Bhagavana Mahavira and his Relevance in Modern Times

Author(s): Narendra Bhanavat, Prem Suman Jain, V P Bhatt
Publisher: Akhil Bharat Varshiya Sadhumargi Jain Sangh

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Mahāvīra and His Relevance
united strength of the society was negligible. Hence, the progress of society entirely fell on the shoulder of a man's mind and capacity. Then political and economical points used to revolve around a man only. Then the monarchism was prevalent and the king was regarded as God. The law was nothing but to follow and obey his wishes. The entire economy used to be under him. But, today the advancement and progress of science has reversed every thing.
The chapter of modern history which shows how many countries of the world fought with the monarchs and sacrificed every thing and ultimately won independence. With this liberation and independence opens the chapter of the history of democracy. The strength of the united desire of the people has come into force and the democratic governments have come into being. On this foundation, parliamentary system was set up which was essentially democratic in character. Democracy is the Government of the people by the people and for the people. In this system not an individual's desire prevails but the desire of the entire group of people. One man or individual can be both good or bad or sometime good and other time bad. Hence, it was regarded undesirable from the view-point of Samatā to have the entire nation's fate based on the will of only one man. The will of a group does not change suddenly, nor it turns to the wrong path all of a sudden, thus the endeavour of giving importance to the will of the masses came into being and thus was the birth of democracy.
In the name of democracy political equality was established. Right was given to every one, without any discrimination, to exercise his franchise in the election. And the representative was elected on the basis of majority. This is to be put aside that how a person being blind of his own interests can destroy and disrupt best methodological arrangements, but the very aim of democracy is that all should enjoy equality, the will of all should prevail and not of an individual. To control an individual's unbounded wishes for the sake of many is the basic idea behind the democratic system.
As the outlook advanced, attempts were made for its implementation in the economic and social fields. These efforts proved useful eventually. With the result there came into being socialism and communism. Gradually these thoughts became prosperous and strong and ultimately, they became completely