The ill-fated revolution, which whilst coming got lost somewhere along the way; and has been annihilated by Mr. Imran Khan who is claiming to bring a revolution to this country with the help of his friends who are getting kharab in the heat. Coincidentally, the revolution is sponsored by the very people who have been striving to stop it from materialising for the past 65 years. They have either distracted the revolutionaries with some other work or have taken them to the point where they seek mercy. And if the nation really wants to see a revolution, the organisation has many revolutionaries at loose; the nation can have their wish fulfilled whenever they want.

These are the times of the Internet, Facebook, and Twitter. News about a revolution circulates within seconds on the social media. TV channels are devotedly doing their duty in converting the color of the revolution from red to green. And if a revolutionary is left behind somehow, he must not be allowed anywhere near a news channel! The rest are just self-made revolutionaries, preaching about an uprising from dawn till dusk.

When social media had not existed, comrades used to bring news of the revolution through pamphlets, that too in secrecy. Then Mr. Palejo would go to every village and town to convey that the revolution is on its way. Or there were poets and writers who kept the fire of revolution burning, even today there exist some strange people who wouldn’t let this fire die out. However, now revolution has found shelter in books and is not yet ready to come out – occasionally it is also seen on a computer screen or two.

Those who hindered the passage of the revolution, acquainted Pakistan with the gifts of heroin, Taliban, Kalashnikov, suicide bombers, illiteracy, and who dragged the country in the hellfire of the so-called religion are now feeling guilty over the mistakes they made. Their outlook has changed and they are now in favor of progressiveness, tolerance and the social media to pave way for the revolution. Their money was invested in the gangs created for religious extremism earlier. And now they are willing to bear the costs of tolerance, liberalism and the revolution.

There was a time when to read Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poetry in public, you required courage. Nowadays, to spend their evenings, even bankers amass in big hotels and with much gusto and zest listen to, ‘Hum dekhein ge. Lazim hai ke hum bhi dekhein ge.’ Even Mr. Faiz has been made corporate by the same people; away from the reach of the destitute. But poor Mr. Jalib who was in jeopardy during his lifetime, remains in the same situation.

Now Mr. Jalib’s poem, ‘Hum nahin maantey zulm key zaabtey’ is heard in the younger Sharif’s voice. When he sings the poem passionately, not only must Mr. Jalib’s be turning in his grave, his admirers too must cry silently. At the regal square in Lahore, during demonstrations by front line women, when Mr. Jalib head was injured, shouting along with the protesters, ‘Hum nahi maante zulm ke zabtey’ the effect was entirely different.

Now, the province’s ruler arranges for a demonstration in his province, and while making preparations for the protest he tells his police to fire rounds at the protestors. And finally when the ruler sings ‘Hum nahi maantey zulm ke zabtey’ people like you and I are left grieving Mr. Jalib’s destiny, all the time wondering where the poor revolution has ended up.