All our progress is the product of knowledge. Our civilization is a gift of science but acquiring knowledge is not a child’s play and making proper use of it is all the more difficult. We generally confuse power with physical strength of war & weapons. But that is our misconception. Beauty is also power because it casts a spell on the beholder. The spiritual power of the Buddha made him god-like. In the same way, knowledge is also power. This is the power of ideas. The psychologist, the philosopher and the writer possess the power. They move the masses with their words. The power of knowledge gave birth to French revolution. Karl Marx, one man, caused the downfall of the Czar of Russia. Our civilization itself is a gift of knowledge. Hence, it is true that knowledge is the real power.
It is the magic of knowledge that two men, born out of a same mother, one becomes a doctor and other a professor. Knowledge is valuable which cannot be stolen or plundered by another person. However, it is the divine inspiration of God which consists of facts, information, beliefs, actions, passions, etc. A person possessing knowledge coupled with experience gets influential position in society or administration. It is said that, “Ignorance is the curse of God, while knowledge is the wing wherewith we fly to heaven.”
Everybody has the tendency to know more. It is the tendency which is responsible for all discoveries and inventions. However, these inventions were not made in a single day. It took many months (even many years) to give a image to the knowledge.
Since ancient times, people blessed with good knowledge have ruled the world. In vedic times people having knowledge, known as ‘Purohita’, were respected in every class and society. Chanakya, a priest, helped Chandragupta in laying the foundation of Mauryan Empire. In medieval period, in the court of Akbar; Birbal, Abul Fazal were respectable nobles.
Vocabulary
Acquiring—obtaining
Downfall—decline
