The progress of a society depends on the harmonious living of the members of the society. When people follow moral principles, they care for one another and create a loving, peaceful and progressive society. These moral principles clearly distinguish right and wrong, proper and improper, or good and bad behaviour. Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Morality is the basis of things, and the truth is the substance of all morality". No society can stand together without morality, and no morality can stand for long unless it stands on truth. Morality represents a body of standards or principles derived from a code of conduct prescribed by a particular philosophy, religion, or culture. It also means a standard that a person believes should be universal. However, morality is not static but evolves with time and place. Some people find it difficult to change with time, and they stick to the old standards of morality imbibed by them from their ancestors. Such moral values can be called customary morality, which comes from the old customs, traditions, and religion of the society, state or nation. Customary morality flows from ancient culture and traditions. For example, ancient Indians followed the professions based on their caste and married within their castes. Women's roles were limited to taking care of the family and being a homemaker. They were often confined to their homes and covered their faces whenever they had to go out. Such traditions may appear to be oppressive to modern women. The American author Letty Cottin Pogrebin wisely depictured this condition of women in a traditional society, "When men are oppressed, it's a tragedy. When women are oppressed, it's tradition." Marriage is considered sacred and irrevocable in traditional Hindu Society, while divorce finds no mention in any scripture. (No. of words 292)
- Sunil Bhutani 'Rudraksha'
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