Do you know the fact that reading history makes you wise?
You will certainly agree if I said ‘reading history-Sucks’ and then you will reminisce your school days when you spent sleepy hours at your lectures. Well I too went through similar cycles of hibernation at school however, now the perceptions have changed.
Back then and even now our education system does not encourage us to ask ‘WHY’ for things that we do. We were never told why we should learn history, but now, when you and I can think more comprehensively, I realized how many great lessons history has to teach. Let me take pleasure in convincing that to you within the next couple of minutes.
Personally, I believe that history, as a subject, has two purposes. First, it keeps account of all the key events that happened in the past. History has thus made the best use of language to transfer the knowledge to the next generations.
It has kept our traditions, culture, art, architecture, memoirs, stories, lifestyle, and ultimately civilization alive. It has given momentum to writing as well as comprehension skills, all of which only the human are blessed with, and now, as a human (if you are), you can benefit from it in exceedingly many ways.
Think of the epics that were written long ago in the 12th century. It’s so exciting that you can live in that time!
You can read the adventures of mighty sailors and explorers who, with no GPS navigation, went across the globe. You can read the affairs of the 15th century which will be remembered for ages to come. You can read the accounts of great wars that our ancestors fought, historic literature kept their valor alive.
Though a lot of discussion and imagination can happen around this topic, let’s move towards the second thought.
History is the silent teacher. It teaches about the mistakes of past generations.
Historic comprehension makes us ‘wiser’ enough not to repeat the same mistakes. However, sadly, this is where we lack wisdom, and essentially that is where we need to learn.
Think of the horrific nuclear attack that ended the 2nd World War. Most of us alive today were not present to witness the disastrous event(No one should). However, history has the accounts of occurrence and the aftereffects of that event. You would not like to repeat such mishaps.
We are now a globalized civilization. Every decision, every choice, that you make, affects the person on the other side of the planet. Intellectuals like you and I thus can change the series of events that could give disastrous outcomes in the future.
This is where we should learn; this is where we need intelligence; this is where we will be judged as global citizens of the 21st century.
One such initiative is the eradication of nuclear and biological weapons. As wise kids of nature, we should have mutually agreed about such treaties but, nothing much seems to happen. Globalization, in this sense, has become a risky business.
We have let a few powerful people rule our destiny. This type of autonomy need just one idiotic leader to destroy the humanitarian as well as environmental tenacity. You and I, therefore, are more responsible now than the previous generations to choose whom to elect and whom to give power.
As responsible citizens, we should learn to choose consciously.
Our conscious choices could be societal, environmental, psychological, and religious.
- Societal choices, some of which, include population control, poverty alleviation, epidemic discipline, and other such issues which, ultimately, are outcomes of ‘good governance’. It is noteworthy to again mention that you should choose your leaders responsibly.
- Environmental choices include pollution, deforestation, development control, and in essence climate change.
- Psychological choices include racism, imperialism, consumption, equality, justice, empathy where your choice and your voice, for what is good, could bring a significant revolution.
- Religious choices include blind faith (Ignoring science), inter-religious conflicts, terrorism, vengeance, and allied challenges.
We thus need co-operative effort and independent thought processes which will make us responsible citizens. Our decision thus should not be self-centered and short term but broad vision and long term.
Depleted resources, extinct species, degraded forests, polluted oceans will haunt generations to come. They will be left with nothing to exploit.
I assume you are aware of all such not in my backyard issues. If not, you will eventually learn.
At last, History could be a great teacher to future generations only if we, as the progressive generation of the 21st century, could create the best years of human civilization in time to come, and that depends on ‘you’…
History is ready to teach but are you ready to learn?
Be the change you want to see in the world — Mahatma Gandhi
P.S: If you want to become a connoisseur of great learning, I am here at your rescue… You know what to do… 🙂
Sophisticated Minimalist 