India's Way - Part 1 - What is this blog about

Introduction

Most of us believe and think, In recent times we as a nation are advancing quite fast along with the other nations. While it is true that our nation has changed drastically and still in the process of change example education policy, politics, religion etc.. Not all social changes can be attributed to advancement, there are many changes in the recent past according to me really took us backwards rather than forward. Unless and until we quantify and measure the impact of those changes we will not be able conclude. Everyone will end up having our own perspectives without any backing.
Research in social science is the only way to quantify and measure these impacts.

Why it is important to research on social changes

Social research cover some of the most basic dimensions of our civilizations. Following is some of the reasons among many reasons...

1. Social scientists contribute to our health and well‐being

Ex: Does really ghee good for health? Does it improve situational awareness and brain power ? 

2. Social science can make your neighbourhood safer.

Ex: What is the root cause for certain cultural problem like high crime rate in delhi?

3. Social science can improve our children’s lives and education.

Ex: For indian kids, is it good to leave them stress free (or) is it good have continous monitoring and push from parents?

4. Social science can broaden your horizons.

5. We need social science to guarantee our democracy.

What we think as Solution?

Scientific research in social development is the way forward to our advancement and measurement. Many of us think that we are doing that. We strongly follow structures created by renowned research organizations  (Stanford, Harvard etc). we follow societies which we think are more advanced than us. If we are already doing that then are we saying it is happening and hence our advancement is really being tracked ? Or there is something wrong in the solution that we are thinking

Whats wrong with solution?

Social problems or advancements are more interlinked to social structure or culture. To give example, things like education cannot be a global phenomena. Indian child thinks, influenced and guided by society around him. Example: "Will pressure to secure marks improves his performance or will crub his creativity" has to be analyzed in this context around him.  Even simple things like traffic rules cannot be a global phenomena.

Another Example:  We practically see, Countries with limited infrastructure and more traffic needs different rules when compared to the other infrastructure rich countries.

Problem 1: We are following western research on social structure without understanding the context behind the measurement. Doesnt matter whether it is stanford or harvard or any other institute. If it is not our context then it is incomplete.

Problem 2: Most of the research is done by people from WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich Democratic) Contexts and relies on WEIRD samples. we know less about the processes in non WEIRD samples. Unless and until research is done with right samples covering your own scenario research might not cover you. Most people of india falls under non WEIRD sample, hence it is highly like that we are not covered

Problem 3: Generally development of nation might be measured mainly in the context of the financial and technology space. Even though there are organizations that measure other social aspects, either those measurement techniques itself is faulty or else nobody is really bothered about non financial indexes. Example US might not be top in food habits but people still tend to follow US preached food habits with underlying psychological affinity towards the rich super power.  So blindly following of developed nations doesn't ensure right path.

Right Solution

We should define our own collective social goal and measure in our own context. Neither our goal nor our measurement technique should be copy paste from other cultures or context.

Both to define social collective goal and measure success. We should start understanding our own practices with our own perspective rather than other's perspective.

What I mean by own perspective?

Stop blindly following in the name of science and technology. In the current world,In the current form of west defined science is giving only one perspective which is being dominated and taught by western world. Probably they don't know certain perspectives which we knew.  It is important to realize that first by ourselves before advertising.

As a simple example, the way chemistry grad look at the body is not the same as the way neurologist look. One will say body is full of chemicals other will say body is full of nerves. Both are right, but in different perspectives. Chemist might not be able to help if a nerve is malfunctioning. It needs neurology perspective. World will loose art of healing nerves if neurologist is convinced by chemist perspective and stop seeing nerves in the body. Try to look beyond what western science believe or proclaimed to believe.
Science believes, your "Mother" is no more than normal women and Sun is no more than a star. Argument is not about correctness of it, it about completeness of it. Human race cannot survive with just this perspective.

Why perspective coming into picture suddenly when we are talking about measurement

Social science is all about perspectives, it is more about how perspective is influenced by the frame of reference you use to interpret information.

So when we are talking about social research and measurement we dont even know whether all perspectives are covered or not. Hence discovering the perspective would be as important as interpreting the information by the frame of reference

Coming to the point - What is this blog about

This blog series is more about collecting bits and pieces of the lost (or about to lose) perspective. Explain/Capture India's Way.

Most important point: Idea is to capture India's perspective not the perspective I carry. This is not an attempt to invent or discover my own perspective or logic.  Even after my sincere attempt due my limited mental ability there are chances of miss interpretation.  It is always welcome to receive corrections or comments to refine and get the right perspective.