Shehzad Roy and the One Man Dictum: Afia Mansoor

It feels good to pull up your nose and wag your tongue out at die-hard pessimists when every now and then someone rises up to the dictum of one man can make a difference.

Currently, the dictum has been upheld by Shehzad Roy; a singer and education activist from Pakistan. It was really heartening to hear that his documentary Chal Parha (loosely translated as Go Teach), about the state of education in government and private institutions has made the country’s legislature sit up and act.

The documentary explores the horrendous conditions of government schools with dilapidated physical infrastructure, violent abuse by teachers, controversial aspects of curricula that have largely become the status quo for our nation. Most of us know and accept that children are brutally beaten up by teachers in government schools that funds are embezzled by education officials and children from poor families make do with classes on straw mats in place of proper schools with buildings and furniture. Most of us know of ghost schools in rural areas and cattle pens in place of schools that do exist, albeit in name only.

However, the simple and compelling way in which Shehzad has highlighted the issues of education in the country and interspersed the horror with soul touching real stories of children who go to great lengths to earn an education has begun to change attitudes. One may or may not agree with all of Shehzad’s views, but it has to be said that his programme has made people debate on issues they had brushed under the carpet for decades.  It must also be commended that the documentary suggests solutions each time a problem is described.

So with the documentary hitting many nerves, the otherwise failed government perhaps in a bid to score a few points with the public before its term ends, has passed a bill in the parliament against corporal punishment. As per the new legislation, teachers could face up to one year in prison for beating up children in schools. Also, there is a new set of laws to punish anyone who tries to stop girls from seeking an education.

It may take years for deeply embedded attitudes about violence in schools to change. However, this legislation comes as a first step towards setting things right. Till a few weeks before the screening of this documentary, no one could have thought about changing the deeply oppressive status quo and yet it is beginning to happen. Having personally suffered violence in school as a seven year old and overcoming the trauma of it over many years, I can only imagine what a big difference Shehzad Roy could be making to the lives of millions of children in Pakistan.

This reminds me of the gathering we once had with Etsko Schuitema where he was asked about the turmoil Pakistan is in, and that what would it take to set things right. Etsko had said to the effect that the moment right now was like everyone is waiting for someone to step up and start a revolution. All it might take is a little courage from someone very ordinary. For the domino effect of appropriateness to set in, all that is required is a little courage from someone who focuses on what he or she should be doing right from his or her own locus. Even if taking the right step is in the face of sure failure or disaster.

Here’s wishing Shehzad all the best on his one-man-can journey.