"Most people believe they can rid themselves of social evils by common action...I do not subscribe to this view. The way to reform lies through discord and not through unity. Reformist ideals call for courage and perseverance of a high order. It is for the reformer to boldly violate the customs of his group...In this he will incur a lot of odium and popular disapprobation. But ultimately he will succed and win converts. Though he provokes opposition in the beginning, he is acknowledged a benefactor in the end.
I wish to point out to my countrymen the futility of condemning and cursing our social heritage in the privacy of our conclaves. It is vain to look for friends and supporters in the task of regeneration. On who wishes well of his people should come out in the open, break his own chains and put heart into others to do the same."
Words of an iconoclast yet a reformer, true to the wisdom spewing out of this sagacious statement. This is an observation of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, obviously coming from his own experiences.
Pointers to all the drawingroom intellectuals (*read* politicians for today's Pakistan)-who watch while others experience, who sleep while others guard, who relish what others salvage, who talk when others act. The "privacy of our conclaves" are never the battlefields.
The war will come to us too so why not preempt it and be counted in the STREET POWER.
P.S. Out there is my field too...Let it not be another "wasted passion" tragedy.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment