I have never felt a stronger wave of collective energy than the one emanating at the Aurat March last year in Lahore.
With banners fiercely thrusted into the sky and voices raised beyond measure, a wisp of freedom permeated the air of oppression densely settled on the streets — a wisp that has far-reaching implications for our society.
If you think the Aurat March solely represents women empowerment, you are unable to look beneath the surface.
Women are indeed at the forefront of this movement, but the impetus behind it underlies the greatest humanitarian struggle — expressing dissent against discrimination.
Any form of discrimination — religious intolerance, racism, classism— is inimical to the highest essence of society, one marked by profound empathy, love, and freedom.
You don’t need to be a woman, a feminist, or a social activist to participate in the march — all you need is to be human.
Convincing people of the permanence of conventional structures is the greatest trick the status quo ever pulled. But when people take to the streets, it trembles conventional structures, sending a paralyzing shiver down the spine of the status quo.
That shiver might change anything immediately, but it is an important reminder of the power the collective voice of ordinary people hold.
Over the course of history, these reminders build up like a time bomb slowly ticking, moving forward with every second, until finally the shackles of inequality are shattered.
