Few months ago, prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan advised Pakistan Television to telecast a historical Turkish series, Dirilis: Ertugrul in Urdu dubbing. On 1st Ramadan 2020, Pakistan Television has started airing this season and this idea not only revives National Television but also breaks the popularity records throughout Pakistan. Dirilis: Ertugrul centers around the life of Ertugrul, the father of Osman I (the founder of Ottoman Empire, which ruled the world for 600 years). Considering the magnificent success of Dirilis: Ertugrul and public interest in the series, prime minister Imran Khan wants to air another series, Yunus Emre (based on the true story of a Sufi poet who was dedicated to Allah), in Pakistan. While majority of people appreciates this idea to present historical content to enhance the knowledge of our youth and to awaken their souls, but some frivolous objections are also being raised. It is being said that by promoting foreign content we are damaging our own drama/film industry. So a question arises as to this objection that is this season promoting any foreign industry or culture? Not at all! Ertugrul was a Muslim heroic champion fighter for the cause of Islam, while Yunus Emre was a Turkish folk poet and Sufi mystic who greatly influenced Turkish culture.
The basic agenda of airing such content is to change the mindset of our young generations by actually making them aware of our glorious history. Our youth are blindly following fictitious foreign heroes and making them their role models. The reason is that they are unaware of their own actual and splendid history and notable great heroes. They do not know about their civilization and values, therefore, in the name of modernism and liberalism they are obsessed with Western world. Now time has come to tell our young generations that our forefathers were people of strong character, great courage and morality. They spread Islam by their actions and when Muslims were united, they subdued their greatest enemies and ruled the world for centuries.
Another purpose of airing these series is to remove the negative stereotype that is associated with Islam. Some western leaders equated Islam with terrorism and narrow-mindedness, but in fact, Islam is a liberal religion which gives the lesson of peace, tolerance and harmony. To counter the rising problems of Islamophobia, history of great Muslims should be promoted at international level and drama/film industries of all Muslim states and countries should work together to produce more content so that the world can remember the great achievements of our ancestors when they stood united on the path of truth and justice.
An absurd objection is circulating on social media that by recommending these serials the minds of people are being entangled to spend more time to screens. Why isn't the same objection mentioned when English and Bollywood contents are not only shown in our countries but also do more business than our own productions? Our youngsters are addicted to useless activities on social media which not only waste their time but also do more harm than good and divert their minds. So if they start watching these serials, it will definitely teach them some lessons to apply in practical lives and perhaps they give up other futile activities. These serials give lessons of trusting in God, protecting the innocent, raising voice against injustice, valuing our culture and traditions and never giving up.
Prime minister Imran Khan also recommended a book about the history of the factors of rise and decline of Islamic civilization to the youth of Pakistan, which is very admirable action indeed. Certainly, all Muslim leaders should work on the character of the great Muslim Nation to get back their lost status.