Louder Isn’t Wiser!

جو اعلیٰ ظرف ہوتے ہیں، ہمیشہ جھک کے ملتے ہیں
صراحی سرنگوں ہو کر بھرا کرتی ہے پیمانہ

jo ālā-zarf hote haiñ hamesha jhuk ke milte haiñ
surāhī sar-nigūñ ho kar bharā kartī hai paimāna

"Those with true grace and depth always meet with humility—
Just like a decanter bows down to fill the goblet."

This verse is by Ustad Haider Ali Aatish, who is considered one of the eminent poets of Urdu literature.

The other day, I noticed our pomegranate plant branch so heavy with fruits that it had bent down under its own weight. There was something about that sight—it instantly pulled me back in time. I was reminded of a few verses we had memorized back in our Matric and FSc days. And honestly, I’m amazed at how clearly I still remember them. Memory really is a strange thing… you never know what might resurface, and when.

Once, during a lesson on humility and modesty, our teacher asked us to memorize a few couplets for class discussion. Back then, we learned them just to secure a few marks, but now, with time and perspective, their depth finally makes sense.

One verse in particular came rushing back to me:

کہہ رہا ہے شورِ دریا سے سمندر کا سکوت
جس کا جتنا ظرف ہے، اُتنا ہی وہ خاموش ہے

kah rahā hai shor-e-dariyā se samundar kā sukūt
jis kā jitnā zarf hai utnā hī vo ḳhāmosh hai

_{NATIQ LAKHNAVI}

The river's raging is advised by the tranquil sea
the greater power you possess, the quieter you be

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I have set this tone, a long prompt, a ground for a very sensitive topic...

They say, “The branch that bears fruit bends the most.”

But these days, the world seems to have turned itself upside down. The old wisdom—“the more fruit a branch bears, the lower it bends”, feels almost irrelevant now. In today's hyper-charged environment, especially in politics, the branch that screams the loudest gets the attention… even if it’s barren.

We’re living in times where shouting over substance is the norm. The more aggressive and shallow a narrative, the more traction it gains. Credibility? That’s optional. The louder, flashier, and more shameless the messenger, the faster the message spreads.

Just look around—those who speak with grace, who pause before they speak, who carry some weight in their silence... are simply drowned out. Their restraint is mistaken for weakness. Meanwhile, those with little substance but limitless audacity are setting the tone. Sorry to say, but dignity doesn’t trend—noise does.

It’s painful to admit, but in this era of viral outrage and populist theatre, it seems the one who shouts the loudest—not the one who thinks the deepest—wins the mic.

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I'm including some pictures — interpret them however you like.

There was this barren land just outside the boundary of our house. We've been trying to turn it green. The reason: the cleaner the surroundings, the lower the chances of venomous creatures like snakes and scorpions hiding nearby. And of course, it looks more beautiful too.

But a highly venomous snake still made its way into our home from the back, where the land remains barren and overgrown with weeds — the perfect hiding place for such creatures.

It killed one of our pets.

We crushed its head.

Some may question why... but for us, the answer is simple: eliminate what poses a threat to you or your loved ones. Tit for tat.
And to be clear — we would never have killed it if it hadn’t entered our premises. We wouldn’t have even known it existed.

_{The green we got after months of effort
A patch of life: the result of patience, hard work, and hope.}

_{The barren land of the neighbourhood (for comparison)}

_{The snake with its head crushed
A painful consequence: when danger crosses the line.}

#SubstanceVsSpectacle #NarrativeVsTruth