ADVERSITY – A REAL TEST

Francis Bacon said “Prosperity discovers vice, adversity discovers virtue.” It reminds me of my students years, when my teacher dwelled on this theme. He explained that a real test of any person is under adverse conditions, and I always found it true in my life. The more I mused on it, the more convinced I was. In fact I realized that adversity is a blessing if dealt with prudence and sapience. Moreover I found that it has a universal application. It is equally true for an individual, a family, a community, a nation and as a matter of fact the whole mankind. It is because the adversity is a litmus test that lets you know the actual values.

The adversity may be defined as the environments which causes stress beyond normal limits and creates a feeling of uncertainty. The stress increases to an extent that brings fore the real self of an individual or a group of people which is then visible in their behaviour. It is now that the inner self of a creed is visible. The natural calamities or man made catastrophes; both expose people to adverse situation like deracination, destruction, human tragedy and societal breakdowns. These disasters after playing havoc leave behind more learned survivors to face similar calamity in times to come. The history is replete with examples of successes that preceded adversity.

Pakistan is facing the worst catastrophe of its history and hence in a state of adversity. It has afforded this forgetful nation to once again gauge its friends. It is said that adversity is test of men as fire is of gold. In middle of this disaster when this nation is busy in rescue, relief and rehab of affected people all along the length of the country, OUR FRIENDS have issued a warning of terror attack on social workers to keep them at bay at this testing time. The warnings are based on no substantial intelligence but mere apprehensions of people suffering from Taliban Phobia. I don’t deny the Taliban factor is a reality but the demography does not support such attacks. It becomes a fantasy for anyone to plan such attacks in area void of communication infrastructure. The people of these areas are docile in nature and under the influence of the worst disaster in history of this region. The statement is thus uncongenial and ill-timed to an extent antagonistic.

There is no dearth of such friends from within the nation. The statements of Altaf Hussain about change in present system, the cricketer’s scandal of match fixing, the foreign tours of President Zardari, the blame games being played by two leading political parties and contrived breaches of flood defenses have exposed few of them. To calling up of Kala Bagh Dam issue by a minister, who vehemently opposed it and conclusively closed it, at time of assuming his office as Minister for power also seem foreign and evil.

It is high time that we distinguish our friends and foes, less it is too late. To know your enemy is extremely vital to plan your defense. Equally important is to know your friends on whom you can rely during adverse times. I feel the nation must thank floods for affording us an opportunity to be aware of our standing in the Comity of Nations and credentials of OUR FRIENDS.

We must remember that “adversity is a prelude to development, success and prosperity.”

The adversity is not constant like prosperity. and hence a prelude to it if faced boldly. The adversity teaches us to overcome difficulties and learn to avert its recurrence.

Sometimes adversity is what you need to face in order to become successful

Fire is the test of gold; adversity, of strong men.

By: Muhammad Zaigham Tayyab

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on Aug 29 2010. Filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.