Traditional Values And Contemporary Dilemmas India - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided text from "Traditional Values and Contemporary Dilemmas: India" by T. K. Oommen, focusing on the Jain context as it relates to traditional Indian values:

The author, T. K. Oommen, argues for a "selective retention" approach when transforming a society, rather than a complete demolition of the past. This pragmatic approach, based on historical experience, acknowledges that societies are responsive to change but also tend to preserve aspects of their past, even after revolutions. The goal is to leverage traditional assets for present advantages while rejecting liabilities that hinder progress.

India is presented as an ancient civilization with a deep historicity, marked by immense diversity (Little vs. Great Traditions, folk vs. elite conceptions). Despite this multiplicity, a certain unity can be identified. Modernization began in India in the 18th century, accelerated by Western contact, but the Indian nation as a political entity emerged in 1947, with its constitution outlining its aspirations.

Oommen then delves into the core traditional Indian values, identifying hierarchy, pluralism, and holism as cardinal ones.

Hierarchy: This value manifested in the caste system, based on notions of ritual purity and pollution acquired by birth, as well as the ashramas (life stages) and dharma (duties). Hierarchy dictated social stratification, occupational roles, and even marital practices. While it institutionalized inequality, it also provided individuals and groups with a secure and definite place. The principle of karma and reincarnation underpinned the belief that birth into a particular group was a consequence of past moral merit. This concept of inherent, birth-based status was a fundamental aspect of the traditional order.
Pluralism: This value signified tolerance of diverse lifestyles and faiths. Hinduism, the dominant religion, assimilated other faiths rather than converting them, as placing converts within the existing hierarchical order was complex. This led to the coexistence of various religious communities. The caste system itself reinforced pluralism by granting each caste its own occupation, customs, and traditions, fostering both insulation and interdependence. This pluralism had both vertical (within the hierarchy) and horizontal (regional) dimensions, making the coexistence of culturally diverse groups a norm, though not always peaceful due to power imbalances.
Holism: This value emphasized the primacy of the group over the individual. Individuals were expected to prioritize community interests in their actions and rights. This manifested in joint families, village democracies, and caste councils, where individuals contributed according to their ability and drew according to their need. The rich often acted as trustees of community wealth, implying self-restraint for the benefit of others. However, this inherent subservience of the individual to the collective also reinforced the overarching principle of hierarchy.

Oommen notes that while these were the ideological prescriptions, practical aberrations existed. Hierarchy was clearest at the extremes of the caste system, with frequent disputes over rank in the middle. The allocation of status to groups outside the Hindu fold was problematic. Pluralism, while tolerant, could lead to bigotry and domination. Holism, while fostering collectivism, didn't always guarantee altruism, and group control could stifle individual initiative, creating tension. This highlights a "praxis-lag" and "theory-gap" between traditional ideals and their implementation.

Moving to Modern Values, Oommen identifies the Constitution's core tenets: Socialism, Secularism, and Democracy. He acknowledges disagreements on the priority and implementation of these values in a multi-party democracy.

Indian Socialism: Unlike other forms, it doesn't advocate for the collectivization of private property but seeks to limit it. Its radicalism lies in recognizing the need for an opportunity structure for upward social mobility based on merit, a significant departure from the birth-based status system of the past. However, the persistence of historical advantages means those with "merit" often had prior capital, leading to a gradual development of a capitalistic system recognizing merit rather than pure socialism based on need.
Secularism: In India, secularism means tolerance of other religious communities, particularly important given the nation's birth alongside Pakistan due to Hindu-Muslim animosity. It involves non-interference and positive appreciation of distinct lifestyles. The reorganization of states on linguistic lines is also seen as an aspect of secularism, recognizing cultural autonomy. However, despite its fundamental importance, institutionalization is incomplete, with communal riots and linguistic squabbles persisting.
Democracy: While sharing forms with other democracies, Indian democracy's substance differs. It presumes autonomous individuals, a concept largely absent in traditional Indian society where the individual was subsumed within the collective. Indian democracy is therefore anchored in primordial loyalty structures (religion, caste, linguistic groups), leading to ideological polarization that is often mediated by traditional values. The democratic ideal requires individuals to combine socialist and secular values with a collectivistic orientation, but this should be based on universalistic values and trans-local orientation, a key dilemma in reconciling tradition and modernity.

The core of the analysis then explores Congruence and Conflict between traditional and modern values:

Pluralism and Secularism: These are seen as largely congruent, as tolerance is fundamental to both. However, traditional pluralism was associated with distinct group traditions, privileges, and potential for domination by elites. Modern secularism calls for conscious behavior from advantaged groups to avoid handicapping the less privileged.
Hierarchy and Socialism: These are fundamentally contradictory. Traditional hierarchy allocates resources based on birth (status), while socialism, ideally, allocates based on need. The author argues that resolving this is impossible because traditional status was birth-based, while modern needs are (ideally) defined by individual contribution. The remnants of the traditional hierarchical system, where those with high status often had inherited advantages, impede the move towards a merit- or need-based distribution.
Holism and Individualism (Democracy): These are mutually inimical. Traditional holism demanded renunciation of self-interest for collective goals. Democracy, however, promotes individual autonomy and the assertion of self-interests, often at the cost of collective orientation. This is exacerbated by historical inequalities in wealth, power, and prestige.

The author concludes that the reconciliation of India's traditional and modern values is limited, particularly between hierarchy and socialism, and holism and individualism. While acknowledging the "praxis-lag" in the implementation of modern values, Oommen points to transmutations occurring during the transitional stage.

Secularization of Castes: Traditional castes, focused on ritual purity, are becoming secularized, performing instrumental functions like managing educational institutions and financial agencies for the material welfare of their members, thus improving their secular status. This transforms their substance while retaining traditional forms, with recruitment still based on ascription but goals being achievement-oriented.
Traditional Collectivism in Democracy: Despite democracy assuming individual autonomy, its operation in India is infused with traditional collectivism, seen in "group-voting," insistence on consensus, and the continued reliance on kin, caste, and religious groups for social welfare. This suggests a persistent "transitional anomie."

Regarding internal consistency, traditional values of pluralism and holism are not inconsistent, as tolerance implies collectivity. However, hierarchy led to segmentation and reinforced pluralism's localism, undermining nationalistic values. Modern India faces inconsistency between socialism (need-based allocation) and individualism (emphasis on merit and individual welfare). The author finds both utopian individualism (expecting voluntary restraint) and dehumanizing solutions (state control leading to totalitarianism) problematic.

The conclusion emphasizes the need for a judicious combination of assets from both traditional and modern values, with the "appropriate mix" being contextually defined by historicity and present conditions. Oommen advocates for:

Ideological Collectivism: Moving beyond primordial collectivism and instrumental/economistic collectivism towards a collectivism motivated by altruism for systemic welfare.
Need-Based Allocation: Shifting from traditional status-based allocation and current merit-based (capitalistic) allocation towards a socialist principle of need-based distribution.
Sensitization and Appreciation of Diversity: Transforming the traditional pluralism's insulation and contemporary secularism's indifference into a conscious sensitization and appreciation of diverse cultures.

Given India's realities—a predominantly rural economy with disparities, concentrated industrial capital, a vast and heterogeneous population, and an elite from a narrow base—Oommen proposes:

A co-operative socialist economy where primary producers directly and equitably own the means of production, rather than state capitalism.
A decentralized polity that empowers grassroots individuals to shape their destiny, rather than a delegated one.
A secular pluralistic society that allows for cultural diversity.

Opting for state capitalism, delegated political power, and current forms of secularism, he warns, would inadvertently create another elitist regime.

In essence, the text argues for a critical engagement with both India's rich tradition and its modern aspirations, advocating for a synthesized approach that leverages the strengths of the past while consciously addressing its weaknesses and the challenges of contemporary India.