Assalamu alaikum, ya nesan!

There was a time when the sun never set on the British empire. So vast were their holdings that it spanned from the orient to the Americas. But we all know the ways of the Sun, and eventually that Sun did set, and the empire went away. But jolly old Britain is still around, where many who attempted a similar enterprise, fell dramatically when their empire was lost. Many things can be credited for this, but Ibn Serendib feels that the deep appreciation the British have for their culture, history and legacy should get a lion’s share of that credit. It is an admirable trait, and what makes Britain, “Great Britain”.


A casual stroll through the streets of this land reveals how much of history is actually preserved, and in plain view. Historical sites are not relics, but re-purposed and conserved, as the British know all too well, that things without utility, no matter how much they are protected will decay. The collection of historical preservation is not limited to the flattering bits from the glory days, but include representation from the not so flattering times, of starvation, upheaval, and turmoil. For the British, those are the most important bits, because there is nothing preventing those times from returning, and if and when they do, future generations have the benefit of past experience.

... re-purposed and conserved, as the British know all too well, that things without utility, no matter how much they are protected will decay.

Valuing antiquities is not just a government endeavor in this great country, it is built in to the DNA of its people. From the Queen that reigns from her palace that is several centuries old, to the bar-maid that proudly displays the hairpin she inherited from her grandmother, preservation and conservation of this land’s history is truly a private endeavor. Much of the work done is through societies and trusts, by ordinary citizens, and outweigh the governments involvement by miles. This is the key, believes Ibn Serendib, as the ordinary man’s passion is far more effective than any government's planning.

... the ordinary man’s passion is far more effective than any governments planning.

When prosperity comes calling, it is easy to forget our past, our traditions and our history. Many forsake it for the new and the modern. But these people are not the brightest fish in the pond. Time travels in circles, and what goes around comes around, and for those that preserve tokens from their past, while embracing the new, prosperity is perpetual. When Ibn Serendib says the past, it does not necessarily have to be relics. The documents your grandparents left behind, photos and mementos, and stories and advice from your own ancestors, is good place to start.

... or those that preserve tokens from their past, while embracing the new, prosperity is perpetual.