Thus Spake the Divine - Division of Labour & Division in Attitudes

Thus Spake the Divine

Division of Labour & Division in Attitudes

You should remember that allocation of professions is not based on caste but it is the caste that is identified based on the profession. How castes were divided based on professions?

There is a concept called “Division of Labour” in economics. If a society has to function, a lot of activities need to be carried out. That is, there has to be Division of Labour. But who can define the number of people to be engaged in a particular profession? How to define the number of people in each profession, so that the society runs in a balanced manner? This is a difficult proposition. All people compete to engage in professions, which they find comfortable to them. This leads to greed and bitterness, followed by lack of discipline and ethics in society.

As Division of Labour remained incorporated in our society traditionally, there existed peace, happiness, affinity and contentment within people. Each person did his duty. The society functioned in a disciplined manner. No billionaire was discontent and a cobbler was also content. But now, the so-called ‘economic development’ has driven people into greed and discontentment. This kind of ‘development’ is rapidly on the rise.

In those days, people were not greedy. Since the society was divided into smaller groups, people within the group bonded with each other and all were happy. Moreover, they had belief in their religion, had their own family deity and were devoted to their God. As they were content, they did not yearn for substances external to them. The entire society was in good shape. Though people were divided into different groups, they all remained united in the name of God. When there was a festival at the local temple, all people, irrespective of their caste, would join together and participate in the festival. There were no heart burns, no abusive languages, each and everyone did his duty and remained content and happy.

Considering all these things, it will be very incorrect to say that despite people having been divided into different groups, they managed to thwart several external attacks. It will only be apt and correct to say that just because people were divided into several groups and everything functioned smoothly, the society remained united for times immemorial and defeated every evil design. All other big religions, which applied general universal rules for all to remain as one single large group gradually collapsed.

Thus, it can be inferred that it is only the Varna Dharma in the Hindu religion, which calls for division of society into smaller groups of castes, that has bound people together into a single bundle of small bundles, tied together strongly with a knot called “Devotion to God”. This is what has been protecting the Hindu religion. Religions that applied Universal Codes of Dharma to all people faded out against the onslaught of different kinds of religions that emerged from within or from outside. In India, the Varna Dharma, which was part of the Universal Codes of Dharma, could still accommodate any other religion that emerged from within or from outside. Within our own country, Buddhism and Jainism emerged but eventually merged into the Hindu religion. Why do some people now want to totally abolish Varna Dharma? They feel Varna Dharma infuses discrimination to a great extent and they want to bring in equality among all in order to elevate themselves higher.

But is it viable? Take the case of religions in other countries, which do not have the system of castes. Is there no discrimination within the society of those countries? Are there no conflicts? Everywhere, there are ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ and conflicts between them are bound to be there. If we try and understand our religion fully, it will be clear that there is no one superior or inferior on the basis of castes. All are performing their own professional duties. If at all there is an opinion of superiority or inferiority, the matter can be resolved instead of getting into a confrontation.

If one believes there are superior-inferior treatments arising on account of castes, the same are prevalent in other countries of the world too. There, they may not be on account of castes, but differences prevail there too. Americans are affluent with all luxuries of life. Even servants are said to possess a car there. Then, shouldn’t everybody be totally content there? But what do we see? The one who has one car is jealous of the one who has two cars! A person having one crore dollars is jealous of person who has two crore dollars! What does all this mean? It is human tendency to feel discriminated wherever there is a situation of haves and have- nots. Discrimination is prevalent everywhere in some form or other.

Even in communist countries, where there is supposed to be absolute equality, one happens to be the officer and the other a clerk, isn’t it? May be, they cannot openly confront each other over this. But heart to heart there will be the feeling of jealousy and confrontation.

Actually, all professions are intended for the well-being of the society. Irrespective of the kind of profession, if one does it with perfection and surrenders to God, nothing more is needed for self-emancipation. One should never think that a profession is superior or inferior. We have nurtured and brought our civilisation to a great height by being united in diversity. Others are under the false impression that they are all united but, in reality, their civilisations have dwindled. Here, there is diversity only in profession but unity within, and thus our civilisation has flourished. It is very difficult in reality for everything to be equal and also perfect. At the same time, it is not fair if everything is unequal and diverse. There is a compromise, which the Dharma Shastras of our religion prescribe. I have come as its representative. That is why I say that there should be diversity in the codes of rules to be followed. And, at the same time, there should be unity at heart. Please don’t get confused between the two.

This article is a snippet from the Book Thus Spake the Divine, is available online at www.giri.in and across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture and Tradition.

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