Good things can have bad aspects

Social processes are full of ironies. One problem with social experimentation is that no experiment or change produces only good things. According to mythology, Samundra Manthan produced both nectar and deadly poison. Good things have several bad features and bad things have several good features. For example, all developed countries, which are also the most transparent countries, are those which have a weak family; all less developed countries, which are also the least transparent countries, are those which have a strong family value. What does this mean? Does it mean that the strength of family ties have a strong association with development and transparency? Perhaps, yes. India has strong family values. India is one of the least transparent or in simple words one of the most corrupt countries. To me, there is a connection between family and corruption. You engage in corrupt practices to fulfill your family obligations. Again according to mythology, Balmiki, a criminal, became a great saint and a great devotee of lord Ram, when he was told that he was indulging in robbery and other sinful activities for the sake of family members but he only will have to bear the fruits of his sins; in afterlife no family member will share the fruits of his sins. In Western society industrialization and migration destroyed the joint family system and eventually weakened the institution of family itself. Thus industrialization led to individualization. In Soviet Russia they made deliberate, though often unsuccessful, attempts to destroy family. Suppose we too destroy family. What will happen? It’s quite likely that a major cause of corruption will go but then will man not be as isolated and lonely as in the developed countries with his dysfunctional psychiatric syndrome. Indian family served useful social functions in the past. Although both society and family are changing, Indian family seems to be serving functions in the transitional society of today. It provides economic, social and psychological support, it prevents alienation and isolation, and it teaches values. What applies to family applies more or less to all other institutions and practices.