SELF-RELIANCE
‘Self-reliance’ is defined as using
one’s own powers and resources rather than those of others.
God has made man as self-reliant as
it is necessary at all the developmental stages from birth till death in this world.
It is however necessary for every
individual to acquire all the knowledge and skills to make himself
self-dependent. He has to reach his destinations by walking on his own feet , not
by sitting on the shoulders of another person.
As for God’s help in emergencies,
the saying goes : God helps those who help themselves.
It is true that no man is completely self-reliant for all his deeds. He is a social animal. There is a whole lot of
manufacturers and service providers to fulfil his multiple needs. This will not be called dependence on others but both-sided mutual
co-operation.
Different people serve the society
with their specific knowledge, abilities, skills, talents, and a variety of physical
and mental resources. In this sense , there is no fully self-reliant person.
The American author and philosopher
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) says in his essay on Self-Reliance:
“Insist on your self; never imitate.
Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole
life’s cultivation ; but of the adopted talent of another you have only an
extemporaneous half possession. That which each can do best, none but his Maker
can teach him.“
The American clergy Rufus
Wheelwright Clark (1813-86)
said: No external advantage can supply the place of self-reliance. The
force of one’s being, if it has any force, must come from within. No one can safely
imitate another; nor by following in the footsteps of another can he ever gain
distinction or enjoy prosperity.
As for self-reliance of different
countries, it is possible only in some areas, not in all. For example, India has to import crude
oil from Russia and America because its own resources for this commodity are rare.
To conclude, here is an excellent quote
by the Chinese philosopher Confucius (Died 479 BC):
“If you don’t depend on yourself,
you will always be a slave. “
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G.R.Kanwal
3rd November 2025.
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