MAKE YOURSELF ELIGIBLE

being overwhelmed by the conditions one faces. The other way is by rising above these conditions. Because this world can never be free from unfavourable conditions, people whose thinking is overwhelmed by the unpleasant conditions they face always think in terms of complaints. They have a complaining mentality. Their thinking is reactionary, because they always react—negatively—to unfavourable conditions. Instead of working positively, to help themselves and their communities, they simply engage in completely useless agitations and demonstrations against other people and communities, foolishly imagining that in doing so they are doing great work. In contrast to this, people who rise above the conditions they are faced with and exercise their minds soon realize that unfavourable conditions and factors that they sometimes face are actually in accordance with the law of nature, rather than a result of other people’s oppression or discrimination. This realization makes them realistic. They accept reality as it is, and then make realistic plans for their lives. Instead of ranting and raving against others, they try to succeed on the basis of hard work. The Indian Muslims have become habituated to thinking in terms of ‘discrimination’. That is why they have developed an extremely narrow and confined ghetto mentality. But if, instead, they start thinking in realistic terms, they will experience a profound sense of freedom. They will realize that they do not want to continue to blame others for their woes. While in the first case, they are led to view all roads as blocked, in the latter case they will find vast vistas opening up all around them. Take for instance, the case of the Urdu language. Muslims complain that the Urdu language is being discriminated against in India. But if you study the matter deeply, you will realize that the problem of Urdu is actually because of the limitations of this language, rather than a result of it being discriminated against. In other words, it is an internal, rather than external problem. The actual problem lies in the fact that the Urdu language has failed to establish its importance in the contemporary world. That is why even the most passionate advocates of Urdu think it necessary to send their own children to English-medium schools. If Muslims start thinking in realistic terms, they will experience a profound sense of freedom. They will find vast vistas opening up all around them. Instead of ranting and raving against others, they will work hard and succeed.