By Danjuma Katsina
This article was published in 2020 @ Daily Trust News papers, 

Throughout history, some writers have demonstrated an uncanny ability to predict future events through their works. Whether through fiction, political commentary, or ideological discourse, their writings have foreshadowed significant historical events, leaving us to wonder—who truly sees the future: the pen or the writer?

George Orwell and the Fall of Socialism

George Orwell, born Eric Arthur Blair, was an English novelist and journalist who died in 1950 at the age of 46. He is best known for his books Animal Farm (1945) and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), both of which contained striking predictions about political systems and societal trends.

Animal Farm was a satirical critique of the Soviet Union and its authoritarian leadership. Orwell foresaw the demise of socialism as it was practiced in the USSR. In one of his famous statements, he remarked:

"In my opinion, nothing has contributed so much to the corruption of the original idea of socialism as the belief that Russia is a socialist country and that every act of its rulers must be excused, if not imitated. And so for the last ten years, I have been convinced that the destruction of the Soviet myth was essential if we wanted a revival of the socialist movement."

Thirty-nine years after Orwell’s death, his prediction materialized. The fall of socialism began in 1989, leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union and a major shift in Communist nations, including Russia and China.

In Nineteen Eighty-Four, Orwell envisioned a world where powerful nation-states fused into totalitarian regimes under the control of a political entity known as “Big Brother.” His notion that “Big Brother is watching you” eerily mirrors the modern world, where surveillance, authoritarian rule, and political control remain prevalent—even under the guise of democracy.

Morgan Robertson and the Titanic Disaster

In 1898, American author Morgan Robertson wrote a novel titled Futility, or the Wreck of the Titan. The book narrated the story of the world's largest ship, the Titan, which tragically sank after hitting an iceberg.

A decade later, in 1909, Thomas Andrews, a ship designer in Belfast, Northern Ireland, oversaw the construction of what was then the world’s largest ship—the Titanic. At the launch in 1910, Andrews famously declared:

“Not even God can sink the Titanic.”

However, just two years later, in 1912, the Titanic met the exact fate Robertson had described in his novel. During its maiden voyage, the ship struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic, leading to the deaths of approximately 1,500 passengers.

Sayyid Qutb and the Rise of Islamic Extremism

Sayyid Qutb, an Egyptian Islamist scholar and influential leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, was born in 1906 and executed in 1966. A prolific writer, he was critical of both Western and Arab societies, accusing the latter of reverting to Jahiliyya—the pre-Islamic era of ignorance.

Qutb championed the idea of an Islamic state governed by Hakimiyya—a system where God is the Supreme Legislator and Shari’ah law is strictly enforced. His writings promoted the notion of using force to overthrow regimes that did not adhere to Islamic principles.

Decades after his death, the Arab Spring—a series of uprisings that swept across the Middle East—echoed Qutb’s radical vision. His influence is often cited in discussions about modern Islamist movements that seek to challenge and replace governments in the Arab world.

The Seer: The Pen or the Writer?

History is filled with writers whose words have seemingly foretold the future. Whether through sheer coincidence, deep analysis, or intuitive foresight, their predictions have left an enduring impact. The question remains—do writers shape the future, or does the future simply align with their words?

Danjuma Katsina is an author and journalist. He is the Publisher of Katsina Times, Jaridar Taskar Labarai, and The Links News. He can be reached at 08035904408 or katsinaoffice@yahoo.com.