Aparigraha the Humane Solution

Author(s): Kamla Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 37

CONSUMERISM-ANTI-HUMAN GOAL
civilisation education, and educators have contributed a lot in this field. Vedas, Brahmanas and Upanisads, gurus, philosophical thinkers, progressive religious reformers, Buddha, Mahavira, Christ, Mohammad, Gandhi, all genuine moral preceptors have helped in this cause. The goal becomes clear and the message becomes loud only by education, educator and the educated.
Thus, the vicious circle of desires and created desires needs to be broken. Even though sudden and drastic changes may not appear feasible in the near future, they are not so remote either. After all, things have completed a full circle in the developed West where people have realised that one can buy everything but one can not buy happiness. It is not clear, whether science will be fought with more science or by abandoning science; what is clear is that an attitudinal change is a must.
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The state level handling of society against consumeristic philosophy can also be very effective for two important reasons. (1) Consumeristic philosophy is based mainly on imitation, which is more of an external reason, so it has superficial foundation for itself. (2) The state has the entire administrative machinery in its hand and the most important part of this machinery is the making and implementing of policy. In fact, the state dances to the tune of policy makers. The making of laws, implementing them, and watching them function smoothly is the job which is handled by the state. So some kind of a state control in accordance with the special conditions of the country could also give positive results. If everything is left to the individuals, self - interest is likely to predominate. Things are better if on issues of social relevance, the state acts with objective alertness rather than inertia or apathy; this holds the key to change. One simple example can be given here. In India, traffic jams are a common sight and the plight of every one. Is it impossible for the state to stop the manufacture of bigger cars? Why should they be allowed to be manufactured at least for domestic use and flood the markets? Three big cars take the place of four small cars, when the seating capacity is almost the same. Is it impossible to take a decision on such an issue considering the worsening situation of traffic? There can, of course, be less expensive and more expensive small cars,