Modern and Primitive
Merit, Modernity, and the Myths of Progress
In the gleaming glass towers of Singapore, Stockholm, and San Francisco, modern society is often defined by a constellation of ideals: equality, meritocracy, rule of law, and individual rights. These ideals, however imperfectly realized, form the bedrock of what many call “modern values”. At the other end of the global spectrum lie societies still grappling with centuries-old structures—some rooted in tradition, others in dogma—where status is inherited, not earned, and where women are sometimes victims of grotesque forms of control, from honor killings to acid attacks.
India, the world’s largest democracy and a rising economic power, presents a paradox in this dichotomy. While it boasts a thriving tech sector and a space program, it continues to struggle with deeply entrenched social norms that are, to modern eyes, shockingly regressive. In parts of rural India, the caste system still dictates who can marry whom, who can eat with whom, and, by extension, who can dream. Skin color—closely tied to class and caste—remains a determinant of social worth, perpetuating a market for skin-lightening products that would be considered offensive in most Western countries.
Modern societies are not utopias. The West has its own demons: systemic racism, wealth inequality, and political polarization. But a crucial difference lies in the dominant direction of moral and institutional evolution. In societies that embrace modernity, regressive behaviors—such as discrimination or gender-based violence—are increasingly condemned, criminalized, and socially unacceptable. By contrast, in traditionalist cultures where religious or tribal identities override individual autonomy, such behaviors are often normalized or even justified.
Acid attacks, most often against women who refuse marriage proposals or transgress local gender norms, are a brutal example. In modern legal systems, such crimes are treated as acts of terror and prosecuted accordingly. But in many parts of South Asia, including India, survivors often find that justice is not only delayed but denied. Law enforcement can be complicit or indifferent, especially when the perpetrator belongs to a higher caste or enjoys local political protection. Cultural patriarchy, cloaked in respect for tradition, continues to restrict women’s mobility, education, and economic independence.
And yet, to label such societies as wholly “primitive” is both inaccurate and counterproductive. India also gave the world its first female prime minister before many Western countries did. It has a rich philosophical heritage, an ancient tradition of scientific inquiry, and a growing class of urban elites who champion liberal values. The country is not a monolith—it is a battleground of ideas, some medieval, others progressive.
The true contrast, then, is not between “modern” and “primitive” societies, but between the values that promote open, mobile, meritocratic systems and those that cling to hierarchy, fatalism, and collectivist repression. Modernity, in this light, is not about skyscrapers or smartphones—it is about ideas. It is about valuing people for what they do, not where they come from. It is about protecting the vulnerable, not entrenching the powerful.
If the 21st century is to be one of shared progress, then modern societies must support, rather than shame, those within traditional cultures who are pushing for reform. The fight for modern values is not just between nations—it is within them.
INTEL KARTEL 
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