They say that a sultan once said while
addressing his court:
Our kingdom is expanding all around
and we have done whatever was possible for the welfare and prosperity of
the people. However, as our kingdom is the envy of all our enemies, who
are constantly looking for some chance to attack us, it seems advisable
that our prime minister be entrusted with the onerous duty of finding a
befitting answer to their machinations to annihilate our nation. We place
all our treasure at his disposal. He may establish immense ammunition factories
or raise a colossal army -- he is given a free hand. We believe in his
integrity and perspicacity. We only want our country to be invincible.
Quite a reasonable time elapsed, but
no noticeable sign of any preparation was seen. The king called a meeting
and asked the prime minister to render an account of his work, as the king
suspected him of not performing his duty. The reply which the prime minister
gave to the king and his courtiers bears an unforgettable lesson for every
nation that prefers independence and self-reliance. He said:
Your Majesty, I have fortified the
whole country. You may rest assured that the forts I have built cannot
possibly be built in any kingdom. The army I have raised cannot be found
in any country, and the accomplished commanders who head our soldiers are
unlikely to be met in any army. O King, I have spread a network of institutions
in every nook and cranny of the country. The generations that come out
of these institutions will not only be capable of comprehending spiritual
and temporal worlds but embody all the best qualities of a Muslim. It is
my firm belief that no enemy can ever dare to cast a malicious glance on
our country. O King! the nation which has strength of character and an
enviable standard of education, and passes its ideology properly to its
coming generations is undoubtedly secure from every kind of danger.
When we turn to our own country, we
encounter quite an embarrassing situation. Our country has been independent
for half a century. Our land is enormously rich in resources. Our people
are potentially as capable as those of any other nation. Why can’t we touch
the pinnacle of spiritual and temporal development? What do we have? An
aberrant political system, a crippled economic environment with ever increasing
debts, a schizophrenic culture and a class-ridden society, not to refer
to an ineffective and aimless educational system. Needless to say that
we don’t have anything to boast of as a nation.
The above mentioned facts are bitter.
They depict a terribly alarming situation, which calls for immediate redress.
How can we remedy the plight of our country? The solution is the same which
the sultan’s prime minister adopted. It is true that we should not stop
acquiring modern technology for the defence of our country, but foremost
importance should be given to educate our future generations. To achieve
this goals, firstly, an education system imbued with our national and religious
ideology must be evolved. Secondly, a network of institutions should be
spread all over the country. Of course, the execution of both objectives
depends on the government. But in our opinion, private sector is also not
free from this responsibility. It is the need of the hour that both the
private and the public sectors work side by side to make progress in this
regard.
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