Injustice, no legal structure, economic disparity, rulers’ extravagance, and their misguided policies set stage for Revolution — is this a case going to happen to Pakistan?

By Mian Abdul Mateen

A nation is never created overnight; it undergoes numerous highs and lows that become part of its history. Injustice within society, lack of legal structure, economic disparity, the rulers’ extravagance, and their misguided policies set the stage for revolution.

A revolution is not a single-day occurrence but a series of events that ultimately exhaust the people’s patience, culminating in the downfall of the same extravagant rulers. On that pivotal day, the people demonstrate their power, ending the era of oppression and exploitation, and the nation embarks on a path of growth and prosperity.

The French Revolution, spanning from 1789 to 1799, had significant impacts not only on the French nation but also on the politics of the entire region.

Before the revolution, France was essentially a country for the aristocracy, where the common man’s life was extremely difficult. Economically, the people were in dire straits, with all resources reserved solely for the clergy and the ruling class. The common people were regarded as mere insects. French society was distinctly divided into three parts: first, the clergy and priests; second, the king and aristocracy; and third, the common man, who had no social or political status and was merely there to bear the burden of the other two by working as laborers. King Louis XVI failed completely to take any significant steps in France, nor could he implement any economic reforms to provide relief to the people. This further fueled public anger, and many French philosophers began to enlighten the people about their conditions, with Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau being the most prominent.

The French Revolution is a long, ten-year struggle that began on July 14, 1789, by ending all the powers of the church and the king, establishing people’s rule. The period from 1793 to 1794 was known as the Reign of Terror, during which extreme measures such as mass executions were taken to protect the revolution from internal and external enemies. The third phase of the revolution ended with the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799, during which he established himself as the ruler of France and influenced all of Europe with his revolutionary ideas.

Historically, we observe many effects of the French Revolution, the most prominent being the end of the monarchy and church system, social reforms, the abolition of feudalism, adherence to civil rights, fraternity in society, and the foundation of modern human rights. The church’s interference in government matters was reduced. Nationalization of church lands and properties promoted secular education and civil institutions. Legal reforms were introduced, known as the Napoleonic Code of 1804, which made laws clear and standardized. The Napoleonic Code influenced the legal systems of nearly the entire world.

The French Revolution had profound impacts not only on the country but on all of Europe and eventually the rest of the world, teaching people that they are the true power. Change does not come until people stand up against oppression, injustice, and tyranny.

Even now, if we observe, many third-world countries see the aristocracy exploiting the people. The poor are getting poorer, and the rich are getting richer. The aristocracy imposes the entire burden of their extravagance and rule on the people in the form of unnecessary taxes and bills. The gap between social classes is widening, and law and justice are nowhere to be seen.

Such situations pave the way for a revolution. A time comes when people come out of their homes just by hearing the sentence, “If there is no bread, let them eat cake.” That day marks the end of the extravagant aristocracy and becomes their day of reckoning. PAK DESTINY