ASHRAF JEHANGIR QAZI E xplanations of human behav[1]iour whether individual, group or collective neces[1]sarily involve simplification because of their inherent complexity. This allows the common man to claim the right to his individual if not always correct opinions on social, political and economic matters which have a palpable personal impact on him in a way he would not presume to claim with regard to complex physi[1]cal processes which do not appear to have any such immediate impact on his well-being. In physics, any thesis that is testable by rigorous observations and mathematical equations that are internally consistent is considered valid until further observation and theoretical and mathematical advances confirm or challenge its validity. The James Webb Space Tele[1]scope is doing just this with regard to the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe. No such rigour is avail[1]able for the social sciences. If it were, the basis for democratic governance would cease to exist because science or, alternately, religion and ideology, in alliance with state power would decide all social issues. This alliance (based far more on religion and ideology than science) has provided the woof and warp of political history in general and Pak[1]istans history in particular. That is why democracies, whether young or old, unless constantly nourished and renewed through the rational ques[1]tioning of established authority and dogma, degenerate into tyrannies. The precondition for such nourishment and renewal is, of course, human development which is premised on culture, science and technology, an education of public opinion which provides uncensored and non-manufactured informa[1]tion, an ability to think rationally, and a spirit of community, accom[1]modation and tolerance all of which are essential to democratic governance. All of the above has been consis[1]tently denied to the people of Pakistan culminating in todays state of the nation in which usurpers, in one form or another and on one pretext or another, seek to permanently prevail over the people, the Constitution and the rule of law. Everyone knows this, but every[1]one is coerced into believing they can do nothing about it. History will not absolve those responsible for this betrayal of the nation. Those respon[1]sible include not just the ruling elites and the purchased middle class intel[1]ligentsia and professional classes, but also the people who instead of stand[1]ing up for the survival of their chil[1]dren confine themselves to unorgan[1]ised, sporadic, and unavailing protests. Their leaders easily betray them. There are several hundreds of statistics, ratios, measures, etc. to gauge the health of a nation. The extent and quality of education is a prime measure. Sports is a vital com[1]ponent of education. It teaches an individual to reach for his or her potential. It teaches competition, fair play, how to take triumph and defeat and, above all, playing for the team and passing the torch onto the next generation. Pakistan is sports-crazy. But its sportsmen and sportswomen are betrayed by bosses who see sports as a personal opportunity rather than a nation builder. Accordingly, it has marginal social priority and its devel[1]opment is neglected. When I was in Beijing in 1996, I wrote a report on Chinas fine performance in the Atlanta Olympics as one indicator of its emergence as a great power. Much the same could be said about Indias performance at the recent Asian Games in Hangzhou. Indias best-ever performance of 81 medals including 18 gold contrasted with Pakistans worst-ever perform[1]ance of two medals and zero gold. This pathetic performance reflects the low priority of sports and education in the governance of the country. The same neglect is appar[1]ent in current human rights, judicial, economic, social, political, health, institutional, corruption, inequality, poverty, and other statistics that col[1]lectively define multidimensional state failure in Pakistan. I might add that selling the family silver is not a legitimate caretaker responsibility. None of this should instil despair. But it does define an unprecedented existential challenge the people have to take up in an organised and sus[1]tained manner. This is the meaning of jihad a collective and unrelent[1]ing effort and struggle for survival, truth and justice. Such a jihad must provide the social and political core of our faith. Should we avoid taking up this challenge we shall forfeit the right to survive. In his seminal 1967 article on The responsibility of intellectuals, Noam Chomsky makes clear that intellectuals have a choice: either, as Norman Finkelstein puts it, they devote themselves to the service of truth and justice or they seek power and privilege. They cannot do both. Serving truth and justice entails a price, often a very heavy price. Very few intellectuals are willing to make the choice in favour of this calling. They choose to compromise pretend[1]ing to speak truth to power while pre[1]serving their jobs and perks, the secu[1]rity of their families, their social status and their personal freedoms. They end up betraying their professed com[1]mitments. Their sin is not so much their caution which is understandable as it is their pretence which is inexcusable. Pakistani public intellectuals including media commentators are, by and large, no exception. There have, however, been intellectuals and commentators who were true to their calling and responsibilities, many of whom, as a result, paid the ultimate price. Their contribution to the ulti[1]mate saving of Pakistan should never be forgotten. According to Chomsky, this applies even more to those countless nameless persons who organise protests and movements on behalf of millions, nay billions, of their compa[1]triots and fellow humans around the world who shall never know them. Pakistan is fortunate to have many such selfless and priceless souls. Their courage and sacrifices are a standing rebuke to the cynicism and compla[1]cency that hides under many disguis[1]es. The power and political elites of Pakistan are confident they can always overwhelm and defeat such valiant people. But the people of Pak[1]istan have begun to demonstrate they never will