Pakistan's Very Own - "Mufta" Culture

Pakistan's Very Own - "Mufta" Culture

Few days ago I was reading an article composed by Maliha Usman. I kind of liked the article, which was titled as “Mufta Culture”. Well, she asked some really good questions that made me think about the possibilities behind the term Mufta. For those who do not understand what a “Mufta” is let me clarify – a person who does not spend a single penny from his pocket but expects and at many times demands from others to pay for those things which he wants to have for himself, is known as “Mufta” or “Free Loader”.

We can find such free loaders in multiple places that may include schools, colleges, universities and even offices. No matter from which class or family they belong, this disease is contagious. It transfers in a jiffy, if you are surrounded by free loaders. Most of the people compare free loaders with misers but in actuality this is not true. A miser not only tries to spend less from his pocket but he also does not want anyone else to waste his or her money on unnecessary stuff. Whereas a freeloader or better say hanger-on only wants others to invest for him. I am sure you must have come across to many individuals who usually demand for cigarettes, coffees, teas, samosas (in my context Bermuda Triangles), dinners or lunches etc. They mostly create hype after every slightest joy that can occur in their friend’s life. Like, if a guy has passed in his exams or if his proposal has been accepted by his love, the freeloader will ask him to “give a treat”.

Initially they used to be present in small informal groups but now we can find them in multinational FMCGs and even in any International Organization. The position, age and family background has nothing to do with this disease. Every person is, these days, affected by this plague. It is really difficult to fight this disease. This statement does not mean that there is no hope, am sure there will be a day when our nation will come to realize that it is much better to be in a position to give aid than to think about getting aid all the time. The root causes as per my understanding can include following points;

1. As a nation we are in habit of bending and bowing our heads and begging for help (be it foreign or local) in front of others. Similarly the people of nation are enjoying the cultural (better say National) heritage. So in short “Mufta Culture” is our very own Paki Culture. We are the originators whereas rests are copycats.
   
   
2. The concept behind “being a freeloader” is bullying the other person. This concept usually develops in early days and college days but later it grows with the passage of time and it becomes part and parcel of one’s personality.
   
   
3. Most of the people have eyes on others’ cash and belongings – Human Nature – hence they try to avail every possibility to enjoy that.
   
   
4. If people think that there is something wrong with such guys and girls, they are wrong themselves. Today in corporate world it is considered as a smart move and act of appreciation. 
   
   
5. Almost all the freeloaders have short term goals. They want to eat at a nice place on the expense of others or they can even ask for others to buy them soft-drinks etc.

 Thinking about self esteem is something which never crosses their minds. All they are interested in is “something for free to feast on”. One of the reasons behind this culture is lack of dignity. It is an open ended question, how many of us has the term “Dignity” left in ourselves? No need to get emotional here, just look around the system and you will get the answer. I am not talking about 05 – 07% of the total population, but the rest.

I personally feel that there is no way to cure this disease, as our society has accepted it the same way just like the Star Plus Dramas are accepted in our society these days, the only difference is name of the channel. Initially it was Star Plus, now almost same content is shown on HUM, GEO, ARY or any other TV channel. Coming back to the main point, I would like to quote few examples;

1. How can you expect something to get eradicated when the major telecom companies of your country are promoting their new packages with the title of “Mufta Packages”?
   
   
2. Why are all of us looking for “Free Services” or “Free Offers” instead of qualitative offers in which we may get Value Addition?
   
   
3. Can you say "No" to your senior when he asks for a treat on your promotion? Throwing a treat is a man's own decision, not a forceful outcome of bossy tone.
   
   
4. Don’t you think people wait for “All you can eat offer” all year? What is the concept behind it?
   

If you really want to stop it then the simplest answer is “I earn for my family and myself, I have to save for rainy day, no matter how big or small. Why should I spend on you? Give me one good rational reason?”

Am sure when we start to say such line loud to make others listen only then we can change this culture. Else, it will take over all around us.

Live your life with dignity, truthfulness and contentment will be the outcome!

Nothing can buy contentment but a life full of ethical and dignified codes.

Stay blessed!

Simpleton’s thought

SIMPLETON's THOUGHT

Why is it so hard and difficult to be “Simple” and so easy and simple to be “Difficult”? I might not have known the reason all my life but thanks to the cook of mine who made me realize this fact. I have always been taught that never concentrate on “who is saying anything” but always try to understand on “what is being said”.

Allow me to put it in simpler words; it is so easy to point out the mistakes of the others. Isn’t it? It must have happened to most of the readers in some points in their lives that they must have pointed out the mistakes of others. For instance the most recurrent example could be any batsman playing any stroke – for example Shahid Afridi. Every tom dick and harry comments on the particular stroke which leads to either a catch or loss of a wicket, without even thinking about the pressure which he must have been facing at that particular time. On the contrary when any friend from the university or any colleague from the office presents any report or presentation in front of the whole class or board, most of the individuals point out a lot of fault and blunders without considering the fact that it takes a lot of courage to stand in front of the crowd and speak or present anything. If you had so much of capability to point different mistakes out, why didn’t you participated and stood, where your friend of colleague is standing. One Simple answer to this is – “It is easy to point mistakes out rather than stand up and face the odds”. So those who are standing up and being brave – let us appreciate them and take inspiration from them.

Why is it that we always see the problems in out surroundings? Why are we always not happy with others? Why do we always point out the loop holes in the performances of the actors? Why do we always try to find the reason for any one’s good acts? Why do we make things complicated?  Yes we do make them a lot complicated! By asking another Question in reply to one simple question!

Don’t we?

Have we become insecure, afraid and conscious about ourselves?

I personally think, “WE ARE”. This is the reason why we have started to point out the flaws and faults in others, so that no one can point any mistakes or errors in us.

The art of being happy is living a simple, contented and non-biased life. By accepting your mistakes you are considered to be the bravest individual. It is not easy to accept your own fault and those who accept their mistakes are liked and appreciated by many. This helps to develop a better personality which is effective in it’s own way.

Try it, to believe it.

Its Simply SIMPLE

Stay blessed!

Hard Work and Smart Work! A Contrast

Since our childhood we are listening one single quote and advise from our elders – no matter what a mess they had created with their lives! even by knowing these statements....

1. Hard work will reward you!
2. Keep working Hard

It sounds simple to many but in reality it takes a lot of balls to walk on such a path where there is no chance of missing a single shot. As far as I think, these statements are over - exaggerated most of the times. I meant why do we forget that its not the hardness but the smartness, which counts at the end of the day. You must have observed in your lives at countless points and phases of life that after spending hours and hours of studying for a test or spending continuous nights in the offices to prepare a presentation for the board – the desired result was not achieved! Isn’t it? On the contrary those who studied hardly for few hours and even watched movies and listened to songs of their favorite singers scored better than you (or close to you), they enjoyed that time as well as scored good. Similarly those who attended the office from 9 – 5 and spend little time on the project to complete the presentation were much more impressive then you!

What exactly you lacked? After all you did your best “HARD WORK” which was possible from your side! Even then you could not make the mark! Feels really bad isn’t it?

Let me try to answer what was lacking. It was CSQ – not the (Quebec Selection Certificate) but the Concentration, Smartness and Quality.

We emphasize a lot on Effort! But in reality it is one of the least significant factors in producing success. Those statements mentioned above as 1 and 2 give birth to inefficient efforts! People work hard all their lives and do not attain what they wish and for what they have been working throughout their lives only because of the inefficient efforts which they apply.

Its better to use your mind at times! Let it work on short-cuts! Trust me it is mostly (mind it! not only) smartness which saves a warrior’s life when he is surrounded by the opponents, all hard work will make him breath heavily real soon!

So what you prefer to be

Hard?

Or

Smart?

Be blessed and smiling!