Masses versus Intellectuals

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 4 June 2024 "Unlike The Masses, Intellectuals Have A Taste For Rationality And Interest In Facts. Their Critical Habit Of Mind Makes Them Resistant To The Kind Of Propaganda That Works So Well On The Majority. " Aldous Huxley Huxley's quote assumes much greater relevance in these mediocre times. When the masses go gaga over a megalomaniac's 45-hr 'meditation,' intellectuals remain unaffected by such gimmicks. They question the relevance of this ostentatious meditation when the hustings are going on. What the intellect sees, idiocy skips. Propaganda and preaching are for the gullible masses. Intellectuals remain unaffected by them. Hakim Sanai wrote in Pashto, "DiqSaf Min BazShee Qin AzNamazin"(a fool is more interested in knowing whether people are seeing him offer Namaz). But an intelligent worshipper is not interested in making a display of his piety. He does it silently and sans any fanfare. Centuries ago, Confucius told his disciple Mingchowk that there was a dire dearth of those who could think and rationalise. Things haven't changed even after centuries. You find a handful of people who apply their brains and remain unaffected and unimpressed by the moonshine. Once Rumi asked his mentor and companion Shams Tabrizi (Shams was 22 years senior to Rumi), why doesn't he (Shams) read the Quran regularly despite having great faith in Allah? Shams' reply transformed Rumi's thinking. He (Shams) said, “I’ve great respect for the Quran but I've greater respect for Allah. So, despite the Quran being Allah's unalloyed message, I'm more focused on the source itself." In other words, Shams was more into Allah than all his paraphernalia, viz, Quran and even Muhammad. An intellectual is always focused, whereas a mediocre person or the masses will be more interested in the frills and fancies. Masses and mediocre people will waste their time in explaining and analysing their holy books and tenets because they cannot go beyond that. Au contraire, intellectuals will prefer to concentrate on the source. There's an episode in Mahabharata. When Yudhishthir went to meet the grand patriarch, Bhishma. Yudhishthir asked Bhishma, "Kim SaadrishyamChintanSamooh Para BuddhimaanAste?” (How does the thinking of the intelligent differ from that of the masses). Bhishma replied succinctly, Masses think brainlessly. Intellectuals think with brains. “In short, the masses are unthinking and the intellectuals are thinking. A thinking mind will never be impressed by the gimmicks and shenanigans of an ubiquitous political leader. But the masses will think that he's a godsend for India. In these times of rank mediocrity in all walks of life, more than ever do we need a few sane voices. But mediocrity being so contagious and overwhelming, it sooner or later eclipses the intelligence of a handful of people. To quote, YaasYaganaChangezi, "Log IssQadarJaahilThay Mere Ird-Gird/ Rafta-Rafta Main BhiUn Mein ShaamilHo Gaya" (I was surrounded by so ignorant people/ I too slowly became like them). Furthermore, people don't want to use their intelligence because it causes anguish and excruciations as they say in English, ignorance is bliss. "ZahanatonKoKahanKarb Se Faraar Mila/ JiseNigaahMili, Use Intazaar Mila" (When did intelligence get respite from vexations/ Who got the eyes, had to wait inordinately). This is happening at the moment. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/masses-intellectuals/d/132440 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism