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What Does It Mean To Be Human? | Sajjad Khan | TEDxUniversityofStrathclyde


[Music]

[Music] so my topic is awareness of the topic

so my topic is awareness of the topic

so my topic is awareness of the topic let’s talk for a minute as I promised in

let’s talk for a minute as I promised in

let’s talk for a minute as I promised in my speech

my speech

my speech you start to realize why I turn to her

you start to realize why I turn to her

you start to realize why I turn to her like this I don’t mean to generalize but

like this I don’t mean to generalize but

like this I don’t mean to generalize but I want you to realize while we’re

I want you to realize while we’re

I want you to realize while we’re building skyscrapers and landing on the

building skyscrapers and landing on the

building skyscrapers and landing on the moon traveling across the globe running

moon traveling across the globe running

moon traveling across the globe running the race to save humanity scientific

the race to save humanity scientific

the race to save humanity scientific discoveries technological developments

discoveries technological developments

discoveries technological developments billions of drained and trillions engage

billions of drained and trillions engage

billions of drained and trillions engage we want to obey learn develop and train

we want to obey learn develop and train

we want to obey learn develop and train I often ask myself is this really the

I often ask myself is this really the

I often ask myself is this really the human race why are we releasing against

human race why are we releasing against

human race why are we releasing against each other rather than running towards

each other rather than running towards

each other rather than running towards each other

each other

each other why are we so separated divided and

why are we so separated divided and

why are we so separated divided and afraid the picture behind me symbolizes

afraid the picture behind me symbolizes

afraid the picture behind me symbolizes the comfort zone that we are afraid to

the comfort zone that we are afraid to

the comfort zone that we are afraid to exit so now that we take each record

exit so now that we take each record

exit so now that we take each record journey recently I will see the African

journey recently I will see the African

journey recently I will see the African continent which was an eye-opening

continent which was an eye-opening

continent which was an eye-opening experience

experience

experience we drove eight hours from the capital of

we drove eight hours from the capital of

we drove eight hours from the capital of China through land had no human life

China through land had no human life

China through land had no human life could be seen until would be our first

could be seen until would be our first

could be seen until would be our first village and this room is being arriving

village and this room is being arriving

village and this room is being arriving it makes me the kiss for us in the

it makes me the kiss for us in the

it makes me the kiss for us in the structured one and one of the most

structured one and one of the most

structured one and one of the most memorable moment for me was when one of

memorable moment for me was when one of

memorable moment for me was when one of the kiss for me he started to party

the kiss for me he started to party

the kiss for me he started to party himself and sand have a fear the recent

himself and sand have a fear the recent

himself and sand have a fear the recent venture Africa was because I’m charmed

venture Africa was because I’m charmed

venture Africa was because I’m charmed it had been a huge spot surprises so

it had been a huge spot surprises so

it had been a huge spot surprises so green a friend of mine decided we’re

green a friend of mine decided we’re

green a friend of mine decided we’re going to go cross help the people of his

going to go cross help the people of his

going to go cross help the people of his country and before leaving the United

country and before leaving the United

country and before leaving the United Kingdom we had no idea how severe this

Kingdom we had no idea how severe this

Kingdom we had no idea how severe this issue was so after we raise some funds

issue was so after we raise some funds

issue was so after we raise some funds we went across and then upon arriving at

we went across and then upon arriving at

we went across and then upon arriving at the first

the first

the first we engage with the people of the village

we engage with the people of the village

we engage with the people of the village the community the elders the kids and

the community the elders the kids and

the community the elders the kids and the kids were telling us every single

the kids were telling us every single

the kids were telling us every single day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for 12 hours a

day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for 12 hours a

day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for 12 hours a day they would meet four to five

day they would meet four to five

day they would meet four to five different trips across the desert to get

different trips across the desert to get

different trips across the desert to get water for their family survival for 12

water for their family survival for 12

water for their family survival for 12 hours a day and unbearable heat bill for

hours a day and unbearable heat bill for

hours a day and unbearable heat bill for across the desert they were looking for

across the desert they were looking for

across the desert they were looking for water for their family survival the

water for their family survival the

water for their family survival the picture that I’ve just felt now as some

picture that I’ve just felt now as some

picture that I’ve just felt now as some of the kids that we met who were doing

of the kids that we met who were doing

of the kids that we met who were doing these constant trips every day and

these constant trips every day and

these constant trips every day and majority of them or under the age of 10

majority of them or under the age of 10

majority of them or under the age of 10 another picture that was captured

another picture that was captured

another picture that was captured viewing my journey and as my favorite

viewing my journey and as my favorite

viewing my journey and as my favorite picture was one the most powerful

picture was one the most powerful

picture was one the most powerful picture of Laos captured is the picture

picture of Laos captured is the picture

picture of Laos captured is the picture an African baby had met a non African

an African baby had met a non African

an African baby had met a non African for the first time as soon as I picked

for the first time as soon as I picked

for the first time as soon as I picked the kid up and looked at me we started

the kid up and looked at me we started

the kid up and looked at me we started crying it was trying to disappear from

crying it was trying to disappear from

crying it was trying to disappear from our arms was kicking mean everything

our arms was kicking mean everything

our arms was kicking mean everything about what I’m thinking I had done

about what I’m thinking I had done

about what I’m thinking I had done something wrong but then the elders

something wrong but then the elders

something wrong but then the elders explained to me they told me that this

explained to me they told me that this

explained to me they told me that this is the first time he had seen someone

is the first time he had seen someone

is the first time he had seen someone that did not look like him

that did not look like him

that did not look like him that was different to him it’s something

that was different to him it’s something

that was different to him it’s something new Jimmy was scared of her the idea of

new Jimmy was scared of her the idea of

new Jimmy was scared of her the idea of us giving and it’s a that I spy really

us giving and it’s a that I spy really

us giving and it’s a that I spy really the most is when we started to engage

the most is when we started to engage

the most is when we started to engage with the elders and we told them about

with the elders and we told them about

with the elders and we told them about the war project we came to do it were in

the war project we came to do it were in

the war project we came to do it were in tears they were mesmerized by the fact

tears they were mesmerized by the fact

tears they were mesmerized by the fact that it actually acts as war had their

that it actually acts as war had their

that it actually acts as war had their footsteps up in their village from water

footsteps up in their village from water

footsteps up in their village from water pump and it felt like this was a huge

pump and it felt like this was a huge

pump and it felt like this was a huge advancement in technology and

advancement in technology and

advancement in technology and immediately think back to our world

immediately think back to our world

immediately think back to our world we’ve advanced so much that we planted

we’ve advanced so much that we planted

we’ve advanced so much that we planted at the moon and yet there are people on

at the moon and yet there are people on

at the moon and yet there are people on this planet

this planet

this planet other side of this world I think that a

other side of this world I think that a

other side of this world I think that a water pump is a huge development in

water pump is a huge development in

water pump is a huge development in technology so before I go further into

technology so before I go further into

technology so before I go further into my talk I want to throw some questions

my talk I want to throw some questions

my talk I want to throw some questions and for you guys to think about what

and for you guys to think about what

and for you guys to think about what does it mean to be human or what does

does it mean to be human or what does

does it mean to be human or what does humanity mean jaws the word human or

humanity mean jaws the word human or

humanity mean jaws the word human or humanity comes from the Latin of

humanity comes from the Latin of

humanity comes from the Latin of Humanitas which was first used for the

Humanitas which was first used for the

Humanitas which was first used for the writer Cecile

writer Cecile

writer Cecile it came into the English language in the

it came into the English language in the

it came into the English language in the 14th century and it was used to describe

14th century and it was used to describe

14th century and it was used to describe people that was civilized and more

people that was civilized and more

people that was civilized and more importantly it was used to describe

importantly it was used to describe

importantly it was used to describe people that practice concepts like

people that practice concepts like

people that practice concepts like hospitality and justice for after

hospitality and justice for after

hospitality and justice for after thinking about for a while my personal

thinking about for a while my personal

thinking about for a while my personal answer was that a person who lives

answer was that a person who lives

answer was that a person who lives things and does things for others as

things and does things for others as

things and does things for others as what humanism so I decided to then carry

what humanism so I decided to then carry

what humanism so I decided to then carry out public survey to see what people

out public survey to see what people

out public survey to see what people thought what a human was and I wanted my

thought what a human was and I wanted my

thought what a human was and I wanted my social media in a post what does it mean

social media in a post what does it mean

social media in a post what does it mean to be human but a lot of great answers

to be human but a lot of great answers

to be human but a lot of great answers from which I chose the top three to show

from which I chose the top three to show

from which I chose the top three to show to you yesterday the first one to

to you yesterday the first one to

to you yesterday the first one to exhibit morality in our actions another

exhibit morality in our actions another

exhibit morality in our actions another one which was in a lot more detail which

one which was in a lot more detail which

one which was in a lot more detail which read to think wisely by explicitly to

read to think wisely by explicitly to

read to think wisely by explicitly to see perfection and imperfection to draw

see perfection and imperfection to draw

see perfection and imperfection to draw unity from division or most importantly

unity from division or most importantly

unity from division or most importantly to be human is to act with humanity or

to be human is to act with humanity or

to be human is to act with humanity or my curse affair was are we even so are

my curse affair was are we even so are

my curse affair was are we even so are we dancers

we dancers

we dancers or we can find out at the after-party so

or we can find out at the after-party so

or we can find out at the after-party so now let’s get back to the story right

now let’s get back to the story right

now let’s get back to the story right here on sitting in Africa amongst people

here on sitting in Africa amongst people

here on sitting in Africa amongst people that I’ve never even heard of a place

that I’ve never even heard of a place

that I’ve never even heard of a place called Scotland right and I started to

called Scotland right and I started to

called Scotland right and I started to engage with the kids and then the

engage with the kids and then the

engage with the kids and then the question pop okay now they build this

question pop okay now they build this

question pop okay now they build this well I asked the kiss

well I asked the kiss

well I asked the kiss what would you now do with the 12 hours

what would you now do with the 12 hours

what would you now do with the 12 hours a day that you have three you no longer

a day that you have three you no longer

a day that you have three you no longer have to make these trips and majority of

have to make these trips and majority of

have to make these trips and majority of them was speechless they did not know

them was speechless they did not know

them was speechless they did not know what to tell me because they had never

what to tell me because they had never

what to tell me because they had never fought at this and after thinking about

fought at this and after thinking about

fought at this and after thinking about for a while they came back and said I

for a while they came back and said I

for a while they came back and said I want to play football I want to study so

want to play football I want to study so

want to play football I want to study so on and so on and these are my suppose

on and so on and these are my suppose

on and so on and these are my suppose ambitious dreams that we all have as

ambitious dreams that we all have as

ambitious dreams that we all have as well but we’ve all been able to achieve

well but we’ve all been able to achieve

well but we’ve all been able to achieve them are we working towards them because

them are we working towards them because

them are we working towards them because everything is readily available to us

everything is readily available to us

everything is readily available to us all of the life goals and ambitions of

all of the life goals and ambitions of

all of the life goals and ambitions of people I have nothing available the

people I have nothing available the

people I have nothing available the light started and ended in that desert

light started and ended in that desert

light started and ended in that desert so now let’s reflect on the scenario

so now let’s reflect on the scenario

so now let’s reflect on the scenario imagine you were living in such an

imagine you were living in such an

imagine you were living in such an environment but the most advanced

environment but the most advanced

environment but the most advanced technology to your village was a water

technology to your village was a water

technology to your village was a water pump that simply extracted water forever

pump that simply extracted water forever

pump that simply extracted water forever and then you approach to this stick

and then you approach to this stick

and then you approach to this stick building at the University of

building at the University of

building at the University of Strathclyde with all of this magnificent

Strathclyde with all of this magnificent

Strathclyde with all of this magnificent technology around living how would you

technology around living how would you

technology around living how would you feel when you feel 1 plus disappointed

feel when you feel 1 plus disappointed

feel when you feel 1 plus disappointed thinking there’s a world out there that

thinking there’s a world out there that

thinking there’s a world out there that centuries ahead and if football value

centuries ahead and if football value

centuries ahead and if football value this football that you even exist and

this football that you even exist and

this football that you even exist and you also have nice dreams and goals and

you also have nice dreams and goals and

you also have nice dreams and goals and aims and we may think this is just an

aims and we may think this is just an

aims and we may think this is just an issue and in Africa or in developing

issue and in Africa or in developing

issue and in Africa or in developing countries was actually an issue even

countries was actually an issue even

countries was actually an issue even here at his father recently I wished it

here at his father recently I wished it

here at his father recently I wished it indeed and I captured one of the most

indeed and I captured one of the most

indeed and I captured one of the most powerful pictures during this period and

powerful pictures during this period and

powerful pictures during this period and I was going past a construction site

I was going past a construction site

I was going past a construction site which was what millions of pounds and I

which was what millions of pounds and I

which was what millions of pounds and I say your waterfront your future amazing

say your waterfront your future amazing

say your waterfront your future amazing project but right next to the same

project but right next to the same

project but right next to the same signboard was a homeless man sleeping

signboard was a homeless man sleeping

signboard was a homeless man sleeping who had no roof or said and no food in

who had no roof or said and no food in

who had no roof or said and no food in this plate how do we justify development

this plate how do we justify development

this plate how do we justify development in such a large scale yet we can’t even

in such a large scale yet we can’t even

in such a large scale yet we can’t even help those that can help himself love

help those that can help himself love

help those that can help himself love knowledge and goodness is something

knowledge and goodness is something

knowledge and goodness is something every human is born with no child is

every human is born with no child is

every human is born with no child is ever one to separate himself from loving

ever one to separate himself from loving

ever one to separate himself from loving others gaining knowledge or spreading

others gaining knowledge or spreading

others gaining knowledge or spreading goodness

goodness

goodness as far as a human nature to exhibit

as far as a human nature to exhibit

as far as a human nature to exhibit these things we learn that we create the

these things we learn that we create the

these things we learn that we create the world we live in and the type of world

world we live in and the type of world

world we live in and the type of world we live in

we live in

we live in makes us the kind of people we are so

makes us the kind of people we are so

makes us the kind of people we are so what kind of people are we exactly

what kind of people are we exactly

what kind of people are we exactly a robotic life and what it might we need

a robotic life and what it might we need

a robotic life and what it might we need work sleep repeat how did this happen to

work sleep repeat how did this happen to

work sleep repeat how did this happen to us how do you believe our fellow human

us how do you believe our fellow human

us how do you believe our fellow human beings so far behind and become more

beings so far behind and become more

beings so far behind and become more like a machine or powerful machine for

like a machine or powerful machine for

like a machine or powerful machine for most people getting through your job

most people getting through your job

most people getting through your job your education your degree is a norm or

your education your degree is a norm or

your education your degree is a norm or way of life when will we ever stop for a

way of life when will we ever stop for a

way of life when will we ever stop for a minute think about what we dream become

minute think about what we dream become

minute think about what we dream become human again be compassionate leave

human again be compassionate leave

human again be compassionate leave knowing be carried look up for those

knowing be carried look up for those

knowing be carried look up for those that have to come for themselves live

that have to come for themselves live

that have to come for themselves live life the way you prefer to be as this

life the way you prefer to be as this

life the way you prefer to be as this war bloodshed power and ego waves more

war bloodshed power and ego waves more

war bloodshed power and ego waves more important to us than solving things like

important to us than solving things like

important to us than solving things like so let me learn some facts for you did

so let me learn some facts for you did

so let me learn some facts for you did you know that the costs to wipe up world

you know that the costs to wipe up world

you know that the costs to wipe up world poverty is 30 billion dollars here

poverty is 30 billion dollars here

poverty is 30 billion dollars here sounds like a huge number a lot of money

sounds like a huge number a lot of money

sounds like a huge number a lot of money but did you also know that America

but did you also know that America

but did you also know that America spends five hundred eighty nine point

spends five hundred eighty nine point

spends five hundred eighty nine point five billion dollars in your military

five billion dollars in your military

five billion dollars in your military China on the other side of the world is

China on the other side of the world is

China on the other side of the world is spending a hundred and ninety 1 billion

spending a hundred and ninety 1 billion

spending a hundred and ninety 1 billion dollars in our military so how do we

dollars in our military so how do we

dollars in our military so how do we justify this stuck war Russia ego power

justify this stuck war Russia ego power

justify this stuck war Russia ego power games is more important to us than

games is more important to us than

games is more important to us than solving things like for hunger looking

solving things like for hunger looking

solving things like for hunger looking out for people that have become for

out for people that have become for

out for people that have become for themselves it’s being human just a way

themselves it’s being human just a way

themselves it’s being human just a way for the strong ones to impose their way

for the strong ones to impose their way

for the strong ones to impose their way of life on the weaker ones if imagine

of life on the weaker ones if imagine

of life on the weaker ones if imagine someone like a pawn can help 600 million

someone like a pawn can help 600 million

someone like a pawn can help 600 million people to get electricity someone like

people to get electricity someone like

people to get electricity someone like myself and my friend look it up fifteen

myself and my friend look it up fifteen

myself and my friend look it up fifteen to twenty thousand people get access to

to twenty thousand people get access to

to twenty thousand people get access to clean water for life then imagine the

clean water for life then imagine the

clean water for life then imagine the impact we would create of every single

impact we would create of every single

impact we would create of every single one of us took the initiative that we

one of us took the initiative that we

one of us took the initiative that we will change the world around us we will

will change the world around us we will

will change the world around us we will make a difference to people around us

when a baby is born this work as as

when a baby is born this work as as Hezbollah as much as is the whole anyone

Hezbollah as much as is the whole anyone

Hezbollah as much as is the whole anyone else living in this planet we’re all

else living in this planet we’re all

else living in this planet we’re all equal so why do we still have the

equal so why do we still have the

equal so why do we still have the injustice the separation the division

injustice the separation the division

injustice the separation the division amongst ourselves so as I was doing my

amongst ourselves so as I was doing my

amongst ourselves so as I was doing my research for this topic I came across

research for this topic I came across

research for this topic I came across something really beautiful and it was an

something really beautiful and it was an

something really beautiful and it was an ayah from the Quran which said o mankind

ayah from the Quran which said o mankind

ayah from the Quran which said o mankind we created you from a single player of

we created you from a single player of

we created you from a single player of male and female and made you into

male and female and made you into

male and female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may get

nations and tribes so that you may get

nations and tribes so that you may get to know each other not that you may

to know each other not that you may

to know each other not that you may despise each other do we really see each

despise each other do we really see each

despise each other do we really see each other that way do we really see a being

other that way do we really see a being

other that way do we really see a being different is an opportunity for us to

different is an opportunity for us to

different is an opportunity for us to get to know one another or do we think

get to know one another or do we think

get to know one another or do we think that the country we were born in the

that the country we were born in the

that the country we were born in the language we speak the culture we belong

language we speak the culture we belong

language we speak the culture we belong to the faith we follow the color for

to the faith we follow the color for

to the faith we follow the color for skin makes us better than someone else

why aren’t we thinking that being

why aren’t we thinking that being different as good because this is not an

different as good because this is not an

different as good because this is not an opportunity for us to get to know and

opportunity for us to get to know and

opportunity for us to get to know and engage with the fellow human beings I

engage with the fellow human beings I

engage with the fellow human beings I know it’s not all that simple the words

know it’s not all that simple the words

know it’s not all that simple the words are much more complicated place but I

are much more complicated place but I

are much more complicated place but I strongly feel somewhere along the lines

strongly feel somewhere along the lines

strongly feel somewhere along the lines we stopped being human we became more of

we stopped being human we became more of

we stopped being human we became more of a machine or powerful machine as the

a machine or powerful machine as the

a machine or powerful machine as the mattress is zero when he came above the

mattress is zero when he came above the

mattress is zero when he came above the world he used to describe people that

world he used to describe people that

world he used to describe people that were civilized that practice things like

were civilized that practice things like

were civilized that practice things like hospitality and justice so we should be

hospitality and justice so we should be

hospitality and justice so we should be the ones now implementing these things

the ones now implementing these things

the ones now implementing these things in our societies and our communities

in our societies and our communities

in our societies and our communities living up to the definition of a human

living up to the definition of a human

living up to the definition of a human or a human being and I don’t just mean

or a human being and I don’t just mean

or a human being and I don’t just mean the community of wars for Scotland I’m

the community of wars for Scotland I’m

the community of wars for Scotland I’m talking with a global community we’re

talking with a global community we’re

talking with a global community we’re not one word that is not coming back

not one word that is not coming back

not one word that is not coming back this is just one chance you have

this is just one chance you have

this is just one chance you have right now I guess I can say a lot more

right now I guess I can say a lot more

right now I guess I can say a lot more but the time the Richmond from speaking

but the time the Richmond from speaking

but the time the Richmond from speaking further so I want to summarize and I

further so I want to summarize and I

further so I want to summarize and I want everyone to take something away

want everyone to take something away

want everyone to take something away from today now in the hustle and bustle

from today now in the hustle and bustle

from today now in the hustle and bustle of your life pause for a minute take a

of your life pause for a minute take a

of your life pause for a minute take a minute become human again be someone

minute become human again be someone

minute become human again be someone that’s loving caring compassionate

that’s loving caring compassionate

that’s loving caring compassionate someone that lived up for those that

someone that lived up for those that

someone that lived up for those that can’t look out for them so someone that

can’t look out for them so someone that

can’t look out for them so someone that makes the difference to humanity someone

makes the difference to humanity someone

makes the difference to humanity someone that makes a difference to people around

that makes a difference to people around

that makes a difference to people around them someone that makes a difference to

them someone that makes a difference to

them someone that makes a difference to the society not just another face in the

the society not just another face in the

the society not just another face in the crowd or not just another number in the

crowd or not just another number in the

crowd or not just another number in the world not just another name on the list

world not just another name on the list

world not just another name on the list be someone that actually is a change

be someone that actually is a change

be someone that actually is a change maker someone that will be remembered as

maker someone that will be remembered as

maker someone that will be remembered as a legend even when you are going deep

a legend even when you are going deep

a legend even when you are going deep down in your brain thank you for

down in your brain thank you for

down in your brain thank you for listening I hope you enjoy

listening I hope you enjoy

listening I hope you enjoy [Applause]

”

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