tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1338007918823710198.post1150250108836755286..comments2023-07-26T16:09:24.741+05:30Comments on Lokavidya Jan Andolan (LJA)<br>लोकविद्या जन आन्दोलन: PRIVILEGE, POLITICS AND LOKVIDYA - P.R.K. RaoVidya Ashramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02683679935172546020noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1338007918823710198.post-39073524698398348432011-08-07T06:29:44.420+05:302011-08-07T06:29:44.420+05:30"It seems to me that the enthusiasm for privi..."It seems to me that the enthusiasm for privileging LOKVIDYA over other systems of knowledge is as much an expression of the frustration with the specific form of the oppressive power exercised by the knowledge system of modern science and technology as it is due to the unwarranted belief that LOKVIDYA is innocent of coercive power because it is knowledge produced by 'people'. As if other systems of knowledge are not produced by 'people'." ------- Prof. P R K Rao<br /><br />In engineering we say 'Every Design is Good Design unless Otherwise Specified'. It means that unless the design meets with the desired specifications, it is useless as it is irrelevant to the situation. It also means that no matter how modern & advanced tools and techniques may have been used for designing, it is useless if it does not meet with the specifications. So the basic requirement is to meet with the given specifications; philosophy of design, its mathematics, tools & computers; hand made or automated, etc, etc; notwithstanding.<br /><br />The same is true for the down to earth world, its dynamics and the conduct of the Man who is a part of it, the preachings of Srimadh Bhagvat Geeta, the Holy Qur'an, the Guru Granth Sahib, and other religious scriptures, notwithstanding.<br /><br />When Lokavidya is talked about in the context of the Lokavidya Jan Andolan, it is not for claiming any kind of superiority over any other existing systems of knowledge. It is talked about because it assigns unique identity to Lokavidyadhar Samaj. It is important because the Samaj derives its strength from the vidya that is inseparable from them, no matter how much scattered or in a decimated state it may be on date.<br /><br />The shame of democratic India is that models of 'growth' & 'development' based on modern science & technology have not met with the specification that every citizen of India shall have a dignified living by virtue of his/her enterprise as an important and inalienable contributor to the over all growth and development of the Indian society. The measure for dignified living is certainly not in terms of wealth accumulation, but in terms of the respectability accrued as an eligible and intelligent contributor to the growth and development of the society one is part of. Having fallen woefully short of meeting with the specification, it is irrelevant, bad & hopeless design.<br /><br />Therefore, the choice that has to be made is whether to allow the contemporary exploitative machinery to roll on or to think, introspect, and combine in various ways to initiate the process that does not alienate a vast multitude of people from the paradigm of growth and development, but makes them its active and intelligent partner. In this kind of endeavour obviously design methodologies based on modern science and technology have no role whatsoever because they have failed for 67 years now.<br /><br />Since Lokavidya is not only an inseparable part of the Lokavidyadhar Samaj, but also affords it a unique identity, obviously it has to be the starting point. The Lokavidya cannot remain untouched by the dynamics of Lokavidya Jan Andolan and therefore is bound to evolve. Nobody can profess what form and content shall it acquire while it evolves. <br /><br />The greatest threat is stagnation of mind, however.<br /><br />Lalit K KaulKrishnarajuluhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01613485661434603909noreply@blogger.com