Imagined Communities
Likeminded people living together as a community is an alien concept to India except in some religious sects like Buddhism and later which was emulated by several sannyasi orders in Hinduism. Of course people lived in ghettos where people belonging to some caste communities as we find in Brahmin Agraharas and colonies of outcastes in South India. But their life there is not based on any like-mindedness or common agenda but for social reasons and need, particularly based on their profession and also pure and pollution issues. Still there too their life centred on the need and welfare of their own family first and survival with much help and co-operation with others for that sake.
Whereas the modern concept of living as a separate community removed or separated from their families can never give the same kind of satisfaction and security which they had when they lived with their families. That is why when such idea was proposed I strongly object to it. However they created any artificial security with the help of their resources, when any emergency or need comes, they will be pushed to go back to their family. Or when any need or emergency comes in their home then they will be forced to move back to help their children, grandchildren and close relatives. Then this will bring new kinds of tension and problem not only in their personal life but also in their birth families and to the imagined community.
After living away from home and get adjusted with the new found artificial and gated community, when such compulsion come where they need to move back to their original home, then they might find it difficult to adjust back with the demand of that life. Living in an Old Age Home without any mutual moral commitment is one thing. There money alone is the only deciding factor. Of course many poor people live in free Old Age Home. But there is no alternative for them and they have to accept the reality of that life. But try to live as a community of like minded people, particularly family people won’t be successful as they imagine. Even small and insignificant difference of opinion even on mundane aspects of need will bring strife and conflict of interest and bring problem to all.
At least in India, there is no substitute for a home and family where alone any individual can find her solace and security than anywhere outside to it—however it looks very idealistic one. Even several religious communities where they took a vow of obedience, service and commitment broke away because of conflict of interest even their commitment to serve others. This I have witnessed in several places. Better try to adjust with your family which either god gave to you, (if you believe in god) or given by biology then living in any utopian ideal community. Even those who managed to find such a successful community won’t be sustained for long time once one generation passes away which found that kind of community with their ideal. Whereas we find that from time in memory we managed to live as a family with its values in a relatively successful way in India compared to some other modern western countries. However you try hardly you can break or find a substitute for it. Of course several people warn that the modern concepts threaten our social fabric. I too agree with them. But all those who are influenced or affected by this modern (or western) concepts [like Single Parents, gay community, living together with mutual consent, child-fee family etc. etc.] soon realize that better to live with the old and archaic concept of family with all its defects than get lost permanently with these kinds of modern concept of community with like minded people as a ghetto. Of course there might be one benefit in such artificial community life. If they try and fail the will leave another good example for others not to emulate their concept or model. There exist failed families but there exists no failed HOME.
But the funniest thing in this is that this thought comes from a sannyasi who does not have his own home or family, but only has a relatively comfortable house—which itself is a luxury compare to his vocation!!!