January 02, 2009

Quiet Deeds of Good

 

Amid all the discussion of plunder and pelf by power-seekers in Pakistan, are some honorable exceptions that remain little discussed. These are the selfless and good works performed by individuals who do not seek credit, publicity, visibility, or glory.
A splendid example is the Society for Education and Technology (SET) in Lahore (www.set.edu.pk), spearheaded by Air Marshal (Ret.) Khurshid Anwar Mirza, and backed by a small highly committed faculty.
SET was founded to impart education and computer training to those bypassed and most deprived by the benefits of society.  Of the 80 or so students undergoing training at any one time, 25% have special needs (hearing impairments) while the rest are so mired in poverty that, without assistance, they would have absolutely no capacity or opportunity to study or learn technological skills.  50% of SET’s students are girls.
It was good to see the high value placed on human dignity through steps such as the provision to all students of clean drinking mineral water.
It was equally good to see the emphasis placed through special classes on character development along with the posting of inspirational quotations on bulletin boards with sayings like “Aim high”, “Reflect before you act”, and “Attitude is more important than aptitude”. 
Coming to the larger society, the overall social trend is to be dismissive of the deprived sectors of society.  Deaf children are referred to as “deaf and dumb” as if having a hearing impairment somehow renders one mentally deficient. Youth who are desperately poor often are seen as undesirable or, worse yet, simply are ignored by society. Many rubies are lost in the rubble.
On the other side, the few with privileged placement repeatedly are showered with offers of sinecure positions and opportunities, to the exclusion of the many.  State and society continue not only to condone venality and failure but to reward it.  This blatant failure to address the less fortunate members of society is one of the core factors behind the rise of extreme fury and frustration among the youth.
Hazrat Ali once advised: “Tell your people to set out to acquire noble traits … whenever anyone gladdens a heart, God creates for him a grace from his gladness that runs to him when misfortune befalls.”

A cursory glance at the history of the land reveals that the indestructible legacy is the one left by the Qalandar. They forsook avarice and committed themselves to helping, healing and giving hope to those people afflicted with misery and despair.   Hazrat Ali observed that “the man who is living in ease cannot appreciate the level of difficulties of others …Generosity is the protector of good reputations … The most noble wealth is to give up objects of desire … By generosity, worth grows.”
If one looks, for example, at the lives of Bulleh Shah, Mian Mir, and Farid Ganj Shakar, one would be hard-pressed to find and identify who were the rich rulers who reigned during the times of these great saints. To date, they remain inspirational role models testifying to the enduring moral power of good deeds.
Sometimes one sees more defeatism in those blessed by normal physical bodies than those disabled by nature and yet continuing to maintain a fighting spirit.
As long as the human spirit is not handicapped, there is always hope.