DIGNITY OF LABOUR
Labour means the exertion of body and mind. In general, by dignity of labour, we mean the value of manual labour. All kinds of labour are sacred and full of dignity. We should use the strength of our body and two hands to do any work that comes before us.
All forms of work are divided into two kinds-manual and mental. The exertion of body means manual labour and the exertion of mind means mental labour. When a man catches fish or tills land, he works wi h his hands and this sort of labour or work is called manual labour. But when he reads a book he does not work with his hands or legs but his brain or intellect plays the main role, and this sort of work or labour is called mental labour. Manual labour and mental labour are closely connected. We should have equal regard for both the forms of work. Dignity of labour mainly deals with manual labour.
Labour occupies an important place in human life. Without labour, we would not have food, clothes and shelter. But a man should undergo labour honestly and do his work faithfully. Samuel Smiles says. "It is not a disgrace to be a shoe-maker. But it is certainly a great disgrace to make bad shoes."
All glories go to those who give their labours to the service of others. They make the field green and build houses, bridges, ships and railways. They make all arts and all sciences. They work for the good of mankind.
crossorigin="anonymous">Our educated people are lacking in the sense of dignity of labour. They have a wrong idea about this great quality. Most of them hate farmers, rickshaw pullers, coolies and others who undertake manual labour.
It is labour that can fill a person with a sense of dignity and independence. It gives him the true spirit of and self-confidence. He is a man of industry and full of the dignity of labour.
We can set examples from the personal life of some great men and national life of some developed countries of the world. Hazrat Muhammed (Sm) tended sheep, lifted water from the well and did other household works. Hazrat Abu Bakr (R) sold clothes in the market-place. Emperor Nasiruddin and Aurangazeb copied the Quran and sewed caps and sold them for maintaining their families.
Labour should be considered particularly dignified. It is full of the highest dignity known to man. So no one should consider labour mean and shameful.
The prosperity of any nation depends on showing proper dignity to labour. If we want to build up Bangladesh as a strong and developed nation, all people particularly the new generation should feel no shame in doing manual labour.