Keeping up with time

I came across a post on Facebook a couple of days back which highlighted some interesting facts about India. It would make most Indians proud to know that India has the oldest continuous civilization, invented zero, and so on. Honestly, I take no pride in such past glories, because I live in the present. Let’s look at the present.

Just about two weeks back, Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, a crusader of anti-superstitious practices was shot dead. What was his mistake? Perhaps to make people aware that what worked 10000 years ago, will not work in the times we live in. Science has advanced a lot and we need to keep up with time. However, most people still prefer to cling on to the glorious past. And even if some people have formally studied science and follow modern life style, citing tradition as a reason, will continue to do the same, which are perhaps among the social evils. Education should not be obtained so that one can make a living, but one has to be enlightened. I find no room for logic or reasoning, in most of the society. Women are mistreated in the name of tradition and people cannot do away completely with the practices of feudal society.

Here are some my points, supporting my claim. If you have been in India for long enough or aware of some of the Indian traditions, some days it is almost mandated to follow strict dietary restrictions. I find it unfathomable when people obey this selective dietary restriction. I mean, how does the same food become evil on some days and divine on other? Aren’t days of the week, months in a year, created for our own convenience? If something is not sacred on selected days, why indulge in such profane acts on other days? If you are making a living by the modern ways, why insist on following the tradition which is the product of feudal times? If we focused on ethics as an alternative to tradition, would we not be better off? Isn’t it your duty to fix the problems of your parents’ generation, as opposed to continue building on it? Refuse to accept everything that fails the test of common sense. Questioning has often helped mankind make progress, while following something blindly has hampered progress.

And finally, I find it hypocritical when the same people who take pride in the 10000 years of glorious culture, seldom miss a chance to leave Indian shores, with intent to never return. It is about time we as a society become more pragmatic, more logical, more reason oriented. Practice what you preach and preach what you practice. This will certainly make the society a lot better than it is. We ought not to do a lot good, but we ought to do no evil.