Education-Our Main Concern

    Those who think children are God’s gift yet ignore their education not only create difficulties for modern-day society but also add to the miseries of mankind and civilization. Man as ‘ Ashraful Makhlooqat’ is supposed to be the most sensible and wise in the animal kingdom. Therefore, it is expected from him that he should leave a better world for future generations to come. Should he be remembered with adoration or contempt, is the question? 

    Future generations will remain grateful to mankind for all the scientific and technological achievements he has made in order to make civilization better adapted to the environment. Scientists are working day and night to find medicines for unconquerable diseases. One has to merely skim through the pages of Nobel Prize winners in this field. I recently reviewed a book in Urdu, 'Nobel Hayatiyat' by Baqir Naqvi about Nobel laureates in life sciences. Despite being a postgraduate in Botany, I was astonished to find how many wonderful discoveries had been made? We simply cannot ignore these efforts.

    Usually one finds some hardcore religionists negating all that Man has achieved through the ages as a result of science and technology. However, I would request you to please make notes of all the things you see or come across while you go back home from your office tonight. And please write at leisure who all invented or discovered these things. How many of them are from Orient? The non-existence of Oriental names in the list will convince you why we are underdeveloped and what damage is done by lack of knowledge and progress on the technological front. I am reminded of Sahir Ludhyanvis's poem;

    Bulao khudayane deen ko bulao,

    Yeh kooche, yeh galiyan, yeh manzar dikhao;

    Sana khwane taqdeese mashriq ko lao,

    Sana khwane taqdeese Mashriq kahan hain?

    In view of the foregoing, I would appeal to all the rulers to rethink Government expenditure as it may be more beneficial and productive and make heavy investments in primary and universal education rather than purchasing arms and ammunition. Enlightened minds are an asset to the nation. People too must take initiative in this regard and elect only such rulers as are committed to this objective.

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