Society And
Individual not conflicting
We do not accept the view that there
is any permanent inevitable conflict among the multifarious
personality of an individual, and different institutions of the
society. If a conflict does exist, it is a sign of decadence
perversion and not of nature or culture. The error in western
thinking lies in that some people there believe that human progress
is a result of this fundamental conflict. Therefore they consider
the conflict between the individual and the state as a natural
occurrence, on the same basis they also theorized on the class
conflict.
Classes do exist in a society. Here
too, there were castes, but we had never accepted, conflict between
one caste and another as fundamental concept behind it. In our
concept of four castes, they are thought of as analogous to the
different limbs of Virat-purusha. It was suggested that from the
head of the Virat-Purusha Bhrahmins were created, Kshatriyas from
hands, Vaishyas from his abdomen and Shudras from legs. If we
analyze this concept we are faced with the question whether there
can arise any conflict among the head, arms. stomach and legs of the
same Virat Purusha. If conflict is fundamental, the body cannot be
maintained. There cannot be any conflict in the different parts of
the same body. On the contrary "one man" prevails. These
limbs are not only complementary to one another, but even further,
there is individual unity. There is a complete identity of interest
identity of belonging. The origin of the caste system was on the
above basis. If this idea is not kept alive; the castes, instead of
being complementary, can produce conflict. But then this is
distortion. It is not a systematic arrangement, rather it is absence
of any plan, any arrangement. This is indeed the present condition
of our society.
This process of deterioration can set
in the various institutions of a society due to a variety of
reasons. If the soul of the society weakens, then all the different
limbs of the society will grow feeble and ineffective. Any
particular institution may be tendered useless or even harmful.
Besides the need and the usefulness of any particular institution
may change with time, place and circumstances. While examining the
present state of an institution we ought at the same time, to think
of what it should be like; mutual complementary and a sense of
unity, alone can be the standards of proper conduct. Family,
Community, Trade Union, Gram Panchayat, Janapada, State and such
other institutions are various limbs of the nation and even of
mankind. The are interdependent, initially complementary. There
should be a sense of unity through all of them. For this very
reason, there should be a tendency toward mutual accommodation in
them instead of conflict or opposition.
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