Santoshat Anuttam Sukhalabhaha: The real Development paradigm:
Since lack of development is forwarded as one of the main reason of the visible unrest in Northeast India, we must touch it at least cursorily whenever we discuss any subject about the region, even if the subject may be say culture, history or renaissance. But we don't believe that lack of development to be the one and the only reason for the present problems. It is true that spiritual solutions should not be prescribed for physical ailments. Vedanta is not for empty stomachs.
Still it is worth noting that the concept of man as collection of matter and his needs as bread, clothing and house is a typical western but now global concept. It is no doubt a truth, but a lower truth according to Swami Vivekananda. It is only a truth for physical layer: Annamaya Kosha. However deeper than that is Pranamaya, Manomaya, Anandamaya Kosha.
Man is not just a collection of atoms. He has much more in him which so far Science has hardly fathomed into.
Look at this story, it will tell you so many things summarizing the discussion in these paragraphs:
A senior government officer went to a school of his pal in three piece suit and shining shoes. To kill the time, he started hunting birds with stones and being a good shooter, got one killed immediately. In an attempt of catching hold of the bird his coat got stuck in fencing and then he was scolded by the Principal of the school. He felt very annoyed because on the same day he had released some grant i.e. a large sum of money to the school through the Government funds. But still he kept mum as his son was still studying under the same Principal!! A high profile government officer at the outset, but child at heart, skilled at shooting and afraid of padha likha log (educated people)!! This is indeed the conflict within!!
According to 1951 Census, 74% in Assam were depending on agriculture. It was one of the foremost agricultural state besides Bihar. The great quality of 'Santosha' which we see all over India was prevalent. This quality of Santosha, contentment was advocated centuries before by Patanjali in his Niyamas of Ashtanga yoga. A hut, a field and lake (pukhari) was all that was required. Rice from the fields, water & fish from the lake would be sufficient to bring the unconquerable smiles on the faces, unmatched sweetness in the songs and unbeatable rhythm in the dances. The silky green patches of land are still cooling the eyes when we travel in any part of Assam. Beautiful weaving of variety of clothes having classic designs and colour schemes were done by women in every house. In fact cotton and silk were also produced in almost every home. So were produced, pleasing designs of pots, metal articles, bamboo and cane articles, etc.
Gandhiji was very happy when he saw his dream of Gramswarajya being practised in Assam. According to him Swadeshi is not just a boycott movement but a religious principle to be followed by all. It is said that ' Swadeshi is that spirit in us which restricts us to the use and service of our immediate surroundings to the exclusion of the more remote.' Even today, after so much of alienation and imitation of the West, the share of the domestic sector in the GDP is substantial. Over 9l % of the clothing for India is turned out by the traditional sector, Over 75% of the industrial employment is provided by the traditional sector, over 80% of the exports are from traditional sector. But not just Gandhiji, even Kautilya was amazed by the economic products of Assam and praised it in his 'Arthashastra.' Copious rainfall throughout the year was providing fertile soil for cultivation and it was cultivated extensively. Total four million acres were under the rice cultivation in' 51, Tea, Oil and coal were the only sizeable industries. It was mentioned at that time that in Hydro and thermal electric power, Assam has got great potential.
Sadly with sixty years of independence, this natural advantage of bio diversity, hydroelectricity and agro economy is hardly harnessed. Taking the stereotyped model of west as our model of development, and then cutting trade and transport routes due to partition has led to a torn economy.
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Since lack of development is forwarded as one of the main reason of the visible unrest in Northeast India, we must touch it at least cursorily whenever we discuss any subject about the region, even if the subject may be say culture, history or renaissance. But we don't believe that lack of development to be the one and the only reason for the present problems. It is true that spiritual solutions should not be prescribed for physical ailments. Vedanta is not for empty stomachs.
Still it is worth noting that the concept of man as collection of matter and his needs as bread, clothing and house is a typical western but now global concept. It is no doubt a truth, but a lower truth according to Swami Vivekananda. It is only a truth for physical layer: Annamaya Kosha. However deeper than that is Pranamaya, Manomaya, Anandamaya Kosha.
Man is not just a collection of atoms. He has much more in him which so far Science has hardly fathomed into.
Look at this story, it will tell you so many things summarizing the discussion in these paragraphs:
A senior government officer went to a school of his pal in three piece suit and shining shoes. To kill the time, he started hunting birds with stones and being a good shooter, got one killed immediately. In an attempt of catching hold of the bird his coat got stuck in fencing and then he was scolded by the Principal of the school. He felt very annoyed because on the same day he had released some grant i.e. a large sum of money to the school through the Government funds. But still he kept mum as his son was still studying under the same Principal!! A high profile government officer at the outset, but child at heart, skilled at shooting and afraid of padha likha log (educated people)!! This is indeed the conflict within!!
According to 1951 Census, 74% in Assam were depending on agriculture. It was one of the foremost agricultural state besides Bihar. The great quality of 'Santosha' which we see all over India was prevalent. This quality of Santosha, contentment was advocated centuries before by Patanjali in his Niyamas of Ashtanga yoga. A hut, a field and lake (pukhari) was all that was required. Rice from the fields, water & fish from the lake would be sufficient to bring the unconquerable smiles on the faces, unmatched sweetness in the songs and unbeatable rhythm in the dances. The silky green patches of land are still cooling the eyes when we travel in any part of Assam. Beautiful weaving of variety of clothes having classic designs and colour schemes were done by women in every house. In fact cotton and silk were also produced in almost every home. So were produced, pleasing designs of pots, metal articles, bamboo and cane articles, etc.
Gandhiji was very happy when he saw his dream of Gramswarajya being practised in Assam. According to him Swadeshi is not just a boycott movement but a religious principle to be followed by all. It is said that ' Swadeshi is that spirit in us which restricts us to the use and service of our immediate surroundings to the exclusion of the more remote.' Even today, after so much of alienation and imitation of the West, the share of the domestic sector in the GDP is substantial. Over 9l % of the clothing for India is turned out by the traditional sector, Over 75% of the industrial employment is provided by the traditional sector, over 80% of the exports are from traditional sector. But not just Gandhiji, even Kautilya was amazed by the economic products of Assam and praised it in his 'Arthashastra.' Copious rainfall throughout the year was providing fertile soil for cultivation and it was cultivated extensively. Total four million acres were under the rice cultivation in' 51, Tea, Oil and coal were the only sizeable industries. It was mentioned at that time that in Hydro and thermal electric power, Assam has got great potential.
Sadly with sixty years of independence, this natural advantage of bio diversity, hydroelectricity and agro economy is hardly harnessed. Taking the stereotyped model of west as our model of development, and then cutting trade and transport routes due to partition has led to a torn economy.
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