Author: Rajdeep Mahanta, UG 2nd Sem, History Hons, Cotton University, Guwahati, Assam, India
Modern, is one of the most used or rather abused words of our times. It is used increasingly today to level up oneself as ‘modern’, but more so to abuse others as it’s contrary. But what is modernity or being modern all about? How do we characterize one as modern or otherwise?
If we think for a while, then we would realise that it is by physical appearance, especially attire and food habits, that we often tend to test one’s modernity. How often have you been ridiculed or made fun of by your friends; for not dressing like them? How often were you tagged “unmodern” for refusing to go with them for a night out? I am sure, for most of us, the answer would be ‘Quite often’.
And consciously or unconsciously, we all fall prey to this characterization of Modernity. While dressing for a party or any event, mostly we take care to ensure not to look outdated. We even try to modify our eating habits to be tagged’Modern’. In lavish parties, we all must have come across people trying to eat food with a spoon, despite their utter discomfort with it?! Don’t you remember eating less food to ensure people don’t assume you to be a hungry ‘beast’?
But is modernity all about your attire, accent and food habits, perhaps not? As I put it, Modernity doesn’t lie in your wearing torn jeans or taking a drink, but in your right to decide whether to wear(take) it or not. Thus Modernity, in my view, is the inculcation of freedom and individual choice. Modernity is based on the belief, that every individual is the best judge of themselves. This is different from traditional societies, where group rather than individual identities were given primacy.
In traditional societies, most of the activities were undertaken in the name of God. Group identities like religion, caste, creed, skin colour, etc. determined the activities/priorities of an individual. Whether you like it or not, you were bound to follow most of these customs and mores. This is not to say that all individuals conformed to group identities. But the number of such dissenters was very small to make any substantial impact. With the advent of the modern age, the era of reason dawned on humanity. However, to the dismay of mankind, many of these group identities and their corresponding social implications continue to impact various facets of our life. Even the most modern of individuals, occasionally choose to prioritise tradition over reason.
This in my opinion is a great crisis of our times, much bigger in intensity than many widespread diseases. Unlike in the case of the latter, this plaque of showcasing modernity cannot be diagnosed via any modern medical equipment but is equally lethal for mankind. This can be remedied only through the spread of reason; by inculcating in the young minds, the true spirit of modernity. This modernity finds expression in the idea that it’s okay to be different. This Modernity is not conforming to a given notion, but inculcating the ability to think independently.
