Sunday, May 1, 2005

Modernization - a misunderstood term

What is modernization in our life? Forget about economy, industrialization, armed forces etc. Let us talk it in terms of the impact it has on our lives. Does it just mean sporting an attire from the latest in fashion trends, moving around in the technology marvels called cars, visiting the pubs and partying late into the late or does it have more to it.
Well, I believe there is more to it and infact some of the things we see as modern does not fit the bill to be modern. Does it mean that a man sporting a dhothi, or a woman in a saree or for that sake any traditional attire is not modern. It isn't so. Modernization of a person comes more from his outlook on say accepting widow remarriage, love marriage, the mindset to accept a woman as his manager, opposing infanticide, removing the notion of racism and untouchability from his mind, not forgetting to respect the elders, for that matter any individual, to abstain from backstabbing and jealosy, refraining from indulging in gossip, respecting a person's individuality and privacy, respecting the physically challenged, helping them but at the same time not showing pity, and so on. The list goes on and on. This is what is meant my modernization. It is more to do with the thoughts and the perspective with which a person views the world.
A person appearing modern from the ways he dresses, behaves is misleading. This is not to say that such a person does not have such outlook as presented above nor am I in anyway undermining the importance of attire and behaviour. It is just that it is more than just that.
As usual, please feel free to comment.

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