A society is generally known as a place where a certain group of people live peacefully and support one another. According to Wikipedia, "A society is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations such as social status, roles, etc." However, this definition seems less relevant today. Ironically, the biggest enemy of any society now appears to be the society itself. People in society have become overly polite on the surface, but in reality, most are double-minded and self-centered.
This problem is especially evident in rural areas like villages. In such places, people usually don't think beyond their household matters. Many women in these regions often believe that no one is as smart or capable as they are—I say this from personal experience. People are highly rooted in their religious beliefs. Whenever they find themselves lacking knowledge or awareness in certain areas, they use religion and so-called "discipline" as a shield. I’ve spent about 16 years of my life in my village, and I can still observe what’s happening there.
If I start describing my village in detail, it would sound like a horror story. Unfortunately, I believe this is now the reality of many rural areas.
Ten years ago, those who had no power are now considered powerful—and without fear or accountability. Ideally, in a society, everyone should help one another. But that’s not the case anymore. Many people feel jealous when they see others progressing. The social environment in villages is deteriorating. Some people waste money on luxuries, while others nearby are still struggling to eat even one full meal a day. In multi-caste villages, upper castes often hate lower castes—and the feeling is mutual.
In my own village, unity is completely missing. Even within the Brahmin caste, there is no sense of respect or solidarity. The rules within this caste are extremely strict—inter-caste marriage is not accepted at all. If someone chooses to marry outside their caste, they are either forced to leave the society or are treated like outcasts, as if they have committed a sin. When I visited home during my third-semester break, I found that even the older women in my neighborhood held the same mindset. However, after having a conversation with them, I believe I was able to change the thinking of at least a few of them.
But let’s be honest—a single person cannot change the mindset of the entire world.
In villages, if something goes wrong in one family, it becomes public news within 15 minutes—not just in that village, but also in 4–5 neighboring ones. Sadly, instead of helping one another, the society often pulls people down. Let me share an example: I saw a family with six daughters and a very poor father. Only one daughter had been married. When a marriage proposal came for the second daughter and everything was almost finalized, it was revealed that the groom was physically disabled—he had one leg affected—but he had a stable government job.
As soon as this news broke, the entire village started gossiping. “How can that girl marry a handicapped man?” “What kind of father would agree to this?” You know how rumors spread—small matters turn into major controversies. But let me ask—what was the real problem here? The marriage was ideal. No dowry was involved, and the girl’s family was financially weak. Did they have the luxury of demanding a perfect groom with a great job, unless they were ready to pay a huge dowry in lakhs?
If they needed financial support, society should have come forward to help. But instead, when asked for cooperation, everyone stayed silent. However, if the father tried to sell a piece of land to afford the wedding, the same people would rush in to buy it at a bargain, claiming, “Sell it to me, I’ll pay immediately!”
So I ask you—what kind of society are we talking about?
I don’t want to write more on this topic now. You can draw your own conclusions.
Wait for my next blog. And don’t forget to leave your comments!
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