RISE Lahore (Food For Thought)
“The point here is to open the door for all & make space for all & attend those who show up themselves or send someone else in their place as their advocates. I hope you get what I mean. You see how it relates to the flexibility that we just talked about in the 'resilient' Lahore? WE ACCEPT ALL THOSE WHO JOIN IN - THEMSELVES OR SEND OTHERS IN THEIR PLACE. It's about 'us'... about 'we'....“ Peacemakers Pakistani shake up Lahore and envision a future city resting on strong communities. Let the shaking begin!
Photo: Tadeusz Lakota/Unsplash
The latest event theme for Conscious Lahore 2021 i.e RISE Lahore got me thinking about these terminologies and my vision on the topic..... This is what I came up with.
What does Resilient Lahore means to me?
Resilient (literally) means having the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties or situations....
It means we don't remain stuck in a place or situation.... It means we are flexible enough to make room for changes - expected or unexpected.... It means we have both a growth mindset and not a fixed mindset.... It means we are not easy to break because of our elasticity which is ultimate strength after all....
WE GET BACK UP EASILY EVEN IF WE FALL! WE DON'T REMAIN THERE!
We as citizens.... We as community....
We who build systems....
What does Inclusive Lahore mean to me? Inclusive (literal) means not excluding any of the parties or groups involved in something. Let's suppose 'something' as Lahore...... So the question arises: who are the groups or parties? The first step for me is the identification and naming all of them from A-Z, from different dimensions, each and every one of them and then asking this question: are they part of the process and our consideration or not? Let me mention here... When we start the work, it is indeed overwhelming to think about how to involve all? Well, start with some method at least, maximum groups at least if not all at start & as you start the process, expansion happens naturally if you have the intention for it. People join in themselves. The point here is to open the door for all & make space for all & attend those who show up themselves or send someone else in their place as their advocates. I hope you get what I mean. You see how it relates to the flexibility that we just talked about in the 'resilient' Lahore? WE ACCEPT ALL THOSE WHO JOIN IN - THEMSELVES OR SEND OTHERS IN THEIR PLACE. It's about 'us'... about 'we'....
What does Sustainable Lahore mean to me?
Sustainable (literally) means having the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level... Also, conserving ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources.
So..... It means making choices that can be maintained and be beneficial in longterm.
Let me ask few questions here that are directly related to problems that we are facing currently or the choices being made that bother us. (Just to get you started to just think)
1. Do we really need more high rises? Have the existing ones been used to its full potential and are they bringing in more benefit & revenue to the city as compared to what it has taken from Lahore and its resources?
2. Do we really need more automobiles? Do we have petrol? Can we afford it today? Why are we crying then?
3. Do we need more trees? Are we conscious & grateful towards the existing ones? Are we taking the benefit from it? Are we giving back to it?
4. Are we making right choices as professionals or are we just making money by adding toxicity to our Lahore/ our homeland?
What does Equitable Lahore means to me?
Equitable (literally) means what exhibit the quality of being fair and impartial - being fair to all parties... Justice and fair judgement and decision starts with listening to all parties attentively & without any prerequisite or plan.... The freedom of speech, act, behaviour, this all comes when a person knows that there is equality and there will be justice now and always. There is this feeling of trust among people, within community and in systems... This results in responsibility, ownership, pride, discipline, faith & unity. This is the root of setting moral systems right. This is the moral obligation in itself. So where do we stand? Are we bias in any area of our life? Do we breach the rights of anyone? Are we fair in our dealings? We need to figure things out on our own and then go out ask others for it.... Firstly, we are accountable for our acts to self & our lord & then we can go out demanding for things.... Government comes later... Maybe we are part of some game that makes the government systems. Like a puzzle piece. Just think about it! Make that part, which is your responsibility, right.... This might lead to making the entire structure right. Even though a little shift will shake the structure, but this will make other parts to shift too & the chaos will lead to balance soon. InshaAllah. Let that shaking begin! Also, a psychological fact here: shaking/ sobbing/ movement is one way of releasing the stuck and traumatic energies from body and we have been through lot of stress since partition that runs in our systems as humans and as communities and ultimately in systems. We are in dire need of shaking. Let's just do it!
The goal or mission we can have as a conclusion of it:
WE GET BACK UP WHEN WE FALL OR EVEN IF WE JUST BEND FOR A WHILE BECAUSE WE ARE INTO THIS TOGETHER, ACCEPTING EACH OTHER UNCONDITIONALLY & SUPPORTING EACH OTHER NO MATTER WHAT. WE ARE JUST TOWARDS ALL PARTIES. AND WE MAKE CHOICES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES & OUR CITIES THAT ARE BENEFICIAL FOR ALL & CAN BE MAINTAINED IN LONG-TERM.
Here's the link to the recording of complete session on RISE Lahore:
(You can listen to my presentation at the timing 1:57:00)