The Role of Periodicals on Indian Renaissance and National
Integration - Pre and Post Independence Scenario
V. S. Rama Devi
Former Governor of Himachal
Pradesh & Karnataka
Renaissance
was the name popularly understood as the revolution in literature and art in
Europe during the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries. However, Renaissance was not primarily an artistic and literary
change and it actually began with an intellectual and moral ideal. It was felt that only the political
institution or social organization, which gives maximum actual freedom to an
individual, can be treated as meritorious. What was this actual freedom sought
by an individual? It was the freedom
which gradually removed all the factors – physical – social, psychological that
stood as walls between the individual
and the unfolding of his rational, moral and creative potentialities. Man wanted a society where his relationship
among the members of the society and the forces controlling the society was
such that he, as an individual enjoyed the maximum measure of freedom. If it
were not happening in a society, which proclaimed itself to be a free and
democratic one, then the ideals of social literature and progress were
considered to be mere political slogans – untrue and faithless. Perhaps we are passing through that phase
even after independence.
Today we are far away from inner directed
society. We live today in an outward
directed society governed by the forces of technology and mechanics. The world has come to us in our drawing room
through the sky, whereas it has enlarged our perspective, it has narrowed down
our vision of reality. Today the individual is at the mercy of the
technological push-buttons. He may soon
be reduced to a Robot. Time is to put a brake here and to ask for himself the
question that was asked by the Upanishadkars ‘What shall I do? Where shall I
go?’
Is it not the time to think of a new symbol
for the second renaissance or ongoing renaissance which may again show that man
is supreme enjoying the actual freedom which was thought of by our
forefathers? Is it not the time to
ponder over the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi who emphasized upon morality and
humanity?
In human history, education has provided a
continuous and a basis for development of human society. Through development of attitudes, values
and capabilities, both of knowledge and
skill, education provides strength and resilience to people to respond to
social situation and enables them to contribute to social development. Thus development of human resources is the
main function of education. Development
refers to qualitative improvement of mind.
We have entered this millennium which is
promising quantum jumps with added new dimensions and in the context of inter
play of international forces impeding mutual struggle against backwardness and
shadows of the past. Here we are at the
cross roads requiring introspection for better strategy against motivated
manoevours of the few against the genuine needs and interests of the poor and
the under developed.
While research for organized social patterns
will always be a healthy academic exercise, the focus has to be on human
considerations and values. Human
behavior and action have to be linked with morality as they are passing through
an era of continuous modernization and indiginisation but we have to take a
look at our value system. Our country
has its strong historical and cultural values which fluctuate with every turn
of century but, our vision of the nation must be built on the strength of our
moral fibre, human values, global peace and the mobility of human soul as
envisaged in our teachings and sayings of our ancient seers, poets and enlightened
souls rather than sheer economic prosperity.
In a restructured social order new changes will take place but, the new
society should not abdicate traditional human relations and respect for home
and hearth.
I am sure the journals like ‘Triveni’ would
be a source of inspiration to those who try to evolve such a social order.
Guest of Honour address delivered at
the Seminar organised by Triveni Foundation, Hyderabad on 3.3.2004 on the
occasion of Platinum Jubilee Celebrations.