Misunderstood Magic

In May 2006, I interviewed Dr. Naim Siddiqi- a well known psychologist having ten years of experience in different capacities in UK and currently serving in Agha Khan University Hospital, Karachi- on behalf of 'The Mediator International'. My objective was to not only discuss the social problems and hurdles in social development but also come up with a road map of solution that best suit our society. Dr. Naim intellectually unfolded the root causes and suggested amicable solutions in light of logic and wisdom.

He started with explaining psychology as "knowledge and study of human behavior and the way to implement that on society" According to him psychology was extremely important in human development because unless we studied, analyzed and understood it, we could not shape current and coming generations. "We must have right idea that where something is going wrong, if we wish to correct it", he stated. With this he added that it does not mean that to address any social problem we should always have formal psychological knowledge. Traditional wisdom incorporated too much of formal psychology as those bedtime and other stories told by our Nanis & Dadiz included moral that was reflected in children's personalities either at that time or in future. Dr. Naim doesn't think it logical to label a psychologist and leaving that traditional wisdom part credited less.