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May 2, 2004
Review: Random thoughts
FAIZ Ahmed Faiz wondered why only hunger grew in the fields that overflowed with abundance. Similarly, Oliver Goldsmith observed, “Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, where wealth accumulates, and men decay.” Like the quotes from other famous writers, thinkers and leaders, Goldsmith’s verse, too, has been subjected to over-use and even abuse. Writers and debaters of clashing views and opinions have cited this verse in support of their own argument. This goes to show that a poet cannot remain aloof from social change; more so a journalist.
Akbar Ali, MA, was a veteran journalist, and an intellectual of note. His erudite writings appeared in national Urdu dailies for three decades. Being a prolific writer, he penned articles on many subjects — from politics and economics to philosophy and science. Once a reader knows that he upholds the Marxist ideology, his writings make greater sense, especially to a common Pakistani Urdu newspaper reader who is uninitiated in the theory of Marxism.
Describing his style of reasoning, Advocate Chaudhry Masood Akhtar, the founder of the Thinkers’ Forum of Gujrat, says, “Since eternity, man has been trying to comprehend the mysteries of the cosmos, and his interaction with it. He had three different paths to learn about that: one, believing unquestionably in what religion offered; two, through philosophical argument and discourse; and three, via science and technology.” Akbar Ali follows the last way. His first book was also published by Takhleeqat in June 2000.
Another intellectual, Prof Shabbir Hussain Shah, says it was Akbar Ali’s firm belief that scientific thought was the sole basis for a society’s progress. The main reasons for the backwardness of the east as compared to the West, were the inner conflicts and contradictions, religious bigotry and intolerance, prejudices and biases, and sectarianism and unscientific idealism that plague these societies. As such, Akbar Ali’s approach towards life is scientific, methodical and secular although he can discuss any aspect of Islamic philosophy with equal ease. He is also much concerned about the pathetic condition of the Muslim Ummah, its backwardness and helplessness.
Like some other Marxist thinkers, he holds unequal distribution of wealth in society responsible for the backwardness of the Third World. Not only that, he holds the view that it is the concentration of science and technology in the hands of the industrialized countries that has given rise to the spectre of globalization, and thus added to the tribulations of the people in Third World countries.
Discussing the reasons for our backwardness in every field, Akbar Ali identifies some basic flaws in our national approach. On the “Problems pertaining to technology”, he says that we do not have the right approach to promote the culture of science and technology in our country. “Our education system does not stimulate the mind, it’s detached from current realities, and it does not inspire your intellect. It only provides you with tips and shortcuts to pass the exams and get a degree.”
Venturing into the ‘dangerous’ domain of religious reformation, he queries, “If we study the Shari’ah law, we find that during the early period of Islamic history, economic transactions were very simple. There was no multiple-tiered business, problems of inflation or unemployment did not exist, stock markets and multinationals had not been conceived. So unless this law settles these and other modern economic concepts, there can be no solid basis for its implementation.”
Some of Akbar Ali’s expressions can find place in books of quotations. For instance, he says:
“You cannot vanquish a civilization with terrorism, but you can surpass it by inculcating superior moral and cultural values in your own civilization.”
“The root cause of poverty in the Third World is its lack of scientific sensibility.”
“An indepth look at the forces of creation would reveal that the real power lies neither with the private sector nor the public sector, but with the technology sector.”
“Tribal self-interest and narrow-mindedness are dead against national interests and enlightenment. Thus nationalism cannot germinate in a tribal set-up.”
His discussions are enlightening and sometimes amusing, to say the least. One may say that Akbar Ali raises issues but the solutions he offers lack practical insight. One, however, cannot dispute his sincerity of purpose. Another thought that comes to mind while going through this collection of articles is that, like many an old scientist, he is not fully at ease with new innovations and concepts like digital communication, virtual reality and neural networks.
Zindagi aur Science
By Akbar Ali
Takhleeqat, Ali Plaza, 3 Mozang Road, Lahore
Tel: 042-7238014. Email: takhleeqat@yahoo.com
Website: www.takhleeqat.com
360pp. Rs200
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