We live by strategies. Lord Krishna and even before God Rama have all been great strategists. Kannagi has acted more on emotions, it looks in comparison. Effective strategies have come from the North. If we compare Kautilya with Thiruvalluvar, the former is more strategic whereas the latter is more ethical. The impact of the Northern thought on our minds is very great. Accordingly, self-protection is the fundamental nature of our minds.
We have institutionalized social hierarchy to protect the rich and the powerful. The motive of this system is to protect the individual. At every level a person has some one to boss over and fulfill his egoistic needs. The system has kept the woman at the bottom of its ladder.
To survive this social system of amorality, every one of us quite naturally become amoral ourselves. We know powerful people victimize the powerless to further strengthen themselves. This is an accepted law of amorality. The model of 'social responsibility' is foreign to our mind. Every person born in this sub-continent, no matter to what race, region, caste, class, religion , gender they belong to, is part of this scheme of self-protection. Of late we use the term 'corruption' when we see this quality in government officials, politicians or 'others'. When we live by the same amorality we call it 'necessity.'
Smart individuals ploy, scheme, play multiple games, insinuate, play act and our society permits success only to these strategic people. The colonial encounter has given us words like 'commitment, dedication, sincerity to work, welfare state, equality, mutual respect and impartiality'. We use these words as fine rhetoric. Colonialism has not touched our inner core. Hierarchy has strengthened itself further with these new words. 'English' has become a strategic weapon for social forces to keep them in power.
The best rhetoric we can continuously hear is 'how in foreign countries work atmosphere recognises merit.' We not only reject merit, but manage to paint it as stupid and unimportant. The best IAS officers are almost always given unimportant portfolios. There is something in us that resists honesty in work and honesty in progress. Some individuals always manage to play smart games and strengthen their positions at others' expense.
It could be because of our deep rooted belief system exhibiting in our myths and epics. We advocate strategies to live. In such a case we have to begin to accept our nature. We have to be so alert that anytime any one will let us down. As a concept 'detachment' helps us to live with high alertness.
Janaga Maharaja was considered to be a Raja Rishi who could strategically rule a country and be detached from his power and position as a sage. This is the model our society has given us.
At a materialistic level, detachment becomes a powerful strategy to live in an amoral society. It will reduce our unnecessary stress in social relationships as we are haunted by the fear of being cheated by the 'other' person. 'Detachment' is the remedy given by our past intellectual thought to meet the challenges of social networking.
Instead of taking steps to build an equal and just society our past has prepared us to strategically manage social lives. There lies the point.
Janaga Maharaja was considered to be a Raja Rishi who could strategically rule a country and be detached from his power and position as a sage. This is the model our society has given us.
At a materialistic level, detachment becomes a powerful strategy to live in an amoral society. It will reduce our unnecessary stress in social relationships as we are haunted by the fear of being cheated by the 'other' person. 'Detachment' is the remedy given by our past intellectual thought to meet the challenges of social networking.
Instead of taking steps to build an equal and just society our past has prepared us to strategically manage social lives. There lies the point.
Now, are going to turn ourselves more ethical? Or, are we going to continue with 'detachment' to strategically manage amorality?
