DURING the last thirty/forty years we have seen visible decline in three most important characteristics of human behaviour. Unfortunately, this decline is more visible, noticeable and obvious in Pakistan than perhaps the rest of the world. Why in Pakistan this change is so rapid, overwhelming and eroded the social fabric of the society though being a Muslim nation, we are not only supposed to uphold the principles of equality, fraternity and harmony but have to practice those in our daily life. Social fragmentation is caused by divisive factors such as casteism, tribalism, sectarianism and often religious bias and extremism which can fragment societies and undermine a sense of shared values and social cohesion. When individuals prioritize loyalty to their group over universal ethical principles, it can lead to moral decay and conflict. It manifests in various forms, such as the breakdown of trust, decline in empathy and compassion, disregard for honesty and integrity and lack of accountability. Factors contributing to moral decay include societal changes, cultural shifts, technological advancements and individualistic mindsets. When people lose sense of conviction and conscience, one loses his/her morality too.
It is very unfortunate that the moral and ethical values in the modern society are declining day by day and it is a matter of great concern to all right thinking people .There is moral perversion and moral turpitude in human society today and concerted and serious steps should be taken to arrest the bad trend of declining moral values .Materialism is taking deep roots in the society as the people are becoming materialistic and are moving away from moral and ethical values .We take great pride in modernity but forget that the real modernity is in having moral and cultural values .No doubt man has progressed in science and technology and has excelled in different walks of life but alas he is distancing from moral ,social ,cultural and ethical values and this is a colossal dilemma. Honesty and integrity are the first casualty of the degradation of moral and social values. The bad results of moral decay in the society are felt in different fields of life and sooner we control moral bankruptcy in the society, the better it is.
An analysis of survey conducted around the world since 1949 shows that the idea of a decline in moral values is not new, whatever the social or historical context. According to respondents, this moral decline is linked to getting older, and to the arrival of new less virtuous generations. The idea of moral decline has been present in societies over history.’’ In the past you could trust other people and people respected each other but unfortunately that is no longer the case. ’If that is true, it is a very powerful description of the times we are going through and speaks of disaster. If not, there is a very interesting psychological question-why do people think that there is a moral decline?”The decline in moral values means that people are less honest, less generous, less polite and less respectful or kind than they used to be.
The society has become less ethical in recent decades .The study conducted between 1949 and 2019 ,involving 220,000 people in the United States ,and 58 surveys involving more than 350000 participants in 59 countries between 1996 and 2007 showed that everywhere people feel that their sense of morality is declining .Everywhere there is moral deterioration in the society and honesty is declining with each passing day and there is moral perversion seen everywhere and if this trend of moral decline continues unabated it will bring in its wake great moral catastrophe and moral bankruptcy and it will be difficult to come out of the moral crisis of the worst order .The bad trend of moral decline in the society should be fought with resilience and determination. Without preserving moral and ethical values, there is no difference between the human beings and animals.
Development becomes meaningless unless we develop the minds of the people. Material, scientific and technological progress is insignificant if we fail to ensure morally upright individuals. There is a pressing need to make people morally and ethically conscious to protect our economy, politics and religious convictions. In popular culture, the focus on shock value over normalcy has eroded moral standards, while changing family dynamics and parenting trends have contributed to moral decay. With many parents occupied with their careers, providing for their children’s needs seems sufficient, but emotional involvement and support are crucial for defining their moral foundation. The basic cause of moral degradation is the lack of standards and understanding of values. Moral values are fading and youngsters are increasingly focused on careers and personal enjoyment, with little concern for social problems or family affairs.
Our avarice and greed have led to low ethics and moral values, thus increasing crimes resulting in fear and threat among innocent and weak segment of the society. People in this information age are busy in their selfish pursuits and lack human values .The low moral values have created unrest and turmoil in society .We see honest people struggling and facing hardships. As we march into digital age, it is high time to keep our moral values high to create a just and equal society capable of spreading happiness all around. The family, good parenting and schooling should imbibe moral and ethical values among children who are the future leaders and rulers. Moral and cultural education should be made an compulsory integral part of the school curriculum. Children should be given good education and should be imparted moral values and virtues of honesty at home by parents so that they become worthy citizens of tomorrow. Let us reverse the moral perversion and moral decay and ensure that people become morally and culturally conscious so that there is all round development of the moral fabric of the society.
—The writer is Former Civil Servant and Consultant (ILO) & International Organisation for Migration and author of seven books.
