CATARACT is the third biggest cause of blindness - RELIGION & POLITICS are the first two
“CATARACT is the third biggest cause of blindness, religion & politics remain the first two.” With this metaphor-laden remark, Akhtar draws attention to how religion and politics, when misused, can blind individuals and societies far more dangerously than any medical condition. His comment is not merely provocative—it’s a commentary on how deeply rooted ideologies and power structures can cloud judgment, fuel division, and prevent people from seeing reality clearly.
In this statement, religion and politics are not criticized in their purest forms, but rather in how they are often exploited. religion, which ideally promotes compassion, morality, and unity, can be manipulated to breed intolerance, fear, and violence. Similarly, politics, meant to organize society and uphold justice, is frequently tainted by corruption, polarization, and self-interest. Akhtar’s words underline how these two institutions—when weaponized—become tools of control and manipulation, obscuring truth and critical thinking, much like a cataract clouds the eye’s lens and dims vision.
By placing cataract third, Akhtar cleverly juxtaposes a physical ailment with societal conditions, emphasizing that the more dangerous forms of blindness are metaphorical and self-imposed. His statement is a call for introspection and awareness, urging individuals to question inherited beliefs and resist being blindly led by agendas. It resonates in an age where misinformation spreads quickly, and tribalism often trumps reason. Through this biting analogy, Akhtar not only showcases his literary brilliance but also challenges society to confront the deeper causes of its collective myopia.