Women’s Reservation Bill: A mile stone in Indian history! My Last Page 08/03/2010 - Adjustments and readjustments in society

With the numbers in the Rajya Sabha decisively tilted in favour of the Women’s Reservation Bill, which is hanging fire for nearly a decade and a half now, India is all set to create history by moving forward with a law reserving 33 per cent of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies. This will, however, leave the ruling Congress-led United Progressive Alliance skating on thin ice for survival for the remaining four years of its term. Parties like the Samajwadis, Bahujan Samaj Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal, which provide crucial outside support to the government, are vehemently opposing the bill.

A bill amending the Constitution of India, as this one will, needs a special two-thirds majority for passage in each House of Parliament.

Calculations, adjustments and readjustments in society

There is calculation involved in every aspect of human life. Interpersonal relationships, business, social issues are all covered without exception. Seeing huge disparities in life, income, standard of living, technology levels and so on in the society makes you wonder whether the above statement has any meaning. Let us analyze case relevant to the point.

There is a shop not far from the main road, but inside a residential locality. The landlord of the shop wanted to raise the rent to Rs.5000/-, from Rs.1500/- per month citing the rent prevailing on the main road for a similar shop. When the shop owner resisted the hike he was evacuated by force. The shop remained closed for about 2 years as there were no takers, and eventually he got it fixed for a rent of Rs.3000/-. However, by that time, the rent for a similar shop commanded Rs.15000/-.

Same commodities like cigarettes, candies and beverages are sold in both the shops. In the shop at residential locality, the customers buy only one or two cigarettes at a time and the shop owner has to wait for an hour to sell a packet of cigarette. Whereas, a person traveling on main road drops in on the roadside shop, and buys a packet in a frequency of 15 minutes on an average. This is in addition to the normal retail sale of a cigarette or two, which is also brisk on main road. Now, we understand the reason for huge disparity in rent, and also in income.

The changes are irreversible

The ‘change’ brought about in a society is an endless process. On a long term basis, this is called evolution. For example, if the main road becomes ‘one-way’, the traffic is diverted on other road or it is closed to traffic due to other reasons, the earlier position gives way to recalculations or new calculations. There are many changes in society, with consequences in life that could not be wished away and are irreversible. The underlying factors of growth and changes in societies are multifarious. In many cases you can’t compute or quantify the effects. The changes are in accelerated phase and continuous. Happiness, satisfaction, peach, pleasure, etc. can only be compared and not computed.

The changes in society form the basis for changes in culture. Religion is only part of the culture, though it is important factor in any culture. Food, dress, arts, fashion, language, family system, political structure, racial mix, education level, income level, religion etc. are all the important factors influenced by the culture, and in turn influence the culture. But, the domination of one of the factors, religion, on human life and society without giving due regard to the changes in culture on account of other factors brings up rigidity in society. Like any other factor religion should also reflect the changes in society. Any resistance to change makes it misfit in the society. The equilibrium in the society is disturbed due to lack of flexibility, continuous adjustments and readjustments on the part of religion.

Adjustments and readjustments

Adjustments and readjustments taking place in a society are based on calculations. After weighing the pros and cons the society weighs the benefits against sacrifices. If the benefits outweigh the sacrifices, the societies slowly lean towards benefits and eventually embrace the changes by making adjustments for growth. If the calculations proved to be wrong, readjustments take place. The frictions arising out of lack of flexibility on the part of religion or religions cause unrest and resentment in the society. When silenced in the name of religion, scriptures and tradition, it leads to ‘disguise’ among the members of the society and makes their integrity questionable. This slippage is justified on account of injustice meted out to the society in the name of religion. The relevance of religion eventually diminishes over a period of time due to impractical and inconvenient theories imposed on the society. The religion, scriptures and tradition were shaped up over a period of time based on the needs of the society. Society is not a slave to tradition. Where there is growth, there is change. By reverse logic, if the change is not accepted, society stops growing. Nothing is permanent in this world except ‘Change’.


Religion is a part of the society and can’t override society

In view of the above realities, it should be understood, “religion is a part of the society and it is inside the society, and not bigger than the society or Government.” The argument “the religion is bigger than the society and there are no borders to religion as it is practiced throughout the world” is unfounded.

You are working in a company, say, as an Accountant. Within the four walls of your house you are the Chief. Others are not superior to you in your house. When the Manager of your company visits your house, he does not become your boss in your house. He can’t dictate terms to you n your personal life.

Religious authority

Therefore it goes without saying that the religious authority has its limits. What is good to one country may not be good to another country. Food, dress, fashion etc. can not be same for a country in arctic region and another tropical country, and hence the customs, culture and religious practices even within the same religion. Religious yard sticks should not be used indiscriminately.

The argument advanced above is to make an impression that religion has only subordinate role in a society. It is bound to undergo changes. Already, there are lot of imbalances in growth between religions and the other underlying factors of culture in the society. The society can’t be forced to resist changes for a long time. The revolutions and evolutions happened in the world can not be undone. The religions can’t be standstill for centuries without changes. Therefore, it is for the religious leaders to introspect into its structure and philosophy. It is essential for the benefit of religion also.

Religious extremism

Religious extremism is the products of religious intolerance. If imbalance within the society is a cause for concern, imbalances among the societies take dangerous proportion in the world. Imbalances within society combined with imbalances among the societies in the world are the challenges that mankind faces today. Therefore, it is imperative, action at national and international levels are very important to combat the evils of fundamentalism and religious extremism.

Pottanna