THE INTERPLAY OF CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION

official source: A Few Problems Solved Part 6

cross-references: also published in Prout in a Nutshell Part 8

this version: is the printed A Few Problems Solved Part 6, 1st edition, version 
	(spelling mistakes only may have been corrected). I.e., this is the most 
	up-to-date version as of the present Electronic Edition.

      By society ordinarily we mean a collective body of men and women, but the innate spirit of the word 'society' is not this. Samaja or society in the true sense of the term implies an action of moving together (Samanam' ejate). We come across groups of persons in buses, trams and trains moving together; but this occasional movement cannot be termed society either. Being inspired by a common ideology, when different individuals move towards the common goal and become active for its achievement, this can be called a society. The appropriate English equivalent for Samaja should not therefore be society. Social advancement, which is a type of social action, means that the tie of mutual unity among the persons moving together has become strong.

	From ancient times there has been social life but no stable society. This stability in social life is, to some extent, the gift of the Ks'attriya age (the age of the warriors) and of the Post-Vaeshya age (the post-capitalist age). The Vaeshya age leads to Shudra revolution. So long as a proper atmosphere for Shudra revolution is not created, it can be said that no social consciousness has been created. How can social consciousness be achieved?

	Social consciousness implies the influence of a particular ideology and a new awakening among the people due to this ideology. This depends upon so many factors, the most important of which is the leadership of a great personality. Shudra revolution, therefore, needs a strong personality, and so long as this is lacking a strong society cannot be formed, what to speak of social revolution. To guide the society in the right path two factors are therefore essential--a great ideology and a great personality. Those who talk loud about society and seem horrified at its anticipated destruction, do not know that society in the true spirit of the term is yet to be formed in the world. So our primary duty now is to form a society. The seed of social consciousness is inherent in our 'Sam'gacchadhvam Samvadadhvam' Mantra. Where there is no such Mantra there is no ideology, and where there is no ideology, life is a goalless voyage.

	Human expressions are multilateral. The ways of life are multifarious. Amidst these multifarious activities the picture of human beings that we get is their culture. The sum-total of different expressions of human life is called Samskrti or culture. The ways of expression may differ from one group of people to other: some eat with their hands, some use spoons, yet others use sticks, but everyone has to eat. Human culture is, therefore, one and indivisible. The use of expressions such as Hindu culture, Muslim culture, Indian culture or European culture is absurd. Those who hold these partisan ideas are not well-wishers of humanity.

	The expressions of life may increase with intellectual development. There is no place for fine arts, literature and music among the so-called under-developed groups of people, so the expressions of life are less in number in their case. Where the number of expressions is more it can be said that there has been more cultural development in the material sense. Persons with more varied expressions of life may be called more cultured.

	Where the expressions of life are diverted to crude objectivities it is called Krst'i, which is a part of Sam'skrti. Crude manifestations of expressions are called Krs't'i. THe sum total of both crude and subtle manifestations of expressions is Samskrti. Krst'i may differ from one group of people to other but the Samkrti of human beings is one.

	Cultural expressions and civilization are not synonymous. Where there is control and rationality in the different expres sions of life, there is civilization. To take a concrete exam ple, eating is a cultural expression of life. Those who ration ally think that over-eating is bad, think restraint from it may be called civilized. The cultural expressions in people are many. People who cannot control the different expressions may be called culturally advanced but not civilized.

	Culturally advanced people may not necessarily be civilized if in their ex pression there is a lack of rationality, reasoning and control.

	Similarly, a so-called culturally backward people may not necessarily be socially backward. There are many who treat the Adivasis as backward. But a dispassionate consideration will reveal that though they may be culturally backward due to less expressions of life, they have made considerable social progress and are thus more socially advanced. Similar is the case with the Africans.

	From ancient times human beings have struggled against their obstacles. Struggle is the essence of life. Those who cry for disarmament are enemies of human beings. They are reluctant to fight even against criminals. Of course, with the spread of civilization human beings will not attack the unarmed and the weak. Unfortunately, there are many persons in this world who think of themselves as civilized but mercilessly crush the help less and the innocent. The pitiable destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bears witness to the uncivilized action of the so-called nations. Though they are culturally advanced, they are most backward in civilization. They should sit at the feet of the Indian Adivasis and learn about civilization. Those who possess atom and hydrogen bombs have to be taught the lesson that this universe is for human beings and not for demons. More powerful weapons have to be invented to counteract these uncivilized persons.

	Today special care has to be given to society and civilization. With intellectual development there will be cultural progress, but restraint and rationality have to be exercised on the cultural expressions. In life today there is utter lack of these qualities. it is the bounden duty of the leaders of this world to form a strong society of human beings on the basis of a constructive ideology and to spread civilization in them. If this is done, cultural development will automatically occur.