What do we need to understand about a just society? What is the best way to secure our happiness?
The answer to these questions cannot be defined under an unjust system, because the given questions need to be justified through our ethical and moral judgments. Happiness in the 21st century reflects our material tendency without which the identification of our life would be falsified. That fear and suspicion make our mental alienation from being a member of Ramarajya. Interestingly, the era of globalization has replaced the idea of cooperative life and welfarism.
Ramarajya: a false aspiration or a pragmatic dream
Ramarajya can be understood as a society governed by the ideas of Lord Rama, however, the possibilities of such a society in our century largely depends upon a strategic balance between the unlimited desires of politicians and the entitlements of the people. The evolution of Ramarajya in India dating back to the history of Ramayana, where Lord Rama used to tackle his kingdom in the light of happiness, prosperity and justice. That nostalgic idea might be misunderstood as a false aspiration due to the tremendous flow of negative individualism and the loss of morality. Our great freedom fighter, Mahatma Gandhi went on for the formation of Ramarajya according to the needs of the then Indian society. His intellectual edifice denotes the curiosity for just social order, for instance, Gandhian philosophy magnifies the system of Gram Swaraj and cooperative social life which has been accepted as a plausible way for Ramarajya.
India in the 21st century: problems and remedies
Modernization was emerged in Europe as a child of the industrial revolution and continues till date in different ways. The cooperative endeavor in India took a serious downturn after the establishment of British imperialism, paradoxically they imposed the idea of modernity and destroyed our indigenous culture. The degradation of women’s rights and justice shows the failure of the system for improving the condition of women. With the rapid urbanization and criminalization of politics, the hopes are deteriorating, dramatically the government left no chance to organize a just and cooperative social life. Accountability and transparency are the two significant remedies for the present crisis, the ruler must be guided by popular sovereignty through the process of participation and grievance redressal. The local political structure should be organized with administrative and judicial power, indeed the localization would be the best panacea for our moral and political crisis. Without the development of women, the dream for a just and prosperous society seems like a nightmare.
Development through self -reliance
Ramarajya stands against the dependency of the peoples over their own ruler. Only the sick and women were given the fair chance, apart from that the individual initiatives were respected. India in the 21st century destabilized its own civilizational apparatus and initiatives. Development in India refers to the development through the policy of the government, but it should be seen as a product of self- realization and self- assessment. Self- reliant India would be the best place for Ramarajya where individuals will be guided by their morality and ethical enlightenment. Ultimately, this process would lead to organizing a self- sustained society.
Although our dreams are too eternal and ethical, we should not follow the path of power and authority. The beauty of human happiness lies in the reduction of state intervention and improvement in the quality of life through political freedom and socio-economic justice. Ramarajya is a fair society that represents our political culture however, the just social order would be flourished in an open and democratic environment.
Author: Subrat Kumar Ratha
He is currently pursuing MA Political science at Pondicherry University. His areas of interest cover political philosophy, Indian politics and traditions.
Connect Subrat on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/subrat.ratha.566
Thanks for reading!!
Comments