On friendship

 

“Man is a social animal”. He cannot live an isolated life. He needs the company of other people to survive. And he tries to make friends with other people as a law of nature, to meet his instinctive requirements. That’s why Aristotle said: “Whosoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild beast or god.”

 

Which kind of friends a person makes depends upon two factors: one his own interest and second his environment. He is often satisfied with the like-minded people who share his personal taste for habits, and profession. But in absence of such friends, he tends to have the friends whatever his environment or his surrounding provides him.

 

The latter cause seems more logical as, after all, it is the mechanism of our society which designs not only our personality, but also the overall behavior of our society. In the developed societies and under-developing society the habits or activities differ on the same aforementioned principle.

 

The elements of language, gender, geography, nationality, culture, professions etc. are usually marks of identification in a developed society. But the same elements become a cause of segregation in a backward society. Hence, whereas developed societies favor critical thinking, discussions or learning based activities, the same things are labeled as symbols of “abnormality” in a backward society.  

 

In such a scenario, it becomes obligatory for educated society to develop such an environment of friendship where the contaminated impact of a “bad system” could be nullified. And this could be made possible if the principles of ups and downs of nations are discussed among these friends of educated class. Or ability of raising questions through critical-thinking oriented activities is encouraged and students are engaged in active learning. Such environment _where “cooperation” is taught to negate the impact of “negative competition”, concept based study instead of just “cramming” or finding ways to better student’s skills instead of discouraging them_ becomes a beacon of light in the darkness of ignorance.

 

I’m lucky enough to find such a company where my friends are my inspiration in finding ways to change the horizon of decaying world. They cause me smile through their efforts in eradicating the pessimism from youth. They become my motivation when they actively take part in aforementioned activities. They continue to play their part in spreading the light of their goal to those who are deceived by the temporary charms of false paradise. Thanks Almighty God for such a blessing!

_Muhammad Abrar

April 17, 2022