The modern society has been constructed in such a manner that there exists no existence for the unemployed youth
Being unemployed is nothing less than a social stigma in contemporary times. This you can realise only if you are someone who is unemployed or has experienced the same. The modern society has been constructed in such a manner that there exists no existence for the unemployed youth. The community recognizes you only if you possess employment especially in the public enterprise. The materialistic outlook has been on rampage and such has been its horrendous impact that we cannot see or accept anyone having no employment or job athis or her disposal. The individual is not being looked through the prism of virtue, morality, goodnessetc. but whetherhepossesses the luxurious cars, a good household, is nicely dressed up, bank balance etc. It makes us to introspect that are we rational enough to determine what is good, bad, fair, unfair, just, and unjust.
No doubt,human beings have been described as “Ashraful-Mukhluqaat” i.e., the noblest of all creaturesbut to my understanding, they have not been suggested to give such huge incentives to materialistic world that being unemployed should be taken as a social stigma or a curse. Unemployment is a struggle that almost every one has to go through. Each andevery individualcannot be given employment,they have to engage themselves in different economic sectors but when there are no takers, how one could do so.It remembers me of the wonderful statement by the great Karl Marx that “ It is not the consciousness of men that determines theirexistence rather it is the social existence that determines theirconsciousness”. Analysing this statement in the contemporary times,it becomes even more relevant that you are beingrecognised only on the economic status in your own community and society. If one possess the materialistic credentials he or she actually exists, whether there exists some sort of intellect or not, whether they are virtuous or vicious, it does not matter as long as one posses those materialistic credentials. And at the same time, if you do not possess those materialistic credentials your existence is invisible; there is no space for you, whichis the harsh reality of the current state of affairs.When introspected a little more it makes us to believe that your social existence actuallydetermines your existence or non-existencein this brutal capitalistic world.Here I am not denying the fact that one should not strive hard to make both ends meet but being “Ashraful- Mukhluqaat” one must be able to strike the balance and try to find out the true essence of humanity.
The fallout of these challenges are so many like depression, fear, anxiety, insomnia, late marriages, suicides, loss of self esteem etc. and when your self-esteem is being challenged there exists nothing for you in reality. This brutalcapitalisticworld is full of disgrace where you have to find your existence even in your own family or community. Talkingabout Jammu andKashmir, it is no exception to this deadly menace as there are almost thousands of un-married girls who are in their late 30’s or above. When everybody would prefer the employed youth many evils would continue to hurt us. Although the urban areas are more acute to these crises but rural areas are also not lagging behind. Then, there are other variables of late marriages, like dowry, caste,socio-economic status, which have played their role from times immemorial andchallenged the social existence to a large extent.
Everybody does not possess the entitlement of employment especially the public entitlement, but there are other professions where one can earn enough for their livelihood but the question is are we rational enough to give them space, are we ready to provide them the opportunity to marry our daughters, sisters etc. Unless and until we do not change our psychological set-up according to the changing circumstances these ungodlypursuitscannot be eliminated completely.Who shoulders the responsibility of changing thenorms that have made substantial imprint in our day-to-day lives? The Ulemas, teachers, The NGO’S, social workers, the government, the individual, the intellectuals etc.?In my opinion all the stakeholders in society will have to play a positive and active part in eliminating this menace. They all must share the burden of making people aware about the negative impacts it leaves on society. And they must strive hard to make sure that employment is not what Thomas Hobbes called “SummumBunum” (The Greatest Good). Infact humanity has much more to explore. Unless, we prefer to marry only the well off we are surely not going to get rid of it any soon.
Being un-employed is actually challenging the very existence of what Gramsci calls the “Common sense” where the bourgeoisie develops the hegemonic cultureand propagates its own values and normsso that they became the “Common sense” where critical enquiry is almost impossible as it becomes a common or normal within a particular community.Consequently, the individual tends to develop psychotic disorder, whichplays a pivotal role in his behaviour. And if we continue to follow these idiotic norms and customs, it will surely have its ill effects on the next generation.The so-called social cohesion is being exposed with each passing day and if these menaces were not eliminated at the earliest, it would open up such a disparity that will be everlasting.Even the Ph.D. scholars cannot be spared off, though it is regarded as one of the noblest degree, where you tend to develop yourself vis-a-vis your community, it makes you to think critically but that critical thinking is of no use unless you occupy a berth in the public department. Therefore,they too have to face such challenges in society where every thing is weighed in materialistic domainonly. May good sense prevail in all of us!
(Author is a Doctoral Candidate, Department of Political Science, University of Kashmir)
waseembhat94@gmail.com