The Loneliness of 3 AM
3 AM is a paradox—it can be your best friend and your worst nightmare. It’s the hour of deep reflection, where memories of the past collide with the realities of the present. Sometimes, it takes you back to golden moments, and at other times, it confronts you with your flaws. It can depress you, awaken you, and even teach you valuable lessons.
Right now, it’s 3:18 AM. As I sit here, flipping through the pages of a book I bought from Lok Virsa Museum about Pakistan’s traditions and culture, a quote on the very first page catches my eye:
“Any nation’s culture resides in the soul of its people.”
This simple yet powerful sentence transports me back to my village—to my roots, my traditions, and my culture. And suddenly, a wave of sadness washes over me as I realize how rapidly our culture is fading away.
The Vanishing Essence of Togetherness
I still remember a time when people lived happily together, celebrating traditions with genuine joy. But today, in our fast-paced, technology-driven world, it feels as if we have forgotten the beauty of our customs.
Eid ul Adha and Eid ul Fitr—once vibrant festivals filled with colorful attire, traditional dances, and delicious homemade foods—no longer feel the same. In Pakhtoon culture, especially, these celebrations have lost their liveliness. The warm, close-knit family connections that made them so special seem to be slipping away.
In the past, the village felt like a big family. Neighbors would gather around a single TV to watch shows and news together. Farmers relied on wireless phones to coordinate their work in the fields. The laughter of children echoed from playgrounds as they played freely, strengthening the bonds within the community. But now, these simple joys are fading, replaced by isolation and detachment.
Changing Traditions and Lost Values
Wedding ceremonies, once deeply rooted in tradition, are now infused with unnecessary extravagance and borrowed customs. The simplicity and sincerity that once defined our celebrations have been overshadowed by modern trends.
Respect for elders—a fundamental value in our culture—is vanishing. Families are breaking apart. Brotherhood and love are becoming rare. Awareness of our cultural identity is diminishing. The very essence of our traditions is slipping through our fingers like sand.
A Road to Darkness
Day by day, everything is fading away. We are losing the people who kept our traditions alive. It feels like we are walking on an endless road without direction, heading towards an uncertain future. A time will come when we will find ourselves lost in complete darkness—only then will we realize what we have truly lost. But by then, it might be too late.
The Role of Technology in Cultural Erosion
Technology has played a major role in this loss. While we enjoy its benefits, it is silently cutting us off from our roots. Artificial Intelligence (AI), the next phase of technological advancement, poses an even greater challenge. As Elon Musk once warned:
“AI is far more dangerous than humans.”
But perhaps, instead of letting technology erase our past, we can use it to preserve our culture. Why not adopt their way—leverage technology to promote our traditions, educate the world about our rich heritage, and keep our cultural identity alive?
A Ray of Hope
That one quotation from the book was a wake-up call—a reminder of our golden days. Our culture still resides in our hearts, and if we make an effort, we can ensure that it lasts forever.
It’s not too late. We can still revive the warmth, the togetherness, and the traditions that define us. All it takes is a collective effort—a commitment to preserving our heritage before it disappears completely.
May our culture live on for generations to come. Ameen.
