Daily Times

While human intellect is godly, human nature is worldly. Intellect has no boundaries, but the greed having its origin in human nature has to be controlled. Unfortunately, in our times, even the intellect has been overtaken by lust for power and position. Poet Habib Jalib had warned: Apna fun mat baicho (Don’t sell your talent). Jalib was among the first voices of dissent against an all-powerful usurper. His recitation of his poem Dastoor at a public mushaira in Murree stirred a storm. Some of the fellow poets had wanted him to stop but he proved unstoppable.

A traveller once stopped by the hujra of a sufi mystic and was appalled at the lack of furniture. “Where are your belongings?” he asked? The sufi asked, “Where are yours?” “I am a traveller” was the answer. “So am I”, said the sufi. While intellect focuses on the journey, human nature is concerned with belongings, most of which are not even needed to reach the finishing line. In Urdu, the terms are safar (journey) and samaan-i-safar (luggage for the journey); there has to be a distinction between the two.

The greed has to be restrained. Unfortunately, most regulatory measures of the 21st century have been done away with. Concepts of a free market and trickle-down have prevailed. This has widened the gulf between the haves and the have-nots. Distribution of wealth is seriously skewed. In a world of plenty, a vast majority of humans continue to suffer, living in a man-made darkness.

There has always been a delicate balance between spirituality and materialism; it is lost in the century of enlightenment. The physical has started to dominate the metaphysical. Use of technology has made a big difference. While communication has improved in the information age, the human divide has increased manifold. This imbalance has to be addressed before it is too late.

Use of technology has made a big difference. While communication has improved in the information age, the human divide has increased manifold

Common good is the biggest casualty of greed. Societies are built around shared interests. Both state and individuals have to take the responsibility to educate and train the succeeding generations. The Aligarh Muslim University was an individual effort to bring the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent into the mainstream. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan took it upon himself to lead the movement. Later, Muhammad Iqbal and finally, Muhammad Ali Jinnah worked towards a new homeland for Muslims. Sir Syed’s mission was accomplished, that of Iqbal and Jinnah remains unaccomplished even after over seven decades of independence.

From the standpoint of human intellect, Iqbal stands out. He understood the shortcomings of human nature. That is why he insisted on a common good. To meet his personal needs, he practised law two to three days a week. When his health was failing, he convinced the brilliant barrister, Jinnah, to lead and fight the legal battle for freedom. Jinnah led from the front with his intellect and incorruptible nature, and he won freedom for his people. Without the intellect of the founding fathers, the journey would have been difficult, but that what followed after the freedom at midnight has defied intellect as greed took control of the new state and its resources.

The saying “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely” has become a description of the power-hungry world we live in. Human intellect is a means of control and exploitation. In line with human nature, power has concentrated into a few hands and the vast majority has been left behind. Instead of collective gains and common interests, personal interests have become supreme.

Conflict of interest has become secondary. Distribution of bounties amongst one’s friends has become common. Empires have emerged in the democratic world rendering democracy and the power of vote powerless. Establishment politicians use slogans like vote ko izzat doe (respect the vote) only when they are made accountable for their misdeeds. A top-heavy system cannot function; it is bound to choke.

Accountability can be an effective barrier between human intellect and human nature. History is witness that the smart and the powerful tend develop the delusion that they may succeed in creating a legacy by dodging the norms of honesty and integrity.

Greed and personal interests have always dominated human nature. The intellect has often been tamed. Karl Marx gave a call for the workers of the world to unite against capitalism. It is time for the intellectuals of the world to unite to face the challenges posed by vested interests. For the sake of humanity, common good has to be the norm. Intellect has to overcome the push and pull of human nature. Until that happens, we will continue to live in ‘exciting times’.

The writer is a former chairman of the Pakistan Science Foundation