Conference 'Economics of Non-violence...' - Report [4.04] - Samani Mudit Pragya

Samani Mudit Pragya

Speaking on "Consumerism: The Anti Human Goal" Samani Mudit Pragya said that today we are worried about the world, especially a sustainable world or how to sustain the world. The problem lies in consumerism and the solution lies in minimizing consumerism.

Historically, consumerism has existed since ancient times, though then it was in the form of exchange of goods. It was free from any competition. There was no worry of capturing the markets. Kautilya also stressed in his Arthashastra on economics of non-violence by developing industries. He emphasized that our villages should be centres of industries. Now the question is what are the factors responsible for the rise of modern consumerism?

The industrial revolution has changed the face and scenario of the world of economics. In the war of man versus machines, man lost the battle and machines emerged victorious. Machines produced more material than local consumption and a hunt for the market began, the industrialized countries joined the rush for colonies for raw material. It brought heavy dividends into the pockets of the industrialists thus leading to the origin of individualism. It poisoned the entire system of consumerism. These individualists introduced open competition. Open competition though brought a variety of products; it created the sin of Jeeva Jeevasya Bhojanaam. The Big fish devoured the smaller one. The big industries hunted for cheap labour so they moved towards the African countries. Due to industrialization much money flowed down to the western countries. It elevated their standard of life and thus came a mad rush of consumerism. Consumerism has affected human society and it has grown into the world of fashion. Everyday fashionable products are changing the face of human society. The world of cosmetics, urbanization, luxury items, cultural synthesis, means of transportation and communication and globalisation have given deep roots to consumerism. It has entered into field of medicine also. We have to find ways of controlling consumerism. It is difficult to vanquish it. Yet some serious efforts should be made in this regard. She suggested the following measures:

1. A world fund should be established to streamline the shattering economic condition of the underdeveloped countries.
2. The economic concept offered by religions should be kept in mind to check the further growth of consumerism.
3. Cottage Industries should be allowed to grow stronger under an industrial high power commission.
4. Let us adopt voluntarily simplicity in our life style. It will save our natural resources, will check the rigidity of fast growing consumerism and will keep our natural resources safe for further human development.
5. Globalization should be limited only to certain fields. Swadeshi movement and globalization of markets should be balanced with each other.

Role of Jainism in controlling consumerism:

• Jain economics stands against all exploitation, unequal distribution of money and mad exploitation of natural resources as well as mad race of industrialization