Kahuto Chishi Sumi
Batch of ‘81, The SEPPAN, Mizoram, 2019
Intelligence, knowledge and wisdom are probably the three most misconstrued terms and are used almost synonymously. People commonly assume that an intelligent person is both knowledgeable and wise and that a knowledgeable person is both intelligent and wise; but that is far from the truth. One may be intelligent without having much knowledge; a knowledgeable person may not have much intelligence and being intelligent and knowledgeable does not, in any way, mean that you are wise.
Every person has some measure of intelligence; the higher the level of his or her intelligence, the greater and faster his or her ability to understand and absorb knowledge. Then again, high intelligence does not mean that one is equally good at mastering all forms of knowledge. For one may be good in the Sciences but barely get by in the Humanities; and a mathematical genius may have difficulty in distinguishing a vertebrate from a non-vertebrate. I’m reminded of an anecdote about Albert Einstein narrated by Brother Basil Davis, (batch of ’81, 10A); when asked by a reporter what soap he used to shave, Einstein was surprised that people used different soaps to bathe and shave and replied that having two different soaps, for bathing and shaving, was too complex for him to keep track of. But in general, intelligence is our capacity to understand and absorb knowledge.
Regarding knowledge, we seemed to have reduced it to the learning we get from the textbooks of our educational institutions, and the academic degrees we obtain from them. Many people attach so much importance to these degrees that they have no qualms about lying about them. Our politicians are the perfect examples. Our present Prime Minister’s academic credentials are still cloaked in mystery; but he is beaten hollow by two recent Chief Ministers of Nagaland, both of who had to be dragged, kicking and screaming, to court before the truth emerged. The first claimed to have graduated with an Honours Degree in the Bachelor of Arts, and turned out to be a simple graduate with not a whiff of an honours degree in the air. The second CM’s case was more hilarious, he claimed to be a Graduate while filing his nomination papers, but turned out to have passed his Pre-University (equivalent to the present Class XII) exams alone. The kicker was that in the next election, his nomination papers, under academic qualifications, carried the unheard of degree, “BA Appeared!”
Knowledge encompasses everything we do; the languages we speak, our ability to wield a tool, to dig a trench, chop down a tree, plough a field, repair a vehicle, cook a meal, etal; all of our abilities, apart from those derived from our Primal Instincts, springs from our knowledge. We are endowed with the Primal Instincts of sight, sound (speech), smell, hearing and touch, but it is knowledge which predicates our ability to identify what we see, convey what we mean, identify aromas, comprehend what we hear and react to what we touch, respectively.Our every experience,both theoretical and practical, adds to the sum of knowledge we possess.
So, if intelligence is our capacity to understand and absorb knowledge; and knowledge is the sum of our experiences; then what is wisdom? Wisdom is the ability to use our intelligence and knowledge to make right decisions. Without prior experience/knowledge of being burnt, a person, no matter how intelligent, will not know not to touch a burning charcoal. Alternately, a fool may burn himself time and again, for one of the definitions of insanity is, “Doing the same thing and expecting different results.”
So, if wisdom entails making the right decision, it begs the question, “What is the right decision?” Making the right decision means deciding on the course which is best for your personal welfare. But then again, stealing from others to improve your lot, is not a wise thing to do and it is certainly not the right thing to do; and ending up in jail is not good for your welfare.
Wisdom is when one realizes that one’s welfare is tied to the welfare of the society/state/nation that he lives in. A society cannot long exist if the welfare of some is derived from the misery of others. History abounds with examples of how the oppressed masses revolt against those who exploit them; the French and Bolshevik Revolutions being two, which have shaped modern society.
When you realize that every decision you make has ripples which affect those around you; that to lie, cheat and steal for your personal advantage, destroys society and eventually causes you and your descendants harm. When you understand that your wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of those around you. When you start acting so that your deeds do not hurt, in any manner, the welfare of those around you; then, you will have attained a measure of wisdom. For it is how you use your intelligence and knowledge that determines how wise you are.
