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MODERNITY AND POST MODERNITYtc "MODERNITY AND POST MODERNITY"

Modernity:

The process of modernization started in European continent in the wake of Renaissance at the Age of Reason characterized by unprecedented strides made in the fields of science and technology and the application of knowledge acquired therein to control the management of varied human affairs and social and other problems. In Europe, the process of industrialisation accompanied the process of modernization. Hence, modernization has been visualized as an offshoot of the Industrial Revolution and vice-versa.

Essentials of Modernity:

Modernity is the frame of mind, a world-view based reason, rationality, logic and spirit of enquiry. It is a prospective couched in science and technology. Known Sociologist Max Weber views modernity as rationality of thought and action. Talcott Parsons sees universalism, specificity and achievement as attributes of modernity. E. E. Hagen considers creative innovation the hallmark of modernity. Taymond Aron conceptualizes modernity as a syndrome of equality, personality and universality.

Apart from, and in addition to, the attributes mentioned above, modernity implies increasing freedom and liberty of individual citizens, particularly those concerned with thought, expression, right of self-determination and free choice in the fields of religion, marriage, education and occupation and also style of life etc.

Modernity emerged as a governing ideology and modernization as a dominant perspective and process in Europe and America right from 17^th Century onwards. The pragmatic relevence and practical results of modernization soon made it a process of universal appeal. In the post-second world war period the attraction of modernization became almost irresistible in the developing Afro-Asian and Latin-American countries which considered modernization process as a panacea for the multifarious problems faced by these countries.

Types of Moderanisation:

There have been two major versions of modernization in the world:

The Marxian Version: This version involves total rejection of religion and radical transformation of society on the basis of scientific and rational principles. This version implies super-nationalization of life and society. The then erstwhile Soviet Union adopted this type of modernization. The August Comtean Version: This version is based on Comte’s conceptualization of modernization which implies creative synthesis of tradition and modernity. This version of modernization has two shades of meanings:-  (1) Revision of tradition in the light of modernity and (2) Erection of superstructure of modernity on the substructure of tradition.

Countries like Greece, Egypt, Turkey, majority of Middle-East countries like Syria, Iran, and Iraq and Japan in the Far-East have opted for this version of modernization.

The Indian Scenario:

The first Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, too, opted for the latter one i.e., the Comtean version of modernization, stressing upon the ‘scientific temper� of modernization and its spread and adoption throughout the country. Presiding over Indian Science Congress held in Delhi in 1947, Pandit Nehru said that:

“I do believe firmly that the only right approach to all world problems and to our national problems is the approach of science, that is to say, the spirit or method of science�. But in India the stronghold of the ‘religion-tradition and superstition� trio has forced modernization to confine itself to the exterior and superficial areas and aspects of life only, such as hair style, dress and dietary pattern, architecture and decoration of houses, fashion and make-up, English speaking, pop music and dance and other items of peoples� consumption. Thus the pattern of modernization in India is of mixed or hybrid type.

Post-Modernity:

Post-modernity is the outcome of the exhaustion and decline of modernity in the Western Societies. And at the same time it also refers to the reaction and response against the excesses of modernity in the West. It also further refers to the reaction and response against the excesses of modernity in the fields of modern industry, technology, money, material and techno-culture, organizations and bureaucracy.

Post-modernity is both perspective and a process of change:-

As a perspective post-modernity reinstates the long glory of criticism, plurality of ideas, and churning collectivism and humanism and higher values. Post-modernity as a perspective first reflected itself in architecture in which more fundamental and valid elements of traditional patterns were restored in view of their beauty and utility, their time-old meaning fullness and artistic value and their implicit critical nature vis-à-vis the excess of modern architecture.

Post-modernity as a process of change: As a process of socio-cultural change in the west, post-modernity designates return from the artificial and superficial urban and material life to the simplicity and tranquility of nature from modernity to tradition, from individualism to collectivism, from secularism to spiritualism and from self gratification to philanthropy. This trend has already emerged and is progressing in America and other Western countries where modern society is fading out and post-modern society is gradually taking its place.