The Darwin’s theory of natural selection is amazing. It
neatly explains how various species evolved through mutation and subsequent
survival of the fittest. Originally developed for explaining how nature
operates, the theory has found applicability in explaining all types of things.
If you replace mutation by innovation, new products evolve
all the time, albeit at a faster pace than mutations. Of these products, the
ones best meet the needs of the customers (‘fittest”) survive. The others die.
Same thing applies in activities we learn and perform. We
all need to keep up with the times. If we do not learn how to use the modern
communication tools or conveyances, we will be left behind. No one would employ
us and socially we will be rejected.
People adapt, businesses evolve and products change---just
the way it happens in nature. The old gets replaced by new.
The only place where
old remains old is in traditions and rituals. The world changes but the rituals
do not.
At a recent wedding, the groom rode a horse and the bride
arrived on a palanquin, the way she would have hundreds of years ago. The music
was created using conch shells. The priest conducted the ceremony in Sanskrit
that no one in the audience understood.
If the Darwin’s theory held true, the groom would have
arrived on a Segway (more efficient and consumes no grass), the bride in a golf
cart (four wheels instead of four people). The music would have been modern (uses
less energy and is more appealing) and the priest would have transferred the
wisdom through a power-point presentation--- in English.
But that was not the case---why?
Simply because the attributes such as efficiency and
effectiveness of what is being done do not apply to rituals. The groom is in no
hurry and the priest is not obliged to explain anything to the audience. Correctly
performed ritual is supposed to ward of evil and bring peace and happiness. Why
that should be so is not questioned.
Under these circumstances, an old ritual that does not adapt
to the modern circumstances does not die. Further, there is no incentive to
innovate and so nothing ever changes. Perhaps there is even fear of making a
change, lest it would upset some deity.
The Darwin’s theory
has finally met its match.
I think the forces of "Darwinistic" evolution (survival of fittest and natural selection) come into play when there is a survival at stake and there are limited resources (and hence selection is needed). Essentially, there is a competition in action. Does it apply to traditions? We need to define what resources are scarce, and what is the survival about.
ReplyDeleteActually, I do believe that there is competition and evolution in traditions/rituals due to the limited resource of time to gain status and position. Maybe the Segway has lost out to a Mercedes 600. Similarly live band gets you more status vs. playing music at a wedding off your iPod.
Actually, I think the beauty of the Darwin's theory is that you always witness the currently most competitive state of union at a given place in a given condition - because the nature can only create and sustain the fittest - everything else perishes. Nature has no clue about tomorrow nor a value system of good and bad; it has no need to plan and hence allows everything to just happen and fight it out. Totally impartial and unbiased.