________________
CREATING HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS
101
very foundations of our civilization seem to be tottering. More and more people, particularly among the younger generation, are losing faith in existing institutions. The wise realize that a capitalist, industry-driven democracy is defeating the very purpose it is supposed to serve. Our democracy has not achieved unity of minds. The struggle of opposing ideas as witnessed in the country today involves social problems urgently demanding a solution. We are facing the crises of education and health, poverty and unemployment, terrorism, domestic violence, distressed family relations, etc. We have a democratically elected government, free media, free market economy, and yet we lack an integrated solution to our societal needs.
In our view, the individual is the true reality of life. A cosmos in himself, he does not exist for the government, nor for that abstraction called 'society,' or the ‘nation,' which is only a collection of individuals. Man has always been, and necessarily is, the sole source and motive power of evolution and progress. Every civilization has gone through a process of struggle of the individual or groups of individuals against a structured governing system.
Man's greatest battles have been waged against manmade obstacles and artificial handicaps thrust upon him to paralyse his growth and developrnent. Human thought has always been bound in by tradition and custom, and education has always been perverted to suit the interests of those in power. This constant conflict has been a common feature through the history of mankind.
How do we define individuality? Individuality may be described as the consciousness of an individual about who he is and how he lives. It is inherent in every human being and is a factor of growth. Governments and social institutions come and go, but individuality remains and persists. The very essence of individuality is its sense of dignity and
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
