Islands Of Hope

Recollections of Dr Akhter Hameed Khan
Compiled by the AHK Resource Centre

In the words of Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan:

Idealism
I hope that somehow, idealism is revived… Idealists don’t live for personal gain; they strive to serve others. Where there is idealism, there are divine blessings. Where there are noble intentions, there are divine blessings. When you work selflessly with pure intentions, progress becomes inevitable. Choose to serve God through sincere, honest labor for others, not by advancing selfish desires or greed.

Sacrifice and Hard Work
A nation must embrace hard work and sacrifice to progress. Winston Churchill captured the essence of development in his speech: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.” This is the truth our leaders should tell us, given our country’s fragile condition. Instead, they peddle empty promises…

Role of the Government
The people’s role matters more than the government’s. When Churchill retired, people called him “the lion.” He corrected them: “No, the nation had the lion’s heart. I merely unleashed its roar.” Governments can handle large projects - sewage systems, roads, treatment plants - but the rest depends on the people. And this work must be done without relying on foreign aid.

Persistence
The only way to work with people is through unwavering persistence. Like a water droplet slowly carving stone, consistent effort creates change. People will join hands when they see purposeful action…

NGOs Can’t Reform the Government
NGOs cannot reform governments - only the people can. There’s a saying: “Our angels mirror the state of our soul.” Why is corruption less rampant in governments like the USA’s? Not because American officials are inherently honest, but because the people hold them accountable. They’ll even remove a president for wrongdoing. The people, not NGOs, must fix governance.

Institutions
We have the same institutions as others - universities, national airlines. Lyallpur Agriculture University and Chandigarh University were founded around the same time, yet their trajectories diverged. Our parliamentary system mirrors England’s, but theirs functions. The problem isn’t institutional design - it’s the people running them. People destroyed these institutions.

Reward
If you seek material rewards from such work, you’ll fail. Avoid wasting resources on frivolities. But if you adopt the spirit of an ashram or khanqah - living simply, enduring hardship, clinging to hope - you’ll succeed. Your goals will be realized.

Pages: 242
Author: Dr Akhter Hameed Khan
Format: Hardback