Dahi and social transformation
Published by Yazad Jal October 7th, 2004 in StimulantsSocial transformation is very much like preparing dahi (curds / yogurt). First, we need the jaman (bacterial culture). This is really “us” – we who work in the area of public policy / changing mindsets etc (I don’t much like the term “social worker”). This culture is largely elitist. Most social change, including revolutions, has come from the rank of the elite.
We mix the jaman with the milk – the people. The proportions are important here. If we wish to make lots of dahi, just a teaspoon of jaman is not enough. The same way, if we want to influence millions, we need a lot of “us.” Yes, a small group can change the world, but first the group needs to duplicate itself and get more people on board to play the role of jaman.
The milk needs to be of the right temperature, not too cold, not too hot. The same way, the general public needs to be receptive to some extent. We need to gauge the climate for change. Once the jaman is added to the milk, we need to stir it. Campaigns and agitations are needed to create a “buzz” — stir up awareness and generate motivation.
Finally, all that’s left is the most important and the most difficult thing to do.
Wait.
The dahi takes time to get done – leave it be for a few hours. We too need to wait patiently for our work to bear fruit.
I heard this lovely story from Rajni Bakshi over lunch today. This is my version of the story which Rajni herself heard from an old Gandhian, Divendra Bhai. Here is a version I found on the net. (scroll down to the last paragraph)
Hmmm… now that is what I call, Food for Thought!!
Most of societal mindsets/policies stem from three sources:
a. Biological - inbuilt into our genes
b. Semi-Rational Thought
c. “popular/existing” thoughts in society.
Note that c. is circular, and conceivably the most flawed too. It is also apparently the most widespread - accounting for most, if not all, of our mindsets.
The one thing that is good with c. is the one you’ve alluded to in your post: namely they are the products of semi-rational thoughts (source b.) of better beings.
Unfortunately, many times, since these mindsets are semi-rational, even though they come from loftier souls, they tend to be destructive [eg Marxism from Karl Marx, a fellow smarter than most of current humanity]
From a first look at above, one might think hey, all one needs for a perfect society is a yardstick of strict rigor to complete-rationality in public policy. Unfortunately strict-rationality is not possible most often. This might be obvious to some - I shall elaborate this in a blog-post.
Interesting indeed. Should I add we live in interesting times :).
We need to gauge the climate for change.
True, timing is important. Kepler isn’t regarded as much Newton. But when Newton said, “If I have seen farther it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants”; he was refering to Kepler.
Unfortunately, Kepler lived about 400 years before Newton
Aren’t we being too optmistic in assuming an irreversible process of going from milk to curd as our metaphor? The americans actually turned away from liberty toward statism. there is no way to make certain that a freer indian society also won’t turn the other way.
Prakash, you’re taking it too literally.
Plus I don’t think America went the “reverse way” — they moved from a monarchy to a classical liberal state and then on to a left-liberal hotch potch with many stops on the way. It’s like from A to B and then to C. Now C shares some similarities with A, but it is not A.
amol - kepler lived 1571-1630. newton 1642-1727. no 400 years difference .
Yeap ravi,
That was supposed to sound like Newton lived 300 years ago while Kepler lived 400 years ago. You caught me there…
Note to self: Never edit and post comments in a hurry. They echo forever!