Art And Literature are the moral correctives for a fallen society....by Dr. Jernail S Anand

Chandigarh: “Perhaps we failed to draw a line between what gives us happiness and what takes it away. And, a more serious question is : was happiness the destination of human progression ? Philosophically speaking, it was. – Anand.

The title of this article casts aspersions on the idea of human development and the progression of civilization. It is a serious question which stares us in the face: are we in the progressive mode or is it a decline ?

If we compare the good and the evil of our modern society, can we feel satisfied that whatever we have achieved speaks well of us as conscientious human species ?

In spite of all that we have accomplished, the final feeling of mankind is that happiness still eludes us. There are still disparities and injustices on a vast scale and a huge proportion of our population is under-blessed.

All this in spite of the fact we possess great powers of science and technology. We are highly ‘blessed’ if we consider our ‘killer potential’ but to counter it, our sense of self-preservation and self-improvement stands nowhere.

Why has ‘happiness’ and ‘joy of being’ eluded mankind? Reasons are obvious, because all the physical assets that we have created are meant only to give comfort and happiness to mankind. In the midst of plenty, we are feeling deprived, dispossessed and unhappy.

Perhaps we failed to draw a line between what gives us happiness and what takes it away. And, a more serious question is: was happiness the destination of human progression? Philosophically speaking, it was.

However, the first phase of human progression has been the instinct for survival. And after survival, when we feel secure, we think of the idea of happiness. And what grants us happiness is Art whose very idea lies in the fact that the society in which we are living is twisted and has edges which cause bruises to the human psyche.

Art is the balm, a pain-reliever, which gives us a sense of joyousness. Art is never the activity of a happy mind. It is the outcome of a tortured psyche and a disturbed soul. The greatest artistic works were the creation of human minds which were on the boil.

Art and Literature :The Moral Corrective

Thus, art and literature find their justification in a society which is built on injustice and inequalities, and it is through art that the human soul seeks relief from persistent pain.

Literature is the pain-reliever, which provides a release to human nerves and saves the society from explosive situations. Art does not justify the ills of a society, it takes men towards a resolution and release of pent up emotions, which Greek Masters called catharsis.

Art is the greatest moral corrective, which makes people understand their problems in their naked reality, feel the pain, and also the relief. In final analysis, art is nothing beyond a happy arrangement of words and how they are said, or colours how they are arranged.

The Fall

Human society has suffered a great fall. A young student who is studying Economics, or Commerce, or Engineering or Electronics will never realize this fact.

The governments are always telling the people how GDP is increasing, how wealth creation is going on, and how the happiness index is going up. The addition of new inventions to the inventory of joy indicates how modern society is poised towards a revolution in human comfort, and the greatest achievements in space exploration and scientific development. It is going on unchecked.

It is one side of the story of the success of mankind. But, unfortunately, it is matched by another devastating story. Of the fall of mankind. Mankind suffered a fall when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. Now we are suffering another great fall. Knowledge has risen to our head.

We have never looked back to check if our actions are in the right direction or amiss. Knowledge is a great power, but it was Satan who set us after knowledge, and we are serving his ends only. Knowledge has destroyed our Innocence, our Joy, our Peace and our Happiness in Being. This is the real fall that humanity has suffered.

What are we doing to retrieve our lost happiness ? Our joy and our Paradise ? Can we just disown our Knowledge? Can we stop the progressive spree of mankind? Can we stop the exploration of space ? I think No.

The moral corrective lies in the fact that we stop the blind pursuit of success, and wealth and the exploitation of nature. We should tell our younger generations that the real purpose of human living is not isolation, nor success, nor wealth creation, but Peace, Happiness and Joy.

It has also to be mentioned to them that if they have success, but not happiness, it is all a waste. And one more thing that needs to be mentioned here is that Happiness comes to us only when we give happiness to others, and do not disturb the balance which nature has created around us.

If we respect the phenomenon, if we show respect to the planets, to winds and waters which make our life possible, we shall regain our dignity as well as our joy in being. This is the Moral Corrective needed to rebuild a society which believes in the well-being of creation as a whole.

[Dr. Jernail Singh Anand has authored 175 plus books of which 11 are epic poems. He won the Seneca Award [Italy], the Charter of Morava [Serbia], Franz Kafka [Ukraine, Germany & Czech Rep.] and Maxim Gorky Award [Russia]. His name adorns the Poets Rock in Serbia. He is President of the International Academy of Ethics.

[ethicsacademy.co.in].

Dr Ananad is an Alumnus of Satish Chander Dhawan Government College, Ludhiana ( India )

February 10, 2025