Sociology- A K Jasu

Sociology of Human Values and Rural Development

Surprisingly, in spite of vast distances between the societies and the races the fundamental values remained more or less similar in all the social and religions of the world. For example, truth has been propagated as a bedrock on which the structure and function of human society rests. Everyone agrees that it is fundamental to all values. A society or system cannot survive even for a short while. When all of its members tell lies for all the time, on the other hand, the system survives since most of its members adhere to truthfulness in greater parts of their life. Written by Dr. A. K. Jasu

In every society and in all spheres of human activity, we require some guideline and convention so that human existence can be peaceful, prosperous and progressive. Since the diversity of human activities is so vast, some basic principles propounded and practiced by the saints and apostles from the beginning of civilization are adopted and often universalized. These principles through constant use in the course of time become laws. When these laws become a part and parcel of the identity of a race or nation, they take the form of values which are respected, revered and conserved by that society.

In the ages gone by when religious life and the secular life were to a large extent inseparable, the values came from religion and the followers adopted these in their religious and social practices.

Surprisingly, in spite of vast distances between the societies and the races the fundamental values remained more or less similar in all the social and religions of the world. For example, truth has been propagated as a bedrock on which the structure and function of human society rests. Everyone agrees that it is fundamental to all values. A society or system cannot survive even for a short while. When all of its members tell lies for all the time, on the other hand, the system survives since most of its members adhere to truthfulness in greater parts of their life. So truth is a value universal. Sri Ramakrishna has said that practice of truthfulness alone can take us across this mundane world to the shores of eternity and declared that, ―Truthfulness is the penance of Kaliyug.

Similarly, love for the fellow being is another value preached and practiced by all societies.

In fact love is the one force which binds human being together: ―Love thy neighbour as Thyself‖ as preached by Christ. The Indian scriptures teach ―Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam‖. The Holy Mother Sarada Devi has given its a universal shape by declaring- ―Make the entire world your own‖. Love induces sacrifice and service and hence Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda have expanded this loving service providing us opportunity for real worship.

Faith is perhaps another value which societies and religions all over the world cherish and practice. Faith in the Supreme Being, and faith in oneself. Is the foundation for learning and any meaningful action? This Shraddha‘or faith and self-confidence helps in progressing forward. It is faith also motivates us to stand upright against injustice and cruel forces.

Compassion, purity, self-control, charity, forgiveness, boldness, etc. are other values cherished and .nurtured by every society. For any society to survive or progress the majority of the people have to accept and follow these values intrinsically. However when development work progresses without considering the socio-religious realities, ways of life of the people, their culture and other ground realities, there is a chance of chaos and failure of developmental schemes and programmes. Since independence hundreds of schemes have failed due to the neglect of realities of masses. Thereby the socio economic condition of the rural people remains the same. Pumping in of resources without preparing the human mind, from topmost rungs in administration to poor beneficiaries, dazzles and confuses everyone in the chain, leading to disregard for law, practicing of dishonest means etc. as natural corollaries.

When we embark on any programme which affects human beings or human societies, one cannot ignore that fact that the human beings are essentially creatures who are not satisfied with more food, shelter and clothing. The inner nature always aspires to go beyond these. It is the system of values which prevent him from going into realms of destruction and perversion and helps him to more forward towards the sublime. Even in the poverty ridden environments it is value system which prevents people from going berserk.  We need more food, more economic wealth, better facilities but certainly not at the cost of erosion of human values. Therefore, after experiments with purely materialistic ideas towards the development, the time has come when methods of increasing food production, etc. have to be integrated with the participation of people and give respect to their ground realities in their pursuit for improvement in quality of life and not bringing about only cosmetic development. Similarly, education has to ensure the awareness of this real development. Management of finance has to imbibe these principles of expenditure for creation of human assets and not for luxury with dazzling gadgets. Swami Vivekananda, when he propounds rural development cautious us on this score. Swamiji has said, ―The basis of all systems, social or political rests upon the goodness of men. No nation is great or good because parliament enacts this or that but because its people are great and good. Men are valuable than all the wealth of the world‖.

Our society, especially rural society has innate spiritual culture, our task therefore is to give them support to progress materially through increase in food production, education & health, etc. without disturbing their value system. Let not consumerism, selfishness, corruption, etc. creep into the rural society when we are trying to do rural development. Rather through the ideals of our great sages, strengthen their faith in the human values along with other development.