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Page 6 - THE CANADIAN INDIA TIMES - May 15, 1JW5
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T|ie IncBan Inferiority Complex
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ly Gerwmlc , ,| � After Independance one would he? At least not enough.
India, as a country, ss a Paradox assume that this feelin� of improve St. Can this be caused
By Gerviata
; India, as a country,ss a ^ to those who know it land a, mystery to those who d^n't. A large part of this paradoxf lies in it's peoj>l^. The average Indian, if there ever was one, is as} full of completes and contradictions as ;can be [expected from a (people exppsecj to both, centujries of tradition of 20th Century modern-uation.j.Let us see whatjpicture emerges as \ve attempt to}.look at this particular specie of mfin from .a socioanthropolbgical pbint of >"view.: �!>;� 1 ,
*HE S|AVE SYNDROME
Talk to an Indian and you will start to* notice a sttange sense of inferiority with respect jtb the
West . ; (To an Indian I India, iajny material object pin to an airplane, is su produced in the, West. I r
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ing, n from a erior if nd that
most ;lniJians take this % ranted ,as a fact � almost as a religious rule. In fact, people have such blind f^ith in this concept that they ai^e willing to p2ty many times t.he Indian price fot ^n item, say \.a refrigerator, madej in the West rither than buy anj Indian equivalent � in the firm, belief that they are getting, a better
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No\v the disturbing thing" about this inferiority complex is t&at it is not resftripted to only niateriaS possessions- The Indian Has held the whble Western Hfe^tyle in awe. hidtans imitate V^estern habitsj they follow V^estern modes] of dress, andj dance Western dances. Even traditional customs are now' changing to accommodate themselves! to the more liberal views of the West. One is; (forced to ask, MV*hy this blind aping of the. West? Why this s $en$ele,ss sa'crific of onq's own culturejand identity in a desperate effort t6 copy another culture that they blindly believe is superior?*"
Tfie answers are many! varied and complex, but one j factor^ islands jout amongst them all -r The -.Slatv� Syndrome. Thellessons of history have taught �js that* throughout history, whenever One civilization had ruled another with a dorrjinant hand, thej rulers constantly reinforced) their-superiarify over their sjubjects. The oppressed (suppressed)-subjects (developed a sense of their ojwn inferiority and worth-lessnesisj much on thtf same psycho|c|gical order as sjayes of old r-v'jand this phenomenon has been referred to as MTHe Slave Syndrojme". India, this sense or feeling) was imposed u|>on the Indian jrriind, by the assoittmetat of Western colonists that hkd once ruled parts of India, enpng, of course j with the Briti$h|. When, the British finally , gave 'Ipdia her independence, this feelinfc was so rootecbin the Indian minp that it nas lingered for, a few �enerat-k>ns, ^eing handed down like an undesirable and tindesir^d set of old clothes. This psychological is rampant in ,ih Indian
mind,
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New elhi, .May ](Ull): The
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Gpvei-timent of India is (ikely to subsidise the election expenses of
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candidates to the extent,off 42 per cent of jthe permissible libjit ift the comingj elections, the subsidy, which wpulq accure only toi those not forfeiting their deposits, would entail an| expenditure of Rs-50 million ft 6.67
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The vGwerriment is also likely to extend various other facilities to candidates which would &>$t the
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exchequer another Rs I50j million ($20 milJibn) to R$ 200 million "26.67'million),' / �' ' j
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Independance one would assume that this feeling of oppressive inferiority jwould-slowly decrease as later and later generations would be; even farther removed from the memory of the British Raj or Western colonists. It would then only be a matter of time before thje slave syndrome would be erased vor correct itself. However, as history would play it, worsening! conditions in India since independance have made people look evermore to the prosperous West, J ulnfort-unatety, reinforcing, this whole feeling of inferiority* How can-a country think well of itself jwhen it doesn't have enough food! to feed it's people or enough ciotjhing or shelter for . it's citizens�7-especially when they can see how the other half lives in th|e West with such ' an abundance of .material wealth. - j . List us attempt to see tyhy this lingering feeling of inferiority can have disastrous effects, particularly-in � Country like India. The Indian mind is and has been, for centuries ^fatalistic.". This .sense of fatalism has* at. times, been extremely' useful � particularly in helping an unfortunatel person tide over his difficulties. The attitude; "I couldn't heljp it, ,it was my fate V4 can help a \ person accept defea.t with a truly healthy sense of resignation, This'attitude is correct and valid-in cases which are hpnestly beyond the iunfort-unate" person's control -j~ such casts as floods, earthquakes, typhoons, droughts and other cases where man is pitted lagainst nature, [
However, in tthe case o? things which are within, the control of the person, this attitude of "it-is my ,fate" is self-defeating . There are Several, facets of. an Indian's lifej-style 'which he can help improve by himself �?thej cleanliness of the country, personal hygiene, a more even share of fobifr distribution by rational
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sharing and not by hoarding and numerous other factors, ifionly he has enough feeling for his ^country to do so. It is here that an attitude of fatalism can be disastrous� preventing people from improving themselves an<J giving rise to a general feeling of malaise. It is this feeling of malaise {that is directly influenced by a general .feeling of inferiority,! ahd-consequently a lack of respect for the country. . r
Several of the efforts at imprbving the country depend on the'cooperative, effort of a team of people, forgetting their individual differences and working jfor the good of the country. Except iri the Indian Armed Services, this teatn spirit is not seen i in any other facet of Indian life.. Can this be taken as ample proof, tjhat the average Indian does npt consider setting aside his differences to wort for the good of the country worth the effort? In that case he certainjy doesn't have; much respect for his country -j- dbes
Super Powers
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New Delhi, May 5 (UlSfl): The External Affairs Ministet, Y. B. Crjavan, warned that a "[massive campaign" to misinterpret the situation in the Indian Ocean area has been launched by j mighty external powers with worldwide mass media at their disposal.
He said there hayfe been consistent attempts to undermine the consensus reached iby the Indian Ocean littoral and( hinterland states on the concept of the Indian Ocean as a zone of peace. N$r. Chavan was inaugurating a seminar on "Developments in the Sub-Continent" and "lievelop-ments in the ASEAN region" here. The three-day seminar, organised by the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, is being attended by Military
he? At least not enough, to improve ^t. Can this be caused by a heavy feeling of inferiority ? Related to this sense of fatalism, is a .strong sense of the traditional in India. India is a country M traditions which are very slow to.change. Many of these traditions, like food habits, for example, are useless,-impractical and definitely hinder the material progress of the country, it is true that traditions have their good points. They
provide sense of
people with a certain continuity, sometimes
frightening effects ^of change. They alsdprovide an individual or a community with a sense of, respect by providing him with something to identify with; something they look up to which they can pe a part of. This works in mUch jthe same way that the Catholic (religion works for the Catholics! It is a respectable organization which has gained its respect over the centuries. By being a part of that organization and by following its tradition and its rituals, a true practicing Catholic } feels the sense of personal jhonor that he feels the 'organization represents. Now if a person Or a community has nothing nore to hold on to than a ,sense ot personal pride, in tradition and ritual, he will not readily $[iye up this ritual or tradition, unless this sense of respect and belonging can , be replaced [by finding it in another aspect ot life. In much of the West- anc in Japan, one finds this pride andj respect in one's country
� but this is not quite so in India
� another indication of the sense of the country's inferiority.
This leads the Indian into a never-ending vicious circle. He will not [give up his traditions because) they are his only assurance of his centuries of pride....>et, he will never gain pride aw! material prosperity if he does not give up some of his traditions. Again, he will not give up his seise of fatalism because it protects nim psychologically from defeats ojr hindrances...yet r if he does not) give up some, of this fatalism j he may never overcome these same hindrances. Finally, to summarize the whole inferiority complexity of the viscious Circle, the Indian feels that because [they are an inferior people, klieir country is back* ward....ypt they are^ an inferior people because their country is back ware.
For Inc ia to make any rational progress with the times, it has to break out of tliis viscious circle and dete 'mine its own fate* This .could only happen, with strong leadership, a sense of direction in its peopl^, and a strong feeling of their own worth to negate their overwhelming sense inferiority.
[Reprinted from BHARMA]
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Generals from Indonesia and India and senior officials of the Defence and External Affairs Ministries.
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Calcutta Polluted
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Calcutta;, May 9(UNI); Not an inch of pie city is free from air pollution, according to a Smoke Nuisance Commission Survey. In fact, jbolth nitrogen oxide and sulphur oxide contents in the air here .have already exceeded five
percent
the peril points of seven per cent and ten per cent respective-
ly, the J
and are fast approachin
Mrvey revealed:
Miss Padmaja Naidu (second from right) who died on May receiving donations from voluntary agencies as the Vice man of the Bangla Desh Assistance Committee in 1971.
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Economic Problems Main Task
2nd
Kingston, May 9(UNI): The Prime Minister, > Mrs. Indira Gandhi, said that tne main task of Commonwealth lealders should be to address themselves to the issue of economic inequality and
challenges of our new epoct she said.
The Prime Minister said~~wnlle~ one -could not pinpoint the achievements of the Commcln-
generate momentu tive action "Today there is a
for coopera* .wealth, she felt that in todays
demand for a
world the very fact that leaders
of
more positive approach, more purposeful actioip and more tangible results. Past concept and assumptions cannot meet the
countries so divergent in she, levels of development and the nature of their, problems could meet and talk informally and las friends,was important.
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Alarming Gap between Income and Expenses
Kanpur, May 5 (UNI): A sample survey conducted by the Labour Bureau of the Ministry of Labour on 1294 working class families regarding their income and expenditure on the 1971 price index base revealed that the gap between the income and expend-. iture which was only rupee one (13.3 cents) jn 196,0 had increased to Rs. 81 ($10.8 million). .
This was disclosed t>y K. K. Bhatia of Labour Bureau, Simla, at a tripartite conference of the representatives of the state and central governments and the representatives of the employees and employers "organizations-here.
The conference, was held- to discuss the new consumer price index number on base 1911 = 100 to be replaced by the latest consumption pattern based on
working class income and expen diture survey of 1971. '
Both the employer and ihe employees representatives-doubted the correctness v of the Figures compiled by the Bureau. The 1971 survey revealed that while the income per working class family increased by only 2.25 per cent,, the expendiiire registered an increase of 3.08 per cent over the figures of I960, j
According to the survey, wliile the average income in 1960 was Rs 94 ($12.53) against the average expenditure of Rs. 95 ($12.67), it went to Rs 212133 ($28.31) in 1971 as against ihe average expenditure of Rs 293 .29 ($39.10).
The survey also revealed that the number of families in debt also. increased substantially.
Indian Astrology Popular Abroad
New Delhi, May 9 (UNI): The ancient Indian system of astrology is gaining .popularity in all countries including , oil-rich-Sheil;hdoms, Accord wig to a well-1 jiown Indian astrologer who has just returned from a tour abroad. ;
The! astrologer, J. N. Sharma, who Recently visited countries in s, America and West Asia, at he found people in these
saidt coun
Mr.
ries having full , faith
j Hindi astrology.
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Sharma, who claims to have
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correttly. predicted many national and international events in the
past, .is of the view that astroiogically India has gJfeat times ahead. According to hjiin, India would overcome its difficulties soon and by 1982 it wcjuld become a force to be reckoned with. -
He also predicted that hostile neighbours would attack India! in the near future but would suffer "crushing defeat*'. \
He also forecast a dim future (For West Asia which he ,said woild plunge into a total war, with superpowers taking sides and .occupying the oil fields.
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New Family Planning Technique
Calcutta, May 9(UHl): Menstrual regulation by a surgical method introduced for the first time in the country has been found to be safe and an effective medical process to rid the mother of (unwanted children, according to Dr. B Mullick, Project Director, India
Dr, Mullick told UNI! that the IFRP had launched the method, commonly known as the artificial removal of suspected pregnancy in urban slum and rural areas, which was markedly safe and more effective .than that of first trimester abortion. The results of a study undertaken by the IFRP was reported at the first-ever World Conference on Menstrual Regulation held recently in Honolulu and was
highly appreciated by the $cientists attending the Coiife1 rence, he added. ]
Dr.. Mullick said the method called. M.R. > needed neitljier hospitalisation nor anaesthesia and was found to be safe. j He said the method was simple and could be performed within) 14 days of a missed menstrual period with or without positive propff of pregnancy. >t . J
The technique 'Was surgical insertion into the uterus, of a hand-held, syringe ant!* tfre "karman cannula" named afjter its inventor, Dr. Harvey Karman. Dr. Mullick said the M.R. merited had a good scope in supplementing the mass scale contraceptive practice in the country and would be acceptable to all communities as a low:cost procedure to their family size small.
FILM
JEEVAN Produced Harbans . ALLURI! Directed! A looic struggle! generatio the youn; source of ation. AJ chroiticlir applause, could art many, A Jeevan & Andol Majumda first film < with Ki< singing i< revolutioi Singh too more tha finish it. N. Bansi
make ted by S.Kumar- i Sirigh fc romantici the mart; withoutd Lahore J; throwing Assembly sometim< ies betwi the film patriotic Jeevan! history fi Instead who es< Calcutta Budge i <4Koma Septemb responsil of fiery the Briti imaginar played 1 cannot sli Some oth that of
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