Dynamics of social backwardness: India’s case

The drivers of social backwardness are same everywhere – “innate human want to become all powerful (socially, economically or educationally), while subduing others to adversity”. Only the manifestations of social backwardness are different. In this passage, I will consider social problems of India and US, and will try to determine India’s trajectory. Social relations in these two countries will give a perfect insight of how social backwardness is affecting India? How India is dealing with it? How in medium term (20 years) will be the social landscape of India?

Both, US and India, are vibrant democracies and diverse societies. While defying the misconception that a nation state must impose single identity on their citizens, they celebrate these diversities. But as it has been often experienced, many social tensions (racism, Casteism, communalism, regionalism) born out of diversity. These social tensions are nothing but manifestations of social backwardness which a community, a caste, a region or a race suffers vis-à-vis the other. Despite well-written constitutional rights, these social tensions are known to be prevalent in both India (Casteism, Racial discrimination of North Eastern people, Curch-Masjid Todo Andolan, Regional discrimination of people from UP & Bihar, South India) and US (Discrimination against black, xenophobic discrimination against Jews, Irish, Poles).

But, there is one striking contradiction between two societies, which is also a major reason behind these social tensions seen in India at a large scale vis-à-vis the US.

US, on one hand is an “Individualistic society”. People don’t care much about “what Kapoor sahab will say”. They are happy with their own lives and try to enjoy it to the fullest. Also, since US economy is world power in itself, and there are enough economic opportunities with everybody, they seem a lot more happier than their Indian counterparts. As long as American economy thrives and its fruits are divided among all Americans, they will enjoy this matured level of mindset and will not care about Kapoor Sahab. However, I am not refuting the fact that American society too had its transformations in whole 20^th century.

India, on the other hand, is “Socialistic Society”. Here nothing matter more than “what Kapoor Bahab will say?”. Here social factors overpower economic factors behind a person’s wellbeing.

• It has been seen that socially developed arenas of Indian society are economically developed, or rather economically independent too. But in many of such “posh arenas” of Indian cities, one can find regular instances of heinous social crimes – rapes, honour killing, gender discrimination, sexual harassment. Main driver for making son engineer or doctor or collector is the social reputation that these occupations enjoy, and not the salary package. Infact, the areas of highest per capita income in India viz. Punjab, Haryana, and western UP are also the areas of lowest sex ratio. Now one can see a correlation that though economic development is contributor and indicator of social development, it cannot overpower social ethos and established norms in socialistic societies
• Here education plays an important role. Education empowers people to get what is rightfully theirs. This was the major reason behind Dr. Ambedkar’s advocacy for education of untouchables. Education too helps a person to gain economic independence. It has been seen that those who ignore narrow social differences and work for everyone’s development are highly educated. But, reverse correlation is not so strong. Discrimination on basis of race, caste, religion, though not common, is prevalent in top echelons of Indian society. In fact, majority of our politicians, though economically and educationally developed, thrive on these social backwardness and discriminations.

Above two points suggest that, apart from economic and educational development, there is something important which we are missing. Many scholars feel that this missing thing is “opportunity”. No one on this planet wants to remain backward or under developed. If people are given enough opportunities, they will definitely grab them and start their journey towards development. And social development is nothing but giving equal opportunity to everyone. This opportunity can be in form of better job, better educational and health services, robust service delivery mechanisms, preferential treatment of underdeveloped and backward. This also shows why reservations in employment and education cannot be on basis economic criteria only.

Here comes one important challenge. Unlike US economy, Indian economy is not large enough to cater the need (or greed) of everyone. India’s large population further makes situation adverse. And the groups who traditionally held the power in Indian society are also unwilling to share some fruits with their fellow brethren. This problem becomes magnified because of India being socialistic society, people adhere to narrow caste, religious, regional identities. Political class supports it, as it makes easier for them to get political support. Most striking example of this form of nexus can be seen in Western UP and Haryana – “KHAP PANCHAYTS”.

Had India been an individualistic society, these identities would have not bothered anyone as he is concerned only about himself and his family at micro level and his nation at macro level, he would have had predefined responsibilities and no incentive to encroach upon someone else’s rights. Thus, providing the opportunity and protecting rights of underdeveloped and backward is a lot more difficult in India. Same people who get elected as representative of people, and have responsibility to ensure development of all, many a times, emerge as protectors of caste institutions.

However, every society which is individualistic today, was once socialistic and enjoyed as well as suffered the respective advantages and pitfalls of being socialistic society. How can one forget widely prevalent racial discrimination of blacks in USA and American civil war? But when society is provided time and stability, it moves towards becoming liberal. This process took more than a century in USA and is still underway. Same process is underway in India too, however, at a very rapid speed. India is becoming an individualistic society. Now, to a majority of urban population, it doesn’t matter much about what Kapoor sahab will say, or do he even exist.

Everything is about independence, whether it is in matter of choosing career, life-partner or anything else. If a person is left independent, he is bound to develop. Giving independence also encompasses quelling the power of traditional bases of social power. This independence is not fully available to rural India, where social, gender, caste, religious differences seem magnified, and inter-caste marriages are equivalent to a heinous crime.

But the circumstances are changing. Single biggest game changer is technology. Same socio-economic developments which developed countries have seen in a century or so, India will see them in a matter of decades. Technology is bringing people close, it is gives them a larger arena to express their thoughts and assures them that they are not alone. Smartphones with internet connectivity are bringing government closer to people. Now they can avail innumerable government services through their phones bypassing the whole lot of traditional bases of power. This provision of opportunities, at such a cheap cost, is making life a lot easier for people. Since a person is getting services directly from the government, he has no obligation towards Sarpanch, or Patwari or any other local seth ji or Sahukaar. This is breaking erstwhile social bonds, and making everyone concerned with their own business and their obligation towards nation. Dr Fidos Anwar (History Professor at Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi) once rightly said, “ Mobile Phone is the greatest invention ever made by mankind after radio and television.” The early 2000s advertisement of Reliance Telecommunications now seems much more – “Kar lo duniya mutthi mein”.

Needless to say, a socialistic society also has its benefits. In bad time no one but society comes to help. Social values are transmitted from one generation to another in this form of society. In individualistic society, people don't care about someone else's problem until it becomes their own  problem. But it is better that society itself decides ,what is better for it.

India’s medium term prospects are high. With 356 million 10-24 year-olds, India has the world’s largest youth population despite having a smaller population than China. India’s youth comprise 1/5^th of world’s youth population. India is ready to enjoy fruits of this demographic development, provided that its youth are provided with better education and employment opportunities. If youths are not provided with these opportunities, rather than being dividend, these youth will become massive burden on the economy. Indian economy too has revived, and if everything remains good, in no time India will see a double digit growth. However, it will translate into social development or not, depends upon character of growth process. E-Governance initiative if government is real game changer. It has potential of transforming growth into an all encompassing phenomena.

Kiss of Love

Recent episodes of protest against moral policing and the uniqueness of means to achieve the ends has generated a furor. First such attempt was made out at Marine Drive, Kochi on November 2, 2014 in backdrop of various unethical acts of moral policing in the name of protecting the ethics and culture of Indian society. Though the activists of the movement were arrested by the Kerala Police, it could not stop them from replicating the event in the capital and that too in front of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's office.

Undoubtedly, the movement was a bold step on the part of youths in asserting their individual freedom. Many right-wing organisations (Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha, Bajrang Dal, HinduSena) as expected, gave their valuable time to "Akhil Bhartiya Sanskriti Bachao Sankalp", which was earlier reserved for "Akhil Bhartiya Love Jihad-Love Jihad Chillao Karyakram" . Later, in social media, while many people were busy in celebrating the movement as a watershed in fight against 'moral fascism', many people argued about inconsistency of such movement with their version of Indian culture. It was like a tug-of-war, where you can only choose between two extreme stances - either black or white - while neglecting a vast grey area.

Was it legal?

Section 294 of Indian Penal Code says:

Whoever, to annoyance of others-

(a) does any obscene act in public place, or

(b) sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place, shall be punished with imprisonment for either discription for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine, or with both.

What is ethical conduct?

To answer this question we must know what are ethics.

Ethics are rooted in cultural context of society and set guidelines for desirable and undesirable behaviour. They cannot be shaped or sustained in isolation. A person is not born with ethical conduct. It is his environment ( family, peers, school, profession) which shape his ethical conduct from time to time.

Many people tend to equate ethics with their feelings. But being ethical is not a matter of following one's feelings. A person following his or her feelings may recoil from doing what is right. In fact feelings frequently deviate from what is ethical. 

Similarly, many people tend to equate ethics with religion. No one should identify ethics with religion. Most religion of course, advocate high ethical standard. Yet, if ethics were confined to religion, then ethics would apply to only religious people. But they apply as much to the behaviour of the atheist as to that of devout religious person.

Being ethical is also not same as following the law. The law often incorporates the ethical standards to which citizens subscribe. But laws, like feelings, can deviate from what is ethical. Pre-Civil War slavery in USA and old apartheid laws of South Africa are examples of laws that deviate from what is ethical.

Finally, if being ethical is not the same as doing "whatever society blindly accepts". Though most people of society accepts standards that are ethical, there is a window left open for a society to follow unethical standards. An entire society can become ethically corrupt, best example being Nazi Germany.

While considering ethics, one thing shall always be kept in mind. Ethics vary across the contexts. These contexts are person, place and time.

Is kissing in public ethical?

Let us go back to our definition of ethics. Is kissing in public is rooted in cultural ethos of Indian society and acceptable to society? The answer is subjective one. There are art and architectural forms of ancient and medieval India, which are master-piece in themselves, manifest Indian culture as one that believe in wider expression of love. So one can brag out that if it was ethical earlier than it is today also. But, as asserted earlier, ethics vary in same society with time. It was our culture once but today it is not considered appropriate. Notwithstanding, man is not only product but also producer of his culture. A person not only learns but can also change the ethical system of society. Examples of such personalities are Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. B R Ambedkar, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr etc.

In the current scenario of globalization with vast developments in Science and Technology, people have much closer to each other. Indian culture is making inroads to other societies, and certain values of  other cultures are also experiencing same phenomenon. In this process, it is very much possible that kissing in public, which considered unethical in current Indian society, can gain much popularity with time. This is what Indian culture is all about. From time immemorial it has acquired elements of innumerable cultures, and through this process composite Indian culture has evolved. And If kissing in public becomes part of Indian culture, then one should have no problem with that. One can remember graceful lines written by Indian poet Firaq Gorakhpuri:

"Sar Zamin-e-hind par aqwaam-e-alam ke firaq, kafile baste gae Hindustan banta gaya"

(“In the land of Hind, the caravans of the peoples of the world kept coming in and India kept getting formed”)

However, if the question remains straight forward, is it ethical to kiss in public "today"? Answer remains No. Can it be ethical? - Yes. It require much commitment, dedication and perseverance on the part of these activists to encourage society, particularly, the conservative sections, to adapt to the emerging value system. Rather than radical approach, they should adopt a liberal-radical approach that focuses as much on means as on ends. Focusing only on ends, while neglecting means may lead their movement remain only a "movement" forever, and would never get incorporated into Indian culture, consequently, will never get an ethical backing. Through the vast coverage provided to it by the media, the movement should also try to tap the potential of vast grey area by advocating for other social causes which are consistent with it's fundamental cause. Such methods will provide movement a wider social base. One should employ such approach which encourage people to think about those grey areas which are visible only to some people today. The true success is achieved when there is harmony between means and end.

Right Wingers

Coming to the approach of the right-wing advocates of moral fascism, there is nothing new in strategy which is being followed. Their threat and vandalism continues to haunt peaceful protesters. Their ideology has nothing new to offer other then strict conservativeness. 

Viktor E Frankl once said, "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, and to choose one's own way." 

Attitude cannot be changed through coercion. Attitude change requires moral persuasion. This fact out rightly negates the success of these right-wing organisations. They are bound to fail in their mission. And despite their failure, Indian culture will flourish. In fact no culture can face adverse consequences due assimilation of new trends. No one possess the power to destroy a culture. It was existent even before advent of human civilization, and will continue to exist so even after. If any culture could have ever harmed another culture, Indian culture would have been the most destroyed one. How is it possible that Indian culture is one of the richest cultures of the world today? The answer is, culture thrives with assimilation of new trends. One should always encourage this assimilation.