Dr Martin Luther King Jr: Our Lives Begin To End The Day We Become Silent About Things That Matter
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
15 January
2024
"Our
lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter," Dr
Martin Luther King Jr's famous quote is ever-relevant.
By the way,
today (Jan 15) is American Gandhi's 95th Birth Anniversary. This quote is
always explained in a broader context in Dr King's own words, "Silence is
often good, even desirable, but when silence is observed because of fear and
apprehension of dire consequences, it becomes silence out of cowardice."
Today's
Dr Martin Luther King Jr's 95th Birth Anniversary.
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Extremely
calculated and measured silence fosters evil forces to grow and raise their
ugly hands. When something is going wrong, turning a Nelson's eye and choosing
to remain silent is a sign of timidity and apathy. It's an insult to
conscience, provided, one still feels the pricks of conscience because Dr King
said, "A conscientious person is never silent." This is the crux of
meaningful human existence: Conscience and protest always go hand in hand.
Look at
today's India and the silence of most of its citizens. Agreed, majority of
Indians are foolishly happy that a grand temple is being built as if there's a
wedding in everyone's family. But there're people like yours truly and many
others who're angry and unhappy but are still silent. When will they speak out
and break their vow of silence? Isn't it an impotent anger (Napunsak Aakrosh
/ Mukhannas Narazagi)? When will sane people come out of their comfort
zones of silence and inaction and ruffle a few feathers.
In Mahabharata,
the erudite Vidur admonished Dhritrashtra when he lost his 100th son: Maunam
Na Kriyanti Paritapt Kim Aapraan (When there was time to protest and
intervene, you kept quiet).
In fact, it
was Dhritrashtra, Bhishma and Drona's exasperating silence that paved the way
for Kurukshetra, swallowing innumerable lives. Dr King elsewhere said in one of
his speeches, "Today's terrified silence will give birth to tomorrow's
chaos and that will engulf not only you but all those associated with
you." So, speak even if attempts are made to muzzle and muffle your voice,
for, your silence will have far-reaching negative ramifications.
To quote
Allama Iqbal from Baang-e-Dara (The Call of the Marching Bell), "Ye
Dastoor-E-Zubaan Bandi Hai Kaisa Teri Mahfil Mein/ Yahan Toh Baat Karne Ko
Tarasti Hai Zubaan Meri" (Why does this custom of silencing exist in
your court ? My tongue is tantalized to talk in this assembly). Silence is all
the more undesirable in these volatile times. Sukoot Se Ab Kuchh Kaam Na
Hoga/ Kar Aawaaz Buland Ke Duniya Ko Badalna Hai (Silence will not work any
longer/ Raise your voice to change the status quo).
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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://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/silent-matter-martin-luther-jr/d/131518