Knowledge is Power
The English philosopher-essayist Francis
Bacon, rightly said, ''knowledge itself is power''. Knowledge and power go
together. You cannot think of power without knowledge. He who increases
knowledge increases power. It is the only instrument of production which is not
subject to diminishing returns. On the other hand ignorance is curse and
darkness. It brings superstitions, defeat, decadence, failures and frustration
in its wake. Knowledge is enlightenment and light. It is freedom, liberation and
realization. Only a knowledgeable person can think big and high. He can achieve
anything. For him nothing is impossible, no obstacle is great or insurmountable.
He can be brave, bold dashing and commanding.
All great, successful arid eminent persons in the history of the world have been
very powerful. They have been so because they possessed the inexhaustible
treasure of knowledge. There is no power so strong as knowledge and a person
armed with knowledge and power cannot be stopped from achieving success and
crowning glory in life. For him even the sky is not the limit. Knowledge lends
self confidence, perseverance, hope, courage to face challenges, steadfastness
and dedication to a purpose. All mighty and powerful men and women have made
knowledge to be their province. God is God only because He is all knowledge,
omniscient and omnipotent. There is no limit to his knowledge and power.
Knowledge reigns supreme and unchallenged.
It is knowledge which lends power to man to
control and rule over forces of nature. Today the countries have come much
closer to one another and the world has become a global village because of power
of knowledge. Time and space have shrunk and distances have been conquered
because of the long and rapid strides of knowledge. Science, technology,
success, advancement etc. are the other names and terms of knowledge. In the
pre-historic past man was ignorant, weak, helpless and puny. He lived in caves
and jungles and suffered from many fatal diseases. He was never sure of food,
security, shelter and safety because he had no knowledge.
He was at the mercy of the forces of nature
and wild animals. Then he stood defenseless, naked, unarmed and vulnerable in a
very hostile world because of lack of knowledge. He lived by hunting and wore
skins and barks to protect himself from cold and heat. Gradually he exercised
his brains, acquired knowledge and today he is the most powerful creature. He is
the master of all that he surveys. The moon is not beyond his reach nor the
knowledge of the sun, the planets, stars and galaxies. He is ready to set his
foot on the Mars.
The history of human progress, civilization
and evolution has been actually the history of advancement of knowledge. ever
since the dawn of civilization and history, it is the brain which has been more
powerful than anything else. Knowledge rules supreme. The pen has been mightier
than the sword. Even the most mighty kings and emperors were guided, helped and
advised by men of learning and wisdom. Behind the powers of kings, warriors and
princes was the brain of the learned men and women. History is the witness of
the success, survival and victory of the races who were really intellectual and
therefore, powerful.
Mao-Tse-Tung was wrong when he said that
power grows on the barrel of a gun. He forgot the age old and time tested saying
that those who live by the sword will perish by the sword. A sword can never be
more mighty than a pen. Pen represents learning, wisdom, knowledge, secrets of
success and the sword mere physical and material power. It is the brain or mind
which is more important than matter. Mind has always ruled over matter and will
continue to do so for ever. The achievements of mind have always been marvelous
They have been eternal, without limits of time and space. Today even after the
lapse of many centuries the Vedas occupy a place of very high regard in the
hearts of humanity across this wide world only because of their wisdom,
intellectual and spiritual wealth. Shakespeare, Tagore, Goethe, Tolstoy etc. are
cherished and known all over the world only because of their great literary
creations, the real treasure house of human knowledge, sentiments, emotions,
passions etc. They constitute the crown of humanity and not Alexander and
Napoleon.
Behind all genuine and lasting power is
knowledge. Genuine power is that which springs from knowledge and wisdom and the
rest is brute force, fragile, momentary and like a bubble in the water of
eternity. Knowledge is indeed power, it reigns supreme.