Tuesday 26 August 2014

The Age of Transition

This is the age of transition in India's history, transition from feudal agricultural society to a modern industrial society. At present we are neither totally feudal nor totally industrial, but somewhere in between.

This transition period in history is a long, very painful and agonizing period, when the whole society is thrown into turbulence, turmoil, social churning and intellectual ferment. If we study the transition from feudal agricultural to modern industrial society in Europe, which was roughly from the 16th to the 19th centuries, we find that it was full of turbulence, wars, revolutions, social chaos and churning, intellectual ferment, etc, with theories of Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Adam Smith, Voltaire, etc.

It was only after going through this fire that modern society emerged in Europe. India is presently going through this fire. We are going through a very painful period in our history, which I think will last for another 15-20 years or so.

For what is a transition in history ? It is a period when society is being rocked and torn apart, uprooted from its very bottom, and a new modern society is being put in its place. Old values, ideas and customs are being destroyed, and are being replaced with new ones.

Indian society is presently still quite backward, full of casteism, communalism, and superstitions. I gave several examples to prove this. One was of the lady OBC Professor in a College whom I met, and who said that her family was quite liberal, and many family members had married outside her caste. But when I asked her whether she would permit her daughter to marry a scheduled caste boy she firmly said no. This shows that most non-SCs still regard SCs as inferior.

The other example I gave was of the SC Madras High Court Judge who was a colleague of mine when I was the Chief Justice of Madras High Court. His wife told my wife that when they had a love marriage, her relatives performed her funeral rites, and thereafter had nothing to do with her.

Another example is of the 'honour killings' of a SC who marries a non SC in parts of India e.g. in western U.P. and Haryana.

I can give any number of other examples of the backwardness of the vast majority of people in india.

To convert this backward society to a modern scientific one will not be an easy task. It will require tremendous struggles of the masses led by the enlightened, modern minded minority in India. It entails changing the mindsets of 125 crore ( 1250 million) people and making it modern and scientific. Will that be easy ? Not at all. It will require the patriotic, modern minded section in our society to be ready for a long struggle to patiently explain and educate the Indian masses to give up their old, feudal ideas and customs ( casteism and communalism are feudal) and adopt modern scientific ones.

I have said all this not to frighten you all but to tell you realistically of the long, arduous road ahead for Indians.

29 comments:

  1. The question is whether our leaders in all fields recognise the need to adjust sails or will continue to hold on to old privileges. Recent utterances and actions, such as politicians trying to increase the privileges of office or extending them to their cronies or some from judiciary do not give much comfort.

    One hopes that they see writings on the wall.

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  2. Every time you give examples of U.S.A, U.K, Europe or other but not India's Great History from which also we can learn?

    I feel you think all the good things are out of India and we should just imitate them without checking whether its suitable to us or not?

    Albert Einstein — 'Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.'

    Same way don't compare U.S.A, U.K, Europe with India? Check India's history and learn from that?

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    1. India's old glory is dead. Just as Greek and Roman and Egyptian. Come to real world, out of fantasy. Tamil nadu also had Honor killing two years back, in my own home town. People mind are orthodoxy, vengeful, superstitious. Outside of america, this is not known. There is a mini-america within America. The mini-america lives in slums, under bridges, poorly, murder everyday. May be India heads in that direction. Major india. Metro cities, hi-tech jobs, stylish life for majority. Mini-india continues in slums, rotten in thoughts. One india doesn't care other, just as in America.

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    2. India's Great History might have been dead for you due to lack of knowledge about it. After 9/11 check what americans did by targeting one community??

      American and Englands civilization is standing on the blood of innocent peoples life (saying they believe in human right) and you want to make India like that???

      Now India is Independent nation don't behave like Dog of England? come back to real world it's 2014 not pre 1947 ;-)

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    3. Honestly, Mr Virani, I don't get your point! Could you explain unambiguously! Yes, I may have lack of knowledge. How does 9-eleven has to do with India's glory not dead? Pl explain Mr Virani.

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    4. Mr Virany, I decided to take you on. You call your fellow citizen as Dog. If you meant that's the meaning of India's old Glory and current Glory, perfect. I have no argument with you!. You win. Here on, my software will deal with you!>

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    5. If for honor killing, orthodoxy, superstitious etc you blame all Indians mind set I just gave example of what america did after 9/11 (there are many more examples). Also what to do people like you when they live in america they behave like their dogs ;-) Not my fault change your attitude ;-)

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    6. Mr. Virani, you got me wrong. I am for the development of India. I explain good things of America, to remove the ills of Indian society. Here you are using American invented Internet and American website, and still bashing people who work in US. I will do Not name calling, because that's worst sin in Vedas. But characterize you, you are hypocritic!.

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    7. You wan't develop India and move you tails in America for money??? is not that Hypocritic person?? Come in India and develop it don't just speak??

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  3. KATJU SIR; very thought provoking.......Many thanks

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  4. India will never have storming of Bastille.

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  5. Sir,I find a lot of childern in India don't have food or go to schools,to them India means nothing.Have we failed as a country

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    1. Your observation is correct. But, the meaning of country is a daisy thing here. Who are you asking that question to.? Most people are ethnic, tamilian is only bothered about tamilnadu. Telegana wants a statehood, without knowing nationalism. I am totally in agreement with you, but dive deeper. Don't stay on the surface to ask these simplistic questions!

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  6. Sir, Believe, most of the India's problems are due to high population and greed of some people..

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    1. Mr Rajendran, please do not blame on the population. If you blame population, you seem to have not understood the meaning of Democracy. Democracy is just right below Divinity. That's only better system humanity has evolved. But, I agree with greed. Not just some people, you should say most people!.

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    2. Mr. Sengaiyan, I meant, meeting demand and supply of basic economic theory. If you see people living in the city streets have minimum of 4 to 6 children and making them begging in the signals. There is a likely chance that they may grow as anti social elements. I feel, if democracy has right to have children then it should enforce as a fundamental duty to feed their children as well.

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    3. Democracy do not give right to have children. Having children is God given unalienable rights. To protect this unalienable right, we install government that protects these rights for which the government draws powers from the people governed. I hope its clear to you. Also government is not under any duty, unless such a duty is thrashed upon that government. That means the govt must conduct referendum to seek if it needs to feed people. But, India's democracy completely flawed. Its a pseudo democracy of an autocracy. What it means is how much to spend for my street light in my panchayat is decided by CMs office 300 miles away.

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  7. Equal Quality education for haves and have-nots is required to be imparted. Keeping right to own property as fundamental right should be abolished and/or at-least perfect, simple and unambiguous Land (Properties) Ceiling Act to be passed and implemented strictly. Accumulation of wealth with small group of society eternally (Industrialists/Businessmen/Politicians/Top Bureaucrats/Property Grabbers/Thugs) should be stopped. You cannot change the mindset of 125 crore Indians to have Inter-caste marriages. But definitely Equal & Quality Education could be imparted to inculcate good habits and practice loyalty to the country. As well could implement Properties Ceiling Act to avoid accumulation of wealth within small group of Indian society.

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    1. Mr. Paran, I totally agree with. The national Capital is New Delhi. In kindergarten school, there was an issue. How to make admission process fair and just. But, no forum below Supreme Court to offer a amicable solution. The case reached Supreme Court earlier this year!. Do you still think, before deciding to implement a good quality education, people will agree what is equal quality education? That issue will go straight to Supreme Court!. Fortunately, or unfortunately our Supreme court has been more kind, humanitarian, fair and nice to all citizens. In a nation of128 crore population, being fair to all may be impractical if not philosophically decline-able thing!.

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  8. ndian society is presently still quite backward, full of casteism, communalism, and superstitions.educate the Indian masses to give up their old, feudal ideas and customs ( casteism and communalism are feudal) and adopt modern scientific ones.

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    1. Everything is perfect u said. But it takes generations to educate the level you are talking. That means you and me may not be here to see modern india down 30-40 years later. But we set the ball rolling. Thats more important.

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  9. i am totally agree with u !

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  10. Is India's Democracy an authentic one or not? Yes/No? ( No comments , just say Y or N )

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  11. Our Rights to live, freedom to express and freedom to pursuit of happiness comes from Nature or God. Not from the Constitution!. Nor from the politicians!. Wake up dear Citizens!. If constitution is flawed, demand a new one!.

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    1. Believe, constitution is not flawed. But, the present form electoral system is highly flawed. This was even foreseen by Shri. Rajaji and wrote many articles in his period on democracy & money power. In the pre & immediate post independence period, the Congress was dominated by very well-off people and they volunteered for social service for other reasons than money. But today, every thing is about money. Politics is chosen as as a lost resort by many (exception are there) to make money. They invest huge money in elections to win and then obviously recover and prepare for next election investments, more or less used as share market to reap profits. Probably, two or three party system function like any other corporates with a fixed salary for party cadres form member's subscriptions, even if they loose elections to run a decent family life may bring good people to take up politics as a service & professional career. If many good people come to politics, the system would improve.

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  12. http://sheshkiran.blogspot.in/2014/08/albert-einstein.html?showComment=1409052715584#c3205264575098920997
    http://thetravellerweare.blogspot.in/2014/04/velavadar-blackbuck-hyena-wolf.html?showComment=1409055004354#c1845474245641187108
    http://justicekatju.blogspot.in/2014/08/the-age-of-transition-this-is-age-of.html?showComment=1409055015828#c4902513986908949295
    http://vkwrldctzn.blogspot.in/2014/08/sharing-few-thoughts-on-book-think-in.html?showComment=1409055038721#c2447559811724377245

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  13. http://sheshkiran.blogspot.in/2014/08/albert-einstein.html?showComment=1409052715584#c3205264575098920997
    http://thetravellerweare.blogspot.in/2014/04/velavadar-blackbuck-hyena-wolf.html?showComment=1409055004354#c1845474245641187108
    http://justicekatju.blogspot.in/2014/08/the-age-of-transition-this-is-age-of.html?showComment=1409055015828#c4902513986908949295
    http://vkwrldctzn.blogspot.in/2014/08/sharing-few-thoughts-on-book-think-in.html?showComment=1409055038721#c2447559811724377245

    ReplyDelete