Humanitarianism

 But let us remember that ordinary people in general who lead their life of metro, bulo et dodo do not want their life of economic stability, basic necessities, security, education etc to be affected or disturbed by or is in the name of some geopolitical ideologies and hyper activism with selective political or radical narratives. 

Real humanitarianism is basically ensuring calm, peaceful cohabitation with at least basic necessities of life being available without importing trouble in the name of protecting or promoting  any particular ideology driven identity based cult, people or political leader or party. 

Whoever, wants to stop such unwanted activities that promote disharmony has to be welcomed though individually or personally such a person may be horrible in his words, in some of his actions and brash in behaviour but is preventing continuation of unwanted ideological activism

Humanitarianism and cosmopolitan outlook

Thankless ungrateful attitude, sometimes even betrayal.

This makes one wonder what​​ use is all the philosophies which are sprinkled in every realm about the 'values' based on moral high ground? 

We take everything for granted but when granted and get it we brush it off as our entitlement and act as if we are doing a favor for being available to receive the bounties. This is there everywhere on one side and on the other side some act as privileged lord's who can throw their weight around by any means and get things done.

There are no basic human gestures of gratitude and appreciation , even if there is no recognition. 

We have developed a collective national psychology of criticizing and questioning everything except our own attitudes and contributions.

We don't value many simple and humane things which are more vital for cohabitation rather than elaborate rituals. I know people may get offended when I say this. I say it purposely, because Indians don't take care of the elders in their own family but will do all sorts of fanfare for funerals and post funeral rituals for years on and give lengthy discourse on that, this happens in most regions of many religions in India.

We can claim to be better evolved citizens only when we respect scientific approaches, exhibit rational attitude, manifest humanitarianism and adopt a cosmopolitan outlook which respects everyone's talents, time and trade-offs which cannot be compromised and taken for granted.

Morals, social discipline , ethics who must decide and why ?

Everyone knows the mantra in biology 'ontogeny reflects phylogeny' individual brain development reflects evolution.

Most institutions empowered with drafting morals and ethics ( mostly religiously prescribed and/or politically sanctioned through law till now) have not factored in and then,  balanced the following aspects:- humanitarianism, sensitivity to other species and environment, respect for science and fundamental normal rationalism with enough room for fun, enjoyment, adventure, explorative , imaginative, creative instincts  etc.

Unbridled license as freedom at too young an age ( though temporarily enjoyable) and excessive restrictions in the name of irrelevant disciplines ( though can produce stereotyped functioning robots) can harm the development of both the individual as well as the society. 

So, proper nuanced regulation of behaviour without hampering growth of a plasticity of the brain can happen when scientifically qualified neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists and evolutionary biologists, social scientists frame the dos and don'ts, then it would factor in scientifically the plasticity of the brain and how human brain develops through the connections it makes and how it relates till it becomes stable as a crystallized one with all its accumulated knowledge and prejudices. 

In the absence of these we have prescriptions in the name of morals, each institution inserting and removing activities according to their versions of right and wrong and spills over everything from dress to the way one sits to the way one responds to natural physical and emotional issues etc.

Humility, tolerance, humanitarianism and wisdom

Humility, tolerance, humanitarianism and wisdom

Here in India more frequently we indulge, interfere or are indifferent rather than involving with humanitarian concerns.

We suffer from two extremes of unloving criticism and uncritical love.

Greater than anything else is the attitude of humility, tolerance and real wisdom evolving from them.

We need to evolve many behavior patterns to make life better on planet Earth [ which itself is a wrong word used for something which has more than 70 per cent water] which  has unfortunately been divided by the atlas of national boundaries and spoiled by excessive dominance of human species.

However, evolution fortunately has ensured in all spheres and in all its manifestations that variety has been held in tact which human beings unfortunately have misunderstood as differences.

No one is either big or pig. All are morsels of biochemical organism infused with energy and interrelated in many ways than individual human brains can understand or have bothered to understand.

Love for any language, art, culture, tradition, religion etc need not necessarily lead to either identity veneration or vilification.

It is not what language we speak, what tradition we follow, what culture we love that matter.

What ultimately matters is how we treat others? How we treat other species? How compassionate are we? How humanitarian are we?  

But I feel while everyone has every right to feel euphoric about something close to their emotions, heart and mind it also must ensure to imbibe a spontaneous or subconscious or studiously developed sense of humility and tolerance towards others and what others are trying to say and wanting to say with all sense of humor and subtle sarcasm.

These alone can bring many of us out of both egocentric and ethnocentric whirlpools of self deceptions and complexes [either superior or inferior]

There could be multiple versions of wisdom in various forms imparted through myriad scriptures and religious practices.

But real universal wisdom in my humble opinion may be like this whether sanctioned or sanctified by either social mores or religious morality.

Wisdom is the work shop where works of evolutionary trends and experiences of everyone in it emerge to express wisely the essence of everything to enlighten everyone;

A wisdom which prioritizes living in the present context and along with practicing certain time tested values which have relevance in present context but with global perspective to bequeath a livable planet, a lovable society with lovely infrastructures and improved living conditions;

A wisdom that evaluates everything and everyone with contextual relevance and based on the inherent attributes or merits of what or who is being evaluated without extrapolating any  presumptions, opinions, judgments, perceptions, expectations, ideologies, doctrines, identity based ideology and so on;

A wisdom which is willing to make minor adjustments, small compromises, spontaneous cooperation to create compatible and conducive atmosphere with humility devoid of any egocentric pride;

A wisdom with the realization and a perspective that must be aware that life is a constant process of learning of the multiple dimensions of many things and the various dynamics of those dimensions involving the constant interaction and interrelationship with everyone and everything.

A wisdom that is willing to accommodate multiple methods or means of life with some overall tolerant attitude embedded on humanitarian concerns towards all human life and environmental or natural concern towards all other species.

A wisdom that gets its clarity of understanding through a churning process that takes into consideration several aspects from the practical to the philosophical to the all fantasies of the mind.

Humanitarianism is a great discipline

Self restraint either out of fear or love or innately along with awareness of social responsibilities as one among the many of the same species living together and a sense of humanitarian concern promoted as an important ingredient and inculcated as the most important component of all types socio or religious or cultural morals are enough to ensure sane behavior and not necessarily parades, pellets and bullets.

The mistake is because no religion or culture prioritizes humanitarian concerns like compassion and care as much as it does towards performing rituals and doing worship or adopting specific attires and other extraneous things.

Education also fails to teach children their social obligations and rights.

If these two important institutions namely religious preaching and practices and social education emphasis on humanitarian behavior, then, awareness based social responsibility and individual restraint will automatically creep in or seep in at subconscious level and stop unleashing many types of  insane behaviors.

All the social psychologists are aware of these but unfortunately in all social systems religion, culture and tradition dominate.

Of what use is all our talk of all tall philosophy if we cannot share water, we cannot allow vehicles from other state registration within India to ply hassle free and if we cannot donate at least all unused things to the deprived and so on.