Culture of rebellion

Today in Pakistan it is a popular expression that, “Yes! I am a rebellion”. It is popularized during the lawyer’s movement for revival of Judiciary. Certainly! The sudden explosion of media during General Musharraf reign had a significant role in popularizing this term by repeating this slogan in poetry and political advertisements. This expression looks attractive to young generation without knowing its background and the situations that are prevailed in country. “Yes! I am rebellion” when popularized by political leaders and the lawyers provide a justification of rebellious acts by legitimizing it. Legitimization of rebellion against a state where terrorists are fighting a war against people and state at the same time means helping to terrorists. The scholars and intellectuals should make clear the concept of rebellion, its origin and historical background in the region or in modern time so the young generation could decide which rebellion is legitimate and which are not.

There are two basic things that make a rebellion, legitimate:

1- Struggle for freedom

2- Promising an alternative system which is the means of freedom or the destination of rebellion

In a rebellion where the freedoms are not clearly defined for which the struggles are carried on and similarly the freedoms are clearly defined but the alternative system is not presented or is absent then the rebellion is nothing except the bloodshed and destruction or a way for dictatorship or aristocracy.

The new popular culture of rebellion is rooted in socialist and communist movements. In Pakistan the expression “Yes! I am rebellion” is also rooted in leftist movements. Pakistan had leftist movements in forms of KMP (Kissan Mazdoor Party) CPP (Communist Party of Paksitan), PPP (Pakistan People’s Party) and Progressive writer’s movement and National Awami Party (NAP).

- The important point to note is that the National Awami Party’s rebellion led to the separation of East Pakistan and becoming, Bangladesh.
The socialist and communist rebellious movements declined as a new type of rebellions emerged against these rebellions. It was the Jihadist rebellions against the communist governments of Afghanistan and USSR. Now this rebellion had the government as well as international support.
- Again the point that requires to note is that this jihadist rebellion now modified to Talibanism and international terrorism and threatening the very survival and identity of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Now let’s looks to some of rebellion that had shaped the 20th century and is shaping the 21st century:

1- The Bolshevik rebellion that led to USSR which evolved the Russia to a world power.
2- The Chinese Communist rebellion that evolved China into a world power and a large player in global economy.
3- The Islamic rebellion of Iran which led not only to reemergence of Iranian power but also to reemergence of Islamic world.
4- The Socialist rebellion of Cuba which led to reemergence of Latin America followed by Venezuela and other Latin American countries.
5- South African rebellion which led to equalizing of white and black race to an extent.
On other hand we can find the civil war and destructions due to the rebellions which had not an alternative system that were the destination of rebellion.
- Congo, Darfur, Afghanistan, Algeria, etc are a few examples of non objective rebellions which have created disasters.