'Soft Plagiarism': Why Do We Often Fail To Acknowledge?

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 26 March 2024 Mujhe Meri Hi Ghazal Logon Ne Sunai Aur Mujhi Se Meri Rai Bhi Maangi! Shaadaab Malsiyani (My own Ghazal was recited by others / They even sought my opinion / feedback on it!) ------ A few days ago, a dear friend of mine sent a forward on my WhatsApp account. One 'erudite' gentleman sent a snippet. When I checked, it was written by me! He shortened a recent piece of mine that appeared in TOI and circulated it among his friends without mentioning the author's name! This deliberate lack of acknowledgement saddened me as I don't get upset or angry anymore when someone forwards my article/s without mentioning my name. This is 'soft plagiarism'. When you don't acknowledge the creator or the source, you've a lurking desire to pass it off as your own. Why don't people acknowledge? People don't acknowledge because they're of the view that if they acknowledge the other person, they'll become inferior to him / her. This is an outright erroneous perception. By acknowledging someone's quality, creativity or greatness, we ennoble ourselves. It's a liberating feeling which is sort of an enlightenment. Acknowledgement paves the way for gratitude and gratitude flowers into magnanimity. Once the great Raghupati Sahay 'Firaq' Gorakhpuri stumbled upon a book of Urdu poetry at the library of Allahabad University, where he taught English Literature. The book was written by some poet from Pakistan. While flipping through the pages of the book, he cursorily read a few Ghazals. All were written the way, 'Firaq' wrote. Fortunately, 'Firaq' found the address of the poet. He wrote to him, "Aap Likhte Achchha Hain Lekin Kis Ki Tarz Par Likhte Hain Woh Nahin Likha Aapne. Ye Be-Adabi Aapko Bahut Door Tak Nahin Le Jaa Sakegi" (You write well but you didn't mention who inspired you. This misdemeanour will not help you go far). Most of us are quite parsimonious when it comes to acknowledging someone. We're phlegmatic in praise and stingy with words. Acknowledgement and humility go hand in hand. In a letter to his fellow-scientist Robert Hooke in 1675, Sir Isaac Newton wrote, " If I've seen further, it's by standing on the shoulders of giants." This is really humble on his part to say, esp. considering his remarkable achievements in the fields of science and mathematics. Even a brutally outspoken but genius poet like Mirza Asadullah Khan 'Ghalib' who said, "Hain Aur Bhi Duniya Mein Sukhanvar Bahut Achchhe / Kahte Hain Ke Ghalib Ka Hai Andaaz-e-Bayaan Aur" also said, "Rekhte Ke Tumhin Ustaad Nahin Ho 'Ghalib'/ Kahte Hain Agle Zamane Mein Koi 'Mir' Bhi Tha." Only those who're truly great, acknowledge the greatness of others wholeheartedly. But those who pretend to be great, often refrain from acknowledging others. Years ago, my Urdu teacher wrote to me, "Kisi Ki Salahiyat-O-Azmat Ko Maan-Ne Se Aap Chhote Nahin Ho Jaate, Balke Iss-Se Aap Apne Buland Kirdaar Ka Saboot Pesh Karte Hain" (By acknowledging someone's qualities and greatness, you don't demean yourself. Au contraire, you prove the loftiness of your character). I agree with my Urdu teacher in toto. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/soft-plagiarism-acknowledge/d/132004 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism