The Economy of Permanence: A Quest for a Social Order Based on Non-violence (स्थायी अर्थतन्त्र)

Economy of Permanence
desirable that which calls into play the highest faculties in man, then the
Dewan's life follows a higher standard than the British gardener's whose
standard now becomes 'low'. For a standard based on material considerations
the more suitable terms will be 'complex' and 'simple' rather than 'high' and
'low'. We may then say that the Dewan's standard of life is 'high' but 'simple' and
the British gardener's is 'low' but 'complex'. It would appear as though the
present terms have been specially devised to convey a psychological preference
for the 'complex' standard which is the foundation of a good market for the
manufacturers. Who will rationally fall for a standard which is dubbed
'complex'?
The complex standard converts its devotee into a drudge. From dawn till
nightfall the British gardener's wife, if she means to be reasonable clean, has to
toil away at sweeping the carpets with a vacuum cleaner, polishing the window
panes, washing the curtains, bed and table linen, the dishes, plates etc., and
cooking utensils, apart from attending to her daily round of duties such as
shopping and kitchen work. To clean even one fork properly between the
prongs will take more time and labour than washing one's hands. Is it a wonder
that where such complex standards prevail, women prefer to be rid of the
'nuisance' of having children? "Children and dogs not allowed" is an ubiquitous
notice board to be seen everywhere in such countries. Motherhood, of course,
adds to the already overcrowded time-table for the day, but the choice of
complex standard is a reflection on the scale of values prevalent. By various
means at their disposal- propaganda, advertisements, setting up fashions etc.-
the manufacturers are able to induce the house-wives to adopt this mode of
life and become their devoted customers. Let us beware of such traps which
will enslave us to material wants, but offer nothing in exchange for filling our
time with wasteful details which ought not to be allowed to encumber our
lives.
The interested parties glibly talk of creating leisure for the house-wife by
introducing labour-saving devices, but no sooner is a machine allowed to oust
human labour than some other invention is brought in to absorb the money and
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