Sheikh Saadi on autocracy

Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur

There are lessons in history for us all but unfortunately the relevance of classical writers in helping us understand them has not only been overlooked and but at times has also been wilfully demeaned as outdated and obsolete. Nothing could be further away from the truth. Take Sheikh Saudi’s writings for example. They could prove to be a blessing for all those who want to learn and reform. About the autocrats and the consequences of their rule he says:

When He wishes to waste a world,

He places the country, in the grasp of a tyrant.

This universal truth is as relevant in today’s world as it was more than 700 years ago. My advice to both the tyrants and the oppressed is, read him.