** Cost of Progress

Material progress: At what cost?
By O.P. Batra

The neo-rich Indians and politicians may feel elated and proud that four Indians are among the ten richest people in the world, as per Forbes 2008 list. This may also be a proud moment for the achievers.

Yet, this pride seems to be paradoxical and paranoiac, if compared with the plight of majority of poor Indians, who are even unable to procure two-times meals for their families.

The richness of the few Indians has also brought with it the morbid urge of vulgar spending, inculcating in the process a maniac spendthrift tendency among the wealthy, virtually an instinct of insanity to acquire more pelf by means fair or foul.

It is also witnessed by the visible hike in foreign jaunts and excursions by these worthies and indulgence of glamorous life styles. In the modern jet age, everyone, big or small, is infatuated by materialistic progress, its glamour and glitter.

However, the harsh truth is that under the influence of this advancement the Indians, youth and children in particular, are drifting far away from the age-old traditions of value system.

From times immemorial, the Indian society’s elites, rishis, saints and even righteous rulers laid stress on the impartation of moral education from the nascent stage of a child. Based on different religions’ right perceptions and specific guidelines, the observation of a moral code of conduct was formulated and adopted. These pious teachings were considered crucial for a deep impact on the minds of children and their overall healthy growth.

Discordance of these moral-based guidelines by the present highly debased and dehumanised modern era has torn to shreds the virtuous and chaste fiber of the Indian culture and heritage.

The love for tinsel money has multiplied manifold, totally engulfing our society. Modern gadgets and information technology have entirely changed our complexion conceptions, aspiration and habits. Their use has created thinking more akin to and analogous with the western thought and misplaced ideas.

Motion picture, TV serials and visuals show to the impressionable audience the violence, vulgarity, sexual exploitation and even the rape scenes unabashedly, leave a lasting imprint on the adolescent and teenage minds.

With the passage of time, these impressions change into diehard beliefs, paving the way for our youth to shun the decent values of life, totally impairing their morality. Transparent revealing a scanty dress, worn by the fashion models, considerably arouse sensual feelings.

The recent hype in the murders of kids and children by their friends and classmates are the direct result of violence displayed in the movies.

The immoral behaviour of our elders, their indulgence and involvement even in rapes, malpractices for financial gains, concealing their real incomes from the Income Tax net, too, are the other perverse habits and attitudes adopted in our current highly liberalised economy.

The wrong precedents set up by our worthy political, social and religious leaders for their personal gains and self-aggrandisement, have affected all, especially the younger generation.

The novel techniques of mulcting the public funds and exchequer in collaboration with the corrupt bureaucracy to become superfast rich are being avidly and blindly followed by the young aspirants. The sure result is that every segment of Indian masses, high or low, is falling an easy prey to the greed of tinsel money. The emulation of these malpractices with impunity and gusto, has brought the entire moral infrastructure of the nation on the brink of disaster.

There is no denying the fact, that, while the modern home—sapient boasts of his emancipation from theology and superstitions, yet, he has failed to bring true economic, social and political emancipation of the poor gentry.

Besides, this unquenchable appetite for amassing huge wealth has put to demise the moral code of conduct that transcends all religions and faiths.

Each sane person is bound to concede that though we may exult over the modern progress, yet it has not helped us to shed our intolerance, animosity, repugnance and hostility towards each other.

The most tragic part of this malady is that we have transferred our personal family and sectarian aversions and prejudices to national, racial and religious hostilities.

Is it therefore not more ideal and befitting to observe and conclude that our modern progress, growth and prosperity have turned to be essentially unworthy and retrograde?

Undoubtedly, if the advancement of science technology and economic liberalisation have failed to uplift and upgrade the human instincts and feelings and instead, degenerated our moral fiber and conduct, we are paying very heavy price for our material progress, which has not transformed us to attain spirituality and character, but only to attain material gains, which are transitory ruining the national indirectly.
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Delhi, Rape capital @ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1362445.cms