Social Norms and Economic Modernisation.

India is a country fast advancing, growing and modernising at a rate of nots. Almost everywhere there is evidence of this, from the countless construction sites erecting apartments for the new middle-class, to the expanding army of I.T engineers, and near exponential growth in domestic tourism catering to a new  home-grown leisure class. Despite this, some elements of this country are alarmingly backwards.

Elephants. One of the most graceful, placid, and innately majestic creatures roaming our planet. Unfortunately their friendly, obedient nature has made it easy for humans to domesticate and exploit them. Still used by some today as a replacement for trucks, bulldozers, for entertainment and religious symbolising. It is shocking to many that threatened and endangered animals are still being used as labour. Below are two examples I have come across in the last few days alone.

In many ways, it is the social aspects of this and other developing societies that requires more work and attention, than economic growth. As economic growth accelerates, so too it is likely that natural resources, such as elephants, forests and waterways will be the used as the facilitators of that growth. Deeply engrained social norms such as the exploitation of natural resources are difficult to change. It takes education, good governance, credible alternatives and urgency from government bodies. Granted that most Indians too find this appalling. Then perhaps it is time that someone took action to modernise this aspect of their society in line with economic modernisation.



An elephant being used to carry palm branches along a National Highway in Kerala.



An elephant used as a religious symbol at a Temple. Put money (notes and coins) into his trunk and in return he'll provide you with Ganesh's blessing.