LACK OF PERSONALITIES OR LACK OF AWARENESS?

have indeed been born, but they could not do much in practical terms, because they were bereft of the required insight and awareness of the times. One example of this was the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (d. 2004). In terms of his natural capacities, you could call him a second Salahuddin Ayyubi, but despite all the sacrifices he made, he was completely unsuccessful. History can be divided into two major periods—the ancient traditional age, and the modern scientific age. There is a fundamental difference that distinguishes every aspect between these two. This distinction is so immense that if a noted personality of ancient times were to be born today, he might not be able to achieve anything spectacular. In fact, he might find himself a total misfit. If you want to do anything meaningful in today’s times, a basic condition is deep understanding of the times. Without this you can do nothing meaningful—be it in the field of education, scholarship, institutionbuilding, governance, leadership, social reform, intellectual exchange or whatever. To provide guidance in any aspect of life today, you need a thorough understanding of modern life. Lacking this understanding, if somehow you manage to gain a leadership post, your case would be best depicted in these lines of a poet: When a crow becomes the leader of a community, he guides them to the path of ruination. o Wise Adjustment Always remember that it is not your intention or your desire that determines the course taken by the external world. It is a wise adjustment between your desires and external realities that leads to great success. If you want to do anything meaningful in today’s times, a basic condition is deep understanding of the times. Without this you can do nothing meaningful.