SHARMILA BOSE
New Delhi
bosesharmila@rediffmail.com
28th July, 2010
The Prime Minster of India
New Delhi .
Kind Attn. : Dr. Manmohan Singh
Subject: Threat to Micro Governance i.e. Customs and Traditions
Dear Sir,
The Governance is a synonym to Political Science. Without any Governance no Ideology or Pattern is termed effective. Similarly creating Laws without understanding the Society will remain just as a Legal Doctrine without its enforcement or effectiveness.
According to the Macro-Micro Theory, there are certain Acts that remained only as Doctrine that actually challenged the Micro Governance.
Micro Governance is governance based on Customs and Traditions which has the Social acceptability and also binds the Society intact. These binding within the Community have many relation of the existence i.e. Social accountability, Economy, Governance within the Micro Regime i.e. Family and Community.
Here I will discuss few acts that relates to Devdasi System, Equal Inheritance Law and Dowry.
In the Devdasi system, there was a committed Community who were submitted to give the Service to the Temple including the Priest. There was prohibition for the Marriage in certain Community of the Priest or the Religious Clergy due to the reason of inheritance or Dynasty system of the Divine Post and not for sexual deprivation, since Sex is a food of the Soul and no Soul can give its energies if it is deprived of its appetite and hence there was a Devdasi System i.e. a women exclusively committed to the Priest towards the Divine work. This Sexual appetite to the Priest was a support towards the motivation for the well being of the Society i.e. Governance through Religion (i.e. Faith).
The Brothel System in any society is a sign of organized Community since this gives an option towards the shredding of Sexual deprivation or Sexual Frustration. The Community of Brothels though placed as a Para-Community and was away from the main stream society, but it had a great relevance towards the Micro Governance of the main-stream Society. Though these Para-Communities such as Devdasi and/or Brothel-hood did not have a social security, but they had good resources to sustain their Livelihood i.e. Human Right.
Similarly, another Social System called Dowry which has great significance towards Micro Governance. Dowry as I have already mentioned in my previous papers is a Tribute (tax) to the Micro Ruler i.e. Groom.
Dowry is an extremely important in our Social system. It authenticates a Social Contract called Marriage. Marriage is a contract between a Ruler and Regime towards procreation that will have a sustainability of the Human Race. Indian Social system is based on Structure i.e. family system. Dowry is a Tribute to the Ruler (Groom) towards the provision and Protection of the Regime (Bride) throughout his life and after his life incase he is dead. This Tribute is given by the respective Ruler of the Bride i.e. Father or Brother or Maternal/Paternal Uncle. The Dowry has a great Social Security for Women It binds the Ruler (Groom) towards his Duty and will not be able to run away from the Responsibility.
There is another significance of Dowry is that it elevate Woman’s status in the Society. They do not become a neglected community in her parental house. The pressure of Marriage and the Dowry streamlined the Men community towards accumulation of the finances and this adds to the Economy in the Social System. The pressure of Dowry curtails the Men community to get into other evils such as toxicities or prostitution. This mental pressure towards the Micro Ruler makes them into mainstream society and away from the evils.
Other ceremonial gifts like StreeDhan which is given to the Daughter is also have a great significance in the Micro Governance. StreeDhan is inheritance of her parental property which is given at the time of marriage. This StreeDhan indicates her financial stability incase of crisis. Since Streedhan is given at the time of marriage to the daughter so her claim towards the parental inheritance of fixed properties becomes void. This makes the Sons of the parental properties settled and has no sharing of property outside the family.
Other ceremonial gifts such as post-marriage like in festivals and or on the birth of first child or subsequent children also play a significant role in the Micro Governance. These enable the continuous relationship between the two families and check the protection of the Woman at home. These also motivate the families to make themselves Economically equipped to fulfill such Social Obligations.
Social Obligation is nothing but Micro Governance. It streamlines the society and makes the dejure distribution of Economic thru Social Rituals and Social Rituals are nothing but Customs and Tradition.
Now, I would like to discuss that how the Micro-governance is being abused by the Macro Governance that became responsible towards the shattering of the society.
The abolishing of Customs like Devadasi or Dowry and / or equal rights to Women towards inheritance are also some of the preferential Laws towards the Protection of Women’s interest. But has this really benefited the Women community or the whole society. If yes, then how?
The abolishing of Devadasi system has made a community free from the traditional bondage and made them assimilation into the main stream society. The abolition of the brothel system made a traditional heritage of Tawaiff that was responsible to sustain the pious of the main-stream society and again free from the Traditional bonding. But could it curtail the Sexual starvation. Now Devadasi or Tawaiff community has been replaced by the Prostitutes / Call Girls. Earlier the Traditional Custom were separate from the main stream society and after the abolishment of the Traditional Custom, such virtues became a part of main stream society. Now Women from the every corner of the Community is part of Prostitution and also there is no social accountability. Prostitution is not due to Poverty but an Instinct of Individuals and community. No Legislation can curtail this instinct since it is a Virtue of the Society. Earlier people who were affluent were having a parallel relationship and para-community was only a platform of pleasure. Ordinary people were away from such luxury. But in the present circumstances the over population of Prostitutes made every ordinary people towards the affordability of buying Sex and exploring the varieties of Sex. This has actually shattered the Woman of Main Stream Society. This has further resulted all the crimes against women such as rape, sexual abuse and other atrocities at home and including matrimonial crisis such as Domestic Violence since Women lost her dignity in the wake of assimilation of the para-community into the main stream Society. Now, there is no social difference between these two communities. Para-community always has had distinct identity. Since those who used to have an association with such community from the main-stream society were identified and looked down in the society. This is called Social Accountability or Social Governance.
Secondly, I would like to discuss how non-discrimination for women in the inheritance has given a threat of security to old age people or de-stability of the Family bondage. Streedhan was a system to part the inheritance of moveable properties such as gold and others like produce from the farms etc. Non-moveable properties Land / Dwelling were part of the share of Sons since they were responsible for the further enhancement and the property remained within the family and take care of all the family members, since Son became the Micro Ruler of the said family.
The equal rights of Women in the inheritance of parental properties made Woman secured financially, but made the Old Parents insecured, since the motivation towards the responsibility of the Family by the Son became in question. So, the Sons are now neglecting the Parents and hence created a social crisis for old age people. Besides this Sons of the family are heading towards the Nuclear Family System. This is further giving fuel to Migration, which is the main crisis of World Politics. Moreover, the Women of the said family are taking dual benefit of Parental Properties and as well as enjoying the Matrimonial facilities whereas, the Son who is responsible for the Parents and the rest of the families are deprived only with part of family properties. So, this is actually a discriminatory proposition between the two genders and the sufferer is the Old parents. The purpose of Inheritance was towards the settlement and a family system. Then how could a law of inheritance dismantle the family system in the name of Equality. Preferential Laws for women is shattering the society and creating a difference in the relationships. The preferential Laws for Women can never benefit the society since the Women are part of the Society and not separate from the Society. Preferential treatment to Women creates discrimination and destroys the Universal Governance.
The Prohibition in the Dowry has made further social crisis. The Micro Ruler has lost their identity and relevance in the Marriage system.. The Dowry Prohibition did not bring the peace in the Bride’s life but made her parent more irresponsible towards the responsibility for their Daughters. Dowry is a Shagun (Tribute) towards the Kanya Dan (Regime), and no dan is recognized without a Shagun (Tribute) or empty handed. This has created non-stability for the women at their matrimonial home and they are forced to work for money since the Micro Ruler refuse to bear the expenses of the micro-regime and hence become exploitive in the name of regular dowry. Since a Social Custom is been abused by the Macro Governance so, Society has also squeeze their responsibility to sustain the marriage system in the society. Hence this has paved various flaws in the marriage i.e. broken marriage, abuse of laws, and disturbance in the matrimonial home.
The Burning of young Brides to death is not because of Dowry but due to the exploitive tendency or Criminal instinct of the Micro Ruler. There is no role of any Custom towards the crisis of women in any form. All the customs were made towards the Micro Governance and had social acceptability and women are part of it. The Criminal tendencies can be handled differently since there are many provisions in the Laws, but abusing a custom which give social security to women makes the stability in question.
Women burning are a natural virtue of our Land e.g. Sati, Self-immolations, burning brides, burning women of lower caste including women and children are burnt alive in riots. Since women are treated as weak regime and neglected community so it is easy for them to get prayed and burning alive is an animosity tendency of human instinct. Numerous Riots are seen where killing and burning people is natural in the name of Religion but Religion is never abolished. There have been enormous greed and corruption in the Political System. There are numerous students get into self-immolation on the death of their political leaders, but then why Political system itself did not dismantle. There are women of lower caste who are raped in public and then burned alive. Hence burning women is a Social Instinct (Evil) and not the virtue of custom and tradition. Dowry gives a Social security to Women in her parental house as well as in matrimonial house. Abolishing Dowry is actually destabilizing the Social system
The exploitation of Women in the marriage has a great significance if it is compared with the Macro Governance. Any Governance where the Macro Regime (i.e. Community as a whole) is being nurtured properly leads to the peaceful existence of the Micro Regime. The Economy plays a significant role in this case. If we evaluate history and present governance, the condition of women were really bad when there was lack of Macro Governance. More exploitive Ruler make micro ruler equally exploitive to Women at home. Just the way we are having numerous social/political/economical crisis and there is a great threat of Internal Security due to mal-governance at macro level. This is called exploitive tendencies of the Macro Ruler even the community is paying Tax (Dowry). The random increase of Tax and high price for the minimum survival is a macro exploitive tendency and claim of dowry without providing Internal Security. I wonder, when all the three forms of governance i.e. dejure, defacto and faith (religion) are availing Dowry i.e. tribute in the way of tax, bribe (protection money) and donation (charity) then how the tribute to Micro Ruler is termed as Crime. Is it not discriminatory whereas all the three forms of governance is inadequate in itself and exploiting and killing the masses in the name of, Naxals, Terrorism and Riots. What will happen if there is an erosion of the tax system will the state-system exists; or if there is a curtail of paying bribe or protection money, will the governance by power sustain; or what will happen if the Donation and Charity is eroded from the Religious organization will it sustain.. Similarly, when Dowry is eroded, this has challenged the Institution of Marriage, which has been substituted by Live-in relationships or gayism.
If one has a comparative study on Dowry, it would be found that Dowry Deaths are more in the period of Economic Liberalization and Globalization since such pattern of economy has paved a way for the exploitation of some section of macro regimes.
I would like to explain this with an example of our Agriculture. The Agriculture enjoyed the maximum benefit of Welfare State such as non-taxable income and subsidiary and support in many forms. Though they did not give tax and enjoyed the benefit towards the state protection. Gradually they lost the grip of state, since state found the Agriculture is a Liability than the asset, so they started focusing on Industries. The shift of Focus from the Agriculture made a drastic downfall in the same and resulted many suicides of this neglected community. If Farmers would have paid some Tax (Dowry) to the State, the State would have been obliged to look after them and could not afford to neglect them.
So, Tax is nothing but a tribute to the Ruler / State and makes the State bonded towards the Governance. This creates self-esteem for the both parties i.e. Regime as well as Ruler since it give security to the Regime and recognition to the Ruler. Moreover, Tax is something that motivates the Community to work more and raise the Economy otherwise the Community remain in the receiving end of the Welfare State. The Tax (Dowry) motivates people to participate in the Governance and hence a participatory growth. Similarly this is with the Dowry at Micro Level. Dowry makes the Marriage stable and accountable for both the Parties and has social accountability.
Hence, I would like to conclude with this the abolishing Social custom brings social instability which is accepted by the ages. No custom or tradition is anti Women or anti-society since Women are part of the Society and not separate from the Society. But the exploitive tendencies make the social custom as tool to satisfy their greed. So, we need to work against Greed and Criminal tendencies both at Micro and Macro Level than abusing any Custom and Tradition. These Customs and Traditions are our Heritage and governed our Society though numerous rulers Invaded, Colonized and ruled us, but still made our society stable and prosperous.
Whether it is a Macro Ruler or Micro Ruler, submission to the Laws and family customs and traditions is the only way towards the peaceful existence. The sense of Duties makes a Family and the Country prospers. The claim of Rights only creates distance and crisis in the relationship / marriage whether Micro (husband and wife) or Macro (Authority and Community).
With best Regards,
Yours faithfully,
SHARMILA BOSE
New Delhi
bosesharmila@rediffmail.com
28th July, 2010
The Prime Minster of India
New Delhi .
Kind Attn. : Dr. Manmohan Singh
Subject: Threat to Micro Governance i.e. Customs and Traditions
Dear Sir,
The Governance is a synonym to Political Science. Without any Governance no Ideology or Pattern is termed effective. Similarly creating Laws without understanding the Society will remain just as a Legal Doctrine without its enforcement or effectiveness.
According to the Macro-Micro Theory, there are certain Acts that remained only as Doctrine that actually challenged the Micro Governance.
Micro Governance is governance based on Customs and Traditions which has the Social acceptability and also binds the Society intact. These binding within the Community have many relation of the existence i.e. Social accountability, Economy, Governance within the Micro Regime i.e. Family and Community.
Here I will discuss few acts that relates to Devdasi System, Equal Inheritance Law and Dowry.
In the Devdasi system, there was a committed Community who were submitted to give the Service to the Temple including the Priest. There was prohibition for the Marriage in certain Community of the Priest or the Religious Clergy due to the reason of inheritance or Dynasty system of the Divine Post and not for sexual deprivation, since Sex is a food of the Soul and no Soul can give its energies if it is deprived of its appetite and hence there was a Devdasi System i.e. a women exclusively committed to the Priest towards the Divine work. This Sexual appetite to the Priest was a support towards the motivation for the well being of the Society i.e. Governance through Religion (i.e. Faith).
The Brothel System in any society is a sign of organized Community since this gives an option towards the shredding of Sexual deprivation or Sexual Frustration. The Community of Brothels though placed as a Para-Community and was away from the main stream society, but it had a great relevance towards the Micro Governance of the main-stream Society. Though these Para-Communities such as Devdasi and/or Brothel-hood did not have a social security, but they had good resources to sustain their Livelihood i.e. Human Right.
Similarly, another Social System called Dowry which has great significance towards Micro Governance. Dowry as I have already mentioned in my previous papers is a Tribute (tax) to the Micro Ruler i.e. Groom.
Dowry is an extremely important in our Social system. It authenticates a Social Contract called Marriage. Marriage is a contract between a Ruler and Regime towards procreation that will have a sustainability of the Human Race. Indian Social system is based on Structure i.e. family system. Dowry is a Tribute to the Ruler (Groom) towards the provision and Protection of the Regime (Bride) throughout his life and after his life incase he is dead. This Tribute is given by the respective Ruler of the Bride i.e. Father or Brother or Maternal/Paternal Uncle. The Dowry has a great Social Security for Women It binds the Ruler (Groom) towards his Duty and will not be able to run away from the Responsibility.
There is another significance of Dowry is that it elevate Woman’s status in the Society. They do not become a neglected community in her parental house. The pressure of Marriage and the Dowry streamlined the Men community towards accumulation of the finances and this adds to the Economy in the Social System. The pressure of Dowry curtails the Men community to get into other evils such as toxicities or prostitution. This mental pressure towards the Micro Ruler makes them into mainstream society and away from the evils.
Other ceremonial gifts like StreeDhan which is given to the Daughter is also have a great significance in the Micro Governance. StreeDhan is inheritance of her parental property which is given at the time of marriage. This StreeDhan indicates her financial stability incase of crisis. Since Streedhan is given at the time of marriage to the daughter so her claim towards the parental inheritance of fixed properties becomes void. This makes the Sons of the parental properties settled and has no sharing of property outside the family.
Other ceremonial gifts such as post-marriage like in festivals and or on the birth of first child or subsequent children also play a significant role in the Micro Governance. These enable the continuous relationship between the two families and check the protection of the Woman at home. These also motivate the families to make themselves Economically equipped to fulfill such Social Obligations.
Social Obligation is nothing but Micro Governance. It streamlines the society and makes the dejure distribution of Economic thru Social Rituals and Social Rituals are nothing but Customs and Tradition.
Now, I would like to discuss that how the Micro-governance is being abused by the Macro Governance that became responsible towards the shattering of the society.
The abolishing of Customs like Devadasi or Dowry and / or equal rights to Women towards inheritance are also some of the preferential Laws towards the Protection of Women’s interest. But has this really benefited the Women community or the whole society. If yes, then how?
The abolishing of Devadasi system has made a community free from the traditional bondage and made them assimilation into the main stream society. The abolition of the brothel system made a traditional heritage of Tawaiff that was responsible to sustain the pious of the main-stream society and again free from the Traditional bonding. But could it curtail the Sexual starvation. Now Devadasi or Tawaiff community has been replaced by the Prostitutes / Call Girls. Earlier the Traditional Custom were separate from the main stream society and after the abolishment of the Traditional Custom, such virtues became a part of main stream society. Now Women from the every corner of the Community is part of Prostitution and also there is no social accountability. Prostitution is not due to Poverty but an Instinct of Individuals and community. No Legislation can curtail this instinct since it is a Virtue of the Society. Earlier people who were affluent were having a parallel relationship and para-community was only a platform of pleasure. Ordinary people were away from such luxury. But in the present circumstances the over population of Prostitutes made every ordinary people towards the affordability of buying Sex and exploring the varieties of Sex. This has actually shattered the Woman of Main Stream Society. This has further resulted all the crimes against women such as rape, sexual abuse and other atrocities at home and including matrimonial crisis such as Domestic Violence since Women lost her dignity in the wake of assimilation of the para-community into the main stream Society. Now, there is no social difference between these two communities. Para-community always has had distinct identity. Since those who used to have an association with such community from the main-stream society were identified and looked down in the society. This is called Social Accountability or Social Governance.
Secondly, I would like to discuss how non-discrimination for women in the inheritance has given a threat of security to old age people or de-stability of the Family bondage. Streedhan was a system to part the inheritance of moveable properties such as gold and others like produce from the farms etc. Non-moveable properties Land / Dwelling were part of the share of Sons since they were responsible for the further enhancement and the property remained within the family and take care of all the family members, since Son became the Micro Ruler of the said family.
The equal rights of Women in the inheritance of parental properties made Woman secured financially, but made the Old Parents insecured, since the motivation towards the responsibility of the Family by the Son became in question. So, the Sons are now neglecting the Parents and hence created a social crisis for old age people. Besides this Sons of the family are heading towards the Nuclear Family System. This is further giving fuel to Migration, which is the main crisis of World Politics. Moreover, the Women of the said family are taking dual benefit of Parental Properties and as well as enjoying the Matrimonial facilities whereas, the Son who is responsible for the Parents and the rest of the families are deprived only with part of family properties. So, this is actually a discriminatory proposition between the two genders and the sufferer is the Old parents. The purpose of Inheritance was towards the settlement and a family system. Then how could a law of inheritance dismantle the family system in the name of Equality. Preferential Laws for women is shattering the society and creating a difference in the relationships. The preferential Laws for Women can never benefit the society since the Women are part of the Society and not separate from the Society. Preferential treatment to Women creates discrimination and destroys the Universal Governance.
The Prohibition in the Dowry has made further social crisis. The Micro Ruler has lost their identity and relevance in the Marriage system.. The Dowry Prohibition did not bring the peace in the Bride’s life but made her parent more irresponsible towards the responsibility for their Daughters. Dowry is a Shagun (Tribute) towards the Kanya Dan (Regime), and no dan is recognized without a Shagun (Tribute) or empty handed. This has created non-stability for the women at their matrimonial home and they are forced to work for money since the Micro Ruler refuse to bear the expenses of the micro-regime and hence become exploitive in the name of regular dowry. Since a Social Custom is been abused by the Macro Governance so, Society has also squeeze their responsibility to sustain the marriage system in the society. Hence this has paved various flaws in the marriage i.e. broken marriage, abuse of laws, and disturbance in the matrimonial home.
The Burning of young Brides to death is not because of Dowry but due to the exploitive tendency or Criminal instinct of the Micro Ruler. There is no role of any Custom towards the crisis of women in any form. All the customs were made towards the Micro Governance and had social acceptability and women are part of it. The Criminal tendencies can be handled differently since there are many provisions in the Laws, but abusing a custom which give social security to women makes the stability in question.
Women burning are a natural virtue of our Land e.g. Sati, Self-immolations, burning brides, burning women of lower caste including women and children are burnt alive in riots. Since women are treated as weak regime and neglected community so it is easy for them to get prayed and burning alive is an animosity tendency of human instinct. Numerous Riots are seen where killing and burning people is natural in the name of Religion but Religion is never abolished. There have been enormous greed and corruption in the Political System. There are numerous students get into self-immolation on the death of their political leaders, but then why Political system itself did not dismantle. There are women of lower caste who are raped in public and then burned alive. Hence burning women is a Social Instinct (Evil) and not the virtue of custom and tradition. Dowry gives a Social security to Women in her parental house as well as in matrimonial house. Abolishing Dowry is actually destabilizing the Social system
The exploitation of Women in the marriage has a great significance if it is compared with the Macro Governance. Any Governance where the Macro Regime (i.e. Community as a whole) is being nurtured properly leads to the peaceful existence of the Micro Regime. The Economy plays a significant role in this case. If we evaluate history and present governance, the condition of women were really bad when there was lack of Macro Governance. More exploitive Ruler make micro ruler equally exploitive to Women at home. Just the way we are having numerous social/political/economical crisis and there is a great threat of Internal Security due to mal-governance at macro level. This is called exploitive tendencies of the Macro Ruler even the community is paying Tax (Dowry). The random increase of Tax and high price for the minimum survival is a macro exploitive tendency and claim of dowry without providing Internal Security. I wonder, when all the three forms of governance i.e. dejure, defacto and faith (religion) are availing Dowry i.e. tribute in the way of tax, bribe (protection money) and donation (charity) then how the tribute to Micro Ruler is termed as Crime. Is it not discriminatory whereas all the three forms of governance is inadequate in itself and exploiting and killing the masses in the name of, Naxals, Terrorism and Riots. What will happen if there is an erosion of the tax system will the state-system exists; or if there is a curtail of paying bribe or protection money, will the governance by power sustain; or what will happen if the Donation and Charity is eroded from the Religious organization will it sustain.. Similarly, when Dowry is eroded, this has challenged the Institution of Marriage, which has been substituted by Live-in relationships or gayism.
If one has a comparative study on Dowry, it would be found that Dowry Deaths are more in the period of Economic Liberalization and Globalization since such pattern of economy has paved a way for the exploitation of some section of macro regimes.
I would like to explain this with an example of our Agriculture. The Agriculture enjoyed the maximum benefit of Welfare State such as non-taxable income and subsidiary and support in many forms. Though they did not give tax and enjoyed the benefit towards the state protection. Gradually they lost the grip of state, since state found the Agriculture is a Liability than the asset, so they started focusing on Industries. The shift of Focus from the Agriculture made a drastic downfall in the same and resulted many suicides of this neglected community. If Farmers would have paid some Tax (Dowry) to the State, the State would have been obliged to look after them and could not afford to neglect them.
So, Tax is nothing but a tribute to the Ruler / State and makes the State bonded towards the Governance. This creates self-esteem for the both parties i.e. Regime as well as Ruler since it give security to the Regime and recognition to the Ruler. Moreover, Tax is something that motivates the Community to work more and raise the Economy otherwise the Community remain in the receiving end of the Welfare State. The Tax (Dowry) motivates people to participate in the Governance and hence a participatory growth. Similarly this is with the Dowry at Micro Level. Dowry makes the Marriage stable and accountable for both the Parties and has social accountability.
Hence, I would like to conclude with this the abolishing Social custom brings social instability which is accepted by the ages. No custom or tradition is anti Women or anti-society since Women are part of the Society and not separate from the Society. But the exploitive tendencies make the social custom as tool to satisfy their greed. So, we need to work against Greed and Criminal tendencies both at Micro and Macro Level than abusing any Custom and Tradition. These Customs and Traditions are our Heritage and governed our Society though numerous rulers Invaded, Colonized and ruled us, but still made our society stable and prosperous.
Whether it is a Macro Ruler or Micro Ruler, submission to the Laws and family customs and traditions is the only way towards the peaceful existence. The sense of Duties makes a Family and the Country prospers. The claim of Rights only creates distance and crisis in the relationship / marriage whether Micro (husband and wife) or Macro (Authority and Community).
With best Regards,
Yours faithfully,
SHARMILA BOSE
