For about twenty years, between 1950 and 1970,
Japan used to import superior industrial technology
from the west, at times by outright purchase, but
more often by borrowing, or on a credit basis. As a
result, Japan today stands on its own feet
economically and is in a position to export not only
its goods but also its know-how to other countries.
Thanks to its advanced technical expertise, it now
has the opportunities to help other countries, enter
into friendly relations with them and draw up
contracts to do business with them. Some of their
feats include working on the latest irrigation
projects in Thailand, giving instruction in computer
programming in Singapore, constructing iron and
steel factories in South Korea and China, and setting
up petrochemical industries in the Middle East, etc.
The Japanese learnt iron and steel making from the
Americans and have now developed it so
extensively that they are at present exporting their
skills to the Americans themselves. Japan, once the
learner, is now so well placed in so many fields—
particularly in communication and electronics, that
America is seeking its technical assistance in many
of its important military departments. The students
are now teaching their teachers. A newspaper
correspondent reports: “Now the flow is out instead
of in.” (The Hindustan Times, June 11, 1981)
Japan willingly submitted to industrial tutelage for
20 years and, as a result, has attained the position of
industrial dominance that it occupies today. If it
had chosen not to recognise the supremacy of
others at that crucial point in its development, and
had felt too proud to go to them for help, it could
never have had such resounding successes.
All too often, we have to lose in order to gain. We
have to resign ourselves to our lowly position until
we can work ourselves up to more satisfactory
heights. Those who recognige this necessity as one
of the facts of life will have a better chance of
succeeding in this world than those who expect to
be able to climb straight to the top without first
having accepted a position of humility, or who
persist in blaming others for their failures. Patience,
fortitude and tenacity are the virtues which will see
us through to success, provided they are always
leavened by humility.
Ref - The Moral Vision
- by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
