‘Sic transit gloria mundi’ is a Latin idiom I learnt in my first year of college during the English literature period. I cannot recall if it was Aldous Huxley or Sir Max Beerbohm who used it in an essay. In simple English, it translates into ‘thus passes the glory of the earth’.
We debated upon this idiom to conclude that progress mostly materialistic was being pursued by humankind at the cost of gradual abandonment of the finer principles of life. In our teens then we were unsure of the results of our dissection. After almost two score years, and ten more, it appears that the conclusion wasn’t totally out of step with reality.
The phrase originated from papal coronation ceremonies that took place between 1409 and 1963. There is no permanence to materialism. All power, all glory, all success, and all fame are bound to fade eventually. ‘The paths of glory lead but to the grave’ (Thomas Gray).
For every individual who acquires a position of authority, either by virtue of holding a public office or by ascending the corporate and business stairways into numero uno position must also be asked to repeat in full glare of public view and preferably cameras with replaying feature the same phrase. The call to humility is essential, specially to those who upon assumption of any office catapult themselves onto a pedestal of arrogance and haughtiness. All officials holding positions of authority in our country must be forced to say words of similar import, so that they can remain subservient to the values of our culture and traditions.
In the past 45 years or so, the descent into spiritual chaos began when a military dictator (who himself may have been a God-fearing individual and only God knows that) decided to make Muslims out of Muslims. The gradual erosion of societal standards of interaction that beset us has only galloped during the past two decades. The element of respect towards each other stands almost banished to the dense forest of forgotten memories. Disrespect in all its ugliest forms and manifestations rules the roost.
Richness adorns the dwelling: virtue adorns the person. The content of conversations, earlier, between the various segments of society was essentially anchored in the highest ideals of mutual tolerance and acceptability of its inherent diversity. Amidst the distinct diversity, the nation demonstrated amazing unity. That unity today is confined either to the happenings in the war fields of Kashmir or in the field of cricket is a fact. War-like situation on our borders or a cricket match between us and Indians is today the singular major glue that binds us together.
Merit is essential. Merit too demands grace. We were fortunate to have role models, who were larger than life in every facet of activities. These towering individuals who were considered with admiration for emulation were present in politics, bureaucracy, judiciary, armed forces, sports, journalism, academia, entertainment, fine arts, social services in short in every aspect of life we had outstanding individuals who the society looked up to with respect. Today, good folks are rare and scarce. A Chinese proverb reads there are two good men: one dead, the other unborn.
The clergy from the pulpit were not found spitting fire in their sermons. The content wasn’t to drive hysteria about religious and sectarian intolerance. The attraction to places of worship was fundamentally based on the higher ideals of mutual respect of promotion of acts of righteousness and of forbidding the wrong practices—all this was achieved in a language of peace, compassion, and care and not by hurling of threats. The clergy then inspired action as against the coercion that we witnessed today.
Scandals were far and few. These were usually kept under the lid. Those that found mention in the media or in the gossip corridors were also dealt with restrain. The related muck and dirt wasn’t put on public display. Those affected directly, and also who got embroiled indirectly, wore a look of embarrassment — not of pride. Today, scandals of the most demeaning content are widely and wildly publicized—those involved, directly and indirectly, today walk around with their neck held high. Association with a scandal is a glowing medal on the chest. Faults of one’s own and others aren’t covered the scandal is published and is pronouncedly discussed on the airwaves.
Integrity be it moral, social or financial was a hallmark for popularity and prominence in society. Anyone who was found to be guilty of amassing wealth by illegal and unfair means was looked down upon. A smuggler, a swindler, a corrupt and a deceitful were part of the social outcast. Their presence in the neighbourhood was abhorred. They were never a part of the VIP list for any function, ranging from weddings to birthdays. Possession of wealth wasn’t a yardstick for being seated in the first row or to remain under the spotlight. In fact, they are denied recognition. Today, virtues are praised by all, but practiced by few. We are all the words and not of deeds, making us a garden full of weeds. Fair word and foul play constitute the order.
Teachers, lecturers, and academicians lived with pride in poverty or with limited access and economical means. They took delight and pleasure in the success and economic wellbeing of their students. They weren’t running tuition and coaching centres, neither were schools encouraging students to opt for tuition outside the school/ college.
Students would compete in conveying regards and respect to their teachers. They weren’t getting off at school in high-end value cars with gun-toting guards jumping off literally from the following squad vehicles. Neither did the students rebuke or insult teachers; innocent pranks were the order of the day. Playing truant at school being an age-old malady was accepted with reluctance and reprimand. The communication between students wasn’t about how many dollars their parents had in the account, or the number of vehicles they owned, the size of the house, price of ‘ice meth’ or who was the most reliable bootlegger in the city.
Politics has always been dirty, locally and globally. The politicians, however, weren’t dirty individuals. Mostly, they were clean and overboard. A large majority were beyond reproach. They were servants, not rulers or masters. They indulged in cutting and splitting repartees, but rarely was the language of the street adopted even by the goons of the various political parties.
Decency and grace wasn’t found wanting in behaviour or in the choice of words, when in dialogue. If there is no decency, at least attempt for gracefulness must be the endeavour and efforts towards plugging absence of moral with avoidance of the vulgar.
So where did we lose the plot? Where did we go wrong? Did we become less religious? Who brought this upon us? The answers to these few fundamental questions lie with the people of Pakistan. The Holy Book enunciates that those who are allowed to rule over others will always remain to be a direct replica and reflection of the people they lead. We, alone, are responsible.
The worst thing that has happened which made us lose our plot is the abdication of responsibility towards the children’s upbringing by the parents. The second lethal assault has been the abandonment, renunciation and blatant disinterest of obligation, by the teachers towards students. And finally, the third and most gruesome infliction socially, politically and economically, is the despicable role of the devious politicians and the manipulative bureaucracy.
Can we regain our sense of direction? Yes. But who will lead to navigate the correction of course of direction? The people of Pakistan, only. Nobody else.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
The writer is Senior Banker & Freelance Contributor