-Md. Kamal Uddin: The biggest tragedy in the world is not the lack of talent, but the inability to recognize talent. If a priceless diamond falls into the hands of an ignorant person, it too becomes a piece of glass. However, when the same diamond reaches the hands of a jeweler, its true identity, beauty and value are revealed in an instant. A wise and experienced father one day handed his son a small piece of diamond and said, “Father, today I will teach you a lesson. However, that lesson is not written on the pages of a book, it is hidden on the path of life. Take this diamond and go to the market. Do not sell it to anyone. Just ask what they are willing to give in return.” The boy set off with curiosity. First, he went to a vegetable seller. He held out the diamond and said, “Uncle, what can you give me in return for this thing?” The vegetable seller took the diamond in his hand and looked at it from side to side. Then he smiled and said, “It looks like glass. If you want, I can give you a kilogram of potatoes. It is not possible for me to give more than that.” The boy left without saying anything. Then he reached a goldsmith’s shop. The goldsmith looked at the diamond with an experienced eye. After examining it for a while, he said, “This is no ordinary stone. It has some value. I can give you one lakh taka in cash.” The boy did not sell the diamond this time either. Finally, he went to the most experienced jeweler in the city. The jeweler took the diamond in his hand and examined it with a special glass. His eyes widened in surprise. A smile of appreciation appeared on his face. He said, “Father, do you know what you have in your hand? This is no ordinary diamond. This is a rare, scarce and extraordinary quality gem. I am ready to pay one crore taka for it. Yet it seems that its real value may be more than that.”
The boy returned home in surprise. After hearing all the events, the father calmly said, “Today you have seen one of the greatest human traits. People do not value something based on its true qualities; rather, they judge it according to the limits of their knowledge, experience, and perspective. To a vegetable seller, a diamond is worth one kilogram of potatoes. To a gold dealer, it is worth one lakh taka. And to a jeweler, it is more than one crore taka. The diamond has never changed—only the eyes of the appraiser have changed.” The father further said,
“Never in life seek your worth from a person who does not have the ability to see talent in their eyes. Because even the sun has no value to the blind.” This story is not just about a diamond; it is a reflection of the life of every talented, honest, courageous and idealistic person. This reality is especially clear in the world of journalism and literature. There are many people here who sacrifice their security, interests and comfort to reveal the truth. They take up the pen against injustice, expose the abuse of power and become the voice of the silent people of society. But sadly, not all of them know how to evaluate. There are some famous journalists for whom journalism is not a profession, but a means of gaining advantage by using their identity. They call the courage of a real journalist recklessness, honesty weakness, and an inquisitive mind arrogance. Because their eyes do not have the jeweler’s vision to understand the difference between a diamond and glass. But the truth never remains hidden forever. Time is the greatest judge in the world, and history is the most impartial jeweler. Time will decide who was a real diamond and who was just a piece of glass. So if you ever see someone valuing you at the price of a kilo of potatoes, don’t be sad. Remember, that is not your value—that is the limitation of their vision. If you are truly a diamond, your brilliance will not be dimmed by the words of an ignorant person. Maybe not today, not tomorrow—but one day some jeweler will recognize you. Then your value will be determined by your honesty, talent, courage, actions, and character.
Remember – a diamond never announces its value; its brilliance is its identity. A lion never proves himself to be a king; his presence is his identity. And a real journalist or writer does not proclaim his superiority; his pen, his conscience, his courage and his work will one day take him to the highest seat in the hearts of people. So never judge your value by the judgment of unworthy people. Because the real value of a diamond worth crores of rupees can never be a kilogram of potatoes. Only a jeweler has the right to determine the real value.