Levels of orthodoxy and balance

Bishaldeep Kakati

(The writer can be reached at deep.kakati99@gmail.com)

It is often quoted “orthodoxy is classy”. And if we take this quote into consideration, relating it with our lifestyle, then we would understand how the vintage modes of survival, be it the cooking style, the dressing sense, the music over the radio, or for that matter of fact the vintage classical cover drive of Indian Cricket Team’s former captain Rahul Dravid etc, all had something unique and distinctive about it. Thus, even in the modern era, when we try to design our lifestyle, we tend to carry within ourselves a bit of orthodoxy, so as to keep the very essence of a particular thing balanced with the globalized version of that same thing.

However, when the orthodoxy levels tend to cross the standard limits, or goes beyond a certain point, then it is the time, when it actually creates a whole lot of issues. And actually these issues although do not seem that thought-provoking, but we cannot even deny the fact that they can actually disrupt the complete normal functioning of a society. Thus in order to create the salubrious scenario, we must create a bridge between customs and traditions and modernization.

The conspicuous fact is that, “Change is inevitable.” And this is something which cannot be stopped by any means. Therefore, when there is change, it carries with it a diversified version of it, the impact of which is felt in each and every sphere of life. But if we try analysing how certain practices or beliefs got developed or came into existence, we would understand that the amount of knowledge, information and the scenes prevailing at that particular period of time, were actually consequential in developing those beliefs. However, if rigidity is maintained while carrying these thoughts, practices or beliefs forward, that is when the clash of synchronization between the past and the present occurs.

Taboos such as girls during their menstruation process are impure, sex education at the teenage level is not correct, in certain cases, meeting of two individuals just prior to their marriage day is not practiced etc., have all traveled from one age to another. But if we confabulate about the current scenario, notions circulating among a class of people like staying late night over social media is unethical, a girl and a boy conversing late at night is immoral, a boy and a girl strolling along a dark lane is horrendous, an individual donning a beach wear is against the societal norms etc., are some of the irritating hypotheses that actually disturb the mindset of the younger generation, who are more or less reason oriented and rational in their approach.

In fact, with the advent of science and technology, the majority section of the society has realized that in order to maintain the social balance, it is really crucial to let go those old beliefs which were illogical and at the same time, accept the new ones which are practical and reason oriented. Having said that, it doesn’t mean that the society as a whole, has discarded all the vintage notions and accepted all the new ones. For example, the age-old idea of treating the disease of rickets among neonates by making them come into direct contact with early morning sun rays is still followed to an extent till today, for the simple reason that this process has work wonders in curing the problem of rickets since time immemorial. In simple terms, if we try to explain this, it basically means that an idea based on logic or fit to survive would anyone remain in existence, irrespective of it being old or new, since Charles Darwin said that the things in this mortal world are based on the concept of, “Survival of the fittest.”

However, now it is high time we created such scenarios that have the actual potential to establish the much required balance between both the parties, i.e. the over orthodox parties and the flexible ones. In fact, in this regard, we should not also forget that it is only about roughly 10-30% of the individuals residing in the society who are actually disturbing the entire balance by not trying to amend their primeval thoughts and beliefs.

Nevertheless, the good news is that the solutions of these disturbing issues lie within the issues itself. For instance, if a girl and a boy are walking via a lane late at night, a preconceived notion should not get developed in the mind that they are walking through that lane only to indulge themselves in some kind of activities opposed to the public policy. In fact, the same boy and the girl might be brother and sister, friends or colleagues moving for some particular kind of work. And if a particular lane is dark, it is not their fault that there are no street lights available on that particular lane. Added to this, if two friends of opposite sex meet and shake their hands or embrace themselves with a warm hug, even that at all cannot be considered to be immoral for the very reason that the society itself is a kind of coexistence. So certain things should not be apprehended before knowing the actual truth. Similarly youths using social media till late night, or a girl traveling in the vehicle of her male friend should not be always comprehended to be unethical. Along with this, things like dressing sense, taste of music or sensitive issues like restrictions imposed upon a girl during her periods, sex education to teenagers must also be dealt logically and rationally.

Therefore, that particular section of the society should not directly declare a thing unholy only because it is against their old-fashioned thoughts. Of course, if the youths commit anything wrong or immoral, they must be corrected or prevented from doing the same, but moral policing upon them based on no logic would simply have a depreciative effect upon the healthy running of a society, since youths form a major part of it. In short, there has always been a tendency to put allegations upon the youths for almost everything they do, but these are the same youths who never forget to maintain their customs and traditions as and when required. The example of which is evident from the massive protests led by the students against the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019) to save their mother land from being destroyed. So instead of blaming the youths, a change in the mindset is actually the need of the hour.