Ghandhism – what is it? To be simple teachings of M K Ghandhiji who played an instrumental role in let india attain freedom. His ways , approach to anything was completely different. We know much about him via history texts. Here I would like to concentrate why we need to incorporate his views in our working culture, understanding.
1. As an Economist , when I view the where the world stands today- Every country is just busy to increase their incomes at a faster rate (GDP Growth). And all this has been done without any consideration for our environment.
One example will make it clear. In the globalised world today, there are talks of level playing field as Thomas Freedom talks in his book ‘The World is Flat’ now the scenario has become skewed towards EMEs ( Emerging Market Economies) like china, india , Brazil, South Africa and other nations. These nations are producing the same product at a factor of cost what it cost much in developed countries.
Result -exploitation of resources at a greater pace. Poors are still exploitated. Though they get job only beacause they provide cheap labour. For example for every I-pod sold for $250 a chinese labour gets only $8 . While the share of others non labour is much higher. Who deserves share equal to their contribution does not get the fair share.
Globalisation have fastened the pace of rapid consumption.that needs intensive use of minerals.Our techniques are still based on fossil fuel consumption.
2. IPCC report in 2007 made it crystal clear to awake to the changing environment sign.otherwise everybod will suffer.
But it is the rich , big economies with large amount of pollution have done huge damage to our environment and poor countries like Maldives and several others are at a brink of extinction. The sea level rise will flood these island nations. These innocent countries are goin to pay the price,
3. Although Bottom of the Pyramid promise a greater potential for global consumer companies. They have started making consumer goods for them even for Re 1.their packagings are plastic only that pollutes environment. In less developed countries the sanitation techniques are very poor. They end up in transferring the waste only from land to rivers, rivers to sea .
4.The whole edifice of Human development is being built on income parameters that require more and more to earn no matter how. A proverb will make meaning more clear-it does not matter whether it is a black cat or white cat , until it catches rats.
We are concerned about cathing rats irrespective of techniques applied.
5. Are we selfish? yes, to a greater extent , we are.
Our rivers like Ganges the most amzing river of the world whose water never spoils ..what happened. It has been made completely spoilt. Scientists are sugesting not to drink its water as it contains pollutants more than the permissible limit.we have added loads of sewage, wastage of our cities are dumped.i find no city in india ,where Ganga passed tangently, does not add pollutants to it.
6. Quality of air in our regions of most developed region too is extremely poor.our fuel guzzling vehicles have made it unfit to inhale.we have not spared anything even underground water is polluted. You have to use a good quality water purifier to make it fit for drinking. What about the poors who can not afford a water purifier? Why poor will be suffering from malaria, dengue, diarrhoea and several disease that simply originate because of lifestyle pattern of some rich elites..
It is the poorer section of society that has suffered the most and still at greater danger of risk. Their future is insecure. Development has done some good to riches at double the cost to poors.
Gandhiji’s Teachings are a way foreword to take the lagged behind section of our society. Sustainable development talks for future generations. We have to be concerned about the present generations too, who are paying the price.
Think on it. you will be feeling more guilty. There is a whole magnum opus that could be written to intensify the argument.
At last, I can only say that gandhiji’s teachings are much more relevant today.instead of remembering him as a regular convention it would be better if we follow his ides.it will make impact on society -gains to poors and our mother earth.
samartyagi 