Pretext: Don’t feel pampered if I am using the SWA word for both contexts. Perhaps it was first time that abbreviation SWA is used for rural context also, but seeing no other better option to make arrogant and complex tissues understand easily, I bend on this way.
But before proceeding one thing to understand is that there can't be any comparison between the two especially when it comes to sophistication, population and fellowship size.
When it comes in mind the word SWA, straight forwardly strikes the modern image of urban SWAs. A symbol of synthesized form of modernization, whose fragments originates somewhere from different shores of rural India,
the India where there has been the real sophisticated SWAs. The SWAs in the form of all possible kind of individual to caste, individual to village, common to caste and common to village social Panchayats and moral institutions. Somewhere they are count on Temples, Gurudwaras, Masjids, Maths and Churches too. But what exactly is the SWA called for?
It is nothing but a self-imposed or group-imposed code of social conduct to live within a specific social group and/or region; whether it is religious, caste base, sub-caste base when it comes to rural India or it is amalgamation of different cultures at one residential locality plus to individual rural bases, when it comes to urban India. Very rare found that this kind of comparison have shouted in any sociological theory/method or any sociologist in Indian context. By the way
SWA stands for Social Welfare Associations.
Let’s study what they are in two different contexts, seemingly the recent most rivalry to each other. Interesting phobia here is that urban always pretend to be more updated, sophisticated and flag bearer for gazing the social evils of societies and always seen in a try to teach the ages old rural ones to adopt the instantaneous definitions of modernization defined by them, which in themselves might be hardly 5 years or a decade old or in a nuisance stage in comparison of rural ones.
Here starts the battle of self-consideration for who is superior, just like a junior sales manager seen trying to convince or supersede his/her more than half of life experienced manager or director, which he/she only can do when it shows and prove not only his/her talent but expresses gratitude in behavior to bosses.
Why people are so adamant in applying the same theory in social context when they launch fronts for proving themselves more sophisticated than rural and that too with their just evolved cosmetic and seemingly unjustified but liberal norms? And gratitude, respect or salutation in their approach is vide of like breath from the body. This kind of attitude or approach can only be defined none the less but colonial attitude. And when it comes to approach rural in areas like Haryana, Dilli, Northern Rajsthan and Western U.P., the story turns to be the sourest because
they are the people who not only believes but have been practicing the decentralized system of social engineering for ages. How so ever strongly one impose something on them the proportionally stronger repulse is received to their tries from them.
Anyway we start with four comparisons or more broadly the evaluations of these two social contexts:
- What exactly each is meant for their respective contexts.
- What is common between the two, the commons to which urban would ever like to stand by?
- What is uncommon or contradictory to each other, on which urban are always seen landing to prove their advancement.
- Transformation of slavery from colonial to cultural control is the biggest issue in Indian community as of the day. The reasons seen behind time to time rifts between the two.
We believe that these all sorts of rifts and disputes arise due to below reasons mainly. So we will try to envisage the real reasons behind this rivalry
(especially in rural context), which seems as:
- Is it really the issue of being modernized or just to convert the rural as their cultural follow ups or in broader sense as cultural slaves? And if not then why rural is engulfed with the fear of their social identity being mentored? Certainly and as said above there is something wrong in all kind of urban approaches for rural.
- If one wants to sell their products or capture markets then why it is always to first break their core social identities? Isn't there a way through which both are achieved i.e. sale of products and one' cultural dignity?
- Rural social bodies really need any change or just cosmetic polishing of their image on pattern of so called modern and urban SWAs?
Point 1: What is rural and urban SWA?
Rural SWA: Well since the time we have heard the use of word SWA on various T.V. programs or even before by being living in some short of urban SWAs, it has become the symbol of modernization and social sophistication, apart from the reality that they never reach even the third degree of sophistication.
You see, physically we are free/liberal today but still slave to English phrases and need them every now and then to express our advancement (I can understand the financial advancement for which English is necessary but if someone calls it cultural advancement then I would better stay a step back because to me it is rather a cultural slavery).
I don’t understand till date why we forget to understand every time that even Britishers whose English is/has been the symbol of advancement for us, they only live by their ages old ancient rustic and country side cultural values
(Slight rectifications might have been a part of it). They kept us colonized for 200 years or more but never adopted our Hindi, our culture even the positive aspects, at a least of it? But here we, in addiction of becoming the biggest cultural slave in world are hardly so much culturally sophisticated that none of us
(exceptions are mere) put capable of cultural sustenance. Rather start reverting back with haste on our rural cultural roots.
Yes it is like cutting yourself the branch you are climbed on and that is why India still to wait for gaining its self-recognition and self-esteem.
Everyone just seems so selfish that after reaching to heights of so called unjustified modernizations (cultural slavery), they don’t even care of looking behind. Instead of try to change the stubble water of a lake, they seem intended to dig a new lake and fill it afresh, how logical it is when lakes are already there? And that is why a stuff rift is seen in such arguments.
It seems more like a new version of colonial attitude, a colonial attitude within in nation, within religion on our own by our owns, of one similar social group over the other.
Anyways, we were talking about Rural SWA (pity on my tongue that I am also used to it now), yes if to say in local dialects then
it is Social Panchayats of all shorts like Family Clan (Bagad), Panna, Thola, common to village, common to castes, individual to caste or individual to village social councils and then similarly Tapa, Talluka, Khap, Sarv-Khap. Or religious panchayats like Temples, Maths in Hindus, Gurudwara, Deras in Sikhs, Masjids-Dargah in Muslims and Church-Cheritable Trusts in Christians and so on for other religions. (Out of all these and being a descendant of Khaps, I can say that if the core principals of Khap' sociology are followed in today's context, they can prove the most vibrant, liberal and casteless systems).
The common thing in all these institutions is that none of them is defined on any constitutional or law of India pattern rather a representation of different social groups. Almost each group is defined on blood and milk relations, same or similar biological genes, socio-cultural values, beliefs, ethics and up to some extent it is their profession.
You are known to almost each and every person in village.
Urban SWA: Society, Locality, Colony, Religious Belief, Caste Belief, Regional Originality or Professionalism is some or most of the criteria on which Urban SWA is/are defined. Purpose is same as of Rural but social groups are defined on the bases of who lives in your society as a permanent, temporary, owner or tenant.
Your known's is limited to your office colleagues and neighbors that too depending on your origin, caste, religion, belief and professional interests.
Point 2: Similitude between Urban and Rural SWA: When it comes to individual purpose in which they run with individual and identical interests, how similar to each other they appears. The comparison is done like no one is going to strike the other's interest rather fulfilling identical interests and purposes in their respective prospects.
Point/Purpose |
Rural SWA |
Urban SWA |
Social Security |
Protection of social recognition, life-damage, life-accidents plus modern day insurance policies and first-aids |
Individual insurance and first-aids in a minimum collaborative agreement method and to attain safety-feeling being in |
Social Identity |
Religious and caste level interests |
Person keeps searching the same origin, religion and social belief persons. Living with other social beliefs is merely by choice rather an adjustment |
Social Esteem |
Historical and social influence |
Your professional identity is your social influence |
Narcissism |
Decision making |
Living packed in their own houses except looking out in case of any reason affecting your life |
Social Similarity |
Being of separate caste and religion, different social bodies share a minimum quantum of common norms |
No minimum commonality is shouted, pay your dues and get served |
Social Lobbying |
When it comes to inter-community social issues, each intend to protect interests of their own community people despite who is wrong and who is right |
New entrants in society are kept under high vigilance and if you are single then it is more important. Drinking, Partying, Rent Payments on time, who will come in society with you and who will not kind of obligations. |
Profession |
Psychology revolves around sociology of farming and farming dependent other-skills communities. |
All kind of secondary jobs starting from government to all type of private sectors. You salary package will define your stay in residence in society |
Until the time both are living in their own packs, all go on smooth and peaceful track but troubling and quarreling start up when each other primarily the Urban starts raising questions on rural systems.
Urban life is bi-product or secondary life dependent on rural life. Secondary because all kind of raw material starting from eating to wearing to drinking to protection comes from primary services originating from villages. And in greed of taking the control on it urban community seen disturbing them by raising human right issues and other similar problems in almost every rural context and here comes the differences in picture. See below how the above compared similitude gets differentiated.
Here point to notice is that in more than 95% of cases it is the urban community who always seemingly assert the rurals on what to do and how to do or what not to do, where as the clear intention is only one and that is to
take control of their dignity with the tool of advancement and being modern.
Though persons who has first generation roots from rural they oppose these kind of bullshits and keep equal interest in gazing these gaps but the second generations from rural seems more inactive in it. Perhaps it is because of generation gap and a lack of improper transfer of and their direct introduction to rural values and system.
Point 3: Differences between Urban and Rural SWA: As 95% distractions starts from urban so putting urban on left and rural on right in this table. Rural are never seen initiating on any social issue arising in cities but cities wish to put the legs in even for half-baked toasts.
Point/Purpose |
Urban SWA |
Rural SWA |
Social Security |
To ensure your recognition as more advanced so called educated and civilized person among rural. Second to ensure nail of anti-social elements in within SWA |
Expects their first generation rural migrated to cities to bring more recognition to their social values and economic contributions, which is hardly seen |
Social Identity |
Assurance of permanent life resources especially in terms of money |
Assurance of preservation of their ancient social values |
Social Esteem |
More power to control others feel more esteemed |
More similar society more motivation |
Narcissism |
Top of the sky |
Down to soil |
Social Similarity |
Outrageous, excessive, unusual, individual |
Traditional, orthodox, usual, common |
Social Lobbying |
Control the rural markets, life-style and resources. Lobbying the living style and rights of first generation entrants in cities |
Deny to unnecessary exposure which outfits the social norms |
Profession |
Making policies, maximum false impressions on rural contexts to capture their intellect |
How to solemnize absurd as unacceptable to avoid extra hassle and investments |
These comparisons clearly show that urban SWA's also adore the similar kind of parameters for punishing the social culprits or frauds as rural does, then what is it which drive urban to grip rural with under covers like modernization, development and advancement?
Point 4: Real Human Modernization versus Cultural Slavery: History states that more control of others interests, beliefs and intellect, assures you the better tag of Human Modernization from own angle but a cultural slavery from angle of victim. In a world where one doesn't care of parents, relatives and friends without any purpose or reason behind it then who raise these slogans of human rights, modernization?, here is a brief:
- Greed of control over all kind of life-resources
- Intention of establishing own social beliefs over others
- Historical, racial, communal hatred and under-gloves revenges
- Immunizing the others social influences
Recent improper development of India is proving hazadious to its diverse culture. New policies whether economic or social, all are giving the impression of ancient varna system, where interests of people were never considered equal. Difference is that the traditional hatred groups are going replaced by new groups
(farming community is its biggest target) but problem seems no end and is stuck to India as its permanent ill-fate. Below picture shows you how:
Conclusion: All kind of modern versus rural rift is nothing but new form of slavery. I would rather call it as a
65 years old transformation journey of colonial slavery to cultural slavery started back with Indian Independence in 1947. In last 65 years at the name of independence we have earned nothing but emergence of pre-colonial slavery ages trends in 21st century. To engulf, to demean the other's cultural values, people were similarly eager in those days as seen today too.
In fact 1000 years of colonial period has learnt us nothing but
"Wahi dhaag ke teen paat, choutha hone ko na jaane ko", we are back to same attitude. Difference is that at that time it was against communities now it has become rural versus urban. Even the impressions of one community versus the other can also be seen. At that time it was more declined to social-living status now it is added with economic market grabbing and capturing intentions.
At the end rural children and new entrants from rural to urban life or even who stays in rural should not heed to any of these hidden agendas until or unless you really understand the core purpose their approaches towards you, approaches whether it is through any ongoing T.V. or print media debate or anyone approaching you directly in field.
Truth is that urban is failing to convince the rural with their so called sophistication, which is more or less the revised version of rural itself with just a slight polishing of so called colonial cosmetics perhaps the impressions of pre-colonial period of India. And it is until we don't get rid of blood that we can only be driven with slave hunters and until we don't realize, rectify, develop, reconize our own literature of liberal, democratic and federal sociology.
At the end author believes that this presentation could be more beautiful and has further scope of improvements.
Definition of points/purposes used in article:
- Social Security: Social Security system has engaged in resources transfers of three kinds, intergenerational, intergenerational and inter-temporal.
- Social Identity: A social identity is the portion of an individual's self-concept derived from perceived membership in a relevant social group. According to Henri Tajfel and John Turner (1970s-80s) social identity is a way in which to explain intergroup behavior.
- Social Esteem: It is comfort and comfort is not self-esteem. According to Branden, self-esteem is the sum of self-confidence (a feeling of personal capacity) and self-respect (a feeling of personal worth). It exists as a consequence of the implicit judgment that every person does about, on one side, his/her ability to face life's challenges, that is, to understand and solve problems, and, on the other side, his right to achieve happiness, or, in other words, to respect and defend his own interests and needs.
- Narcissism: Narcissism usually is used to describe some kind of problem in a person or group's relationships with self and others. A kind of social superiority and inferiority.
- Social Similarity: Similarity refers to the psychological nearness or proximity of two mental representations. Similarity refers to how closely attitudes, values, interests and personality match between people.
- Social Lobbying: Where financial power is trumped by network power and is involved in launching one social group over the other most of stated as targeting.
- Profession: encompass both the characteristics of individuals and their context, and the development and interaction between them.
