KNOWLEDGE IS BLISS WHEREAS IGNORANCE IS MISERY – ALTAF HUSSAIN
KNOWLEDGE AND PROSPERITY ARE SYNONYM TO EACH OTHER

Karachi – 1^st May 2003
Mr Altaf Hussain, MQM Founder & Leader, has stated that knowledge activates the dormant brain cells of human beings and makes them better than others.  It is the key to development.  Knowledge is bliss whereas ignorance is misery. It depends on the human being whether one selects the path to knowledge or ignorance.  He was addressing the reorganisation meeting of the APMSO at Khursheed Begum Memorial Hall in Azizabad, Karachi.

Mr Hussain said that deliberation is a process or an act through which dormant brain cells are activated and hidden information revealed.  If the process of deliberation continues with commitment and devotion then one could even discover God.  Knowledge distinguishes human beings and nations with others and rewards with development and prosperity.  Therefore, it depends whether one selects the path to knowledge or ignorance.  Nations blessed with the wealth of knowledge, utilise the information and knowledge towards realism and practicalism; whereas nations with lack of knowledge are entranced under emotional slogans instead of leading the path of realism and practicalism.  These emotional slogans have never brought happiness or prosperity neither do they prove beneficial in any walk of life.  In fact, these emotional slogans are harmful for the prosperity of nations. 

Citing the War on Iraq as example Mr Hussain said that when Iraq was under attack by allied forces then not a single Islamic country stood up against this attack because they do not possess such force.  The Islamic countries are underdeveloped and the development and prosperity in certain Islamic countries particularly Arab countries is not because of knowledge and information but due to natural wealth in the form of oil.  The wealth of oil has brought prosperity to these countries but it does not make them at par with developed countries.  If a nation or nations possesses immense wealth but no knowledge then such wealth is not sufficient to protect and save these ignorant nations.  Knowledge and prosperity are synonym to each other.  Without knowledge and information there could be no development.  If someone claims to challenge the developed nations with emotional slogans then such claims would not only be unrealistic but also disastrous.  Recently, certain so-called religious leaders claimed to make Afghanistan, the graveyard of the attackers but failed to fulfil their claims.  Instead Afghanistan was made the graveyard of the innocent people who were entranced by these emotional slogans.  Similarly, at the time of attack on Iraq, these so-called religious leaders again raised the same emotional slogans but these slogans failed to save Iraq.

It is the era of science, technology and computers.  In this modern era of development and advancement, fighter jets and missiles could not be countered with bows and arrows.  Therefore, to develop and come to par with developed nations we must acquire knowledge and information.  It is the irony of human history that whenever and wherever someone has preached, taught, wrote or informed others of knowledge, awareness, intelligence, conscience, intellect etc., then such persons were taunted and criticised by the ignorant and so-called intellectuals of that era.

Mr Hussain said that throughout his struggle he has never been illogical but the so-called scholars issued decrees and allegations against him, it was made impossible for him to stay in the country and thereupon he was compelled to leave the country and go into exile.  His only crime was that he was spreading knowledge and awakening the dormant brains.  He stressed, “Altaf Hussain has always spoke the truth and would continue to do so and make public the facts despite all the decrees issued against him”. 

For acquiring knowledge it is essential that if someone is speaking of knowledge, intellect and awareness, which you are unable to grasp then instead of instantly rejecting it you should first ponder upon it.  Commenting on the claim of the so-called religious leaders that certain knowledge is un-Islamic, therefore, acquiring it is illegitimate, Mr Hussain said that no knowledge is un-Islamic because Islam itself preaches for the attainment of knowledge and the Holy Quran commenced with “Iqra”.    We should examine how much do we ponder and do we obtain knowledge in its entirety?   The people at the helm of affairs in Pakistan have never paid due attention towards promoting knowledge, the allocation in the national budget for education is minimal, and it is for this reason that even after 56 years, Pakistan is still an underdeveloped country.  It is the need of time that more and more funds must be allocated in the national budget for education.  Mr Hussain advised the APMSO workers to pay attention towards acquiring knowledge not only for obtaining the degree but also to fully understand the knowledge and information of their respective departments.  He extended felicitations to the new |Central Committee of the APMSO and instructed them to work enthusiastically towards promoting the ideology of the Movement, make merit not nepotism as the standard, be humble and affectionate to the workers and always give due respect to the teachers, parents, elders and particularly the ladies.