The growth narrative is typically a hopeful and optimistic macro narrative. It keeps the public-at-large focused. However, the story at the micro level is often more nuanced. At the individual level, layers of influences and pressures distract the energy and resources from the macro-level directional orientation. Such a mismatch often distorts the process of growth. It is paramount that we are aware of the drivers in charge of our thoughts, actions, and decisions. When setting the course for a voyage, it is only wise to ensure the directions in which the winds are blowing.
The 21st century is not the simplest of epochs. It is an epoch characterized by fluctuating levels of agency and ability. The weird character of this epoch, fueled by technological and cultural convergence, is rewiring an individual to be and do most things differently. So, the big question here is what is driving human thought and action? From a broad thematic point of view, there are four denominating drivers of human thought and action. They are Identity, Individuality, Expression, and Legacy.
Developing and sustaining a strong sense of identity drives the people of today to deviant paths and extreme lengths. A departure from the scriptural understanding of who I am has left a void that every individual tries to fill through exploration and performance. Folks are driven to acquire a unique identity devoid of conventional affiliations. Much of individual performance and endeavor happens to create and cultivate identity. A major chunk of time is spent in first creating a unique identity. At the core level, more than 99% of you is similar to a chipmunk.
Cultivating identity through affiliation and similarity is not in vogue. Hence, the grind is to create a unique identity and stand out from 8 billion people. I believe this is about coming into one’s own, and the new technological affordances facilitate this endeavor. It is not easy, but that does not stop anyone from pursuing it. People love that there is lots of negotiating and discovering, and creative tension is creating, cultivating, and owning an identity is a privilege.
Individuality is a close ally of identity. Identity can also be found in a non-individuality, but then the race and the fad these days is to discover identity in individuality. Individual thoughts, individual choice, individual rights, individual freedom, individual autonomy are desirable. Individuality is the second driver of human thought and action. Much more brain and thought space is afforded to individuality than collectivity.
Individuals glacially moved towards nuclear from joint. But they are rapidly moving away from nuclear and pacing towards individual. The roommate culture is an example of it. You can be in a joint or a nuclear setting, but an individual’s isolated existence is also prevalent there. Individuality makes it easy to indulge in arbitrary and non-normative behaviors. Both good and bad can come out of this. What is suitable to ensure the prevalence of a social order can be a debate for various stakeholders. A transition in the society is imminent. And what else is imminent is a cordial tug-of-war between those finding solace in individual order and those finding solace in social order. Such polarization can impede and distort the macro-level orientation.
Expression is the third driver. Everyone is overflowing with an unquenched need to broadcast and publicly express. This need may have been in the shadows for as long as humans have lived. But the advent and democratization of media devices and the convergence of users and producers as producers have fueled the need to express. It is not uncommon to find individuals who feel incomplete if they have not expressed themselves.
Humanity has consistently endeavored to preserve free speech and freedom of expression, but at the same time, it has also endeavored to curb and censor it. Keeping that aside, there prevails a greater need to express identity and individual opinions. This is a driver with a major commercial and economic component attached. The expression of how one feels about things is an undeniable trend. The blind faith that there is always someone sacrificing something and willingly available to listen to you further increases participation in expression. The need, the want, and the desire to express are driving individuals to unbelievable lengths.
Legacy is the fourth driver of human action and decision. What am I going to leave behind is something that I find occupying more and more mind space at the individual level. This is a stark departure from previously held beliefs and lifestyles. A reason behind this is the gross and unnatural accumulation of possessions. What am I going to leave behind? This thought occurs to those who have something to leave behind. A substantial legal infrastructure exists to manage and distribute what has been left behind. While materialism may have been the primary culprit, there is more to it because nowadays it is not just about material legacy.
It is more often about intangible legacy. What are the thoughts, wisdom, knowledge, new perspectives, opinions, and recommendations that I will leave behind as my legacy is more critical. Since there is a way to seemingly immortalize all of the above, this driver has become seriously active in driving human action and decision. People have realized that through the internet and other technological means, they can not only leave behind a legacy but also earn a living in doing so. Since there is no way to acquire actual immortality, symbolic immortality, since it is accessible, is what is driving individual performance and doing.
India has set its eyes firmly on the developed label. By 2047, India wants to be there. The alignment and synergy of the four drivers, namely Identity, Individuality, Expression, and Legacy, with the vision 2047, will be the main factor in the achievement or non-achievement of the 2047 vision. In my professional experience, without a cataclysmic nexus event, it is impossible to change the drivers of human action and thought in a few decades. It is wiser to calibrate the energy emerging from the drivers towards the macro-orientation.
One way to achieve this is by establishing a systematic ecosystem and social and economic infrastructure for Creative Industries. Ventures, enterprises, and activities that are inspired by creativity or creative proclivity with a focus on actualizing individual creative potential leading to an economic output and value for those involved in creating it and those delighting from it are Creative Industries.
Creative Industries are the only industries that can fully embrace and synergize with the four drivers of populace. Creative Industries have the default flexibility required to accommodate and foster individuals motivated by Identity, Individuality, Expression, and Legacy pursuits. A serious exercise of introspection and brainstorming on designing a blueprint for Creative Industries to survive, thrive, and flourish in India would be a good starting point. If developed well, Creative Industries will be the boost required to propel India closer to the goal of 2047. Creative Industries are a growing segment globally. India can also see a substantial rise in economic output if Creative Industries are duly supported and given the space to flourish and perish of their own accord. Naturally, the four drivers will power Creative Industries.
Identity, Individuality, Expression, and Legacy are not only the drivers of thoughts and actions but also the levers that can uplift India to where it should be. I now take a moment to speak personally and directly to you, my dear reader, and ask you to reflect upon which or how many of the four drivers are driving you. Is it Individuality, Identity, Expression, and Legacy?
The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to the author and do not reflect the views of BlueKraft Digital Foundation.
