For proper understanding of his vision should leave aside the controversies associate with the concept of „Nation‟ from the point of view of Political Science. Written by Dr. Amal Kumar Mallick
“Rural
Development and Vivekanada’s Concept of National Line”
Rural Development means
bringing about changes (not radical changes but gradual ones) in the existing
situation in the positive direction for the betterment of that situation with
respect to different constituents of the situation comprising mainly the rural
people and rural environment. It necessarily involves deliberate attempts by
individual or group or agency – all of which naturally imply the existence of
human beings of varying nature – each having his or her unique or
characteristics. So achieving something
positive, constructive, concrete and lasting the MAN is the last word, not to
speak of being the first word.
In
1947 when the British left India, there was abject poverty among the huge
population of the country, the macroscopic majority of which belonged to the
rural areas. DEVELOPMENT became the gigantic task before the nation and the
national government became the natural agency for undertaking that challenging
task.
In
this process many existing Theories, developing Experiments, emerging Models
etc. acted as guidelines for all-round development of the country in all
conceivable manners. Mention may be made in these respects about the Soviet
Concept of Planning, American Concept of 4-H Club, Rabindranath’s Patisar-Sheleiaidah-Sriniketan
Experiment, Gandhiji’s Experiment etc. referring specifically to Rural
Development. A short sketch about the scenario in Pre-independent India has
been presented by Swami Prabhananda (2003).
No
doubt Swami Vivekananda’s vision of Rural Swami Vivekanada’s vision of Rural
Development is based on the spirit of India, which can be traces back to the
days of Mahabharata when Vivekananda says “My ideal is growth, expansion
and development on national line” (C.W. III P. 193), the guideline of
developing future India becomes automatically defines. National Line aspect
of this statement is of major importance for various reasons, as mentioned
below. For proper understanding of his vision should leave aside the
controversies associate with the concept of ‘Nation’ from the point of view of
Political Science in the context pf division of India on the basis of Two-Nation
Theory for gaining Independence, The Concept-National Line is to be
equated with the characteristics of the people of a particular country. Again
particular region of a country might have specific characteristics so far as
the people are concerned. Undoubtedly, people’s characteristics do vary, but
these are many commonalities, so to say with reference to their needs,
attitude, values, beliefs etc. In Vivekananda’s conceptual framework the
motivation for need satisfaction (which is necessarily the driving force behind
every human behavior, as per Psychological Theories) can be well-fitted. Development
in broad sense of the term (which includes , besides economic Development,
Psychological Development, Social Development and ever Spiritual Development)
must have to be person-specific at individual level people specific at group or
society level, region specific at geographical level. This is true for Rural
Development, urban development, Tribal Development, Hill Area Development,
Community Development etc.
Swami
Vivekananda’s utterance of National Line should open the eyes of the
Development Planners to the facts that (a) no foreign Model of Development will
be able to yield the fruits of development programme for the indigenous people
and (b) all such programmes need to be People’s programme in the sense that the
concerned people might feel totally identified with the same to ensure their
participations therein.
India
from the immemorial past was, also is at the present point of times and will
remain for many centuries to come a land of rural conglomeration. There is no
doubt about it. So Rural Development will always occupy the lion’s share of
India’s development initiatives. Vivekananda has not suggested any model for
Development but has formulated a principle guideline for development programme
where only people’s participation will ensure its success. Strict adherence to
it in any country at any time is the answer, (to a large extent) to the ever
growing problem of non-satisfactory achievement of development goals – a
complaint occasionally heard in every developing country.
Relevant Readings
1.
Swami
Prabhananda – Swami Vivekananda’s Vision of Rural Development, 3rd
ed. Narendrapur: Ramakrishna Mission Lokasiksha Parishad, 2003.
2.
Swami
Vevekananda – Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Vol. 3 [C.W. III] (Published
by Udbodan)
Dr.
Amal Kumar Mallick, Retired Faculty of Agricultural Extension, Bidhan Chandra
Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohonpur
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