On Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 5:20 PM, Indrajit Gupta <[email protected]>wrote: > > > So true, so bitterly accurate.
I completely agree. > > > How did we manage to side-step the community so completely, and concentrate > on the individual so exclusively? Is it anything to do with our > philosophical systems, which concentrate on the individual almost > exclusively? I must say, this contrasts very strangely with the Indian social construct, in which the happiness of the individual is always subservient of the family that s/he belongs to, the extended family, and society. Societal norms are taught as being paramount and conformity is a great virtue. One's entire lifestyle seems to be laid down for one depending on where and in what community one is born."What will they say?" seems to the basis on which one lives one's life. How do we reconcile the two, lack of communal/civic sense, and the overwhelming social conscience? Deepa.
