An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.
Benjamin Franklin
This is undeniable fact that illiteracy and lack of higher education in Muslims are the main causes for community’s acute poverty and backwardness, though there had also been various other reasons including cultural, financial and historical. This is the least represented community in MNCs and other public and private sector business organizations. Though important but it is useless to talk again and again about causes, as enough researches have been carried out and published. Right now, we would like to see and foresee the future, talk about the future, plan about the future and get ready for a bright future. Only well-educated Muslim community will be able to participate and shoulder Indian economic boom and social change.
We are living in knowledge society, knowledge driven economy and knowledge world, only knowledgeable will have opportunity to actively participate in the current and future social and economic life. Indian Muslims need to move ahead, from poverty and illiteracy towards becoming torchbearers of knowledge of the future world, as they had been in the past.
A very small community in Europe and USA is ruling the business and entertainment world only on the strength of education, knowledge and high level of dedication. This community’s contribution in science and technology, finance and economy, entertainment and literature is mind blowing and surprising. They are the rulers because of their knowledge and expertise.
This is just an example in the current world; there is no need to follow footsteps of any specific community. The only point to be noted here is that there is no honorable and respectable life for Indian Muslims unless they are highly educated, qualified and possess knowledge and expertise.
Children of today, if educated well, will change the fate of their family and society and contribute to country’s development. They will take the society up to the sky high.
The investment made into the children’s education is the most secure and profitable investment. Each and every parent should understand the fact that an investment of single penny today will return in millions.
This is also noteworthy that complaints regarding lack of funds are baseless in most of the cases. The cost of basic education is very low in India. There is big chain of government schools in even remote villages, providing free education, even incentives to the registered children. At this moment, we need not talk about elite institutes; these are the next steps and need not think about it while thinking and planning for the illiterate masses. Our basic responsibility is to send children to schools and make them complete at least Intermediate Education. Definitely there will be ways for those seeking higher levels of education. Sky is the limit for true seekers.
Parents need to cut the cost of living and spend their savings in children’s education. They should make this obligatory like all other obligations of life.
The educated ones should make this an important “Cause of Life” and invest their money and time in support of this valuable cause. They should visit families and parents and convince them to send their children to schools and make them commit for this goal.
The future of India is very bright. We will soon see huge economic development in nearly all the sectors of economy, demanding high numbers of talents and skilled workers and staff. If Muslims will not start the preparation today, they will lose the future as they are losing the present.
Muslim community is in acute need of strong leadership for their overall developmental plans and projects. They need someone to guide them and light their way ahead.
Suhaib Nadvi
