Individual Liberty vis-a-vis Social Obligation: Accepted, there is no absolute truth in this world, and even opinions differ about the Absolute Self. Truth is dependent on time, space, condition of society and the situation prevailing.Truth changes or at least it has different connotations in different frames of time, space, social condition and other factors. However, different societies of the human race expounded various truths and codes of conduct, and set ideals for the well being of their individual members, families, nations and societies at large in all the four categories of Purusharth - Dharma, Arth,Kaam and Moksh, that is, for making the life meaningful, successful and happy in this world and the world after.Such ideals of a society are found in its history, religious scriptures, mythological stories,etc, and the society feels proud of them.Scriptures of other religions are also replete with such truths and codes of conduct.Such ideals enshrine social obligations for an individual to follow them.
But the increasing emphasis on the concept of personal liberty and individual space in the present time are challenging the need of following these ideals and many people ridicule them. The personal liberty has become so over-riding that the younger generation haughtily questions the deeds and sayings of great leaders like Maryada Purushottam Ram and his wife Sita. They consider supreme sacrifice of illustrious mythological figures like Sibi, Dalip and Dadhichi as foolish acts.Agreed, there may be debates and expostulations over the necessity and wisdom of their sacrifices, but one should not pass one's judgement over their acts considered in isolation; one should see into the import of these stories aimed at establishing high ideals for the society.One should not brush aside these high ideals as irrelevant, unwise or impractical, and hence not required to be followed.The refrain that why only he/she should follow these ideals is nothing but escapist, and not acceptable.Every person should take initiative at his own and need not wait for others to follow them before he/she takes steps in this direction.
Every religious scripture commands its followers to give highest regards to their ancesters and elders.It is also said in Smritis that one Guru is equal to 10 Lecturers, one father to 100 Gurus and one mother to 1000 fathers.The arithmatic is not important; important is the value attached to these elders in Hindu society. There may be exceptions.Parashuram killed his mother at the instance of his father and Arjun killed his guru Dronacharya in the war of the Mahabharat. But these exceptions are to meet extra-ordinary situations and in normal time they cannot be quoted as a rule.
But again the over-emphasised concept of personal liberty and individual space have diminished the value of these ideals. Besides other reasons, this is also responsible for reducing a joint family to a nucleus family, and a clash of interests and ego between wife and husband, and parents and children, each seeking, if not fighting for, his/her own individul space. The serious cosequences are amply perceptible everywhere these days.
I do not wish to undermine the personal liberty and space of an individual, nor do I wish to join either of the two schools of thought advocating the supremacy of Society or Individual, but want to simply request the younger generation to ponder over the contradictory demands of personal liberty/ space and how to strike a golden balance between them. After all, what is the purpose of education? Education aims at making a person a good individual, a good citizen and a good social being.It gives strength and wisdom to successfully face the challenges of life.It teaches how to make one's life beautiful, graceful and successful.The mute question is now as to which way one will achieve these objectives.
