I remember quite clearly, when I was in class 5, we had English. In that we had to remember the comparative and superlative versions of some adjectives. Good better best. Sad sadder saddest! Bad worse worst! Does the existence of comparative terms show some type of immaturity in the mass-psychology or culture to say? Those from India, can very well remember that, comparative and superlative terms are almost non-existent in original languages. "achhA" (good), "bahut achhA", "sabse achhA". Not as crisp as good-better-best. Coming to older language like Sanskrit, lets take any word, like "dukhih", or sad. There is NO word like sadder or saddest. The only thing that come to my mind is "ati-dukhih", which mean "very sad", not sadder. Linguists know, how rich Sanskrit is. Hence lack of certain common word can only imply at one thing. The object or feeling represented by that word, was non-existent!" Lack of comparative words from dictionary! What does it say about that culture or society?
Lets change the topic. What do we mean by saying "I am luckier than you to get you as my love!"? Or lets say, "Lalajee loved his eldest son the most! He is the saddest of all his sons, at Lalajee's death". How can I compare who is sadder? How can I say I am luckier? What is the scale to measure? What is the unit? Why is man not happy? Because we compare! We compare everything with everything! From my experience, I feel the day we stop comparing, will be the day for eternal joy!
Can the present human civilisation be mature enough again, to lose all comparative words from dictionary?
4 comments:
Amit bhai,
keep on writing ... lets revive some old memories at dms!!!... once upon a time I had also started a blog... but... time took the upper hand of me.. and my blog is still lying... hope I will get inspired and restart the spirit..
Samir
Comparison is necessary to motivate u to do a work.Though it is human's nature always to compare himself with others , so that he puts a limit on his own capabilities and he always is in a stress until he hasnt received the same level as of the other. But dont u think its necessary that man has also to compare with himself so that he can constantly better himself. Comparative terms are just used to compare between two. but that doesnt need any standard. When u compare the length of two strings.. u would say this one is longer than that.see.. here we need a comparative term.And among humans i can just say.. we neednt always compare ourselves with others..we just have to recognize our own potential.
Yes I do agree with you Deepanjali. Doesnt your last line summerises my blog, in one line? We think its human nature to compare. But how can we say it absolutely? We are product of our society and culture, and with globalisation, almost all cultures have been westernised. Philosophically, comparision seems to give untained happiness. But is it possible? Not to compare and still lead life? As you correctly pointed out, comparison gives us life force. To look at how achievable is this state of non-comparision, I thought of looking into Sanskrit language, hoping that language can give us a lot idea about the culture and society. And within limitations, it seem to prove that a comparision-free society is not impossible! Next question is do we want to go on with this killer-zeal life, or better settle for comparision-free cool life? And as you said, "we just hve to recognise our own potential", free from comparrision to anyone.
nice topic again...but again the problem is that of inevitability...we are a dreaming of an utopia...impossible and enticing...
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