KNOWLEDGE IS THE BIGGEST ASSET YOU CAN OWN IN
FAVOUR
“The only true wisdom is to know that you know nothing”- Socrates
Since the inception of human civilisation, from the moment a child sets
his foot on the Earth, the light of knowledge nurtures him, just like a
tender seedling is cultivated by the warmth of the Sun. A child, who is
completely oblivious of the harsh reality of the world, seeks knowledge
with wonder and fascination. This enriching journey of accumulating
wisdom on his path to become an adult, is deeply rooted in the Indian
Philosophy of “
Ashrama”
or the four stages of life. When that seedling
has burgeoned into a colossal tree, it is then that his knowledge becomes
an asset. In this process, life itself becomes our teacher with its fair share
of highs and lows; where we attain the true wisdom of knowing ourself.
The most remarkable thing that makes one admire knowledge is its
ability to transcend the barriers of caste, creed, age sex, gender, faith,
religion etc. In his highly esteemed play King Lear “Tis the times plague,
when madmen lead the blind” Shakespeare had used the recurring trope
of the Fool to illuminate the reader’s mind. Closer home, we have
myriad examples of famous people who had scaled great heights, with
their asset of knowledge. APJ Abdul Kalam, renowned scientist and
statesman had developed India’s first indigenous SLV-3 vehicle, despite
being from a poor background. Furthermore, Sundarlal Bahuguna, the
pioneer of the Chipko Movement had used his wisdom for the noble
cause of protecting the environment. With the advent of digital learning
during the COVID-19 pandemic, the pursuit of knowledge got a shot in
the arm. However, on the flipside of this sterling coin, we also have
erudite men who use their knowledge to launch wars or destroy the
environment, thereby putting us in the throes of inevitable agony. In
this regard, the concept of moral wisdom comes into the picture; a virtue
that has got buried beneath the façade of superficiality. It is a necessary
element that ensures that we can discern between the right and the
wrong and work together for the greater good of humanity.
Thus, while knowledge enlightens the mind, an excess of it can put our
lives in danger. Moreover, so as to quote a line from my own creation on
the theme of “knowledge” I would like to humbly say that “A life
without knowledge is like an unmanned ship,
Left to wander in the turbulent sea of the world”.
