Dhurjati Prasad Mukerji
Personality:
D.P. Mukerji once told with a sense of humour that he propounded the thesis of ‘purusha.’ The ‘purusha’ is not isolated from society and individual. Nor is he under the hold of group mind. The purusha establishes the relationship with others as an active agent and discharges responsibilities. His argument is that the ‘purusha’ grows as a result of his relations with others and, thus, occupies a better place among human groups.
He admits that the Indian social life is like the life of bees and beavers and the Indians are almost a regimented people. But “the beauty of it” is that the majority of us do not feel regimented. He doubts whether the western individual man dominated by the market system has any freedom at all.
He is exposed to the manipulation of advertisements, press chains, chain stores, and his purse is continuously emptied. All this does not leave much scope for individual’s right of choice and consumer’s sovereignty. Contrastingly, the low level of aspiration of an average Indian, which is moderated by group norms, results in greater poise in life.
This should not be missed in our urge for uplifting the level of wants. The Indian sociologist thus will have to accept the group as his unit and eject the individual. That is the tradition of India. The Indian sociologists will have to understand the specific nature of this tradition.
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