Speaking at a meeting of Shura Hamdard, organized by Hamdard Foundation Pakistan, to discuss the theme: “Inclusion of the subject of morality in curricula of primary an higher education,” Dost Mohammed Faizi, former Sindh minister said that keeping in view the corruption, mismanagement and moral degradation rampant in Pakistani society, it was necessary to hold a “Day of Morality” in the country and that day should be fixed on 9th January, the birthday of Hakim Mohammed Said, who not only had launched a ‘movement of voice of morality, but also brought out a magazine: “Voice of Morality” in order to promote the cause of morality and moral conduct necessary to make Pakistan a peaceful and prosperous Islamic state.
The meeting was chaired by Justice (Rtd) Haziqul Khairi at a local club in which participants unanimously recommended and called for a ‘Day of Morality’ in the country.
‘The need of moral conduct’s advancement in the country is felt so much at the moment as perhaps never before. Because today the crisis of morality, has become a threat to economy, stability and unity of the country and a challenge for the nation. Patience, endurance and tolerance have now become old tale in our society, he said, adding that the elite class and powers that be had no interest in moral conduct and their corruption and malpractices rendered nation in a state of moral deterioration as people got affected by the character of rulers. ‘Even so, there is a ray of hope for betterment and that is the presence of thinkers and think tanks like Hamdard Shura in our country which is no doubt promising as a society, having thinkers in its fold, can ever be failed, he asserted.
Zafar Iqbal, President, Defense Residents Society said that moral conduct, good education and instruction were true ways to make a nation developed and prosperous. Lessons on morality, good physical training and basic information about sex and self-protection should be made a part of curriculum, he added. Prof. Dr. Wiquar Ahmed Rizvi, who wrote a book, published by Sindh Text Book Board, on ‘Morality’, said it was ironic that kalenishkov culture has been inducted in Pakistani educational institutions and without curbing this culture, culture of morality could not be flourished in educational institutions and society as well.
Engineer Anwarul Haq Siddiqui while emphasizing on professional education, said that Pakistani youth needed skills and unless promoting the technical education and training in the country, the youth would not be able to get jobs and poverty, the mother of all social ills, would not be alleviated. Prof. Dr. Akhlaque Ahmed was of the view that every person is learnt the basic ethics from his / her mother as stated by Sir Syed and all other great men in their biographies. For a big social change in our society, the subjects on morality and ethics are made essential parts of primary and secondary schools syllabi, he added.
Khurshid A. Hashmi was of the opinion that education, instruction and acquaintanceship were responsible to make the man a good manners and polite person. Usman Damohi lamented that the hollowness of our society regarding good moral conduct was increasing day by day which should not go unchecked and be rectified by intellectuals, teachers and media.
Prof. Muhammad Rafi said that the existing social ills of our society were the direct result of our deter rioting social moral conduct. Media should play its due role to change this undesirable situation and suitable time for this purpose be reserved on all TV channels, he suggested. Commodore (Rtd) Sadeed Anwar Malik was of the view that moral conducts of European nations were far better than Muslim nations. Westerners didn’t leave even small crimes unpunished in their respective societies. They were made good nations by their reformers and daring national leaders. If we just start speaking truth from today, the implementation of ethics on our society would automatically begin, he suggested.
Prof. Dr. Shakil Farooqui said that morality was a relative term, because everywhere ethics had different forms. The prevailing system of education in our country had divided the nation, unless this division changed, the country would not be united and become morally sound and perfect, he added.
Ms. Shamim Kazmi has opined that we should not be afraid of Valentine’s Day as it was simply the marketing of chocolate making companies and others. ‘Ethics are spread through personalities of high moral character, because children follow the adults’, she added. Hakim Mohammed Usman said the national moral conduct was a reflection of rulers’ character as goodness and badness both travel from atop to downward. Anwar Aziz Jakartawalla, Huma Baig and Safia Malik also spoke.