Discipline in public life ensures peace and harmony, which in turn gives impetus to the forces of progress and prosperity. No country, big or small, can afford to play duck and duck with dirty discipline. Any discourse of equity or social justice becomes a cry in the desert or a pompous promise if the powers that be fail to understand and carry out the dictates of discipline at all costs and in all situations. With discipline as a way of life, all plans, policies, and programs are bound to bear fruit. Whenever people in public life or private business water down the demands of discipline, most aspirations and achievements go astray, leading to failure and frustration on various levels. Discipline for countries like India, which are on the brink of economic breakdown, and a stupendous reservoir of opportunity, are the most immediate and urgent prerequisites. Discipline by the rules and the rule is an essential ingredient if we are serious in the fields and factories.

The recent outbreak of plague, and the wrong signals this “limited epidemic” sent around the world, was not an act of God as some would have us believe, but the unfortunate result of unforgivable negligence on the part of civic authorities. The pitiful way in which routine calls to duty and discipline by paid public servants were given a chance is a matter of shame on all. Garbage heaps in towns, cities and subways were allowed to rot and their removal left to straggling collectors, which speaks volumes for the callous attitude towards discipline and devotion to duty. It’s about time we sat down and did a serious heart exam.

The ease with which state/opposition sponsored “gangs” are organized in our country is another area of ​​concern. With discipline in public life under a cloud, all socio-economic momentum comes to a complete halt. When such is the sadistic approach to discipline, there is nothing that can come to our rescue should some major calamity surprise us in the future. The remedy for so many monetary ills that afflict us today is not in verbiage but in the restoration of discipline in public life. Discipline is the only path that can take us to our rightful place in the nation committee.

The constant decline in indiscipline among the elected representatives of the people is manifested, most of the time, in the state legislatures, where less light and more heat is generated on issues of public interest. At some point, the drama of the absurd is played out in such a way that all the decency of debate and deliberation fades away and only the lung force of muscular force becomes the norm of the process. Desertions, walk-ins, kidnappings are painful indicators of the near collapse of discipline in public life. Even worse things happen at election time. Instead of trouble, voter intimidation, and instead of performance, pressure becomes prominent. Insults, invectives and even violence become the modus operandi of those who should have presented themselves as a sign of discipline and decorum. Such is the sad scene that one has to witness from time to time, under one pretext or the other.

Germany and Japan have turned into economic marches, after being reduced to ashes after World War II, not something we can chalk up to some lucky break. Both countries have come to occupy their current economic supremacy due to the selfless act of their rulers and the ruled in the golden principle of hard work and discipline in their private and public life. In Pakistan, we have a large amount of manpower, technological expertise and natural resources. If we make discipline an integral part of our psyche and our daily dealings, there is nothing we cannot aspire to and achieve. By cutting the stars from the sky, we can change the face of Pakistan if we sincerely and earnestly enforce the pristine principle of discipline in all walks of Pakistani life without fear or favouritism. Those who participate in the middle of the affairs, as well as those who exercise state power, have to become models of perception and performance, concept and behavior. There are no shortcuts to development, and no substitute for discipline. In fact, their combination may leave us far behind in the race for economic independence and political stability. All such discipline should be at the command of public life without conditions or buts.