Ancient Wisdom

کچھ دنوں سے مجھے اوبر یا کریم یا ان ڈرائو پر سفر کرنے کا موقع ملا۔ عجیب اتفاق ہے کہ ہر دفعہ کوئی یونیورسٹی سٹوڈنٹ کار چلا رہا تھا۔ اس کا رویہ بھی اچھا تھا اس لیے میں نے پورے سکور دیے۔ مجھے اس لیے بھی خوشی ہوئی کہ والدین کا ہاتھ بٹھانا چاہتے تھے یا اس طرح سوچتے تھے تاکہ رزق حلال کما سکیں اور نوکریوں کے دھکے نہ کھائیں۔ میرے خیال میں نوجوان نسل میں یہ ایک مثبت سوچ ہے چونکہ جب یہی بچے بیرون ملک تعلیم حاصل کرنے کے لیے ایسے کام کر سکتے ہیں ہوٹلوں میں کام کر سکتے ہیں ٹیکسیاں چلا سکتے ہیں تو لاہور یا پاکستان میں کیوں نہیں۔ اس طرح وہ ایک بوجھ کی بجائے خود انحصار انسان کے طور پر ابھرتے ہیں۔ وہ سیکھتے ہیں کہ کمانا کتنا مشکل ہےْ۔ وہ سیکھتے ہیں کہ خاندان کی مدد کیسے کرنی ہے۔ وہ سیکھتے ہیں کہ مختلف لوگوں سے کیسے ڈیل کرنا ہے۔ وہ ایک کاروبار سیکھتے ہیں اور لوگوں کے سمندر میں ابھرنے کی آرزو کرتے ہیں۔ وہ صرف کتابی علم کی بجائے انسانوں کے رویوں اور تعلقات سے سیکھتے ہیں۔ نوجوان نسل کے ذہنوں میں جو تصور ڈرل کر کے بٹھا دیا گیا ہے کہ ان کو نوکری کرنی چاہیے آہستہ آہستہ مدھم ہو رہا ہے۔ نوکریوں کی تلاش میں ...

  اگر ہم معیشت دانوں کے پیچیدہ فارمولوں پر فی الفور توجہ نہ دیں مگر سیدھے اصول پر نظر رکھیں تو یہ بات واضح ہو جاتی   ہے کہ قیمتوں کا تعین مندرجہ ذیل فارمولے کے ذریعے کیا جاتا ہے:   قیمت فروخت =براہ راست اخراجات +بلواسطہ اخراجات +منافع آپ یوں کہہ سکتے ہیں کہ پاکستان میں سبزیوں اور پھلوں کی قیمت اس بنیادی فارمولے کے بغیر ہی بیچی جاتی ہے۔ اس میں منافع کا عنصرحد سے زیادہ ہے جو کہ براہ راست اور بلواسطہ اخراجات کی نسبت دوگنا یا سہ گنا ہے اور اس میں غیر ضروری قسم کے عناصر ناجائز فائدہ اٹھا رہے ہیں۔  پاکستان میں زیادہ تر سبزیاں دیہاتوں اور گائوں میں کسان اُگاتے ہیں مگر ان کو بیچنے کے لیے قصبوں اور شہروں کا رخ کرنا پڑتا ہے جہاں پر دلال یا آڑھتیے ان کی سبزیاں کوڑیوں کے بھائو ہتھیا لیتے ہیں۔ اس کے بعد یہ قیمتوں پر کنٹرول کرتے ہیں۔ ان کے پاس آلو، پیاز، ٹماٹر وغیرہ کی قیمتوں کو کنٹرول کرنے کے بہت سے طریقے ہوتے ہیں جن میں ایک کولڈ سٹوریج میں ذخیرہ کرنا اور پھر قلت پیدا کر کے ان کو بیچنا ۔ اس لیے آپ نے دیکھا ہو گا کہ رمضان کے مہینوں میں آلو کی قیمت یکدم بڑھ جاتی ہے۔ قربان...

Long ago, when the moon was full and the stars whispered secrets,  Tortoise  stumbled upon a hidden glade. There, perched on a gnarled branch, was the  Wise Sage Owl . His eyes held galaxies within, and his feathers shimmered like moonlight. “ Tortoise ,” the owl intoned, “your actions echo through eternity. Goodness begets goodness, and darkness begets darkness.” Tortoise  bowed. “But how can I ensure my deeds lead to goodness?” The owl blinked slowly. “Balance your scales. For every kindness, plant a seed. For every harm, seek redemption.” And so,  Tortoise  set forth. He helped the ants carry crumbs, tended wounded birds, and shared wisdom with the young saplings. His shell grew lighter, and his heart swelled with purpose. Meanwhile,  Monkey  swung through the forest, heedless of the owl’s wisdom. He stole honey from the bees, teased the squirrels, and mocked the wise old owl himself. One fateful day,  Monkey  crossed paths with a...

In a dense jungle, where sunlight barely pierced the thick canopy, there lived a tribe of apes. These apes were unlike any others—they possessed a peculiar ability. Whatever they observed humans doing, they imitated with astonishing accuracy. The apes watched the villagers nearby as they tilled the soil, planted seeds, and tended to their crops. Soon, the apes were digging furrows, sowing seeds, and mimicking the farmers’ every move. The villagers were amused by their antics but also a little unnerved. One day, a traveling musician arrived in the village. He played a haunting melody on his flute, and the apes gathered around, entranced. Their furry fingers twitched, and soon they were fashioning crude flutes from bamboo stalks. The jungle echoed with their off-key tunes. The apes continued their imitations. When a blacksmith hammered red-hot iron into horseshoes, the apes found rocks and tried to forge their own. Sparks flew, and their attempts were comical, but they persisted. The vil...

Amidst the chaos of a sinking ship, I sit calmly, aware of my fate. Unlike the weeping passengers around me, I harbor no tears. They, too, know their destiny, yet fear grips them. The ship’s hull bears holes, deliberately carved by those aboard—each driven by their own apprehensions. My serenity may appear passive or alienated, but within it lies a profound wisdom. Consider this: The very branch upon which they sit, they themselves have severed. Their destiny is clear—the ship will collapse. I could cry out, warn them, but if they refuse to listen, silence becomes my refuge. I wait, knowing that sometimes, wisdom lies not in futile cries, but in patient observation. -Irshad Ahmad

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a burgeoning field in the annals of human history, marking the first instance of machines challenging human supremacy. A prime example is the AI-based Chess Master, which has proven unbeatable by human intelligence. The potential seems limitless, but questions arise about the ethical implications of AI and its capacity for emotions. We’ve already seen robots designed to emulate sympathy and love, providing comfort to isolated and depressed individuals. It’s conceivable that future generations may form stronger emotional bonds with machines than with fellow humans, as we’re already witnessing a preference for mobile devices over face-to-face interactions. The crux of this essay is to explore how AI will navigate the realms of religion and ethics. AI relies on pre-existing data to function, but what happens when faced with a dilemma and no available data? How will the robot decide its course of action? Will it act in a human-like manner or favour the machi...

  After a considerable hiatus, four friends reunited for a dinner at a hotel. Two of them had journeyed from distant places to reconnect with their oldest companion. The host greeted them warmly, providing food and drinks. They exchanged pleasantries for a while before their attention shifted to their mobile phones. They began scrolling and chatting with others online, creating a physical disconnect amongst themselves. An eerie silence enveloped them, devoid of any interaction. They sat for an extended period, engrossed in their online world, without any communication amongst themselves. It appeared as if they were disinterested in each other’s company. After an hour, one friend decided it was time to leave, citing other commitments. Subsequently, the gathering dispersed, with each friend departing one after the other.

One day, an elderly man was reclining on a charpai, a traditional bed commonly used in rural India and Pakistan. A young man approached him and took a seat by his side. The old man, engrossed in puffing his hukka (a local form of smoking), posed a question to the young man, “Son, do you wish to understand people better?” The old man then shared his wisdom, “If you truly wish to understand people, try to comprehend the nature and essence of trees. You’ll find that some trees provide shade, much like certain people who offer comfort and satisfaction with their presence. Some trees bear fruit, akin to individuals from whom you can gain benefits. However, some trees have thorns, just like certain people who might cause you pain. And then there are trees that neither provide shade nor bear fruits, symbolising those who neither offer comfort nor any benefit. Understand the trees, and you’ll understand people.”