22. Knowledge Society and contemporary world

Knowledge Society and contemporary world

Introduction

Knowledge society has become household term. But deep transformative current for production of knowledge, its management and dissemination needed to be understood. Knowledge accumulated by mind-body experiences of human beings, day by day, private experiences by private experiences. any society is itself exist on some kind of knowledge in form of culture which consists recognised common aspects of society like art(sculpture,dance,music,painting,architecture),education,custom,norms,beliefs,ideas.  

How knowledge society evolved

-If human took their sense experiences at face value, they would be confronted by unintelligible mass of impressions – of colors, lights, sounds, smells, feelings and tastes –that were meaningless. In order to overcome this problem, humans begin to organise the world around him into phenomena. For example a distinction may be made between animate and inanimate things and so on. Further differentiation and categorisation of knowledge made necessity to codify it.

- Information accumulated and used simultaneously but when the concept of sell of knowledge production and distribution come in vogue, knowledge society manifested.

- Now, We are witnessing the emergence of a need for clarification of aims of knowledge society as a project of society.

Comparison among information society (past), knowledge society and intelligent society (future)-

An information society is a society where the creation, distribution, uses, integration and manipulation of information is a significant economic, political, and cultural activity. In knowledge society, information is treated as commodity having economic value. Here Knowledge is created, organised ,processed and analysed with specialised skills. Created knowledge is compartmentalised for different sectors of economy and social life with particular purposes. Institutionalization of knowledge processing, knowledge creation and dissemination is prime in knowledge society. It is harbinger of a society which will be oriented to full use of all potentialities of available knowledge which we can call intelligent society.

Welfare state, Neoliberal democratic regime and Knowledge society

-       Equality in knowledge access, sharing and application

-       Role of state in facilitating open and free environment of knowledge sharing and governing network through legislation, capacity building and infrastructure development.

-       Skill development- embed knowledge in ICT network

-       Massive open online courses is the best way for dissemination of educational content economically to larger populous.

Knowledge society and techno -world economy

Any society seek progress in contemporary world through the use of technology and applied science.All basic infrastructure communication, transportation,electricity and housing all depend upon the technological developmental stage where industrialization and urbanization is manifestation of the society moving towards the solid knowledge based scientific world.

Knowledge society and homogenising culture 

Knowledge itself is search for universal facts, ordered phenomenon and all accepted concepts and explanations. In this case, internet playing a great role to bring all societies and culture at common platform of interaction. Definitely a amalgam of cultures and values will be more and more throughout the world like in language, clothing, food habits and other aspects of life. For the time being, we are seeing increased reflective and reflexive activities by local forces against global homogenisation. It is usually called Anti-Globalization wave.

Knowledge society and promise to change the world

-          How the change come ? orthodoxy ,parochialism,obscurantism,primodialism and conservativeness is inevitable after a period of time where society became stagnant.then the new ideas bring newness and creativity in society .

-          Global stakes in application of knowledge

-          Moral and ethical reasoning based on knowledge

Development   and knowledge society debate-

-Are we progressing when we are transitioning from previous structures and form of societies to knowledge based society?

-Is knowledge society is novel and unprecedented idea

-Human rights and freedom enshrined into laws is not the whole story of human progress rather human capabilities must be at place. It means capacity of the society to exercise the laws in practice of which possibility is less imagined in a society completely transformed in knowledge society.

-Overemphasising and over relying upon knowledge considering it panacea

21. “For a Bright Future, India Needs Economic Patriotism and Techno-nationalism”

Introduction

We, as a nation, have a dream, vision and goal of all encompassing sustainable development which fulfil all citizens’ social, economic and political and cultural needs and expectations. Our leaders of freedom struggle had a dream, founding fathers of our constitution had a vision and before current political leadership there is a set goal, what is common among all is nothing but our bright future-a developed India. What should be done is topic of debate and discussion in political landscape with different inputs by bureaucrats, economists, businessmen, social scientists, philosopher, common man and others. The 18^th and 19^th centuries are witness of industrial revolution based on technology innovation which brought rapid growth and gave impetus to overall development of some European countries, Japan, US and others. Thus that era was related economic and techno-nationalism or chauvinism at extreme. Though we know in that era the rapid development in colonial powers depended on other factors like colonialism and imperialism. Now the similar zeal and efforts are needed for India to be developed. The economic independency and prosperity supplemented and complemented by technology advancement and prowess. The intellectuals have consensus that both are needed but differ in the extent and emphasis of economic pursuance and technology advancement.

What is economic patriotism and why it is required for bright future?

The love for one’s country through showing respect, trust, confidence and likings for national economy, its structure, its functions and produce. Is economic-patriotism is demand for this time only, does not it required normally as a duty by country’s citizen. Our economy is not going through very good time in terms of trade, stability, capital investment etc. The broadening current account deficit showing that we are more dependent on foreign goods like Chinese dumping practices and exports than local goods which is major economic concern. The inflation causing interest rate high, consequentially low economic growth due to low capital investments. We are welcoming foreign capital and investment to fill the gap created by lack of local investment. The recent ‘make in India’ slogan is showing the unquenchable thrust for foreign direct investment. That is why a demand of patriotism is showcased by intellectuals to Indians so that they save to invest, purchase local manufactured good, and do more efforts to curb inflation. Inflation can be speculator, aided by black marketing and hoarding in which citizens have major role to play to check such inflationary practices. The vision of Indian government of financial inclusion can only be realised by citizen’s initiative filled by love for country with trust in banking infrastructure.

Why techno-nationalism?

Though the spirit related to nationalism have been changing in content and context historically. But, at large, it is severe and more intense than patriotism at any time. This is directing, attached with technology, towards technological revolution or atleast radical innovation in techno arena. The role of technocrats, scientists should be energetic, robust and vigorous. The contribution of ISRO in world space market, automobile and other manufacturing sector to reap the benefit of demographic dividend by providing and absorbing blue collar workers. The FMCG sector has vast potential and large market which can make ‘Make in India’ vision realised. The government plans and schemes like NIMZ, SEZ, NANO cities, Industrial corridors and Smart City concept, all are waiting techno-nationalism.

How both are interrelated?

The economy with a ride on advanced technology will be promise to bright future and prosperity. Without technological innovation, less efficient way of growth will cause natural resources exploitation and consequently all development will be unsustainable. To compete with other advanced nations of the world ,we need international standards in technology.

20. Indian Middle class-harbinger of modernisation

Conceptual Framework as introduction:

Without having a clear understanding of middle class, its composition, true characteristics ,extent of homogeneity ,group psychology and its contemporary ideological orientation  ,We are not able to reach at any conclusion whether they  adopting ,adapting and promoting modernization. Who consist Indian middle class is primarily most challenging question before us to start a debate whether this particular class is harbinger of modernization, engendering modernity indigenous or only imitating any western or other specific model of so called modernity.In this way, we will also able to answer" are differences within the middle class ,in income ,education ,and cultural and social capital,so wide as to render moot any ideological or behavioral coherence to this group. 

What Indian middle class consist of?

The recent development debate of India brought the middle class in limelight and it became cliché in media, intellectual arena, political landscape and in free market advertising agenda. Though till now, middle class delimitation criterion is still enclosed behind vagueness. Even Concept of class is evolving and changing from time of Marx, Weber, and J. Schumpter to Dahrendorf. In the same manner, Indian middle class is also changing in its composition and characteristics from pre independence to post independence. In India, Middle class is not a homogeneous group. Broadly it can be divided in Rural Middle class and Urban Middle class.
we are triggering a very robust debate over who in India actually belongs to the "middle class". its size,composition ,and political and social behavior.This debate with serious implications for economic growth and governance since a range of scholarship in diverse settings has shown that the middle class is an important driver of a country's economic ,political and social development.To find out the middle class ,we can rely on a concept of self identification of class status.whether Indians actually believe and behave if they are part of middle class.Self identification as middle class is expectedly more prevalent in Urban but the share of rural individuals claiming to be middle class is also remarkably high.Three structural changes occurring in India -service sector led economic growth, rapid expansion of urbanization and higher education- are undoubtedly resulting in a massive expansion of the middle class,however defined.The political  and social consequences will depend on whether this middle class emerges simply as a social formation or as a self conscious political force ,whether progressive or possibly even reactionary.

In rural India, it consists of moderate land owners to working class in Urban areas. In urban, we can include Blue collar workers, public sector employees, small business men, services sector employees called white collar working group in middle class. This middle class possess educational and technical qualifications. Occupational functions and employment status are significant criterion. In pre independence era, the newly formed middle class was very assertive, intellectual, champion of freedom struggle and protagonist for social reforms. Now, the members of this class are cultural entrepreneurs leading a project of self-fashioning.

Indian middle class: self-appointed spearhead of modernity

If modernity have historical and conceptual closeness with westernisation, then Indian middleclass has gone far to adopt and spread the modernisation discourse despite all heterogeneity, internal differences and contrast. This class is adopting western values and culture unambiguously and has became cheerleader of westernisation specifically in urban. This class is moving towards homogenous lifestyle like similar food habits, domestic chores, festival celebration. The prime reason is of availability of similar variety and quality of products marketed by the same media throughout the country.Westernisation, macdonalisation and coca-colisation are few terms given to the concerned phenomenon.inspite of different customs and traditions regionally among the members of middle class, We can see commonality of belief and ideology. The convergence of beliefs lies in similar educational and job aspiration and marriage alliances. The ideology convergence is visible like consumer culture.A blind faith in new products, brands and variety of products which leads to purchase for the sake of purchase. The consumer also attach his personality with the latest updated market products under consumerism.the same ideology compel one and his class to redefine modernity in terms external make up of body with trendy clothing and products,use of latest technology electronics items,travel in advanced transport system.but if this is not  modernity then what it is?

What is modernity?how it is in contrast with modernsm?

Universalism, achievement and individualism trinity encompasses the modernity which is in sharp contrast with modernism.Self identity is at center stage of modernity and class or community identity is at back stage when we discuss modernity. The most real being, the human being is at its essence. The harnessing of the potential of free culture is core agenda under modernity. Here we can recall, if class identity, solidarity and consciousness make the middle class then definitely it is contradiction with modernity.under modernity,the complusiveness of repetition disappears.this allows the individuals to negotiate about conditions of social relations,norms and ethics. Tradition no longer constitutes the basis of individuals’s decisions and actions. Modernity is a free and open environment conducive to multidimensional growth of individual personality with independent thinking and abundance of life opportunities.In nutshell ,individual become ,with modern outlook,lessreliant on tradition and express one’s views drawn from personal experiences and judgement.he needs privacy equally though have a democratic,fair and non-discriminatory attitude. After summarising traits of modernity we are ready to find these in middle class.

How middle class goes in different direction which not reaching to modernity?

-          Conservative and narrow utilitarian ethos with nostalgia of community life

-          Do not respect individual rights

-  Narcissitic characteristics and superiority complex ( ex: deliberate cheerfull faces on social  media,hinglish speaking tendency)

-          Still not a class and under process of formation with unclear direction

-          Propagate multiculturalism but discomfort during interacting with alien cultural values and ethos

-          Trapped in high expectations and limited resources conundrum and affected with underlying frustration of struggle full life

-          Imitative rather than creative and independent in thinking (consumer culture)

-          Rightist ideology- seen by whole world in new parliamentary election when this class voted in favour of  right wing party negotiating with secularism for a shortcut to development ,which is more dreamy than actual.

Few examples where it fails

1.      Article 377

2.      Universal civil code.

3.      Communal riots

4.      No equal status to women-patriarchal mindset

-    Negligent of problem and lack of awareness of underdevelopment of peripheral states like J & K , North east . AFSPA still prevalent in these states.

Conclusion: waiting for your feedback

19.Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind

What is science and religion where the two meets?

Science is an unbeatable effort of man, invincible desire and utopian conception to order the nature in his theories, ideas and concepts. He wants to comprehend the nature for its current behavioral and phenomenal understanding and future prediction so that he can use and exploit the nature and its resources for civilizational survival and progress. The rational and scientific approach is outcome of human’s inclination towards rationality to overcome his awe, fear and ignorance of the world.

Religion ,very abstract, have definitional range from personal faith ,collective Conscience, ideological interpretation for social groups, means to sacred way of life for some individual to path to salvation and heaven for others. Religion is subjective as religious enlightenment has to be felt by one's own experience. Unless and until religious experience is felt by an individual himself, he cannot reap any pleasure out of it. The moral and religious rules are allied and have to be followed by individuals in appropriate ethical situations. It is being viewed as false consciousness and illusion by Marx. Whatsoever, but it is reflection of social reality as seen empirically. Objective observation and subjective understanding of society tell that religion is necessity of human life.Religious truths remain essentiality the property of the individuals who experience and realize them through their own inward soul and mind and not through the external manifestation of things which have a physical behavior

Both science and religion are integral parts of human life expresses external and internal aspects, moreover two side of same coin. Thought there are some differences between which can be outline to show contrasting ideas. Science deals with the world that we know the material world that is comprehended by the senses: religion is concerned with a supra-mundane world - a world that we cannot be said to know. Science believes in things that can be proved: religion is preoccupied with ideas that have to be accepted without proof. Science depends on reasons: religion on intuition. According to common perception, a huge gulf exists between science and religion. Apparently, no doubt, science deals with things concrete, whereas religion is based upon abstract ideals. Science implies fact, religion involves faith. Religion is basically a matter of instinct and science that of reason. But these are the broad characteristics of science and religion which have meeting places also-and the first meeting place is in the human mind and nature themselves.

When one talks about two apparently divergent things like science and religion or other seemingly opposite things. one has to keep in mind the complexity of human nature. Its very complexity demands influences from antithetical ideas and makes their co-existence nec­essary as well as feasible.

What science brought to world and religion added value to it

But so long as scientific knowledge is imperfect, the place of religion and God will continue to be highly relevant. So long as scientific theories do not reach perfection, humans have to fall back upon their own reasoning and secondary -'powers of their own soul and spirit

Weapons and fight over resources aided by technological advancement. Greed cannot be satisfied –religion is the answer for human satisfaction. Inequalities and deprivation prevailing in society – economic advancement led by science and technology have doubtful solution. Science taught the humans about rationalization and thus he did institutionalization of society. It made and surfaced the psychological impotency of human society. Man considers medical treatment to healthcare, social work to community welfare, police protection to safety, military poise to security and rat race to productive work.

Faith in each other, trust, and harmonic interdependence based on morality, if not inculcated by religion, then atleast supported. Universalization of expectations by spread of science but limited resources led to new alienation among young where religion can be solution sought for. Cognitive paradigms which have been prism to see the world are ever changing due to change led by science. But religion is the telescope through which we saw the world similar beyond time and space thus minimal shocks in case of structural change in society. Also science is not able to answer the fundamental questions of the mystery of life and death and the incalculability of events. The scientist can say that the universe developed from a primeval atom but what made them coagulate into the universe we know. Science fails to answer the question of the `First Cause'. It is here that man and even a scientist has to fall back upon the idea of God and religion. In fact, science alone cannot give peace and happiness to mankind. Science must be allied to religion. Science makes man materialistic, but religion upholds his faith in God, in the higher and spiritual values of life.

Value addition by science to religion

Currents of transformation in society and social change have been common phenomenon throughout human history. Science have been leading and major factor and contributor of this transformation. Science reconstructs the society and changes the religious tone by conquering the prejudices, illusion, dogmas and illogical customary rituals. Science purifies the religion and forces it towards spirituality. Yoga and meditation are half science and half religion. If at any time religion became blind then empiricism and rationalism from science and philosophy became eyes of religion. Scientific truths, on the other hand, become the property of the whole world and go to inflate the store-house of human knowledge.

Conclusion:

As a matter of fact, today we know clearly that the animosity between the two is not-very substantial. The pyramids of ancient Egypt evoke both religious reverence and also the admiration of engineers. Roger Bacon, the inventor of gunpowder, believed in alchemy. Copernicus dedicated his famous book to the Pope. Mendel was a monk by profession. And Einstein remarked that a great scientific discovery was a matter of religious insight.
Outwardly religion and science are the two opposite poles of man's consciousness. But the two do not necessarily repel each other. The meeting point is in the mind of man. Religion without science degenerates into superstition, while science without the help of religion gives rise to materialism and lack of faith. Science, to speak the truth, has only purified religion, whereas religion has given a touch of beauty and mystery to science. The discoveries of science and its conquest of Nature only show the wonders of the Supreme Being. Thus science strengthens the work of religion. A true scientist is not an unbeliever or irreligious person, but a real admirer of God and His wonderful creations. What the superstitious man worships blindly, the scientists worships as the fruit of his knowledge. Hence modern scientists have come to know not only the limitations of science but have given a better understanding of miracles of Nature and the wonders of the Creator.

18. India needs Smart Villages, not Smart Cities

          In intellectual Landscape, our topic seems to derived from contemporary debate of development which is most opinionated but ambiguous, unclear and seems  near irresolvable. Policymakers are trying hard  to find out most effective, economical and way easy to implement the policies. People are desperate to see progress in state’s effort for development and role of other stakeholders is under scanner of public. In policy making, set goal is value orientation of popular will. But policy makers cannot neglect one sector or the other by arguing that the particular model of development is priority at the expense of other. At least when governance and development are interdependent and complete whole. Development cannot be segregated and compartmentalized. It is value driven process of which targets can be smart villages or smart cities or both.

           India need smart villages as its 68 % population is living in rural areas but this fact does not indicate towards the less importance of urban development which is, in recent, rapid and uncontrolled phenomenon. Urban and rural patterns are integral part of our nation’s landscape. Both ways of life are struggling and demanding for improvement, quality enhancement and betterment desperately. On one side poverty, unemployment and lack of other earning opportunities , lack of sanitation and unhygienic living conditions, lack of health , education and other infrastructure . While on the side, Cities are marred by proliferating slums and related urban crisis. The model of paranoid optimist can suggest one either smart village or smart city. Recently ,government of India adopted the Saansad adarsh Gram Yojana and smart city model as complementary to each other.

          Prior policy of government was to provide the all amenities to rural people through centrally sponsored plans like Bharat Nirman which incorporate  Rural water supply, Electrification under Rajiv Gandhi Gram Vidyudtikaran Yojana,rural Roads,Rural housing, Rural telephone connectivity. Apart from this Integrated watershed development programme, MNREGA, National rural Livelihood mission, National Rural heath mission, JSY, ICDS, SSA,and many more.

            The government failed to integrate schemes and plans for holistic development of rural areas ,atleast at implementation part if not at policy level.In cities,one fourth population is living in slums.No more facts are needed to support the poverty stricken,underprivileged,crisis ridden urban life in spite of so much compartmentalized schemes for urban households like Indira Awas Yojana, national shahari swarozgar yojana , Anganwadi and many more.

              Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (Parliamentarian’s Model Village Scheme) mandates each Parliamentarian is mandated to adopt three rural villages and ensure that these villages are transformed into ‘Smart Villages’ by 2019. Rural Development Ministry presents a holistic vision of development in which model villages are connected to the internet and where all households have access to clean water, sanitation and low-carbon energy. Furthermore, model villages will be backed up by the provision of basic amenities that are often only available in urban areas, and a social security system. First, these model villages have no follow up example.  The detailed guidelines for implementation are needed. Since this is particularistic model for each smart village. When we compare it with existing Growth centres and growth pole model of regional development and anticipated centrifugal positive effects, we see most of the industrial growth centres are in naxalite affected areas like Jamshedpur,  Bhilai , Durgapur, Secundrabad etc. Increased regional imbalances and inequalities can be resultant of such a development model.

17.India’s Internal Security Challenges – Evolution, Nature and State’s Responses

                            As india evolved independent ,sovereign democratic state though prior it as responsibility of the colonial power.Inter security is not limited to protect territory,sovereignty of nation but also to provide its people peaceful,secure and harmonious environment so that its citizens led a life to full of their potential without a threat ,danger or any kind of fear internally or externally.

            Historical: communal forces under garb of religious fundamentalism or ethnic purity ,regionalism, extremism like LWE or Naxalism.

    Prevailing inequalities, uneven distribution of limited resources polarisation of classes and

Contemporary: cyber attacks, polycentric world and India a leading country to challenge great power hegemony, economic crisis and its various manifestations like black money issue.

Internal threat perception and their nature: vulnerability to internal security lies in multi ethnic, multireligious diverse society which is also India’s strength. To prevent to become the strength into weakness describe its intricate and distinctive character.

Threat comes from none other than small neighboring countries affected by “big brother Syndrome”. Porous and undemarcated border, international river water disputes.

India in a polarizing world under larger discourse of globalisation seeking its deserving position in polycentric world. Great powers are wary of India’s role so retaliating to check India’s growth of its power and position. They are posing threat to our security in various way like diplomatic defeat,boundary disputes,aiding and supporting infiltration and anti-national elements,

Economic hegemonic stance by rivalry countries like US,china dumping in indian economy,financial market manipulation,economic diplomacy.

Indian is surrounded by nuclear capable countries.So nuclear deterrence is crucial nature of our security concern.

Indian has long coastal line.Terrorist activities can be carried out through this route which is most vulnerable.

Conflict resolution machinery:

Judiciary: pending cases, injustice to masses

Constitution: Article 352,360,356, centre state relation-unitary stance

Various acts and statutory laws: TADA, POTA, UAPA, AFSPA, NSA

                                            

16. How to end the Violence ?

Framework (parawise):

1.   Relation of violence and Human civilization

2.   Questioning to ourselves related to our failure to end violence

3.   Understanding of violence

4.   Violence and  its various characteristics at hierarchical level of human world

5.    What we have done to end it

6.    Causes of failure and what we should do in future

7.   Holistic approach worldwide to end the violence

Human civilization has been the manifestation, victim and evidence of violence throughout the human history. Largely, violence is being seen with wielding of power and its expression. Ancient and medieval period of human history is evident of mass scale wars and struggle for power of which violence played instrumental role. Various spiritual being like Buddha, Jesus, Mahavira, Mohammad and Mahatma Gandhi and   defined violence and gave message of non-violence to humanity from time to time. But violence is still present in its most dangerous and hovering over the world invincibly.

                        We need not prove that the violence free world is common consensus of all humans, societies, nations and religions. It is required to question why we are failed and even vanquished before violence and its different manifestation.We tried wholeheartedly then what factors impeded or stopped us to do so.is that our faulty approach, superficial efforts, our lack of understanding or misinterpretation regarding violence caused failure .If we all want to eliminate violence from the world then who is stopping us to do so. Should we conclude that violence is undetachable part of human life and human society?

                       Concept of Duality tells that if there is harmonies then there will violence.Everthing comes in a package. When human defined the harmony, consensus, and solidarity then automatically defined the opposites disharmony, conflict, disintegration and segregation.Human being is also social being .Being is a product of nature, history, geography, culture and consciousness. Consciousness of human makes him social being. The relationship, interaction and interpersonal behavior is imperative part among social beings .Though social being is deliberate form of human being, yet imperfect and far from ideal. We are society but in a progressive way, under process not an end product. In practical world, these very imperfections are the cause of negative values, ills in society. Violence is one of the imperfection prevailing in nonideal human society.Desire, expectations, self interest, domination, self survival are basic instincts of humans. Among these, domination and survival are animal instinct which sometimes suppresses the individual and his goodness and cause violence physical expression, otherwise mental, there is every now and then animal instinct of man do violence. When man live in society then conflicts are unavoidable. Self interest and desires of human being bring him to in conflict with fellow being. It is conflict of interest, rivalry, lack of consensus, desire to dominate or power projection over others is some of driving factors of violence. Actually, violence is use of physical force intended to kill, damage or overpower someone. It can be expressed against man or animal.

                         Violence is all pervasive at family, community, regional, national, international and global level. What are the causes of violence? Violence has some ideological background or some values underpinning. At family level, patriarchal and personal values are in conflict with intimate member. At regional level, fundamentalism, communalism, linguism, regionalism, terrorism etc. At national and international level chauvinism, ultra nationalism, fundamentalism, terrorism and extremism in its various manifestations. Violence bring violence, it means if the violence is countered by violence then instead of being curbing we lit uncontrolled fire of violence. The world has seen mass destruction and holocaust of two world wars and several civil wars ,terrorist activities ,ethnic conflicts with widespread violence .The latest technology and development of science has aided the agencies practicing violence for mass killings, damage and destruction with the WMD’s ,biological weapons, automatic small arms in bulk, nuclear weapons etc.We at societal level have good human values, social sanctions,legal laws, security agencies and at higher level spirituality and a eternal and universal desire for peace and harmony. But violence still persists and sometimes overpowers all human efforts to check it. At international and global level, a number of treaties are done for non proliferation of arms and disarmament, formation of United Nations for world peace and cooperation but a measurable check of violence is still far distant dream. It is not our failure but half hearted efforts which failed to bring desired results. The root cause behind violation is inequalities, uneven distribution of limited resources, human greed and blind follow up of materialism consumerism, unending desire to comfort and accumulation.

15. Social Media

            The human civilization has lived with a range of technologies that they invited to make their life more controllable. Social media, though in its nascent stage, is a initiative to revolutionize the change in society through fastest, open and unrestricted sharing, creating and using information as resource in society. It is going to establish new information order in the world. 

A convergence of all other forms of existing media (newspaper, TV, radio, sound, videos etc.) and brings people together to a common platform, where they not only consume the information but also contribute for the validation of the information. This particular characteristic of the internet based medium converts it all to the “Social Media”. So Social Media is described as any website or services that facilitate using a particular media to share an Idea, Advertise. , promote or deliver content.

There are two ways of understanding the media; one is technological dimension and other is the content and nature of the technology as a medium. Discussion on types of media always draws attention of kinds of technology used in any particular type of media. Every Technology (media) with its own capabilities in terms of sound, image and live interaction has played a key role. The emergence of internet has offered a digital platform that enables to interact with all the communication features –print, sound, still photos, and videos in an interactive way. The scope of social media goes beyond this when we bring the issue of social networking in it, which is most important in today’s media space.

        We are witnessing the dilemma between technology and development. Because impact of technology on society is not only positive and advantageous. Social media often quoted as a part of new remain an unanswered matter, whether this pertains to a technology support or something beyond that. 

       Any new technology has to meet the necessary prerequisites of its (a) technical validity (b) economic viability (c) social acceptability (d) reduction in labour of work. But It seems Social media increased our drudgery by creating vast pool of information through which retrieving and applying useful information is not easy task.

           

On the other hand , We would do not justice by saying social media is another form of media or alternative media, rather we would prefer to call it a service provided to the humanity and its integration across the planet.

               It has created a new ways of mobilizing public opinion and encouraging participation in political and civic activities .The recent Wikileaks disclosure online of US foreign policy clearly demonstrates the disruption caused by social media, ,which is now forcing the mainstream news media to turn political blogs and citizen users for materials . Gujarat CM effectively used the Social media to connect with voters and similarly it is well known that Anna Hazare , in his agitation over issue of the Jan lokpal Bill, effectively used the social media to mobilize youth and middle classes.

In this way , we had a new media paradigm social networking and a new technology paradigm-micro blogging, social networking is a social structure made of individual or organisations, those are connected by one or more specific types of social inter dependencies such as friend ship, membership, likes, dislikes, common interests , beliefs, knowledge and the like. Live blogging will become common place and bring the world of conferences and gathering wherever you are and whenever it is convenient to you with just a CMH (Converged Mobile handset) in your hand. 

Evolving features of the social Media ecosystem comprises interactions, activities, transactions, and behaviors among a group of individuals with certain common identities and interests who can be together called “community”.  The definition of social capital in general can be nebulous.

We can narrow the context to the optimum use of the web 3.0 based social media with an illustrative subset of applications: inclusion, capability maximization and bottom-up planning in a socially complex and diverse environment. In this context we can narrowly, but with more clarity, define social capital as a function of negentropy connoting the magnitude of disorder to order transition with ‘order’ denoting sustainable shared knowledge and norms of reciprocity, trust and positive values in a network of relationships between individuals and/or communities which shape the quality and quantity of interactions. 

Here, we consider Social capital as a function of only the Human capital consisting, among others, of knowledge, skills attributes creating personal, social, and economic well being as well as the network capital qualifying interactions which increase community well being.

The levels of social capital that can be considered are: individual informal social groups ,formal organizations ,communities and national having components as communitarian ,institutional ,network and also synergy integrating the previous two, bridging the social and economic perspectives so as to give a better direction for development.

Social media ride on  knowledge based platforms.Here the knowledge is commodity and have economic value.So knowledge may become over and above traditional cultural moorings and values which in due course ,will be represented by homogenized collective global values and conscience.

This also include changing pattern of traditional shopping to e-commerce.At social media your single click or messaging can generate money for some in terms of e-marketing

Advent of ICT based Social Media has significantly accelerated innovation in learning and education .Open unimaginable possibilities are explored through MOOC (massive open online Course) like earth.org. Even for Non-formal learning like cultivating a hobby, new media offers a plethora of learning resources in multiple formats to suit different types of learners.    

Vocab :

• Engagement , participation and value creation
• 15 minute privacy
• com modification of information
• potential to disrupt and alter the way we live 
• double edge sword
• network society?
• alternative media
• voice of voiceless and underdogs
• feeling of economic disenfranchisement
• instrument of democratic renewal
• we expect more from technology and less from each other
• relentless connection leads to solitude?
• people are becoming narcissist and obsessed with self image
• socially disruptive elements like narcissism like self absorption,vanity , superiority and exhibitionism.
• decline in social capital
• 
  

14. Science and Mysticism : Are they compatible ?

Science and mysticism

Both science and mysticism aim to reveal the nature of reality or truth, however this is where there similarity ends. Science tries to do this by observing the external world, say, empirical method. On the other hand mysticism looks inside to tell us that the reality of world inside.

Science does not believe in anything that cannot be proved by observable physical evidence, tested empirically and have explanations related to laws of nature. Mysticism talks of extra sensory perception which is beyond the physical world.Since time immemorial, humans have tried to understand the world and they have adopted different methods like meditation, tapasya etc.In the context of Indian civilization this quest is recorded in the Vedas and Upanishads. Pinnacle of Indian mystic thought reached with the Updeshas of Vedanta and Buddha. The spirituality for which Indian mystic thought, highly acclaimed and respected worldwide, reached at zenith in this era.  

Recent times advances in sciences have changed our paradigm of understanding of the world especially advances in quantum physics. Objectivity of the world proved to be a fiction by quantum physics many times and again. Latest advances in physics and research shows that path of science is converging with the path of mystics and transcendental thoughts. It seems that this difference only lies in humans conceptions only.

Mysticism is the gist of all religion. Religion is symbolic expression of mystic experiences and experiments.Science is limited by its adherence to logical consistency, evidences to prove physical phenomenon and related laws and principles. Mysticism supported us to go beyond thoughts and concepts given by science. Thus mysticism is bridge between human capacity and incapacity to realize the world. However if we scrape the surface we realise the deep similarities between the two.  

 If scientists are constantly trying to make new discoveries or to develop new concepts and theories, then the body of knowledge produced by science should undergo constant change. Such change is progress toward a better understanding of nature. Every realm of answers lies in the desire to improve people’s life and Economic development.  Societies support science because of simple curiosity and because of the satisfaction and enlightenment that come from knowledge of the world around us.

In the similar way, mysticism quench the thirst of human curiosity and pursuit of spiritual life  by finding satisfying explanation of unexplainable (by any other faculties).Mysticism is science or art of spiritual life. It is the expression of the innate tendency of the human spirit towards complete harmony with the transcendental order.

But ultimately every pursuit of humans whether science or mysticism are all having utilitarian order that is to serve human society in finding its goal of happiness and prosperity. Any aspect of human life is means to an end which is a Human itself.  

With the advancement of basic science research we are able to observe the smallest particle which is all present in universe. Mysticism says the same thing my intuition and spiritual experience. Both are in pursuit of truth and exploring the true nature of universe. The differentiation created by human thought of universe seems to merge at a certain point where our civilization is heading. Science and mysticism are all compatible as they evolved differentially from experience of humans and merge with the same faculty. Ultimately the knowledge is just a agency of enriching human life which encompass both science and mysticism.

13. Modernism and our traditional socio-ethical values

Can a culture  be so vulnerable that any other contemporary culture pose a threat to its existence by infusing its values.Our debate presents a idea of fear for decreasing traditional values in the light of so called modern values.The word modernism however is used to describe certain trends in art, writing, criticism and philosophy that have had a powerful influence on the development and experience of the 20th century. Conventionally we can date these trends from the last decade of the 19th century (1890) to about the beginning of the 2nd world war in 1939.Modernism reflects intangible social values,beliefs ideology under modernity than the centralising around material culture.Material culture changes rapidly as compared to non material culture that is ideological change.It is called cultural lag.whenever a change comes a reaction found to counter the change and resist it .This resistance makes change gradual and bring at a suitable pace so that other related things also change in compatible manner.
                Foremost,the question arise is that whether modernism and traditional socio-ethical values are compatible and can coexist together or antagonistic to each other.the clear cut answer is difficult to find out.Let us take a example that people are now more secular than before.Is it means the religion will wipe out from traditional society one day. No but definitely the the religion will be restricted to individual more and more than a collective idea.Both modernism and traditional socio-ethical values are differed but impact each other subtly and give birth to new fused values which is a fine mix of modernism and tradition.
                        Values are beliefs hold by humans as subjects of a society for judging moral good or bad conduct and behaviour.While a try to find out about something that whether it is ethical or not ,is a systematic investigation of finding good or bad with certain principles of theoretical construct.It is enquiry to find out what is good or bad and why.
Socio-ethical values related to judgement of good and bad are hold collectively by a group or societ

12. Increasing computerization would lead to the creation of a dehumanized society.

Intro:

The invention of computers in second half of 20th century and later its ubiquitous presence in all domain of human life,certainly transformed the society at a fast,deepened and broadened way.Even some are arguing that excessive use of computers dehumanising the society.though arguments has its own merits because computerisation has reduced the frequency of human to human interaction.But the opposite view is also true which says that computers will give humans more free time by reducing the drudgery so that we can choose to spend more time with family and friends.

Computerisation is increasing at a relentless pace and registered its presence so deeply and ubiquitously that no part of human life ans society is untouched to computers.Now we can see computers,laptops,tablets,mobile phones,robots etc. are proliferating and invading our society more broadly,deeply and intensely.We can see day to day improvements in its technology both hard and soft.it increases efficiency and saves time in any operation where used. Globalization also putting pressure on individual,organisation and countries to increase efficiency where computers are protagonist.the view that computerization is leading to dehumanization may have its own arguments and its cogency.then definitely there are some phenomena which are causing to loose human of  there basic immemorial and universal biological and social instincts.
         First computerisation is cause behind digitisation of society and its being.After influencing from computers way of making decision and arguments on binary logic ,humans started thinking at the same pattern and trying to make objective decision in every field whether physical science,social science and other aspects of its life where feelings,emotions and mutual bonds are dominant.Because of this approach free flow of human emotions,ideas and ultimately value based life hinders which furthers reduces quality of human life.
       Second,due to computerization,automation of industries replaces manual labour with machines and robots.The high skilled workers only interact with machines and robots which reduces human to human interrelationship and causing dehumanization of corporate life.
            Third, if in social and economic life the front face of society will become the computers and all good and services are delivered online.Then in all ,social life will contain interpersonal relation at much reduced frequency and intensity.
             Fourth,far distant relation are now easy to maintain by the use of computers and internet through emails and social media.When we observe dehumanisation phenomenon ,it can contain two aspects first,in general the human values like openness,warmth and emotions are reducing in contents from beings of society.Second,on e man is considering the other as less human or mere utility objects.When far distant relation are maintained digital world,the relations are there to fulfill the emotional need of us but not because emotional attachment is there thats why relations are sustained.how the utilitarian aspect intruding in emotional bondage.
Due to computerisation we have entered into the Information age 
which is also called Second industrial revolution or IT revolution.the existing digitised corpus of information which further facilitate the information as commodity/instrumental leads to devalue of humans in the similar way ,as observed in capitalism where capital and machine led to alienation in Society ,according to Marx.However everything comes in package so the computers in digital world.It is the humans who would decide the fate of their society by evaluating all aspects of computerisation.The focus of every invention must be enrichment of human life ,comfort and well being of humans and collective,common rich social life.So we may rely on computerisation and related aspects to extend human civilization on the planet Earth by facilitating sustainable social,economic,political and cultural life to humans.

10. Disinterested intellectual curiosity is the life blood of real civilization

Intro:
Human intellect is not free from his interest so his(human's) curiosity which is always pacified by organised scientific enquiry and investigation in the field related.then man's intellect that  is the ability to reason is used for to spread and to earn a consensus for his own preferences and priorities compatible to one's opinion and thoughts constructed after thorough investigation.Man is bestowed with blessing of independent thinking and reason.But progress demands more than intellect .Intellect which serve the common good or for good of whole society rather than narrow interest of Individual or few.Disinterested intellectual curiosity is what if present in individual he never seeks personal advantage by orienting effort  in his own favour and in doing so maintain true spirit and essence of the reason.

Curiosity ,Intellect and Knowledge

Inquisitiveness is mother of all knowledge ,which man employs for obtaining the knowledge of whatever the unknown and to add in the existing corpus of knowledge.But it should be free from prejudices of the existing knowledge.If not then the existing ken and corpus of knowledge loose its usefulness and worthiness in the time because of continuous change in human society.Without curiosity ,the intellect is fruitless and so the knowledge loose its vitality and vigourness.

Intellectual curiosity :A vital of civilization

Progress is born of inquiry.when intellectual inquiry finds the problems of man and aid human to live better,progress occurs.Progress is a change towards a anticipated goal.Civilization is a utilitarian order.What we achieved cumulatively throughout the change it its journey.Human civilization ,according to some thinkers ,followed the cyclic order creation and death.Worlds were created and decayed .The changes in physical environment and biological evolutionary changes  are adapted by humans through the technological order and cultural order.But both technology and cultural order needs upgradation to facilitate adaptability to Human civilization irrespective of time and space.Advancement comes through investigation which is stimulated by curiosity.Curiosity about nature,about self existence,about metaphysics and any other phenomena which lacks logical explanation of occurrence.In this way curiosity is drive behind civilizational progressiveness.If not so then Societies get entrapped in dark ages like In India after Gupta's age and in premodern european societies.
Real civilization and Goal

If we relate real civilization with sustainability,vitality and healthiness then its constituents must have contentment all throughout life.Change is inevitable,permanent ,continuous and more a necessity.It is the blood of any civilization and needs fresh supply recurrently.Every domain of life affected by lack of intellectual curiosity.then the goal of the civilization is defeated .To provide the best possible life to its beings  is the means as well as end of the civilization.

11. Creation of smaller states and the consequent administrative ,economic and developmental implications

In any federation and union states are different administrative and political entity which represent separate identity of themselves with respect to each other.This separate identity of state solidified in the people's ideology attached to language ,ethnicity or other for of cultural identity.Whenever the demands of any group of people not met with their aspirations  and necessities then the caused frustration led to claim for separate statehood.though lack of development of a particular region and its people is primary reason for demand for creation of smaller state but sometimes political parties also polarize the demand of separate statehood in their own vested interest of narrow political gain.

                  In India,the demands of separate states has been evaporating from time to time after independence.With State reorganisation act,1956 the various small states cam e into existence on linguist basis,after that Goa,Nagaland ,Sikkim etc. formed from Foreign territory or Union territory.In 1966 haryana was created after bifucation of Punjab.In 2000. three states Uttarakhand,Jharkhand and chattisgarh were created from UP ,Bihar and Madhya pradesh repectively.In these three states chhatisgarh and Jharkhand were created on the basis of backwardness and tribal identity while Uttarakhand was created for separate geographical Terrain and related culture.

                 Regionalism and ethnic sentiments of the deprived sections(from main stream development) ,when polarised ,a demand of smaller state comes to the surface.When demand of smaller state matures then definitely there are some plausible reasons . the reasons propagated can be that the small state are better maintained and run by administrative machinery .Smaller state have lesser number of groups with separate identity or sometimes a single ethnic or cultural group .Thus the discriminatory politics can not play its part to create regional disparities.all the areas and people are taking care by government at par with a particular geographical area will be utilized for that part only. Class and group conflict will be minimized or atleast will be lessened.
In India ,there are more than 20 demands are there for separate . Demands for Gorakhaland in Northern  west Bengal,Bodoland in northern Assam,Bundelkhand from UP and Madhya Pradesh,Harit pradesh,Awadh and purvanchal from UP,Marusthal from western Rajasthan,Kongu Nadu from Tamilnadu,Laddakh from J & k, Tulu Nadu from Karnatka,Kosal from Odisha ,Vidarbha from Maharashtra and Kutch or Saurashtra from Gujrat etc. are at one stage or another.
                  when we talk about consequent administrative,economic and developmental implications then certainly we can say that  administrative convenience cannot come from smaller territorial jurisdiction but comes from rational and justified work allotment among administrators and administrative expertise.The administration effectiveness also depends on fair recuitment ,corruption free environment ,instrumental role of administration with political neutrality etc. Large state with large administrative machinery can be equally efficient if appropriate and balanced division of authority is excercised among staff agency and field units.Economic sustainability depends on the available capital,natural resources and human resource .If anyone among these lacks then economy of the state will suffer despite its size and population.Even smaller state cannot sustain without proper availability of economic prerequisites for development.While development is more comprehensive than mere administrative or economic aspect which better evaluated by empirical evidences.In 2000,three states were created in which Chhatisgarh and Jharkhand missed their aspire and expected level of development except Uttarakhand.Jharkhand even proved to be political failure state though having vast natural resources.Implication in terms of development depends on all aspects administrative ,political and Economic and Social also.We cannot evaluate considering only one aspect that whether the newly created state will be successful on the expected growth trajectory.
                          Creation of the state should be rational after prolonged public debate and thorough evaluation and not initiated or motivated  by political interest.It should emerge from genuine people's aspirations and necessity.Autonomy may be the intermediary stage but may be effective in gradual transfer of power to people,administration and political group of newly created state.

8. Is autonomy the best answer to combat balkanisation

Intro:
Explanation of Balkanisation: (B)

Originally Balkanisation is the geopolitical term used to describe the division of a region or state into the small fragmentation.It was coined at the end of World War I to describe the ethnic and political fragmentation that followed the breakup of the Ottoman Empire, particularly in the Balkans.But  now the term is used in broader aspect even refer to fragmentation of organization,technical concept like internet any paradigm or even any concept.

Cons of (B):

(B) leads to creation of smaller states after division which further lack in capacity in terms of Economic,political,administrative etc. This small nation image not so relevant at world stage to project herself as a power.the smaller state even lack in capacity to deal with external threat and becomes prone to security threat.The state becomes constrained to undertake big projects for the welfare of the society.

(B) has no end in itself ,it may have cascading effect and defeat the purpose for which it came into existence by demanding more autonomy or further Balkanisation.Second,B is against the trends of time.Here we can quote the examples of regional blocs like EU ,African union etc. the 21st century is for heterogenous societies(moving towards homogeneity) and cultural mix under discourse of Globalisation having instruments and concepts of mobility,communication ,internet,spread of cosmopolitan culture to dilute the heterogeneity among societies.
Autonomy :An evaluation

Autonomy refers to one's own self-governance or accountability for one's actions..It satisfies the aspirations of the people under constitutional framework.it stave off  division of country.But sometimes it creates anarchic condition when the actors after getting autonomy act according to their whims and fancies.So a machinery should be already in governing framework to curb excessive arbitrariness in the excercise of autonomy. When Balkanisation is demanded by demagogues,office seekers and political entrepreneurs then coercion is the best option.Asymmetric feudalism and other constitutional innovations are other forms through which we can fight with Balkanisation.Group rights in Indian constitution(art 25-30) is another method to combat Balaknisation.
Is autonomy is the best answer 
Autonomy is one of the methods to combat Balkanisation .there is not one sure fit for all problems .Solution has to be problem specific. There can be any case where autonomy is the best answer.
Conclusion :
Though Balkanisation is not always the best answer but it can be if implemented in time.the demands for autonomy or for Balkanisation develops gradually.Whether it is state or organisation when works in efficiently or can not fulfill its purpose then a leval of discontent evolves among their constituents.When this discontent matures and not addressed in the duration of time it converts into the demands of balkanisation.