Physical distance

In his classic sociological work on a South Indian village and subtle changes brought in its social life by Independence, Andre Beteille comments that "physical distance can be seen as a function of structural distance". This comes in the context of people living with their caste/communities as next door neighbours. The contours of the Indian village life may have changed in many places from the earlier strict associations between caste and class post independence. However, like most things Indian, changes are fifty-fifty only, and perhaps it is mostly power that has been reconfigured and redistributed with different sets of castes and communities, particularly in North India, while we continue to live together separately.

It is perhaps this physical distance and conformity that one loses immediately as one moves from a small village or town to a big metro. And which gives rise to the desire of many to live in a ghetto, and for those in more financially secure positions, to establish "purity" in a profane environment where people are not sure of their "places". Our reaction to modernity, as to urbanization here, remains ambiguous in all places.

While this perhaps helps us retain our senses, without thinking of our own, in an age and customs that we do not understand fully, it also maintains our conspicuous lack of ability to live and think as individuals in cities. And to look at others as individuals, not just as members of another religion, caste, region or community. We rather prefer to continue with our traditional prejudices that makes our cruelty internal and so difficult to be even aware of.