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Perspective    
In Search of Self – 2
by Naira Yaqoob

It is important to have some self-interest – a word implying selfishness and greed to a common man. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be so. It is rightly said that it is one of the beautiful compensations of this life that no one can sincerely try to help another without helping himself. It is then that a person is able to genuinely help others without any claim of pity or sacrifice. In seeking self-interest, we are able to avoid a monstrous feeling called pity. Though considered a virtue by people, in reality, this emotion destroys man, his worth and his ego. In seeking self-interest, we are also able to avoid self-sacrifice. Again considered a virtue by people, in reality, this self-sacrifice is a violation of our duty to us and our right to exist. It is this Self that can be, but must not be, sacrificed. It is this un-sacrificed self that others must respect in us and we in them. It is said that to be able to look back upon one’s past life with satisfaction is to live twice. And this is possible if we have no regrets, no sacrifices to our credit.

It is important to have individuality and an ego. Everybody has a story and everybody is a story. This story involves these elements in their true essence. The elements that make us stand out in a crowd and stand by our own Self. Man’s ego and his individuality lies at the root of all progress. If we don’t believe in and stand for something, we have no integrity, no individuality. If we give up our ego, we lose all there is in us. We cannot be a traitor to anything or anyone, except to our Self. We cannot be faithful to others unless we are faithful to our Self. We do the greatest harm to mankind by destroying our ego, our individuality. We should not be forced to do anything that goes against our will, belief or ego. And if we are, we ought to refuse to surrender our self-respect, integrity and ego to anyone.

It is important to have consideration. A consideration that makes us realize the responsibility of and to our life. This consideration enables us to understand that each one of us has a life to live – a life of our own and not of another or for the sake of another, whether good or bad. It prevents us from resorting to escapism. If each one of us will accept and face our life and responsibilities that go with it, the world will be a happier and easier place to live in. If not, it leads to an intra-personal conflict, a frustration within Self. Why should we fall into this trap if we learn to live the right way, with the right attitude assuming our responsibility with each decision that we take, with each move that we make?

It is important to achieve something in life. What is the worth of a being if he has not contributed anything, not achieved anything? Though we judge ourselves by what we feel we are capable of doing, but others judge us by what we have already done. What we have already achieved. This contribution may be in terms of thought, philosophy or deed. That is why great people direct us not to follow footsteps of others but rather try to create our own milestones. Create something new. Especially if it makes a difference.

We need to defend our Self and justify our existence. We need to nourish our Self with things that are important to us. There is no need to scorn those who make the attempt. People, who are not doing anything substantial, radical or incredible, should not stop others from doing so. There are people who always compromise and kill their small revolutions. But there are some who can’t and don’t. We all have to live our share of life. How we live, that makes all the difference.

‘Man – every man – is an end in himself,
not a means to the ends of others;
he must live for his own sake,
neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself;
he must work for his rational self-interest,
with the achievement of his own happiness
as the highest moral purpose of his life. –– Ayn Rand.     

January 29, 2006   

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Top | Perspective    

The Week of January 29, 2006     
India's Second Freedom by Rajinder Puri 
Hamas' Victory : Impact on Peace Process by Sujata Ashwarya Cheema
In Search of Self by Naira Yaqoob
My Childhood and Kamla Nehru by Arya Bhushan
Isomers, Prions, Homonyms,
   Necker Cubes, Us and the Universe Part 3 by Gaurang Bhatt, MD 
The Kalika of Patan by Prema Nandakumar 
The Land of the "Kiwi" by Neha Girotra
My Temporary Son a Book Review by G. Swaminathan
From the Ground Up by Rajgopal Nidamboor  
Stardust Memories by Michael Levy
Indian Youth in Search of Icons by Prema Nandakumar 
Oblivion by Ramendra Kumar  
A Pan of Musk by NS Murty  
What are We Scared Of? by Anitha Abraham 
A Boat Ride Back in Time by Elayne Clift 
Rice Tales by Aparna Pallavi 
Nepal: Looking for 'People Made to Disappear' by Sudeshna Sarkar
Two Babies: World Apart by Kwamboka Oyaro 
India's Congress Government
   Virtually Indicted in Supreme Court Judgement by Dr. Subhash Kapila