapse which ultimately led
to the bloodshed. Similar were the circumstances under which Bolshevik
revolution of 1917 triumphed in Russia.
So were the conditions in the sub-continent before partition. Even
before British took over the reigns of Government in 1756, after the Battle
of Palsy, the Moghals were ruling but under the social and moral
degradation. This degradation created an element of insecurity and
discontent among the masses which resulted in the successful plantations
of British on the throne of India. It is important to note that the presence
of social evils has always resulted in a glaring changes, either in the form
of revolution or some foreign dominance due to the lack of unity and
patriotic fervour in the nation.
AFTER THE INCEPTION OF PAKISTAN.
When Pakistan came into being, these areas of discontent were
candid enough to be recognized and it was the liability of the rulers to
eliminate them through proper amount of legislation and good economic
policies so as to create an equitable distribution of wealth and economic
opportunity, but it again seems that we learnt nothing from the history.
Till the present time, there is a country wide corruption present in
all forms, another remarkable aspect is that little effort has been made to
pluck this heinous thorn out of the society. Ever since the advent of
Pakistan, these evils have multiplied and have placed perpetual impacts on
our country. Another aspect to lament is the spread of this virus in areas
like Education as well. This thing has not resulted in moral degradation
but intellectual degradation as well.
CAUSES.
One of the major causes of the spread of these social evil’s, is
political conditions of our country. The struggle for power among the
ruling elites, the so called landed aristocracy and new industrialists, has
created a spoiled system in the country. Where the support of second-in-
command of the country (bureaucratic circle) became a dominant characteristic of the political system, therefore, ruling class, in order
defined in terms of corruption, which can easily be translated into bribery
perpetuate their ruling tenure, give birth to the concept of
nepotism and jobbery.
This very fist step initiated a fission process, creating a havoc
economic disparity, degradation of moral values and ravaging system,
adulteration and black marketing needless to say that the visible feature
behind these social evils have been the insatiable desire of wealth
privilege.
The ultimate result of these pit-falls have been many fold.
1.The sense of unity became a thing of past and the concept
Patriotism has now been restricted to the text books and fictions.
2. With this wide spread difference between the real and textual life the
then too, are opting, for the back doors and short cuts in order to
coming generation is growing under the shadow of double standard,
abridge an early gap between the place where there is plenty of
money and place where there is no money while subsequently being
conditions of the present social state.
3.The falling educational standard is another result of this condition,
the lust of power and wealth among the students have firmly rooted
instead of the quest for knowledge.
4.The excessive amount of money rolling in the society has further
given birth to social taboos like:-
i. Lavish expenditure on the marriage ceremonies.
ii. Travelling in the latest model automobiles. (It is estimated that
the cost of an automobile (imported) is enough to marry off,
at least, 10 poor girls).
the iron net of corruption depicting a gloomy picture.
These all social depravations has created complex structure cast in
REMEDIES.
It is not difficult to comment and recognize the faults lying in the
society than to find a proper solutions of these ills. It is said “critics are
those legless people who teach how to run”. Remedies in fact are also recognizable, the system of corruption and
degradation of the society which have developed in centuries cannot be
rectified in a fleeting moment. For that we need to work collectively and
nonetheless individually as well.
1.Government should introduce such economic policies which would
eliminate economic disparity among the various sections of the
society.
2.For long it has been held that the fundamental cause of bribery
among the civil servants, both high up and of low cadre, is the low
amount of salary, though the present government has increased the
salaries of civil servants to its present of the basic but government
should take further steps to bring another increase especially in the
low cadre area, because even with this increase they barely make
the both ends meet.
3.A massive amount of legislation is required to check these elements.
Though it is well known that a department of Anti-corruption is
working to bring halt to these elements but the employees of this
department are generally politically appointed who work according
to their political affiliations regardless of the objectivity, the method
of competitive examination should be introduced in this sphere as
well.
4.The government should create jobs, so as to make the younger
generation feel a sense of security after they complete their
education.
5.Educational sector is most neglected of all. There is no doubt that
under the present internationally competitive atmosphere we need
highly educated and knowledgeable people to sustain the global
competitions.
6.The examining system is another area where working is required.
At individual level, there exists a wide difference between what an
individual preach and what he does, we should be getting conscious of the
fact that our own lack of dedications to the cause of eliminating the evil
and the resultant development of the country does not lay in simple
rhetoric but a practical waging of war is the need of time. It is a famous dictum that “charity begins at home” we should not expect
provide a united front against the spread of evil.
There is no doubt that the current structure of our society depic
Conclusion:-
these ills as necessary evils. Though each and every person at his own
level condemns these ills but if you will ever ask someone why he take
bribe or is involved in nepotism or jobbery especially at the civil
level, you will find such person giving a bundle f reasons to support his
social evils have acquired such a dominant position in our society that
her position. To some extent their point of view may be realistic because
has ceased to be a matter of choice. But even then, an evil can never be
converted into a good. In the same manner that an evil step taken
result in good.
Next, though, we recognize the social evils and condemn them with
all our might but when it come to our ownselves we tend to become a pan
of that system. The dilemma is “non recognitions of one’s duty””
believe, as if, remedy to all ills lies with the govt. It is only the function
of government to narrow the corrupt structure.
Lastly, it is imperative to assert that our elected representatives
spend a large part of our revenue on the defense and administrative sector
whereas they give social sectors a step-motherly treatment. It is of no
debate that our foremost priority lies in the defense of our territory but the
government should try to strike a balance between the two. We do not
only require good soldiers and defense system but a good and educated
nations as well. This could also. precisely be a reason why army
intelligentsia has ruled Pakistan for most of its period while the elected
representatives and civilians have acted out as their subordinates.
Apart from legislation and creating an efficient administration, we
should also not loose the sight of our religion. The invasion of wester
culture has further deteriorated the conditions, but keeping in view that
fanaticism and fundamentalism is no remedy but an ill in itself.