The 21st century is dominated by algorithms. Our digital lives—from social media feeds and streaming recommendations to news alerts and targeted advertising—are curated by forces designed to do one thing: capture our attention and make us conform. These platforms thrive on comparison, create anxiety, and profit from our insecurity. This entire system is a direct assault on Allama Iqbal’s central philosophical concept of Khudi (Self-Realization).
Khudi is the belief that every individual possesses a unique, divine spark. The entire purpose of life, in Iqbal’s view, is to recognize, develop, and strengthen this “Self” until it reaches its full potential. This requires authenticity, self-respect, and a clear inner compass.
How, then, can we practice Khudi in a world that profits from our self-doubt? Iqbal’s teachings offer a powerful guide. When the algorithm wants you to scroll, Khudi is the power to log off and create. When social media demands you compare your life to others, Khudi is the self-assurance to know your own unique worth. This article explores how we can use Iqbal’s philosophy as a practical toolkit to build a resilient, authentic, and powerful sense of self in a digital world that is constantly trying to tell us who to be.