Question

J. S. Furnivall’s explanation of the “marketplace” is relevant to our Caribbean reality. Explain what this means in terms of relations among members of society.

Answer 1

• According to him,a plural society is something which is a mix but not a combination.Each group holds by its own religion, its own culture and language, its own ideas and ways. As individuals they meet, but only in the market place, in buying and selling. There is a plural society, with different sections of the community living side by side, but separately, within the same political unit. For example,a diverse society like India has many people from different cultures and religions who are all living together,meeting and working together. Its a diverse mix of various ideologies 'and values. Politically people hold different views but still stay together in the same society. Its like a "salad bowl" mixed with various ingredients.
• Specifically, each member of society is molded by the cultural institutions of the original social order that she originates from, and which primarily attune the individual to her original cultural particularities.
• India is a multi cultural and multi plural society, where when one talks of education, one thinks in many ways of the community, its’ ups and downs, its conflicts. A community is not supposed to be defined by the boundaries but by the sharing of life
• The pursuit of education at the present time tends to be indifferent to the kind of society and nation we dream of. Indian people are mandated by the Constitution to be a socialist, secular and democratic polity. Socialism calls for a minimization of social cleavages and disparities. It puts the spotlight on social justice.