We human beings have
been blessed with the ability to speak as one of the ways to communicate. The ability
to communicate is not unique to our species. Majority of animals, birds,
fishes, insects, etc also communicate with one another. But there is a
difference between their communication and our communication.
Species other than
human beings may only communicate for basic needs. For example in the animal
kingdom, mostly animals communicate each other for food, mating and sometimes
for gathering their herds or cautioning their herd against danger. But we human
beings use the ability of speech for a large number of reasons.
Different languages,
different dialects and complementing these are our facial expressions, our
handmade gestures, our body language and most importantly – our eyes. This
gives our ability to speak an endless spectrum, an infinite pallet, just like
for painting we have a pallet of colors but which is limited, but with speech
it is infinite.
Talking, praising,
flattery, complaining, criticizing, scolding, public speaking, sermons and
preaching, teaching, joking, expressing love, consoling, justifying,
dialogue-baazi, thanking,…..etc. there are so many different ways in which we
speak depending on the person we are talking to or the subject of conversation.
Whether we are addressing a gathering of thousands or just answering to a small
child, or speaking to our parents (even in that we speak differently to our
father and mother) or speaking to our spouse.
The achievements (both
positive and negative) made by man through speech are far greater than any other
achievement in any other field. Pick up our history and one can find many
examples, pick up today’s newspaper you will still find many more examples.
Speech can heal wounds
faster than any medicine.
But it can also cause
far greater damage than any ammunition.
Speech can inspire and
infuse entire nations to stand together.
But it can also break
the very same nations by making gullible public believe in fictional reasons.
Speech can console a
broken heart and give it strength to pick up the pieces walk towards the future.
But it can also
extinguish the candle of hope and push individuals to end themselves.
Speech can enlighten,
educate and satisfy human curiosity and hunger for knowledge.
But it can also be
used to poison young minds and damage a person for life.
Speech can help bring
peace to troubled souls.
But it can also be
used to shatter a calm and composed person.
Speech can help you
express love, care and spread warmth and friendship in this world
But it can also be
used to make person feel utterly lonely even though they are amongst a crowd.
Speech can be used to
ease the burden of a friend’s heart and mind
But it can also be
used to pile up huge unwanted feelings on someone.
Speech at times can be
used to forgive and ask forgiveness.
But it can also be
used to complain and blame others
I had the honor to be the
student of some very great human beings. One of them is Mr. Sharad Kumar under
whom I attended the Engineering Mechanics tuition classes (outside college) in
my First year of engineering in Nagpur. His one line/ dialogue, always stuck in
my mind and even though so many people around me have uttered the same line
before him, somehow his way of saying has stuck in my mind. He used to ask the
class a question and as you know every class in the world, irrespective of the
course or age group, will have some student(s) who like to shout out the answer
before others. So in our class also couple of students would shout out the
answer. If the answer is wrong then they would still try to answer the second
time (in the same breath) but Mr. Sharad Kumar would stop them from answering
the second time and say, “Bandook se nikli hui goli aur zubaan se nikli hui
baat, kabhi wapas nai aasakti.” (Translation: the bullet fired from a gun and
the words uttered from the mouth can never come back)
So true! The above
line is so very much true. I have observed people all around me, and even
experienced it myself. We say so many things in the heat of the moment,
intentionally and unintentionally. And sometimes the unintentional stuff that
comes out of our mouth, we so very badly wish that it would not have come out.
But it has already come out and caused irreparable damage.
Breaks peoples heart,
breaks relationships, breaks trust, just because we said something which later
on we try to sheepishly cover up by saying, “I didn’t really mean what I said.”
Our speech is
controlled by us and its upto us as to how we utilize it. And of course at
times you might be misinterpreted and misunderstood by the other person, but
then again once you realize that, the onus lies on you to clarify the same
without any prejudice or malice. Friendships have been sunk, families have been
torn apart just for the sake of a simple misunderstanding which was left as it
is and despite people not being ‘dumb’ on either side, nobody took the
initiative to speak up to sort things out. But everyone is up for gossiping and
spreading rumors and animosity. Nobody wants to bring the two persons in front of each other and make them talk to clear out the matter
At times it may seem
all frustrating, so much confusing, just like Aamir Khan pointed out in the
film “PK”, “wouldn’t it be much simpler if we could just read each other’s
thoughts?” But then again, would we want anyone to know what we are truly
thinking? The ability of speech helps us hide our thoughts, which may be very
ugly and bitter, and still speak sweet as honey talks. I thank Almighty Allah for this blessing of
speech, ask forgiveness for if I have used it for the wrong reasons.
I ask Allah to grant
me the serenity to remain silent and the courage to speak the truth and most
importantly, the wisdom to know the difference.
