What would you change about modern society?
The longing for a more egalitarian society is timeless, as expressed by Ravindra Nath Tagore, who envisioned a realm of truth and reason. Change, whether gradual or drastic, remains essential for societal growth. While India has historically faced challenges like colonialism and social inequalities, movements led by visionaries helped reshape society. Today, despite substantial progress in areas like democracy, there are pressing issues in healthcare and education that hinder true equality and opportunity. The political climate, marked by divisiveness, further complicates matters. Ultimately, an honest effort towards transforming attitudes and structures is vital for achieving a harmonious society.
The longing for a more amicable society is everlasting. Ravindra Nath Tagore, the famous thinker, poet and Nobel laureate, had expressed his wish to have a society “where knowledge is free” and “words come out from the depth of truth”. The great poet longs for a society “where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way…” Considering such a place a heaven, he prays to God to be in the country.
“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high…”
-Ravindra Nath Tagore
It is well known that change is eternal. Stagnation negates life; it is a form of inertia. Life is free-flowing, and living organisms need proper and ample space to grow, flourish, and bloom. Since its beginning, the Earth has been changing, and this process continues. Strife for betterment has always been in an omphalos position. System changes with the need of time and condition. It is relative. It is a wish for betterment.
Change can be gradual or drastic. A gradual change takes time to become noticeable, but it is always lasting. With time, it matures and establishes. The gradual change is imperceptible, but it steadily and surely changes things. It is evolution.
Contrary to evolutionary change, drastic change is sudden and swift. It brings a paradigm shift in the thought process, ideology and overall system, which gives a tornado-like experience and improbable change. It feels like a shock wave. It is a type of change called revolution. It can be peaceful or occasionally forceful. “The forcible overthrow of the ruling society” causes a revolutionary change in a system where people’s participation and public opinion become secondary. Instead of establishing a “classless society”, revolution creates a new class, that is “ruling class”.
Contrary to evolutionary change, drastic change is sudden and swift. It brings a paradigm shift in the thought process, ideology and overall system, which gives a tornado-like experience and improbable change.
Humans are a highly developed and advanced group of animals who are gifted with intellect, speech and the power of thinking. They have evolved into a better organism that is adequately adapted, and using their brain can change the situations for the welfare of individuals, society and country.
Learning from their experience, the human race has evolved and developed to gain an advantage over other organisms. Initially a lone hunter, he soon became a gregarious gleaner, and later a settler who formed a family. Needless to say, a family is the building block of society.
A microcosm, family mirrors society and, in turn, a country. It runs on a set of ifs and dos, which is necessary for the smooth running of a systemic structure with collective responsibilities. The ethics, religious bindings, rules and laws are made to regularise society. In the absence of it, anarchy prevails, causing a chaotic situation where people would feel insecure and unsafe.
Amongst the oldest civilisations, India, that is Bharat, evolved as a most organised and structured society. Our sagacious primogenitors squeezed the essence of life into olden treatise, which is the treasure house of knowledge, wisdom and years of experience. It was an open society that gave equal opportunity of study, gaining knowledge and choosing the way of life within the legitimate confines of Dharma.
Dharma or religion was neither narrow in definition nor in practice. It was scientific and a way of life. It imparts the teachings of “Live and let live”, giving proper respect and space to every organism, considering that all are the creation of the Supreme Soul: God. It is a long tradition of purity, devotion and respect; hence, it is Sanatan. It is not something that was imposed. Instead, it is spontaneous that came from within.
A pure and pristine river is bound to become impure and dirty if dirty drains make it impure and polluted. The power of self-purification has its limitations. Despite having it, excessive pollutants cause pollution of the stream. It is true to any society or culture, too. In later part of life, as selfishness, mendacity and cupidity increased, society started changing to vicious.
Human beings are a mix of good and bad. It is natural. The degree of a trait determines the nature of an individual. It can be managed by self-control and discipline. Coming back to the point, Indian society, which was the epitome of equality, gradually slipped into gender and cast based inequalities. Women and some groups were subjected to differential treatment. They were devoid of education, equal rights, and dignity. Sati system and child marriage were serious blots on society. Great souls like Raja Ram Mohan Roy raised their voice, awakening the people’s consciousness to stop the menace. It gradually gained ground and the dreaded menace was eradicated.
The nation has long been a colony of Britain. Before them, invaders and looters arrived and tried to destroy the fine social warp and weft of the nation. They trampled culture and tradition, demolished temples and the seat of learning, and consigned them to fire. Despite it all, the inner strength of country remained indomitable. Invaders, nevertheless, failed in their mission except that they looted the wealth and prosperity.
After independence, people of India adopted a system to be run by the people. It was to be a system of “by the people, from the people, for the people”. The Constituent Assembly drafted a constitution which was adopted by “We the People of India” and came into effect on 26 January 1950. It ensures equal opportunity for all and fair distribution of wealth.
The concept of Ram Rajya is a utopia, but any system that guarantees equality, fraternity and social awakening is very close to Ram Rajya. India opted for a “secular, socialist democratic republic” system in consonance with its long traditional values.
As has been pointed out earlier, change is inevitable and necessary. Things change and so should be the structure. As country is progressing, things are becoming matured. The weaker and marginalised sections are getting fair chance of development. With minor amendments, things are being made amicable to the changing conditions.
There are areas which need change. One of the most important is the change in attitude and perspective. Till recently, the people’s negative attitude was changing fast with new hope and aspirations. People are watching the change in the systemic attitude and functioning. The bureaucratic steel doors are now seen opening, and the speed of work is gaining momentum. The schemes that lingered on for years have now been completed in time and allocated budget. The speedy all-around development is resulting in a positive approach. People are confident, determined and hopeful.
Despite increasing health facilities, the condition still requires further improvement. The staff, doctors and paramedics need to be more sensitive and empathetic. They need to be responsive and quick, not a mere money-siphoning machine. The mushrooming private hospitals and government hospitals are not enough. Besides increasing the number of hospitals, proper health services at reasonable cost are necessary, which is still a far cry.
Similarly, there is yet another field that needs attention is education. Education is essential for all. Despite a plethora of schools, colleges, and professional colleges available, and they are being established often, quality education is still a distant dream even after shelling out exorbitant school/college fees.
Students are vying for good and quality education. The financially well off are still trying to get admission in foreign countries. Foreign education is still a coveted thing, and people receiving education from there are getting good job opportunities abroad. This is not good for the country. A large number of fine brains are serving outside the country, who can’t offer them quality education and proper job.
India is home to a vast pool of talented, intelligent, and hardworking individuals. They are often available for relatively lower wages. Attracted by the allure of foreign countries, many young people in India strive to obtain education and secure jobs overseas. For those who are of average ability, achieving this is a significant accomplishment, and they boast about it.
A few words for the political ecosystem of the country. The political set-up encourages factionalism. In a system of electoral politics, where the number of votes is crucial, politicians are seen as busy dividing society into compartments of caste, creed, language and region. The recent incidences of publicly slapping Hindi-speaking people in a Marathi majority state are the glaring example of how politicians are fragmenting society and spreading hatred. The social divide based on caste is derogatory for the health of the country. Politicians fan this divide by coining catchy terms and slogans, creating sub-segments and trying to get votes. The parochial system needs to be overhauled.
People’s perception needs to change. It takes time, but it will change. The need is an honest push. The dilapidated building is weak, waiting to fall. People need to realise this fact so that a new robust building is constructed before the old one collapses.
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