Well, under normal circumstances, the world that we have been living in so far had gained one theme irrespective of geography, culture or economic strength – the urge to bag whatever is one’s desire faster than ever. This pursuit of reaching there early, many a time, pushed people to explore and imbibe means that is so close to being unscrupulous. If not always breaking rules, but bending it, gave people bragging rights to be smarter than others. The current corona epidemic in a way has brought all of us to ground zero. The lockdown and social distancing due to COVID-19 offers an opportunity for the humankind to introspect on how to conduct everyday business as things come back to normal, or say during the neo-normal times.
If there is one thing that was compromised in this mad rush for creating net worth without thinking of consequences, it was propriety. Therefore, if the productivity of a business entity was to grow, it was ready to bend rules to gain favourable access to natural resources even though it was unfavourable in the long term for the earth. Growth was not always inclusive in its definition to capture the majority of any population, but just a privileged few. Research and development aimed at outsmarting others over coming together to make things happen for all. The delay in breaking the news of a pandemic by one of the strongest economy in the world to safeguard its business as usual, is the testimony of a mindless pace that has been ruling every mind.
The current pause due to lockdown, while has a lot of pain and anxiety wrapped up within, it is also a time for reflection – at an individual as well as collective level (Read COVID-19: Life Lessons for this Millennial Generation). The nature as we see from our windows and balconies seemed to have healed a lot by this global lockdown. What should be our way of life as we finally come out of this quarantine? Is it not time to redefine progress? Should we not move out of the gold rush and start a new journey that is holistic enough to make humankind and nature both sustainable? Is it not time for giving precedence to propriety, over just making proceeds, the life goal.
So what would the new normal way of life post COVID19 or post lockdown be? With GDP falling across the nations, economies sliding, there could be a gluttony to cover up for all the materialistic losses faster, doing more of what was being done before. I assume we can ill afford it. What should be the path ahead for us post lockdown? The answer to this question lies in the text of ancient wisdom.
In Confucianism, the Chinese character ‘Li’ is interpreted as propriety. This concept of propriety transcends beyond courteous rituals to become an integral part of human action that is to be performed in individual life as well as in governance to augur harmony not just between people but also with nature. Confucianism teaches people to be less individualistic, more community-oriented, and more willing to sacrifice for the greater good where the social trust is higher. The lingering cultural imprint of Confucianism gives a paternalistic state a freer hand to intrude in people’s lives during an emergency. If we as humankind aim to sustain and prosper in the future, this Confucian principle of living a social experience that is sensitive to the need of all in this planet is the only way to survive. True prosperity is weaved with the unrelenting practice of propriety.
Very insightful article on how propriety is the way to sustainable human prosperity in the post lockdown world.
great article