Second Year English Notes Sindh Board REFLECTION ON THE RE-AWAKENING EAST

REFLECTION ON THE RE-AWAKENING EAST

(Bertrand Russell)

SUMMARY

The re-awakening of the east was a huge movement, some two thousand years ago. Power changed hands from the East to the West, throughout this period. In the earliest history, the East dominated the world. Its supremacy was not only military but science, philosophy, poetry and the arts all flourished in China and the Muslim world whereas Europe was sunk in The Dark Ages.

The writer feels as the east is re-awakening, a time may come, when it may take a lead in world politics. In the author’s view, Russian communism is a great threat to Asia. Communism is the most dangerous form of imperialism.

In order to face this danger, the writer thinks that Asia should be industrialized. In, his opinion, industrialization is & source of power and therefore it is necessary for progress. Science and machinery are necessary too for development and progress. But the writer advises Asia to use science for peaceful purposes and not to make weapons of war.

Another thing that can save Asia from communism is, its own traditional culture So, Asia should take pains to preserve their own culture, while the good features of the western civilization, may also be adopted.

According to Russell, there are three clear civilizations in Asia- that of Islam, that of India and that of China. Each is very rich in its culture. They should maintain their culture. There should be no attempt at cultural uniformity. Science and machinery are necessary for progress, but not at the cost of traditional culture as was done in Europe.

If life is to be happy, it should not become mechanized. It should have music, poetry, art and love and the simple joys of life. These things are forgotten by communism, as well as those, who think themselves to be in the forefront of progress.

The writer feels that Asia will be able to preserve its independence because the world is divided into two hostile camps. But Asia should not copy the mistakes of the west.

The west achieved its present position of progress because of sciences. But all this development, which should have added to human happiness has been defeated because of one fatal fault— “the love of power over other human beings” The writer’s advice to Asia is, that, it should not use power for conquering weaker nations It should learn to have mutual self-respect.

The writer hopes, perhaps some Asia countries will have learned this lesson. On the other hand, some will have only learned to copy the cruel western rulers, who are bringing the west to disaster (because of the two world wars).

Quotations by Bertrand Russell:

In the part of this universe that we know there is a great injustice, and often the good suffer, and often the wicked prosper, and one hardly knows which of those is the more annoying.

If there were in the world today any large number of people who desired their own happiness more than they desired the unhappiness of others, ‘we could have paradise in a few years.

It has been said that man is a rational animal. All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this.

It is a waste of energy to be angry with a man who behaves badly, just as it is to be angry with a car that won’t go.

Science may set limits to knowledge, but should not set limits to imagination.

The good life, as I conceive it, is a happy life. I do not mean that if ‘you are good you will be happy - I mean that if you are happy you will be good.

Q/A

 

Q.1 Why is it insular for European historians to term the centuries after the fall of the Roman Empire“The Dark Ages”?

Ans. Although the term “The Dark Ages” is generally applied to the early medieval period of Western European history, specifically, it refers to the time (476-800) when there was no Holy Roman Emperor, or the time (500-1500) when there were frequent warfare and a virtual disappearance of urban life. In either case, it was only the Christened Europe which was going through a period of intellectual darkness and barbarity. The Muslim world, as well as Spain, and the Chinese Empire were both culturally brilliant and geographically extensive. Thus, Bertrand Russell in the chapter ‘Reflections of the Re-awakening East’ says that it is the narrow outlook of the Europeans to term this period “The Dark Ages”.

Q.2 On what grounds does the author argue that Communism is the “most modern and virulent form of Western Imperialism”?

Ans. In the chapter ‘Reflections on the Re-awakening East’ Bertrand Russell argues that Communism is the most modern and bitterly hostile form of Western policy to establish their political and economic hegemony over other nations. He says that although Communism is not widely recognized in either the East or the West, it is wiping out the ancient and glorious traditions of civilization in Asia. He also says that China has been greatly affected by it and advises the other Asian countries that re-awakening of East should not mean subjection to Communism as its philosophy is German and its regime is imposed by military force. In addition, he says that poetry and music and art and love and the simple joys of life are necessary to make human life tolerable, but these elements are forgotten in the Communist philosophy. That is why Bertrand Russell considers Communism the most modern and virulent form of Western Imperialism. 

Q.3 Why does the author consider it useless to resist industrialization?

Ans. In the chapter ‘Reflections on the Re-awakening East’ Bertrand Russell considers industrialization an essential condition of survival in the modern times. It was a source of power for England in the 19thcentury, and it is a source of power for America and Russian in the present day. Industrialism prevails wherever there is sufficient civilization to make it possible. Therefore, it is useless to resist industrialism. Bertrand Russell quotes two examples of such ineffective protests. Firstly, he mentions Carlyle’s book Past and Present, which eloquently expresses such angry protests on account of the ruthlessness of industrialization and destruction of beauty. The second example, Russell gives, is that of Gandhi whose immense influence on his countrymen remained equally ineffective to restore the spinning-wheel.

Q.4 Does the author welcome cultural uniformity or not? How does he justify his attitude?

Ans. Bertrand Russell does not welcome cultural uniformity.  In the chapter ‘Reflections on the Re-awakening East’, he strongly advocates both political and cultural independence. He says that Asia contains at least three distinct civilizations: that of Islam, that of India and that of China. Therefore, it is a trifle absurd to expect cultural or political unity. History shows that no great civilization –such as Indus Valley, Babylonian, Macedonian, Roman, Chinese, and Islamic – has ever been cosmopolitan. Thus, the distinctive identity, and not cultural uniformity, leads civilizations to great heights.

Q.5     How is traditional culture threatened in an age dominated by science and machinery?
Ans.   Traditional culture indicates all human activities which have been preserved, learned and transmitted over a long period of time. Bertrand Russell says that traditional culture is threatened by science and machinery.  In ‘Reflections on the Re-awakening East’, he says that science and machinery have been superimposed on the older cultures, sweeping away not only what was bad, but also what was good in the culture of the past. To counter this constant threat, Bertrand Russell suggests that science and machinery should be rightly controlled because they are good and absolutely essential in modern times. He also suggests that we must continue appreciating poetry, music, art, love and simple joys of life to make to make human life tolerable.

Q.6 What, in the author’s view, has been the most serious flaw in the character of the West over the last few centuries?

Ans.     The most serious flaw in the character of the West has been the love of power over other human beings. In ‘Reflections on the Re-awakening East’, Bertrand Russell says that the West displayed extraordinary energy from the 16th century onward, which took both good and bad forms: the abundance of necessaries and comforts on the one hand; racial and political oppression and exploitation of Asians and Africans on the other hand. The West used this energy and ingenuity to further imperialistic aims rather than attend to the needs and wants of humanity at large.

Q.7 What, in the author’s opinion, should Asian countries accept from the West and what should they reject?

Ans.     In Reflections on the Re-awakening East’, Bertrand Russell advises the Asian countries to accept industrialism from the West because it is a necessary condition of survival in modern times. Industrialism is a source of power and Asian countries will it difficult to preserve their independence without it. Bertrand Russell also warns Asian countries of the devastating consequences of copying the mistake of the West. Ruthless despots have brought the West to disaster. Their deep desire to have control other nations crushed human happiness at large. Thus, Asian countries should accept all means of prosperity and reject all ways of destruction.

Q8: To what cause does the author attribute the power of England in the early nineteenth century and the power of the United States and Russia today?

Ans: The author attributes the power of England In the early nineteenth century due to the discoveries of Vasco de Gama and Columbus, its scientific techniques and the growth of industrialism. He also attributes the power of the United States and Russia today on the base of the virtual monopoly of machines production, which is the source of power in the modern age.

Q9: What reason does the author give for his opinion that the nation of Asia will not find it hard to keep their independence?

Ans:  According to the author Asia will not find it hard to keep their independence because they had been tortured and exploited in the regime of the west so they will not allow the western to rule on them again. He also explains that due to the impartial spectators they will not interfere the two blocks and in this way, their independence will not be threatened by Europe.

Q10: What parallels may be drawn between the decline of the power of Europe at the end of the Roman Empire and the decline in the power of Europe since 1914?

Ans:  After the fall of Roman Empire especially Christian Europe was sunk in the abyss of barbarism. It was thus enfeebled and the culture, leadership, and power transferred to the east.

After the First World War 1914, the Asian nations regained their power and they were not only stronger but they also had brilliant culture and they made progress in science when European freedom was threatened by the alliance of the Asian countries.