Apni Madad Aap: stop waiting for a rescuer

“The government should fix it.” “Someone with sifarish will get it done.” “Let's see who helps.” We all know people who wait for a rescuer. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan wrote this essay to tell them — and us — to stop waiting.

The essay opens with a famous saying: God helps those who help themselves. Sir Syed's point is simple and a little uncomfortable: a nation is only as good as the people in it.