Trends-Issues-Problems-Challenges
A trend is a general direction of movement for a group/ community / society . For example, after the emergence of the middle class with more disposable income in the hands of the youngsters, consumerism as buying things which one does not need, with money one does not have, to impress upon people one does not know has emerged as a major trend. Even a cursory glance at the events from 26/11 to the recent rattle by Varun Gandhi in an electioneering campaign proves the height of jingoism we Indians are capable of. We rush to greet the NSG jawans with a ‘Jai Bharat Mataji’ and feel euphoric that we have scuttled the alleged evil designs of our territorial neighbours or we feel good about inflammatory speeches. The jingoism has led us to suggest militarization as a viable alternative to any problem. The military to be mobilisised on and off to whip up sentiments and keep Kashmir as a real topic that is bothering all. Police have to be pressed into the High court if the lawyers were angry at the idiosyncratic behavior of an individual. In the same manner one sights uniformed guards at the gates of educational institutions saving nothing. When a college increases its fee structure we grumble over the hike; but in reality we have accepted that one should pay for the education one gets. Is it not the obligation of the government to provide education to its people? Similarly we mix up entertainment with amusement and assume one is the other. As long as we are not directly affected – which is a myth – we ‘mind’ our business without having any concern for the society. So, emerging trends are to be understood by one and all.
At the same time, an issue is to be differentiated from a trend necessitating a debate on collective and dominant psyche we have. When an issue is presented, the immediate response would be the attempt to understand it with one’s own experience however biased it is. When counter and diagonally opposing views are presented one gets confused and looks for clarification. Hence the debate to take a stand.
Unable to bear the debt burden the farmers of Vidharba region of Maharashtra committed suicide, the Finance Minister of our country was begging at the stock market to maintain the upswing of the shares to benefit the minority which grapples with shares and stock market. What should be the concerns of the government: life issues or lifestyle issues? Should cricket be promoted with such vengeance that Sachin Tendulkar’s elbow injury was presented as a more serious issue concerning the life and death of Indians? Or do we debate about the ‘real players’ in such a corporatized event which is called ODIs and conclude: if we love cricket let us play cricket and let us not watch cricket. If we could debate whether we really love cricket, then do we know who are the members of the Indian Women cricket team? Do we love the game or the individual players of the team who serve as brand ambassadors for MNC products?
When the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) students went on a rampage against reservation at the so called prestigious and hyped educational institutions of excellence with the slogan “ No reserve, only deserve” the students from other institutions did not come out with a pointed rejoinder condemning the attitude of the medicos. Had they debated the issue, they would have understood that reservation is not a concession on the marginalised students bestowed by the hegemonic group, but a right to be demanded by the vulnerable section of the society.
A problem needs a solution and could be categorised according to HRD grid of quartets with the 1. Important and Urgent, 2. Important and Not urgent, 3. Not important and Urgent and 4. Not important and Not urgent. Societal problems are so complex that simple solutions cannot work wonders. For example; the normal solution suggested to eradicate casteism is: Students should not be asked to fill in the name of the caste when they apply for admission into the educational institutions. Such measures will never eradicate caste even in the long run. Similarly problems are to be understood by the domains where they occur so that workable solutions could be arrived at. A dam which displaces millions of Adivasis is a social problem of life and habitat but normally we seek a judicial solution. Likewise academic problems are offered financial solutions.
The challenges of the society are to be addressed by all of us. Nearly one per cent of the world’s population are forced out of their homes. The number keeps growing with the growth in disaster-induced-development. There are unresolved conflicts in around 30 countries, pampered by nations whose economy is dependant on the sale of arms. Challenges are to be addressed from the perspective and a blend of 1. Need based approach and 2. Rights based approach. Corruption and criminalization of our political system are other challenges yet to be addressed by us. Social exclusion of the marginalized and the broken section of the society could be taken as an example of unattended challenge.
Teflon psyche seems to have settled on most of us; an attitude of non-stick mentality to the happenings around us. The students constitute the civil society as opposed to the state society which has the support of the police, judiciary, bureaucracy and the rich. The students have to play the role of a facilitator and become men and women for others to create an egalitarian society. ( Courtesy Prof. James Sundararaj)