The South Asian region...

The South Asian region is considered to be one of the most resourceful regions of the world. It is considered to be a region which has not lived up to its true potential or has not shown its true colors. The region is blessed with the best of minds as well as great manpower. The people here are really dedicated and hardworking as far as there work is concerned and have also attained international recognition for their work.

Thus one could say that the fields which they enter in, they surely leave their mark. One of the most common examples which can easily define the dedication and hardworking nature can be the services provided by doctors in a state owned hospital. With scarce resources and a great number of patients to look out for the doctors have to really be sure as far as their treatment is concerned.

However when these doctors go and practice in the countries which have developed they command respect from their colleagues due to their edge and wisdom over the local doctors.  

Moving on the South Asians are considered to be very emotional along with being people with big hearts. They not only are very hospitable but they feel honored when they have to entertain people who have different cultures and traditions. For example when Sikhs come for their pilgrimage to Lahore and Hassan Abdal they always receive a historic welcome and the locals want to make their trip historic.

One of the reasons for this sort of generosity as well as hospitality is the family structure and family bonding which we have. For example the family comprises of parents children as well as grand parents living under the same roof and the concept of nuclear family is not that common but is now gaining strength in the urban areas. 

But if we see the other side of the story we would find that a region which is full of resources does not have a true and visionary leadership, a leadership which could guide the nation form policies for the well being of the people as well as help people fight poverty illiteracy and injustice.

However one could say that the people ruling are also people who are amongst us and they do what the majority desires to do. They are undisciplined, unprofessional, intolerant and vindictive. All these attributes are also apart of us. One could see the legal system of all the countries of the region as a prime example of the ingredients’ mentioned above.

Similarly the other attribute we have is that we are dishonest and consider education to be a source which would brain wash us or create a disconnect between us and our roots. The population growth is the biggest example of this and we don’t realize the impact of this large population on our scarce resources.

Thus we should try to create and empower institutions so that we get a system and should also pressurize our rulers to invest more in education health infrastructure as well as human development so that we could see a real change in the way of thinking as well as the quest to reach our true potential could begin.

Asif Faruqi