The Biggest Irony Of Our Times

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 7 October 2025 "It pains me to see people without honour enjoy the peace and comfort that belongs to those who do have honour." Akhenaten, Chapter 7, pages 63-68 I've always loved the aforementioned quote of Egyptian Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz. Toto’s anguish over the moral decay in society highlights the frustration faced by those who uphold virtue while witnessing corruption thrive. His statement resonates with the enduring struggle for justice and the desire for a world where honor and righteousness are recognized and rewarded. It serves as a reminder that complacency in the face of wrongdoing ultimately undermines the integrity of society as a whole. This is the biggest irony. Those who deserve, always serve and those who're useless, enjoy all comforts and are also honoured everywhere. This is very much obvious in our political world. Dubious politicians are honoured and those who deserve, remain in the penumbra of these political goons. Our collective mediocrity is also responsible for this tragedy and decay. We give importance to those who don't deserve anything. Our rank uneducated political leaders get the credit for the plans and strategies that were made by the learned bureaucrats. To quote Shaad Katihari, "Jahilon Ki Tooti Bolti Hai / Aqlamand Ki Zubaan Band Rahti Hai " (Ignorants are forever active but the intelligents remain so silent and inactive). Here it must be mentioned that when the international clown Lalu Prasad was the Railway Minister, he took all the credits for introducing new trains, plans and ideas and congratulated himself publicly for transforming Indian Railways. So much so that Ahmedabad's famous MBA Institute invited him for a lecture. In fact, he did nothing. IAS officers under him did everything. But no one knows those brilliant minds. To quote Sahir, Jo Taar Se Nikli Hai Woh Dhun Sab Ne Suni Hai/ Jo Saaz Pe Guzri Hai Woh Kis Dil Ko Pata Hai (Everyone has listened to the tune emanating from the strings/ But who cares for the fate of the instrument?). Honour and decency go hand in hand. But those who lack honour are often shameless, discourteous and indecent. These shameless people hog the limelight and those who should have got the honour and respect, remain silent out of courtesy and decency. Most of the uncouth and rogue Babas and spiritual gurus live in clover and are accustomed to a sybaritic lifestyle. What the earlier political dispensation did and achieved is nullified by the current political dispensation as it has certain leaders whose only agenda is to delete and destroy the achievements of the previous government and sole objective is to condemn whatever our great leaders like M K Gandhi, Nehru, Manmohan Singh or even Mrs Indira Gandhi did. In this dismal scenario, once again you remember Sahir's famous line, "Apna Haq Sang-Dil Zamane Se Chheen Paao Toh Koi Baat Bane" (Snatch your rights from this wretched world and that'll be some sort of a feat and an accomplishment). ---- 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/biggest-irony-times/d/137130 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