By
Dr. M. Rahim Nasar
The biggest dilemma of our society is the people are being more outdated in approximately all spheres of life. They (the people) deal with all sorts of activities in conservative way. Though we are advanced in material aspect of life like having modern technology and devices etc., but, non-materially we are far behind to think and act in the modern way, which as a result brings a vacuum and disturbing the social life. William Ogburn a prominent sociologist in this context coined the term “cultural lag” indicating the gap occurs between the material and non-material aspects of culture. He noted that when material form of culture exceeds to the non-material, the gap consequently comes into existence, creating differences and uneasiness within the social environment. For Ogburn material parts of culture penetrate rapidly within the social settings but, non-material parts like thoughts and minds of people take much time to transform or change. It is because the people strictly adhere to their traditional intangible cultural patterns and at no cost willing to adopt the updated and new thoughts. In this scenario the society stays in the state of social inertia and triggering disorganization.
The above statement blatantly reflecting our social milieu. The people hardly tend to updated patterns of life or think in the universal context. The situation is evident from the orientation of our people towards reproducing large number of children without thinking of their future contingencies or their health, education and other basic needs. The conservative narrative is still in vogue especially in the rural areas that “sons are guns”, reproducing children to show their male supremacy to the opponents and others living in the close radius. Though this concept is quite traditional and now the states need potential and skilled human resource. Consequently, the unchecked population growth is proving liability and exacerbating national burden regrettably. Additionally, there are a number of our cultural patterns, which are completely obsoleted in the developed countries but we are still practicing these traits, that definitely lead society towards ignorance and least development. Culturally the people yet favor joint family system, as it is discarded by the socially and technologically advanced countries quite before. Similarly, endogamous marriages are common, however, scientifically such marriages carry incredible genetic disorders with itself. Moreover, patriarchal and autocratic family structures are still very common, letting the young educated members kept away from the family decisions; which resultantly keep unpleasant impacts on the family relations. In addition, the tribalism and cast system is practiced with full strength, which in turn rejecting merit and personal achievements unluckily. Furthermore, the women as the half portion of population has been confined to four walls of the house is another traditional practice is still continued, however, this practice is very old and had been a feature of pre-technological era, when hectic works used to carry out through physical power, and definitely men is physically powerful than women, but in the technological era when entire system is operated through a click of bottom or key, no need of mighty men. So, in this context carrying such temperament and considering women as inferior is quite pathetic. A question always arises in this domain that what a man can do and woman cannot in this post-industrial period?
In the same way our thinking for getting education and job obtainability is yet quite outdated. The world is transforming their education system and nurturing their youth to become job creators, but we are still thinking in the conservative way and getting education for job seeking rather than to become job creator ironically. Additionally, the developed world is searching for new job opportunities and we are still trapped in a fewer conventional job structures. Moreover, in the political arena our thoughts and targets are so traditional that so far we could not understand the true meaning of politics. Our demands from our political representatives are still the same as they were decades ago. The people do not demand for collective interest but ask for personal gain and timely interest, which as a result spoiling society and that can best be observed in our social settings. Furthermore, such traditional practice is common in our daily interactions the people frequently communicate that “no one dies of hunger” but the UN reports that around 25000 individuals die of hunger per day, nevertheless, the fantasy lies between the layman and expert regarding the definition of the concept. Religiously there are a number of beliefs and rituals, practiced strictly but in literal way they are not part of the religion, however, our traditional cultural traits. Thus in this context these practices and the many other practices should be revisited through the golden revelations of Islam like ijma, ijtihad and qiyas etc. so that to present a true and updated picture of Islam to the world.
In short the lack of social updatability is the root cause of all social evils in our society. Maximum issues can be resolved if the people change their behavior and come out from the existing thoughts, and view their immediate world in the prism of modern trends and updatability. Such experience can guarantee long-lasting and permanent ease, please and development in the society.
Dr. M. Rahim Nasar
Ph.D. in sociology
Faculty in the department of sociology
University of Balochistan Quetta.
Email ID: rahimnasar83@gmail.com
