THERE are some old sayings that have not faded with time. These include, for example, ‘a father is always wiser than his son’, ‘a teacher knows more than his students’, and ‘a granddaughter can’t teach her grandmother’. Such sayings exhibit a denial of newness, change and development. Above all, they appear to deny empowerment to the younger generations. Considering our population today comprises mainly the youth, one can only imagine the implications of such denial of thoughts and worldviews.

It is not just the youth that are being discouraged; there also exists a general non-acceptance of intellect, innovativeness and change. Consequently, we continue to witness brain drain as people are convinced of improved prospects abroad, where they feel a better income and quality of life, social freedom and liberal atmosphere awaits them. Such attitudes have been criticised, with reason, for brain drain means not contributing to one’s own land. However, another look exposes the system’s own denial of intellect. Therefore, I term the phenomenon ‘brain denial’ instead of ‘brain drain’.

Many who return with higher educational qualifications, such as a doctorate or postdoctorate degree, struggle to gain acceptance back home. I know many in government service who have not been able to get a posting even after completing their higher education abroad. They have had to wait for months, even years, to be posted and get their unpaid salaries. They have found themselves in an endless cycle of visits to the offices of higher-ups and being subjected to delaying tactics.

Similarly, those looking for a new job upon their return find themselves on the road. We have witnessed many highly qualified professionals, including doctors, engineers and educationists, return with a sense of guilt. Here, they are perceived as too idealistic and their knowledge is considered irrelevant.

There is no room for innovative thought in the country.

Why is this so? Simply, because the status quo in our country shuns new thoughts, innovativeness or creativity. The status quo stands firm in its response to changes in politics, business or bureaucracy. At the same time, the autocratic and centralised system may come across as so fragile that it cannot afford differences in opinions and innovativeness in thoughts and ideas. Those who favour the status quo know that change potentially means reversing their forefathers’ legacy. Why would they like change to take place?

Such behaviour and thinking are part of our cultural fabric that has evolved under autocracy, intolerance and authority. In our society, parents deny their children’s intellect, the teachers their students’, managers their subordinates’, and leaders their workers’. This approach promotes a backward-looking mindset that rejects change and innovativeness. Consequently, newness in thoughts and attitude attracts resistance and results in brain drain, even though we invest in nurturing and developing for the sake of our prosperity. Brain denial is then, by default, built into our sociopolitical arrangements to favour our elite at all levels, whether in business, politics or bureaucracy.

It is worth considering the cost we pay as a society. It is not simply about losing our intellect; it is more about creating vacuums that are filled by incapable and so-called intellectuals who support the status quo. As a result, we lose faith in intellect, in ourselves and in society as a whole.

Meanwhile, the elite get jobs after retirement, leaving less space for young, energetic, and better qualified professionals. The Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment has reported that, since it was established in 1971, over 10 million citizens have left the country — for more rewarding financial and professional prospects abroad. Research shows that brain denial generates a decrease in the intellectual capital of the country of origin, while increasing political instability and divisions. Some may argue that remittances and direct transactions from our human resource abroad is helpful, but this benefit is very little in the face of the overall socioeconomic deprivation.

Today, there is a greater need than ever before for legislative measures and their implementation to stop brain drain and attain brain gain. Attractive incentives-based career prospects and recognition of intellectual contribution are the need of the hour. Financial incentives alone won’t work; in fact, social acceptance and genuine recognition of intellectuals pay a higher dividend for society at large. Let them be given space to form and lead organisations and empower them to make innovative decisions. In a nutshell, upon return to their country, in-service professionals and their intellectual inputs need to be warmly welcomed and be allowed to contribute to the socioeconomic well-being of the country.

The writer is an educationist.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2022