Class 12 English Lesson 16 Essay: Humility: Rereference to Context & Reference beyond Text Literature Section

 Reference to the context 

a.      How do Hindu nationalists refute the Chinese claim that human history began with the Yellow Emperor and the Xia and Shang dynasties? Who do you agree with, and why?

Chinese people believe that human history had begun with the Yellow Empire and the Xia and Shang Dynasties. But the Hindu nationalists disapprove of the Chinese claims. Long before Confucius, in the Indian subcontinent, ancient sages invented airplanes and nuclear bombs. They claim that rockets and airplanes were invented by the great sage Bhardwaj, missiles were invented by Vishwamitra and atomic theory was invented by Acharya Kanad.

The evidence of such things can be found in the great religious epic Mahabharata. I agree with the Hindu claim that Hinduism was the oldest religion of all. It is known as "Sanatan Dharma" which refers to the idea that its origin lies beyond human history. Other religions Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Jainism, and Confucianism followed Hinduism. It is founded around the 15th to 5th century BC.

b.     The author has dealt with a controversial debate on human history. Why do you think history has been a major contested issue in the present world?

A controversial issue results in disputes and disagreements due to different opinions. The issue of human history is also controversial since almost all people regard their history as the most ancient and the most important of all. There is no measuring rod to identify which civilization or religion is the oldest and the most important. Researchers try to trace the origin of every civilization based on the Holy Scriptures and fossils of ancient things.

Most historians and researchers are biased because they try to justify their religion and civilization as the oldest ones. They have prejudices and inclinations towards their religion and civilization. Most people don't like to see their religion and civilization as inferior to another. That's why, even in the present time, it is a major contested issue.

Reference beyond the text 

a.      Write a short essay on The Conflicting History of Human Civilization. 

When we talk about the History of Human Civilization, we never cease to claim the civilization we belong to is the first and the most important. We are under the veil of superiority and mastery of our race. Our nature is that we want to put ourselves at the center of the world. We find the same ego in the people who belong to the civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Maya, India, China, Rome, Greece, and Persia. Such is in the case of religions either Abrahamic or Indian.

Many Greeks claim that history began in Athens, Sparta, Alexandria, or Constantinople.  Chinese retort this claim and admit that history began during Yellow Emperor, Xia, and Shan Dynasties. They further claim that the inventions of Westerns, Muslims, or Indians are pale replicas of Chinese inventions. Hindus boast that all the modern inventions of science date back to their civilization. Even rockets, missiles, and atomic theories were invented by ancient sages in Indian subcontinents. Muslims on the other hand credit the Prophet Muhammad and the Quran to be the first ones. Turkish, Iranian, and Egyptian nationalists argue that their nations were the fountainhead and preservers of the purity of Islam before Muhammad and the Quran. British, French, German, American, Russian, and Japanese claim that they achieved spectacular achievement and uplifted humans from barbarous and immoral ignorance. Aztecs firmly believe that their sacrifice is the cause of preventing the disintegration of the universe. Even Jews claim credit for the important inventions of the world. Even they say yoga postures were invented by Abraham. The postures of yoga were derived from the Hebrew alphabet. Even they claim that the study of the Holy Scriptures by Jewish rabbis is the main cause to stop the eradication of this universe.

All these claims are false. Such claims are the products of egotism and racism. Instead, in these religions or civilizations, the first human colonized the world, and domesticated plants and animals. It is only a crass egotism to ascribe to them a more recent place and times. Morality, art, spirituality, and creativity are universal human abilities embedded in human DNA. We don't like to criticize one's people, culture, religion, and customs. Instead, we glorify them. We lack modesty. This is the main cause of conflicts among human civilizations.  

 

Click for Human Civilization: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpUTAftkCfE 

 

b.     The author claims, “Since it is more polite to criticize one’s people than to criticize foreigners.” Do you agree with his claim? Give your reasons. 

In the essay "Humility" the author Harari claims that it is polite to criticize one's people than to criticize foreigners. I agree with his claim because if we criticize foreigners, conflict arises. People are very much obsessed with their history and civilization. They don't want to listen to people who belong to another religion and community criticize their religion and community. We blindly believe what is said or written about our culture, religion, and civilization. How foolish people are when they believe that the existence of this universe depends on human sacrifice and reading of the Holy Scriptures. No one knows how long this universe has been existing and it is merely a crash egotism to say the human sacrifice and reading of the Holy Scripture prevent this cosmos to be crushed. If missiles and rockets were developed by ancient sages, a human could have landed on the moon thousands of years ago. If we criticize such things as foreigners, it will result in a clash between two groups of people. If we want to correct ourselves, we must find out loopholes in our civilization by ourselves.

 

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